Most sensible people released their best-of 2010 lists at the end of 2010 or the very beginning of 2011. But as you’ve probably become accustomed, we don’t do things in a timely manner around here…and by “we,” I mean me and my staff of me. So without further, even more ridiculous adieu, I give you the 2010 MymBOs (Mymsie’s Best Of.)
Sorry this is late. (I should put that on my business cards, huh?)
(Nothing can be properly commemorated without a tacky animated GIF, right?)
For the last month or so, I’ve read lots of best-of lists, some for 2009 and some for the decade. That got me thinking about what things from 2009 I’d give props to and an idea was born → the first annual MymBOs: Mymsie’s Best of 2009! Please note that no company has been foolish enough to pay me to plug their product. No, these are just a few things I encountered over the year that I liked and want to tell you about. Enjoy and feel free to share your faves in the comments.
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I am a tangled mess of emotions à la Ron Burgundy in Anchorman. (“I’m in a glass case of emotion!”) My brain is a’swirl with a load of crap and I can’t seem to right myself to accomplish a damn thing. In lieu of a tantalizing narrative hook, I’m going to try and focus on something I’m really grateful for.
I wrote that opener yesterday, but never got around to finishing my post. Thankfully today I’m feeling much better* but still want to shamelessly dote a moment, if you’ll indulge me. The subjects of my adoration are my incandescent friends. The last several weeks have been stressful (mostly good stuff but difficult nonetheless) and truly, the only reason I’ve survived without more pharmaceutical intervention is because of my incredible wealth of amazing friends. They’ve all been so supportive and time and again, have managed to catch me right before I hit the ground. Cases in point?
Can you even believe how blessed I am?? It really is an embarrassment of riches and I couldn’t be more humbled and indebted and thankful.
Just kidding. 😉
*I need to remember this because it speaks to how fleeting emotions can be, like passing storms.
Come closer Internets, for I’m about to divulge a secret. I’m ashamed to say this but I haven’t finished unpacking yet…and I moved in March…like FOUR MONTHS ago. I realize there’s no reason I couldn’t have unpacked a 1-bedroom apartment by now but I just get so overwhelmed in these situations. There’s so much to do, I don’t know where to begin and I quickly want to bury my head in the sand and pretend it’s not my problem. It’s just part of my sparkling (?) personality that I’m a micro, detail-oriented person and while that can be a good thing, in cases like this it’s to my detriment. I can’t see the forest for the 75 variants of moss and fungi, NOT TO SPEAK OF THE TREES AND EVERY LEAF ON THEM. The only way I can get through things like this is by making small goals and being held accountable. Tonight I plan to get over myself and unpack 3 boxes. If I know the Internets are monitoring me, I’m more likely to get it in gear so please don’t let me slack!
When Moxy and I went to Chicago a few weeks ago, while waiting in traffic we discovered THE BEST radio station – 100.3 WILV. It’s the kind likely to promise “good times and great oldies!” They play all the best songs from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and every one is a walk down memory lane. You can listen online for free. It’s gotten me through some dreary afternoons lately. What happened to the effusive, maudlin drama of fist-clenching hits like, “Shot through the heart and you’re to blame. You give love a bad name!” Nowadays it’s more like, “Hit me up, or not. Whatever playa!”
In closing, I need you to know that the next two weeks are going to be insanely busy. There’s a perfect storm of work and freelance due dates forming in the Gulf of Ruh Roh so I plan to mainline coffee and make peace with the Abby-fur tumbleweeds on the living room carpet. I may also finally try out that meditation CD I bought. I weathered some bad news recently with relaxing baths courtesy of the Berrylicious Smoothie I got at Ulta. It’s so creamy and delicious-smelling and works great as bubble bath or shampoo. How do you get through busy stretches?
Yesterday I did something pretty dumb, only to be surpassed by doing it again tonight. As of 10:30 p.m., I’ve washed two, count ’em, TWO loads of laundry without adding detergent. I realized my mistake after the first load last night but apparently my short-term memory is full because I did it again tonight. Is this a bad sign? Should I be doing more crossword puzzles?
Hey, I know what! Let’s talk about my new favorite bev, FUZE Slenderize*. It rocks my socks because it’s made with real fruit juice but only has 10 calories per serving and tastes fresh and sweet and delicious! It’s a little spency but totally worth its weight in vodka because it feels like a treat but doesn’t pack the caloric punch of a sugary drink.
Here’s a fancy video I made after my friends and I rented a cabin one weekend in April. To properly enjoy it, you should know the following:
And so I give you: Beer Me, Brookville!
*Sorry the link isn’t direct. That site is a perfect example of GUF, Gratuitous Use of Flash.
In addition to my Web work, I also design marketing e-mails we send to customers. I love this part of my job – my boss gives me a theme or a message he wants to get across, and I get to run with it and be creative. We’re on the cusp of summer so he wanted me to plug summer-y products in our latest e-mail. I thought about summer, a way to tie it to the type of products we sell, and came up with this headline:
…and this graphic:
My boss was very diplomatic but said he thought it was too cutesy for our customers. Can you believe that? How could you not love that adorable little bugger? I mean COME ON. I couldn’t stand the thought of my poor li’l bee never seeing the light of day, so I thought I’d share him with you. Buzz on, stingy friend!
P.S. I don’t want to shove causes down your throat but I’m a staunch advocate of National Public Radio. If you’re in the Indy listening area and are a fan too, now’s a great time to pledge. My favorite programs are This American Life, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, Fresh Air, and despite my economically-challenged mind, Marketplace. Even if you miss them on the radio, you can always listen to podcasts, which have helped me get through many-a-monotonous task.
I’m loving Big Huge Labs’ tool to turn any image into desktop wallpaper with a calendar on it. I like to browse Flickr for cool pics, like this February-ish one I found this morning. Here’s the result:
You can make your own with any photo (big enough so it won’t be pixelated) for any resolution. Fun, right?
While you make wallpaper, check out Sara Bareilles’ Love Song. I can’t get enough of it:
P.S. The embedded video is acting wonky so if it doesn’t work, just click the text link above it.
A little thing I like to do around the holidays, besides making out with a mall Santa, is give my coworkers treat bags. It’s nice to spread some cheer and it doesn’t hurt to distract from my pile of unfinished work. Since I went to Florida unexpectedly, I wasn’t able to finish the goody bags before I left. I decided to make them New Year’s themed instead, and adorned each with a tag that read “Here’s to a great oh-eight!” I started thinking and realized I could milk this rhymey-schymimey thing for awhile:
You’re thinking about never coming here again, aren’t you? Well don’t leave before I solicit your opinion on something my Office Crush said this morning. He popped into my office and gushed, “Thanks for the treat [Mymsie] – you’re so good!” Hmm… I think that means he liked the rubbers I slipped into his goody bag.
Last week, Amy and I had a long, winding phone chat covering topics as diverse as menstrual cups and clear cutting in Maine. In that spirit, I charge you with working the following non sequiturs into conversation this week:
Have you guys been shopping recently? I’ve braved Super Target several times since Christmas and have managed to leave without any Valentine’s or Easter candy. How can there be reasonable justification for selling Cadbury Creme Eggs in January? What is wrong with us? I happened to watch a movie last week called The Story of Stuff. It explains the origins of our consumerist way of life and breaks down the steps involved in creating and distributing all the crap we buy. An inherently flawed system is revealed, rife with waste, poor stewardship, and short-sightedness. The movie’s done in a very creative style with video, clever animation, and plain talk. It’s 20-minutes long but worth every second. Fascinating and informative!
P.S. To meeboguest835185 who used the chat widget on my sidebar to send me this message: “Hi! I just stumbled upon your blog and I wanted to say I think you’re an excellent writer and your entries are SO interesting!” → Sorry I couldn’t respond – I was at lunch but thank you so much! What a lovely, kind thing to say. Also, will you be my best friend?
Today is World AIDS Day, a time to raise awareness and focus our attention on the global AIDS epidemic. This issue is especially close to my heart because AIDS took my sweet, wonderful uncle at a tragically young age. I’m sure many of you have also been touched by AIDS in some way, so you have an idea of how it affects families, friends, entire continents and that so many are still struggling against antiquated stereotypes and uninformed biases.
The theme for World AIDS Day this year is leadership to emphasize the importance of holding our leaders accountable for addressing the AIDS crisis in all manners. Some prominent leaders meerly give this issue lip service. Perhaps AIDS has not directly affected them and so they remain detached and listless. This epidemic is pervasive enough that none of us has any valid excuse to ignore it, so it is extremely important we use the power of our voices and our votes to elect and support leadership who will make a difference.
Do not underestimate that AIDS is one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. We can all help by committing to do whatever is within our means to foster education, research, funding, and advancements in science and medicine. Of equal importance is a collective determination to clear the fog of prejudice that clouds AIDS.
Visit the World AIDS Day Web site for more information about getting involved.
Distracted by Something Shiny 