Survival Of The Fittest...On Our Lanai

I know, I know. Bizarre coming from a vegetarian, but I found this morning's live nature show quite fascinating.

First, the hunter chases down its prey.

Gets his nose bitten in the process.

Corners him with great finesse.

Then, as is always the case for this fierce but friendly hunter, isn't quite sure what to do with him once he's got him where he wants him.

It's a good thing you have a reliable source of food. A remarkable marksman, you are not.

Just What I Needed...Another Crossroads!

I'm torn.

If I had just studied to be an accountant or teacher, my next destination would be easy to plot. Aah, the woes of a communications major out of work and seeking that next big break.

Maybe it's time to determine the color of my parachute or celebrate the potential of escaping cubicle life altogether.

I should be happy. There really are a number of possibilities and directions I could go. And I'm still young. (Okay, youngish...younger than 40!)

I could do freelance writing. I could. Would require some steady self-discipline though, but I could do that.

I could seek the 8-5 marketing communications management route again. I've been down that road before - and done it well.

I could explore something completely different that capitalizes on my interpersonal and organization skills. Yep, that's a possibility. (Probably want to avoid "yep" in my cover letter.)

I could capitalize on my event planning and presentation background and seek a more visible role, something I haven't really been accustomed to these past two years as a cube-confined but cheery, efficient copywriter. I am an INFJ, so I'd have to work a bit on the I to ramp it up to an E. Or at least somewhere in between. (Maybe a G?)

So what do I do? I'm trying to remain open-minded, keep communication lines open to welcome opportunities to talk about available positions, regardless of the field. You just never know which door will be the right one, so why close any of them?

I do feel like a contestant on "Let's Make A Deal." And you know what? There might be great prizes behind all of the doors available, but I'm just so scared to pick the wrong one.

If I only had a clue which road to take next...

Is This Cool Or What?

If you didn't get a chance to see this Wednesday night, you've just got to go back and watch now. Celine Dion's unbelievable duet with... 1968 TV special Elvis Presley!

Enjoy!

Democrats Are Funny, Too

Okay, okay, no snide remarks from my GOP friends here... that they're always hilarious, yada yada yada.

Enjoy a snip-it from last night's Presidential Debate between the Democrats and one of my least favorite candidates. At least this time I'm chuckling with him and not about him.

Ratings No More?

Say it ain't so, Rosie?

I have to admit: I'm not a big Rosie O'Donnell fan but I saw part of The View earlier this week and a little last week, and she actually seemed pretty comfortable in the role.

What will ABC do this time, I wonder...

What's Goin' On?!

First, a local man takes people hostage at a shooting range before offing himself.

Then, a student destroys lives of other students and families at Virginia Tech because he's angry and miserable, and inevitably shoots himself.

Now, someone takes a hostage at NASA, kills that person and again calls it a day.

What is happening? Why does it seem like everywhere we turn people are turning their internal struggles into outward violence and aggression? I'm the first person to argue on behalf of people getting the help they need. But nothing pains me more than to watch completely innocent victims and their families getting pulled into that pain and their lives changed forever.

I can understand what might drive someone to decide "That's it. I'm done. I can't take it anymore. I'm ending my life." I can empathize with someone who feels that they've gone as far as they can make it, whether they're struggling with complex internal issues, outside obstacles or physical or emotional pain. But what drives someone to take that next step? To lose their senses so much that they feel their only exit involves grabbing whatever and whomever surrounds them in those final moments of desperation?

Between recent local deaths by suicide including TV weatherman John Winter and today's news of a prominent Tampa party-planner taking his own life, I feel surrounded by bad news 24/7, don't you? Who will we learn about today? What bizarre horrible event will make us even more fearful and paranoid to walk outside? People seem more unhappy and uncertain than ever and news of these events fuels that distrust, anger and fear even further.

An epidemic is upon us - front and center - and we're more focused on when the latest web-based gadget will be released.

There are other human beings among us and we're losing touch with each other.

Fussy And Full Of Typos

You can always count on TMZ to offer that important slice of news you can use. Yesterday's horrible Alec Baldwin voicemail rant to his daughter was proof of that.

But today they've got some fascinating stuff about chart-topper Gwen Stefani. It seems she's a bit particular about what's in her dressing room and has her people issue a Gwen Stefani Hospitality Manifesto at every guest stop. Now, this isn't something new - celebs do it all of the time. I find this one especially amusing since her own people misspell her name in the first sentence...and there's more typos to come. (Hey, she's a Silk consumer, like me!)

Now where else would you find fascinating stuff like this, huh?

Movie Poster Madness

Movie posters. They're a part of Kuhn house interior design.

Anyone who knows us understands we're a bit obsessed with movies, Oscars and in general, anything Hollywood.

Exhibit A. And B, C, D...

Every room in the house has a movie poster according to that room's theme, but they all have one thing in common: they are beloved favorites of both of us or at least one of us. In the fitness room, Jerry Maguire. In the sci-fi/comic book themed computer room, Star Trek: First Contact. In the Native American themed master bedroom, Dances with Wolves. In the Italian-themed guest bedroom, A Room with a View. Food-focused mafia classic The Godfather in - where else? - the Dining Room. Heck, even the galaxy-themed guest bathroom is supported by the original sci-fi classic, War of the Worlds.

Yeah, we're a bit nutty about our movies.

So I found this story particularly fascinating since our walls are covered with framed movie posters of some of our favorite films ever. This list of the strangest movies posters of all time does not include many of those favorites, but it's still fascinating stuff. (And the writer's commentary about each one is almost better than the images themselves.)

Be sure to check out pages two and three, too (links at bottom). I particularly got a kick out of the tributes to Burt Reynolds and Babs Streisand. Enjoy!

The Morning After

In a little over an hour, they'll return to finish the job...quarter-round on the edges, wood transitions at the doorways and entryways and clean up.

Man, I've never been so eager to clean up my house.

Doesn't everyone have a recliner in the kitchen?

Soon, baby, soon. Just hang in there a little bit longer, Dexie.

It's Finally Happening...EEK!

Lookout below! The floors are coming apart.

Yep, it's happening. Outlying rooms are chock full of electronics, DVDs, books, furniture!

The dog is confused and pacing the lanai.

I sure hope when all is said and done that we'll be happy we went through with this.

As of 1:30 p.m., we have a dining room, main hallway and family room in disarray but in progress. Things are moving rapidly. These guys are fast.

But will Dexter ever get to do laps around the kitchen, dining room, hallway and family room loop affectionately known as "the track?" Someone's new theme song will be "Slip, Slidin' Away..."Still the edging and guest hallway to go, but things are moving along fairly smoothly.

A little too smoothly...and that's what worries me. Hmmm...

Did You See This?

Even Maxim is having fun at Sanjaya's expense...this guy has got to go.

Lucky 13A Takes To The Links

The weather was beautiful. We were ready for the links.

But were they ready for us?

Team "Lucky 13A" took to the course...well, it took a little while to find our starting hole, but we were treated to a lovely preview of the holes ahead. (I'm having flashbacks to 10th grade American Literature and a Robert Frost poem right about now.)

And then we found it. Hole #13 and two other teams patiently waiting for us to show up and tee off. We're here!

Okay, we didn't take the big prize, come home with the big rock, earn any big kudos or shiny trophies. But we did get a goody bag. And free beer. And a few free sleeves of golf balls. And a new hat. And free beer. And lunch. And free tees. And free beer.

Did I mention they had free beer?

It was a fun day of some good shots, some awesome splashes and a great time for four hopeful yet realistic golfers who dared take on a best ball scramble without purchasing any - I repeat, ANY - mulligans. We earned that 6 over par all on our own, thank you very much.

I Knew I Didn't Like Thursdays

It could have been worse. They could have told me last Thursday and ruined my birthday weekend. And I even had a hunch I'd be a casualty, saving all of my writing samples on CD on Tuesday just in case.

And I was right.

This week, starting on Wednesday, about 70 people were told they were getting laid off this week at work. On Thursday, I became one of them. I have no deep, profound statements to make. It simply sucks.

I spent more than ten years trying to find the perfect job. I had no idea it would involve a cut in pay, a change in scenery and an opportunity to rub elbows with the people I read every day in the paper. I'd never been happier going to work every day, loved the fun, encouraging environment of my department that helped me thrive every day. I received compliments from my peers and had built trust among the people who had not always trusted my predecessor and finally, people in all platforms were understanding my role and intentions.

And for nothing. Sure, it's about bottom line and I realize that if you don't contribute obviously to revenue, you don't help solve the money problem. But last time I checked, newspapers were trying to increase readership, too, and how do you do this if you don't give people a reason to pick up the paper in the first place, if you don't remind readers how pleasurable the experience of sitting down and reading the newspaper is?

It's like they've already given up. And that makes me sad - for everyone still remaining.

Since yesterday, I've been sorting through everything in my head. And I've been surprisingly strong. As I've told friends at work, I think it's because I understand I had no control over what happened to me. I didn't cause this and my performance didn't warrant it. I produced good work every day, I worked hard, I was loyal and trustworthy and reliable. And this is how I am rewarded for it. My role may have been eliminated but if those above me really did believe I was too good of an employee to lose, they wouldn't be attempting to build a new role - they would have already secured another place for me in this company. How can I be expected to put faith into a position that doesn't exist? It saddens me that if they truly felt so highly of me, they would have re-directed me elsewhere in the company or in one of our partner platforms. But they didn't.

So, I try not to think about it too often because when I dwell on what's happening, I naturally get upset and worry about what's to come. The most touching part of all of this has been the responsiveness from people I work with every day. People from the newsrooms at all three media companies have been so nice to me - coming over, emailng, sharing their concern about the decision to let me go. It's been overwhelming how supportive everyone has been.

I'll still be finishing up my stay for the next three weeks, and I know it will be awkward and tough at times. Some days I'll do better than others. Like today for instance. After yesterday afternoon's shock, puffy eyes and messed-up contact lenses, I woke up this morning determined to hang in there. It would be the first time chatting with the department since the bad news. I tried to stay strong and as positive as I could be and I did really well up until late this afternoon. I received a really thoughtful note from one of my colleagues. I didn't look at it until after everyone had left for the night. I opened it, read it and started bawling like a baby - again.

I know I'll move on but it's going to be a slow process and impatient me is going to have to take it one day at a time. First, there came shock. Then, deep sadness and disappointment. Now, I guess I'm in the angry phase, but again I have to let it go. There's nothing I can do about it and it will only make me sick to think about it.

The weekend's almost here and with it, a chance at a little peace and time away from this place.

Hug Out This Quiz, B$#@H!

If you love Entourage like the Kuhn house does, you might get a kick out of this very interesting quiz that my pop culture guru Whitney Matheson mentioned today in her blog: Which 'Entourage' guy are you?

I took the quiz and it's official. I'm a Drama clone. See how you do. And yes, ladies, you have to put yourselves in the guys' seat on this one. Have fun!

It's Starting Already...Oh Boy!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... our flooring! (Well, sorta.)

Today was the big delivery day for the laminates.

Now, they'll enjoy our living room as they acclimate to the house and a week from now, we'll officially get this flooring project from hell underway.

Man, I'll be glad when this crap is over. I know Dexter can't wait.

I know we'll like the final results but until then, the preparation, the anticipation, the anxiety --- it's all just one big pain in the arse.

Did You See This?

This so cracks me up... I don't even like these things but this Peeps Gallery from the Washington Post is absolutely hilarious. Enjoy!

My personal favorites? Soylent Peeps and Reservoir Peeps (below) Love it!

Punk Or Peter Cottontail? Hmmm...

Happy Easter. (Okay, so I'm a day late. Shoot me.) Now how about some punk music for the holidays?

Saw this very cool game link on my favorite pop culture blog (Pop Candy) and just had to share.

Enjoy!

Off To The Spongedocks

Today, Lar and I joined my folks for some Greek food and a little saunter through Tarpon Springs.

It had been a few years since Larry and I had visited and a very long time since my mom and dad had stopped in for a peek.

But the weather was beautiful, the food was delicious and the company was nice.

And look who's got his own little schooner docked here? Well, what do you know --- Skipper Dexter!
It was a little windy - so the spongedocks had a strong, potent sweep over all of us. (Ewww...yuk.) But it was still a beautiful day.