Friday Flashback

Circa 1982 or 1983

I have been thinking a lot recently about my beloved grandfather. He was the best grandfather a girl could ever ask for and even though he has been gone for five years now, I miss him so much sometimes. 

Love you, grandpa!

A Countdown

ten
Days until Father's Day

nine

Home playoff games I attended this season for the OKC Thunder

eight

Miles between my house and my job

seven

Times I have moved since graduating college in 2004

six

Pairs of high-heeled sandals I own

five

Years of wedded bliss we will celebrate in January 2012

four

Weeks until my favorite holiday - 4th of July

three

Surgeries I have had in my life - tonsils, gallbladder, and retina

two

Televisions in our house

one

Cell phone number I have had since I got my first cell phone in 1997

zero

Bones I have broken in my life

Miscellaneous Monday Musings

Well, I am happy to report we are surviving just fine over here at the cable-free house. So far we are very happy with our decision to cut cable, and we haven't even resorted to organizing our bathroom cabinets or trimming the lawn with scissors!

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When I come across internet slang or text speak that I don't know, it makes me feel so un-hip and old. I learned a new-to-me expression just the other day:

*g* means grin

Did you know that? Am I the only one? I am almost thirty, you know.

Thanks to my dear friend Google, I found this website so I don't have to feel like such a loser anymore. Maybe it can help you, too!

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Did you have an American Girl doll growing up? These got popular sometime during my elementary school years. I came across this blog post that explains What Your American Girl Doll Says About the Rest of Your Life.

I  never read the American Girl books - I was more of a Babysitter's Club fan - but I secretly wanted an American Girl doll! I don't think I ever asked for one because I knew it would be a financial hardship for my parents to buy me one.

Anyway, I thought it was funny that the blog post described people who had no American Girl doll as follows:
You grew up to be financially independent, level-headed, unspoiled, and still just a little bit resentful whenever you walk by American Girl Place.

Hmmm, I guess that sort of sounds like me.

Which American Girl doll did you have? Or were you a have-not like me?

Pulling the Plug

Yesterday was a momentous day in our household.

We finally took the plunge and cancelled the cable subscription.

It was something we have been talking about for a long time now around here. We don't have a lot of must-watch television shows, but the main sticking point (especially for the husband) has been sports.

But with the end of the NBA season drawing near and the re-run wasteland that is summer television, now seemed like the perfect time to cut cable.

But, don't worry! Of course, we aren't going completely television-free! We're not Amish!

Home-made HDTV antenna (pic taken by the hubby)

We have a computer connected to our main television which will allow us to watch anything that is available online for free through sites like Hulu or YouTube. Also, we can get the broadcast stations (ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, FOX, etc) using an HDTV antenna my husband made (instructions available online here). Plus, we have a Netflix instant streaming subscription for those desperate times when we are bored out of our minds.

Maybe getting rid of cable will keep us from watching too much television. It will definitely save a few dollars each month. I hope we can stick with it!

Have you cut cable? Any advice?

How 'Mommy' Can You Be at Work?

This headline caught my eye yesterday as I perused the MSN website: How 'Mommy' Can You Be at Work? The first thought I had was, how insulting and condescending! What an awful double standard! I cannot imagine coming across an article with the headline of How 'Daddy' Can You Be at Work?

Reading the article did not improve my initial reaction to the headline. The basic premise of the article highlights the balancing act facing the 31 million working moms* who are juggling the responsibilities of motherhood with the responsibilities of employment. The article cited a study that found co-workers believed working moms* were less dedicated employees. The journalist also talked to women who felt they had to hide the fact they were a mother in order to be respected at work.

Articles like this confirm my belief that there is still a capacious gender gap that permeates our society. It might not be popular, but it is true: women and men are treated differently, and nowhere is that more evident than in the workplace.

The article hypothesizes that the balancing act should disappear once Millennials take on management positions because "the generational shift will bring enormous changes to how, where and when we work. And that's only good news for working moms."

However, I am not as optimistic. I think there will always be a double standard between "working moms" and "working dads" due to the gender roles assigned by society wherein women are caretakers and men are providers.

What do you think? 


*I hate the term "working moms" but I used it because it was used in the article. I would prefer the cumbersome term "moms who are employed outside the home" because using the term "working moms" diminishes the endeavors of "moms who are not employed outside the home." Makes sense, right?

Friday Flashback

Five years ago, on May 17, 2006, a certain boy took a certain girl to Bahama Breeze for dinner.

After dinner, the boy suggested a walk around nearby Lake Hefner with the girl.

During the romantic walk, the boy reached into his pocket, took out a ring, and asked the girl to marry him.

The girl said yes.

Bossypants and Inside Job

Just like a child waiting for Christmas, I have been impatiently anxiously waiting for two items I reserved at the library eons ago. Imagine my delight when I got the email a few days ago that they were both ready!

Yes, I am a nerd.

First up, Inside Job (2010) is a critically acclaimed documentary about the worldwide financial meltdown that came to a head in 2008. The film includes interviews with major players in the economic, academic, and political arenas. Told in five parts, it takes viewers back several years to show how changes in certain regulations and financial practices led to increased risk-taking that eventually resulted in the financial crisis.

What makes Inside Job a great film is that it takes complex issues and presents them in a way that tells a compelling, and at times, outrageous story of corruption, greed, and incompetence. This movie will probably make you angry, and if it doesn't, it should. It is a must-watch for anyone who is interested in learning more about what led to our current economic climate as well as highlighting some of the conflicts of interest between the regulatory and commercial realms.

This film is very well done, and if my review is not convincing enough, Inside Job won Best Documentary (Feature) at this year's Academy Awards. Watch it!

A final selling point? It is narrated by Matt Damon

I rest my case.

Next up, Bossypants by the hilarious Tina Fey of 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live fame. At just under 300 pages, this book is a very quick read thanks to the entertaining humor of Tina Fey.

Just looking at the back cover, with its made up quotes praising the book, you know this is going to be good. And it is good. Bossypants is not an autobiography per se, it is more a compilation of stories about pivotal times in Tina's life including her first foray in community theater as a teen, her work in the improv comedy trenches at Second City in Chicago, and her successes in New York City on both Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock.

My favorite part of the book was her recalling the auspicious luck of John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential running mate in the 2008 presidential election, and the surrounding notoriety it brought her. Pure comedy gold.

The remainder of the book contains funny anecdotes about magazine photoshoots, disgusting habits of male co-workers, and the burdens of being a mother, just to name a few. While humorous, the book is also revealing as Tina discusses her dilemmas about having another child (I guess we know how that turned out) and the ugly truth of sexism in television and the workplace. 


Bossypants is an enjoyable and entertaining read. I recommend it to anyone who needs a good laugh or who appreciates a strong, intelligent female.