Did I mention that I have my very own backyardigans?
You've read that my landlord has taken care of the backyard, especially since my lawn mower is kaput. Well, about three days ago--because the grass grows so damn fast here--he cuts the grass again. The next day, after coming home from work, I look out my living room window, and what do I see? My two neighbors have also mowed their backyard!
I think this whole lawn competition is hilarious. So here's my plan.
The next time my landlord cuts the grass, I'm going to call in sick the next day, place a mat in the middle of my yard, pull out a good book and a bottle of water, and wait for my two neighbors to start the show. Oh, I'll be sure to wave like the friendly neighbor I am.
Once they're both done mowing, I'm going to walk to my landlord's house to borrow his mower--and yes, you guessed it--I'm going to mow my backyard again!
I think it'll freak the crap out of them, and I'm so curious what they'll do next when they've realized that my grass is just a tiny bit shorter than theirs.
Again.
5.27.2006
5.25.2006
Decision: You are perfect for the job, Raquel, but we've decided to hire externally.
Make sense to you?
Please, enlighten me.
//Signed//
Raquel Santos
Please, enlighten me.
//Signed//
Raquel Santos
Pepsi hurts
Yesterday I had a can of Pepsi. I knew it would happen, but I drank it anyway.
You see, usually the only type of drink I have is water. When something foreign like beer, wine, or in this case--Pepsi--is consumed, my system goes bonkers. The front side of my brain feels bruised, I feel like I need to burp but can't, and wasteful calories are added to my diet. Sure it tastes good going down, but I've realized it is not worth the pain.
So goodbye, Pepsi. Don't look at me at the commissary.
You see, usually the only type of drink I have is water. When something foreign like beer, wine, or in this case--Pepsi--is consumed, my system goes bonkers. The front side of my brain feels bruised, I feel like I need to burp but can't, and wasteful calories are added to my diet. Sure it tastes good going down, but I've realized it is not worth the pain.
So goodbye, Pepsi. Don't look at me at the commissary.
5.22.2006
5.21.2006
5.20.2006
ISO wand
Does anyone have a magic wand to lend me?
Sure would be nice to wave it to do all my work, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, blogging.
I'm leaving work now. For tomorrow is another day I have to work.
Tonight I shall veg in front of the TV with season one of Desparate Housewives.
Sure would be nice to wave it to do all my work, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, blogging.
I'm leaving work now. For tomorrow is another day I have to work.
Tonight I shall veg in front of the TV with season one of Desparate Housewives.
5.16.2006
To my Mo
Happy Mother's Day, Mom!
I don't know what's funnier--you about to pull my shorts down or Tyrone holding his chili laughing at me.
Thanks for the prankster skills.
(Sorry for the late posting.)
5.13.2006
5.12.2006
Cause and effect(s)
Don't eat this at 10 pm. 
Because you'll still be awake at:
And then you'll be doing this in the morning.
Because you'll still be awake at:
And then you'll be doing this in the morning.
5.10.2006
Boss Jovi
I recently got in touch with a former boss of mine on Guam from a decade ago. And it has been so refreshing to reminisce about the time we worked together. Her name is Jovi.
I worked under her leadership when I was just a naive 20-year-old, unaware of the real crap that goes on in business. Jovi managed a very diverse set of people ranging in the ages of 19-36 approximately, while also falling in that age group herself. I don't know how she put up with us, because boy, we were some group back then. She had the extreme--from the very quiet to the very loud, from the shy to the wild, from the lazy to the hardworking. Makes me quiver just thinking about the stuff she witnessed us do.
I owe it to her to be the first person to genuinely share her management style with me. It may not have been one-on-one, but just observing her taught me the values I have today. I still use the advice and tips she gave me back then when I go on job interviews. Sometimes, when I have to make a management decision, I ask myself, How would Jovi handle the situation? And all is well.
I don't think I'm a perfect manager, but I'd be even more lost if I didn't have the opportunity to work with her.
I'm so happy I get to communicate with her again. I've invited her to visit me already. If there is a Jovi in your life, make it stay that way.
I worked under her leadership when I was just a naive 20-year-old, unaware of the real crap that goes on in business. Jovi managed a very diverse set of people ranging in the ages of 19-36 approximately, while also falling in that age group herself. I don't know how she put up with us, because boy, we were some group back then. She had the extreme--from the very quiet to the very loud, from the shy to the wild, from the lazy to the hardworking. Makes me quiver just thinking about the stuff she witnessed us do.
I owe it to her to be the first person to genuinely share her management style with me. It may not have been one-on-one, but just observing her taught me the values I have today. I still use the advice and tips she gave me back then when I go on job interviews. Sometimes, when I have to make a management decision, I ask myself, How would Jovi handle the situation? And all is well.
I don't think I'm a perfect manager, but I'd be even more lost if I didn't have the opportunity to work with her.
I'm so happy I get to communicate with her again. I've invited her to visit me already. If there is a Jovi in your life, make it stay that way.
5.09.2006
No time
Good god!
Ever since by boss left, I have no time to goof off on this blog. All the emails that used to go to her now come to me! It has certainly changed my routine.
I've got orders to make. Events to plan. Events to cancel. Appointments to make. Forms to fill out. Emails to send.
Gotta go now, peeps. I promise to improve.
Ever since by boss left, I have no time to goof off on this blog. All the emails that used to go to her now come to me! It has certainly changed my routine.
I've got orders to make. Events to plan. Events to cancel. Appointments to make. Forms to fill out. Emails to send.
Gotta go now, peeps. I promise to improve.
5.06.2006
Project READ - Life laughs by Jenny McCarthy
Jenny McCarthy bluntly--and I do mean BLUNTLY--shares her thoughts on motherhood, marriage, and moving on.
This was my first time reading her, and I was expecting to royally crack up because she's a goofy girl, but her humor is vastly different than my preferred George-Carlin-type. There are some parts that make you say, "Wow, I can't believe she shared that about herself. Haha." It's a quick read, and I think mothers, wives, and divorcees will enjoy it because they'll probably agree with everything she says.
I do admire her oneness with herself and her willingness to admit what other celebrities wouldn't dare. And she's pro-woman, unstuck to the idea that only the wife should take on the house and child duties while the husband is left alone with the remote. She'd be a cool friend.
The Raquel-o-meter: 3 out of 5 bookmarks
This was my first time reading her, and I was expecting to royally crack up because she's a goofy girl, but her humor is vastly different than my preferred George-Carlin-type. There are some parts that make you say, "Wow, I can't believe she shared that about herself. Haha." It's a quick read, and I think mothers, wives, and divorcees will enjoy it because they'll probably agree with everything she says.
I do admire her oneness with herself and her willingness to admit what other celebrities wouldn't dare. And she's pro-woman, unstuck to the idea that only the wife should take on the house and child duties while the husband is left alone with the remote. She'd be a cool friend.
The Raquel-o-meter: 3 out of 5 bookmarks
Project READ - The power of ethical management by Ken Blanchard
Blanchard tells the parable of a businessman who is considering hiring a person who has stolen and offered valuable information from competitors while being the most qualified for the position.
The businessman's uneasiness forces him to question his work ethics, and he seeks guidance via ethics' experts. He first learns to ask himself three questions to discern the ethicality of a situation: Is it legal? Is it balanced? And how will it make me feel about myself? The reader will also learn about the 5 Ps of ethical power: Purpose, Pride, Patience, Persistence, and Perspective.
Personally, I enjoyed being reminded to practice ethics at work. Trust me, I have worked with some slimey managers who haven't a clue of what work ethic is. And that's a damn shame because they're managers. I've often wondered how they can look in the mirror and like what they see after the stunts they pull at work. Makes me want to send a copy of this book to two women who supervised me long time ago. I really want to put their full names here, but that wouldn't be very ethical of me, so I won't.
The Raquel-o-meter: 4 out of 5 bookmarks
The businessman's uneasiness forces him to question his work ethics, and he seeks guidance via ethics' experts. He first learns to ask himself three questions to discern the ethicality of a situation: Is it legal? Is it balanced? And how will it make me feel about myself? The reader will also learn about the 5 Ps of ethical power: Purpose, Pride, Patience, Persistence, and Perspective.
Personally, I enjoyed being reminded to practice ethics at work. Trust me, I have worked with some slimey managers who haven't a clue of what work ethic is. And that's a damn shame because they're managers. I've often wondered how they can look in the mirror and like what they see after the stunts they pull at work. Makes me want to send a copy of this book to two women who supervised me long time ago. I really want to put their full names here, but that wouldn't be very ethical of me, so I won't.
The Raquel-o-meter: 4 out of 5 bookmarks
I wish I had a pouch.
Sometimes I wish I was born with a kangaroo pouch. The permanent pocket would be plenty handy not only to hold my wallet, comb, keys, makeup bag, water bottle, snacks, and sunglasses, but more importantly, store a notebook, pen, and book for me to access at any time.
You see, each time I have an idea or thought, I ask my brain to store it until I get a chance to write it down. Since my brain recall isn't too great once I do have pen and paper in hand, I lose out on a lot of ideas and thoughts. Thus, having a notebook at my belly will solve this problem. Heck, even a slit at my back to store a notebook would do.
Plus I really hate carrying purses. I'm a hands-free kind of girl when I go out.
And don't tell me to wear a fanny pack. That's temporary, and I want convenience. In the middle of the night, I want to be able to reach into my pouch, pull out my notebook and pen (with built-in night light), and record my thoughts. Then I want to be able to put the stuff back into my pouch and go right back to sleep.
Imagine the possibilities if humans had these pouches. Women could freely look through racks of clothes without fussing with a purse. Mothers could do away with lugging around a diaper bag or even those baby-holder backpacks. Just plop them into your pouch and off you go. And when you're in the waiting room of your doctor's office, and you don't like any of the magazines available, presto--just grab your book from your pouch.
Come on, everybody, you know you'd want a pouch too. What would you put in your pouch?
You see, each time I have an idea or thought, I ask my brain to store it until I get a chance to write it down. Since my brain recall isn't too great once I do have pen and paper in hand, I lose out on a lot of ideas and thoughts. Thus, having a notebook at my belly will solve this problem. Heck, even a slit at my back to store a notebook would do.
Plus I really hate carrying purses. I'm a hands-free kind of girl when I go out.
And don't tell me to wear a fanny pack. That's temporary, and I want convenience. In the middle of the night, I want to be able to reach into my pouch, pull out my notebook and pen (with built-in night light), and record my thoughts. Then I want to be able to put the stuff back into my pouch and go right back to sleep.
Imagine the possibilities if humans had these pouches. Women could freely look through racks of clothes without fussing with a purse. Mothers could do away with lugging around a diaper bag or even those baby-holder backpacks. Just plop them into your pouch and off you go. And when you're in the waiting room of your doctor's office, and you don't like any of the magazines available, presto--just grab your book from your pouch.
Come on, everybody, you know you'd want a pouch too. What would you put in your pouch?
5.05.2006
Like a good neighbor, landlord is there.
After checking if I had gas in my lawn mower, I wheel it out of the garage, onto the driveway, onto the road, and finally onto my backyard lawn. Just my luck, it wouldn't start. No matter how many times or how hard I pulled that metal string thing, I couldn't get it to at least pretend to start.
I wheel it back off my lawn, back onto the road, back onto the driveway, and back into the garage, silently cussing at it. I tell myself that I've got to ask Dad what the problem could be.
Two days pass. I come home from work, unwind in the living room with a movie, and to the delight of my ears, I hear the humming of a mower--in my backyard. I open my window and wave to my landlord yelling, "Thank you!"
I guess my landlord is the lord of his land after all. I guess it pays to have nosey neighbors too.
I wheel it back off my lawn, back onto the road, back onto the driveway, and back into the garage, silently cussing at it. I tell myself that I've got to ask Dad what the problem could be.
Two days pass. I come home from work, unwind in the living room with a movie, and to the delight of my ears, I hear the humming of a mower--in my backyard. I open my window and wave to my landlord yelling, "Thank you!"
I guess my landlord is the lord of his land after all. I guess it pays to have nosey neighbors too.
5.04.2006
I'm okay.
Dear Family:
As you can tell, I've only sporadically posted in the last few days. Don't worry about me; I am fine. I am just really busy with work. I'm safe, well-fed, and alive. Could use a massage on the shoulders and a crack in the back, but am otherwise well.
I am planning to go to Trier on Saturday to buy Emma some baby clothes. Uschi says I can get good deals for quality stuff. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Boo
As you can tell, I've only sporadically posted in the last few days. Don't worry about me; I am fine. I am just really busy with work. I'm safe, well-fed, and alive. Could use a massage on the shoulders and a crack in the back, but am otherwise well.
I am planning to go to Trier on Saturday to buy Emma some baby clothes. Uschi says I can get good deals for quality stuff. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Boo
5.02.2006
"You can give us money or alcohol."
At 12:45 am (Sunday night/Monday morning), I was awakened by pounding on my door and constant doorbell ringing.
What the f*ck?! Who the hell is at my door?! Is my car on fire?! Does someone need my help?! What the f*ck is going on?!
So I quickly throw my comforter off me, put some pants on, put on my eyeglasses, and stumble to my front door. I hear guys singing in German and females laughing in the background while I contemplate yelling, "Get the hell out of here! I'm calling the polizei!" But I don't. Ten seconds pass, I hear them go down the steps having given up on me answering their call, but I'm so curious about the ruckus that I open my door, figuring that I have enough time and distance to close it in case they run back up the steps and attack me. I see it's a bunch of teenagers. Two come up the steps, I recognize one, and my fear settles.
He says, "Hi! We are celebrating the night of the witch this May, and you can give us money or alcohol."
"Oh my god! I thought something was wrong! Wait here." I see they are serious because they're actually pushing around a shopping cart full of alcohol that the other neighbors have given them. So I get a cheap bottle of champagne and hand it to him.
"Thank you! Good night!" they yell.
Man, these German customs! They can scare the hell out of a girl!
What the f*ck?! Who the hell is at my door?! Is my car on fire?! Does someone need my help?! What the f*ck is going on?!
So I quickly throw my comforter off me, put some pants on, put on my eyeglasses, and stumble to my front door. I hear guys singing in German and females laughing in the background while I contemplate yelling, "Get the hell out of here! I'm calling the polizei!" But I don't. Ten seconds pass, I hear them go down the steps having given up on me answering their call, but I'm so curious about the ruckus that I open my door, figuring that I have enough time and distance to close it in case they run back up the steps and attack me. I see it's a bunch of teenagers. Two come up the steps, I recognize one, and my fear settles.
He says, "Hi! We are celebrating the night of the witch this May, and you can give us money or alcohol."
"Oh my god! I thought something was wrong! Wait here." I see they are serious because they're actually pushing around a shopping cart full of alcohol that the other neighbors have given them. So I get a cheap bottle of champagne and hand it to him.
"Thank you! Good night!" they yell.
Man, these German customs! They can scare the hell out of a girl!
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