Economic Distress

Apparently the economy (Wall Street to be specific) is going to hell and a hand-basket. After the House failed to pass the $700 billion plan to buy up distressed mortgage securities…all hell broke loose on the trading floor.

If you haven’t heard, the Dow Jones industrials are down nearly seven percent…an almost 780-point decline, the largest one-day drop ever in the index. Isn’t that crazy? It’s completely mind-blowing if you ask me. I wasn’t totally convinced that the billion dollar bailout proposal was the best way to attempt to solve this financial crisis (cuz I mean, come on, look at the loans and debt that the government already has against it…should it really be in charge of loaning out more money…???), but man…talk about a roller coaster day.

Now I’m not even going to comment on the specifics of this, since I’m not sure that I would do it justice…but I would think that all this panic that is being built around this current financial crisis can’t be good. I mean, panic, in general, isn’t a great thing, right? So let’s just all take a deep breath and remember to breathe.

So Relaxed Today

It’s not very often that I feel relaxed, well-rested and carefree. It’s really a wonder since I’ve been working crazy hours this past week, but nevertheless…here we are. So I’m making use of this great feeling by blogging for the whole world to read. And no, I didn’t take a blow to the head…I’m just feeling very…relaxed and happy today. It’s weird.

You know, I think I need to relax more often. I know that some of you are rolling your eyes at me right now, but I think that’s why I’m feeling very zen right now. Even after a crazy week, I can’t believe I’m feeling this upbeat and positive. Yeah, I’m really amazed…it’s quite a feeling.

OK I don’t really have anything to talk about…I would say that I’m looking forward to this weekend, but since I have to work tomorrow…I can’t really say that I’m all that excited. So let’s not talk about that since I don’t want to kill my good mood. What else can I talk about? Hm…wow…I got nothing today…I guess that’s my exit cue.

All Day Training Sessions

If you suspected that something must be wrong since I'm blogging two days in a row...you'd be right. Now don't worry, it's nothing serious. I just have some steam that I need to blow off before my head pops off...and I decided that it would be best to vent to the general public as opposed to talking one person's ear off. So here I am.

Do you know what I have been doing all day? I've been in training. And not just any training, but a mandatory sexual harassment and preventing work place violence and discrimination training combined with a supervisory skills training. Fun stuff. Yeah, it was one of those training sessions. This may not seem like a big deal to most of you...but I work a compressed work week, which means that I normally work nine hours a day. Well how long was I in training today? Freakin' nine hours!! Nine hours...can you believe that? It's crazy. Being stuck in a stuffy room with limited breaks and having to absorb non-stop, common sense, material for more than a few hours...is just asking too much. I'm sorry, but it was pure torture today.

For all you argumentative people out there, yes, I admit that I got paid to attend the training sessions today...but you know what? Sometimes it's just not worth it. I think it got so bad at one point that I seriously considered shoving a pen in my eye and shaking it around just to keep myself awake. Seriously, it was just that bad. Even having now since escaped the building, I can't truly express how much I'm dreading returning tomorrow...if for any reason than to avoid the mounds of work piled on my desk from having been away for more than a few hours.

But in all seriousness, the point of all day training sessions or meetings is beyond me. Oh, and on a similar note, why do people insist on having meetings about meetings about meetings? Stupid. Today during one of my few precious breaks from this dreadful training, I was approached and informed about a meeting being scheduled for tomorrow in preparation for an upcoming pre-meeting next week to prepare for the actual meeting in two weeks...!!! Arg! Can you believe that? Yeah, me either.

*sigh* OK I think I'm starting to feel a little better.

Broadway Shows

I got into a conversation with some friends over the weekend about some of the best Broadway shows we've ever seen. I kept thinking that I should blog about this since I had so much to say. Let me preface this by saying...I'm not a connoisseur of Broadway shows, but I know what I've seen and I know what I like.

Anyway, over dinner someone mentioned to a group of us that she is on her way to New York for the first time and wanted some recommendations for Broadway shows. Well I threw in my two cents that a trip to New York is not complete without catching a show on Broadway. I was trying to think of what show I would recommend and I couldn't pick just one. All the shows that I've seen featured amazing music, great stories, and outstanding performers. And depending on the genre desired or current mood, it would be a tough choice for me to recommend any of my favorites. My list of top 5 Broadway shows are posted below:

5. Mama Mia - The music was annoyingly catchy, but the premise of the show was a little hard, for me, to get behind. I mean, it's difficult to get into a story that has a daughter preparing for her wedding only to find out that her mother doesn't know who her father is...it could be one of three guys...yeah, can you say slut? Needless to say, it was a little hard to concentrate on the show when there were other factors that I felt needed to be addressed. I didn't see the issue as being as ho-hum as they tried to make it.

4. Rent - A memorable show with a semi-controversial topic. I remember being really moved during the show over relationship issues, personal attachment, and deep loss. It was very touching and extremely sad. Because it was so emotionally heavy, it was hard not to get into the show and connect with the characters. And again, very sad. But still, very good.

3. Aida - I think that this was the most underrated show that I've ever seen on Broadway. The first time I was in New York, I had to decide whether to see Aida or Lion King. Since I wasn't a big fan of the "Lion King" movie, I opted for Aida and hoped that it would be good. When I was seated and read the Playbill for Aida, I was extremely confused because the storyline made no sense...something about time travel, forbidden love, and undying devotion. But after watching the show, I was super surprised to find that I loved it (and the storyline made perfect sense).

2. Jersey Boys - I know that Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons wasn't the music from my generation, but I'm familiar their music due to my parents (you know how we all recognize, and sometimes like, our parents' music). So when I decided to see the Jersey Boys with my parents, I wasn't sure that I would like it. But I was pleasantly surprised how well the show was. I loved the vocal chords, bubbly melodies, and love inspired songs. I bought the CD and listen to it constantly. The music is just that good. Definitely one of my favorites.

1. Phantom of the Opera - By far, hands down, my absolute favorite Broadway show. Granted, Phantom was the first show that I ever saw, but I'm glad it was Phantom versus Les Miserables (which I wasn't a big fan of). But Phantom of the Opera was so good that I saw it three times (twice when it came to San Francisco and once on Broadway). It is just that good. I think it helped that I saw it in San Francisco, loved it, and then went to New York and was completely blown away by how good it was. I don't think that there's anything that I would change or wish was different. I love the music and the storyline...it's just so romantic (I'm definitely a closet romantic, but don't tell anyone). It always leaves me feeling completely moved and very sentimental.

Anyway, those are my favorites.

49er Fever

Football season has official begun. We are in our second game of regular season play and already I can feel the effects of anxiety, heartburn and mild stroke trying to take over my system.

Watching the 49ers play today was absolute torture. I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't take a whole season of this nonsense. The first quarter itself was enough to send any true fan to the emergency room due to needless aggravation and high blood pressure. And, of course, the 49ers couldn't have redeemed themselves (and won the game) during the second half like a normal team, oh no, they had to drag it out into overtime.

Kicker, Joe Nedney missed a 41-yard field goal during the last seconds of the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime. My shout of frustration was long and loud, trust me. I purposely didn't solely concentrate on the entire game because I knew I was not going to be able to sit still during this torture session...I know the 49ers and I know that they torture their fans. So when Joe Nedney kicked a 40-yard overtime field goal, I shouted with joy, pounded my fists, and promptly shut off the tv. Why Nedney needed to wait until overtime to win the game, is beyond me. I mean, maybe that 1 yard was just asking too much.

Why do I torture myself every time the 49ers play? I really have no idea.

P.S. I'm loving' O'Sullivan...just add him to the long list of other J.T. men I love.

MTV

I spent the better part of last weekend watching MTV. Never mind the fact that it felt that I lost three years off my life, but isn’t MTV suppose to show music videos? And yet…I didn’t see one music video. Why are their reality shows more popular than their music videos?

Back in my day, MTV was known for their music videos. I remember rushing home from school to watch those ever-popular (and sometimes controversial) music videos. But now, the reality shows that have taken over MTV are…just a disgrace. For example, there is this reality series “Exiled,” a show that takes a few spoiled teenagers to remote parts of the world (for a week) away from their privileged life for a dose of “reality.” These bratty, selfish and extremely annoying teenagers have been pampered and protected their entire life by their parents and all of a sudden a week in a remote part of the world is suppose to change everything they’ve ever known? Yeah, sure. And here’s an even better question, what do I have to do to get myself sent to a remote part of this world? Millions of other people would appreciate these great opportunities to visit new places and experience new things, yet, it’s wasted on spoiled teenagers who just complain about everything and enjoy nothing. Such a waste.

Anyway, MTV, where are those music videos?

End Of Summer

Today is Labor Day. And you know what the means...it is officially the end of summer. It's all downhill from here...the days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder (although no one would believe me if they've been outside today) and the end of the year is rapidly approaching...noooooo.

How did the summer go by so fast? And where was I when summer was here? Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed my vacations...from my trip to the East Coast to Hawaii, I had a great time and am not complaining about that. But what about all the other plans that I had for this summer? I had a massive list of things that I had been neglecting and gave myself the summer to complete my list of "to-do" items...well it's officially the end of summer, and I still have a massive list of uncompleted items. How did that happen? You got me, I have no idea.

Speaking of time going by fast...Over the weekend, I hit up some of the local malls to take advantage of some Labor Day sales...to get my shopping on and enjoy some post summer sales. And can you believe that Halloween stuff is already out on store shelves? Halloween is a full two months away!!! Yeah, I don't know why I'm surprised since I seem to complain about this every year...but goodness, it's mildly annoying. I don't want to be shopping for end of summer clothes and basking in the glow of my post-summer haze only to be reminded that I need to start preparing for the mid-fall holiday known as Halloween. Give me a break. I need a break, people. Can't Halloween decorations wait, at least, another few weeks before magically appearing? Since I hate Halloween, this may be a problem that just bothers me. Who knows? Although I do know that I have similar thoughts when I start seeing Christmas decorations out before Halloween even passes (Christmas stuff and music, for that matter, should not be displayed, or played, before Thanksgiving...that should be a law). OK where was I going with this?

Oh yeah, the end of summer is here. Great...