9 posts tagged “work”
Ahhh, thank god for Thursday. Seriously. Yesterday I spent most of my day putting together a postcard for MarCom that was both super stressful and way more fun than anything else I ever get to do in this job. I know that much of my ability to understand and effectively complete this project will either lead to being brought in to do more graphic design projects in the future, or completely close the book on any creative outlet at my current job. I trust that a lot of people in my office probably doesn't think much of my abilities except to troubleshoot computer problems and fill out admin forms. Maybe I'm wrong, but I find it a bit doubtful.
Work Music:
1. Listening to ambient electronic music at work isn't particularly helpful. I recommend the following albums for work tunes (I've remembered my iPod hookup cable the past couple days and my library of available music has increased dramatically as a result) -
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black. Seriously - and I'm not the first person to say this, and I won't be the last, but all the drama surrounding Ms. Winehouse and her plethora of problems is really made much more sad by the fact that she's makes some fantastic music. Even Casey, ever the music snob, was impressed. This is a great work album because it's a upbeat and jazzy, but it's not boring or cookie-cutter.
Jens Lekman - Oh, You're So Silent Jens. I've blogged about my love of Jens and his latest album, but have found it to be a bit too shmaltzy and big for a work area. You really need something lower-key in shared space. His Oh You're So Silent Jens fits the bill much better.
Feist - The Reminder or Let It Die. I work around a lot of women, so Leslie Feist's indie-rock-pop sounds sounds good and won't irritate anyone else. Plus, there's that catchy song on the iPod whatever ad, and who doesn't love that song?
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight. Admittedly, this album isn't really perfect for work. Moneymaker came on yesterday and I changed the song when I realized it's not exactly not work appropriate, but that it was likely no one around me appreciated that I was listening to it. However. This is an excellent album and I'm just plugging it because it's great. Even though MTV has been plugging it, too, making me feel a bit odd. It's been a long time since MTV and I have agreed on anything, namely, that they are good for anything at all anymore. They aren't. Just watch Tila Tequila's new show, or that drama about the fake Britney. Kyla? Something like that. Uuuugh.
Finally, David Gray. I know that liking David Gray is akin to being kind of old and boring, but I stand by David Gray. His music is great for work spaces, it's pretty, it's upbeat, and it doesn't interfere when you're nose deep in the middle of a project with some loud screeching sounds. I have no problem when albums do this, but don't appreciate it when I'm at work. I really like his White Ladder album, and have for a long time. I've recently "rediscovered" it via work tunes.
Jen has inspired me to blog. Lately I've been so fed up with my office that I'm really, really not the best person to talk to right now. I went into a meeting with my favorite boss and actually felt some frustrated tears brewing in my belly - it's been that bad. My new office is quiet. And lonely. And messy. And there's no printer. Or sink. Or mail. And my new huge cubicle has so far only inspired my coworker with whom I get along just great with to invade my cubicle space. Constantly. Thus making me less than friendly.
Basically, I'm miserable and have considered on multiple occasions over the past couple days to just go in and quit. Of course, I can't afford that, not even a little bit, nor can I afford to find a job that pays less but would be more fun to stand in its place. I can only keep looking, and cross my fingers.
So, I will probably be a less than fun person to be around for a little bit here. I apologize in advance.
In other news, the Alice Temperly collection has hit Target stores. It is by far my favorite of all the guest designer collections there, and I have something from almost every single one (I have a clothes problem, I know). On the internet, the collection doesn't look like much - kind of awkward, actually. But in person, it's very feminine and old fashioned, it's got this great art-deco air to it and I just think it's so pretty. I bought this gorgeous sweater dress and it was 30.00 and it's totally a great versatile dress that I'm sure I'll be wearing all the time.
In even more other news, I "watched" the Seahawks game on Sunday. Afterward, I found out that yes, I am still very allergic to cats. I watched 3:10 to Yuma and was intimidated by all the extreme closeups the movie had to offer. I was distracted by the sexy, dirty cowboy that is Christian Bale. So distracted, in fact, that I am still not quite sure exactly what happened in that movie. Also, I fell asleep during part of it.
Finally, do not play Trivial Pursuit when you are "not of your right mind." It will take you five minutes to figure out that a movie with Roy Schneider and some ocean joke is Jaws. You will feel dumb.
After a whirlwind (read: relatively lazy) 4-day weekend, here I am. Back in the ol' cube. It's 11:12 and I'm already depressed as hell. Fun!
Peeve: Don't ask me if I do something while simultaneously giving me the thing to do. If you want me to do it, tell me. If you want to know who actually does it (most likely it's NOT ME), then ask me and I'll tell you. Asking me while giving the thing that I most likely do not do basically says, I don't really care what the answer is just do this.
Peeve: Don't schedule things over blocks of time on my calendar that I've already blocked off. I've blocked it off for a reason. Ask me first.
Peeve: Work sucks.
/end whinging
I love Mentos. I need no convincing about how delicious they are. Pineapple, cassis, pamplemousse, grape, green apple, cherry! All delicious.
Even better, the Mentos intern! Apparently, he has a website, a webcam, and a schedule. You can schedule him to do things! He does them on camera!
Best or worst job? Hard to decide. Maybe both. See him (and schedule him) on http://www.mentosintern.com/
Link via mental_floss.
The longer I'm a member of "the workforce," that strange entity that rises for work at 6:30 and heads back home at 5 pm, the more I love breakfast. I need the fuel to make it through the day. I actually wake up later and eat breakfast at my desk, at work, instead of sleeping in. If you have the luxury of doing this, I'd recommend it. I get an extra half-hour of sleep, and I like multi-tasking, so eating + working makes time go faster. It's good to have things prepared in advance, but I tend to feel that a lot of food doesn't sit great overnight and food always tastes better the fresher it is. So, with that in mind, I present a couple quick breakfasts that have become old standbys for me.
First of all, you should invest in the cheap bowl-sized containers with the blue lids. They certainly don't last forever, but if you accidentally leave one in the fridge at work for weeks, and it ends up being tossed on Fridge Cleanout day, it's really no big deal. They usually come in packs of four. I like the Glad brand. The smaller bowl size, around 1.5-1.75 cups, is what you're looking for.
Fruit and Yogurt Breakfast (ingredients for approx. 1 weeks worth of breakfasts)
You're going to need
A container of plain or vanilla yogurt, European style (with no thickeners, i.e. no pectin, seaweed, or particularly - gelatin - blech - but it is going to be a little runny, so be prepared)
Fresh fruit - I like fresh pineapple, fresh strawberries, fresh grapes, fresh blueberries, peeled, sectioned oranges, or mangos - I try to choose fruits that are going to last longer than a couple days
Containers
Honey
Granola (optional)
If you're using a whole, fresh pineapple, begin the night before your breakfast. To do this, get a big knife (I recommend serrated), and a board, and cut the top off your pineapple. Lay it on this flat area you've created. Take your knife and cut off the outer part of your pineapple, going deep enough that you don't get too many of those brown pitted areas. Remove any remaining pieces of peel with your knife and cut into bite size pieces. Distribute this between five containers (fill 1/3-1/2 of the container), or just put 1 serving into one container and the rest into another bowl and cover for the rest of the week.
If you're using strawberries grapes, and/or blueberries these can be rinsed ahead of time, but make sure that you dry them thoroughly, and store in bowls or colanders in your fridge. Don't slice your strawberries ahead of time, because they will start to lose their juices, but you can pull the leaves off the top.They will last you 2-4 days this way, grapes can last even longer.
That morning: grab your bowl of pineapple, add a handful of your other fruits (hull strawberries and slice into bowl with paring knife), pour yogurt over the mixture and drizzle about a teaspoon to a tablespoon of honey on top of that. You can add your granola but it will get soggy! So I recommend using one of those very small containers or a ziploc bag of them and add it when you eat.
Prep time: the night before, 1/2 hour; that morning, 5-10 minutes.
Ham and Swiss Pockets
I love these. They are savory and comforting, but not particularly healthy. They also feel a little bit lazy, because you use those cardboard tubes of pre-made crescent roll dough. But, delicious. Plus, they can be made ahead of time.
You're going to need:
(makes 4-6 servings, depending on how you prepare it)
1/3 lb. Deli ham (I like black forest, personally), cut into 2 in. x 1/2 in. strips
1/4 lb. Swiss cheese
1 tube of crescent dough (in your fridge section, usually near the butter)
For individual pockets:
Open your dough (that popping sound when it opens is so satisfying) and spread out your dough. It should be pre-cut into triangles. Mush the diagonal ends of two triangles together to form one rectangle of dough (they should already be more-or-less sectioned off into these rectangles, you're only making it harder for them to come apart). Use a knife and cut your rectangle into two squares. Fill your square with a little ham and some cheese, cover with the top of your square, and press the dough down on all sides, rolling it up a little as you go. Repeat on your other four pieces of dough. Bake for 12-17 minutes, until golden brown.
Tip: if you want it to look all shiny when it comes out, beat an egg and brush it on top of your pasties before you bake them. Serves 4.
For one large round that you can cut into 6 servings:
Pull apart all the triangles of dough, reserve one triangle, and arrange the remainder into a many-sided pinwheel, making sure that the short end meets the long end all the way around. I made that picture in MS Paint; yes, I am a professional. Make sure to press all the sides of the dough that meet together so there is no danger of it breaking. I also recommend putting this together on the baking sheet you are going to use. You don't have to butter it, but you can give it a spray of oil if you are afraid of stickage (which always happens if you prepare on the pan, since you're pressing down and such). Put your sliced ham and cheese into the middle circle that you've created and pull the "petals" over it, gently tugging and stretching them to come more or less together. Use your extra triangle to fill any huge gaps, and make sure to roll the sides up so that no cheese will escape in baking. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the whole thing is brown; let cool on a wire rack and cut into six slices. If it's winter and the weather is fairly cool, these can remain at room temperature for a day or two but after that, you should probably put them in the fridge. You can also individually wrap them in saran wrap if you feel like being extra-prepared. Heat the next morning in a toaster oven, but I also just like them cold.
Casey loves these pockets, and he's tried them with lots of different fillings. I personally like a more Southwestern version with chicken breast, cooked and cut into small chunks, green chiles (they come in a can), and shredded Mexican cheese blend.
It's so hard to focus on blogging when my entire head is filled with visions of invoices, receipts, and pdf forms. And I'm actually getting to the point where I'm irritated if I have to call and ask someone for something. I vastly prefer ordering something via a form. Chalk that up to my anti-social nature, or laziness, or both, but my guess is that this budget hell won't end for another good three or four days. I just ripped apart an entire paperclip without noticing. I got back to my desk from my visit with the fax machine, and it was lying there in three innocent (and sad) pieces. Either Someone mysteriously pulled it apart during the 3 minutes I was gone, or I officially need a vacation. And a stiff drink. Just -- don't ask me to do something for you. I cannot be blamed for what might transpire.
This week is going to be CRAZY (see above), and this is coming from someone who is rarely busy, much less swamped. Summer projects are ramping up at work; and I'm still working on finishing up some end-of-schoolyear projects. So, I won't have much time for blogging. Quick weekend wrap-up - went shopping with Jen and bought 4 pairs of shoes, 2 of which are boating shoes. Yes, I'll be spending a lot of time on my yacht this summer. Also, BR outlet - amazing resource for new work clothes. 3 pairs of pants and one sweater for 100.00? And all work appropriate? Fantastic. Watched our latest Netflix arrival - The Fountain - 1 part ridiculous, 2 parts beautiful (and a great score), 1 part Hugh Jackman. Overall it was pretty good, but loses points for being ridiculous at some points and also for Hugh Jackman. Tried going to Solstice fair/parade but failed, because of traffic and parking and irritability. Also, toenails.
I just ate some veggie lasagna and it's not even 10 in the morning yet. However, I took a small piece because all my coworkers were like, "yuck, lasagna in the morning," and I wanted some, so I just took a little. And now I want more, and feel like it would be weird to go back. But it was delicious, and maybe worth it.
UPDATE: I did it. It was worth it.
UPDATE: I also ate some at 11:49. I am calling it a snack, though it will probably end up being my lunch.
If you note the little time button that says when this was typed, I want to say that I should be sleeping. I did not suffer much from jet lag when I arrived in Japan. I was too tired from my flight and then we got food and I stayed up later and went to bed at midnight and was fine from then on. It was lovely.
Last night I went to bed at 11 pm and woke up at 3:30. I have yet to fall back asleep, and it's too late anyway. Night before (night I arrived) I couldn't get to sleep until 4 am! And I was up for the entire 24 hours before that! And I woke up at 5 pm. FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON ON MONDAY.
So, newsflash, jetlag sucks. Today is going to be endlessly horrendously exhaustingly uncomfortable. I'm going to be so tired and also wish I was not there.
1 hour before I leave for work. At least I'll get partly caught up on my blogging.
At times like these, you've really got to be appreciative of the little things. Breakfast time.
