Tagged

I've been tagged by Andy, so here it is ...

Tagged ...
Here are the rules: Once you've been tagged you have to write a blog with six weird things/habits about yourself.

1. "Hello, my name is Angie, and I'm a Softlips addict." OK, well Softlips is my favorite, but any lip balm will do. If I realize that I don't have some with me, I go into my own little state of panic, and my lips INSTANTLY feel chapped. It's usually a bad mood sort of situation.

2. When I go to bed, I turn on the alarm and lay down. After about 5-10 min., I start thinking that maybe I didn't turn it on, even though I always do, so I have to turn around and check. This unfortunately repeats anywhere from one to three times each evening before I finally relax that it is in fact turned on.

3. When I am done eating, I have to go wash my hands to get rid of the food smell. This sounds like normal enough of a thing to do, but if I have eaten something with a strong smell, I have to continue washing for as many more times as it takes to get rid of even the faintest smell.

4. I generally don't like the icing that comes on most cakes, so when I have a slice, I always tip it on its side and eat from the bottom, usually leaving a perfect, upright slab of icing remaining. I also leave the crust of cheesecake in the same manner.

5. When I put dishes in the dishwasher, I have to pre-rinse them to the point that every speck of food is off of them just in case the machine might not get everything on its own. Maybe when I own I dishwasher that I have selected new, I will trust it ... I don't know.

6. I can't stand loose hair ANYWHERE on the shower walls or on ANYTHING in the shower. I have to rinse it away pronto if I see it (making sure that it won't hit my feet on the way to the drain) ... and if I notice it later in the day, I have to rinse it away before leaving the bathroom.

Smokin' graphics

Sometimes when I'm in the middle of updating a glamorous E. coli chronology such as this ...

... I wonder if the people creating weird graphics like these, courtesy of Japan Tobacco Inc., are having more fun:

Eh, maybe I should stick with my job. :) Chronologies and charts aside, I do get to research "The Price is Right" for an anniversary graphic after all. It's amazing how much media there is out there about this show ... I sure do hate going through it hehe. FYI, Bob Barker's youthful voice in the '70s is something to give a listen.

OK, Doc

I had to see an endocrinologist for new insulin because the Humulin U that I have used since I was diagnosed was discontinued. After being told the fact I was still using that kind was archaic a few times with an exasperated look (sorry, it's been working very well for me, so why change), I got a scolding.

And no, not for what might make sense for a doctor to lecture about … as RobG guessed … something like not testing my blood sugar enough or not keeping my blood sugar in proper check. Nope, I'm good there. After seven years with the condition, I was scolded for apparently being ashamed of having diabetes!

I guess I used the word "discreet" a few times when talking about using my medication. Finally, she sighs loudly and says, "You need to get this 'discreet' business out of your head. There is no reason to be discreet about anything. Being diabetic is no big deal. You'd be surprised at the number of people that are diabetic. It doesn't matter if people see you take your medicine. It's nothing to be ashamed of. If you're hanging out with people that wouldn't like you if they saw it, then you don't want to hang out with them anyway."

Whoa. I was slightly taken aback to say the least. I told her that I was in no way ashamed, but that I preferred to carry around as few things as possible and the smallest items possible. Finally, I gave up even explaining myself because I got the distinct impression that she didn't believe me anyway.

Ashamed! I was so weirded out that I just stopped thinking about it and continued answering questions, but while I was riding back to work, the irritation began to fester. "You'd be surprised at the number of people that are diabetic," kept resonating in my head. I mean, wouldn't you be surprised by that number BECAUSE the people are, in fact, discreet about it?? Call me crazy, but I haven't felt the need to go waving my syringe around at the dinner table. Obviously, that's because I'm ashamed.

So, friends, watch out the next time you're dining with me. I've been going about this all wrong. I guess I need to come up with an outlandish ritual to flaunt that I'm diabetic. Who knows … maybe the whole restaurant should know about it. After all, there's nothing to be ashamed of.

5th grade all over again

I sat most of the day today feeling kind of like I was in 5th grade again. No, my hair wasn't in a ponytail or braid that nearly fell to my knees anymore (I don't know why I ever wanted my hair that long anyway), and I didn't get to go outside and play tag at recess in the middle of the day, but my capri jeans did have zippers at the bottom of the legs just like a couple of pairs of jeans I had in elementary school that I LOVED (the current ones fail to have the lace-filled heart cutout at the top of the zipper, though, which is probably a good thing for this day and age hehe).

OK, OK … I know that I wrote a blog about a month and a half ago where I bashed the skinny jeans. I know that now I sound a bit like a hypocrite (which I can't stand) because I have indeed sort of fallen back into the '80s trend zone, BUT can I just say that I was able to pick up this pair for only $13, they fit pretty good, and I really ONLY bought them to be able to pair them with boots for the winter. You see, a skinny-legged capri style will be able to fit nicely into my knee-high boots without horridly uncomfortable bunching, making me horribly hot all day, making my calves look like tree stumps, or making my jeans poof out at the knee like a parachute. I mean, you CAN'T tuck flared leg pants into boots … it just doesn't work!

Yes, so I only allowed myself to buy them for boots, but then this morning as I look at the bag with new clothes just waiting to get out, I decided it couldn't hurt just to give them a try while it is still warm enough to wear them as capris, right? And so the story ends … it hasn't been so bad.

Anyway, I'm admitting my indiscretion … which does a little to make up for it I hope. The ultimate problem is that having them is going to make me crazy to go out and drop a few hundred dollars on updated, sexy boots to go with them because I'm already sick of the pairs that I have, and it hasn't even gotten to be time to wear them yet! :)

ADD: Per Chuck's request, a pic documenting my hypocrisy ... enjoy.
9.30.06 - 2:13 a.m.

Applying for "Big Brother 8"

So, I've started filling out the written application, and that's really no big deal. The pain in the ass part is the stupid two-minute video, and of course, that's the part that will actually get you selected haha.

I've been talking with some of my fellow "Big Brother" fans about this for a couple weeks and have a few ideas (thanks Natalie), but the more ideas the better right? Even my Gram has a few suggestions ... the funniest of which being that when we get ready to tape it, it would probably be good to have a beer beforehand. :) I'm thinking more like a beer or four hehe.

No rush ... I have to find someone to let me borrow their video camera, too. Actually, as long as they are still accepting applications at that point, probably the best time to film it would be when I'm back home in November. Who wants to help?? Fun times.

Whenever you come up with something, leave the idea for me, and I'll love you forever for helping me get on the show. I'll even give you a kick-back when I win the $500,000. ;)

Rethinking priorities could be necessary

We had a fire drill in the building this afternoon, shortly after lunch. Now, I haven't dealt with a mandatory evacuation/head count since back in K-12 days ... when you didn't take anything with you, you didn't really have anything very important anyway, and you were just happy to be out of class for awhile.

Today, I start filing out with all of my coworkers, and making the trek down the 10 flights of stairs, I see many women walking out clutching their purses. Hmmm ... if this is a real fire, I think that might have been a good thing to grab. Things I would not have anymore had this not been a drill:

- Insulin
- Drivers license/identification
- Money
- ATM card
- Credit cards
- Cell phone (or any phone at my apartment)
- Key to apartment/key fob to even get into building

Oh, but what I did think to grab? My 32 oz. Diet Coke from Chipotle. Yeah, I think there's a problem there.

He's not JUST a great quarterback

Peyton Manning also gets it done with his wonderfully hilarious commercials. Never a disappointment. This year for Sprint:

Love it.