For one night, and one night only, I'm in Charlotte, NC. Until today, if you'd asked me what I thought of when I heard someone mention Charlotte, I'd have answered: "layover." A brief rest between flights at the Charlotte airport was all I knew of the city before now. But after a few hours here in the city, I have to say that I'm quite impressed. I flew up this afternoon with a couple co-workers for a conference tomorrow.
After some check-in issues (I'm still waiting to attend a conference where there AREN'T check-in issues) we decided to head to Rock Bottom Brewery for a bite to eat - and more importantly - a couple drinks. Martinis were on special (that's a weird saying..."on special." I think it's correct though) for just $5 and though the menu on the website doesn't show it, I had a couple absolutely delicious peach martinis. Even better than the quality food and drinks was the company. I seriously do love my co-workers!
After dinner, we decided to spend some time strolling the downtown streets. I've got to say that downtown Charlotte easily has downtown Jax beat. There were cute, swanky, and fun little bistros and pubs with outdoor seating up and down the streets, the buildings boast some really great architecture, and what I liked the most - the people of Charlotte were out and about, seemingly enjoying this place they call home. (Perhaps I simply don't spend enough time in downtown Jax, but for the most part you don't really see people enjoying the city. Everyone seems to have a destination in mind and that's where they go. They're not strolling the streets or enjoying an evening chatting with friend on a bench along the tree-lined streets like the Charlotte residents.)
It also looks like the next few days are going to be a lot of fun here with the Food Lion Speed Street event going on downtown. They were blocking off roads and setting up the stages this evening, and while I don't know any of the acts performing, street festivals are always fun. Plus there were copious amounts of "beer for sale" signs on a majority of the booths. How can that not be a good time? Aaaaand, the Oscar Mayer wienermobile was parked on the street...if that doesn't say "awesome" then I don't know what does! If I didn't have a conference to attend tomorrow, I know exactly where I'd be!
Bottom line: Charlotte is much more than a layover city...I encourage you to check it out if you get the chance!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Bending Reality
I'm not going to use this post to advocate for a strict adherence to reality (how could I possibly do that when I spend a decent amount of time zipping through daydreams?); however, there ARE times when I find myself both baffled and frustrated by the "reality" that people choose to believe. No matter how much you may want to think that you have some super-special dedication to a task at hand (or if, for some unknown reason, you think the laws of nature should bend to your every whim), you cannot give more than 100% of yourself. The statement, "he/she gave 110%!" is one that annoys me more than many others. Why? Because it is NOT physically possible.
You cannot have more than the whole. Once you reach 100%, that's it. There is no more than that. That is the nature of being "whole." That is complete. You cannot ask for more. When you shift into the made-up territory of 110% you have gone beyond the bounds of reality that I am prepared, or willing, to accept/follow. If you have 110% of something, do you have all of one thing and part of another? Hypothetically, that could give you 110% of some possible total amount. Do you have part, but not all, of two (or more) items? Again, hypothetically that could give you 110% of some possible total amount. But if you are talking about one item then you must stop at 100%. Anything else is just plain silly. (Not to mention...highly annoying)
All of this frustration was brought on by a question in the end-of-conference survey I completed earlier this evening asking me about how enthusiastic I would be about implementing the new ideas learned at the technology conference I attended. One of the answer choices was 110%. That simply doesn't make sense. No one can give their all...then a little more. (If you have a little more to give then you weren't giving your all to begin with, now were you?) It's good to know I was attending a fantasy land conference for the last day and a half, because that's the only explanation I can see for an answer choice of 110% enthusiasm.
Ahh, if only I could say this was the only thing that annoys/frustrates me. Alas, it's just the tip of the iceberg! :) I'm curious though - what annoys you?
You cannot have more than the whole. Once you reach 100%, that's it. There is no more than that. That is the nature of being "whole." That is complete. You cannot ask for more. When you shift into the made-up territory of 110% you have gone beyond the bounds of reality that I am prepared, or willing, to accept/follow. If you have 110% of something, do you have all of one thing and part of another? Hypothetically, that could give you 110% of some possible total amount. Do you have part, but not all, of two (or more) items? Again, hypothetically that could give you 110% of some possible total amount. But if you are talking about one item then you must stop at 100%. Anything else is just plain silly. (Not to mention...highly annoying)
All of this frustration was brought on by a question in the end-of-conference survey I completed earlier this evening asking me about how enthusiastic I would be about implementing the new ideas learned at the technology conference I attended. One of the answer choices was 110%. That simply doesn't make sense. No one can give their all...then a little more. (If you have a little more to give then you weren't giving your all to begin with, now were you?) It's good to know I was attending a fantasy land conference for the last day and a half, because that's the only explanation I can see for an answer choice of 110% enthusiasm.
Ahh, if only I could say this was the only thing that annoys/frustrates me. Alas, it's just the tip of the iceberg! :) I'm curious though - what annoys you?
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Time to break out the Harry Potter costume
One of the things that I love most about my job is that it's a constant reminder of my own time spent in law school. While I was definitely NOT that law student that completely devoured the law and everything about it, I loved law school for the social aspect. Never in my life did I meet a better group of people all in one place. I recognize I'm a little biased, but I'm still pretty sure that my graduating class was one of the best ever. But even if that's just my skewed perspective, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in law school. It's only natural that if you put a group of people together, expect them to master some of the most challenging material they've ever encountered, and compound that with the innate stress of law school then those people are going to bond tightly together. (I've met some really great people throughout my life, but the friends I made in law school are, to this day, the ones I relate to the most and the ones that I continually gravitate back to whenever I can. We went through something together that you can't adequately describe to someone that hasn't been through it; for that reason, that bond we have is really tough to break)
So like I said, I love working in a law school because it always takes me back to that time in my life. Sure, each semester I'm happy it's not me taking the final exams - and each February and July I'm happy it's not me taking the bar exam - but I see myself in my "kids" and I appreciate that reminder. Part of my "job duties" each year include attending the spring commencement ceremony. Today is that day this year...and so later this afternoon I'll get decked out in the very Harry Potter-like robes and put on the silly hat that makes me feel like a French painter for a few hours...and while my kids cross the stage one by one to get hooded, I'll be thinking back to my own graduation four (WOW! 4 already!?!) years ago. For those of you unfamiliar with the attire, here's a picture of me on my own graduation day:
That was my tight "crew" in law school...Susan, Satyam, me, Chris and Navin. All of us (minus Navin) were in the same legal writing class our first semester (which means we had all of our classes together for our entire first year) and that was the glue that held us together through law school and beyond. Navin snuck into our little crew because he was Satyam's roommate and we loved him! After this Fall, I'll have attended the weddings of 3/5 of us...just Chris and I are left carrying that "single" torch now. :)
The regalia I will don today is not identical to my FSU Law garb. Substitute the above with black robes with purple accents (purple represents "law") and an all black hat with the more common-looking tassel and that will be me. On the outside I'll be cheering on my kids, but on the inside, I'll be transported back to May 6, 2006 in Tallahassee, FL...looking up into the stands and seeing my Dad (not my Mom, mind you!) crying, my older brother and Mom beaming with pride, my friends shouting "Go, Do-Over!" as my name was read, Professor Gey (one of the greatest professors of all time, and an incredibly brave man who has been battling ALS for several years now) hooding me, and the stark realization that I had just completed a very important chapter in my life.
Good memories for a good day...
So like I said, I love working in a law school because it always takes me back to that time in my life. Sure, each semester I'm happy it's not me taking the final exams - and each February and July I'm happy it's not me taking the bar exam - but I see myself in my "kids" and I appreciate that reminder. Part of my "job duties" each year include attending the spring commencement ceremony. Today is that day this year...and so later this afternoon I'll get decked out in the very Harry Potter-like robes and put on the silly hat that makes me feel like a French painter for a few hours...and while my kids cross the stage one by one to get hooded, I'll be thinking back to my own graduation four (WOW! 4 already!?!) years ago. For those of you unfamiliar with the attire, here's a picture of me on my own graduation day:
That was my tight "crew" in law school...Susan, Satyam, me, Chris and Navin. All of us (minus Navin) were in the same legal writing class our first semester (which means we had all of our classes together for our entire first year) and that was the glue that held us together through law school and beyond. Navin snuck into our little crew because he was Satyam's roommate and we loved him! After this Fall, I'll have attended the weddings of 3/5 of us...just Chris and I are left carrying that "single" torch now. :)
The regalia I will don today is not identical to my FSU Law garb. Substitute the above with black robes with purple accents (purple represents "law") and an all black hat with the more common-looking tassel and that will be me. On the outside I'll be cheering on my kids, but on the inside, I'll be transported back to May 6, 2006 in Tallahassee, FL...looking up into the stands and seeing my Dad (not my Mom, mind you!) crying, my older brother and Mom beaming with pride, my friends shouting "Go, Do-Over!" as my name was read, Professor Gey (one of the greatest professors of all time, and an incredibly brave man who has been battling ALS for several years now) hooding me, and the stark realization that I had just completed a very important chapter in my life.
Good memories for a good day...
Monday, May 10, 2010
Signs of old age already???
So earlier this afternoon I had a brilliant idea for a blog. Unfortunately (or fortunately - depends on how you look at it) I failed to jot down my idea at the time and have now completely forgotten what it was I was going to write about. Suffice to say, it would have been the most amazingly awesome blog post you'd ever read throughout all of your lovely little life. EVER. I sincerely apologize for allowing old age to creep in and rob me of my thoughts, thereby robbing you of your delightful reading adventure. (This really doesn't bode well for my future, does it?) I promise that I will make a quick little note of my ideas the next time they strike so that they can travel from my mind to your eyes and heart where they belong.
Until then, have a lovely evening!
Until then, have a lovely evening!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Warning: Graphic (Canine) Content
So this post will probably be classifiable as a rant, but that's okay. Here's the thing...I am a HUGE animal lover. I only have a dog right now, but over the years I have owned everything from cats and dogs to rabbits, birds, horses, fish, hamsters, and even a wild duck we helped rehab once. Allergies developed through the years though so I prefer dogs these days. But this post is not about my previous pet ownership or my allergies...
No, this post is about the rude, inconsiderate, obnoxious, etc. people that allow their dogs to defecate in their neighbors' yards and don't clean it up. I don't even let MY OWN dog go in MY OWN yard without picking up after it...for several reasons. Aside from the aesthetic look I'm going for, I also know that there are kids that run around barefoot in my neighborhood and looking out for dog poop shouldn't be something they have to do. For a bit of cuteness before what's to come, here is a picture of my dog...she likes to control the remote. :)
Every pet owner should consider several things before getting their new best friend. I know that when I selected Oreo, I chose her for several reasons (aside from her uber cute-ness). First, I wanted a dog that wouldn't shed. Check. Second, I wanted a cute dog that wouldn't shed. Check. Finally, I wanted a small dog because we all know that small dogs = small messes. Check.
There have been several occasions since moving into my house a year and a half ago that I have found the "leftovers" from other dogs in my yard. And while it is always an annoyance, they were usually at least small annoyances. Today was another matter entirely...
I was running a little late this morning (perhaps the result of Cinco de Mayo) and when I was taking Oreo for her second walk before I left for work, I couldn't help but notice that there was a new addition to my lawn since our first walk about an hour earlier. The reason I couldn't help but notice? Oh, that would be because the excrement soiling my lawn was literally baby elephant-sized (Oh, dear God, how I wish that were an exaggeration)! Seriously. The poop was about 1/2 as big as Oreo's entire body. So gross!!!
At this point, I had two choices. (1) I could leave it there and wait for weeks of rain and sprinklers and lawn care to slowly get rid of it (likely while allowing the grass to die beneath it because there's no way anything was penetrating that crap) or (2) I could clean it up (I'm gagging just thinking about it now). I chose option #2 and again, I wish I was exaggerating when I say that after getting my thickest, most durable plastic bag from the house it took me BOTH hands to pick up the ginormous poop while suppressing my gag reflex.
WTF?!? First of all, I'm actually mildly concerned about whoever's dog left such filth on my lawn because that's simply NOT natural. I can't even imagine how large the dog must have been to have done that. Does someone in the neighborhood have Clifford the Big Red Dog as their pet for real? And second, if your dog does leave those things around, clean that shit up. Seriously. What's wrong with people?!?
Fin de rant
No, this post is about the rude, inconsiderate, obnoxious, etc. people that allow their dogs to defecate in their neighbors' yards and don't clean it up. I don't even let MY OWN dog go in MY OWN yard without picking up after it...for several reasons. Aside from the aesthetic look I'm going for, I also know that there are kids that run around barefoot in my neighborhood and looking out for dog poop shouldn't be something they have to do. For a bit of cuteness before what's to come, here is a picture of my dog...she likes to control the remote. :)
Every pet owner should consider several things before getting their new best friend. I know that when I selected Oreo, I chose her for several reasons (aside from her uber cute-ness). First, I wanted a dog that wouldn't shed. Check. Second, I wanted a cute dog that wouldn't shed. Check. Finally, I wanted a small dog because we all know that small dogs = small messes. Check.
There have been several occasions since moving into my house a year and a half ago that I have found the "leftovers" from other dogs in my yard. And while it is always an annoyance, they were usually at least small annoyances. Today was another matter entirely...
I was running a little late this morning (perhaps the result of Cinco de Mayo) and when I was taking Oreo for her second walk before I left for work, I couldn't help but notice that there was a new addition to my lawn since our first walk about an hour earlier. The reason I couldn't help but notice? Oh, that would be because the excrement soiling my lawn was literally baby elephant-sized (Oh, dear God, how I wish that were an exaggeration)! Seriously. The poop was about 1/2 as big as Oreo's entire body. So gross!!!
At this point, I had two choices. (1) I could leave it there and wait for weeks of rain and sprinklers and lawn care to slowly get rid of it (likely while allowing the grass to die beneath it because there's no way anything was penetrating that crap) or (2) I could clean it up (I'm gagging just thinking about it now). I chose option #2 and again, I wish I was exaggerating when I say that after getting my thickest, most durable plastic bag from the house it took me BOTH hands to pick up the ginormous poop while suppressing my gag reflex.
WTF?!? First of all, I'm actually mildly concerned about whoever's dog left such filth on my lawn because that's simply NOT natural. I can't even imagine how large the dog must have been to have done that. Does someone in the neighborhood have Clifford the Big Red Dog as their pet for real? And second, if your dog does leave those things around, clean that shit up. Seriously. What's wrong with people?!?
Fin de rant
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Spring has sprung
Ahh...the season of new beginnings. Flora and fauna alike are abuzz with new life...trees and flowers are blossoming and newborn goslings are the babies I've seen the most of (though I have no doubt just about everything is breeding right about now).
That goes for people too. It seems like I can't jump online or talk to a friend without hearing about either upcoming nuptials or a little bundle of joy on the way. This past weekend was spent in Orlando for the wedding of a friend of mine from law school. It was a lovely wedding and reception and I had an absolute blast seeing some friends I don't get to see as often as I'd like.
I'm going to make a bold statement and say that the speech the groom-to-be gave to my friend during the rehearsal dinner was, quite possibly, the best speech I've heard at any of the many weddings I've attended. Not only was his rapture readily apparent to everyone there, but he said the absolute sweetest things to his bride-to-be. (And no, I'm not talking about sappy, cheesy lines that sound lovely but aren't worth much) His speech was clearly from the heart...spoken from a man to the woman with whom he is madly in love. As a spectator, it felt like the entire room melted away and all of the guests were given the unique gift of watching an intimate moment of unabashed love between a beautiful couple. At the end of it all I have no doubt that all the women in the room (married or not) were in love with the groom-to-be...and all the guys that were there with dates were suddenly hating him for setting the bar so high. :)
Love is a beautiful thing and I'm happy to have had the opportunity to witness so much of it this weekend! xx
That goes for people too. It seems like I can't jump online or talk to a friend without hearing about either upcoming nuptials or a little bundle of joy on the way. This past weekend was spent in Orlando for the wedding of a friend of mine from law school. It was a lovely wedding and reception and I had an absolute blast seeing some friends I don't get to see as often as I'd like.
I'm going to make a bold statement and say that the speech the groom-to-be gave to my friend during the rehearsal dinner was, quite possibly, the best speech I've heard at any of the many weddings I've attended. Not only was his rapture readily apparent to everyone there, but he said the absolute sweetest things to his bride-to-be. (And no, I'm not talking about sappy, cheesy lines that sound lovely but aren't worth much) His speech was clearly from the heart...spoken from a man to the woman with whom he is madly in love. As a spectator, it felt like the entire room melted away and all of the guests were given the unique gift of watching an intimate moment of unabashed love between a beautiful couple. At the end of it all I have no doubt that all the women in the room (married or not) were in love with the groom-to-be...and all the guys that were there with dates were suddenly hating him for setting the bar so high. :)
Love is a beautiful thing and I'm happy to have had the opportunity to witness so much of it this weekend! xx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)