Should You be a "Jack of all Trades" or a Specialist? -- The EE Compendium

It's that time of year again. Time when my contract runs out. Just running out this time folks, I actually got good and had time to grow into this position, but with the economy as it is ... and The Mouse doing some house-cleaning (translated re-org), it's hard for a "generalist" like me to figure out where I fit best, let alone where to go next.

Craig Fisher, who writes at FishDogs - Career Branding for Social Animals directed me to the following article:

The generalists' range of knowledge makes them a better candidate for promotion to a supervisory or managerial position. When that happens, the generalist may not understand that in addition to the high stress of being expected to know everything technical, they will now be subjected to the stress of being involved in corporate politics. Whereas they became a "Jack of all trades" because of their love of science and technology, now they need to become an expert at "covering their ass", "back stabbing", and other political games.

If an individual, who became a "jack of all trades" because of their love of science and technology, refuses to accept a promotion to a supervisory or managerial position, they will be considered to be "lacking in ambition" and will not be receiving any future meaningful salary increases.

from --
Should You be a "Jack of all Trades" or a Specialist? by Stephen Bucaro

I'm good at what I do, but like the article mentions "master of none" and I think that's becoming quite the liability. All the jobs I want to apply for I just don't have quite the depth of experience needed. It's very frustrating to know that given half a chance I could become masterful in the time alloted, unfortunately, any particular skillset is needed now, not in a few months. I guess I don't mind meetings and telling people what to do, but I already know from experience that I don't do well in office politics. I just want to get things done.

So, what's a girl to do? I still have mouths to feed and bills to pay.
===================================================
3/2 Update (also in comments)

Contract extended :). I don't know my new end date, but being here past the end of this week is good news.

4 comments Business, contract, job hunting, Technology

10 Geeky Tricks for Getting Out of Bed in the Morning

Some of these tips work for me, others I have found to be self-defeating, but  go-ahead and read the article. We can all use a little time-management reminder from time-to-time.

I found this fascinating quote today:

There aren't enough hours in the day for kids, hobbies, work, etc., and life's far too short to spend in a sleepy haze. Here are 10 tips for how I get up at 6:30 a.m. every (ok... maybe not every) morning:10 Geeky Tricks for Getting Out of Bed in the Morning, Feb 2009

You should read the whole article.

 

Leave a Comment

Wordless Wednesday - Reflection, trying not to go off the Deep End

Leave a Comment Angeles National Forest, Wordless Wednesday

Michelle Obama says White House feels so good | Lifestyle | Reuters

Michelle Obama says White House feels so good | Lifestyle | Reuters: "'People (here) want to make your life easy, and when you have small kids -- I've explained this to the staff -- they don't need their lives to be easy. They're kids,' she said."

I couldn't agree more. Glad that the First Lady is trying to keep her kids grounded. Though I wonder, who will clean up the dog poop?

Leave a Comment

Tuesday take 5 -- week #4

1. what are you currently trying to learn/master with your cooking?
   Crockpot cooking of all things. Sometimes I don’t quite get it right. And pancakes. Though, after 20+ years, that might be a lost cause.
2. where do you go for ideas for new recipes (cooking shows, cookbooks/magazines, experiment in the kitchen)?
   Usually things I try in a restaurant, like pho, or ethnic food. Like the empanadas. I’ll also try some of the recipes in the back of magazines.
3. what is one thing that you make, but you don't eat?
   Shrimp stir-fry. Both me and my son are allergic, me mildly, him severely. But so far my estranged-dh and dd are ok.
4. what is your biggest guilty pleasure with food?
   Tasting while cooking.
5. what is one thing that your mom (or who ever taught you to cook) can make better than you?
   Traditional Mexican food I suppose. It’s been a while since I made huevos rancheros or chile rellenos.

Now I’m getting hungry… I should stop all this food blogging.Who am I kidding? I LOVE food!

Don’t forget to see more responses at Deep in the Dish of Texas

Technorati Tags: tuesdaytake5

3 comments Food, memes, Tuesday Take 5

King Cake 55/365

King Cake 55/365, originally uploaded by Nannerlady.

So, I'm not really big into Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, etc (does that mean Ash Wednesday is right around the corner?) I'm not Catholic, but my goodness this cake smells and looks delicious! So I decided to edu-ma-cate myself. (and evidently I can't remember the last time I wrote about Fat Tuesday. I'm losing my mind I tell ya).

I don't think the ones brought into work had little dolls in them ... but they were pretty well devoured by the time I got my slice.

A king cake (sometimes rendered as kingcake, kings' cake, king's cake, or three kings cake) is a type of cake associated with the festival of Epiphany in the Christmas season in a number of countries, and in other places with Mardi Gras and Carnival. It is popular in Christmas season in France, Belgium and Switzerland (galette/gâteau des Rois), Portugal (Bolo Rei), Spain (Roscón de Reyes and in Catalonia called tortell), Greece and Cyprus (vasilopita) and Bulgaria (banitsa). In the United States, which celebrates Carnival ranging from Pensacola, Florida to East Texas, centered on New Orleans it is associated instead with Mardi Gras season traditions.

The cakes have a small trinket (often a small plastic baby, sometimes said to represent Baby Jesus) inside, and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations.

--From Wikipedia

Of course, I went for the chocolate. There was also blueberry, cream cheese, praline ... it looked like each section was a different flavor. And now, for your pleasure and my future reference, a recipe (from Nola Cuisine).

King Cake Recipe

For the Brioche:

1 Envelope Active Dry Yeast
2 Tbsp Warm Water (115 degree F)
1 tsp Iodized Salt
2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Milk
2 tsp Orange Zest, minced
2 Cups All Purpose Flour, sifted
1 tsp Cinnamon
2 Eggs, beaten
1 1/4 sticks cold Unslated Butter, cut into very small dice
1 Egg beaten and 2 Tbsp water, for the eggwash
1 plastic baby trinket

1. Dissolve the yeast in the workbowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, let stand until frothy.
2. Dissolve the salt, sugar, orange zest and milk in a small bowl. When dissolved combine the milk mixture with the yeast mixture. Mix the cinnamon with the flour.
3. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, then gradually add the flour, until all is incorporated. Knead on low speed for 10 minutes, or until a smooth elastic dough is formed. A little more flour may be necessary. With the motor running, incorporate the butter into the dough, a little at a time but rather quickly so that it doesn’t heat up and melt.
4. Turn the dough into an oiled bowl, loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour in a warm spot.
5. When the dough has doubled in bulk punch it down, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Roll the dough out to a 6 x 18 inch rectangle. Spead the Pecan filling (recipe below) out in the middle of the rectangle along the whole length, leaving about 1 1/2 inch on each side. Place the baby trinket somewhere with the filling. Fold the length of the dough over the filling and roll up tightly, leaving the seam side down. Turn the roll into a circle, seam side down and put one end inside of the other to hide the seam, and seal the circle. Place the cake on a baking sheet and let rise, loosely covered with plastic wrap, for 45 minutes or until doubled in bulk.

Brush all over with the egg wash, then place the king cake into the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

When the cake cools, brush with some of the glaze (recipe below) thinned out with more cold water. This will help the sugars adhere. Decorate the cake with the colored sugars and drizzle some of the thicker glaze onto the cake.

Place on a large round serving plate and decorate with Mardi Gras beads, doubloons and whatever else that you like.

For the Pecan filling:

1 Cup Pecan halves, broken up slightly and roasted until fragrant
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground Allspice
1 pinch of salt
4 Tbsp Steen’s Cane Syrup

Combine all of the ingredients together.

For the glaze

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp Bourbon
Water (enough to make a paste that can be drizzled)

Combine the sugar and bourbon, whisk in enough water to make a glaze that can be drizzled.

4 comments chocolate, King cake, Mardi Gras, recipes

Empanadas a la @adbert

With the permission of the best twitter DJ on the planet (@adbert), I present his yummy Receta de Empanadas:

Here is my worldest famous recipe of Argentinian "empanadas." =)

Empanadas are very popular all over Latin America, there are thousands of variations...Each house have 3 or 4 variants. But this one is the Best of the Best. ;-) he he he.

Ingredients:

Crust (Masa):
-------------
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/8 -1/6 teaspoon salt
- 4 ounces stick butter or margarine. The real recipe is made with "fat cow": tastiest but heavier! LOL
- 1/3 cup milk

Or you can buy the Crust. =P

Filling (Relleno):
------------------
- 1 pound ground beef / corned beef. Mom is mom, she prefer ground beef.
- 2 tablespoons Vegetable oil, olive extra virgin preferred.
- 1 large onion, finely chopped. I said: Finely!
- 1 red bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, finely chopped. What I said? Finely!
- 2 hard cooked eggs, finely chopped. Have to explain? Fi-ne-ly!
- 10 green olives, finely chopped. Mom always uses black olives, but tastes are tastes.
- 1/2 cup raisins, soaked in warm water for 1 hour
- 1 tablespoon ground mild paprika
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or substitute dried
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optionals:
- 5 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped, but listen: FINELY
- 1 medium potato / 2 small potatoes, peeled, boiled until soft, finely chopped.

Glaze (Glacé):
--------------
- 1 egg, beaten. BEATEN!
- 1 tablespoon milk

Everything is ready? Go to twitter.com and say: "Hello, Adrián!" Then come back.

Directions:
-----------

To make the crust, sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Work the margarine / butter / fat cow into the flour using your fingers or two forks. Put all your love in this job.

Add the milk and mix just until the dough comes together and can be formed easily into a ball. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Not 50', not 59'. AT LEAST an hour, better 2 hours.

Saute the beef in a skillet until well done, stirring frequently with a fork to keep the meat broken-up. In a separate skillet, saute the onion and bell pepper until the onions are a golden brown.

Combine all the remaining ingredients for the filling and mix well. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Divide the dough in two and roll out to a thickness of 1/8-inch and cut into circles 7" in diameter.

Spoon the filling onto one half of each leaving room to fold in half and seal. Press the edges with the tip of a fork and cut a 1" slice in the top. Place on an ungreased baking pan.

Ok, you are near... Go to twitter.com again, and say: "The Empanadas are awesome" Then come back.

Combine the ingredients for the glaze. Bake for 10 minutes.

Reduce the heat to 350 and continue baking until the crust turns light brown. Brush the tops with glaze and bake for an additional 7/8 minutes.

Cook time: 20 minutes. This recipe for Argentine Empanadas serves/makes 10. Not enough for 2 adults, I sware!

That's all! Smell! Take one, be careful: It's hot! Enjoy!

Go to twitter.com again, and say: "@adbert YUMMY", he he he.

Don't forget: Save one empanada for me.

It's funny and awesome, isn't it? Empanadas with magic: 2 hours to cook, 5 minutes to dissapear: goes like that.

Tell me the results... Have a great week!

Last night I put a roast in the crockpot so I think I will use some of the meat for these. Also, be sure to check out the other Mouthwatering Monday recipes over at A Southern Fairy Tale. There are some truly delicious looking items over there!

6 comments Food, memes, Mouthwatering Monday, recipes, twitter

Settling In ?/365

I got to fooling around with my camera and tripod tonight. Starting to
truly settle in at my mom's.

3 comments photography, Project 365

A foot and a half: Finally, A Use for Twitter

Image by phxwebguy via Flickr

You have to read the whole post. Pretty funny, and amazing. Awesome to know that Shaq is real, and uses a G1 :)

"You realize that 'The Real Shaq' is probably a 5'4 White, 14 year old emo kid who's getting his jolly's from the attention, right?' I asked him.

'I don't know. I think it's really him'

Today Sean and I were discussing rumored trade situations over IM, and the possibility of Shaq being traded to Cleveland.

'Well, I just got a twitter from The Real Shaq, and he's at 5 & Diner right now,'
Sean informed me.

'Let's go then' I said, assuming that I'd finally put this 'Real Shaq' crap to rest.

Twenty minutes later we were pulling up to the restaurant and looking for the big black truck that he's rumored to drive around town. 'Maybe that's it' Sean said, pointing at an older, but nice Van and laughing. As we pulled up I saw the Superman symbol on the grill."

Leave a Comment G1, Shaquille O'Neal, twitter

A case of foreshadowing

Image by -Chad Johnson via Flickr

And I didn’t even know it. Back on Feb 3 I wrote about how hard it is for me to communicate. On Feb. 6 JPD and I broke up my brand new relationship ended, largely due to … *drumroll please*… my lack of ability to communicate important information in a timely manner.

That, and my delivery positively sucked. Sweaty monkey-balls. I swear it was the worst delivery ever.

Lesson learned. The hard way. I guess I should have expanded the chit-chat to some of the more serious things I needed to talk about. C’est la vie.

NEXT!

I’m not trying to be flippant. I’ve had two weeks to stew and reflect and play the “what if” game and get analyzed by my friends. And I have accepted the idiocy of what I did and how I handled it. I tried to make amends, and I’m learning, very slowly, that sometimes that’s all I can do. Is try. I can’t make it right if I’m not allowed to. And Lord, how I want to make it right. I’m stubborn. But I’m also a fast-learner. So, I’m letting go.

So, that was sledgehammer #1 and the main reason why I haven’t been my usual self. On top of having to move (#2) and finding out that my contract is not going to be extended(#3) (all happening in the same week or what felt like the same 7-day span). That better be three. I’m counting it as three. If bad things happen in more than three’s, you’ll be the first to know. Because I *will* rant and rave about it right here.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled blog-reading. I will try to post more often. I have enough drafts …

Update:
Just came across this Mashable article. How timely.
30 Websites to Visit When You’re Laid Off

Posted using ShareThis

3 comments life, Relationships

I'm Sorry

Forget the bit about the President. Take this as the beginning of an open apology. Though I do still have some behind-the-scenes work to do.

3 comments memes, Wordless Wednesday

tuesday take 5 -- week #3

deep in the dish of texas: "tuesday take 5 -- week #3
here are your five questions for this week's tuesday's take 5! thanks for everyone who has been playing along!

1. what surprises you most about your cooking?
That it's actually good and some of my best meals are my "made-up" recipes. Just taking what we have on hand, not using a recipe, and combining flavors in such a way that everyone in my family will eat all the dishes.

2. what one that you have mastered cooking (that you could not cook when you started)?
Pancakes. Actually, pancakes are still a work-in-progress, my kids make them better than I do, but at least I don't mix up the baking soda and baking powder anymore.

3. who was your biggest inspiration to start cooking?
I started cooking out of necessity to feed a large family. Every Sunday it became my "chore" to feed 10 people. I still prefer baking, but I am a pretty good cook these days. The biggest motivation to become a better cook has been my son. He's always inviting his friends over and telling them they should try whatever it is I've made.

4. what is your favorite thing to make?

Image via Wikipedia

Baked goods, all sorts. Though I am not very good at getting cookies to be round. I think my banana bread and Bundt cakes are top-notch though.

5. what is one recipe that you are known for?
My lasagna and Lemon Pound Cake.

Technorati Tags: tuesdaytake5

5 comments Baking, Food, memes, Tuesday Take 5

Find a Cure

All you are asked to do is keep this circulating.
Even if it's to one more person.
In memory of anyone you know that has been struck down by cancer or is still living with it.

2 comments breast cancer

Love(ly) Comments

Harriet had a wonderful idea and I choose to propogate it here:

1. Copy and paste the code to the Blog Luv Button:

2. Make a commitment to yourself that you will spread the luv by leaving a certain amount of positive comments per day. Make it 5 or 10 or 100 depending on how much time you have or how badly you want to do this.


3. When you see this button on another site, be sure to leave a luv comment as well.


4. Let's see how much we can all make a difference in the comment quality and luv around the blog world.

PS. Someone has suggested that everyone who wants to participate leave a comment with a link to your site to share comment love with one another.

Leave a Comment blogging, comments, Community

Wordless Wednesday: On The Train

1 comment Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Take 5 -- week #2

from: deep in the dish of texas

1. what is one food that you refuse to try?

Brussels sprouts. I had a bad experience with them as a kid and just can’t stand them now.

2. what is the one food that you like to eat, but won't make?

Chorizo

3. what is the farthest you've traveled for a meal?

From Hillsboro to Lincoln City for some awesome burgers and shakes at the 60s Cafe

View Larger Map

4. what is the most creative/exotic meal you've ever made?

Red Thai Curry Chicken

5. what is scariest (i.e. hole in the wall) place you've eaten at?

Probably the ‘berto’s on Miramar near the base in San Diego. Hole in the wall, but the best burritos EVA! oh, and Chinatown Sam Woo. Not a hole in the wall, but at one point it got a “D”. Still good food.

1 comment Food, memes

Mouth Watering Monday: Fiesta Salad

Mouth-Watering Monday 2/9/09
Serves 8-10

Salad:

1 pkg. (10 oz) blend of romaine and leaf lettuce
1 can (15oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen corn kernels, thawed
3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes
1/2 small red onion, peeled and sliced
1 avocado, chopped
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Honey-Lime Dressing

1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup olive or canola oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tsp garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Mix all dressing ingredients in a small bowl until combined.
2. Toss all salad ingredients in a large bowl just before serving.
3. Pour dressing over salad; toss until evenly distributed.
4. Season to taste with salt and pepper

Serve with additional cheese and dressing on the side.

5 comments memes, Mouthwatering Monday, recipes

time loop

I feel like I'm suddenly stuck in a Time Warp. I started reading old blog posts from late 2005 and I can relate, eerily. It's deja vu all over again. No wonder I feel like I should be doing something differently. Time to move on, or forward, or something. Anything but backwards. Now how do I get out of this rut?

2 comments Time Warp

Because who doesn't miss the Darwin Awards

BAD DATES--REDUCE YOUR CHANCE OF ADDING TO THE GENE POOL.

-------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
AN ILLUMINATING STORY (2008 Darwin Award)

(February 2008, France) A 71-year-old pensioner met a shocking end when his frugal attempt to illuminate his yard with power siphoned from the National Grid backfired spectacularly.

The gentleman in question illegally opened a major power junction box at the front of his house, intending to hard-wire a cable to his garden shed. Unfortunately, the poor chap attempted to do this rewiring during a major downpour.

The fatal result was all too predictable. He was immediately deep fried and declared deceased at the scene.

Lessons:
1--Don't hardwire your shed to a local power substation
2--Don't hardwire your shed to a power line... in the rain!
3--There _is_ such a thing as being too frugal.

http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2008-19.html
--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
A SCREW LOOSE (2008 Darwin Award)

(April 2008, Texas) A contract worker was hired to install reinforcement bars on a communications tower near Camp Bullis. He was using power tools high above the ground, when two other workers saw him lean back and fall 225 feet to his death. Turns out, the man had loosened the bolts on the bar to which he was attached.

Police are calling it a tragic accident.

http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2008-20.html
--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
BENCH PRESS (2008 Near Miss)

(August 2008, Hong Kong) It's raining. You're lonely. Why not?

That was how 41-year-old Xian found himself face down on a bench, and calling for help in the middle of the night. The lonely man had noticed that the steel sit-up benches in LanTian Park had numerous ventilation holes, and thought it might be possible to use them for sexual gratification.

Enticing orifices.

Once Xian became aroused, he found he was stuck and could not remove himself from the hole in the bench. Quite understandably, he panicked. Police received a call from a disturbed man, and arrived to find poor Xian trapped face-down on the bench.

Doctors were summoned to the scene. They tried, but emergency workers had to cut the entire bench free and take him to the hospital.

Four painful hours later, doctors finally separated Xian from his bench. It is certainly possible that the lack of blood flow could have caused sufficient damage that doctors would have been forced to remove his *****.

This is a bad date that Xian will never forget.

PICTURES: http://darwinawards.com/stupid/stupid2008-08.html
--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
Speaking of bad dates:
BAD DATE STORIES FROM MY AWESOME READERS!
In honor of my new long-haired sweetie, and the fact my tooth fell out on our first date.

From wqnawacko: "One of my first dates after my divorce.

"On the urging of friends, I tried the personals column in our local "alternative" paper. One of the few replies described herself as "Svelte, Educated, and Stylish." We agreed to meet for drinks at my favorite club. What was waiting for me was at least 200 pounds overweight, didn't know the name of the current vice-president, and clearly hadn't bathed in a day or two. And in front of my friends, she asked if I wanted to hear her "Rape Whistle." I bought her a drink nonetheless, told her as politely as possible that we didn't have much in common ... and I couldn't go back in the bar for a few weeks, until the hazing had run its course.

From Jerry: "On my first date, I drove my mom's car to pick up the girl. While meeting her family, her dad pointed out that I had a flat tire. In an effort to show my manly knowledge, I pulled out the spare and jacked up the car. Since I was nervous, I had forgotten to set the emergency brake so the car immediately rolled backwards a foot and trapped the jack under the car. When I bent down to look at it, my pants ripped at the seam. Her dad ended up changing the tire while I sat in the bathroom in my underwear so her mom could sew up my pants. I'd tell you how things went from there, but I can't remember anything else about the evening.

--------------------------------------------+---+-+---+-+-+-+-+
Copyright 2009 DarwinAwards.com -- Be safe!
Forward this newsletter to friends.
---

3 comments Darwin Award

Why no, I don’t blog for money

I had a very interesting lunch today and it made me realize some things about myself. I already knew I wasn’t money motivated, but I really am NOT money motivated.

On some topics, I just couldn’t relate. The main thoughts going through my head included “Who? What?” and “Why?”

Who: are these people they are talking about? Who are these designers?

What: I’ve never heard about that. And generally I consider myself fairly well-informed.

Why: would you say/do/think that???

I knew I was an oddball, but wow, either I’m out of it, I’m travelling in the wrong circles, or being money-motivated leads to … I don’t know what it leads to.

The only thing I am searching for in life right now is contentment. I’m not denying that money is useful. BOY, do I know that it’s necessary. But the things I would use it for, compared with the things other people use it for, are just at opposite ends of the spectrum.

But hey, if you want to give me money, for a little bit of work, and some visibility, then yes, I might just blog for money. Because, you know, I still need to travel to Europe and Australia in this lifetime.

In the meantime, this is where I write for myself, because it’s evident I am never going to get around to writing the great American novel, or even a novella.

I write to bring a little laughter into people’s lives. Writing helps me figure out who I am and what I believe in. I write to tell the world inane stories about my children, because really, who wants to actually listen to them over and over. And to document my foibles (admittedly sometimes glossed over). Sometimes it’s a one-sided conversation. Other times, I get great feedback and I love you all for it.

I’ll keep writing if you keep reading.

1 comment blogging, friends, travel, writing

orange colored day: Attempt to #crashTED was an epic #Fail

: (photo courtesy of @theagent)

If you haven't heard, the think tank of all conferences (TED) is in Long Beach this week. Last night one of our members saw Al Gore and we tried to get Kevin Rose to let us into the block party. @killregrets wrote up our adventures before anyone else.

You can read her account [excerpt below, go to her blog for the whole story]

orange colored day: Attempt to #crashTED was an epic #Fail: "We began our night at the Dubliner in downtown Long Beach with @nsputnik and @theagent. We shared a round discussing current and past employment, the housing market, and the art scene in and around Long Beach. Once @daNanner, @missmotormouth, @DigSomeMore, @agentjon, @niecee, @jpdefillippo, and @Fogarty arrived, we got word that 18 #TED people were at Rock Bottom Brewery. Upon heading in that direction we realized that the TED Block Party was going on and we needed to be a part of it."

and read our #crashTED tweets for the whole vicarious experience.

TED Updates:

• The LB Post writes up a story on TED
• TED.com
• Bill Gates mosquito incident
  

1 comment Al Gore, Kevin Rose, Long Beach, Society and Culture, TED, twitter

FOXNews.com - Where Are Your Friends and Family? Check Google Maps - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News

Image via Wikipedia

FOXNews.com - Where Are Your Friends and Family? Check Google Maps - Science News | Science & Technology | Technology News: "The feature, dubbed 'Latitude,' expands upon a tool introduced in 2007 to allow mobile phone users to check their own location on a Google map with the press of a button.

'This adds a social flavor to Google maps and makes it more fun,' said Steve Lee, a Google product manager.

It could also raise privacy concerns, but Google is doing its best to avoid a backlash by requiring each user to manually turn on the tracking software and making it easy to turn off or limit access to the service."

I'm signed up, but haven't used it. Go figure.

Leave a Comment Google Maps, Googlephile

Passive – Aggressive Idiocy

So, my marriage taught me how to approach people and issues from the side. Obliquely. Never deal with anything head-on if you can avoid an unpleasant or disappointing confrontation. I’m learning that doesn’t work real well in the real world. Or with dealing with people who aren’t control freaks. Boy, do I have a lot to re-learn.

This is one reason why I said being single wasn’t so bad a few days ago on twitter. It doesn’t reflect on anyone I might be dating, it’s totally on me. I don’t know how to relate to people anymore, at least, not the ones who are interested in me romantically.

JPD said he wanted to have time to talk and I nearly had a panic attack (yes, hyperbole), it was merely a mild anxiety attack. Gob-smacked because someone actually wanted to have a conversation with me, in RL (that’s real life). And then realizing that might mean that I’ll have to be emotionally available. Girlfriend say what??!!!??? That’s what actually caused the racing of my heart and heavy breathing. I haven’t been emotionally available in nearly a decade. Too much risk ya know?

Image via Wikipedia

I’m having the time of my life hoping I don’t come across as an idiot trying to remember how to have face-to-face conversations, without walls, which is hard for me. Incredibly hard. It’s like … no walls for friends and the Great Wall of China for someone who might want more than friendship. The only people I find myself being myself around are my friends from high school (and Jes). Because they know me and will call me on any BS right off. Not even my family can do that anymore because I had to present different fronts to them, make everything appear that it was ok for so long.

All this to say … I really hate passive-aggressive people and even more so being one and having to train myself out of it. UGH!

4 comments anxiety, change, friends

Postcards and Link Love

So, I have been woefully neglectful of my postcrossing, and in an attempt to get back into it I have joined the The Postcard/Link Exchange of 2009!

All you have to do to join is:

• Email [azlynne1972 at gmail dot com] your name & postal address. Email subject line needs to contain “The Postcard/Link Exchange of 2009“.  [NOTE: Do NOT leave the information in the comments for the whole WWW to see and abuse! By all means leave me a comment saying you’ve emailed me the info - comment love is always appreciated!]
• Only requests received by February 20th, 2009 will be entertained.
• You should receive your postcard by the first week of March.
• Sometime between March 6th - 16th 2009 (providing an additional buffer in case the card took a circuitous route to you), you then publish a post on your blog relating to the received postcard: criticize my handwriting!; take a picture of it in your mailbox; puzzle over the image on the stamp; whatever, be creative! Please make sure you link back to a malaysian abroad (http://amalaysianabroad.today.com/) *and* to this post (http://tinyurl.com/AMA-PLX2009).
• Once published, come back to this post and drop me a comment with the permalink to your postcard-related post, so I can visit, see what you wrote, and give you some comment love right back.

With that, we will have successfully conducted The Postcard/Link Exchange of 2009: you get a postcard, I get some linky love :)

Here’s to hoping I can start my vicarious world travels again, starting with Malaysia.

2 comments Postcrossing

UrbanDictionary.com Fun

I was following a trail of Entrecards that led me to Muddledwords.com and this meme. Put your answers in the comments, or place the meme on your blog and leave me a comment

1. Your name?
   Annette
   An amazingly gorgeous type girl who loves everyone and never turns her back on anyone. a type of person who gets mad very rarely and loves to have fun. she is a very sexy person and loves flirting and showing off herself.
   Damn she's annette!
   
   2. Annette 20 up, 4 down
   Girl's name. Someone you can't ever forget about. Will make an impact in your life. Sometimes bipolar.
   wow that night was so annette!
   
2. What car do you have?
   2008 Honda Fit
   

   Image via Wikipedia

   A hatchback subcompact car offered by Honda that has become very popular with gay men in America. This can largely be attributed to the advertising campaign "the fit is go" which featured still images of the car rotating around with rainbow backgrounds, bad 80's-style techno music and what sounds like a talking computer for an announcer. Some believe Honda purposefully targeted this audience for the vehicle.

   Girl 1: Look at that guy, he must go to the gym a lot to stay that hot.
   Girl 2: Yea but he's driving a Honda Fit.
   Girl 1: Why are all the pretty men gay!?!

3. One of your friends?
   Jes
   An excited way of saying Yes, in a very spanish immigrant accent.
   Jes, Jes, Rice and Beans.
4. What should you be doing?
   working
   A term to describe the tedious and boring indentured servitude that most people are forced to endure to get money. Generally, not a pleasant experience.
5. Favorite color?
   Blue
   The hue of the portion of the visible spectrum lying between green and indigo, evoked in a human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 420 to 490 nanometers.
   The feeling when u wake up at 7 in the morning and remembering it's a Monday.
6. Birthplace?
   Los Angeles
   

   Second-largest city in the United States, after New York City. Located in Southern California and home to about 9 million people in about 4 counties. One of the most (if not the most) diverse cities in the United States. The largest city in California and a major financial center for the Pacific Rim. Competes with New York City as the cultural capital of the United States; most movies and television shows are made in coordinated efforts between Los Angeles and New York, although most movie studios have their headquarters' in Los Angeles.
   
   LA has about a billion suburbs that are essentially considered part of Los Angeles as a single city, although the city itself has only a population of some 3.7 million. Los Angeles is notorious for smog and gang-related crime; separate inner-city working-class suburbs such as Compton or Long Beach have been made the subject of rap songs talking about the crime levels that have gained some notoriety and earned LA one of it's less-enviable titles as "the Gang Capital of the World".
   
   Fortunately, the beautiful Pacific coastline and the numerous beaches and tropical climate offset some of the not-so-good parts of the city. LA also has an awesome music scene, a great clubbing sector, and countless appreciative cultural institutions such as the Getty Museum to visit that provide the city with a depth, culture and history that are enviable. It's an awesome city. Watch out for the traffic though.

   Person who has never been to Los Angeles: Man LA is such a shithole, it has so much smog and traffic and gang-related crime
   
   Me: Have you ever been there
   
   Person who has never been to Los Angeles: No but I saw Training Day
   
   Me: Die please
7. Last person you talked to? Jes (see #3)
8. Your nickname?
   ‘Nette isn’t defined yet, but Nanner is. And I could have gone the rest of my life without knowing that.
9. Favorite food?
   Chocolate and I like def #2, too.
   the yummiest, tastiest thing in the whole wide world. chocolate also makes u happy and makes u feel better.
10. Middle name?
    Marie
    A French variation of Mary. Also, the name for that irresistibly mysterious girl whom you see around often, yet know nothing about.
11. What did you drink last?
    Squirt – this being a family friendly blog and all you’ll just have to go read for yourself. The soda is NOT mentioned till definition #6
12. Relationship Status?
    It’s Complicated (gee I hope not! I just have to get some things worked out)
    

    A relationship status that essentially conveys that "it's not going to work out." The term "complicated," masks the truth of the situation for the two in the relationship, but everyone else knows what "complicated" means.

    Billy and Jane hadn't seen each other in sometime. When confronted by George, Billy said that his relationship was "complicated."
13. A word that describes you?
    Crazy – take your pick when it comes to me 8-)
    crazy - Popularized in the post millennium as a substitute for cool, hip, exciting, dope, off the hook and was widely accepted by middle class whites.
    2. An adjective describing an individual (particularly a gangsta) who is mentally unstable and prone to bursts of violence or recklessness without regard to oneself.
14. Lucky number?
    4
    
15. The last person you texted?
    Jason
    Jason is the #24 most common male name.
    0.66% of men in the US are named Jason.
    Around 808500 US men are named Jason!
    
    -OR-
    

    the only name that can be spelled through 5 months of the year.

    J - July
    A - August
    S- September
    O - October
    N - November

5 comments Honda Fit, Los Angeles, memes