Just wanted to put up a quick post to welcome Ali to the blogosphere! Like the true geeks we are ... our team at work built a blog for our coworker Ali, who is about to be out for a few months on maternity leave.
Ali is one of the most hilarious people on the planet, and we just HAD to create a blog for her to keep us in the loop with her daily hilarity as she welcomes little Fiona to the world. You can follow her at www.AndBeanMakesFour.com. Yay!
No, it's not where you can go to register for a man. (We wish, right ladies?) ;)
It's where grooms can go to register for all kinds of nifty manly-men toys when they're getting married. I like the tag line: "It's your wedding, too. Don't get left behind." There are tips and articles for grooms, but there is also a pretty good selection of gifts geared toward men. Cool, eh?
I just think the idea is pretty hilarious. Take a look.
I actually started this book while Jenna and I were in Europe. On the train to Reims, I believe. Or maybe it was to Munich? Who knows.
At any rate, I'd been able to find sporadic bouts of time to read it since I'd been back in the States ... back to the daily life of work, fun, etc. But this weekend, I was in the mood for a quiet weekend. A weekend to recharge. So I spent much of Saturday and Sunday reading and lounging ... on my couch ... in the papasan chair on my balcony ... in bed. Very relaxing way to spend the weekend.
As often happens when I'm approaching the end of a book, my reading picks up momentum as I near those final few chapters -- I just can't put it down until I'm completely finished.
This book, in a very rare feat, moved me to tears. Chest-filled-with-sorrow, tears-streaming-down-my-face, full-on tears.
It was a wonderful, wonderful love story. Made me think, with a trace of sadness, about all the truly true love stories in my own life.
And now I'm done, and feeling deeply. Just feeling ... deeply.
enjoying a snack on my balcony ... in the middle of an afternoon of reading and lounging ...
Got up really early today (for a Saturday). I was just wide awake, so I decided to go ahead and get up at about 8:00. I got dressed, pulled my hair up and made a quick trip into DC to pick something up from the office. Then I headed back to Virginia, but before going home, I went to Whole Foods -- where I got a fresh baguette, brie, raclette and some flowers (tulips and some gorgeous lilacs) -- and then my neighborhood farmers' market. At the market, I picked up my favorite smoked gouda and stood in line for 20 minutes to get a small basket of fresh strawberries -- well worth it, I'm sure! (Was bummed that the honey vendor wasn't there today ... I wanted to get some more of that honey strawberry jelly. Shmay.)
And now, I'm chilling in my apartment, listening to Josh Kelley and enjoying a lunch of brie and sliced baguette. Yummmm ...
All right, Pillsbury. I love your email newsletters. LOVE them! I'm sure I contribute to the positive push on your open-rate and click-through numbers. I actually forward your emails to family and friends from time to time. I try out recipes you recommend -- purchasing the suggested Pillsbury products. Let's face it: I'm a very valuable individual to you and am a prime example of the kind of person you're looking to reach with your email campaign.
But here's the thing. I recently clicked through to give (solicited) feedback on something and was SHOT DOWN. Rejected. You asked me a few questions and then, in so many words, said, "Nheh. Thanks, but no thanks." You were looking for a different demographic for this particular survey. Seriously?! I just took the time to read your email, click a link to give feedback, answer a couple random questions about myself ... and then all I get is a dull, lifeless page telling me nevermind?! How hard would it have been to let me at least do the fun part of the feedback and then just exclude my responses from the results? I would have never been the wiser. And I wouldn't have felt shunned. Boo to you. See if I ever click through to give you feedback again.
