War of the Desserts

T-Wizzle and I got into a heated IM discussion today, based on this tweet by Leo Laporte. She is all about cake, while I like pies much better. So we're taking it to the streets. Vote on this here poll and remember, you like pie!

LA Earthquake Humor

Completely irreverent poster created by my colleague, who experienced her very first Southern California earthquake today.

Back in the Blogging Groove - Well, for an Hour, Anyway

It's been about a month since I updated the blog with any news on my life, and people are starting to ask questions. Now that I'm comfortably ensconced at Starbucks with a vanilla latte and a company laptop (more on that in a moment), I feel inspired to post again.

Work: I am still enjoying my job immensely, even when it makes me nutty. The drama that comes up is manageable and often quite humorous. One of my clients is about to launch a website, and setting up demos and interviews has been fun yet challenging. In the process I've learned a lot from my boss about the art of delicately negotiating coverage and handling excitable clients who want results yesterday.

I now have an account coordinator that reports to me. Learning how to be middle management without being a micromanaging tool has also been challenging. For years I wanted to be a manager and now that I'm in that role, I find management to be way overrated. Not only do I have to do my work, I have to make sure that she's keeping busy, understands her tasks and deadlines, etc. It's more than a notion.

Several of my colleagues read the blog now, and I'm realizing even more how I need to be very clear on what I'm willing to blog and what I need to keep to myself. It's in my nature to be an open book, so self-editing feels somewhat unnatural. I keep reminding myself that if I can't say it out loud, I'm not allowed to blog about it.

That being said, there's a lot of venting and bitching I'd like to do publicly but I don't want to offend anyone or get myself into trouble. Mainly my venting has to do with generational differences in work ethic, attitude and overall outlook on life. I remember behaving the same way as my younger colleagues not so long ago, so it's easier to be empathetic and realize they will have to get some hard knocks before it's clear as to what behavior is acceptable and what isn't. At times, though, I want to call up former employers and supervisors and apologize for being such an arrogant little shit.

Life: My long commute and work hours sometimes render me comatose. Yesterday it wasn't until 7 p.m. that I finally got showered and dressed. I'm recognizing more and more the necessity of work/life balance, and I'm looking more into what technology I can use to help me achieve some balance (more on that in a minute). I also have an order in for some liquid vitamin supplement thingy so that may help too. I try to get out and socialize with friends and attend Meetups as much as I can without overtaxing myself, and I've been forcing myself to get away from my desk for at least 30 minutes at lunchtime, just so I have a chance to clear my head and decompress.

Love: For the past few months, I've been spending time with Peter*, a warm, funny, kind man who has been very patient with me and my occasional bouts of mistrust and panic over "where is this going???" He reads the blog and provides commentary to me, and questions the need for blogs in general. Sometimes that makes my head explode, but for the most part I am amused by his comments. I enjoy his company and do my best to respect his privacy, so you won't see much about him on the blog.

Technology: As part of my ongoing attempt to feel balanced between life and work, I'm embracing a bit more convergence in my technology. I'm borrowing a laptop from work - an IBM Thinkpad that is actually quite fast and uses XP, thank god - and I just bought a first-generation iPhone from a friend who upgraded to the 3G model. I've set up accounts with I Want Sandy, the virtual personal assistant who sends you email, text message and Twitter reminders when you have crap to get done; Zenbe, a web-based email aggregator; and FriendFeed, a service that makes it easy to track all my social networks. I just picked up a new SIM card from AT&T prior to coming to Starbucks, so here's hoping that the process of getting the iPhone fired up and working goes smoothly. I do need to update the Technology/Moxie scoreboard as there have been some amusing incidents recently.

I've got a few web things in the works...a new blog, an upgrade to Girl with Moxie, and some other fun stuff. So stay tuned and follow me on Twitter if you're so inclined.

When You Think Your Hair Is Making a Statement, Be Sure to Issue a Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mossimo Crane
mossimo@mossimothepimptasticcat.com


MARKETING GENIUS, INTUITIVE LIFE COACH CUTS HAIR
IN PROTEST OF UNFAIR CONDITIONS

Woman Asks Only for Understanding of Deeper Follicular Issues

CHICAGO – July 17, 2008 – Marketing professor and life coach T-Wizzle has sheared her locks as a way of making the world more aware of issues surrounding hair issues.

While at first troubled over the state of her newfound look, she decided that a much more pressing issue needed to be considered. “Women of color all over the world have dealt with a lack of high quality styling tools for way too long,” stated T-Wizzle. “In cutting my hair I am ensuring that the beauty industry recognizes the importance of supporting and nurturing women no matter whether their hair is long, straightened, dyed or permed.”

T-Wizzle plans on providing the media with a video diary of her experiences on her new website, www.tellmehowmyasstastesevanston.com.

Meme-tastic

Saw this meme on Beth's blog and decided to respond. (Since I filled in my answers on Friday night I'm going to cheat and change the date on this post from Saturday to Friday. I love this feature in Blogger.) Here we go!

Were you named after anyone?
If you're talking about my birth name, no. The name I took legally at the age of 21, I got the name from...wait for it...Flowers in the Attic.

When was the last time you cried?
The last time I remember clearly was last Monday, when I found out Mr. Ex-Moxie's mom died. Great lady that set the standard for any future mother-in-laws I may have.

Do you like your handwriting?
Yes. I started changing my handwriting style in high school, when I began studying calligraphy and adapted my cursive. You can see it in the way I write S, Q, Z, A, F, G, I, J, especially capital letters.

What’s your favorite lunch meat?
mesquite smoked turkey or honey turkey

Do you have kids?
Nope, one pimptastic cat is more than I can handle.

If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
I think so. I can be moody and difficult sometimes, but I'm also quite zany and creative, and I like showing my friends and family how much I love them in unusual and unexpected ways.

Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Yep, but I try to temper it with heartfelt truth.

Do you still have your tonsils?
Let me check...wait a second...yes.

Would you bungee jump?
Ehh...nah. I would consider skydiving though. Does that seem weird?

Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Sometimes, depends on how tired I am and/or how impatient I am to free my tootsies.

Do you think you’re strong?
Based on events I've gone through over the last 5 months, hell yes.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person?
The eyes, the smile (teeth especially).

Red or pink?
In cooked meat? Pink, thanks for asking. In clothes? Depends on what it is.

What’s your least favorite thing about your body?
The nonexistent definition in my calves. My aunt refers to this family trait as "elephantitis of the leg."

Who do you miss the most?
T-Wizzle. She's never far away by phone, IM, e-mail or text message, but she's not right around the corner and some days I really, really hate that.

What color pants and shoes are you wearing?
No pants tonight - a brown skirt with a white floral print. No shoes - it's hot and I gotta air my feets. (Nooo, they don't stink...)

How about your shirt?
Turquoise tank top.

What’s the last thing you ate?
Butter flavored microwave popcorn.

What are you listening to right now?
The King and I is on Fox Movie Channel - I saw Yul Brynner perform this role on stage, but I don't remember it very well.

Who’s the last person you spoke to on the phone?
T-Wizzle - shocking, I know.

If you were a crayon, which color would you be?
Magenta

What’s your favorite smell?
There isn't just one...I love the smell of cinnamon, ripe peaches or nectarines and citrus fruits. In Maryland I loved the smell of autumn - crisp, slightly smoky - and the smell of the air after a summer rain.

What’s your favorite sport to watch?
Baseball, but only if I'm actually at the game.

What color is your hair?
Light brown, dark brown, gray, white...take your pick depending on where I am in the color cycle.

What color are your eyes?
Blue...yes, they are really that blue...nooo, I don't wear tinted contacts... (I get this a lot.)

Do you wear contacts?
Yes. I'm fortunate in that my prescription is mild and exactly the same for both eyes.

Favorite food?
Indian, Mexican, Italian, Thai

What’s your favorite cereal?
I don't eat much cereal anymore. My favorites are Spoon Sized Shredded Wheat, Honey Bunches of Oats, Smart Start. Out of sugar cereals I love Ohs and Froot Loops.

What’s your favorite ice cream?
Don't eat much of that either - me and lactose have agreed to disagree. When I do have ice cream, I am a fan of vanilla raspberry swirl, tiramisu, mint chocolate chip, peanut butter cup...dammit, now I want some.

Favorite dessert?
Tiramisu. Hands down, my all time favorite.

Scary movies or happy endings?
Happy endings.

What’s the last movie you watched?
Well, The King and I is still on, does that count? I did watch Love in the Time of Cholera a few days ago - pretty good. Javier Bardem is so fine.

What book are you reading now?
Trying once again to get through Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss. It requires a lot of navel gazing and careful self-examination, which is why it's been taking me over 4 years to finish the damn thing.

Summer or winter?
Going to agree with Beth here verbatim: I’m really a spring/fall chick. Of the two queried above, I’ll pick winter any day. I hate the heat; I get whiny and bitchy and irritable when the humidity hits.

Hugs or kisses?
Mmmm...please.

What’s on your mouse pad?
At home, a map of the Sandwich Isles (I think Pops gave it to me). At work, I can't remember - it came with the office.

What did you watch on TV last night?
Entourage, Season 1 DVD - four episodes. That show cracks me up and reminds me why I came to LA, believe it or not.

What’s your favorite sound?
Oh, there's a lot of those, too. The bus pulling up, the bus doors swishing open. Ringtones for some of my favorite people (T-Wizzle's is Zapp "More Bounce to the Ounce", Pops' is the L.A. Law theme). Mossimo meowing sweetly - not the caterwauling that is the cat equivalent of bitch-slapping.

Rolling Stones or Beatles?
Beatles, though I do like a number of Stones songs.

What’s the farthest you’ve been from home?
France, at the age of 6-7.

Do you have a special talent?
I can frequently identify a movie based on watching just a few random minutes - works best for movies made after the 70s. I can blow up electronic shit with the power of my mind. Well, it certainly seems like it sometimes.

Where were you born?
Takoma Park, Maryland - just a few miles from the D.C. line.

Who do you want to answer these questions?
Um, I dunno. Jesus? (running joke with T-Wizzle)

Breaking News!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Mossimo Crane
mossimo@mossimothepimptasticcat.com

MOXIE IS ONE BAD MUTHA – SHUT YOUR MOUTH

Los Angeles – June 12, 2008 – Moxie, account executive, blogger, writer and all-around cool chick, has officially become a bad mamajama.

Having recently taken over the world using Twitter, Google Maps and a small electronic device that resembles a stun gun, Moxie has admitted to being one bad mutha, but declines to elaborate on the details.

“I have seen Moxie and she definitely is one bad mamajama,” stated oversized ape King Kong. “And it’s true, I don’t have shit on her.”

Moxie currently lives in the LBC, yo, but plans to relocate later this summer.

# # #

Office Etiquette, Courtesy of Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins

Back when we were still heavily reliant on phones for communication, did you ever have those moments when you were on the phone with someone in the office next door and you could hear their voice not only over the phone, but also through the wall?

I hadn't had one of those situations for a long time until today. It reminded me of the office sketches on "The Carol Burnett Show" where Mr. Tudball (Tim Conway) would attempt to get his secretary, Mrs. Wiggins (Carol Burnett) to be more savvy about proper office behavior and telephone usage.

Sure enough, those kids on YouTube posted several clips, so here's a classic. Enjoy!