Ted and I saw this on Friday night at a little candy shoppe next to the aquarium when we went for Tom & Chee in Newport.
A. That is not a penguin. It is a walrus. Wrong animal, friends.
B. This could only be funnier if that walrus figurine were a sea lion.
Because sea lions eat penguins and it would be joyfully ironic if the sea lion were wearing a Save-the-Penguins ribbon.
My fail-loving heart would have been extremely fond of that image.
Hey, you!
I’ve got a project for you.
I promise it won’t take much of your time or effort.
Just 4 minutes and 59 seconds, and the click of a mouse.
That’s it. No biggie.
But the payout is a pretty big deal for these kids.
These so-called “kids” that I refer to are not really kids at all.
They’re hard-working lighting students at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.
And they went all out designing, producing, and filming this really clever video
– all while attending classes full-time and keeping up with a highly demanding production schedule –
for a contest to win their school a new ETC (Electronic Theatre Controls) lighting console.
Those suckers aren’t cheap. And they could really use a new one!
I think you’ll be very impressed, as I was, with the quality and professionalism of their work.
It’s clear these kids put forth the effort and really want to win this thing for their school.
Each video will be judged according to its “ETC-ness” – enthusiasm, talent, and creativity.
None of which they are lacking.
Their work speaks for itself and whoops the socks off of the competition.
They did a TON of work to make this happen.
Alas, in an unfortunate turn of events, these guys had a slew of well-deserved votes…
…until the vote counter was accidentally reset during a website glitch.
The company has promised to add those lost votes back onto their tally total at the end of the contest…
…but still.
It’s disheartening for them to see a lackluster counter-number.
(and who knows how many votes were really lost?)
Their video exemplified “ETC-ness” to a T and really went above and beyond.
So, what can YOU do to help?
I’m glad you asked!
You can go HERE,
Watch their rockin’ video (I promise it’s entertaining and really informative – you’ll like it!)
And, most importantly,
Click the “like” button below the video to vote for them!
Let’s get those boys back where they belong – at the top!
So be a good sport and click “like” to vote for College-Conservatory of Music.
Thank you!
Now don’t you feel better for getting that weekly good deed out of the way?
If you have a blog or a FaceBook, be a pal and pass this on!!
(P.S. The guy’s face that they Pixelmapped is Fred Foster – the founder of ETC. Those clever kids!)
So, last night I decided to make Pho.
Full disclosure: I’ve never actually had Pho. I didn’t even know exactly what it was until two days ago.
All I knew is that it was “like Vietnamese chicken noodle soup” and it looked delicious.
Clearly, my lack of knowledge didn’t deter me from trying to make it anyhow.
So I found, what I assumed to be, a respectable Pho recipe on a random blog.
(But really, what do I know about respectable Pho recipes considering I’ve never even had the stuff? This recipe could be a total sham for all I know.)
Anyhow, I gathered my ingredients.
For the broth – chicken and beef stock, seasame oil, soy sauce, lemongrass paste (per the absence of fresh lemongrass at my grocery store), and fresh ginger root.
Thai rice noodles
Pork
And veggies – bean sprouts, matchstick carrots, green onions, mushrooms, cilantro, raw jalapeno slices, and lime wedges.
Heat it up, throw it all together in a massive soup bowl, and you’ve got Pho!
I thought it was delicious!
Filling and comforting.
Ted was a brave sport and tried it.
He kind of hated it.
But he’s also not a fan of cilantro (he says it reminds him of the grass he used to eat as a child), jalapenos, bean sprouts, green onions, or lemongrass.
Yep, that’ll do it.
Loving husband that he is, he ate it anyway.
More Pho for me!
You should try it sometime.
:-)
Have you experimented with any exotic dishes lately?
A delicious mojito – my signature drink.
Turtle cheesecake – dinner of champions.
Window shopping for gorgeous frocks.
Mojito, cheesecake, window shopping, and girl talk date with sweet friend, Allyson.
Recliner + Me + Blankets + Baby Mama = Relaxed & Sleepy & Happy
P.S. If you EVER find that C. Luce color block dress pictured above in a size small, you must let me know immediately because I will rejoice, squeal a little, hug you profusely, and order it so fast your eyes will spin. Finding that dress in my size is my new mission in life. If you’ve got super savvy online sleuthing skills, put them to good use…join my crusade, please!!
P.P.S The husband comes home tonight! Even though I worked my tail off non-stop and got a ton accomplished these past two days, I sure have missed that weird guy and I’m happy he’s coming home!
I’ve discovered a new favorite breakfast joint. Kolache Factory, you are my pride and joy!
My Super Bowl snack!
On Sunday I saw Ted off on his quick jaunt to Philadelphia, went to 8 a.m. Mass, mowed down on a kolache, deep cleaned the apartment, reorganized the pantry and fridge, took all our Christmas boxes back to our storage warehouse (Our tree came down on February 4th. Overachievers, we know.), recycled the recycling, spent five hours at Caribou Coffee sitting by the window drinking a sweet mango black iced tea while I prepared my acting & musical theatre lesson plans for this week’s teaching gigs (they’re pretty excellent), submitted multiple theatre job applications, and wrote someone a letter of recommendation. Then I came home for some Super Bowl action, planned our meals for the week, made the grocery list, clipped the coupons, printed all my lesson plans, scanned paychecks, did some research on a theatre company that has expressed some interest in us, and watched the Super Bowl.
Did I mention it was another glorious, sunny, mild day?
It’s amazing how much I can accomplish when I have just one full day off, to myself, to get stuff DONE.
Success.
And I saw a cat sitting on the windowsill next door. Which always makes me happy.
Speaking of kitties, my new favorite commercial is this Geico commercial with the rescue panther.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O1SX4x7uUE]
What did you do this weekend?
Dear Punxsutawney:
Aghghghghgh!!! You are SO adorable!!!! When can I hold you!?
Would it help if I wore a top hat?
Anyhow, Phil, for as handsome as I think you are (and you are!), I’m not quite so sure about your six more weeks of winter prediction.
See, normally this would make me supremely cranky.
However, if “winter” is going to continue as it has of late with highs in the 60s, sunny skies, and lots of comfy breezes…
…then I think we can come to an agreement.
Again, thank you for being adorable beyond measure.
I intend to spend the rest of my day, whenever possible, looking up photos of how cute you are.
And also of the history of Groundhog’s Day because, bad American, I really haven’t the fainest idea where this tradition came from.
Sincerely,
I Would Like A Groundhog Please
I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed lately. With four jobs to keep up with, plenty of “homework” to do, the endless job hunt and accompanying applications for that one special full time job that I know is out there – somewhere – for me, a house to keep clean, meals to cook, errands to run, Ted’s truck and my car are both acting up again even after all the money we just put into repairs for them in November and December (I guess this just becomes habit around 150,000 miles), and a sudden schedule change that takes away even more of my precious and rare time to throw a wrench in my otherwise ideal routine, who can say they’d feel any differently? I’ve been doing my best to keep my spirits up and cope with it all in stride. It helps me to spend a few moments each day taking note of all the things that I have to be thankful for and to remember that I’m a work in progress, not a finished product, so it’s okay for my schedule to be overwhelming and for me to still keep my hopes up on the full-time job front. Also, my friends Katie, Allyson, and Rachel all sent me some love, encouragement and reassuring words this week, which always makes me feel better!
Here’s some other things I’m feeling good about today:
1. It’s 60 degrees out – and it has been for the past three days! Others may be complaining “Where’s the snow?” “What happened to winter?” “It’s only February!” but I’m going to take it and run with it for as long as this good fortune wants to stick around! Sunshine does a spirit good.
2. We’re going on the Cincinnati Subway Tour on May 12! We just booked our tickets as soon as they went on sale this morning and we are so, so excited! Thanks mom and dad for the awesome Christmas present! If you didn’t know, back in the 1920s Cincinnati started to build an underground subway system and it was almost complete when they had to halt construction and cease tunneling because of the depression. They never did anything with it, so there it all sits, underground, unused, and just aching for us to explore her history. As soon as we found out about the subway’s existence over a year ago we knew we HAD to be on that tour this year (they only do one tour a year and it usually sells out in a matter of hours). Ted even has this great Cincinnati Subway shirt that says “The Cincinnati Subway – taking you nowhere since 1928.” Again, SO excited!!
3. Because of the unseasonably warm winter this year, the produce section of the grocery store is my oyster! Hard orange balls of clementines, ruby red stalks of rhubarb, sacks of leafy green brussel sprouts, large healthy artichokes, and plump juicy blueberries have been gracing my cart. Now that the warmer weather seems to be on it’s way (Nobody likes a tease, Cincinnati!) Ted and I want to focus a little more on the exercise we enjoy – running 5ks, biking, roller blading, bowling, going for walks, etc. (you know, in all our free time….HAHAHA) and we’re also watching a little more closely what we put in our bodies. And all this delicious, fresh produce that comes in the spring and summer makes me so happy I could drool!
4. In a few weeks we’ll be driving up to Chicago for two days for my grandpa’s memorial service and burial – though it’s always a sad occasion, I’ll be happy for the opportunity to see my family again. Tomorrow night we’re going to see Spring Awakening at CCM, and Sunday is Superbowl Sunday! Despite all the stuff we have going on, I’m going to try to just relax on Sunday and enjoy the day.
5. On Monday I got a free oil change and tire rotation (free because I spent so damn much money on flushes and repairs and new tires for the Buick in November that they felt bad for me and gave me a gift card) and I took my engagement ring and diamond wedding earrings in for their six month warranty inspection and cleaning so now they’re all nice and sparkly again…just the way I love them to be!
6. I treated myself to a big, fat, delicious Chipotle burrito for lunch today. And it was divine.
What little things have made you happy lately?
