Paint Your Pumpkin

Apparently, every year my company has an inter-departmental pumpkin carving/decorating contest. One of the Supervisors said "hey, you're creative, you should do that for our department." Since no one else would have done it, I said "sure!" & proceeded to paint the pumpkin with skeletons in maintenance uniforms performing various tasks. I now present to you my entry for the Facilities Engineering department:

Much More Important Than Me

Please take a moment to celebrate the life of Rosa Parks, who passed away last night.

I find it slightly funny (but not "haha" funny) that the obituary has to remind people that Jim Crow laws were in place -- it's a dark spot on our history that we should never forget, but it's refreshing to know there are people in the U.S. who've never felt their direct effects.

If I could have just a tiny fraction of the impact she had on the world, I would be content.

Week 15 -- Halfway There!

Well, I had my Jenny Craig meeting yesterday, & I've passed another milestone -- I have officially crossed my halfway point. No, scratch that -- I didn't just cross it, I broke through like a Mack truck going through a picket fence. Another 3lbs gone puts me JUST under 156 -- officially where I was when I went into college. It occurred to me that, in 6 more pounds, my driver's license will be telling the truth for the first time in . . . well . . . ever!

I literally had to pin the waist of my skirt today, to keep it from falling off my hips. None of my dress pants fit -- even the new ones I bought just a few weeks ago are kind of loose.

I have to buy new shoes for winter -- I put on my trusty black pumps this morning and promptly stepped right out of them.

My checking account is going to be screaming by the time this is over, but that's okay.

I'm more than halfway back to being ME!

Yay Me!

Well, I had my Jenny Craig meeting yesterday, and after 14 weeks -- and for four of those I was sick, & pretty much let myself eat anything I wanted -- I have officially passed two milestones:
(1) I passed the 20lb mark. I have lost 20.4 pounds.
(2) I crossed the 160 threshold -- I am 1.8lbs away from my halfway point, and right about where I was when I went into my sophomore year of college.

Whoo hoo!

Read This Article

So, I've been thinking lately about the attacks made on the president & how "George Bush doesn't care about black people," (according to rapper Kayne West), and I'm not sure that's the case. I don't think the problem is that Bush doesn't like black people -- I mean, he has Colin & Condoleezza, right? My personal opinion, take it for what it's worth, is that perhaps he doesn't like poor people. I say "perhaps," because I'm not completely sure that he even SEES them to begin with, and it is difficult to have an opinion on something you don't even recognize.

So, I encourage you to read the article The Other America, from msnbc.com. It makes a lot of good points, and includes the following immortal quotes:

From GWB's momma, Mrs. Barbara Bush: "So many of the people in the arenas here, you know, were underprivileged anyway. So this is working very well for them." Umm, yeah, like being crowded into a hot dark hellhole with 10,000 other people would work well for ANYONE. I mean heck, the Audubon Zoo didn't even cram their animals into "safe" rooms during the hurricane -- and the animals apparently fared better than some of the folks in the Superdome. Sure, Mrs. B, I'm sure it's working well for them, I mean, it's not like they're human beings or anything.

The best quotes of all, however, come from Illinois Senator Barack Obama (& to quote my friend Jonathan, "I will quit my job to work on that man's presidential campaign" when it happens), and read:

"I hope we realize that the people of New Orleans weren't just abandoned during the hurricane," Sen. Barack Obama said last week on the floor of the Senate. "They were abandoned long ago—to murder and mayhem in the streets, to substandard schools, to dilapidated housing, to inadequate health care, to a pervasive sense of hopelessness."

and even better,

Obama, the only African-American in the U.S. Senate, says "the ineptitude was colorblind." But he argues that while—contrary to rapper Kanye West's attack on Bush—there was no "active malice," the federal response to Katrina represented "a continuation of passive indifference" on the part of the government. It reflected an unthinking assumption that every American "has the capacity to load up their family in an SUV, fill it up with $100 worth of gasoline, stick some bottled water in the trunk and use a credit card to check into a hotel on safe ground." When they did focus on race in the aftermath, many Louisianans let their fears take over. Lines at gun stores in Baton Rouge, La., snaked out the door. Obama stops short of calling this a sign of racism. For some, he says, it's a product of "sober concern" after the violence in the city; for others, it's closer to "racial stereotyping."

So, again, read the article The Other America, from msnbc.com. No matter what your socioeconomic status, it's eye-opening; but if you've never had to think or worry about your status, it's even more important.

GRE News

First, let me apologize for being incommunicado, I've been fighting a nasty stomach virus for the past month, but it's almost gone.

I took my GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Saturday -- three little letters that will impact the next 5-7 years of my life, as I attempt to get into a PhD program in Biology.

Since the test was computer-based, I got my verbal & quantitative scores right there. Keeping in mind that (1) the minimum requirements for admission to, say, Washington U here in STL are 400 on each section (scale of 200-800) and (2) the average scores for folks intending to do graduate work in Life Sciences are 464 verbal & 568 quantitative, I got....

drumroll please...

610 verbal, 710 quantitative.

1320 total -- I'm not unhappy about this.

In addition, the first section of the Analytical Writing part required me to choose one of two topics to write an intelligent mini-essay about. I signed a form saying that I wouldn't tell you what the topic was, but I can tell you that it was directly related to my undergraduate degree. Major ego boost! I'm pretty sure that I rocked on both parts of that section (Thank you, Mehlville HS English Department!)

That's all -- just wanted to share.

I Had to, You See . . .

I couldn't help it -- I had to. Didn't have a choice. It was inevitable, really.

I had to buy some new clothes.

Not much -- two blouses, and a belt.

A belt, people -- because my pants are too big for me. Losing six inches in the waist does that, you see.

Two new blouses, because I wanted them -- but more importantly, I got them at Target. I haven't been able to buy cute blouses at Target in I-don't-know-how-long.

I have Jenny Craig-ed my way out of the "plus-size" stores.

Yesterday, I found out that I have crossed the 160 lb mark -- somewhere I haven't been since my sophomore year in college.

Not only that, I'm 19.6 lbs lighter than when I started -- that's right, by next week, I expect to hit the 20lb mark.

YAY!

Argh!

Okay, so I just got an email through my Zoo Job -- one of the other Seasonal Instructors sending a copy of the now-infamous "let's all not buy gas for one day" message. Perhaps it's because I'm sick, but I really feel the need to be extra-irritable over this. For some nifty statistics on the gasoline situation in the US, see Robert's posting "I've Got Gas".

Here are my big issues with receiving this email:

(1) I figure that less than half the people who say they're going to avoid the pumps on 9/10 will actually do it.
(2) All the people who DO avoid the pumps will inevitably end up filling their tanks, probably the day before or the day after -- won't these "surges" counteract the "drop" you're hoping to create? Heck, if I worked for a gigantic oil magnate, I'd raise the price a few cents before & after the so-called "stick-it-to-'em" date {and what the hell kind of name is that?} and make a freakin' profit off all those people.
(3) Given, I've only taken two measly economics courses, but I'm thinking that in a situation of CONSTANT demand (in the long run, people NEED gasoline, even if they're not buying it right this minute), no one is going to "choke" on their supply volume.

Therefore, I'd like to offer my own suggestions for combating the recent rise at the pumps. None are really large-scale, fight Big Brother, Conspiracy Theory-esque, but feel free to avail yourself of any or all.

Tiffany's Ideas to Combat Rising Gasoline Prices:
(1) Walk.
(2) If it's too far to walk, ride a bike.
(3) Too far to bike? Take public transportation.
(4) Not available? Try carpooling.
(5) Have to drive by yourself? Trade in your freaking' gas guzzler and buy something more efficient (and by "more" efficient, I mean that it gets A MINIMUM of 23 miles to the gallon, because my Ranger can get 25).
(6) Fill your tanks in the evening.
(7) Drive with the windows down instead of using the AC.
(8) Write your legislators to push for funding for alternative fuels.

I think I shall patent that list. Everyone will pay me royalties when they walk. If I charge 10 cents per usage, it'll still be cheaper than 10% ethanol, right?

A New Ass

Perhaps it's only funny because I was reading it at 6:30 this morning, but I received the following email note from my boss at the zoo:

"Also interesting, we are getting a new male ass for the females. He is coming from Germany, but is in New York now and is on his way here. So, that's cool!"

The animal she's referring to is a Somali Wild Ass, now famous for being the animal that the lovable Shrek character Donkey was modeled after. We've had a male for some time (a little goofy, likes to run around his yard with a bucket on his head), then got in three fillies but, alas, they are too closely related to the male to be housed together. Hence, the new ass for the girls. Ha ha ha.

Just thought I'd share.

Because I love you.

Way to Go, Connecticut

I just felt the urge to share with you this yahoo article about Connecticut filing suit against GWB's No Child Left Behind Act.

My thoughts on the NCLB Act (please read with as much sarcasm as possible):

~Yay, more bubble-filling! Today's kids DEFINITELY need to improve their bubble-filling skills.

~Whoo hoo, yearly testing! Because, you see, if you graph the results from yearly testing, they will be DRASTICALLY different from testing done every two years.

~I am SO in favor of requiring all this stuff without actually providing a means to fund it!

Here's an article that showed up in STLtoday.com today. But then again, why do we care what the TEACHERS think of this act, right? Not like they really have anything to do with education anyway.

I can only hope that the state of Missouri (which I love) follows Connecticut's lead. Do I see it happening? Not anytime soon with him in the governor's seat. He actually had me fooled when he vowed to restructure school funding in his State of the State address -- until he mentioned that he was going to give schools more money by taking that AWAY from early education programs & adoption subsidies. GREAT IDEA, really!

Okay, I'm done.

Thanks for listening.

Wedding Pictures!

Some photos of the wedding I went to last weekend:

All eight alumni (and one alumni-to-be) that made it to the wedding -- That's me in the center

Site of the ceremony

Bride & Groom cutting the cake

Who's That Girl?

(((yawn)))

So I spent all day yesterday in the car -- we left Ladysmith, WI (site of the wedding)& drove 4.5 hours to Pewaukee, WI (site of my truck, which I left at friend Maria's house), then I drove home to Saint Louis. Whoo hoo!

Top 2 funny things from the wedding:

The bride, groom, & groom's mom didn't recognize me. Apparently, the looked at Maria & I & thought, "well, there's Maria, I wonder who that is she brought, and where's Tiffa-oh-my-god-she-cut-her-hair!" My new haircut got rave reviews!

Friend Ethan's quote, "Kids are too expensive to own." amen!

Week 8 Update!

Okay, after eight weeks on the Jenny Craig program, I'm 16lbs lighter -- no significant weight loss this last week, BUT it was measuring time again -- in the last month, I've lost 10 inches, for a total of 16 inches in 8 weeks -- whoo hoo! I'm down a clothing size -- had to go buy some new clothes (joy!) and am totally psyched about seeing college friends at a wedding this weekend!

May I Have the Dictionary, Please?

My interest in historical stuff got the best of me this morning, when I found this article on yahoo. It's pretty nifty information; however, about halfway through the story I encountered this:

The monastery, which is in the desert west of the Red Sea, was founded by disciples of St. Anthony, a hermit who died in A.D. 356 and is regarded as the father of Christian monasticism. A colony of hermits settled around him and he led them in a community.

Okay, if you don't yet see my point, read that last sentence again: "A colony of hermits settled around him and he led them in a community."

Just to make sure I wasn't going OCD over nothing, I double checked the definition of "hermit" and found these definitions.

Please tell me that you understand now why I went crosseyed reading that. A hermit is, by definition, a person who lives in voluntary seclusion. Doesn't having a colony/community de-hermetize them?

Just wondering . . .

Hey all - thought you might enjoy this photo of me & my reptilian friend -- that's 350 lbs of pure Aldabra tortoise, baby!

Week 6.5 Update!

Okay, it's been a little busy recently -- my folks are out of town, so I've been pet-sitting for them, trying to keep up with all the critters (3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 snakes, 2 lizards, a turtle & a fish), and wasn't able to make my usual Tuesday meeting at Jenny Craig, but I made it in yesterday.

Due to the wacky schedule I've been keeping as of late, I have strayed from my meal plan -- although I've tried to balance my splurges by downsizing other meals and upsizing my activity level, but I was still worried & decided to cross my fingers for a 1 pound loss. So I stepped on the scale . . .

. . . and I couldn't believe it. 5.4 pounds! My consultant was amazed -- so was I! Whoo hoo! 16.8 pounds total, and I'm about 6 pounds from my halfway mark -- YAY!

As a reward, I'm taking myself out next weekend to buy a new outfit (aleady had to buy new bras) to wear when I go to Wisconsin for a friend's wedding. I can see it now: "Hi there, haven't seen you in over a year, yeah, I cut my hair off & dropped almost 20 pounds, how have you been?" Whoo hoo!

Me, last time anyone from school saw me!

Antidotes for Boredom

While browsing the blog-world this afternoon, waiting ever-so-impatiently for 4:00 to come, I found the following interesting sites. Enjoy!

What Dog Breed Are You? found on Nerd Werd

More disturbing was this, found on Quality Crash Tests.

Curse You J. K. Rowling!!! (okay, not really)

I got my copy of HP And The Half-Blood Prince last Sunday (7/17) and because I knew that once I started I'd be unable to turn back, used every last ounce of willpower to leave it closed until this Saturday. Good thing, too, because I read the whole darn thing, cover to cover.

Oh the betrayal! The anguish! How could [that one character] kill [that other character]? Or, was it just a cleverly planned & unavoidable-albeit-tragic-self-sacrifice?

Please, PLEASE JK Rowling, (and here I'm going to share what an utter HP fanatic I am), "accio laptop" and get typing! I need that last book!

On that note, check out this awesome website, Mugglenet.com, created & maintained by one of the few lucky enough to actually get an INTERVIEW with JK.

The Patriarchy Strikes Again

Okay -- it's Saturday, I'm at work, and just about NOTHING is happening. In an attempt to stay up-to-date on current events (even if they do mention him), I browse around msnbc.com, where I noticed the exciting headline "Weight gain in girls blamed on drop in exercise".

No kidding, really?

But here's what really got me: in a age where women and girls are sharing tips on how to maintain an anorexic or bulemic lifestyle (especially without your parents knowing, because they might actually CARE about your health!), this article ticks me off.

I know the authors, publishers, et al. mean well, but come on, people -- what about weight gain in boys? You can't tell me that all of the 9 million young people in the United States who are considered overweight are female -- that's not even probable!

This ticks me off, and I felt the need to share.

Anyone reading some of my previous posts will know that I've recently started to make some healthy changes in my life -- more exercise, better eating habits -- so it's not like I'm suggesting that obesity isn't a problem -- but please, people, couldn't we have broadened the study in question to include youngsters with Y chromosomes?

While I'm on that, a new article suggests that "U.S. children [are] healthier than ever, report finds" -- and here's a line they use to support that: "'The overwhelming majority of children — about 83 percent — are reported by their parents to be in very good or excellent health,' Dr. Edward Sondik, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics, told a teleconference with reporters.

Well duh! How many parents have we seen that are in denial over their child's health problem? Anybody else remember the "My 2-year old weighs 70 pounds but I let him eat anything he wants" parents from various daytime talk shows? Even if you don't, I assure you, they were there -- and their children were obese.

Thumbs-down for scientific studies that rely on qualitative surveys.

However, there is hope. Check out "this article" about how Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products are joining the quest to help kids eat better. Heck, we use TV characters to promote food that's not-so-good for us, it had ought to work the other way, right?

Thumbs up for Nickelodeon!

Week 5 Update!

I had my weekly check-in with my Jenny Craig consultant, and in the last week I've lost . . . drumroll please . . . 2.4 pounds! Whoo hoo! That means not only have I surpassed the 10-pound-loss mark (11.4 to be exact), but I am also BELOW 170 for the first time in a year! I had to share!