Happy Halloween!

My Own Tribute to Ketchup

Mr. Ketchup visits Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, New Orleans and a wheelchair

If I had a Pearl (and accessories)

Reno always brings good photo ops. This is the list of items I would have taken a candid shot of yesterday if I had a handy camera.

1. The woman at the airport who had a box of swiffer refills in her purse
2. Keri-Ann's sassy open toed shoes (and back up flip flops)
3. Rental car parking space #22
4. Desk photographs
5. My whiteboard artwork
6. The christmas trees that are still up at the airport
7. The woman on the plane with the new iopd but super huge old headset (makes the m12 look new)
8. The bag that holds the hair dryer at the Hilton (embroidered HAIRDRYER)
9. My terrible toes to compare with my moms halloween toes
10. The pumpkin decorating contest at the Hilton

Damn, I need my Pearl.

Self Humiliation

Remember when you were a kid a your mom would make you sleep in those awful pink curlers? Those tight curls when you woke up were almost as bad as the night sleep you had.
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As we aged, there was the realization that if mom braided the hair you could sleep better and the waves were "cool"(see above, recent braids on vacation not intended for wear but a good bathroom photo--not so cool).
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Fast forward as a grown up. Hot rollers, curling iron, and flat irons. The time in front of the mirror is time well spent (we are hot) and a much better night sleep!

The Office Memo (yes its real)

Phoenix Corporate Employees,

For those of you who are interested in participating in wearing a costume on Wednesday - I’d like to take a quick moment to brief you on a few important things.

-Check with your local department head to ensure your group is participating
-No mask may cover your face (you must be noticeable for security reasons)
-Jeans are acceptable if and only if they are a part of the overall costume (i.e., it is not an all out jeans day and jeans and a pumpkin lapel pin is not considered a costume)
-Some items are not acceptable with any costume (i.e., guns, swords, fire emitting devices, live animals, going barefoot, etc) use your professional judgment
-Costume must cover all parts of the body as normal business casual clothing normally would

Rule of thumb: If in doubt do not wear it! If management determines your costume is inappropriate for the workplace you will be required to modify the costume – which may require you returning home to do so.


Make it a great day!

The Four Agreements

After being a world journey my book arrived this weekend. Stay Tuned!

Fortune of the Dead

Brittney had the Party of the Year, great fortune to everyone who came!

Tribute to Ruth

The other day while I was at Souper!Salad! the waiter gave us business card. I saved it because I thought is was a great blog topic (and he solved the challenge$100 bucks if you guess what this is). Today we got the card and the conversation that followed trumped the waiter Kevin.

Waitress: My name is Anne, let me know if you need anything

Brittney: Let me see her card, what was her name? Annie?

Mom: No Anne

Melody: Like Diane

Mom: Or like RuthAnne

Melody: I like that name is it her full real name?

Mom: Yes, she was supposed to be named Barbara Anne, Ruth was something that came up all of a sudden

Brittney: How much older are you than Ruth

Mom: 7 years

Brittney: Oh like me and Jessica

Melody: How much older are you than Joe

Mom: 5 years

Melody: How much older are you than Alice

Mom: 9 years

Jessica: How much older are you than Tami

Mom: She is 3 years older

Melody: Brittney is the first born so she is like Tami, then I'm second so I'm like Mom, and Jessica is third so she is like Joe

Jessica: I dont want to be like Joe

Mom: Well I guess it could be like Alice since you are the baby of the family

Jessica: Well why not Ruth, cause I look like her

Size Matters

In September my wallet was stolen. I do not carry a lot in my wallet so more than it being a crisis it has been a nuisance. The biggest pain has been loss of the best wallet ever. It was a small red wallet that I was able to fit in my pocket. One side had a pocket for receipts, the other had a zipper pocket for change. The best part was the internal pull out that held the drivers license, corporate credit card, personal credit card, debit card, insurance card and Costco card (only the essentials with a great holder that fits in your bra). Also in the internal pocket was a ring to hold a key.
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After the theft the above was purchased at Walmart as a transition wallet. While on all appearance it looks small. Do not let it deceive you. No way to put in pocket, dont even think about putting it in your bra. After complete frustration I cut out the drivers license holder and have been using this as my wallet. Due to its size receipts are getting lost and I am giving change away. Biggest crisis? I had to scale back the option of carrying my Costco card.

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In desperate search of a new red wallet.

My third quarter birthday

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This post has nothing to do with my third quarter birthday.

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It has to do with unselfish friendship and love. It is about a span of time so amazing that while pictures can try to describe it, words never can. Feelings and emotions, crisis and connections And those damn numbers.

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Best of all 2007 is three quarters over.

What's your fortune?

Last night we went for Chinese food. They handed us a handful of fortune cookies. After dinner they all got opened in bulk rather than individually. After everyone went to bed I started reading. Hmmmmm maybe we put to much into it being our own fortune.


Life always gets harder near the summit.

You will become more passionate and determined about your vision.

Dont be afraid to take that you step.

New and rewarding opportunities will soon develop for you.

You will achieve success this year.

Some like it hot. Eat more Kung Pao.

Time to break out of that corner, get that rut unstuck.

Overheard at Starbucks

From Kim's blackberry:

At this moment I am participating in my Saturday morning ritual of people watching and eavesdropping at Starbucks. The two girls across the way have cups labeled Laura and Alice and no, I am not kidding. I am trying to exercise discreet photography but my pearl is just not capturing it well. Still, the photo will appear on my Blog in the coming days. I can't overhear their conversation. Damn.
Next we have the Asian woman that is a germaphobe. She has had latex gloves on since her arrival and is reading the newspaper. I have seen her here before.
I have run into one person from high school and one for CHW in Pasadena.
Sitting directly next to me is an annoying mother showing her 3 year old off to every person who walks through the door......agh, you know how much I love that ;)
And sitting next to me as I document is Joshua reading the newspaper. RO

From Alice's blackberry 3 days prior:

Starbucks is so interesting. I am sitting here listening to a divorce >lawyer talk to this really young girl about her divorce. Seems like an odd >place to talk about such personal stuff. I'm hearing about the dog, etc. Weird.

Deer Farm Visit

If you are bored its your own fault

Another 22

On this day in history, October 22, 1797: Andr‚-Jacques Garnerin makes 1st parachute jump from balloon (Paris)

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. ~Doug Larson

Dental Hell

Nobody likes going to the dentist, I have made a career of avoiding these visits and have battled the devil for years over the work that need to be done.

My visit Friday while longer than most had some significant milestones (yes if I had a pearl I could have captured these moments). While waiting to be numbed I worked on the laptop in the chair (Dr M is convinced I am a type A personality) and I am happy to report that for the first time in Jane's dental history I kept my eyes open during the entire mouth surgery.

3 hours down this go round only 20 more to go :)

Thanks for those that sent their love and especially for the great care I got.

My nephew George

This a shout out to Oklahoma (kind of). It is also a shout out to cat lovers and to those that consider their pets their children.

As a general rule I am not a pet lover. However, George over and over again has won my heart. He is the spoiled child at the Whitson/Young home. He has survived the brink of death in artic temperatures and closed in spaces. He also survived a year with Martha.

We love you George.

For Amy

In Lieu of filling up your inbox, a game to play on the blog......................

EMAIL SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks! Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following....they have to be real places, names, things...nothing made up! You* CAN'T* use your name for the boy/girl name question.

Your Name: Jane
Famous Artist/Band/Musician: Janis Joplin
4 Letter Word: Junk
Vehicle: Jeep
TV SHOW: Jag
City/Town: Jamestown
Boy Name: Joseph
Girl Name: Julie
Occupation: Java Analyst
Something You Wear: Jeans
Celebrity: Jessica Rabbit
Food: Jerky
Something Found In A Kitchen: Jar of Jam
Reason for Being Late: Jammed in Traffic
Cartoon Character: Jughead
Something You Shout: Joy

Guiness Book of World Records

As a kid Paula and I decided we were going to get a place in history by having our own achievement in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Ok for those of you under age 30 you do not realize the significance of the world record book. Only the coolest people were in there: The tallest, the shortest, the fastest.

Paula and I read and reread the book for our entry. We decided early on that we couldnt (wouldnt) submit for the longest kiss or sports feat. Instead we decided we would get the worldest longest straw.

For months we worked on building the perfect straw after collecting a handful any restaurant we went to (we discovered early on that McDonald's was the worst because they straws were too big to try and connect with others). We would test the validity of the longest straw by one person holding the drink with the straw in it and the other sucking to make sure there were no leaks. I dont remember when/why we gave up on entering our achievement. I will tell you though--nobody had a better entry idea than we did!

Goodwill Examples of Store Bought vs Homemade

What if Halloween had no l's

2 weeks away from Halloween, the count down and age old question begins:

Homemade (thanks mom for all those cool costumes) or store bought (at least they dont have those scary plastic barbie masks anymore)?

You Know Who You Are

Please discontinue the use of M12, it is ruining the joy for the rest of us.

How Grand!

A preview of a Grand Family Reunion

Do you see a Ghost?

Williams, AZ. A living ghost town.

75 results for: grand

Melody was given the task to look up what grand meant in the dictionary pre-vacation to the Grand Canyon. Inquiring Minds Wanted to Know:

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
grand /grænd/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[grand] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, grand·er, grand·est, noun, plural grands for 13, grand for 14.
–adjective
1.
impressive in size, appearance, or general effect: grand mountain scenery.
2.
stately, majestic, or dignified: In front of an audience her manner is grand and regal.
3.
highly ambitious or idealistic: grand ideas for bettering the political situation.
4.
magnificent or splendid: a grand palace.
5.
noble or revered: a grand old man.
6.
highest, or very high, in rank or official dignity: a grand potentate.
7.
main or principal; chief: the grand ballroom.
8.
of great importance, distinction, or pretension: a man used to entertaining grand personages.
9.
complete or comprehensive: a grand total.
10.
pretending to grandeur, as a result of minor success, good fortune, etc.; conceited: Jane is awfully grand since she got promoted.
11.
first-rate; very good; splendid: to have a grand time; to feel grand.
12.
Music. written on a large scale or for a large ensemble: a grand fugue. –noun
13.
grand piano.
14.
Informal. an amount equal to a thousand dollars: The cops found most of the loot, but they're still missing about five grand.
[Origin: 1350–1400; 1920–25 for def. 14; ME gra(u)nd, gra(u)nt < OF grant, grand < L grand- (s. of grandis) great, large full-grown]

My Favorite Team is OU

The title of this blog is my birthday gift to their biggest fan.

Happy Birthday John!!!

People Watching

My dad taught me to people watch when I was a kid. We would make up stories about the lives of those around us. We would analyze what we did know and draw conclusions (some happy, some sad). This was something we did as a part of of his routine travel schedule when we took him or picked him up from the airport.

When you travel for a work the airport becomes a means to an end. A way to move you from you from Location A to Location B. I think this is why my dad made such a big deal of making it an adventure for him and I.

Last week I decided to stop and watch at the airport. Not just to rush to my next required meeting. This as a part of my goal to enjoy the moment.

What did I see. I saw joy (Grandpa seeing his two grandsons and then kissing his daughter gently on the head), I saw pride (son dressed in fatigues, mom beaming as son points to her with a nervous laughter saying hey), I saw work ethic (chauffeur holding sign waiting for Mr. Thomas), I saw pain (the girl walking through the airport crying--would love to know her story) and I saw love (lots of it). If you want a renewed faith in mankind. Stop and enjoy the moment and the people around you. All with their own story, unique and beautiful.

All that from people watching.

Who died and made you Queen?

There are certain phrases that I (over) use. If you know (and love me) I am sure you have heard these jane'isms:

• Share the Joy
• I learn in layers
• Hi Starshine
• Shoemakers keep to your shoes
• Don't look for the pay or the title; look for the right organization and the right boss: the rest will come
• Who knew?
• Hope all is well
• Once more than 2 people know its not a secret
• Let me sleep on it
• If all else falls follow the rules
• Nice
• If you can't see me I can't see you
• Save your crisis for a crisis
• Tell me how great I am and I'll do anything for you
• Hey pretty girl
• Just love me

Shout out to Nebraska

Who's cuter, the red head in the suit and tennis shoes or the Hot Connie in a lab coat?

Check out Ms President's own blog:

http://www.asrt.org/Content/Blogs/FieldofView.aspx

Email exchange with DP

From the mouths of babes......................

-----Original Message-----From: "DP - PHX" Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 15:32:00 To:'janesays@vzw.someemailaddress.net'

Subject: RE: Thank you

You are welcome. You're awesome. I was telling Melody you were in a meeting and would be down in about 15 minutes and that you are usually in meeting all day. She asked if you still got paid because you were in meetings and not working? :)

-----Original Message----- From: janesays@vzw.someemailaddress.net Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 3:03 PM To: DP- PHX

Subject: Thank you For all you do for me.

My sincere gratitude. JS

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Happy Birthday Owen!!

FINALLY FIVE--WE LOVE YOU!!

Thank you to the Mayor

While at the Terminal 4 baggage claim at Sky Harbor Airport this sign caught my eye. It was all I could do to not laugh out loud. Since I am not carrying a blackberry pearl (ie a camera on hand), I had to go back with a camera to share the joy.

There are so many things that are funny about this Welcome to Phoenix.
1. It is a small sign near the Nascar exhibit, who really sees?
2. Noone uses Terminal 2
3. 90% of the flights go in and out of Terminal 4. It is incredibly inconvenient to get to Terminal 2, why would anyone let alone military personnell go to a hospitality room instead of their hotel.
4. If I want a hospitality room in between flights why would I go to baggage claim to find out about it.

It is an election year. Maybe it is just good marketing.

Throw Caution to the Wind

Did you know that sail boats have a dorsal fin on the bottom. This discovery fits in the category of "Who Knew"?

Kinda like last week when I found out that the Houston Oilers no longer exist.

For Dallin: I thought it was odd too

Square Watermelons

A round watermelon can take up a lot of room
in a refrigerater and the usually round fruit
often sits awkwardly on refrigerator shelves.

Smart Japanese Farmers have forced their watermelons
to grow into a square shape by inserting the melons into
square, tempered glass cases while the fruit
is still growing on the vine.

Remember when you were just a mid-fielder; before you became a soccer superstar?

Soccer weekend recap:
Jessica: Her first goal (rewarded with 2 scoops of ice cream for the whole family)
Raea: Another goal!
Owen: Played hard!
Sophia: Team lost, but she looked great!
Clark: Great teamwork!
Melody and Brittney: Damn that 14! Spectacular game!
Dallin: His first goal (rewarded with 2 scoops of ice cream and his long awaited Game Cube!!)
Alice: Sicker than a dog, played like a superstar