transfer of responsibilities

Hi Tim,

Now that they're leaving Aurora, JR and Ben need to transition some key information to you on how best to provide me with the emotional support I require in the workplace.

The agenda:

1. I'm occasionally going to IM you asking if I can vent for one minute. It'll be about something that annoyed me and may or may not be work-related. I'm not escalating to you and don't need you to resolve the issue; just listen and reply with something like, "Oh, that stinks."
2. Lunch is at 11. No exceptions. We all eat jalapenos and talk about boys.
3. On Monday mornings be prepared to exchange stories of what happened while we were apart over the weekend. Remember that there's no such thing as a bad date - just good dates and good brunch stories. 
4. Maybe once or twice a week we'll "take a lap" which entails filling our water bottles in the cafeteria and coming back the long way while gossipping quietly so as to not disturb the caregivers working around us.
5. You'll have to laugh long and hard at the nonsense that often takes place during our Thursday afternoon team meetings. **Note, this should be easy for you, since you already do this.**
6. Continue brainstorming hijinx we can arrange. You may be called upon to tie up or gift wrap a colleague's cube, and then crawl out from beneath the decorations. 

That about covers it. Looking forward to reviewing these topics and more with you at our upcoming meeting,

Siobhan

bead

To continue thawing out from my writers' block, I use the Random Word Generator to do some writing exercises and create some stream-of-consciousness articles. 

You're welcome. Or I'm sorry. I've heard it both ways.

Today's word: bead

One of my favorite bracelets features a repeating pattern of gray, black, and ivory crescent-shaped plastic beads.

Because it's elastic I can shove it pretty far up on my wrist so it doesn't rub against the deck of my Writing Machine. 

I can't lie to ya: this little baby set me back only $1.99 because IT'S FROM GOODWILL, Y'ALL! 

Anyhow, one day I was minding my business and watching a little Married with Children, because Peg Bundy is my style icon I was bored, when I noticed she she and I were wearing THE EXACT SAME BRACELET! (Hers is pink.)

I have those pants, too.

Here's a quick run-down of the thoughts racing through my mind.

1. Peg Bundy shops at Goodwill.
2. I should stop shopping at Goodwill because now I wear the same jewelry as Peg Bundy.
3. Peg Bundy and her bracelet are FABULOUS! Keep shopping at Goodwill.

gramma chair

When I was a little kid and my paternal grandparents passed away I inherited a chair.

A lovely, love-filled, lovingly used chair.

Time finally came for me to replace the 50-year-old upholstery. 50 years. That's a good run.

By calling around to the fine furnishings stores in town, I ended up working with Bill at McGilligan's Upholstery Shop. He gave me both the advice and space I needed to transform the chair while still maintaining its historical integrity and sentimental value. 

Check out that velour-like rust-toned floral fabric. 

Ain't that something. 

Momentarily considered keeping it. 

Came to my senses.

Bill rips joyfully into the old upholstery, 

revealing a charming stitching detail....

Biscuit tufting!

That's the checkerboard pattern of fabric-covered buttons sewn into the back. 

A lovely and typical characteristic of chairs from this era. 

I spent an hour or so arriving at this amazing tweed, 

and another hour finding a paisley.

I didn't want to commit to a mustard color.

Keep looking.

Oh yes! 

The final fabric choices paired together.

Tweed for the chair body and paisley for the seat-back.

The finished product, being treated with indifference by Monkey and George...

... and here with fewer pets and a favorite new throw pillow...

... and once more, this time from the back. 

What you can't see from the outside

is the special note that Bill stitched into the padding of the chair.

I'll enjoy reading this little nugget when I reupholster the chair

in 2052.

you can see why I go by Bhan

Open a Word document. Type my full first name (as a reminder, it's Siobhan), and see what Microsoft thinks you should call me.

I love this

If you, like me, don't know what any of those words mean you can just Ask Google for suggestions! How convenient.

Google is too far away, though, so I just decided to guess what each of the four suggested words might mean.

sihanouk [n] Inuit word for the kind of snowflake which lands not on your jacket-covered torso and sleeves, and not on your cap-covered head, and not on your gloved hands, but directly on your eyeball.

sisyphean [adj] Of unbelievably wimpy wimpiness. One who cries a lot. Unable to perform herculean tasks. Often requires cheese with its whine.

sideman [n] Multi-purpose tool consisting of a Leatherman, one can of mace, Axe body spray, and Altoids; intended for use by complete idiots who go to bars to pick fights and hit on sleazy women.

exhibit A

scansion [n] The act or state of systematically perusing items for sale in a discount retail setting; the ability to rapidly and accurately glance through racks of jeans at TJ Maxx to isolate the two pair worth trying on.