Whose Voice is That?!

I love it when I am watching an older movie and I hear something familiar in one of the actor's voices. It is like an itch that I can only scratch once I figure out how I know that voice. It happened to me tonight. I was watching Indiscreet, a Carey Grant and Ingrid Bergman film. I had never seen it before, and the two lead actors were the only ones I knew.

While watching this part of the film, the lightbulb went on and I knew where I had heard Alfred's voice. The actor doesn't speak very much, so in the beginning I just had a nagging feeling I knew the voice. Here he gets angry and goes on a bit of a rant. All of a sudden, I heard it. Can you?

"No boy, no note!"

You need to go to 4:32 to hear it. I checked it on imdb and the actor, Cecil Parker, played both the Captain and Alfred. Itch scratched.

Celebrity Stalks at Midnight (really 6-9pm)

Yesterday I went with my friend, Kathryn to see Toy Story 3 at the movie theater in Evanston. The movie was cute and I actually liked it more than the previous two films. I arrived at the theater about 15 minutes late (5 minutes after the show was scheduled to begin) and I think Kathryn thought I was going to have a heart attack, I was so "purple" in the face.

I know I'm not in the best shape in the world, but it was about 90 degrees outside and I had been on a shopping spree in CVS for medical supplies. I had to carry 2 gigantic bags of ice packs, bandaids, tylenol, you name it from downtown Evanston to my office on campus. I had underestimated the distance, it was probably about a mile. It felt like 3. Once I dropped the bags off and spoke to my supervisor (also working on her day off) I had to hustle back downtown to the movie. I had really only given myself 25 minutes for the round trip, but I actually needed closer to 40.

Anyway, we got in and found some decent seats. I laughed quite a bit and I could see why someone might get a bit teary-eyed at the ending. Half a box of popcorn and a diet coke later, Kathryn needed to use the little ladies room. I was probably so dehydrated that my diet coke got absorbed right into me so I waited outside. That's when things got interesting.

Across the lobby (about 20 feet away) sitting on the opposite bench outside the little boy's room, was a girl. She looked about 17. I laughed to myself that I would have to tell Kathryn that the girl looked like Jessica from True Blood. Aside from the hair, which is red on the show, this girl was a dead ringer (pardon the pun). She was talking to a younger girl, but I couldn't keep my eyes off her. It was uncanny. Then I noticed she handed something to the young girl and I could have sworn I heard* her say "we just wrapped".

Oh. My. God! It WAS Jessica. I got up and stood by the ladies' room door, keeping one eye on my vampire, and one on the lookout for Kathryn. Soon, I could bear it no longer and went in the restroom to see if I could hurry things along (I do not intend to cast aspersions on my friend, there was a long line). When I got back into the lobby, Jessica was gone! Less than a minute later, Kathryn emerged and I quickly filled her in on the sighting.

Kathryn was all in. She suggested we try to find her, but I had my doubts. We were excited at the prospect anyhow. As luck would have it, as soon as we stepped out onto the sidewalk, Jessica and a man with a cain used by the visually impaired came out of a little restaurant. My friend and I gawked for a few moments (we did try not to look like we were gawking) and confirmed for ourselves that, despite the light strawberry blond hair, THAT was indeed Jessica.

Jessica's Blog: Fangin'

The couple went their way and we went ours, ready to google to find out her Evanston/Chicago connection. At first it was mysterious. We couldn't find anything about her living in the area or going to school here but we were confident. We ate an excellent dinner at Mt. Everest, an Indian restaurant, then headed home after hitting Barnes & Noble.

As we awaited the Purple Line Train, who should come to the station but Deborah Ann Woll (we did find out her real name). I did my best not to stare, I mostly kept my back to them, but I'm sure I wasn't playing it cool. On the Purple we were in the same car as Deborah (and the guy we now were pretty sure was her boyfriend). When it came time to switch to the Red Line, they went to the second car rather than the first. We cannot confirm that they were trying to evade us, but the second car was not the most convenient choice.

In retrospect, we would have probably been better off acknowledging that we knew who she was, rather than looking like a couple of creeps. Oh well. All I can say is that even though I only had one day off this weekend, it was a pretty awesome one.

* I have often claimed to have super-sonic hearing. I think it is to make up for my poor eyesight.

I'll cop to "Harried" but "Pedantic", no way

I know I've complained enough on this blog about things at work, but I'm actually still seething about what happened today.

I got a call from a woman at one of our other offices saying that she had a parent who wanted to apply to our first session (starting on Sunday) for her child. I said that we were not accepting any more applications for Session 1, but Session 2 was still available. I though that would be the end of that.

Should have known better. About 20 minutes later, the parent comes into my office/book and supply storage room. I was alone (usually there is at least one other person in there with me). She said she had been to the other office and been told "no" but "needed to be told 'no' again". So, I told her "no" again. There followed a pregnant pause, in which she evidently expected me to change my answer. I attempted to give her a sympathetic smile and explain that all the "books and supplies have been ordered, the staff is in place, and we quit admitting students over a week ago" another pregnant pause. At this point, I'm sure my smile became a bit strained, "I'm sorry, but we can't accept your child. Session 2 is still open".

She couldn't do Session 2 because her family will be on vacation. I felt VERY sorry for her, but my answer was still "no". After a couple more "no"s followed by more pauses, she finally left. Once again, foolishly, I thought it was over.

About 4 hours later I was checking the emails and one addressed to the director of all our programs was very sweetly written. (This is like going directly to the president of McDonald's when you are refused an Egg McMuffin at 5pm) "I was so excited to see that your program was still accepting applications" , "I was shocked when I was told 'no' the first time", "a young girl, apparently harried, told me unequivocally, 'no'", "she was pedantic, saying that 'the books had been ordered'".

Needless to say, my blood boiled. I could feel my face redden and my heart pound. I did not forward the email to the director (who is a bit out of touch and doesn't like to be bothered), but, rather, to my boss who specifically directs my program. She could decide what to do with the woman's request. Like I said, other than the "harried" and "pedantic" part, the email was quite sweetly written. It praised our program and expressed the sincere wish of both the parent and child to participate. So reasonable in its audacity. Clearly the work of someone used to getting her own way.

Well, not today, sister.

Feeling Better

I think it was Monday or Tuesday when I called my mother after work and she commented that I sounded like I was in a better mood. I think I replied "That's because I'm out of there!" You see, the past few weeks have been a nightmare at work preparing for the students to arrive. We moved our offices and I am in charge of ordering all the supplies the instructors will need. I do that on top of all my other responsibilities of answering phones and emails and processing the paperwork that comes in by the truckload! (I do get lots of help from my great co-workers in the office, but still.)

Last week I was actually at the point where I had so much to do, I didn't do anything. I'm sure that is an exaggeration, but not a gross one. I found myself torn in ten different directions and petrified in my seat no knowing which way to go.

Two of us had to hire Office Assistants this year (a new responsibility) and one of the questions we asked them was: What do you do when you have difficulty completing a project due to time constraints or the amount of work to be done? We are looking for answers like "I make a list", "I prioritize", "I ask for help", etc. But what happens when the list keeps growing, everything is equally important, and everyone else is just a busy as you are?

I will say that I am feeling better this week. I have finally caught up on some of the work and I am now at the point where (in most cases) if it isn't done yet, there isn't much I can do about it. It is a very liberating realization.

Stormy Weather

Well, I dodged a bullet today (not exactly a bullet, but rather thousands of gigantic raindrops) by leaving work about 3 minutes early. Had I not, I would have been stuck in a downpour that began just moments after I reached the train platform. The people on the street were shrieking as their umbrellas blew inside out and they got soaked to the bone. Out of nowhere the wind whipped up to the point where the rain and the water already on the road made the dark cement look like a rough day at the beach, waves and all.

Later, when the wind had died down, I saw one guy who was so wet he was no longer hurrying home. Completely resigned to his fate, he practically meandered to his door.

A couple of the cracks of thunder have already made me jump and I think this is supposed to go on all night. I'm just glad the cats seem to be unaffected.

Before the downpour, when I was walking to the train, it was only raining a little. I could tell things were going to get much worse because it felt like 100% humidity. The air was so thick, I was almost swimming rather than walking. Each breath was more H2O than O.

I don't mind a storm (as long as it doesn't knock out my power). I hope this will cool things off a bit outside.

Oh Sookie

I thought this was hilarious.

I was never a huge Snoop Dogg fan, but I appreciate him more as we both get older. He seems to have a great sense of humor. This little video is witty and a bit crude, but he clearly gets it.

What makes this even funnier to me is that one of the students applying to our program (he was in 5th or 6th grade) sent in a writing sample stating that Snoop Dogg should be our next president. Among his many arguments: Snoop probably knows more about law than most people, as he has been in court on many occasions. Needless to say, the kid was in.

Happy Father's Day!

When, like me, you couldn't ask for a better father, it becomes difficult to think of a way of expressing your gratitude. I usually resort to cards with quips about being "wrapped around my finger" etc.

Neither of us is a fan of the long greeting card message, we are much more comfortable giving and receiving something brief and/or humorous. This year was no exception. There was a cute card, a small gift, and a phone call to commemorate the day.

So, to the man who:

sat patiently while I cried in anticipation of the kickback from a rifle during target practice (it never really hurt that bad),

would drop everything and drive the 8 hours round trip from Erie to State College to pick me up for a weekend on short notice,

took his first international trip, outside the U.S. and Canada, to Greece and then DROVE in that crazy country to visit me,

Hauled a love seat from St. Cloud to Chicago in the middle of a December snowstorm then fretted that I may fall out of my 9th story window in my first apartment in the Windy City,

Thank you! and Happy Father's Day!