My little fiefdom

Trisha just signed an offer from my company today...as if I couldn't recruit her hard enough...jeez! so on Jan 22nd the madness will begin again - YAY. My team here jokes that now, they will get to meet my first minion.

this is going to be fun.

Welcome Nadia

The littlest member of our marketing team. That's Marie's little baby at our team holiday lunch. Nadia was born at 4 pounds - can you believe that? The baby's stomach wasn't very big and neither was Marie's placenta so that baby just stopped growing after month 7 so they ended up making Marie stay at home so she's easier to monitor then eventually just delivered the baby early in hopes of having her gain weight outside the womb. Thankfully after 6 weeks, Nadia is now 9 pounds and climbing...

Happy Hiroko - three oh *updated picture*

In what will now be known as the month of 30 is Hiroko's march into a new decade of life. Being "the Eldest" we all felt that we needed to make the festivities as wonderful as possible in order to make leading the journey as pleasant as possible :) heehee

To wrap up the month-long list of activities we had...

• A joint birthday party with Andy on 12/9...pictures on Chesternet
• A happy hour event on her birthday eve at Santana Row as her "southbay birthday"
• Dinner at Perbacco on 12/20 (her actual birthday) with a big group of us DG's and SO's

So Happy Birthday Hiroko! And here's to a year of everyone turning 30 :)

Tis the Season

Sometimes I really love being in marketing. Especially around the holidays because we get presents from our vendors as a thank you for dutifully spending our company's budget dollars with them. I'm sure our sales team sends gifts to their top customers as well - as this is just common practice. Usually we get a gift basket from places like Harry & David or Wine Country Baskets but this year people got creative and we ended up with loads of run stuff.

Picture above is of a half eaten box of Shari's Berries. I remember Forrest's mom talking about these awhile back...and they really are that good - such a wonderful treat that I was forced to share because some berries were dipped in milk or dark chocolate..heehee

The evil empire really outdid themselves this year and gave me an Apple iPod Shuffle. I don't remember getting a gift from them last year but the shuffle is a nice touch, especially since I am pushing through a big budget line item for Google next year.

Our ad agency got pretty creative and sent a big bath set gift basket in a red leather gift basket container thingy. Maybe they think I smell - HAHAHAHA. It's funny because the mailroom guy stops by our cube, then we call everyone else over and we pick through all the items in the gift baskets and everyone goes home with a few things....

Halloween Flashback

found this picture on my hard drive the other day and couldn't remember if I had posted it or not already and was too lazy to check. I have to hand it to him, he is VERY creative if not a complete lush.

You might need a haircut if....

you look like this in the morning.

Santa Pyramid

I have no idea what is going on here, except that a group of Santas are trying to form a pyramid in from of Bus Stop bar in Cow Hollow.

SFDC Holiday Party

I don't know if it's the chest flys i have been doing or the dress, but I think I see some "cleavage" if not just a slight shadow in the middle of my chest.

If we had a photo Christmas card, this would be it.

Erin and Sean at the SFDC holiday party. It was really nice to have friends to hang out with at a company party that are not just friends from work...because that is always a slightly different dynamic. Also heard that these two had a rough Saturday after the party...all I know is that they were fine when we left them....

Shoe Advertising?

Yes that's a poster of a girl grabbing a guy's ass. The caption of this Nine West print ad is "Grab it and Go" OMG - what is the world coming to.

Moving Minions

So Trish just interviewed at my company. I have been recruiting her for months and have been pushing to get her interviewed literally since I started working there. FINALLY today she met with a few of my teammates and some interesting comments came up.

MGD (My gay Dan) starts off the interview by saying "So Betty and I have different management styles" Trish and I both read that as I am kind of a bitch at work. Not kind of...I am a demanding at work.

Trish later brought up her codename "Minion" and Dan seemed to balk at the term - I can see it now, MGD's eyes all wide, mouth open and hand on his chest saying "oh my goodness" or "jesus, mary and joseph" and turning bright red.

HAHA - good times

Go Packers

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Just don't rain on Sunday. AHHHH This is really gonna cramp my tailgating style.

Not So Promising

Interesting article on MSN about breadwinner wives and the potentially negative effects of being a successful woman. Apparently many women are bitter about being successful - HA! And to top that off, as much as female roles have progressed for women to excel in the workplace, the equal progression for men to excel in the home has not taken place...so it's double duty for the ladies...huh, no wonder they're bitter.

Movie Review: Stranger than Fiction

If you haven't seen it, you should. If you are hesitant about your ability to Will Ferrel seriously, don't. Thankfully this movie is a little tongue-in-cheek about his seriousness and that's because of the nature of the story. He's painfully oblivious and that makes his character ironic and sweet all at the same time. Emma Thomspon's writer character is overtly dramatic at an attempt to be the "suffering artist" but it ends up being funny in a good way for the audience. I really enjoyed Maggie Gyllenhal's character too :)

Movie Review: Borat

Hieee - Fiiiiive. This movie rocked. it was by far the most disturbingly funny thing that I have ever seen in my life. From the public masturbation to naked wrestling to making out with family members...it's just all out funny. Now the quotes from Borat are especially fun to use with others who have also seen the movie.

"How's the back pussy?" is a favorite between some of my co-workers and I
"Great Success!" has been used in meetings
"Is this rice?" has been a good identifying question also used at work **

** this came from a collection of clips that did not make the cut - view them here

For the "cubicle lawn"

I have a strange love for Pink lawn flamingos...it's an irrational love that is beyond sanity. I dream of having them strewn across my future lawn (it will have to be an indoor lawn as the HOA would surely hang me). Forrest thinks I am insane but I can't explain a love like this...lol.

Recently, I learned that my beloved flamingos will never get a chance to be my lawn ornaments as they have been "discontinued" due to ass-holiness from the manufacturer. I cannot put into words how saddened I am about this...but lo and behold! Lookie at what I found at Barnes & Noble.

Breakfast of Champions

Starting the day with 2 oysters from Hog Island at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market before I head off to a world of "Friends and Family" shopping pain. The guy at the booth commented "You gotta love a customer who starts humming to eat oysters." Apparently I was humming a cheery little song as i prepped my oysters with champagne mignonette and cocktail sauce. Nothing says lovin like shucked, raw bivales in the morning.

OCD Madness

Recently I procured a labeling machine. Watch out America - this could get ugly. I am sooooooo excited about organizing and labeling things...but I am afraid to open the box.

Local Celebrity Sighting

Yesterday I went to lunch at the Tibco cafeteria. Tibco Software is across the street from the building I work work and we also have some engineers in another neighboring building to Tibco in the same campus. Regardless, it's the nearest corporate cafeteria and it's not half bad - they use organic and sustainably farmed produce and meats.

Anyhoo - back to the sighting....I hear a voice behind me of a man saying "man, what do I want to eat for lunch today? hmmmmmmmmmm" I turn around and OH MY GOD! IT'S ROGER CRAIG!! I had read an article about Roger in Runner's World Mag awhile back talking about how he is now running marathons and he compares the training programs for marathons to football practices - very interesting article and he comes across as a really cool guy as well.

Back to my story: So I keep staring at Roger Craig in the cafeteria - THEN I get self councious that I may be confusing any large african american man with a football player so I try to see if he is wearing a company ID badge. He has one attached to his belt loop so as I stood in like to chicken tamales, I basically stared at Roger Craig's crotch in an attempt to read is employee badge...confirmed it was Roger Craig - super duper exciting for my friday lunch experience.

Gemini Drinking Style

things my brother sends me while he's at "work"

GEMINI (May 21 - Jun 21)
Drinking style: Gemini's can drink without changing their behavior much-- they're so naturally chatty and short-attention-spanned that it's just hard to tell sometimes. They can amaze you by conversing with finesse and allusion, then doing something unbelievable in an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe. Gemini's possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and uninfuriatingly, which is very tricky) with several people at once. They like to order different cocktails every round -- repetition is boring -- and may create a theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for their own
amusement.

Congratulations Hollis!!!

Circled in pink is Hollis crossing the finish line at the NYC Marathon a few weekends ago. AND if you look above....you will notice the time...meaning Hollis just qualified for Boston! YAY

Fanatical geeks with temporary tattoos

Show floor getting ready

Shrimp anyone?

Went to the Partner Day Party on Monday night at our conference held at "Hollywood and Highland" on the corner of...you guessed it, Hollywood and Highland in LA. I don't particularly care for Los Angeles, but when it comes to going to bars or clubbing, it can be a fun town.

Back to the shrimp - after a few hours of milling about and socializing with the work crew, a small group of us headed over to the Grill for a bite to eat. I wasn't that hungry so I settled for a shrimp cocktail and soup. So my shrimp comes served in a dry ice smoke goblet -- nice effect.

That's a "virtual man" figure with the head cut out for photo ops. Dude, check out my "package."

Culinary Surprise in Downtown LA

Above is the super fabu end to my super fabu dinner at Patina which will most likely be rejected on my expense report. I was surprised to find this little gem in downtown los angeles of all places. It has a Regis and something rating...similar to a Michelin star but Regis is used to rank hotels and spa properties. Patina is one of 2 restaurants in Los Angleles that hold this distinction.

My love of beets is insane...it could be considered an obsession.. but marinated beets...even better.

Seared foie gras anyone? Yes please....served on top of a slice of poached pear you way - bring it on... oh and what else? some random ice cream thing with nuts? sure sure. I've never had it served with this set of flavors before...but it's YUMMO-LICIOUS!

Apparently it is white truffle season. Yes my precious white truffles - yummy earthly goodness. What you see here is a serving of risotto with white truffles shaved on top tableside by the chef.

I think this was called Seafood Sampler or Gift of the sea or whatever - regardless it was an appetizer that served seafood 4 ways. There is a hamachi with grapefruit and fresh grated ginger, a monkfish liver, a tuna and something else. It was good - but I should have gotten something else because I basically had really expensive sushi.

Housewares Inventory

When I moved back into my parents house 2 years ago, I gave a lot of things away. Recently I was looking for a few things like my flatware and couldn't find them. I can't remember if I gave them away or packed them up...geez, I knew I should have written down a list :)

My memory is not as shap as it used to be. I'm no spring chicken.

Can't wait to one day *sigh* finally move out of the parental casa and ses all my lovely housewares again.

Just Because...

I love picture of an inebriated Chester

San Jose Rock & Roll Half Marathon

Here's a recap of the San Jose Half Marathon that took place 2 weekends ago. In the pic above from left to right you will see: me, Andrew, Forrest, Chester, Hollis and Linh. Sam, being the family sherpa was behind the camera for the entire event and carried a bag full of everyone's crap. Eventu

Andrew 1:34:04
Hollis 1:41:46
Linh 1:54:10
Betty 2:09:31
Forrest 2:27:45
Chester No time available

1. I know Chester will have some comment or another for the use of "Andrew" but in cases like this where both are present, it is easier. And no, I don't think it's confusing or cute...like Chester would have you believe.
2. Holy crap she is faster than most men out there! Hollis has been a training maniac these past few months in her quest to run the NYC marathon the first weekend in November at a super fast time to qualify for Boston - I think she has it in her...especially with times like that!
3. Yo - what's with the sub 2 hour time from Linnie? She likes to say "I don't like to run fast" when she shows up to Tuesday Track workouts....but I know she's lying. With times like that...geez. FYI - Linh is thinking about running CIM in December so she can get that elusive marathon under her belt.
4. Check that shit out! 2:09! That's 21 minutes FASTER than my Nike half marathon almost exactly one year ago!! Please excuse all the exclamation marks but I am REALLY EXCITED - I hope all the gain wasn't all due to the flat course...
5. I think Andrew and I looked it up but Forrest came in 10th in his age bracket. AND there were only 2 runners in the next age bracket, really as long as he keeps running he could own his age group.
   
6. No comment here except - did Chester really even run???? HMMMMMMMMMMM
   

Chester in the final stretch...obviously not running hard enough either....since he has time to take a picture of Sam takinga picture of him

nothing else to say except that I am a certified dork. i am obviously not running hard enough if I have enough time to find Sam in the crowd.

check out the sub 2 hour half marathoning Linh go as she rocks it around the last turn of the half marathon onto Almaden Blvd.

run forrest run - picture of forrest during the early part of the half marathon.

Linh at the finish line photo op with 2 Pac West coaches

Company Fun Run

Last night we had a company 5K. It's a monthly occurance that's more of a fun run and an opportunity to score some company swag. Being in marketing, I have access to an abundant supply of company logo'ed merchandise. You name it, we've probably put a log on it and have given it away.

But I digress...the purpose of this post was to highlight the fact that I am apparently getting faster in my running.

I ran the 5K in 28 minutes flat. That's a 9:03 minute mile.

the whole time I was not feeling so strong so all I could think about was how unprepared I felt for the half marathon. Meanwhile I only felt like shit because I was running to friggin fast for my own good. I swear it must be the Tuesday night speed training sessions.

Bridge to Bridge

Ran the Bridge to Bridge this morning with Forrest as a last big "practice run" before the San Jose Rock and Roll half marathon next weekend. I think I may be done with the organized races for the year...but I dunno, I may want to do one more :) Linh has been talking about running the CIM in Sacramento this December because she really wants to get a marathon under her belt. Hollis is thinking of running that one to use as a qualifier for Boston. I think we should just all go together :) I looked it up, CIM is a full marathon only - I don't think Ill be ready for the distance this year...but who knows?

I am pretty excited about my pace - I'm getting faster.

1 hour 16 minutes total (9:35 average)
Per mile times
1 = 9:17
2 = 9:40
3 = 9:41
4 = 9:22
5 = 9:22
6 = 9:13
7 = 10:00

I don't know where this whole 9 minute business is coming from but it's kinda crazy. I felt pretty good too - I feel like I could have run faster, but my legs started to give out after mile 6, hence the slow down.

The best part of this run??? 20% off coupons for Sportsbasement. Forrest and I hit up the Mission Bay one later in the afternoon and came home with lots of jackets....

Friday Night at SJ Civic Auditorium

My co-worker Stephanie scored some tickets to Carlos Mencia for Sat night off Craigslist. It was a pack of 4 and I happened to be conveniently available...I took the other 2 for me and Forrest. So after a leisurely Canada ride Saturday afternoon, we hit up ths San Jose Civic Auditorum for a good ol'racist time.

OMG - this guy is funny. The jokes...ha! So many off-color remarks that even I can't repeat them and that's saying a lot. There were some political rants that went from funny to a little too serious but thank goodness he brought it back to being funny again - whew!

My legs hurt

Yesterday I got ambitious and decided to try "hill training" at The Dish (bad idea)

Still in pain I went to the Tuesday Night Pac West speed training at Stanford.

2 lap warm up
then the workout builds with sprints like this
1 lap - 2 laps - 3 laps - 4 laps - 4 laps - 3 laps - 2 laps - 1 lap

We get little rests in between sets but it's like 20 to 30 seconds really. Apparently I can sprint a mile at 8:30...HA! We'll see if I can walk tomorrow.

Now Accepting Sponsosrships

Leave it to the Americans to take anything...and make it corporate. I passed by a few Love Parade floats on Saturday afternoon while headed to Union Square with Forrest for a little shopping.

Looking up the history of the Love Parade, Wikipedia says:
The Love Parade has its roots in the spirit of a changing Europe. In 1989, it was first celebrated 4 months before the demolition of the Berlin Wall. It was started by the fresh Berlin Underground under the initiative of Matthias Roeingh aka "Dr. Motte". It was held as a political demonstration for peace and international understanding through music.

If you read on, it does say that sponsors are allowed. Only if the sponsors are from a techno related field, such as clubs, labels or stores. As far as I am concerned...Scion does not fall into the category.

Another funny thing to see is the ageing candy raver. Many 30 and 40 somethings pulled up in their Honda Accords with their $1,000 Bugaboo strollers, checking in the mirror to make sure their glitter was expertly applied and their fur bra still in place.

I know I'm getting old when I heard the trucks and could only think one thing. "I wish they'd turn the sound down a bit."

Sunday at Angel Island

Jeezus look at the size of my head!!! It's enormous. It's amazing how we are smiling as we were slowing dying from the exhaust fumes coming from the ferry while waiting for it to leave Angel Island. I can only imagine what the previous "non-green" Ferries were like.

On Sunday Forrest and I headed out to Angel Island to go hiking/running and to take advantage of the fact that Forrest is now liberated from his all weekend work schedule. Overall it wasn't too complicated but we tried and failed on Saturday so it was amazing that we actually made it onto the island.

I was surprised to learn the rather interesting history of the island. It had served as a quarantine facility for smallpox and various other contagious diseases prior to medical advances... then it was an immigration processing facility - mainly for asian immigrants...but unlike Ellis Island, it kept some of its entrants for years before they allowed them into California. After all this, Angel Island served a stint for the military....

Regardless, it was a pretty place to hang out with some good trails - nice enough for a 3 hour hike.

Alcatraz & the city

View from another side of the island...looking into the city past Alcatraz. It was a little hazy on this side but still very sunny that day. Forrest had an idea of camping out on the island over fourth of July... would be an un-clusterfuck crowded view of the fireworks.

Immigration Station

Picture of the signage at the entrance of the island. We checked out the visitor center, albeit briefly primarily to satisfy my desire for a map. I think if I mention the word map one more time, Forrest will implode. It's not as though we would get "lost" on the island, the thing is only so big and eventually we would end up on the other side...from which we could figure out a way back to the dock.

I am hoping for a return trip soon because there is so much more of the island and all of its historic things that I didn't get to check out.

Cannons and Guns

This is a picture of one of the battery thingys (for lack of better terminology on my part) on the island. So the middle circle area was where the cannon/gun thing would sit while they shot at attackers coming in through the bay. Apparently this battery housed a state of the art gun thing that could retract - wow....uh yeah.

View from above the cove

Clear view across the bay to Tiburon. I couldn't believe what a sunny beautiful day it was in the city on Sunday.

The Love Parade

While on my way to Union Square with Forrest...more details to come.

Movie Review: Little Miss Sunshine

Very entertaining movie. It's been awhile since Forrest and I have headed to the theaters to watch a movie.... I had heard a lot of good things about this flick from various different sources and I gotta say, it lived up to the hype.

The premise sounds a little, bland...oooo family roadtrip, how original. But the backstory on each character and their interactions with each other make this movie funny, sad and heartwarming in the end. The grandpa is my favorite character in this movie...I guess old people can either be crochety, sweet...or turn out like this guy.

Dreaming of a 9 to 5

On Friday I hired someone to help support my piece of online world domination. My domain consists of webinars, integrated media placements (advertising), email marketing, search engine marketing (giving google money) and product launch (as it pertains to marketing programs deliverables).

So I tend to be a workaholic anyways... and this job has no shortage of things to do... so needless to say, it's 2 bad habits converging into one massively long workday - followed up with a short stint at home catching up on email. I am averaging about 100 emails in and out per day - I can type REALLY fast now :)

So back to my new minion... I am hoping she can come on board and help me reach my lofty goal of working one less hour a day, each day. She starts mid October so we'll see.....

Niners Opening Day

I'd like to start off with a great big THANK YOU to Alan for mentioning the availability of tickets!!! Forrest and I cruised down to the parental Chong's residence Sunday morning to pick up tickets and enjoyed the afternoon at Candlestick/3Com/Monster park to watch the Niners play the Rams. Good Seats...great day for football.

Halftime Show

Navy Seals were on hand as part of the halftime show entertainment. They parachuted down to the field...some had these fog machine things while others had flags, etc. This game also had an Air Force fly by at the beginning and a mixed group of armed services singing of the National Anthem with flag show. Literally the Niners opening day was a gigantic commercial for the armed forces.