Date: 2008-05-13 08:50 Subject: Going up... Security: Public

The price of gas jumped 10 cents overnight here in KC on the Missouri side. WTF?

FYI: I've noticed a trend in gas prices at the QT at 103rd and Wornall: Up on Thursday night or Friday, down a few pennies on Monday evening, then a big jump on Tuesday morning.

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Date: 2008-05-09 09:19 Subject: Stimulating the economy.... Security: Public

What did you do with your big whopping stimulus check? I paid my doctor and bought a pair of shoes. There's a few dollars left, so I might get my car cleaned. Woo.

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Date: 2008-05-06 12:55 Subject: I tawt I taw a... coyote? Security: Public

This week during my lunch break, I've started walking in and around the park near the office. Today, I saw a critter that looked an awful lot like a coyote -- at least it looked like the coyote pictured in the wikipedia entry. I know there have been reports of coyote sightings here in the 'burbs, but further south around 151st Street. I'm at roughly 112th. If it wasn't a coyote, then it was a really ugly, squinty-eyed dog with an exceptionally long muzzle and long pointy ears, hiding in the brush by the creek, no more than 20 or 30 feet from the sidewalk. It watched me suspiciously as I passed, made eye contact with me when I stopped briefly to take a good look at it, and seemed relieved when I continued on my way. Dang, I wish I had taken my camera with me.

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Date: 2008-05-02 07:29 Subject: That sound... I think I've heard it before.... Security: Public

About 1:45 am, a storm cell hit this part of town. The sound of it caught my attention and disturbed me. It was a loud, constant roar, but the tree tops seemed listless, then waved wildly, and then seemed confused. And still, the roar continued, with hail and heavy rain. I think I've finally figured it out. I remember a similar sound from back in South Carolina, when we rode out Hurricane Hugo. We were about 100 miles inland, and it was still bad. 

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Date: 2008-05-01 23:43 Subject: Day 6... Security: Public

A blustery day... 

Luckily, it only rained here at the house. No hail for me! 
 

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Date: 2008-05-01 23:42 Subject: Special Day 5 Bonus Photo! Security: Public

After I posted yesterday's photos, the following situation presented itself....


Day 5 11:16 pm
Mayhem started it, but Mischief just HAD to finish it.

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Date: 2008-04-30 22:45 Subject: Day 5... Security: Public

Day 5 of the photo project -- another day in the life of a cubicle dweller with a messy home office... 

Tomorrow promises to be a bit more interesting.

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Date: 2008-04-29 23:25 Subject: Day 4 Security: Public

I told you it would get boring... 

Well, there it is. Another day in the life...

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Date: 2008-04-29 16:25 Subject: Sharks, or vultures? Security: Public

Wake up, folks. It's not just the oil companies getting rich off of our current economic misfortunes. The following comes from an article in the Wall Street Journal "Food-Price Rise Aids Companies Tied to Farming". Quarterly profit reports and estimates for companies that support the grain industry are skyrocketing.

• Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. - 3rd quarter profit up 42%, with a 7x increase in net income in its unit that stores, transports and trades grains.
  
• Cargill Inc. - profit jumped 86%
  
• Bunge Ltd. (fertilizer and grain transport) - 20x earnings increase
  
• Monsanto Co. (seeds and herbicides) - quarterly profit more than doubled
  
• Deere & Co. (tractors, combines and sprayers) - 55% increase in earnings
  
• Mosaic Co. (fertilizer) - a 12x increase in net income

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Date: 2008-04-28 23:28 Subject: Day 3 ... the photo madness continues Security: Public

So here we are on Day 3 of the photo project. Day 3 thru 7 will be somewhat mundane. After all, I'm a cubical dweller 8 hours a day. But here goes.... 

That's it. Just another typical day.

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Date: 2008-04-28 00:01 Subject: A Week In The Life, Day 2 Security: Public

Another day in my terribly mundane and boring life. 

I'm not feeling well today, so I didn't take many photos. Not pictured are my now-clean kitchen, my lazy self watching television, and my sweetie extracting Mischief from a forbidden perch atop the grandfather clock. 

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Date: 2008-04-26 23:32 Subject: A Week In The Life, Day 1... Security: Public

Borrowing an idea from my friend petrini1, thus begins "A Week in The Life Of Allison"... Volume 1. The challenge is to record 6 to 8 photos throughout the day, and post them the same evening. Not exactly sure I can keep it up consistently for 7 days, but I'm gonna give it a shot. Here goes... 

A busy day, but not a terribly exciting one. Not photographed was a potluck dinner with friends, more cat follies, and my sweetie.

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Date: 2008-04-22 23:44 Subject: What were they thinking? ... Security: Public

What national organization plans to hold its annual conference in a location that can only be reached by a four-hour bus trip? Um... that would be the one I'm a member of. Apparently, the only way to get to Idaho Falls, Idaho, this year is to fly into Salt Lake City, Utah, and take a bus the rest of the way. Honestly, it was an easier journey the year they held it in Alaska. At least you could get there from here.

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Date: 2008-04-15 11:05 Subject: Taking stock of the situation... Security: Public

Sun shining - check
Ambient temperature rising - check
Sweetie home from military duty - check
Cats still cute - check
Annual pay raise received - check
Tax forms filed - check
Refund received - check
Still convinced the world is going to hell in a handbasket - check.

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Date: 2008-04-09 22:21 Subject: Should I be worried? Security: Public

You be the judge..... Is Mayhem moonlighting as a LOLcat?

Mayhem doing the "gargoyle"
Originally uploaded by AllisonStein


see more crazy cat pics

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Date: 2008-04-09 22:14 Subject: You're freaking me out! Seriously! Security: Public

You're freaking me out! Seriously!
Originally uploaded by AllisonStein

Who needs LOLcats when you have this kinda photo op?

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Date: 2008-04-06 14:02 Subject: Should I? Or should I not? Security: Public

I'm trying to decide if I want to include my older, darker art in the same Etsy shop with my newer, cuter work. Discuss.

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Date: 2008-04-02 23:26 Subject: crap! Security: Public

crap. attempted to do something seemly simple in yoga last night, but apparently irritated a nerve in my left hand. i am not amused. and btw, if you haven't noticed, i use the shift button under the left pinkie....

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Date: 2008-04-01 12:32 Subject: Everything changes, but does it have to happen all at once? Security: Public

In my day job I'm a marketing writer for a technology company. For the past 5 months, I've spent most of my work time writing copy for our new (as yet unlaunched) website. This morning the web team had a lengthy and informative meeting with our top exec. He wants to see extensive changes to our approach.....

.... Meanwhile, down the hall, in the OTHER meeting I was doublebooked for..... We received word from one of our major suppliers regarding massive changes to their product line that will require changes to nearly every piece of collateral and website copy that division uses. The division head also wants to do two different webcasts about it next week with a direct email invitation to view them.

What this all means that I am going to be very, very, very busy for the next several weeks. I know that everything changes, especially in my line of work. But why does it all have to happen at the same time? (... bang head on desk... repeat...)

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Date: 2008-03-28 23:10 Subject: I'm feeling the ETSY love.... Security: Public

Wow. I've received a stunning amount of orders for art from my ETSY shop in the past 24 hours. Somebody somewhere must be getting their tax refunds...

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