Coming Soon...

With my new title at work "Senior Technical Specialist," I have been challenged by my boss to have my own website: get a domain name, get it hosted and create a multi-funcionality blog using wordpress, learn CSS and design it myself instead of relying on blogger to do it all for me.

OK. Challenge on.

I wonder if I can get a raise out of this?

Jen's Hip for 2008 List

1. Tea is the new coffee.
2. Twitter is the new Facebook
3. Mint.com is the new personal banker
4. Moleskine is the new spiral notebook
5. H&M is the new GAP
6. My T-mobile Windows Smart Phone is the new cubical
7. Aveeno Lip Balm is the new chapstick
8. Ipod is the new DVD player
9. Guitar Hero 3 is the new party game
10. Huckabee is the new Chuck Norris

Las Vegas

I just got home from working the MS CES Keynote and I am so glad to be home. Vegas gets old very quick. Normally, I love staying at the Venetian, but this time...

The updated rooms look great. It's always nice to have the big suite with the flat screen TVs everywhere, the bathtub, king size bed, sunken living room, etc, etc, etc.

However, there is a noticeable difference in service since the last time I was there. I don't know if it was because of the opening of the new casino and hotel, but the Venetian in general just had poor service. Perhaps they can smell the fact that I am not rich enough to gamble on their 15 dollar minimum tables and that I have a limited amount to spend each day on food.

Maybe all hotels are this way and I am just getting around to noticing it. I did note that if I did not tip someone, they would make sure to say "thank you" in a very nasty way. If I did tip, they would say nothing and kind of ignore it. I guess I look like all the other tourists there, even though I am really in the service business just like them.

I did get to see the new Planet Hollywood Hotel. It was really nice and has the best mall so far that I have seen in a hotel. I had also never been to the Wynn and so got to take a look. I really liked it, but definitely felt out of place. Its more swanky than the Bellagio. Its a gorgeous hotel and I love the forest/waterfall thing they have going on.

It is so good to be home.

Hello 2008!

Resolved:

1. Eat Less
2. Exercise More
3. Read More
4. Listen More
5. Write More
6. Photograph More

Family

I have heard that many people do not enjoy the holidays because of relatives. I suppose that at times, I could admit that same thing. This year, I have been thinking about my family, both immeadiate and extended, and realize that I am a pretty lucky girl.

When I think about my family, parents, brother and wife, aunts and uncles, cousins and all the little second cousins, I feel very blessed. They are really an amazing group of people. I can't think of one of them that I do not like. If I was not related to them, I think that I would try very hard to know them somehow, or I'd try to be related to them.

I guess I should give the credit to my grandparents, who are both now in heaven. They had 5 children, on my mom's side, who then in turn, had 13 children and who in turn have had 28 plus 2 on the way and who knows how many more to come! This number does not include spouses and others who are cousins through marriage.

Wow.

...and all of them are beautiful, amazing, fun, wonderful people!

There is a perfect verse in the Bible that I think describes my family

Psalms 78:4
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

I love the generational vision that my family has and I wonder just how large this family is going to get?

Today

A good day:

1. Little email
2. Guitar Hero 3
3. Jimmy John's
4. Found a great Christmas Sweater
5. Eating my roomate's Christmas Cookies without permission
6. Moon

There are those days when nothing seems to go right,

but...

stopping for a minute, to think, pray, reflect

and drink a cup of tea.

...that usually fixes it.

Miracles

"For Glory means good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgement, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last."

--C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Seeing the door opening, after a long time of knocking, is almost unbelievable, but it it opening.

What Do I Want in a Job? and not necessarily in this order...

1. Good Boss
2. Fun coworkers
3. Flexibility
4. Adventure
5. Challenge
7. Security
8. Good Benefits
9. Money
10. Enjoyable working environment

Interviews

I interviewed with a company today, that will remain nameless, but I am curious as to whether they did a search for me on the internet. I sure hope they did, because I don't know if I'd want the job unless they had done their homework.

Hiring managers should definately "google" or as some might be pressured into saying "windows live" potential employees.

I will say that I didn't feel too nervous while I was interviewing, until the last interview. And I am not sure why. Maybe because I felt like this guy would actually be someone that I would work with on a daily basis while all the other people weren't.

And I am not sure if I want the job yet either, but I want to see what kind of offer I get...that is, if I get one at all.

And I found that I sweat a lot in interviews. Good thing I wore a jacket.

Operation Basement Water Removal

With the recent Seattle Deluge, I ended up with some minor flooding in my basement that got my rugs and records wet. Also, a section where a bunch of boards and doors was affected. Today, my dad and I sopped up the water and moved the boards out of the way. The question was how to get the rugs dry. Since they are small area rugs, we just tacked them to the rafters and put fans on them. Simple enough.

We are still not sure where the leak came from, but the theory is that the water table level rose and the water came in from cracks in the walls. Ugh. We might have to dig a big trench under my porch for a drain. Not a fun project.

Sometimes I wonder if being a homeowner is worth it.

Quick Weekend Trip

I flew to Switzerland on Thursday, arrived on Friday and flew home last night.

Perhaps you think this is crazy, but here are several reasons that I thought it made it worth it:


1. Surprising the pants, and sometimes the socks and shoes too, off of friends.

2. Loading up on Chocolate, esp the kind with a "kick."

3. Getting Status on Alaska Airlines

4. Catching up on all the movies I missed in the theatre

5. Adventure

I found a perfect way to share my Christmas List with friends and family...social networking style.

New Phone

I'm definately a proponent of technological devices, but I hadn't actually gone as far as getting one myself...

until this weekend!

I am now a proud owner of a T-mobile Shadow with Windows Mobile.

Now I'll be even more addicted to email...

Fairy Tales: Are they Over for Us?

In his discussion of "The Golden Compass" ( a movie based on a book by Phillip Pullman), Jeffrey Overstreet makes this comment:

"Christians have become so suspicious of fairy tales, fantasy, and
imagination that we have created an environment in which it is very unlikely
that we will see another imagination like Tolkien and Lewis emerge."

...which, if this is true, makes me very very sad, because if this is true, then the recent death of Madeliene L'Engle means that there are very few good storytellers out there with a Christian worldview.

Who wants to prove this statement wrong?

I do, for one.

...and I think Overstreet is also out to prove himself wrong.

The Plan for T-Day:

1. wake up

2. bake bread and turkey in oven

3. go to my brother's in-in laws' house

4. eat a little turkey and stuffing

5. eat pumpkin pie

6. watch football

7. eat pumkin pie

8. sleep

9. eat pumpkin pie

10. eat turkey sandwiches

11. play games with relatives

12. eat pumpkin pie

13. eat pumpkin pie

Food Drive 2007

On Saturday the annual food drive was a success! We got food boxes out to 117 families, plus a lot of food donated to the local food bank! One thing I noticed is that we didn't get as much food donated as usual. I wonder if the economy plays into that at all? Or if it was just because of the rain?

Some Useful Things Found on the Internet

1. Blendie - a blender that runs when you Growl at it.
2. Cake Generator- for when you want to bake a cake for someone - virtually.
3. Chalkboard Vase- for writing messages when you give flowers.
4. Good Rules to Follow when Travelling to Foreign Countries.

adding Superfast Reader to my links...

Things of Note Today:

1. Leaking Battery Acid in the Lab causes Headaches and Loopy-ness. (and phrases like: wow, my heart hurts.......oh, wait, maybe its just gas.)

2. New favorite found phrase: "Pants-On Head Retarted" (thanks NoHippos) --oh and in case you don't know the British definition of pants... look here.

3. Superest.com ...need i say more?

4. Why is it that we just carve pumpkins at halloween? I want year 'round carvings! demand!