Ali's Space

Thanks Mike for this fun test.

 

 

My results: 37% Dixie. You are definitely a Yankee.

 

*phew* it is good to know that a New Yorker who lived in Baltimore for 5 years wasn't too dixiefied by all of the y'alls.

What an incredible weekend.  I got to ride both days!  Saturday I got to see my friend Beth's newborn baby at the hosiptal.  I drove down with Amy and Mama.  It was very educational!  It is amazing what a woman's body goes through when having a baby!  It is also weird to think that we all started out that way!  Peanut is adorable as well!!!  Sunday got to go to the Seahawk's game with Geeven, they played the Giants (my childhood team) and gave them a good whooping.  The giants aren't very good this year, but it was fun to watch them play.  The seahawk's were awesome, and I think they can win the superbowl this year, but I am a bit bias.  Then we had a great Chinese dinner and I met up with Denise and saw Bombay Dreams at the 5th Avenue theater.  It was lots of fun, great music, singing and dancing.  The costumes were also very cool.  Denise and I have a subscription to the 5th Avenue this year, they have a great deal for people under 30 to get discounted subscriptions.  It is well worth it if you like musicals.  www.5thavenue.org has the details.  Bye for now...

A friend S, introduced me to www.dailyom.com.  It is very cool.  He was a particularly insightful one.  Note- I am not planning on marrying any time soon. 

 

Thoughtful Conclusions
Deciding Whether To Marry

Though we may make many commitments throughout our time on earth, few have a lifelong impact on the path our lives will take. The decision to marry someone you love-to bond yourself to them completely-is unlike any other and can reshape your existence. When two people have similar goals, values, and needs, marriage can result in a lifetime partnership of love and respect, shared laughter and tears, friendship, and intimacy that is ultimately fulfilling. Love is often cited as the sole prerequisite of a strong and stable married life. However, the decision to get married should be made with the mind and the soul as well as with the heart. Carefully considering whether you truly want to get married, both individually and as a couple, can ensure that if you do choose to marry, your relationship can grow to unimaginable depths.

The decision-making process you employ to determine whether you should marry should be a thoughtful and honest one in which you appraise not only your partner but also yourself. Consider that love and attraction do not guarantee long-term compatibility. If your relationship is not secure, marriage will not make it so. Likewise, if your partner is not as attentive, loving, or kind as you would like, your becoming spouses will not change that. Marriage has no power to permanently fill any emotional or spiritual gaps in your life. Before you choose to marry, ask yourself whether you and your partner are adept at resolving conflict, can speak openly to one another, and fully respect one another. Your attitudes regarding the nature of marital commitment, children and child rearing, and marital roles may be the same or they may differ. It is your shared responsibility to discuss your similarities and come to agreements regarding your differences that will predict how successful yo! ur future marriage will be. Often times, younger couples rush into marriage just for the wedding dress, the ring, the party, and honeymoon. Would you still be willing to be married if you couldn't have these things?

Remember that planning a wedding is simple when compared to the intricacies of nurturing a marriage. The honeymoon and nesting period will eventually wear off, and what you are left with is a partner for life. When you work together with your partner, reassure and support one another, and are honest about your feelings regarding marriage, you'll come to the right decision.

So I came to work today and there were Windows Live stickers and stuff everywhere.  It is like fairies came in over the weekend and waved their magic wands and *poof* the building was windows live-ified.  I work on Windows Live Messenger.  Anyway it was a bit eerie.  There were decals on everyone's door, a sticker and a post-it pad on everyone's desk and new artwork in the hallways all talking about how great Windows Live is.  Everything is cool except for the artwork.  We used to have some really cool art work, actual paintings or photographs.  Now we have larger than life people using some windows live service.  Just doesn't seem as classy as it used to. 

 

This weekend I have been a baking fool!  I am making cookies to celebrate my 4th year at MS as well as because the devs on my team hit the code complete milestone on a tough schedule.  The cookie selection is Oatmeal, Raisin, Chocolate Chip and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut.  YUM!  I LOVE to cook.  Doing all of this baking has reminded me.

 

Yesterday was also Bacon Day 2006!  It was in celebration of Geeven's Birthday.  It was  blast.  About 20 people showed up.  Some highlighs:  Bacon Cheesecake, Bacon Pecan Brittle, Bacon Biscuits with Bacon Gravy and lots of yummy pasta dishes.  Some of the losers include Bacon Jelly Beans and Strawberry flavored gummy fruit that looked like bacon.  YUCK!  Once there are pics, I will add a link.  Back to Baking.

I took a vacation.  It wasn't fun at all.  I had food poisoning one day, never eat raw clams, spent the day throwing up.  Got in trouble for something I didn't do, then got yelled at twice about it, because once is not enough.  I got back to work and things are a mess.  I shouldn't have gone on vacation.  Oh well. 

This is hysterical!  Thanks Dare!

 

http://www.askaninja.com/node/1175 

For the past couple of months my best friend from high school has been mad at me.  It is a long story.  Anyway, this week things have been really hectic and I am missing her.  The world always just kind felt right after I would talk to her.  It feels weird to have lost a link to my past.  We have known each other since we were 13.  (7th Grade).  Luckily I have some fabulous family all over and great friends here in seattle.  So to all my friends and family, thanks for everything! :)

When someone says that they will do something with you, which you get really excited about, then they forget or change their mind without telling you it is better to be disappointed and frustrated?  Or, to never get your hopes up in the first place?  I sometimes think that I am too much of an optimist.  I expect that people will always try their best given the circumstance.  I always think that everything will work out eventually.   Anyway, I have been continually disappointed by one person I think I am going to confront them about it, because it is very frustrating. 

 

In other news, work is crazy (I am at work now), but I am having a blast!!  I switched jobs slightly in January and I am loving my new team.  It is a much better fit for me!!! Ok, I should stop procrastinating and rambling on the internet.  (Too many chocolate covered coffee beans - note to self:  don't bring chocolate covered coffee beans to work!)