Got (insert any product here)?

The Got Milk? campaign was so popular and clever that it seemed that everyone jumped on the bandwagon and copied the slogan. It's gone too far. It's not clever anymore. I regret that I did not have my camera when I saw this one particular billboard that sent me over the edge. I will try to get a pic next time I am near it. Ready?

GOT FAT?

It was a sign for a liposuction clinic. C'mon.

June 28 - BIG DAY

#1 - Happy Birthday to my Mom Angel. You are the best and I love you!! Go Yankees.

#2 - Happy Wedding day to Rob and Betsy. I am so happy for you two.

PS I am going to have a lot of cake today.

Warning...feminist rant ahead

I am in the market for a new car as you know, so today I went to a dealership that has both Toyotas and Nissans - perfect! I walked into the office and no one was in there. Ok, I thought, I'll just go outside and someone will come over to me.

There were tons of cars on this lot, I actually spent about a half an hour looking at cars and no one came over to me to help me out or to talk to me. The only person that actually did talk to me on this cockamamie BS lot, was this dude on a crotch rocket that sped past me while popping a wheelie (I know, I know). He said, " 'Scuse me ma'am (again with the ma'am!)."

Now, I bet if I was with my dad or DT, they would have been over to assist me. Annoying. PS I've been to Kelly Blue Book, I know what residuals are...I'M AN INFORMED BUYER!

Dress Recycling

Ever feel like you buy a new dress for every occasion? I always want to get a new dress for an occasion. Somehow it feels more special if you have something new, even if it's just shoes or jewelery. The question is: How long do you have to wait until you wear the same dress again?

The Dairy Disaster

I have kind of been lying to myself and thinking that DQ's ice cream is 98% fat free (because I think I thought I might have heard that one time). I checked it out and it turns out that a small oreo blizzard has 560 cal/21g fat. SOOOOOOOOOOOO, I guess when I ordered the banana cream pie blizzard, it was no good for me either. Crap.

Newark Adventures - Week 2

Week 2 in Newark has started and I have a feel for the city now (although the GPS is amazing!). Today I braved the Indian Mound Mall. My review...I could get by on it but Westfield in Toledo blows it away. Major department stores are JCPenny, Sears, and Elderly Beerman (not my fave).

Today's lunch was Ruby Tuesday (YES!) salad bar. This was the only Ruby's I have ever been to that has not been connected to a mall and has not been adorned with green walls and antique-y bicycles and such (know what I mean?).

I have been to almost every Chinese buffet in town (there are a lot), and joined the local gym, Aspen Fitness, to try to offset it.

Everyone here calls me ma'am (I still look over my shoulder when that happens).

Today in one of my appointments, I actually folded the map incorrectly which led to some making fun of me (and deservedly). So, as self-inflicted punishment I am going to unfold and refold a map 100 times again tonight just like I did on the first night after my training.

Happy early Birthday to me

I received an early birthday present (more than 2 months early) from my parents....a Garmin GPS. I just got it last night and am anxious to use it! I think it will be much more accurate than Mapquest or Google maps and will save me a lot of time plotting out my routes. Did you know that these things can have games on them? Does that seem dangerous to you?

Do you have a GPS? Do you like it?

Do you think they thought this through?

This morning on the Today show, Meridith interviewed a reporter and a local girl about a pact that teenagers in Gloucester, Massachusetts are making: They want to get pregnant and raise their babies together.

Ok, what? They are getting pregnant on purpose? I was busy making pacts that we wouldn't go to prom or tell on Jenny Smith because she smoked cigarettes as a freshmen with some "older guys."

Seriously?

Story here.

Video from Today show here.

Is that a...beard net?

Yesterday in my temporary home of Newark, OH (Licking County) I was in a Giant Eagle grocery store. As I was perusing the apples, I noticed a big jolly man pushing a cart of produce. I smiled to myself thinking of Santa and Grandpas and other happy things. Santa turns around he is donning a beard net. Yes, a beard net. The net has elastic that hangs on both ears so it completely engulfs all the bushy grey beard hair so he is compliant with all OSHA rules (or whatever). I had never seen one of these and did not feel right taking a pic, but did find a pic on Google. Note: This man looks almost exactly like the Giant Eagle Santa.

Have you seen a beard net?

How can she drive with no arms?

Points to those that know what I mean...

The Big Basket

Well I'm here at my temporary home in Newark and wanted to share what the local culture has to offer.

The Big Basket. Seriously. Longaberger has a hotel, golf course, factory, and restaurant...and a ginormous basket. The big basket is HUGE and I have heard the handle is heated so the snow does not settle on it.

Vegas!

Vegas Highlights

Australia's Thunder From Down Under:
I went into this show with a bad attitude, but left all smiles. I would recommend this show, although make sure you have some drinks before and DO go to the late show. We may or may not have partied with some of the talent at the CatHouse after, but you know, what happens in Vegas...

Excalibur:
The pool - there were 5 in all, even one with a waterfall and a slide. At the casino I won some decent money at a slot machine and a roulette table. Excalibur is connected to other hotel/casinos like the Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

Weather:
100 degrees and above, sunny, never a cloud in the sky. Dry heat, no bugs - perfect pool weather.

Overall:
The bachelorette had a blast and so did the rest of us so mission accomplished! Vegas is a giant ego boost, a city that never stops, and a place that everyone should visit. We did so much in 3 days, but there was so much more I wanted to do. September birthday trip perhaps...

Update!

HI! I got back from Vegas yesterday morning and this morning I am in Newark, OH starting my first project of my new job. Updates and more blogging tonight.

Off!

I'm off to Vegas in the morning so please excuse me while I don't blog for 4 days :)

Have a good weekend everyone!

Vegas, baby

I'm off to Vegas tomorrow for a bachelorette party. We are staying at the Excalibur so we can be sure to see Australia's Thunder from Down Under (the guest of honor's favorite Vegas attraction). I am SUPER pumped and have not been to Vegas since I was 20, so I am looking forward to taking advantage of Las Vegas has to offer.

Have you been to Vegas? What do you recommend?

Car shopping

Ok, I know we have talked about this before but I am looking at other options for new car (my lease is up in September).
1. I have to buy; leasing is not an option because I will be driving too much.
2. I need a car and not an SUV. Gas is outta control and I need to be in the most fuel efficient car I can afford (turns out, I cannot afford an SUV hybrid).

So, here are the cars I am considering now. Tell me what you think.

Toyota Corolla
Toyota Camry
Volkswagen Jetta (although I swore I would never go back to Ed Schmidt in Pburg)
Nissan Sentra or Altima (I drove a friend's Altima last night and it is awesome)
Jeep Patriot (still in the running)

WELCOME

Congratulations G & H!
Welcome to our family Hailey Suzanne -
We love you so much already.

High-Heel-a-Thon

Impractical Shoes - THIS is for you! You can run extremely fast in high heels and I have witnessed it, so now is your chance! Regis and Kelly are hosting a High-Heel-A-Thon in New York on July 9th.

First place winner gets $25,000 (2nd gets $5,000 and 3rd gets $2,500). Go to the Regis and Kelly website and register. All you have to do is a 150 yard dash! C'mon, that's like from the door to the bar at Gatorz. All proceeds go to the March of Dimes for this is your philanthropy for the year.

Another one

Here's another case that the O looks like a D.
SS Mino - we get it. SS Mind - like you are Hitler's psychiatrist or something?

Not quite #1 Dad

Or did he go to Notre Dame?

Training Day 4

Today I rode with another rep for field training. Tomorrow will conclude my training at HQ in the office and BAM I am ready to start my first assignment. I had the opportunity to explore the city of Elgin, IL a bit more today. One of, if not their biggest, attractions is the Grand Victoria Casino. The casino is actually on a giant riverboat on the Fox River that runs through the downtown area. We had dinner there at a glorious/gluttonous buffet, then hit the roulette table for some fun.

Do you like to gamble?

Training Days 2 & 3

Field Training: Oak Lawn, IL - a suburb of Chicago. I rode with a top sales rep for the company today and yesterday, have learned a ton and had some fun while at it.

Random observation about the Village of Oak Lawn:
There are an abundance of bridal stores in this town. The main drag is called 95th Street and up and down it you will find about 10 retail stores for dresses from David's Bridal to a resale shop. There are also several tux places, a wedding candy store, a wedding floral shop, a wedding linen store, and even a wedding themed lingerie shop. None of the businesses seemed to know why there is this humongous presence of wedding retail or think it was odd. I guess I'm the only one.

Day 1 Training

Thank you to everyone that wished me luck and has been supportive in my career move!

Day 1 training went very well at Village Profile's HQ in Elgin, IL. Pretty typical first day: boatload of paperwork, company office tour / meet the staff, lunch with the big guy and lots and lots of information. I am very excited and think this will be a great new job for me.

I have homework: tonight I have to fold and unfold a map 100 times so as to become an expert. I suppose a sales person selling maps should be able to properly work a map. Those things are tricky.

Random Poll

Do you enjoy having a cocktail at dinner?

How cute are these?

I just love mini burgers! These little delights are from a bar called Tavish in Lincoln Park. Don't you love the pickles on top?