GPS Buying Advice

I am a huge fan of the Tom Tom devices. They are easy to use and just work (kinda like the ipod). I'd start your search with the Tom Tom One 130s and the TomTom XL 330 . I think they are both priced over $200, but you should be able to find them on sale for less than $200 this holiday season.

Whichever GPS you choose you want it to have the following features (1) text to speech directions, it should announce the road name you are going to turn on/at and (2) map share - this allows you to add a road to your map and then share it with the Tom Tom community when you sync with your computer. I bought mine before these feautures were put in devices under $200, so mine doesn't have them and I wish it did.

Check pricing on:

tigerdirect.com (great geek buying website)
newegg.com (great geek buying website)
radioshack.com (i'm a fan. great pricing. they always have tomtoms on sale during the holidays)
circuitcity.com (closing lots of stores, supposed to have some good deals this holiday)

Supposed to be good sales on electronics this black friday.

I am continually amazed by people!

I mean that in a good way!

Last week, I had some rocks dug up in my backyard. The previous owners seemed to be into the "less is more" mode of landscaping. Less green stuff, more rock/gravel stuff. Yikes. I prefer GREEN. So, I had three areas in the backyard where they laid down white landscaping rocks. They even did one area in a ying-yang pattern, black on one side and white on the other. Oye! Not a fan. Anyway, last week, I finally paid someone to dig them up for me. After they were up, I realized I had quite the dilemma on my hands. What do I do with them?!

I called "311" our city's information hotline. They were happy to tell me what I COULDN'T do with them, but the only suggestion they had to get rid of them was to take them to a landfill. Keep in mind that at the beginning of the conversation, I had explained that I had a 2 door convertible. Not exactly a rock hauling vehicle. So, I was stuck.

Then I remembered craigslist!! Within an hour of posting "landscaping rocks - FREE!!" I had a ton of emails. I responded to all of them with a mass bcc email telling them a little bit more - how many, where they were, where I lived, that I would supply shovels...etc.

Within 24 hours the rocks were gone and my problem was solved! Yay Craigslist!!

RSS...Twitter...Blogs...iGoogle Start Pages...

Readers, and I am assuming there are readers out there! Where do you get your information??

I get RSS feeds in Safari.
I bookmark Blogs that I like to read.
I twitter...and I follow interesting people/companies/tv stations/political candidates.
I add Google Gadgets to my iGoogle start page.

I'm looking for the magic bullet, the best combo of all of these varying sources of information. What's the best way to stay up to date without drowning in information?

Gigs for Extra Cash

I am in search of gigs for a little extra cash. I've signed up on ChaCha (www.chacha.com) to be a guide, it's a lot of fun - think playing jeopardy with google as your crib notes. I am toying with the idea of temp work through a temp agency and last, but not least, I am looking for freelance writing jobs. I've got two under my belt now, one as a contract copy writer, the other writing an article about inverted microscopes. I'm not real clear about how I'm getting paid for the article - I'm either making $2.50 or $25.00. That decimal point is pretty darned important. I decided to write the article no matter what they were paying so that I had a piece for my portfolio that is "professionally" written. We'll see how it goes. If you read this blog and like my writing style, let me know if you run across contract/freelance writing work!

Bridal Showers Galore!

I may one day eat my words...but I am not a huge fan of the bridal shower. They aren't so bad until the end, when everyone is perched on the edge of their seat with a napkin, fork and a slice of cake precariously balanced on a little plate while watching the bride open presents SHE PICKED OUT. Explain this part to me?? I get the showering with gifts (and, am, in fact, jealous), I get the games "how well do you know the bride" yadeyadah. I just don't get the presents. If it's so everyone can see how happy she is that she (again) got the items she registered for, SHE PICKED THEM OUT! Odds are that she is going to be thrilled.

After being a bridesmaid, let's just say, several times, I am adamant about sticking to the registry. The person who gives the monkey head book ends means well, and thinks they know the bride/groom soooo well that they will just LOVE them too! While they always appreciate the thought, time and energy that went into selecting the PERFECT gift, they really had their heart set on the Pottery Barn vase that they - here we go again - REGISTERED for! So, next time you think of veering off of the registry, feel free to do so, but pick up a set of place mats too.


Here's a little game we played at the last shower I attended. Guess which answers were mine?

1. A woman's work is never done.
2. A happy house has a lot of wine.
3. Behind every great man is a great woman.
4. A woman's place is not in the home.
5. When the going get tough, the tough get drunk.
6. A stitch in time is divine.
7. My house is (at address).
8. The path of true love is through a bottle of red wine & dim lighting.
9. Variety is the spice of life.
10. Every man's home is a mess w/o a significant other who cares.
11. True love happens.
12. Marriages are a legal contract.
13. A watched pot never boils.
14. If the shoe fits, wear it.
15. A penny saved is a penny earned.
16. Home is where the heart is.
17. Too many cooks makes Jen freak out.

A Day in the Life

This was yesterday:
New Tires on South
Up to NorthLake to view new listing with Mr. Bossman
Down to the office (picked up lunch along the way)
Went to showing, brought Mr. Bossman, other broker never showed.
Back to office.
Left at 515 to SouthPark
Bought: shoes (on sale), flip flops, lipstick (original reason for going), swimsuit, a couple of knit dresses (they ARE awesome, Dre was so right), a boob shirt and a dress for work.
Home by 630
Packed
At lauras at 705
Loaded car.
On the road by 715
Front Street brewery at 1050
Level 5 at midnight
Beach house at 130.

Not a bad day. :-)

Panthers - 100 million, Redskins - Embarrassed

Wow! The Panthers KILLED the Redskins Saturday night. Went to the game with Dre, Christina and Christa (that is tough to keep straight when you've had a few glasses of wine!). We had a blast. Christina scored fabulous tickets to a suite right behind the goal post. We had a waitress, yummy drinks and a fantastic view. Thanks girl!

Dre and I tried so hard to be cool and checked out Howl at the Moon. I was sorely disappointed. Last time I was in a Howl was in Miami. The bar was great, lots of comfy seating surrounding the dueling pianos, some of it was even tiered. This Howl at the Moon had tall cocktail tables strewn about the place. No place to hang out and get plastered while listening to some classic tunes. We tried to enjoy it but left after a few drinks.

Car ER

For the last 2 years, the Saab has been a second car, so some maintenance has been deferred. I sold the first car, a Honda CRaVe, now, it is time to get the Saab up to everyday driving.

I knew the Saab needed a few things, most urgently, the A/C had to be fixed if I am to drive it in 90+ degree heat! So, I took her in for a check up.

She needs a few surgeries. Engine mounts, tires, rims (ugh), hoses and some other expensive item that I'm putting off.

This Friday she goes in for the new engine mounts. Apparently, these are quite important. The engine won't fall out of the car when they all break (one is broken, one is bent and you can't see the third until you get in there), but the engine will rest on the frame and slide around a bit. Which messes with the transmission...and you can see it going down hill from there.

My Saab Buddy is shopping for a deal on rims for me at the fall saab convention outside of Boston, MA this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that he finds a good deal!

Once the rims are here, I'll get new tires. Does anyone make a puncture proof regular car tire? In 25,000 miles on the Honda, I have had to replace 3 tires. The Saab only needs one due to puncture and a cut, but four due to cupping, scalloping, uneven treadwear, etc.!!!

(The Saab is a 1999 9-3SE convertible with turbo and about 117,000 miles. She has been a great car!)

Feel the Burn

Took my first group strength class this AM.  Wow!  I am in horrible shape!  Time to work on the inner thighs and triceps and abs and calfs...two days from now I will be relishing the time I spent at the gym!

Time Warner Cable - Charlotte is AWFUL

I, like so many others, went with the TWC bundled package.  When the promotional period was over, my rate sky-rocketed.  This is to be expected.  I, of course, call to discuss what they might be able to do to lower my rate.  Nothing. OK, fine.

I set up service with Vonage & AT&T (internet).  Call TWC to cancel and they are soooo ready to help me out.  "What can we do to keep you as a customer?"  Me, "Nothing.  I have already called and asked for a lower rate and the customer service person was unable to provide any options. I have spent my time and energy researching and purchasing alternatives.  There is nothing you can do to get my business back."  TWC, "Even if we were able to save you money?"  Me, "No.  At this point I have invested too much in setting up alternatives."  TWC, "Uh..OK." Hold for a few minutes.  When they come back they tell me that they will be UNABLE to disconnect my service because I have leased equipment (the cable modem).  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Terminate my service.  Put a charge on my bill for the amount of the unit, credit my bill when it is returned.  TWC, "You have to turn the equipment in."  Me, "Can you come pick it up?"  TWC, "Yes, there is a courier service, let me give you the number."  Me, "Is there any cost to me for this pick up?"  TWC, "No."

Next call...the courier service.  There is ONE woman who can schedule pick ups and apparently, she is at lunch at 4PM in the afternoon.  She will return my call.

I am not going to hold my breath.

And this does not even take into consideration that they have incorrectly applied my payments since DECEMBER of 2007 and turned off my service for lack of payment when all of the bills had been paid!!!!

Apple is Taking the World DOWN!

The first thing I did this morning was hop online to update my iTunes & iPhone.  I was not alone.  Reading all of the blogs...it looks like the iTunes store has crashed and burned.  Now my lovely iPhone is a nice paperweight on my desk while I pray that my connection to itunes store will come back and make it a wonderful, amazing new phone.  AGGGGH!!!!  

Also, Twitter is crashing.  AIM and Jabber too....

Jimmy!

Jimmy Buffett kicked off the summer concert series in 40 degree weather last night!  My friend Matt drove in and took me to the concert.  (Thank you Matt!!!) We had a grand time, he is still at the house nursing a pretty wicked hang over.  I am at work!  Sucker.  I must admit, I did sleep in this morning and probably slept through the worst of the hangover.  

While I was in and out of sleep I was thinking about 2008.  Part of me feels like it has been SUCH a DIFFICULT year.  Unexpectedly losing my job and then severely injuring myself are not the harbingers of good things!  I realized I was only focusing on the negative things that had happened.

I started going through all of the good things that have happened this year.  I have traveled to Cancun, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Richmond and DC, I have done a lot of rewarding work in the garden, I've started dating again, I've been to a Bruce Springsteen AND Jimmy Buffett concert.  Not a bad year at all and frankly, it's off to a better start than most.

BRUCE!

This past Christmas, I gave my mother tickets to see Bruce Springsteen.  Well, the show did not disappoint!  I'm sure you have been to concerts that were good.  And, I'm sure you've been to concerts that are GREAT.  The GREAT concerts happen when the performer hits that vibe with the audience and it's just awesome.  Maybe all of Bruce's concerts are like that?  I've only been to one before and I recall it being pretty darn great.  Baby, we were born to run!!!

A Weird Weekend

I will dispense with formalities first.  

What the hell happened to the Tar Heels???!!!  My team completely fell apart on Saturday night during the final four.  It was horrible to watch.  They were down by 31 points at one time, then brought the lead within 4 points...only to go down by 18.  Ugh.  The press conference afterwards was even MORE painful to watch.  I have never seen a more distraught team after losing a game.

Now for the fun stuff.  I have started dating again.  I'm really trying to focus on it since I have neglected that part of my life for a while.  A friend set me up with this guy and we were supposed to go out this coming Thursday.  Well, Sunday afternoon he shot me a text and asked me to dinner Sunday night.  I had triple booked Thursday anyway, so this was a great loop hole for me.  I also figured that there was no point in playing games...the whole,  you didn't give me enough lead time so I'm "not available" crap.  Thought I'd skip it.

Dinner was nice.  He showed up in stylish clothes.  Driving a Merecedes CLK350 (turned out it wasn't his, but he drives a BMW645).  Suggested a good restaurant (which had gone out of business in the last week but quickly accepted my suggestion of a decent place down the road).  Conversation was good.  He was funny.  Oh - this was a blind date too.  He was hot (go B! thanks!).  

Now, maybe I have become a bit uptight in my old age?  Maybe the following will explain why I am still singe.  Most of his stories involved dates that went sideways with girls who had at one time or another been employed as strippers.  Now, he was careful to point out that he doesn't frequent strip clubs (not a fan) but seems to meet them.  The stories were damn funny.  But, is it odd to bring up stripper dates on a first blind date?

The nice car thing threw me for a loop.  I NEVER date guys with nice cars.  I have no idea why, but every guy I have dated (last two excepting...maybe I've found grown up men?!) has driven a POS.  Either really old, really dirty or stunk, or a combination of all three.  So, a date with a guy who has a real life nice car is an oddity.  It's a good thing, particularly since I like cars!!

I need to scoot, so for now, I'll wrap with I don't expect him to call.  I don't think I'm his type of girl.

Wow - So This is what living feels like!

I have been so focused on work and building my career the past 2.5 years that I had begun to neglect parts of my life.  I was working 10+ hour days and loving it.  Only, I forgot to do little things that were important to me.  I forgot to go to the gym/work out.  I forgot to spend lots of time with my friends.  I forgot to garden.  I forgot to take my dog for walks.  I had even forgotten to read! (For as long as I can remember, I have almost always read at least a chapter every night before bed.) I forgot to be involved.

Since THE LAYOFF I have been slowly regrouping.  I've started to exercise again. I've started to cook.  It's even easier now that the stove I burned up has been replaced.  I've started to think about dating again.  Stop - let me rephrase that.  I had started to think about it back in the fall when the blast from my past popped back into my life.  Even though he wasn't an option for me (pesky morals), I had such a good time with him (as always) that I remembered that it was FUN to flirt and go to dinner and have drinks, with someone other than your friends and family.  I had forgotten.

Here's to remembering!!

Helluva Year

About a three weeks ago, I was cooking dinner and caught a pot, and then my stove on fire. In the process of putting it all out, I severely burned my right hand. Yes, I'm right handed. The only insurance I have is through COBRA, so I'll be paying $400/month for insurance. Ugh. This is the second challenge to overcome.   The good news is that it is healing - slowly - and pretty soon I should have full use back and no longer be walking around with a mummified right hand.

What will the third challenge be???

Cancun or Bust!

What does the sane girl do when she loses her job?  Take off to Cancun for a week of soul searching!

We'll see if this turns out to be one of my crazier ideas or not.

Oddly enough, or not, actually, my friends reactions when I told them I was taking off was, "Are you crazy?!"  Wait, no, you're Jen.  This is a completely normal reaction for you. Good luck!"

My plan is to take this time and figure out what is important to me and decide WHAT TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.  Or, at least the next chapter.

I am so grateful to have spent most of the month of January in blissful ignorance of my impending job loss.  January was quite a bit of fun and wouldn't have been if I had known what was just around the corner.

Isn't that the crux of life?

Una margarita por favor!!

A Nice Friday Night

Last night, I had two of my girlfriends over for dinner.  We had a great time!  The menu was a mescaline salad, garlic stuffed, balsamic vinegar broiled pork tenderloin with a carmelized onion and red wine reduction, mashed potatoes and broccolini with olive oil and garlic. 

After dinner we headed to the Opera to see Aida.  It was a wonderful opera, but none of us realized just how long it was going to be.  We were pretty antsy after the third scene change and intermission!  The Opera was over three hours.  Regardless, it was a really nice night

Gateway Drugs...

I love technology.  It's awesome.  I am not an early adopter.  I'm usually right behind them.  I prefer version 1.2 to version 1.0.

About three years ago I started jones-ing for an iPod.  Then, Apple came out with the U2 iPod.  Being a HUGE U2 fan, it was just what i needed to get over the $300 price tag for some little thing that played music.  Little did I know that it was the beginning of the end.

I loved my U2 iPod.  I was so sad the day it tumbled from my purse and landed with a clatter on the tiled floor of Cheesecake Factory bathroom.  A few days later, I began to mourn.  It started making a horrid little whirring noise when it tried to spin it's now misshapen hard drive.  A few days later, I headed to the Apple store and exchanged my autographed iPod for a 30G black iPod.  Finally.  I thought I had my fix.  The new iPod was working great.  

Then, CES January 2007. Our good buddy Steve came out with the iPhone.  Ooohh.  Ahhhh...must have new toy.  I resist.

Summer 2007, the iTouch comes out.  Back I go to the Apple store.  I pick up my iTouch.  I am in love, it's awesome.  Does everything you can think of...

A few days before CES/Macworld 2008, I'm over at my Sari's house and her husband has the new black macbook.  Shows me spaces...shows me how it can run Windows.  Cool...the idea has taken root.  Then, I head to the Big Apple where I spent some time partying in the City and also surfing on Ann's macbook.  So cool!  The day after I get back...guess where I am?  Yes, folks, that's right.  I'm at the Apple store, buying my new macbook.  Ah....it's nice.   I watch the January 2008 Stevenote...on my new macbook.  

Two days later I'm back for a mighty mouse.

The next week I'm back for a keyboard cover, genius bar and an apple care plan.

Now, I'm shopping for a time capsule and an airport extreme.

When will the madness end???

The World is my Oyster...pass the horseradish!

I am very fortunate that I have never been through a lay-off until now.  But my reaction hasn't been normal!  The first two or three days, I was pretty upset.  Most of the upset occurred when my friends were being wonderful.  Go figure!  They have been great.  No one let me spend a night alone last week.  The phone keeps ringing and the emails and cards of encouragement keep coming. 

I am wondering if I have lost my mind because I am SO INCREDIBLY ESTATIC that I don't have to work at The Company any more!

The economy is about to hit a nasty road bump so I should be pretty worried about not having a job, but for some crazy reason I'm not.  I chose to believe that this gift of time is important right now.  When I moved to my City, I moved for a J-O-B, right out of College.  Another friend was supposed to take the position but she got a better offer in her Home Town and decided to move there instead.  So, without any thought between, hey, that City sounds cool.  I don't have a job in College Town, Ok, I'll move.

For the past 10 years, I have been following other people's decisions.  It has landed me in an industry that I really love and a position that excites me.  However, very few decisions that placed me here were made by me.

I need to spend some time deciding if my unconscious decisions were the right ones for me or if I should take full advantage of the ability to make conscious decisions.  Let me give you an example.

In December, I started spending less time in the office.  Since I'm in Sales, I can get away with this, it's actually encouraged.  In early January, after returning from a trip to the Big Apple, I decided to spontaneously purchase a laptop - so I could work from Panera or Starbucks (until I found out they charge for it!) or Caribou or Bojangles.  I started doing all of these things that would make it really easy for me to change jobs without any conscious or planned decision to do so.  It's absolutely wild.

More to come...

Holy Cow!

Wow, so this week has been crazy.  The company I had been with for almost three years, and that RECRUITED me no less, laid off several people on Tuesday and I was one of the lucky ones!  Go figure.  Even better, I have worked more hours this week than I had in a while (and I was rarely a 40-hour a week person), without a job!  Nuts.

The Ocean in my BackYard

As I sat on the balcony
and waited
for the hummingbirds to feed

A gentle breeze began to wash
over me

Transforming the crepe myrtle,
branches drooping from
the gentle weight of their
flowers and seeds,

into a vast green ocean
waves undulating in the
sultry afternoon breeze.

Staring at the tree, it
blurs out of focus
and I am floating
on the bathwater green waves
of my childhood.

and the hummingbird feeds.

It's snowing!

Is it wrong that I adore Cashmere Mafia?  The show appears to be without substance - but many points ring true.  G'nite.

It's COLD!

The weather has been blissfully warm over the last few weeks and all of sudden it's winter again! The high today if 40 degrees (F). Yikes. Out came the hat, gloves, scarf and coat.

I'm having a tough time getting into the groove of working again. The last two weeks have been very slow and it's been nice just to maintain deals (i'm in sales). But, the party is over and it's time to start generating business again!

Today has been a good day. I got an appointment from cold calling.

This has been a good week too. Night before last I spoke with an old friend from middle school and had a great time! We talked for an hour and a half. Being in sales, it's rare that I want to spend that much time on the phone after work, however, I throughly enjoyed the conversation. I was also able to use a few "SAT" words. We talked about so many different topics and spent very little time on work talk. I REALLY enjoyed that. More importantly, it was nice to talk with someone who had such a range of interests that you could talk about all sorts of things!

Last night I headed to the local Indian grocery with my girlfriend who likes to cook and began exploring. Last Christmas (2006) a good friend gave me an Indian cookbook and I've finally found a place where I can pick up many of the unique ingredients.

Tonight - I cook!!!