Resurrection

I have thought, on and off, over the last three years, about reviving this blog. Because I'm an extremely vain person, it warms my heart every time someone happens to bring it up in casual conversation. And I'd laugh and say that that was for a much younger, much more fun Meg, who, unfortunately, has been replaced by Law School Meg, who likes to suck the fun out of everything. But a recent series of events has caused me to reconsider the blog. First, Luke's naming his 2014 fantasy football team "Rex Has Big Ideas." I'm not sure if the name was a play on the blog (I think it was - we all remember Greg's Got Mediocre Ideas, which was another attempt to elbow in on my territory). At any rate, no, Luke, Rex does not have big ideas, and let's stop pretending he does. Second, I have a lot of time to fill now that I'm on the back end of law school, and there are only so many TV shows I can watch at one time (though Amazon Prime is not helping with that habit). Or maybe perhaps not so much time as inclination to not do work (I'm strenuously avoiding listening to a class recording right now). Third, and perhaps most importantly, I stumbled upon my last blog post, "The Great M&M Debate," in which I panned the (then-new) pretzel M&Ms. This shocked and dismayed me, as pretzel M&Ms are one now one of my favorite things in life. So, naturally, I was moved to resurrect this blog to defend the honor of pretzel M&Ms, and also to note the advent of other pretzel-chocolate combination products, like Milano slices. Though I have yet to try them, they look like they are going to be my new favorite thing. Thanks, Mom, for finding those.

In all seriousness, I stumbled upon this blog again and had to laugh. Who was this person, and where did she get off having a blog? Reading through the posts was like stepping back in time and I vividly remember all of the thoughts and emotions that went behind each post. I've had a lot of changes in my life recently and I have been seeking to recapture some of myself that I think got lost along the way. I feel like I'm at a good place for the first time in what feels like years, and that feeling helps drive new material. Plus, I've never stopped having big thoughts, and I'm vain enough to think you want to hear them, too. So here's to a new chapter of the blog, and all of the big ideas that will come with it.

The Great M&M Debate of 2010

In my ongoing effort to beef up my hobbies, I am taking a swim class again. I was reading the monthly wellness email at work (me and the one other person in the Benefits Office whose job it is to proofread that) and saw that the gym was offering swim classes. Not wanting to be blocked out (the class was capped at 8), I called right away and signed up. Luckily, there was a spot for me - as the first person to sign up.

I showed up for class on Tuesday and the instructor to student ratio was 1:1. My class consisted of me, another gentleman about my age, and a 60-something leathery tan man, shock white hair, wearing a red Speedo. Perfect. I could rest assured that once again I would easily be able to assert my dominance in the class. I was quickly proven right as I was the only one who could move past floating (and this was supposed to be an intermediate class). So I got to work on learning new techniques and also learn how to do a better backstroke. On Thursday, I got to class a few minutes late and was slightly miffed to see a new swimmer in our ranks, who, according to the instructors, was on par with my level of swimming. Once again, I was quickly proven to be the best one in the class, as I had a firm mastery of the flip turn, whereas my new swim partner did not. Meg 2, other swimmers 0. Kidding aside, I am really enjoying the new class, although I'm not a huge fan of the pool at work. Glad I didn't pay money to join there - the public pool, ironically, is 1000 times nicer.

In other news, has anyone else been following the recent expansion of the M&M product line? For years, I think M&M had a winning formula with the chocolate and the candy coating, even diversifying with allowing the public to choose a new color for the M&Ms back in the day (or was that Skittles?). As I am a huge fan of monograms, I was very excited to see that you could personalize M&Ms with your own message. And just recently, I noticed in Wegmans that they have alternative color selections. So I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the new advertisements for pretzel M&Ms. This seemed like a match made in heaven - combining pretzels, one of my all-time favorite foods, and M&Ms, one of my preferred candies, could only bring good things. I instantly texted Jinny to let her know of our great fortune, as she is an avid pretzel and M&M lover herself (although she prefers the peanut kind - good for protein). Both of us concurred, however, that the ratio of salty pretzel to sweet candy was off, and all you wound up getting is a weird crunchy M&M with practically no flavor.

Which leads me to earlier in the week, when I was at Walgreens buying a jumbo pack of toilet paper, where I was perusing the candy offerings as I normally do. To my surprise, I saw a new M&M candy offering - coconut M&Ms. I was pleasantly surprised, but puzzled that this new creation had not been aggresively marketed by the Mars company. One M&M and I was hooked - like a lighter version of coconut clusters and cheaper to boot. So tonight at CVS my mom and I both bought a pack when the cashier brought up the pretzel ones.

Cashier: "Have you tried the new pretzel M&Ms?"
Me: "Yeahhh, I wasn't impressed."
Cashier: "Oh really?! I really liked them."

Whereupon we continued to debate the relative merits of the pretzel v. coconut M&Ms, which I encouraged him to try.

All this is a long way of saying yet another exciting Friday night. I must take leave now so I can go peruse this color wheel so I can help my mom choose which of the 8 different shades of beige (out of a 1000 colors) to paint the family room.

Will I Make It?

The 30 seconds that I often spend waiting to cross the street when the bus I need to catch is rapidly approaching the stop on the other side of the street is probably the most nerve-racking 30 seconds of my day. This is obviously a hard task, as I spend 95 percent of the seconds of the day in varying degrees of agitation. But believe me, they are nail-biting moments.

Today I was standing at the crosswalk as I looked down the street at the bus coming up over the hill. Glance at the stoplight - still green. Can't cross against the light - too much traffic. Back at the bus. Appears it is stopping. Good. Hopefully someone who needs them to lower the stairs is getting on and could buy me some time. Back at the light. Still no go. So much traffic. Bus is still there - the transportation gods may yet smile upon me. Trying to stop heart from seizing with terror at the thought of waiting for another half hour in fading light for a bus to magically appear. With my luck it would be a supreme bus drought and then five buses all at once. I'd make too sudden of a movement toward one but all of the buses would think it is for the other bus and I'd wind up missing all five. Ok snap out of it. Back to bus. Looks like it is still stopped. Back at light. Wait, it's red. The man is telling me to walk. Only 28 more seconds left to get across. Quick run to the stop even though the bus isn't moving. Clearly at stop waiting for bus. Almost failed to make critical eye contact with bus driver, who may have left me standing at the stop with the Bandolino shoe store that looks like it is going out of business. Board bus, stopping traffic on major thoroughfare because of aforementioned near-miss with eye contact (bus driver didn't pull out of lane). Get on bus - bus driver gives me a look of mild surprise that I wanted to board his bus and not the cool red bus that was coming next. Laws of inertia throw me hurtling toward my seat. Collapse in a daze. Cannot believe my good fortune at coming out of work at exactly the right moment to lead me to my seat with the minimal amount of wait possible. To think what could have happened if I had been off by two minutes.

I wonder why my commute burns 500 calories and leaves me feeling so exhausted.

Rockin' the Suburbs

I had no idea I had 27 comments to moderate. I just logged in to my blog (almost logged in using my boss's gmail calendar account that I manage - that would have been awkward....). If you've posted something in, oh, I don't know, the last six months, I have just approved your comments for publication. Not that I am trying to restrict free speech, but I was getting some weird comments - I think I made it through the Chinese firewall and was getting lots of spam.

I had some great ideas for some posts, but unfortunately I have forgotten them all. If I do say so myself, they were pretty funny. My quests for interesting hobbies continues. So far, I'm really developing my baking skillz that killz. Not so good for the waistline or wallet, but what can I say? I think I very much enjoy following the instructions and having something turn out well for once. Reminds me a lot of school. My dream hobby would be mosaics and glass working. I can't seem to get in to one of those classes, however.

My parents recently became residents of the metro area, so last weekend I spent time unpacking crap I had hoped I could just leave behind, forgotten, for an indeterminate amount of time. Brought up a lot of memories - I found my pink monogrammed robe from when I was just a wee-baby. It is so tiny!! Also, I found a gift that someone that my parents had worked with had given them when I was born. I was 6 pounds! Who knew? But the major downfall was that my name was spelled wrong, a problem that still haunts me to this day (there is a calculated reasoning to why I now prefer Meg). I did find some major scores, like my Ben Folds "Rocking the Suburbs" CD. Right now I am rocking out to "Still Fighting It." Resonates so much better now that I'm practically an old hand in the world. Although I'm pretty sure the song is about having a kid....can't say that I'm in that life stage.

Seriously, when is this blog going to get optioned for a Showtime Original Series? I am tired of being a 9 to 5er. I mean, I potentially could have many, many more years ahead of me (when I signed up for a retirement plan, the closest date in the pre-set plan option was for when I turn 55 I believe). I feel in my second year of employment I am getting more confident in my job. I also feel like I have nothing to lose anymore, and I will admit I do feel somewhat hardened to the world, which I don't like. But I guess I'll just have to keep "going inside myself" as I would say (my favorite person to quote is myself) to keep on keepin' on.

Temperature Regulation

What up my people?! I hadn't realized it had been over a month since I had last blogged. Again, epically failing in my quest to keep this blog semi-functional. So I'm hoping there is more out there reading this than Internet tumbleweeds.

To recap the last month - I was sick for a while, and that always sucks being sick in the summertime. Lost all of my precious tan and pretty much my zeal for summer. I'm ready to just fast forward to fall and get on with it. I prefer winter in general anyway because I don't like the heat - probably because I can't control my temperature as well as I can in the cold. With the cold, you just throw more blankets on and be done. But in the summer even wearing a bathing suit still feels like an inferno. That said, I do need to do some weeding out of the wardrobe. I don't really need as many heavy sweaters anymore - I wind up just sweating.

I've been trying out a lot of new recipes but not really liking anything I make for myself. I'm trying to push my food comfort zone, but I wind up not eating things! I don't understand why my food does not turn out like Giada from Everyday Italian and Giada at Home. I mean, besides the house on the beach in Cali with the awesome kitchen and cooking training, what does she have that I don't? Seriously, though, my lack of prep space is becoming somewhat of an impediment to my cooking adventures. There is only room for a cutting board and a mixing bowl, maybe two if I move some stuff around. So that's also adding to my frustration.

In other hobbies, I'd also like to take up mosaics. I've been trying to get in to a mosaics and glass class but no luck. Also, I'd like to pick up the Web site building, although it's hard to get myself to sit in front of the computer after looking at one all day. Speaking of which, I am pooped and need to sleep. I have to gear up for two more work days and the push to the weekend!

"Farewell to My Gateway Computer (a love story)"

When I started this blog, I could never have imagined the support I would get from all corners of my life. And, naturally, success breeds imitation. You may have heard of a rival blog in the making, "Greg's Got Mediocre Ideas." Greg, a friend of mine with a name that conveniently rhymes, may or may not have the backing of a puppet regime that is seeking to overthrow me as queen of my small little blogosphere. To this, I say I welcome the competition. Competition always brings out the best in me, as many of you know first-hand, and I think good competition makes one better (although Greg apparently has mediocre ideas, so I may have spoken too soon on that).

Part of Greg (and the puppet regime's plan) to shake my dominance is to target one of my most loyal readers: my Aunt Trishie. Though related to me by blood, I know she makes a point to check my blog regularly, and even stuck with me through the long winter when I was not regularly updating. So tonight I have a treat for both my readers and for my aunt: a guest post from my aunt herself. This post serves a two-fold purpose: one, as a shameless plug to prevent a loss in market share to Greg's Got Mediocre Ideas; and two, as I think this is perfect material for this blog and I feel like I have been in many similarly frustrating experiences.

To preface this story, my aunt received a Mac for Christmas to replace her computer that she had had for over a decade. With that, I give you "Farewell to My Gateway Computer (a love story)".

So, back in March when I finally set up my iMac and got high speed internet I cleaned files off of my 10 year old Gateway computer (with - what was at the time a state of the art flat screen computer) and hastily unplugged it and left it in the corner of the room. I went on-line and ordered a CD rom that wipes the hard drive so I could recycle it at Staples ($10 to cover handling is all they charge). Big plans....but never got around to it for months. The gigantic "tower" became a footrest when I watched TV. So I finally resolved over the 4th of July weekend to somehow plug it all in, run the CD and take it to Staples. So I pull out the whole mess of stuff, figure out how to out it back all together (because I threw away all the original manuals) and get it up an running on the floor - during the massive heat wave mind you so i am creating a drag on the nation's electric grid. I play one final game of solitaire (once again that used to be state of the art gaming) and put in the erase CD. Asks for an activation code - darn! The activation code includes the letter "a".....forgot the "a" button on the computer does not work.

So I shut down the computer, eject the CD, find a CD of the files I cleaned off the computer and open a file with a word containing the letter "a", delete all letters in the word except for the "a" and copy. Close file, eject CD, somehow need to reboot the computer, put in the eraser CD and go to enter the activation code and "paste" the letter "a" that I copied. Somehow the reboot made me lose the letter "a" when I went to paste. Okay-do the whole thing again. Get it to work and now I follow the menu. Blah, Blah, it goes along, downloads the file and tells me to press a key so the computer will reboot and start the erase process. Press the button, it reboots and then gives me an error message that a file is missing! AAARRRGGHHHH!!! Unplug everything, put it to the side. Send a message to the software company with error message. Weekend is over- my dream is not yet realized.

Got an e-mail back from the software people on how to fix the problem the next day. Determined, I hook everything up at about 9:30 at night after I get home from work. The fix involved invoking the F1 key as soon as the computer starts......took me a few times to get the timing right and I am now in some weird DOS like menu. I had to try it a few times (even resetting configurations as I somehow totally screwed up the computer). Got it working YEA!. Message comes up the drive is being erased....it appears that it will be done in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Okay, I go and brush my teeth and come back. Time looks the same....OH NO it is going to take 2 HOURS!!!! It's about 11pm and I need to go to bed. Eject CD, unplug the computer and go to bed.

This weekend, I pull out the whole computer set up and let it run - it works HARD DRIVE ERASED! Today, I took it to Staples - needed two trips from the car because the tower is so freaking big! It's hot and I am sweating. Brought back the tower, monitor, mouse, keyboard and those big speakers! I sign a document and I am done. They were running a special and there was no handling charge. Small victory! I walked out and never looked back....however, the Gateway will always hold a small place in my heart, right next to my 1989 red Ford Probe!!!

The Height of Laziness

You may get the impression, based on my infrequent blog posts, that I am an extremely busy person. To that I would say that this is partially true. I am, in fact, terribly occupied with being extremely lazy. Last night I was sitting on my couch in full view of my computer (although most things are in full view in my apartment, being that it is just one room). I couldn't even motivate myself to get off the couch and go type out some thoughts. It's not like these posts take me hours. Although the creative process can be somewhat draining....

I have had several thoughts in the last few weeks that could have easily made good blog posts; now I am forgetting all of them. So let me start with a thought that has been bearing down on me for the last few weeks: the Peeps diorama. You may recall the valiant effort put forth by Janelle and me for the Washington Post's peeps diorama contest and how cruelly they shunned our creative genius. No matter. We've kept the diorama, showcasing it prominently on my bookcase. It actually has become part of the landscape of my apartment - those peeps look about as fresh as the day they came out of the package (which is a testament to why I never eat them). But it is hard to wake up every day and be confronted with your failures - literally and figuratively. The diorama sits directly across from my bed, so that one of the first things I see in the morning is the scene. So now the question becomes....do I keep the diorama, or do I throw it away? Janelle and I are impartial judges on this subject....that diorama is our baby. It is sad, though, that I don't live in a world where my awesomeness at diorama construction is appreciated and recognized by the masses; is that too much to ask? I'd also like to live in a world where such a skill is highly prized and insanely profitable.

In other apartment news, I have recently undergone an expansion of my kitchen gadget collection. I did purchase a blender for my birthday, which has been a godsend. However, the red blender does not match the red toaster, even though they are made by the same manufacturer. To further complicate matters, I finally broke down and bought a tea kettle - my hotpot from my intern days was starting to make me worried I was going to burn the building down - and that, too, is a red that doesn't match (it actually has these sparkles in it, which I don't particularly care for, but I got it on Amazon, so what can I expect). This nonmatching red color appliances would normally be enough to send me over the edge under normal circumstances, but given that my kitchen is probably 3 square feet, it adds another level of anger because they are in such close proximity. Other kitchen gadgets recently acquired: a chopper and a yogurt maker. The chopper is also a story in and of itself - I accidentally ordered a mini version and it came and it looked like it was made for lilliputians. So I returned it to Amazon, spending money on postage. My mom graciously bought me a new, larger size one. Well I went to use it last night, and no offense Mom, but I was sorely disappointed. Maybe I wasn't using it right (although that is difficult, because all it is is a simple push motion), but it cut nothing. Which is bad for me, as every time I seem to pick up a knife I cut myself. Also, I don't have the patience for julienning, so I was hoping that would take care of it. On the yogurt front - no news there yet, because I haven't officially tried it. But I am very intrigued.

This weekend Vince took me to Mamma Mia! for a birthday treat. Obviously, I died and went to ABBA heaven. Editor's note: This was my second time seeing the show live (and fourth if you include the movie). Afterward, we trekked out to the Wegmans in Virginia and it was awesome. Period. I am still living in the Wegmans bliss. Tons of goodies, for not more than I would normally spend on groceries. Seriously, I think I am still riding the high. This Wegmans had a seafood bar - you could order seafood prepared to order, and while you wait you can have a drink.

I have been having massive ADD tonight - reading my book, doing law school stuff (finally), eating, checking Facebook....I think I am going to try and make banana bread because my bananas are ripe for the taking! Still hoping to get to make crepes this week....Vince is out of town this week so I'm having a food vacation for myself!

UPDATE (ten minutes later): Banana-bread making foiled by lack of butter.