Literally been a decade since I worked in this office. Quite a bit has transpired since then. I may need to update some of the basic info (professional term: blah-blah) about this site.
But here I am. Thanks to a pandemic. A pandemic. Yeah. That's happening.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Views from the BDO: Snow
For those who may have missed the massive media blitz, it's been snowing here in the Northeast.
I long for the time when weather this severe was truly immobilizing and isolating; nothing to do but stay home enjoy the company of family and maybe a few neighbors and figure out how to create a meal with what happened to be in the cupboards. There is something in my DNA that knows, when the sky darkens and white specks fly past my window horizontally at such a speed they become a single sheet, a rippling veil, that it's time to slow down. Time to pause and take a break.
Alas, that's not the technology-ridden world I live in. Still... the beauty is undeniable.
I long for the time when weather this severe was truly immobilizing and isolating; nothing to do but stay home enjoy the company of family and maybe a few neighbors and figure out how to create a meal with what happened to be in the cupboards. There is something in my DNA that knows, when the sky darkens and white specks fly past my window horizontally at such a speed they become a single sheet, a rippling veil, that it's time to slow down. Time to pause and take a break.
Alas, that's not the technology-ridden world I live in. Still... the beauty is undeniable.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Overheard in the BDO: "Stop running!!"
Working today on the front porch annex office. Across the street is a pediatric dentist's office. Now, based on the title of this post and the brief facts just provided, who is yelling to whom and in which direction are they running?
If you guessed: parent yelling to child, you are correct!
If you guessed: running away from the doctor's office, you are INCORRECT!
Dr. Dyson has some sort of magic going on over there that actually makes kids RUN INto his office. A fairly busy street separates Dr. Dyson and I, and often I have seen excited children spring from vehicles parked on MY side of the street, bounce onto the sidewalk and then nearly dash into traffic in their eagerness to get to his office.
I've heard there are Lego's and trains in there. I also know for a fact there are balloons (wailing ensues when the rookie child releases the string just outside the front door). But that can't be all there is to it. Kids are smarter than that. Bribes and toys only go so far. To have a memory so good (or at the very least not bad) of the dentist's office that you literally RUN to get inside... I can't fathom it. But it's a happy thing to witness.
Reason number 6,457 why the BDO rocks: Cool dentist dude across the street.
If you guessed: parent yelling to child, you are correct!
If you guessed: running away from the doctor's office, you are INCORRECT!
Dr. Dyson has some sort of magic going on over there that actually makes kids RUN INto his office. A fairly busy street separates Dr. Dyson and I, and often I have seen excited children spring from vehicles parked on MY side of the street, bounce onto the sidewalk and then nearly dash into traffic in their eagerness to get to his office.
I've heard there are Lego's and trains in there. I also know for a fact there are balloons (wailing ensues when the rookie child releases the string just outside the front door). But that can't be all there is to it. Kids are smarter than that. Bribes and toys only go so far. To have a memory so good (or at the very least not bad) of the dentist's office that you literally RUN to get inside... I can't fathom it. But it's a happy thing to witness.
Reason number 6,457 why the BDO rocks: Cool dentist dude across the street.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
An easy lesson in branding
Last week I saw a great example of how businesses should use Facebook. Below is a "status" posted by Life is Good that showed up in my news feed since I am a "fan" of the company.
Life is good.(R) We will never know all the good a simple smile can do.
3 hours ago * Comment * Like
The folks at the company actually do this quite a bit; post happy little thoughts that make me smile and love this brand even more than I already do. The posts embody what the company is all about – or at least what the company wants me, the consumer, to think it is all about.
That, my friends, is branding. Its value is stealth but potent: creating or reinforcing a bond with customers that goes beyond simple preference for your products or services. It's communicating the personality of your company, without an overt or immediate sales agenda.
Life is Good has also used its Facebook status updates to promote sales, new products, store openings and other events more traditionally associated with marketing. But here they have used a quiet pause to build the brand. Brilliant. Man, do these guys get it.
Witnessing such an enlightening use of the medium almost makes me feel justified in spending all the time I do on Facebook. It's research for my work, right? Not a frightening vortex that sucks hours and hours from my life. Almost billable isn't it? Probably not.
Life is good.(R) We will never know all the good a simple smile can do.
3 hours ago * Comment * Like
The folks at the company actually do this quite a bit; post happy little thoughts that make me smile and love this brand even more than I already do. The posts embody what the company is all about – or at least what the company wants me, the consumer, to think it is all about.
That, my friends, is branding. Its value is stealth but potent: creating or reinforcing a bond with customers that goes beyond simple preference for your products or services. It's communicating the personality of your company, without an overt or immediate sales agenda.
Life is Good has also used its Facebook status updates to promote sales, new products, store openings and other events more traditionally associated with marketing. But here they have used a quiet pause to build the brand. Brilliant. Man, do these guys get it.
Witnessing such an enlightening use of the medium almost makes me feel justified in spending all the time I do on Facebook. It's research for my work, right? Not a frightening vortex that sucks hours and hours from my life. Almost billable isn't it? Probably not.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Views from the BDO: Circus tent?
I've been a bit neglectful of this blog, because another online communication tool has been sucking all my spare time into its very special black hole: The Facebook Vortex.
My Facebook status to accompany this photo would be: "Carole finds it difficult to concentrate on work when a small circus tent has been erected on the front lawn."
We have an annual fundraiser yard sale here at our home. Proceeds benefit our local Habitat for Humanity chapter and a small scholarship fund for an award given at our local high school in memory of a friend of mine who passed away in 2004. We get donations from members of Habitat, friends, and family and we usually do quite well for both organizations.
It's Wednesday and the sale is scheduled for Friday and Saturday. With the tent up, the doorbell has already rung twice this morning and it's only 9.30. How will I ever get any work done today?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A tomato by any other name
Is it a coincidence that elementary school students from right here in Washington, NJ where I live inspired the introduction of a bill in NJ to have the tomato named the state vegetable? I think not. Initially, I wasn't sure I could really get behind this effort. Stickler for detail that I am, I stumbled on the fact that, technically, a tomato is a fruit not a vegetable. Or so I always thought. That is, until, my brilliant friend Jodee got me to do a little research on the matter.
“The supreme court - 100 years ago or so - declared it a veg. instead of a fruit so that it could be taxed,” she wrote in an email to me. “Their logic was that one eats it with dinner not as a desert.” I looked it up and it’s true.
As I was looking that up, I got sidetracked on an interesting linguistic element of this whole discussion. Something I read said that "fruit" is a botanical classification whereas "vegetable" is simply a culinary term, so it isn't really an either/or situation. I looked up both “fruit” and “vegetable” and found, MUCH to my delight, that a tomato is actually BOTH! How cool is that?
The definition of vegetable is: “any herbaceous plant whose fruit, [etc.] are used as food” or “the edible part of such a plant.” The definition of fruit is: “any product of vegetable growth.” So, basically, “vegetable” can refer to the plant itself or the fruit of said plant if the fruit is edible. Ergo – a tomato can be correctly called either a fruit or vegetable. Phew!
And now for some fun. A silly chain email also forwarded to me today:
Subject: Fw: Tomato Garden
An old Italian man lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.
The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love,
Papa
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.
Love,
Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug-up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie
“The supreme court - 100 years ago or so - declared it a veg. instead of a fruit so that it could be taxed,” she wrote in an email to me. “Their logic was that one eats it with dinner not as a desert.” I looked it up and it’s true.
As I was looking that up, I got sidetracked on an interesting linguistic element of this whole discussion. Something I read said that "fruit" is a botanical classification whereas "vegetable" is simply a culinary term, so it isn't really an either/or situation. I looked up both “fruit” and “vegetable” and found, MUCH to my delight, that a tomato is actually BOTH! How cool is that?
The definition of vegetable is: “any herbaceous plant whose fruit, [etc.] are used as food” or “the edible part of such a plant.” The definition of fruit is: “any product of vegetable growth.” So, basically, “vegetable” can refer to the plant itself or the fruit of said plant if the fruit is edible. Ergo – a tomato can be correctly called either a fruit or vegetable. Phew!
And now for some fun. A silly chain email also forwarded to me today:
Subject: Fw: Tomato Garden
An old Italian man lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work as the ground was hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.
The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
Dear Vincent,
I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.
Love,
Papa
A few days later he received a letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Don't dig up that garden. That's where the bodies are buried.
Love,
Vinnie
At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug-up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
Dear Pop,
Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love you,
Vinnie
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A rip-off post or "My Jersey Pride"
My aunt and I are making dinner plans for tomorrow night. She's suggested the Red Wolfe Inn and despite living in this part of New Jersey for most of my life, I have no idea where it is. I googled the place and stumbled across this fantastic description of the area in which I live.
I am often at a loss when trying to accurately capture the stealthy beauty and charm of this area, but this writer has done it. I am reprinting his words here without his permission (or that of the New York Times where it appeared), but I am hoping to be forgiven since credit is given.
The following is excerpted from "RESTAURANTS; Backroads Bonanza" written by DAVID CORCORAN and published (on nyt.com at least) December 1, 2002:
"AT THE RISK of sounding like a paid advertisement for the Chamber of Commerce, I urge you to take a drive to this corner of the state -- unless you already live here, in which case the following will not come as news.
Warren County, especially the western reaches that look across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania, is New Jersey before the era of the corporate campus, before the McMansion, before Target. Out here, U. S. 46 is actually a pleasure to drive: it hugs the plunging, silvery Pequest River on its way through tiny forgotten hamlets like Bridgeville and Buttzville, Sarepta and Manunka Chunk. Jenny Jump and Worthington State Forests are thick with woods and hiking trails.
This isn't exactly unspoiled New Jersey; it isn't Hunterdon County, say, or the outskirts of Princeton, which owe their rolling, preserved-in-amber beauty to wealth and zoning codes. The back roads here are edged with cornfields, orchards and Christmas tree farms, but also with body shops, abandoned churches and adult-video stores. It's hardscrabble New Jersey. And the Red Wolfe Inn fits right in. "
Footnote by Carole, February 2009: Sadly we do have Target out here now and McMansions too, BUT not as much or as many as other parts of the state and the rest of this description still holds true. Ok. Now I still need to go figure out how to get to this place.
I am often at a loss when trying to accurately capture the stealthy beauty and charm of this area, but this writer has done it. I am reprinting his words here without his permission (or that of the New York Times where it appeared), but I am hoping to be forgiven since credit is given.
The following is excerpted from "RESTAURANTS; Backroads Bonanza" written by DAVID CORCORAN and published (on nyt.com at least) December 1, 2002:
"AT THE RISK of sounding like a paid advertisement for the Chamber of Commerce, I urge you to take a drive to this corner of the state -- unless you already live here, in which case the following will not come as news.
Warren County, especially the western reaches that look across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania, is New Jersey before the era of the corporate campus, before the McMansion, before Target. Out here, U. S. 46 is actually a pleasure to drive: it hugs the plunging, silvery Pequest River on its way through tiny forgotten hamlets like Bridgeville and Buttzville, Sarepta and Manunka Chunk. Jenny Jump and Worthington State Forests are thick with woods and hiking trails.
This isn't exactly unspoiled New Jersey; it isn't Hunterdon County, say, or the outskirts of Princeton, which owe their rolling, preserved-in-amber beauty to wealth and zoning codes. The back roads here are edged with cornfields, orchards and Christmas tree farms, but also with body shops, abandoned churches and adult-video stores. It's hardscrabble New Jersey. And the Red Wolfe Inn fits right in. "
Footnote by Carole, February 2009: Sadly we do have Target out here now and McMansions too, BUT not as much or as many as other parts of the state and the rest of this description still holds true. Ok. Now I still need to go figure out how to get to this place.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Smells from the BDO: Last Night’s Roast
I love it when my house smells like warm roasting dinner. Marjoram, thyme, garlic and the melting fat getting all crispy and delicious. It reminds me of my childhood and being at my grandparent’s house. In my memory, the roast smell goes with the smokiness of the crackling fireplace, my grandfather’s musky-clean-smelling aftershave, my grandmother’s root-vegetable-kitchen smell, and the bright-sweet smell of those pink peppermints they always had out in a white ceramic candy dish on the drum table next to the front window.
Yup. Last night, as I was tinkering around the house doing little this’s and that’s while dinner cooked, I was also basking in the warm glow of these memories.
Of course this morning all that’s left is the pungent, offensive garlic smell. Which is not really a happy morning smell for me, personally. I’m sure it’s cultural and for some this would be a great smell to wake up to. But me? I want to run to the nearest Yankee Candle and get some cinnamon, maple, or vanilla thing to blast away this unpleasant olfactory assault. Funny how smells are all relative.
Yup. Last night, as I was tinkering around the house doing little this’s and that’s while dinner cooked, I was also basking in the warm glow of these memories.
Of course this morning all that’s left is the pungent, offensive garlic smell. Which is not really a happy morning smell for me, personally. I’m sure it’s cultural and for some this would be a great smell to wake up to. But me? I want to run to the nearest Yankee Candle and get some cinnamon, maple, or vanilla thing to blast away this unpleasant olfactory assault. Funny how smells are all relative.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
I've been cheating
I've been cheating on this blog with another blog. My dearest Will is once again in Antarctica. He decided that Antarctic winter wasn't enough for him and he just had to go back to McMurdo Station to work over the summer.
Last time he went (2005), I was not yet blog-savvy and so I set up an actual website - from scratch. I updated it with new photos every few weeks during the six months he was way. What a pain in the neck that was! So this time, I was quite happy to set up a blog where I have been posting pictures and stories he sends back.
Basically this is just my most recent excuse for not posting here as much as I'd like. (Of course this one is sort of legit - I'm actually keeping up with a blog, just not this one.)
So if you're interested in the Antarctic Adventures of Will, you can visit that blog.
Last time he went (2005), I was not yet blog-savvy and so I set up an actual website - from scratch. I updated it with new photos every few weeks during the six months he was way. What a pain in the neck that was! So this time, I was quite happy to set up a blog where I have been posting pictures and stories he sends back.
Basically this is just my most recent excuse for not posting here as much as I'd like. (Of course this one is sort of legit - I'm actually keeping up with a blog, just not this one.)
So if you're interested in the Antarctic Adventures of Will, you can visit that blog.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The blank page
Every time I get a new assignment from a client my first step is usually to open a similar document. Something with the client’s name in the header maybe, or a similar type of work – ad copy, call script, article, or whatever. I quickly do a “file” > “save as…” changing the file name and assuring it’s located in my obsessively organized hard drive file structure. Then I start writing in the document, replace the existing copy with whatever is appropriate. In some cases, I save absolutely nothing from the original file. Which sort of begs the question: “Why do I do this?”
I’ve never really thought about it until today when I opened MS Word and selected “file” > “new.” A daunting plane of bright white assaulted me. I believe I let out an audible gasp. I know I have heard this over and over – that there is nothing more intimidating than a blank page. But I don’t think I realized it was true until today, because I had (brilliantly) avoided the circumstance. I think my subconscious was protecting me all these years.
Obnoxious creative types will probably say there is nothing more alluring or enticing than an unfettered expanse of page, canvass or computer screen. But I think that’s utter crap. Blank pages are frightening. Even for someone who spends all day filling them up.
I’ve never really thought about it until today when I opened MS Word and selected “file” > “new.” A daunting plane of bright white assaulted me. I believe I let out an audible gasp. I know I have heard this over and over – that there is nothing more intimidating than a blank page. But I don’t think I realized it was true until today, because I had (brilliantly) avoided the circumstance. I think my subconscious was protecting me all these years.
Obnoxious creative types will probably say there is nothing more alluring or enticing than an unfettered expanse of page, canvass or computer screen. But I think that’s utter crap. Blank pages are frightening. Even for someone who spends all day filling them up.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Word Girl Geek Love Revisited
Back in November - almost a year ago - I posted briefly about how much I wanted a Kindle. Earlier this year, a business colleague was gracious enough to give me one as a gift and it has more than lived up to my expectations.
Most people I know crinkle their faces at me when I tell them that yes, I am in love with it. "Reading on a computer? Really?" Well no - it's not a computer; it's digital ink/electronic paper - a technology specifically designed to be read. I think this is people's biggest stumbling block with the Kindle. You have to start from a platform of understanding that it is nothing like a computer monitor.
I find it difficult to explain why I love it so much. It's partly because the minute I think I am interested in a book, I can pick up my Kindle and, LITERALLY in seconds, wirelessly download a "sample" for free. The sample is usually at LEAST a full chapter if not more. Or if there is a book I KNOW I want, I can purchase it with one click on the Kindle and be reading it in seconds. (You don't need a computer to do this - there is no 'syncing' or anything like that.) If I am sitting comfortably in a chair or snugly warm in bed, I do not even have to stand up to get a new book to read.
I can also instantly look up words I don't know in a text, highlight text, make notes, add bookmarks. It's insane. And it's not just books; you can purchase single issues or subscriptions to tons of newspapers and magazines. And did I mention that EVERYTHING is less expensive in its Kindle version than in its print version. Oh, and I can change the type size whenever I want. Some days my eyes are more weary than others and I increase the type size on those days.
Anyway... I guess I just did a fairly good job of explaining why I love my Kindle, but the reason for the post today is this: I won't need to explain it anymore, ever again. Because today Oprah gave everyone in her audience a Kindle.
Earlier in the day I saw a 15-sec promo for the show saying she would be revealing her new favorite "gadget" and in the pit of my soul I knew... I don't imagine I have much in common with Ms. Winfrey and often our taste in books is quite at odds, but the one thing I suspect we share is an absolute love of reading.
So the Kindle has been touched by the magic wand of an Oprah endorsement and thus I breathe a tiny sigh of relief. Because now, when I have occasion to speak of "my Kindle," instead of blank and perplexed faces, I will be met with, "Oh yeah! That thing that Oprah has!!!"
Most people I know crinkle their faces at me when I tell them that yes, I am in love with it. "Reading on a computer? Really?" Well no - it's not a computer; it's digital ink/electronic paper - a technology specifically designed to be read. I think this is people's biggest stumbling block with the Kindle. You have to start from a platform of understanding that it is nothing like a computer monitor.
I find it difficult to explain why I love it so much. It's partly because the minute I think I am interested in a book, I can pick up my Kindle and, LITERALLY in seconds, wirelessly download a "sample" for free. The sample is usually at LEAST a full chapter if not more. Or if there is a book I KNOW I want, I can purchase it with one click on the Kindle and be reading it in seconds. (You don't need a computer to do this - there is no 'syncing' or anything like that.) If I am sitting comfortably in a chair or snugly warm in bed, I do not even have to stand up to get a new book to read.
I can also instantly look up words I don't know in a text, highlight text, make notes, add bookmarks. It's insane. And it's not just books; you can purchase single issues or subscriptions to tons of newspapers and magazines. And did I mention that EVERYTHING is less expensive in its Kindle version than in its print version. Oh, and I can change the type size whenever I want. Some days my eyes are more weary than others and I increase the type size on those days.
Anyway... I guess I just did a fairly good job of explaining why I love my Kindle, but the reason for the post today is this: I won't need to explain it anymore, ever again. Because today Oprah gave everyone in her audience a Kindle.
Earlier in the day I saw a 15-sec promo for the show saying she would be revealing her new favorite "gadget" and in the pit of my soul I knew... I don't imagine I have much in common with Ms. Winfrey and often our taste in books is quite at odds, but the one thing I suspect we share is an absolute love of reading.
So the Kindle has been touched by the magic wand of an Oprah endorsement and thus I breathe a tiny sigh of relief. Because now, when I have occasion to speak of "my Kindle," instead of blank and perplexed faces, I will be met with, "Oh yeah! That thing that Oprah has!!!"
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Why so quiet?
I've been all caught up in the presidential and vice presidential campaigns in much of my spare time (and frankly, overlapping into work time). The BDO blog is a place I created for softer, sweeter things - like tomatoes! Not politics. But since it's consuming so much of my head and heart right now, it's difficult to come to this "Create new post" page. And that's all I have to say about that.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Class Picture
(l to r) Brandywine, Green Zebra, Black Prince (in the back), Riesentraube, Orange Strawberry Oxheart. (Gold Medal Yellow was absent on picture day.)
Aren't they so pretty? Definitely not as prolific as the engineered hybrid plants we usually grow, but I have really enjoyed these heirloom plants. As you can see, we finally got fruit from the Orange Strawberry despite its slow start, but we only got a few. The Green Zebra, Riesentraube and Brandywine did the best.
Green Zebras are probably my overall favs for a few reasons: they produced the most; they and the riesentraubes were the only two who managed not to fall victim to the slug invasion; the flavor was - for me - a perfect balance of sweet and tangy; and of course, they look SOOO COOOOOL!! Sliced on a sandwich they made quite an impression with little strips of their green-yellow zebra skin peeking out between the bread, and I even canned a few and they have such a pleasant melon-green color in the jars.
I'll never do black princes again. They tasted fine, but they are not very visually appealing and they were the most susceptible to slugs. I canned a few of those too and it's a bit of a problem, because they look downright rotten in the jars. Can't give those away as gifts.
Will probably go back to mostly early girl hybrids next year, but may put in some green zebras for fun and variety.
Monday, September 1, 2008
A thing of grace
Bought a new car over the weekend. Haven't picked it up yet. Maybe tonight or tomorrow night. I will be very sad to say farewell to the Tacoma, nicknamed "kitty" because of how she always reminded me of a little black kitten curled up napping in the sun when I had her parked on the street.
I stayed within the Toyota family, although I looked for quite a while at the Honda Fit. I like small cars. I'm all about simplicity and fuel-efficiency when it comes to cars. A car is a mode of transportation to me, not much more, so I really don't care too much about how they look and Will's got his big ol' work truck so it's not as if we need another big vehicle for totin' and haulin' stuff.
So I'll be bringing home a Yaris. It reminds me a lot of the Red Bullet only it's black (they call it mica pearl sand or something silly). The RB is the car I owned for many happy years before the Tacoma came into my life. It was a Geo Prism (and actually came off the same assembly line as, and was identical to, the Toyota Corolla of its generation). Jenn V bought one that same year and is STILL driving it. Great car. Hers is red too, only it's that really nice grown-up maroon, whereas mine was big-hair-mall-chick-Jersey red (which faded horribly during the life of the car, making it more of an over-bleached-picnic-tablecloth red). Over 158,000 miles on it, and a young driver pulled out in front of me causing only minor damage to both vehicles, but enough for his insurance company to total the Red Bullet. They wrote me a check for much more than I thought she was worth and came and towed her away. A sad, but peaceful ending.
Right after the Yaris test drive, I asked the sales guy what the name meant. He confessed that he didn't know. During the hour or so we had to wait to see the finance guy I came up with this explanation and told him to tell future customers who ask: "Yaris is the ancient Greek god of fuel efficiency."
Yeah, right. Like who else asks something like that? Anyway... I looked it up this morning. Really much more stupid than my explanation. Apparently Toyota invented the word (not surprising), by smooshing together the name of the Greek goddess of grace, Charis (pronounced with a 'k' in the beginning so it actually sounds like "CARis"), and the German word for yes, ja, which is pronounced "yah." Hence: Yaris. Like: 'yes, this car is graceful'? Or 'say yes to grace'? Or 'yes, this is the car for anyone named Grace'?
Whatever. I like my answer better.
I stayed within the Toyota family, although I looked for quite a while at the Honda Fit. I like small cars. I'm all about simplicity and fuel-efficiency when it comes to cars. A car is a mode of transportation to me, not much more, so I really don't care too much about how they look and Will's got his big ol' work truck so it's not as if we need another big vehicle for totin' and haulin' stuff.
So I'll be bringing home a Yaris. It reminds me a lot of the Red Bullet only it's black (they call it mica pearl sand or something silly). The RB is the car I owned for many happy years before the Tacoma came into my life. It was a Geo Prism (and actually came off the same assembly line as, and was identical to, the Toyota Corolla of its generation). Jenn V bought one that same year and is STILL driving it. Great car. Hers is red too, only it's that really nice grown-up maroon, whereas mine was big-hair-mall-chick-Jersey red (which faded horribly during the life of the car, making it more of an over-bleached-picnic-tablecloth red). Over 158,000 miles on it, and a young driver pulled out in front of me causing only minor damage to both vehicles, but enough for his insurance company to total the Red Bullet. They wrote me a check for much more than I thought she was worth and came and towed her away. A sad, but peaceful ending.
Right after the Yaris test drive, I asked the sales guy what the name meant. He confessed that he didn't know. During the hour or so we had to wait to see the finance guy I came up with this explanation and told him to tell future customers who ask: "Yaris is the ancient Greek god of fuel efficiency."
Yeah, right. Like who else asks something like that? Anyway... I looked it up this morning. Really much more stupid than my explanation. Apparently Toyota invented the word (not surprising), by smooshing together the name of the Greek goddess of grace, Charis (pronounced with a 'k' in the beginning so it actually sounds like "CARis"), and the German word for yes, ja, which is pronounced "yah." Hence: Yaris. Like: 'yes, this car is graceful'? Or 'say yes to grace'? Or 'yes, this is the car for anyone named Grace'?
Whatever. I like my answer better.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Pop Music as Teacher
When I recently purchased the new Elvis Costello disc (I should actually call it an album with deference to Mr. Costello - the volume was issued first on vinyl "the way the Supreme Being intended," he says, with the CD version coming almost a full month later), I was intrigued by its name, Momofuku.
'What does Momofuku mean?' I wondered. Lucky for me, he explains on his website that the name is an homage to Momofuku Ando, inventor of cup noodles, because, says Mr. Costello, making this album was as easy as just adding water. So now I have that little bit of trivia tucked away in my brain.
Other things I have learned from pop music:
* The meaning of the word bravado. I had to look it up because of the line in that awesome 70s pop song Baby Come Back by Player: "All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado. Trying to keep up a smile to hide the tears."
* Who John Coltrane is, because of the line in the Cowboy Junkies song, Sun Comes up, it's Tuesday Morning: "Lunchtime: I start to dial your number. Then I remember, so I reach for something to smoke. And anyways, I'd rather listen to Coltrane than go through all that shit again." I figured if Margo Timmins is listening to Coltrane he must be cool.
* Who Ann Rice is and what the vampire chronicles are, because of Moon Over Bourbon Street by Sting. A sentence in the liner notes of the album on which the song appeared says, "'Moon Over Bourbon Street' was inspired by Interview with a Vampire by Ann Rice." I ran right out and found the book and read it.
There's more. But those are the ones I can think of right now. You get the idea.
'What does Momofuku mean?' I wondered. Lucky for me, he explains on his website that the name is an homage to Momofuku Ando, inventor of cup noodles, because, says Mr. Costello, making this album was as easy as just adding water. So now I have that little bit of trivia tucked away in my brain.
Other things I have learned from pop music:
* The meaning of the word bravado. I had to look it up because of the line in that awesome 70s pop song Baby Come Back by Player: "All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado. Trying to keep up a smile to hide the tears."
* Who John Coltrane is, because of the line in the Cowboy Junkies song, Sun Comes up, it's Tuesday Morning: "Lunchtime: I start to dial your number. Then I remember, so I reach for something to smoke. And anyways, I'd rather listen to Coltrane than go through all that shit again." I figured if Margo Timmins is listening to Coltrane he must be cool.
* Who Ann Rice is and what the vampire chronicles are, because of Moon Over Bourbon Street by Sting. A sentence in the liner notes of the album on which the song appeared says, "'Moon Over Bourbon Street' was inspired by Interview with a Vampire by Ann Rice." I ran right out and found the book and read it.
There's more. But those are the ones I can think of right now. You get the idea.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Jersey Fresh InDEED!
Or... Mmm, Mmm! Caterpillar-y Goodness!
This is the Farmer's Market story I alluded to in my last post. Earlier this month, we got a GREAT head of broccoli at the market. I swear it really does TASTE better because it's so fresh.
When I went to clean the steamer basket, I saw what looked like a funky, bumpy piece of broccoli stem ... but upon closer inspection... it.... ummm... wasn't broccoli...
Pretty sure it would have been a monarch butterfly someday.
Will's reaction: "I'm done eating bugs, Carole."
There's NO evidence that we actually ate ANY bugs! (Although I barely noticed this, so who knows what escaped my attention.)
This is the Farmer's Market story I alluded to in my last post. Earlier this month, we got a GREAT head of broccoli at the market. I swear it really does TASTE better because it's so fresh.
When I went to clean the steamer basket, I saw what looked like a funky, bumpy piece of broccoli stem ... but upon closer inspection... it.... ummm... wasn't broccoli...
Pretty sure it would have been a monarch butterfly someday.
Will's reaction: "I'm done eating bugs, Carole."
There's NO evidence that we actually ate ANY bugs! (Although I barely noticed this, so who knows what escaped my attention.)
Friday, August 1, 2008
First Feast of '08
For lunch today I enjoyed my first little feast from the garden. Had a ripe Green Zebra, Black Prince and one little Riesentraube. We've actually had a few ripe Black Princes, but there also seems to be a slug issue with that plant (see pictures at the bottom of the post), which had made it difficult to really enjoy any of the fruit (not much left after cutting away the slug trail).
This was lunch:
BTW - the mozz is fresh from a local farm right next door in Port Colden. Got it at the Washington Farmer's Market. More tales from the market today - will save for another post.
This was HEAVEN!!! And I was shocked at how different each tasted. The Riesentraube was the middle-of-the-road flavor in this trio. The Black Prince was crazy sweet and the Green Zebra was nice and tangy! I know it looks odd and you're not sure what to expect, but for my pallet, the Green Zebra was the best. As of this moment, I'm thinking I may want to try growing those again next year. Ah tomatoes. YUMMMMM!!
And look how PRETTY the Green Zebra is!
The Black Prince is really nice looking too,
As long as you can't see the slug trail : - (
This was lunch:
BTW - the mozz is fresh from a local farm right next door in Port Colden. Got it at the Washington Farmer's Market. More tales from the market today - will save for another post.
This was HEAVEN!!! And I was shocked at how different each tasted. The Riesentraube was the middle-of-the-road flavor in this trio. The Black Prince was crazy sweet and the Green Zebra was nice and tangy! I know it looks odd and you're not sure what to expect, but for my pallet, the Green Zebra was the best. As of this moment, I'm thinking I may want to try growing those again next year. Ah tomatoes. YUMMMMM!!
And look how PRETTY the Green Zebra is!
The Black Prince is really nice looking too,
As long as you can't see the slug trail : - (
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Have you seen this commercial?
I really don't enjoy alcohol of any kind and I particularly dislike beer. But this commercial makes me want to drink THIS beer. I was beginning to worry that I was past the age of the target market of all things cool, but this commercial seems to be written just to get ME to drink beer.
The song is great and the message totally appeals to earthly liberal peace-lovin' girls like me: this beer brings about kindness among humans; sharing and interaction between seemingly disparate groups; understanding, peace, harmony!!! It reminds me of the coke commercial from the 70s. (Remember? "I'd like to teach the world to sing...").
I SERIOUSLY considered running out and buying a six pack for half a second before I snapped out of my momentary media coma. Great ad.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Falling stars?
Earlier this week I noticed there is a little gold sticker star on the floor of the BDO. I've no idea where it came from or how it got here. To the best of my knowledge, I don't own such stickers and don't think I have anything in my office from which it could have become un-affixed. I'm not much of a housekeeper to begin with, but I have no intention of removing it. The universe has given me a gold star for something and I'll take it.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Filling the Empty Hours
I have been known, in the past, to liken the life of a freelancer to being "semi-retired." It's true I have more flexibility in scheduling my days and once you cut out all the inefficiencies of working in an office and the time it takes to commute, I find I actually have a little more free time than most folks, but recently I realized that I am SOOOO NOT retired. Semi or otherwise.
Not only have I been wrestling with a sweet overabundance of work, which forced me to sacrifice some "fun" plans this weekend and actually work on a Sunday (I believe God will forgive me for making sure the mortgage gets paid), but I have no time to figure out what's going on with my Strawberry Orange Oxheart tomatoes.
All of her friends and neighbors in our tiny garden already have ripening fruit (see snaps below), and although she has produced many, many flowers, they all seem to be turning brown and falling to the dirt un-pollinated. Someone said it's because of the bee shortage, but that doesn't really make sense since all the other plants around her seem to be doing really, really well. Will says the bees just didn't like her pollen, but I can't imagine they care much. Someone else suggested she might just be sterile. How sad. (Especially with all her neighbors producing - must be tough). Even the cheap-o bag-o-cherry tomatoes I bought from one of our niece's school fundraisers is going wild, producing very large fruit for a "cherry" plant.
I keep looking at the dead and dying buds with despair. I even tried shaking the stems like we did with our hydroponic tomatoes to see if I could encourage non-bee pollination (it worked in the kitchen). But no dice. And as I went out this morning to take pictures and document all the plants' growth, I thought "I wish I had time to really research this and figure out what's happening and how to fix it. But I really can't because I have three three-minute video scripts to write, four short employee profiles, one long employee profile, two more interviews to schedule and conduct to finish that case study that was due two weeks ago, and about 20 pages to edit and get back to various clients."
I will be a dedicated gardener in retirement. That is my promise to the plants. For now, sadly, I have no time to care as much as a I should. (And don't even get me started on all the books I want to read right now.) I will have no trouble at all filling eight+ hours per day with gardening, reading... OH and COOKING! How could I forget cooking! A restaurant-quality feast every day in retirement. Yes. Ah, yes.
Our '08 babies as of July 21, below.
Gold Medal Yellow:
Green Zebra:
Brandywine:
Black Prince:
Riesentraube:
Cherry (in hanging bag):
Not only have I been wrestling with a sweet overabundance of work, which forced me to sacrifice some "fun" plans this weekend and actually work on a Sunday (I believe God will forgive me for making sure the mortgage gets paid), but I have no time to figure out what's going on with my Strawberry Orange Oxheart tomatoes.
All of her friends and neighbors in our tiny garden already have ripening fruit (see snaps below), and although she has produced many, many flowers, they all seem to be turning brown and falling to the dirt un-pollinated. Someone said it's because of the bee shortage, but that doesn't really make sense since all the other plants around her seem to be doing really, really well. Will says the bees just didn't like her pollen, but I can't imagine they care much. Someone else suggested she might just be sterile. How sad. (Especially with all her neighbors producing - must be tough). Even the cheap-o bag-o-cherry tomatoes I bought from one of our niece's school fundraisers is going wild, producing very large fruit for a "cherry" plant.
I keep looking at the dead and dying buds with despair. I even tried shaking the stems like we did with our hydroponic tomatoes to see if I could encourage non-bee pollination (it worked in the kitchen). But no dice. And as I went out this morning to take pictures and document all the plants' growth, I thought "I wish I had time to really research this and figure out what's happening and how to fix it. But I really can't because I have three three-minute video scripts to write, four short employee profiles, one long employee profile, two more interviews to schedule and conduct to finish that case study that was due two weeks ago, and about 20 pages to edit and get back to various clients."
I will be a dedicated gardener in retirement. That is my promise to the plants. For now, sadly, I have no time to care as much as a I should. (And don't even get me started on all the books I want to read right now.) I will have no trouble at all filling eight+ hours per day with gardening, reading... OH and COOKING! How could I forget cooking! A restaurant-quality feast every day in retirement. Yes. Ah, yes.
Our '08 babies as of July 21, below.
Gold Medal Yellow:
Green Zebra:
Brandywine:
Black Prince:
Riesentraube:
Cherry (in hanging bag):
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