Will the Reigning Champion Please Step Forward?

Hello, and yes- I am still alive.

I was doing a bit of cleaning the other day when I realized that Randball has been hanging on to his Fantasy Football trophy for several months despite being dethroned by one of his federation teammates.

Yes, the image at right is the ghastly award given to the winner of the FFFFF (read: Funk Funk Fantasy Football Federation.) There used to be only one piece of plywood attached to this symbolic flip-flop sandal. Since this trophy has been through the hands of its many winners for too many years to mention, a second piece was added. Good thing.

Now, I happen to know that Randball has been dethroned, and the reasons are not as obvious as you might think. Randball did not tell me that he lost. Oh, no! He is the treasurer of his fine federation, and has a dedicated bank account for it. Over the years, he has tried to convince me of the value and fun of being a part of his federation, and over time, he has turned to emphasizing the monetary value. "But when I win, think of all the money we'll have!" Naturally, had he won this year, I would've heard much celebration! And had he won, I would have a new outfit to show for it!

Alas, I must ask this question, for the sake of my dining room decor, and the bragging rights of the reigning champion... Will the winner of the FFFFF 2008 season please step forward? You've got a flip-flop to display in YOUR home now!

New Year, New Schtick

Happy New Year!

Well, the new year has brought with it many changes. I'm leaving my job. My best friend has lost her mother to brain cancer. I've got an internship starting next week. All of this takes some adjusting.

Each year, we tend to make new year's resolutions. I haven't had a chance to think about resolutions, but I'd like to share a story from last year:

I had been working full time, attending school part-time and helping to lead the ASL Club on campus. My days were fast-paced and hectic, and I worried that I would become burned out. My new year's resolution was to slow down. It backfired. As I slowed down, I became unmotivated and lethargic. I'd come home and the end of the day and crawl into bed. Slowing down made me realize just how hard I had been working myself- and I was exhausted. Perhaps the best thing to do would've been to analyze my situation and re-prioritize. Instead, I dove head-first into planning our wedding, and told myself that as long as I was able to keep up with my work in the office and the classroom, I would be okay.

Well, a year later I realize that I pushed myself too hard. Life's too short to spend the time needlessly suffering when a few little adjustments could make life a lot easier. Leaving my job may be the best decision I've made in a long time. However, it does not come without a downside. In our culture, our work is a part of our identity. It saddens me to leave the work I have grown to value, and the colleagues I have come to trust and respect.

I'm glad that I've got the support and mentors I need to move forward, though. And soon I will begin a new career in a field I have hand selected- a luxury I have yet to experience.

To new beginnings!

Image courtesy of: www.123newyear.com

Face Off

Apparently RandBall has publicly discussed his disapproval of the comeback of Zubaz. I, on the other hand, welcome them. Did you not forsee the circle of life that Zubaz would inevitably follow? Take, for instance, the soft comfortable fabric of your pajama pants, then add the stylish animal print of your most bitchin' "going out" outfit, and you've got Zubaz. What's NOT to love about that?

I remember back in the early nineties when Zubaz were originally popular, they were adorned by mostly muscle bound men, weight lifting in the gym, or heading to the beach (after weight lifting in the gym) or lounging on the couch watching the game (after weight lifting in the gym.) Then they came out with a fashionable female counterpart to the bold "male" fabric patterns. Mine were pink cheetah print.

This time around the Mpls/St.Paul magazine projected that women would be more interested than men in the product. Imagine the female college student's perspective: After a 20-hour day of back to back classes and full-time work, she slips on her favorite Zubaz and heads to the couch. She watches her favorite program while she scarfs down Chinese takeout, her only full meal of the day. Off to bed. She wakes up, rolls out of bed, and takes the dog out (in the aforementioned Zubaz- see how all-purpose they are?) She fills her book bag with the day's homework, and loads her laptop into it's carrying case, and it's off to the coffee shop to study for finals (still clad in her fashionable Zubaz.)

Zubaz could easily become a female student's uniform. They're as comfortable as flannel p.j.s without the stigma. They're gym pants with flare, and are 100% all-purpose. Perhaps their new slogan should allude to conjuring up the power of the animals whose prints they display: Like a stalking cheetah, she has devoured her Chinese takeout and tackled her final project in one deadly swoop! Maybe we'll pitch that idea...