Note to Self

Next time you lift weights with Sara, take it easy. She's way stronger than you and your arms will hurt for the next two days.

Next I'll be in the basement with my red stapler

Recently our IT Security team has started to crack down on what we can and can not do from our computers at work. Apparently some people use their computers to do stuff they are not supposed to do at work - like make trades or share information about clients or whatever via personal email accounts (which are not tracked). Sure I understand that. But I don't have access to that kind of information, and, as usual, they must punish everyone for the faults of a few, and now I can't check my Hotmail at work. Fine. Not that big of a deal, just an annoyance. But then they went out and started blocking a bunch of web sites. And I'm not just talking about the porn all the traders were looking at. No, now we can't go to TMZ.com (which I rarely visited) or even Post Secret. Apparently PS had adult and mature content on it. So does the Tribune, but I can still read the paper if I want.

So, what I take from all of this is that they (a) want to be able to track each and every keystroke on my computer and who I'm talking to and about what and (b) only do work while at work (even if it's my lunch break). What kind of repressive regime is this?

You like me, you really like me.

I got this comment on yesterday's post: This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Câmera Digital, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://camera-fotografica-digital.blogspot.com. A hug.

I'm glad my blog is likable. It's what I aim for. We should all reward Camera Digital for his/her very insightful comment by checking out his/her blog. It's not in English, but it has cool pictures of digital cameras. Today's camera is the Nikon D40x - which just happens to be the SLR digital camera I'm lusting after.

Zero Days Accident Free

No, I didn't have an accident - just witnessed.

It all happened as I decided to free myself from the desk for a few minutes and get outside and enjoy the 70 degree weather (and 30 mph winds). So I take a little walk around the block. It helps me clear my head and get back into the game for the next three hours of work (or at least prepares me to sit here and putz around while I wait for five o'clock arrive). Anyway, the building next to my office is under construction. Surprise of all surprises here in the West Loop, they're building condos. I'm walking underneath the for your protection, sidewalk covering scaffolding when out of nowhere (not really but I don't know where it came from so it might as well be nowhere) something comes crashing down into the middle of the street missing a taxi by mere inches. I let out an involuntary "WHOA" and see bits of plastic bouncing up and a larger chunk of something skittering across the street. At first I thought the taxi had hit a large pothole and something fell off the car. The taxi must have thought the same thing because it came to a rather abrupt halt. But as I walk closer, I see that it's a hard hat with a visor. The hard hat made it intact, the visor did not. One of the construction workers picks up the hard hat and comments that it sure is windy. Apparently the hat blew off of one of the upper floors of the building. I was just glad there wasn't a person attached to it, and that I was under that handy-dandy scaffolding.

Happy Tax Day

This year Mr. H. and I experienced the joy of not having loaned the federal government, interest free, any money. Fortunately I like to do my taxes early, so I had warning and was able to plan for the inevitable payment that must be made. Amendments were made to the W2 and next year I am hoping to come out even (I don't mind not getting a refund, just mind having to send money away). To be fair, we got about $60 back from the State of Illinois, so it's not all bad. Of course, Mr. H. and I are always looking for some good deductions but alas we have none. I don't understand why people get a credit for driving a hybrid car but I get NOTHING for riding my bike to work (ok even if occasionally, it's still something). Apparently fish do not count as dependents and buying a new Calvin Klein suit does not count as a "uniform" for work (though it totally should).

May the tax man be kinder to you than he was to us.

Franglish

As many of you know, I work for a company that is based in Paris. As such, I deal with a lot of people for whom English is not their first language. It has its fun sides - I get to remember the five plus years of French I took (you'd think I'd be fluent). But it also has its downsides. Case in point - I edit our newsletters, many of the stories being written by some of our French employees. Hence I have to translate sentences like this: Almost two High Street clothing shops a year are opening for business and taking up their swinging signs. It is the most visible signal that Paris’s most famous avenue is in a moving state.

I'm not totally sure what the author is trying to say here. I assume "High Street" is another name for the Champs Elysées - but I'm not sure. I've translated "Taking up their swinging signs" to either mean they are making their signs smaller, or maybe they're putting their swinging signs away. Maybe the signs are swingers (if you know what I mean) and they're taking them up on their offer. I'm definitely intrigued by the "famous avenue" that's in a "moving state." I take this to mean that they've installed moving sidewalks along the Champs Elysées which will make lugging all those shopping bags easier.

Moving Sale

As you know, Mr. H. and I are in the process of moving. And if there's one thing I hate about moving, it's moving stuff that I don't want. So in the spirit of Spring Cleaning and recycling, here are some things we're looking to get rid of. Feel free to contact me if you want something, but hurry, I've posted on Craig's List!

First up are several gadgets taking up space.

2 iMac remotes - Free
If you have an iMac that has the IR sensor for a remote cause you're just too far away (or too lazy) to turn up your iTunes by hand, AND you've lost your remote, well this one's for you. I can't sell these cause they were given to me. I can't use these because my iMac doesn't have the darn IF sensor.

UPDATE: One has been spoken for already, get the other before it's gone!

iPod Shuffle charger - $5
You should get one for your office cause you don't want to be stuck with no tunes on the way home. I'd keep this if someone at the gym hadn't liberated me from my iPod shuffle and I didn't already have one. I'm thinking of getting another shuffle, but they come with a charger, so I'll still have two. If I decide not to get another shuffle, and you're thinking you need three, one for the office, one for home and one for your mom's house, well, we'll talk.

Brick charger for your 2nd or 3rd gen. iPod - Free
Again, if you have an older iPod and you're looking for a replacement brick with the firewire connection (you know what I'm talking about if you have one) look no further. Somehow I ended up with two (oh, that's right, cause I already went through an iPod before this one) and only need the one charger for the iPod we never use. It's also useful as a weapon, or a paperweight or as art.

Palm Zire with charger and software - $10
Don't have a smart phone? Want to try getting organized in a not new and not fangled way? Then try what used to be all the rage and now is just a passing phase. More fun than an Apple Newton, it's a Palm Zire. Mine is actually blue cause I didn't want to jump on that "everything's white because Apple started making white stuff" bandwagon.

Next up we've got some stuff that's just lying around.

Leather Jacket - $100 obo
Think crotch rocket, not Harley and you'll get the idea. It's black with a white stripe on the sleeve. In it you'll look cool whether you're riding your motorcycle or just peddlin' your bike. Mr. H. bought it and wore it once before his arms grew. I knew he'd never wear it but I just can't say no to his jacket obsession. Sorry, no picture here, Mr. H. won't model for me.

Full Silver Sable & The Wild Pack comic book collection - $50 obo
Sorry dad, but these are just gathering dust. If you want 'em back, let me know and I'll save them for you. Otherwise, pick up this coveted mint condition collection of comic books. Lovingly stored with backboards and plastic sleeves. I'd tell you what's in them to make you want them even more, but I've never read them so I can't.

I'm sure over the coming weeks we'll be looking to get rid of more stuff, so keep coming back. These hot deals won't last long.