Oh geez, eh?

First of all...congrats to the Candadian Women's hockey team. Shutting out the US is a big deal...cause frankly, our team rocks. But you did good, and we congratulate you.

With some of the insanity surrounding the Olympics, I am reminded of a line from one of my favorite movies…Return to Me.

Joe Dayton: [screaming at his family] Will everyone just calm
down! For the love of God and all that is holy, calm the hell down!

There is the uproar and opinion over the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team boozing it up on the ice after their win against the seemingly unstoppable American women’s team. Oh lighten up, eh?! The only thing people should really be offended about there…is that some of them were drinking Coors Lite! This blog has some great pics and commentary. I dunno...I guess I think the IOC and people in general get all riled up about stupid stuff, like how people choose to celebrate an unbelieveable athletic achievement. (ahem...Shaun White) Seriously, I wish people would just "calm the hell down".

When you start deciding how others can express their joy or their pride, then you might as well just get rid of all personal expression and liberty.

Just my $0.02, but hey...what do I know?

Answering Questions

I apologize if this ramble makes no sense…it is half-vent, half-personal goal oriented. :)

Something I am working on personally is providing answers to the questions I am asked. In conjunction with this, I need to make sure I am ASKING questions in a manner which leads to the “ask-ee” providing the information I need.

How many times have you encountered this situation:
Me: “When will we have that document?”
Person A: “I have soccer practice after work, and tomorrow I have to give blood. So I probably won’t get to it today.”

That isn’t helpful at all. I didn’t ask for their schedule, I asked a simple question that needed a simple answer.

Flipside - I have a tendency to provide too much commentary around a question, and sometimes the question gets lost. I have to actively re-read my emails and other documents to make sure I am not losing the whole point of the thing in flowery language. It happens. For example….

Me: “We have 16 of XX product and they take 7 days to ship. Do you think we can get the yellow boxes in before the blue ones? I think it is possible to get an extension on XYZ delivery.” Ok, that is a bad example…but the point is to show you that I often mix information up with a question and people forget what I am asking. In those instances….it is totally my fault. I am working on that, growing as a person and all….

I encounter situations all the time where, in my head, I think “You didn’t answer my question”. I am now trying to step back and look at what my question really was. Did it get lost in a mass of superfluous info? Did I not ask it in a way that could be answered concisely? If I ask something pretty simple like “what color is your tie”, however, and I get “my jacket makes it look like a silk fabric, but really it is cotton”…I have to wonder if that person was even listening. You know you have encountered similar situations.

Argh. It drives me nuts. I didn’t ask you what the fabric was, I asked you what color it was. It is sort of related, but didn’t answer my question! Bah!

Most of the time, this issue arises when the person didn’t really read or hear what you asked. OR, you didn’t ask a question in a way that could be clearly answered.

Another example of where this is incredibly evident is in politics. You never witness a politician directly answer a question. Brian Williams could ask a random congressperson “Do you think we should provide healthcare to everyone?”. That person most likely would come back with something along the lines of “health insurance isn’t a right” or “everyone deserves to have insurance”. Neither of those answers ANSWERED the question. We aren’t talking about health insurance…Williams asked about healthcare. These are two different things, yo!

Politics is always about pre-packaged answers, possibly re-worded to “fit” the question. That is lame. Lame...and sadly...standard.

I am making it a personal goal to ask questions clearly, provide concise answers, and be more direct in communication.

What would you fix in your day-to-day communication?

Not to brag or anything :)

....but my fiancee is a rockstar. Maybe not a traditional rockstar, like Steven Tyler or Alice Cooper (ick), but a creative/technical/culinary ass-kicker.

Seriously.

Not only did he build (and is constantly updating to make it better) our wedding website (yeah, it has forums!), he also helped come up with the idea of where we should tie the knot. Ok, he suggested it. I thought about it, then tucked it away...then he mentioned it and it all of the sudden made absolute sense. It should be the perfect spot for a rockin' good time. You might be asking... "where is this mystical place of joy, Becky?". Well, nestled in the trees and boundless beauty of the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas, there is a fabulous place called Camp Clearfork. It is a group use camp with cabins and a lake and a dining hall. It will be the location for Wedding Camp 2010 (we haven't officially made that the title, but it sounds festive, no?). We will most likely have a pretty small group, but man...what a weekend we will have!

Ok, so he can build websites. And think of awesome wedding locations. What else can he do to qualify as a "rockstar"?

He cooks. Not just Hamburger Helper (which he won't make, actually...cause it is in a box), but full-on culinary feasts. Whether it is steak (yum!), brussel sprouts (yum yum!), pork loins (hehehe hehehe) or last night's amazing rotisserie chicken, we are ALWAYS eating well. And he has friends who can make good foods too (Who knew kale + avocado + blueberries + lemon juice = greatness?).

Anyhoo...I just had to take a moment and share some of the greatness that is Mike. There are tons of other reasons he is a rockstar, but these are just a handful I wanted to highlight today.

social media

Much has been said about the importance of social media, its ability to connect, and the lack of privacy online.
One thing I have learned in this whirlwind of "Add me" options, is that the information out in the interwebs...is by most accounts, controllable by you. You can choose to "live out loud", or protect your identity as best is available. One of the most powerful tools is the decision to add or include people in your social media world.

Who you choose to let into your little world...frankly is at your fingertips.
One of my favorite bloggers recently had a post about social media and relationships. While the bulk of this blog was about how meeting someone online can (or won't) turn into a "real life" friendship or relationship, it reminded me of how certain "real life" bonds you have...frankly don't belong in your social media world.

Wha?? If I know you, I don't want to be your FRIEND on Facebook?? Come on...hear me out now.

I have ignored some friend requests, as I am sure some of you have, because I didn't feel I wanted that certain relationship social media-ized. Some of you on here may think "why did she want me on here, then? what does that mean?". It could mean a multitude of things. It doesn't mean I like you better...it does not mean I dislike those people...I just have my reasons. For some, honestly...your lives inspire and intrigue me. I like to soak up what I can from you, and toss ideas back and forth. I dig the tribal discussion.

With that being said, to me, it is like when I go to a happy hour with my running friends (you know who you are). Some people would get it, some people wouldn't. Its all about what each party gets from the situation. There are people who have embraced the joy of games on Facebook. I don't want to tell you how to have fun, but I don't enjoy all those games...so I choose to either block the game, or not "friend" the person. It isn't personal...it is about how we want to leverage the social media. People who use it purely for work...cool. Go on with your bad self. But I probably won't follow all of your posts either (even if you are my friend in real life). People (like me) who update all the time with random stuff might drive you crazy. I don't take it as personally offensive when I am called out about it (Shine..hehehe) or blocked. Everyone expresses themselves differently. I embrace that. Be you. I will be me. At the end of the day, if we are real life buddies, most likely we will be A-ok...cause our relationship isn't truly based on status updates and/or "why didn't you add me to your mafia clan?".

:) Just my $0.02

Hugs, kisses and all that jazz...

Beckbee

Salmon to die for…

Ok, that is a terrible title…but it makes me nervously chuckle a little in reflection.

I went to yoga last night and upon arriving home, Mike worked on making an incredible dinner. I am sorry, I didn't take pictures…I should have.

On the menu:

- Baked salmon (in a cast iron pan with lots of yummy seasonings) with a buttery sauce that had little shrimps in it (butter, bacon, shallots, chives and heavy cream)

- Brussel Sprouts with salted, sweet cream butter and salt/pepper…since I now love them.

He worked very hard to make a delectable meal…and it was delectable! I swear, I am so lucky to have such a talented chef in my life. We watched 24 while we savored each bite. Then I started to fade…I got tired, curled up and fell asleep next to Mike as he watched reruns of Conan. We shuffled off to bed around 11:30 or so. I went to the bathroom and thought I smelled natural gas…but couldn't find the source, so I shrugged it off and went to bed.

I woke up around 4am to the overwhelming smell of natural gas. I bolted out of bed and ran immediately to the kitchen. Sure enough, the front right burner was turned on low…but there was no flame. How we left that on, I have no idea. We are usually very careful with that stuff. We were, however, inadvertently filling our home with gas all night. I opened the doors (our windows are painted shut) and bundled up. The ensuing breeze was very cold. I tried to go back to bed, but the smell was still pretty strong. Mike was a little loopy (dunno if it was from the gas or just grogginess…he was pretty fast asleep when this all started happening) but didn't seem to think it smelled that strong. I got the dog and took her for a walk. I needed the fresh air. Did I mention it was very cold? BTW, cotton Miller Lite pajama bottoms are not good for cold weather doggie walks.

When I got back to house, the odor had dissipated considerably. I gave the dog a treat and curled up in bed. We turned on a fan. We left the wooden doors open to make sure it all wafted out. (We have wrought iron screen doors that were closed and locked, tho) After a few minutes, I felt satisfied that the gas was gone and Mike got up to shut the doors. We both fell back asleep. I had weird dreams before finding this and again after going to back to bed. Weird. At least we caught it when we did.

Long story short, we are both ok. We both feel kinda stupid…but we aren't freaked out or anything. Adding a new "To Do" to our evening checklist before going to bed! I am also tempted to look into Carbon Monoxide alarms. Yikes, though. I really don't want to be added to a Darwin Award list. Sigh. Made me think of # 8 AND #9 in Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint - Avoid Trauma and Avoid Poisonous Things. Grok would be shaking his head.

About Valentine's Day...

My fiancee and I have pretty much decided that celebrating Valentine's Day in a big, expensive, flashy way just isn't us. We would rather spend every day showing each other how much we love each other and randomly surprising the other with special things. Not just one commericialized holiday from hell. (btw, in that article...I totally had a similar experience in a previous relationship as Galen under "make sure you are on the same page". Oooh I was mad. I think I will have to post that story later. Hmmm...)

However, with all the pink and red and doilies and lace and chocolate and flowers and stuff...I figured I might as well share a few of my favorite ideas if you absolutely HAVE to do something for your SO (significant other). Or...if you would like to do something for your friends or family (my Bacchus Babes usually do some kind of something to celebrate on that day...this year, we are riding bicycles - dudes included - to a biker bar/restaurant in Grapevine to graze on a buffet!), you may also incorporate some of these ideas into your grand schemes:

1. Customized Chocolate Bars: Link/idea Stolen from a great budget friendly V-day blog entry on Wise Bread - . Seriously...these look awesome. Price tag is a bit high for a bar, but I mean...go crazy, right?
2. This may seem lame, but stay home and COOK. If you like to cook, that is. We will probably make a fancier than usual meal and might even include BRUSSEL SPROUTS (since I recently found out I lurve them). My fiancee and I love to cook, so this is a great way for us to incorporate several passions at once. A cookbook to consider, and one that I love... The New Intercourses, An Aphrodesiac Cookbook. Sounds kind oogie right? Don't worry, aside from the sort of brazen photography (but tasteful!), the recipes are incredible. I love the stories too. Find a friend who has it and borry it.
3. Wash their car. Ok, this sounds even more lame...but dude, my car could use it. (Not hinting or anything sweetie!) Just sayin' A little love for your loved one's ride could go a long way....
4. Send them a letter or card to work. I have done this before, and got a very positive response. Not flowers! A card or a letter. Something heartfelt and handwritten, perhaps. Catches them off guard when they are knee-deep in crocodiles, fighting the good fight..then they see a note that totally elevates them into bliss. I dig this kind of stuff...bet your SO would too. ;)
5. Go do something active! Not just sex, yo! (Although, that could be a good warmup?) I am thinking a hike, bike ride, perhaps a friendly game of frisbee? Maybe go play laser tag or paintball. Get creative and let loose a bit. Endorphins are awesome!
6. Have a marathon day of watching your favorite movies or tv shows? All day Star Wars for your uber geeky boyfriend? All day Sex and the City for your faboo girlfriend? Maybe an afternoon of watching TNT re-runs or USA...or other shows that are your guilty pleasure? (Burn Notice or NCIS, anyone?) Indulging in a TV vice is not a bad thing on occasion, especially if you both enjoy it.
7. Don't buy flowers! Plant a tree or an herb garden! Now, I am no gardener...BUT...I think it would rock if on that day, you could dedicate some time to planting something that will bring you joy for months or years to come. I would like to figure out where to plant some basil...cause, I really like basil. Hmm...another research project!
8. De-clutterize your home. Romantic? Maybe? I always like it when we get rid of stuff. It is cathartic...and makes room for our Chi...or something. Anyways, V-day is on a Sunday, so why not take advantage of the time together and get to work on making your domicile more inviting?
9. Plug in an old radio, find an AM station that sounds good and kick back and chat. What? Talk to each other? Listen to music on AM? What is wrong with me? Nothing, well...not anything criminal. Mike and I used to do this on Sundays...we haven't done it in a while, tho...maybe we need to try it out again. Find a station that plays old Billie Holiday or Nat King Cole. MMMM
10. Volunteer - maybe donate some time helping out at a local pet shelter, soup kitchen or retirement center. You never know, you might be inspired to make it a regular deal. I personally need to find something that I can dedicate some time to. Working with Habitat for Humanity was a great experience, I would like to do something like that again.

I know, many of you are thinking "Dude, Becky is boring and old", but you know what...bite me. :) I am a big fan of living every day where your SO doesn't have to wait around to find out how much you care. Maximize the moments you have together. Unplug from your computer, smartphone and/or tv (unless you do #6, then feel free to stay tuned in) and just kinda get back to what makes you like each other. Not a faux interpretation of what you think you SHOULD do. Celebrate who you are, and revel in it. Just my $0.02. Discuss, enjoy!

Hugs, kisses and all that jazz...

Beckbee

The Best Weight for the Best Workout

The Best Weight for the Best Workout: "Gina Kolata explores how what you weigh can affect your workout in her latest Personal Best column."

Great writeup. For all my adventure pals, I think you will find this interesting!!

Rule # 32: Enjoy the Small Things

Last night, I had a myriad of options of things to do. Initially, my plan was to go hang out with my Bacchus Babes, but a late night at work and an out of office assignment kinda derailed that. Bummer, but I am sure my girls understand...and they MIGHT get to see me on the 14th for the bike to Wilhoit's. Just sayin'

Then I thought I might go crash a dinner for some people who were going to be lucky enough to have some AMAZING musicians entertain them. I wasn't going to eat, just stand back and listen to the genius. Weather, work and the call of home persuaded me not to do that. I have to say, the resulting plan worked out well. Although, I am still bummed I didn't get to see it. Sigh.

Final choice: Mike and I made an incredibly delicious meal and watched a very funny movie. He grilled some gorgeous, plump, tasty, tender, juicy chicken breasts. YUM. I sauteed some onion and garlic with spinach...mmmmmmmmmmmmm. Then, he pressure cooked brussel sprouts. Now, I know what you are thinking...."WTF Becky? That doesn't sound awesome!" But you know what...they were INCREDIBLE. We put a couple of pats of salted sweet cream butter over them, lightly sprinkled with salt and pepper, then dove in. OMG. Seriously. These creamy, little, delicate morsels opened my eyes to a world of veggie greatness that I didn't know existed. While enjoying this tremendous culinary feast, we also allowed ourselves to indulge in a little Zombie genius. We rented Zombieland from the Redbox (which we love, btw) and after getting over the initial gruesomeness (yeah, blood gushing, people smacking onto pavements, not child approved)...I allowed myself to settle into the "sprinting" Zombie fest that ensued. I laughed, I giggled, I cringed. Woody Harrleson was AWESOME in this. So, if you are ever in the mood for a ridiculous Zombie-fest, rent it...on the Redbox...and be glad. :) And have some brussel sprouts, yo!


Becky