I fell for it. I bit the bait.

I did it. I bought.....the iPhone. And while I'm sitting here waiting for the cable guy to call and show up so I don't have worry about missing his call...I began Googling apps. I haven't even started the service on my iPhone and I'm already hooked on it. Sucked in just like "the man" was hoping. Oh well, now I can play Words with Friends with ReNasty4L and waste even more of my time playing with my phone. I searched "Top iPhone Apps" and found this article from Time Magazine. Pretty awesome actually. I will most likely get a good amount of these. I was actually thinking about a Netflix app and how awesome it will be to set up my (and by "my" I mean my boyfriend's) queue. However...this article totally burst my bubble and said that you can't organize your queue and the Netflix app only allows you to stream media with a subscription. Not that I'm not complaining, but wouldn't that have been one of the first things they wanted to do? I mean, you can program the temperature in your house from your iPhone, but not your movie lists? ugh. Anyways, what are some of your favorite apps? I want to get ones that make daily life easier and more entertaining. Help make me Apple Savvy!!!

1000 Awesome Things

I highly suggest checking out the website 1000 Awesome Things. I stumbled upon this website and was instantly addicted. I may be out of the loop since they are already on #216 (they count down), but that worked in my favor because I liked reading a lot of them in one sitting. Some of my faves:

#226 Furiously scratching a mosquito bite even though you know you shouldn’t

#233 When babies grab at your face with their tiny hands

#239 That bite with all the toppings in it

#241 When everyone you’re eating with at the restaurant agrees you made the best choice

#247 Drinking anything besides wine out of a wine glass

Cat caught barking and resumes meowing...

Proof Read...

As an auditor, I spend countless hours on the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) website. The SEC website contains all financial statement filings of public companies. The SEC houses them in "EDGAR"-probably more information that you already wanted to know. Check out this filing from City National Bancshares Corporation. I'm not even going to copy and paste the filing into the blog because I want you to see that it really IS on the SEC website. If you don't want to read this filing to find the misprint...I suggest looking in the paragraph above the one marked 3.

The full HTML Address:  http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/714980/000091431705000795/exhibit3i.htm

Sugar for Sugar

I honestly didn't believe this one was for real at first. No way even KFC, purveyors of a sandwich that uses fried meat as a delivery mechanism for fried meat, would seriously market a soda size called the "mega jug." And even if they did, they'd never have the chutzpah to donate "mega jug" dollars to juvenile diabetes research.

Sadly, I had totally underestimated KFC's capacity for irony. The mega jug is a half gallon of soda, and this is a real local promotion. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation defends it thus: "JDRF supports research for type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that results when the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, therefore requiring a child or adult with the disease to depend on insulin treatment for the rest of their lives. It is a common misconception that type 1 diabetes is caused by obesity or eating too much junk food or sweets."

OK, yes, this is true. Overdosing on sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes, but there's still some pretty effed-up irony in this promotion. First of all, anyone who read the Babysitter's Club books knows that people with type 1 diabetes have to strictly regulate their sugar intake -- meaning that this ad boils down to "Benefit sick kids by enjoying something they can't!" If you're going to go that route, why not go whole hog and make it a "drink this soda in front of a child with diabetes, making over-the-top yummy noises, and we'll give that kid a dollar" fundraiser?
Also, of course, sugar consumption IS connected to type 2 diabetes. The two diseases are different, but as the name might indicate, they are not unrelated -- both have to do with pancreas function and insulin production. You drink half a gallon of soda on the regular, and your chances of perma-f*cking your insulin regulation are going to shoot right up (giving you a unique sense of kinship with the children you're helping, granted). So this is basically equivalent to a "smoke cigarettes to raise money for colon cancer" promotion.

Article and Photo from Grist.org

20SomethingPassions Guest Blogger - ReNasty4L:

“Hold on I’m about to go into the bathroom, I’m going to have to call you back.”

I’m passionate about a lot of things.  You know, the usual for a 25 y/o single working lady.   Including but not limited to food, boys, sleeping, music, running, rom coms, reality tv, the beach, puppies, rainbows, etc…although I digress.  There is one thing that I have recently become very passionate about:  cell phones in public restrooms.  I get it, no one can live without their cell phones (ahem smart phones for us snobs).  They are the equivalent to the 2K11 pacemaker keeping our hearts beating.  So don’t kid yourself, everyone is guilty of this, it’s just a matter of what degree you are an offender.

Most of you are probably just the type who keeps their phone attached to their hip (figuratively, hopefully not literally in a geeky holder unless you are a 55 y/o dad…) at all times.  While you stroll into the john you may whip out your phone to quickly check your email, play a turn on WWF, send a text to a loved one, <insert whatever obsessive compulsive cell phone tendency is your guilty pleasure>, etc.  You’re fine, although this is pretty disgusting given what else is going on in public restroom.  However, you’re not annoying me and you’re not ruining my bathroom break.  Just know I won’t ever ask to borrow your phone, and I hope you played a turn on our WWF friend (renasty4L add me!!!!)

Now onto my passion, the real offenders.  You, the one who calls and/or answers a call while in the restroom!!!!!  This is by no means okay, EVER!  No one wants to hear your conversation while they are peeing.  No one conversing with you wants to hear other people peeing.  That’s GROSS.  Also, don’t make me feel guilty for flushing the toilet (the most normal thing ever to do in the bathroom) because you, chatty Cathy in the next stall over is gabbing it up with your bff Jill.  Get your priorities straight Cathy.  Do you want to pee or do you want to talk on the phone?  These are NOT mutually exclusive events.  It’s one or the other, you either REALLY need to talk to your mom about how terrible your job, marriage, teenage daughter, drug problem, eating disorder has gotten  or you REALLY need to pee.  Woman up, make a decision, and leave us bathroom go-ers  peace and quiet.  Now this could easily transition into my rant against strangers who want to strike a convo across stalls, but I’ll save that for another day…

Photo courtesy of www.howtobeagermaphobe.com

Being in the business world, especially as an auditor, I am constantly surrounded by people I don't know very well. I travel all the time and end up in random offices with clients that I have to make like me so they don't hate the fact I'm judging, fact checking, and re-doing their work...later informing them they all the work they've done in past year was wrong and they must re-do...only to get to the same answer. (wow that complaining about my job came out like word vomit). So anyways, being with these clients (who are usually older than me), I have to come up with random things to talk about with them. My go to is to ask about their families if they've mentioned they have kids. However...sometimes that doesn't even lend itself to remove awkward silences. What's the standard go to? The weather. UGH. I want to retract my question every time I say something about the weather. I refuse to be one of those people, but sometimes the air I breathe is the only thing I have in common with them.

However, number 6 on the list hits home more than the weather. Since I travel so much, I constantly meet new people....and I want to make my friends become friends with each other. I think it's my burning desire to be surrounded by a bunch of people that all know each other so I feel popular. What? Whoops. Anyways, my friends call me Nancy Drew because I will investigate anyone I meet and remember obscure details about people.  So, sometimes when I meet someone, I'll look them up on stalkbook while I'm standing in front of them and see if we have mutual friends. I've learned that people feel awkward when you tell them that you just did that. So, I keep my knowledge to myself and then slowly and randomly say "Hey do you know Jennifer Lalala" (I knew they did because we are mutual friends!). Why do people think it's weird when you tell them you look them up on stalkbook, or Google, or whatever other creepy devices are out there? I know you do it, you just don't talk about it.

Boring Things People Always Talk About

Jun. 9, 2011

By Ryan O'Connell

Ryan O’Connell is a 24 year-old writer based in the East Village, New York.

Read more »

1. “It’s too hot.”

People love to talk about the temperature (myself included.) It’s like a nervous tic. MUST COMMENT ON THE WEATHER. MUST DISCUSS THE BREEZE, THE HUMIDITY OR THE FACT THAT IT’S FREEZING. I DON’T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF IT. If we’re having a five minute conversation about the weather, you can usually assume that it’s because I have nothing else to say to you.
Honorable mentions: “It’s too cold.” “The weather is so beautiful.”

2. “I hate men.”

No, you don’t. You love men because they are beautiful and charming and oh wow, life would really suck without them. Saying “I hate men” just sounds like some bad recycled dialogue from Will & Grace or something. Don’t go that dark sitcom place.
Honorable mentions: “Why isn’t he texting me back?” “I’m a really independent person.”

3. “I work in…”

Talking about your job is boring, which is kind of sad because it’s usually where you spend 80% of your waking hours. People are just so judge-y about occupations. Telling someone you work in retail is met with a sympathetic look and a bullshit statement like “Well, that sounds cool! Like that could be fun!” It’s not fun. It’s horrible. You know it, I know it, and here we are both pretending to not know it. Get off me.
Honorable mentions: “Do you have a 401k?” “It’s not really what I want to be doing but for right now, it’s fine.”

4. “I really feel a lot better since we last talked. I think I’m finally over my ex.”

Consoling a friend post-break up can often feel like you’re following a script. “It’ll get better. You’re so strong. They were an asshole. This needed to happen!” There’s no room for improvisation. Even though the whole thing can get tedious, the feeling of heartbreak is so universal that it makes sense to recycle affirmations. The frustrating part is knowing that nothing you say will actually make your friend feel better. So you just go through the motions. Hug, agree with everything they say, and make a few jokes to break the tension.
Honorable mentions: “I’m so over it for real this time.” “J/K, I’m not over it.”

5. “I can’t eat that because I’m a vegan.”

Oh, really? Bye.
Honorable mentions: “I eat meat.” “Do you want to see a picture of the cake I just baked?”

6. “Oh, do you know so-and so?”

When you first meet someone, you must find out if you have mutual friends. Because if you do, this person immediately becomes validated in your eyes. They’re not a random, they make sense for your social group, and you can potentially proceed with a friendship. But getting through that conversation of “Where’d you go to school? Oh, did you know Jennifer Lalalalala? Oh my god, really? She’s like my really good friend! Crazy.” can be super boring. And you know how every single one of these conversations end? “IT’S SUCH A SMALL WORLD.” Yes, people who have similar interests as you hang out in overlapping social circles. In other groundbreaking news, the earth may not be flat.

The conversations I’ve listed above are necessary social evils. People are always going to be meeting each other, breaking up, talking about food, their jobs and the weather. That’s never going to change and it’s okay. I just wish I had a stand-in for when these interactions take place because they’re just so…boring.

Summer BBQ

In a previous post I told you about my recent travels in Eastern Pennsylvania. I was at the Twistee Treat and asked the young girl that worked there what cool places were around to get lunch. She was frazzled and suggested Panera. Really? That's what you suggest a visitor from out of town goes to get lunch? Obviously that didn't happen. I ended up driving by an awesome place called Phamous Phils. Seriously. the. best. BBQ. ever. They had two BBQ Spits outside as we drove by. Their menu included BBQ Pulled Pork (my pick), BBQ Pulled Chicken (My friends pick), Brisket, Ribs...etc. Check out their menu. They also make their own sweet BBQ sauce that I drenched all over the Pulled Pork. I didn't even end up eating the bun because the meat was so good!! It was an awesome hole in the wall and there were tons of families coming in there getting catering for their picnics. Here are some pictures of the place:

If you're also in the mood for BBQ but don't want to cook it....OR if you want your man to smell like BBQ, check out this new BBQ scented cologne. I'm being completely sarcastic about this being anything I want my man smelling like, but unfortunately the cologne is no joke. Check out this article from UrbanDaddy.

Published June 08, 2011

Hey, Smokey
Smelling Like BBQ All the Time

We couldn’t help but notice: you’ve taken on the aroma of charcoal, with some underlying notes of brown sugar and the faintest soupçon of cayenne pepper. (Frankly, it’s intoxicating.)

We think your weekly Texas vs. Memphis BBQ challenges are to blame.

Then again, it could just be your cologne.

Introducing the biggest thing to hit the fragrance market since sandalwood: Que, the new BBQ-inspired scent from the guys behind Pork Barrel BBQ, available now.

Consider this the cleaner alternative to rubbing smoked ribs on your neck (which, for the record, also works). And it’s also got a pedigree: these former Hill staffers have won awards for their sauce and pretty soon they’ll open their own BBQ palace in Del Ray.

But for now, they’ll just tease your olfactories (and everyone’s around you) with this small-batch cologne. Inside the bottle (and it’s a handsome one), you’ll find a distinct whiff of smoke on top as well as hints of sweetness and spice, which we’re told comprise mostly black pepper and chili powder.

They wisely left out the notes of lighter fluid.

Read more: http://www.urbandaddy.com/dc/style/13484/Que_Smelling_Like_BBQ_All_the_Time_DC_DC_Product#ixzz1OiDE7H3B



Cat mom hugs dreaming kitten