Return of the Kings

It's been a long 2 weeks since the Kings last home game, so I woke up this morning eagerly anticipating their return to Staples Center tonight. While they were gone, my boys won 4 of their last 5 games and pulled within 2 points of a playoff spot. So I started today's hockey festivities by updating my Kings tribute walls in my cubicle with the roster cards I've collected so far this season.



The Sully wall has now turned into the Sully and Drew wall, although content-wise it's still mostly Sully. I need to make copies of some of my Drew pictures...probably a project for this weekend. For now, I have their roster cards placed on either side of my Kings Fan license plate. Drew is on the right.



After a long and frustrating day at work, I was finally off to the game. For some reason, the Calgary Flames are one of those teams we can't seem to figure out how to beat. It doesn't help that their starting goalie, Mikka Kiprusoff, was simply outstanding tonight. We out-shot the Flames something like 34-18, but just couldn't get anything by him. So our winning streak unfortunately came to an end, but I was proud of the fact that we played a solid game overall.

We have two "Opposing Team Hotties of the Night." For Nadine, who likes her short guys, Calgary has #13 - Michael Cammalleri, who oddly enough played for the Kings last year but was traded at during last year's rookie draft. I was kind of glad to see him go. I admit he's cute, but is kinda stuck up and only wanted to talk to the really pretty girls at meet the players events, which means he pretty much ignored me. Not nice Cammy!



For those of you that like your dark and handsome hockey players a little taller (me, for instance), we have #7 - Todd Bertuzzi.



And with no win tonight, Drew retains his 4-2 lead in the Lucky Jersey contest.

Next up...the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. What better way to spend Valentine's Day?

Desert Days

Now that things have slowed down on the classroom front since the end of January, work has picked up in the travel department. At least it's local travel (for now), and it gets me back in the field seeing how what I teach in the classroom is being put to use. One of the cooler aspects of my job, actually.

I spent the first part of the week in Palm Springs doing ride alongs with field reps. I left home at 5 AM and drove 2 1/2 hours in the pouring rain to our office in Rancho Mirage. It actually rained pretty much the entire day on Monday...not exactly the weather you imagine when you're going to the desert. But the payoff came the next day. Lots of rain in the lower part of the desert means snow in the surrounding mountains, and the views on either side of Interstate 10 were breathtaking. The photos really don't do it complete justice.









Another great thing about getting in the field is the interesting things you see at body shops. Like this classic Ford Mustang getting a new paint job. Love the racing stripes!



And what's a body shop without a cool house dog? This is Humphrey...he keeps all the customers at Desert Auto Body entertained. Plus he guards cameras in his spare time. Thanks buddy!



I'll be out making the rounds and seeing more of the CA body shop world for the next two weeks. Who knows what I'll find....I think I'll keep the camera with me just in case!

Creative Recycling

A while ago, I sorted though my jewelry chest (yes, I have an entire piece of furniture whose job is to organize my jewelry collection) after coming to the conclusion I have way to much costume jewelry I never wear. I invariably default to something silver or full of sparklies, so why do I have so much fake colored gemstone stuff? Because I can't resist a sale on cheap accessories.



Anyway, after I gathered up all this stuff, it seemed a shame to just throw it out. And then I started thinking about all the money I spend on scrapbook bling and embellishments, and got the idea to take apart the jewelry and use some of the components a little more creatively. They came in handy when I was making Valentine's Day cards today.

Here are some samples.




Everything you see was made from paper scraps, jewelry pieces, and rubber stamping supplies I already had. Much better than paying the Hallmark people $3 per card!



Now I'm gonna take the money I saved and go buy stamps so I can mail these. Fun!

10 Year-Old Melts Heart of World's Coolest Aunt

I was having a really crappy day when I got this thank you note from my nephew Will. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you might recall I got him an iPod for Christmas this year. But since everything is a la carte with Apple, you don't get an AC adapter with the unit. Makes sense, since most people charge theirs while it's plugged into the USB port of their computer downloading music. But since my brother's computer has only one workable USB port and Will has to share with everyone else in the house, I figured he could use an alternate method to charge his new toy. Especially since he rarely put it down the entire time I was home!

So without telling my sister-in-law (I wanted it to be a surprise), I went to the Apple store online and ordered him one. My strategy worked! Here's what Will had to say...and might I mention he already has impressive computer skills!



I didn't stop smiling for about 3 hours after I opened this. Just goes to show no matter how bad life seems, kids are still the best reality check in the world about what's important. And they'll always find a way to make you smile.

THANK YOU, WILL!

This Woman's Work

I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.

I should be crying, but I just can't let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can't stop thinking
Of all the things I should've said,
That I never said.
All the things we should've done,
That we never did.
All the things I should've given,
But I didn't.

Oh, darling, make it go,
Make it go away.

I don't know why, but lately the lyrics from this Kate Bush penned song have really been resonating with me. According to a Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Woman%27s_Work_(song)) I read on the subject, "the lyrics of the song are about being forced to suddenly confront reality and adulthood in times of crisis."

This was certainly the intent in featuring the song in John Hughes' 1988 movie "She's Having a Baby," starring Kevin Bacon and Elizabeth McGovern. It's a movie I think a lot of Kevin Bacon fans may have missed but shouldn't. The scene the song plays under, of Bacon's young father sitting helplessly in the waiting room of a hospital as his wife struggles through the problematic delivery of their first child, is a wonderful piece of acting. If you don't cry watching him, you don't have a heart. And the lyrics say it all:

Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman's work,
This woman's world.
Ooh, it's hard on the man,
Now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.

Fast forwarding to now, I don't think I'm finally confronting adulthood, at least since I felel like I've been doing that for years. And I'm not having a baby. So the crisis theory must be what draws me to this song. But I also think it's the music. Kate Bush has always been one of my favorite artists, and her voice is surely one of the most original in music. But for Kate, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, and so many other emotive female songwriters would not have careers today. The opening tones of Kate's fragile soprano on the recorded version from her album The Sensual World sound like the first glimpse of a sunrise. They say smell is the closest sense connected to memory, but for me sound is my instant tie to memory and emotion.

If Kate Bush isn't exactly your taste, check out Maxwell's cover of the song on his 2001 album Now. He more than does it justice. I own both versions of the song, and I have a hard time choosing which one I like best. Thanks to the magic of my iPod, I can listen to both any time I want.

Either way, check this song out. I'll bet it gets inside your head too.

Rock the Red and Support Heart Health

In honor of National Wear Red Day today, I wore one of my favorite dresses to work.

In addition to being red and perfect for the occasion, I love it for a bunch of other reasons:

• It's totally comfortable.
  

• It's a stretchy jersey fabric, so it travels well.


• I always feel skinny (relatively speaking) in it.


• It always gets me a ton of compliments.


• I think I paid $22 for it at either Ross or T.J. Maxx, so I've once again confirmed my mastery as a bargain shopper!

But the dress isn't the important part - National Wear Red Day is! It's a special day to celebrate the choices we have to beat heart disease - the nation's No. 1 killer of women. This cause is a big deal for me because heart disease runs rampant in my family, especially on my Dad's side. And although most of my family members impacted have been men, I'm at a significantly higher risk than many women because of my family history.

Now I will admit, I am far from the best person on the planet at taking care of my heart. I have way to much stress in my life, much of it self imposed. I hardly exercise, other than climbing the stairs of the parking garage at work and jumping up and down when the Kings score a goal - not exactly aerobic exercise. I don't eat as well as I should. And let's face it, I'm carrying too much extra weight. There, I said it.

But here's the good news. The minute you start making an effort to change your behavior, it helps. So I walked with my friend Tammy to lunch today instead of driving, even in spite of the rain. And I ordered a half turkey sandwich and organic tomato bisque soup instead of the pasta I wanted. And tomorrow, I'll try to do a little more, because every little bit counts.

You can find out more about women and heart disease by visiting GoRedForWomen.org. Show your support for the cause, share a personal story about heart disease, or talk about choices you're making every day to beat it. You can even sign up and receive a free red dress pin! Who doesn't love free stuff!

Most importantly, do it because, if you're reading, you matter to me, and I want you around in my life for as long as you want to be there. And if you don't want to do it for me, do it for someone else you love. Because a good heart is hard to find.

Economic Woes Hit Home

Waking up every day and hearing more bad news in the world is getting tiresome. Every headline has companies being bailed out, laying off thousands of employees, or worse. Progressive has been fortunately immune to much to this business downturn...until recently. But it really hit home for me when I opened my e-mail this morning, and found this from a dear friend and co-worker:

"I was one of the 28 recruiters laid off. My last day is Feb 10th. "

I guess no one really has job security right now.

If anyone out there is looking for a talented recruiter who is a pleasure to work with, let me know. I have just the right person for you.