Ali's Space: Blog

Yankee or not?

Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:30:30 GMT

Thanks Mike for this fun test.

http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/yankeetest.html

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.

Amazing Weekend

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:33:31 GMT

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...

DailyOM

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:09:59 GMT

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.

The windows live fairy

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 01:48:21 GMT

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.

Cookie Crazy

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 21:30:13 GMT

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.

Dissapointed with people

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 21:31:42 GMT

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.

Brillant! http://www.askaninja.com

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:29:07 GMT

This is hysterical! Thanks Dare!

http://www.askaninja.com/node/1175

Missing my best friend

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 05:02:04 GMT

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! :)

Check out my DNA

Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:54:57 GMT

My Personal Dna Report
Thanks Shree for the link!

Dealing with dissapointment

Mon, 05 Jun 2006 00:45:31 GMT

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!)

Bad at blogging

Fri, 02 Jun 2006 21:42:26 GMT

So it appears that I am really bad at updating my blog on a consistent basis. Maybe it means that I have a lot going on right now and I am just busy. It is interesting the things that get prioritized higher when one is busy. Ok, back to work for me. More later

Why Airlines are going bankrupt

Mon, 10 Oct 2005 04:44:00 GMT

So I have decided that the reason the airlines are going bankrupt is because they don't care anymore. Notice the ones like southwest and JetBlue who have a real customer service focus are doing fine financially, but the other ones are in the toilet. Of course I write this while sitting at a Days Inn in Bloomington, MN (near Minneapolis). I am stuck here for the night, because I missed my connection, thanks to Northwest airlines not being able to have a plane and a flight crew for my flight. You would think that with the world of computers and technology today they could predict when these things are going to happen and re-route people to prevent this from happening. That is the most frustrating part. I guess I should start at the beginning. So I started today in Indianapolis, I had a lovely weekend at one of my best friend from college's wedding. I will post some pictures when I get them. It really was a beautiful wedding (more on that later). So anyway before I left for the airport I knew my flight was delayed 1 hour. But I had 1.5 hours between flights. So I get to the airport check in. Multiple ticket agents and gate agents assure me that I will make my connection. So at 6:45, the new time for the flight was 7:15. I ask where the airplane is so that we can start boarding. Well, it isn't here, at 7:05 they say that the new flight time is now 7:39. But not to worry, if you have a connection in Minneapolis that is later than 9:30 (my flight to seattle was at 9:38) you will make it no problem. So they pile us all onto the plane and we sit on the run way for another 20 minutes at which point I fall asleep. Did I mention that I can sleep anywhere? So I wake up as we are descending into Minneapolis. At this point it is 9:15 and we are supposed to be on the ground in 15 minutes. Of course the flight attendents don't know ANY connecting flight information. I think they just didn't want to deal with the upset passengers since I talked to one flight attendent and he knew my gate info off the top of his head. So we finally land and I pack up my stuff and try to run off the plane. Of course they don't let off the people with connections first. So I start running to my gate because there wasn't anyone from Northwest at the gate to help people with connections. In case anyone is wondering, Minneapolis airport is HUGE!! See picture. I have circles the gates I ran between. Of course I was in boots with heels. You always wear the big/bulky shoes and clothes. So I get to my gate, note that multiple people passed me with empty carts. Did it ever dawn on them that I could use a ride? I get to my gate and no one is there. I come to find out my flight left early!!! Flights are supposed to leave on time or late, NOT early!!! So I see another cart with some people I recognize from my first flight, they all also missed their connections, the cart is taking them to the NW ticket counter. So I grab a ride. ....to be continued tomorrow... I am so tired and need to sleep...

Time flies when...

Sun, 25 Sep 2005 01:39:15 GMT

...nothing is happening? I was so good at updating my blog for the moth of August, what happened? September is almost over and I don't know where it went. Today is Saturday, I am at work unfortunatly. Work has been really busy lately, there is a lot to do and a lot going on. Labor day was great! Meta (nicknamed Meatball by Dave) came to town. we went wiht Geeven and Denise to Orcas Island. It was amazingly beautiful. Other than that I have been riding a lot, I even got to ride in a judges clinic where they talk over the loudspeakers about you to a group of spectators about how you would be judged if it was a class, while you ride!!! Iit was a very weird experience, after every jump you could hear "Did you notice how on that jump the rider didn't..." I have also joined a choir, the kirkland choral society, which takes up Wednesday nights. So far it is fun, I like the music it is nice to sing again. The only downside is that I feel very scheduled now. It is bad enough that my days at work are normally scheduled in 30 minute increments, but now Tuesday/Thursday nights I ride and Wednesday nights I sing. That only leaves Monday and Friday to do other things, like hang out with my boyfriend! Oh well at least I am not as bad as I was in high school. I used to sing in 2 choirs, play the flute, was in an orchestra, I played field hockey, coached middle school softball and rode horses 4 days a week. All the while taking 6 or 7 classes, the normal class load was 5. Where the heck did I get all of the energy? Althoguh secretly I wish I still had that much energy. Ok, I am hungry, time to leave work and eat. Adios.

Crazy Weekend

Mon, 22 Aug 2005 16:13:06 GMT

This weekend was a bit hectic, but fun. I rode Saturday AM at 9am like normal. It was fun I got to ride and jump a young horse named jackson who was being a bit mischevious. Then off to bubble tea and falafel with John and Geeven. Then out to McDonald park to help out with "The Game." A bunch of my friend have spent the last year or so planning this puzzle game. It was fun to be out near the tolt river. I help with 2 stations and ran between them. Since my knee injury it has been awhile since I have ran. It felt great to be outdoors and running and my knee isn't even sore. Now I need to kick myself in the reat and get back to the pro club to get in real shape. I just don't like working out indoors, I feel like a fish in a bowl and everyone is watching. This went until about 10pm at which point it was time to go to bed because I was getting up early to help again. I woke up at 6am and drove to Alki to help out with a Limbo contest. It was fun. Alki is beautiful especially when the sun is rising. I would love to live there, but it would be a hellish commute to work. From there went riding and then I helped to teach some younger kids. Then off to the theater with Denise. We have had a season subscription to the 5th Avenue, which has been lots of fun. Last night we saw Princesses which is a new musical that is going straight to broadway. It was very good, they have a few things to work on, but it should be a hit when it gets to broadway.

Since I talk a lot about riding and horses, below is a picture of me riding a horse nick named Tickles (real name Show N' Tell) in Arizona in February 2004.

Spagetti, Chocolate Souffle and Rock Star

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 17:59:37 GMT

So my friend and I have become addicted to Rock Star, it helps that MSN is the sponsor since that is where most of us work. So Wednesday night John made his famous spagetti I made chocolate souffle and we watched all of this week's Rock Star on his media center. If I do say so myself, the souffle was delicious. This time I used Ghiradelli (sp?) dark chocolate. So Rock Star was most excellent I am routing for Jordis of Mig to win. Although Susie has a great voice, eventhough she doesn't get many votes each week and is often in the bottom 3.

Exciting news! Meatball is coming to town for Labor Day!!!

Johnny Blue hair

Mon, 15 Aug 2005 16:11:06 GMT

So my friend John has Hodgkins Lymphoma and has just started ungoing Chemo. BTW- to anyone who is drinking diet soda, STOP!! It has been shown to cause cancer according to an article that John found. Anyway, since the lifetime of his hair is questionable, after work on Friday I went over to his place and dyed his hair "After Midnight Blue" (Thank you Manic Panic). You can see pics on his blog. Here is one of my favorites.

It was a blast, and if I do say so myself, the blue hair looks FABULOUS!!!

Lapse in writing

Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:01:15 GMT

So the past few weeks have been crazy at work as well as personally. My mom came to visit the weekend before last. I get so stressed out when she visits. Everything has to be perfect for her or she will spend the entire time criticizing me. Luckily the trip went really well, we ate at some FABULOUS restaurants, one called Cascadia in Belltown and the other called the Barking Frog in Woodenville. Both nights we did the 5-course tasting menu. It really is an awesome way to eat. You get small tastes of a bunch of dishes and it is spread out over enough time that you aren't stuffed at the end.

Last weekend was very relaxing, I mostly rode and then helped out at a horse show. It was very fun because 1 girl I have been helping with her riding won 3 classes in her age group!

Can you believe that August is almost over, where did the summer go?

By the way- Mom if you read this, we can talk about it later...

so I looked myself up on the internet

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 05:52:21 GMT

Since I had found all of this information about my aunt online, I decided to look myself up. I found some results from horse shows. The most interesting thing I found was a presentation I did for my analog VLSI class in college. The writeup is here and the presentation is here

8/12/05 - John I added the link to the presentation... didn't want to keep you waiting...

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 05:16:49 GMT

I am in SF for my grandmother's memorial service tomorrow. My aunt Michal is here. My dad is 1 of 4 with 3 sisters. Michal is his older sister. I haven't seen her in 13 years. She is a relatively well known photographer. For a list of her books look here. Anyway it is great to see her, it is amazing how much she looks like a younger version of Grandma. It is also neat because she remembers all of these stories from when I was a kid and stories about my grandmother and grandfather. She also is good at reminding me and my dad how much he is like my grandfather. I wonder who I am most like, my mom or my dad.

Girl's night

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 02:32:33 GMT

Last night was Girl's night. Me and 3 of my female friends, went out to dinner. It was nice hanging out and talking about girlie things. I enjoy girl time especially since it is mostly men at work, but really I am lucky cause my immediate team has lots of women, relatively.

Today was a crazy day, work was crazy, I was supposed to go to my home owner's association meeting today after work, and I didn't make it. It bums me out. I just bought a condo this past december and I want to become more active in the home owner's association, maybe even try to be on the board. I figure it is the best way to insure that the building increases in value.

Tomorrow I head to SF for my grandmother's memorial service. It is sad, but I feel like I really didn't know my grandmother. I didn't meet her until I was 13. Long story. I am supposed to say some words at the service, but I don't know what to say. I will think of something, I am usually pretty quick on my feet.

OK, I need to go home, do laundry and pack for SF.

Why do people look at you differently when you drive a BMW?

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 04:18:26 GMT

So my friend John hurt his left ankle last week playing ultimate and he is on crutches. John drives an BMW 3 series (I don't remember the actual number) with a standard transmission. I drive a 99 VW beetle with an automatic transmission. So John and I decide that once he is off the pain medicine, we will switch cars so that he can be independent again. The switch happened this past weekend, and I must say I am greatly enjoying John's car, but 4 people have come up to me to be like "WOW, Ali, that is a very nice new car you have" No one has ever really commented on my beetle, named Penelope, but lots of people like asking me about the BMW. Maybe it is because it is a status symbol, or it just seems out of character for me, who knows.

Went riding tonight after work, I rode Corvester again. He is an old Grand Prix horse and is a blast to ride. I swear riding is what keeps me sane. (Although most would say I am really insane) Riding clears my mind, and I feel much more put together afterwards.

So at work yesterday (I know I am breaking rule #1) I noticed that some one left a note on my whiteboard which said "u are my sunshine/my daily sunshine/you make me happy/when skies are gray" I can't figure out for the life of me who left this note. If anyone reading this knows, can you let me know. It is very sweet and I want to tell the person thank you.

Blogging is a great procrastination tool

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 03:06:27 GMT

So I am finding when I don't want to do work writing a blog entry instead is a very useful procrastination tool. This weekend was a bit crazy. Dave had a party to celebrate his quitting microsoft, it was a ton of fun and I stayed out WAY too late (until 3am) it made getting up to go riding on Sunday difficult, but I got to ride Corvester, so it was of course wonderful. Corvester is an old grand prix horse and is such a blast to ride.

I just realized 2 new rules to add to my first entry:

4. Grammer doesn't count - I almost failed 8th grade english because I didn't understand grammer, so this blog will have more of a conversational tone

5. I am not going to explain who everyone is that I talk about, you, the intelligent readers, will just have to figure it out. :)

Ok, I should get back to work, Geeven is so sweet he is taking care of dinner tonight so that I can get my work done, hurray for geebs!!!

First Entry - rules of engagement

Sun, 17 Jul 2005 01:37:09 GMT

I am new to this whole blog thing, although I do read a bunch of my friend's blogs. Seems like a fun way to keep up with people's lives, especially since everyone is so budy now a days.

So here are the rules I am going to try to abide by for my blog.

1. Spelling doesn't matter - I can't spell for my life so I am not going to worry about it. In 7th and 8th grade they made me take an extra course in school called spell help. There they would make us incessantly repeat spelling rules over and over again. It was a great learning technique - NOT

2. No blogging about work. - I spend a ton of time at work, no need to blog about it, besides there are a ton of blogs that talk about MSN Messenger, the product I work on. I am going to see if I can contribute to those. Leah a coworker of mine does one called IMunplugged

3. Don't feel guiltly if I don't blog that often - I mean I have had a space for as long as spaces have been availble, and this is my first entry...

OK, so that should do it. Let me see if this actually works.