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January 31, 2005
Who Says Black Folks Don't Ski?
Last weekend I went skiing for the first time.
My friend Karyn's ridiculously amazing husband organized a ski weekend surprise birthday party for Karyn, complete with 20 of her closest friends and an 80's theme. And lots of good food and booze. And a 6 bedroom house in the mountains. Chad is my hero!
I have to be honest with the fact that I had some trouble getting over the fact that I was going to spend almost $300 to TRY a sport for the first time. A sport that takes place in the cold and the wet (two things that really annoy me). A sport that people get hurt doing. A sport all about leg strength, and we all know how happy my knees and right ankle are. At first I decided not to go skiing. I'd read a book in the lounge and look cute by the fire, sipping a hot spiked drink. Then, once I spoke it aloud, I realized that that was lame. That I'd make fun of me. To fly all the way out to CO, drive an hour and a half. To be at Breckenridge and NOT ski. I'd be lame.
So I did some research on the web, made a list of what I'd need, and headed to REI. Now, b/c I know that I despise the cold and the wet, I knew that skimping on the equipment was not really a choice. So I picked out my stuff, and $250 later, I checked out, still not fully over that I was checking out. I packed everything with the tags still on, b/c I'd be damned if for some reason we didn't get to ski.
We arrived Friday night, just in time for a throw down dance party. Chad in a worm contest. Saturday, we got up bright and early (not really), and it hit me. I was over it, I was ready to ski! We drove to Vail, rented our stuff, and hit the slopes. Or the hills. Karyn and Chad were gracious enough to stay with the beginners all day and give us lessons. The first hill we tried was literally a kiddie hill. Like, there were 5 year olds everywhere, whipping past us. You would ride this little "magic carpet" conveyer belt up to the top of the hill - like the people mover at the airport. We later graduated to the adult beginner hill, and that's when I realized that I had a "slow" problem. I could stop once I got to the bottom of the hill, but while I was on the hill, I couldn't take it slow. I'd start out with the group and then just go flying down the hill. FLYing. By the end of the day I got the hang of it. All in all, I was extremely glad that I got over myself and hit the slopes.
Saturday a group cooked up an amazing dinner, and we had cake and ice cream for Karyn's bday. Sunday some of the group skied, and some of the group shopped Breckenridge. I managed not to buy a single thing. We were all so beat, and the group was down to 7, so we went to a great italian place in downtown Frisco, and called it a night. Great idea considering Chad and Emily and I had to get up at 3:30am to head back to Denver - he for work and Em and I to catch our plane. It just so happened that there was a snowstorm overnight. Props to Em for driving, it was probably the most terrifying car/weather experience of my life. Descending a mountain in a snowstorm before the plows have come out with tons of semis at 4:30am. Thank god we made it safely.
We made out plane and I was at work by noon. Whoosh!
Photos of the entire weekend.
Posted by nikl at 05:11 PM | Comments (1)
January 28, 2005
You Just Won The Superbowl - What Are You Going To Do Next?
Not go to Disneyworld.
Posted by nikl at 10:06 AM | Comments (0)
January 27, 2005
Why is My Friend Jeff so Funny?
So wrong. Yet so right.
more.
Posted by nikl at 12:06 PM | Comments (0)
Apple + Showtime = "eh"
Apple is partnering with Showtime for a subscription incentive, which makes me go - "eh." It was Showtime's idea, which isn't suprising, but HBO is such a better fit for Apple. I'm a little personally taken aback.
Because I am a freak. That's why.
Posted by nikl at 09:26 AM | Comments (1)
January 26, 2005
American Idol, Season 4, Episode 4
Birthmark?
Posted by nikl at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2005
Go Jacy
Go Jacy Dummermouth (which I'm sure I spelled wrong and I'm sure she no longer goes by) on her new H&R Block commercial!
Posted by nikl at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)
American Idol, Season 4, Episode 3
So glad I didn't know that there were American Idol trading cards. And collected by someone who yodles?
Is Paula coming down off of something?
I'm going to go with the accountant guy having just won a really big bet with his fraternity brothers. Big. Bet.
Now, see, the difference between Leroy and the accountant, is that the accountant made some money off of this. I'm almost as sure that Leroy was on a dare, but my guess is all he got from his posse in return was a case of 40s.
Best adjective: Woozy-woozy-white-boy stuff.
Posted by nikl at 07:01 PM | Comments (0)
January 21, 2005
I Am Mad At It
The whole "Yahoo! buys Jib Jab" thing is really just silly. A. It wasn't _that_ funny to begin with. Marginally. And we all know that the odds of the follow-up being as funny is slim to none. So yahoo! buys them. So they produce a second one. Which is also not funny. Less funny.
Now, you'd think that Yahoo! doesn't really care whether or not it's funny, that they get the "eyes" regardless. Well, as you wait for 5 hours (on a T1) for the entire movie to load before it starts, what advertising do I see? FREE 3D SCREEN SAVERS. So, wait. WHY DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE?
I'm not even going to link to it b/c I am so mad at it.
Posted by nikl at 10:52 AM | Comments (0)
January 20, 2005
Spam Investing
Love this.
Posted by nikl at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2005
No, Seriously
My mom's cat really is the best cat ever. She's now, at this moment, petting me.
Posted by nikl at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)
American Idol, Season 4, Episode 2
It really, is truly, about Ozzie Smith's son. What else could _possibly_ happen in St. Louis? And hell yeah. We're ARE about to take over!!! Go STL!!!!
Johnny's family lied to that poor boy.
When people go into that camera room on their own, are they 90% sure that it's never going to get on the air? That's the only explanation I can come up with for the mess we are seeing.
"I love to shop, I love to tan, and... I'm going to be the next American Idol." - Jessica Pontious. I think not.
Two words. Justin. Smith.
Sometimes, you have to leave the drama at home.
Ok. here's the deal. If you are obsessed with Baywatch, and someone asks you what about Baywatch you are obsessed with, do not say David Hasslehoff. DO NOT SAY DAVID HASSLEHOFF.
Posted by nikl at 09:49 PM | Comments (0)
One By One
Last night, as I walked into Schnucks, there was a white woman and her daughter just a bit behind me on their way from the parking lot as well. The little girl was telling her mom about the civil rights movement. No lie. This 6 year old was telling her mom about the bus strike. And her tone was incredulous - like, how could this possibly have happened? And the mom was telling her that that was a bad time. A time when people were bad and mean.
I was far enough ahead to maybe have not overheard it (though the little girls was SCREAMING in true 6 yr old fasion), but I clearly did. I turned around and smiled at the mom. I kinda wish I'd said "thank you for talking about it with her" or something. But I kinda guess who am I to say that?
Anyway. It was cool, and thank god they were talking about it in school. And thank god she was talking about it out of school. And thank god the mom was engaging her. Cause that's what it takes. One by one.
Posted by nikl at 10:49 AM | Comments (1)
January 18, 2005
American Idol, Season 4, Episode 1
Now, why they gotta say "a single mother and the girl next door?" Why they gotta set it up like that?
Newsflash - CLAY DIDN'T WIN. I love how they always include him in the winners circle.
Ok, major props to the editing folks. How to make a tired series on a simple premise new - EDITING.
Major props to adding guest judges to the initial audition process.
How pissed would you be if someone got you on national television asleep SUCKING YOUR THUMB?
Perhaps the real marketing plan behind Are We There Yet? was to keep advertising it and delaying the release date until people actually decide to go see it?
Can someone who was there, prove to me that Clinton and Bush (Sr.) were actually in the same room for the filming of the Tsunami relief commercial?
Apparently, they wrote new lyrics to YMCA.
Dude, if you don't learn your lyrics, you are not allowed to cry. These are the rules.
Go'on now Anwar - the voice and the personal mission.
"It may appear that I have a lot of money, but you do not have to have a lot of money to look nice." - Melissa Considine. And the rest, is now, history. Brilliant.
If you have a famous cousin, and she ain't hooked you up, perhaps you should consider that. A little bit.
[ps - my dad is watching this downstairs on the other side of the house (I'm upstairs) and his cable is a little ahead of mine, and it's first killing me to hear him bust out laughing, and then what ever he's laughing at happens, and I'm double-dead.]
America The Beautiful, ALTERNATE ENDING. YES. no.
HELLO. Karaoke/Wedding Ring/Karaoke/Wedding Ring/Karaoke/Wedding Ring - IS THIS A DELIMMA? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? No, REALLY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Have I mentioned that I LOVE GEORGE HUFF?
Is there something wrong with me that shipping technology turns me on?
"Basically, I was a drunk, and then basically, I found Jesus, and then, I just found out I could sing a couple of weeks ago." - Jason Smith
James Ingram is a god. Period. No matter what.
All I can really say, is that I just watched Sybil audition for American Idol.
Posted by nikl at 07:02 PM | Comments (2)
January 14, 2005
Unscripted
BTW. Please watch this show. It kills me, and it makes me so very happy that I clued in back in the day. Lord HELP.
Posted by nikl at 09:54 PM | Comments (0)
January 12, 2005
Kirk Cameron
Just in case you were wondering what Kirk Cameron is up to.
Posted by nikl at 12:56 PM | Comments (3)
If, Then
No. Not Algebra (thank goodness!)
We live in a country where "anything is possible" - where the mailman wins the lottery, the trailer park boy becomes a rap star and the housewife a style-maven. But I think we're all on to the fact that these triumphs, while realized or maintained with good old fashioned hard work (sometimes), were all the result of opportunity. Opportunity given by someone or something else. While less high profile, we all have triumphs or successes or life changing opportunities that would never have happened if it weas't for _______.
The point of this is to take a few moments to think about 10 "if ________ then I never __________." You'll think of many you'll never share, and a few that might be family secrets. But the point is that you'll think of them and realize their power, and maybe tomorrow, you'll be the _________ for someone else's ___________.
Send these back to the person who sent them to you, anyone you mention, those involved in ones that aren't quite ready for public consumption, and anyone else you think would enjoy the moment of reflection.
In no particular order:
1. If Kristen Coury (Chevalier) hadn't chosen my letter out of a stack, I would have never interned at Disney Theatrical, lived in NYC for the summer btw my Jr. and Sr. year, and realized I wanted to move there after school.
2. If Sharon Quinn hadn't vouched for and recruited me, I would never have started singing at BBKing's and consequently with all the other amazing groups I've sung with over the past 2 years
3. If Steve Gnojewski hadn't totally been and then crushed my world, I would have never considered transferring to Northwestern.
4. If I hadn't stood in line for Rent whichever day that was, I would have never met Dwayne Mann. (And f I hadn't played hooky from work to audition for Ragtime, I wouldn't have met him again, but not remembered where I met him. And if Michelle Wilkins hadn't worked at Wasser, I would not have met him a third time and realized the other two times I'd met him.)
5. If Michael Shattner hadn't worked at Wasser/Mackintosh, I would have never known they were hiring for the position it turned out they'd already filled, and they would have never then hired me as their "computer person" - the position in which I began learning everything I ever knew about computers and "that world wide web thing."
6. If my mom hadn't taken an IBM System's Analyst training class out of college and become a Colbalt bad ass, I would not have grown up with computers around me all the time, which led to me being computer literate enough for #6.
7. If Randy Meyer hadn't interned at LivEnt, I would never have met Kimberly Willock, who hired me at Pegasus, where I was able to start my "career" in the web world.
8. If I hadn't worked at Pegasus, I never would have met Judy and Kathy, who let me know about an opening at this place called Bitflip.
9. If it weren't for Mark Motley and Mark Loucks, I would never have known Rodgers Townsend just happened to be looking to expand its online department around the same time I was looking for a job in St. Louis.
10. If my grandparents hadn't worked their asses off in order for my parents to work their asses off at the next level, none of the above.
Posted by nikl at 02:26 AM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2005
Brilliance
and even more, My life is complete.
Posted by nikl at 01:55 PM | Comments (3)
January 10, 2005
In Typical Broadway Marketing Fashion
Great idea all around.
Not.
Note to self: Think it through. Think it all the way through.
Posted by nikl at 02:13 PM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2005
It Sent a Messenger
If I were to find out it was the same raccoon, I may die, so I'm assuming it's not. But they are back. Luckily this time not above my bed (yet), but back. dammit. I hate them.
Posted by nikl at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
January 06, 2005
Big Ups
Big ups to whoever designed the logo for The Bahamas. Love it.
Big ups to whoever concepted the new hair care commercials featuring classic cartoon character make-overs. Here's hoping this is just the first in a series. However, I must take away an up or two b/c I can't remember the brand. I thought it was Ivory, but there's nothing about it on their website. Which, if it is Ivory, is perhaps even worse than the fact that I can't remember the brand. People. Get it TOGETHER.
Big ups to whoever felt it was worth their time to recreate the entire Thriller video (the long play version, all locations, including dance breaks) in stop time animation using logo figurines.
Posted by nikl at 09:34 AM | Comments (2)
January 05, 2005
Score 1 for the Gateway Center
If you didn't know, not only the Midwest, but Madison County - Collinsville in particular - was graced with the presence of our Commander in Chief today. You'll never guess where he spoke. No, really. Actually, you will, b/c there's really only one place in the metro area to accomodate that many people. Yes. The Gateway Center. In case you've forgotten, Gateway has fascinated me twice (1, 2) since I've been home. And now, the president.
Posted by nikl at 10:29 AM | Comments (1)
More Things to Love About The Midwest
When it rains like cats and dogs, it's less of a trauma to get to the gym, therefore harder to use it as an excuse
Aerobics classes in a gigantic room, not packed, for $3. $3.
I haven't been to the cash machine in two weeks.
Posted by nikl at 09:18 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2005
Ew Ew Ew Ew
If you saw Amazing Race tonight, you know what I'm talking about. My mom and dad and I were all watching the one accessible TV (though thank God the cable guy came and now the DVR is p and running again - whoo hoo!!) and we all had to get UP off the bed and leave the room we were so disgusted. But WHO BETTER FOR IT TO HAPPEN TO. When you act like that, and when your partner acts like that, that's the kind of karma you GET. Though, it's really too bad that didn't continue on the the ultimate karma. I was much sad to see the folks who got eliminated eliminated. Especially when they were neck and nexk with the puke eating devil twins. Though that could have all been in the editing and they weren't close at all.
Posted by nikl at 09:22 PM | Comments (0)
January 01, 2005
Martha Wants Us All Trashed
Last night I made the Martha Stewart "Perfect Margarita" recipe. It was so strong, I tell you, that no one else would drink them (Sarah did have a small one, and Gabe tried, but in the end, was like, NO.) I, however, was determined to make use of the cup and a half of fresh lime juice I squeezed and had 1 and drank the remainder of Gabe's, in addition to the extra in the shaker. This was enough for me for the rest of the night. No, really. I think I had 2 sips of champagne at midnight, and that was all.
This is the 3rd Martha Stewart drink mix I've encountered, and I must say, that all of them are designed to have you on the floor. The FLOOR.
Posted by nikl at 04:59 PM | Comments (0)