Free Shit Friday - Mini Coach Bag

Friday, September 30, 2011
Today's Free Shit Friday off is this mini Coach bag. And I do mean "mini." This bag measures seven inches tall and nine inches wide at its base. The strap is long enough to wear it cross-body.

It's simply not big enough for me, but hopefully it'll do for some other Hot Chick out there. Plus the snake skin pattern is simply fabulous.

Da Rules.

Retiring to Monaco

Thursday, September 29, 2011
Like many Americans, I have a 401K through my company. And like many companies, my employer offers a financial planning service through a third party vendor. Once a year they "evaluate" my retirement savings and try to convince me that they can help me achieve my retirement goals, because obviously their decision making skills in this area far exceed my own.

Aside from the irritation that my company allows these yahoos access to my private financial information so that they can shill their services, this year's "analysis" made me scratch my head. The form they send gives "green," "yellow," or "red" areas of concern in my portfolio, and here's the section for "retirement income:"

Danger, Will Robinson!

Yeah. $167,000.00 a year in 2011 dollars MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR ME TO RETIRE. In fact, it's possible my retirement income may be AS LOW AS $93,500.00 A YEAR. Horrors!

First of all, my current total target compensation* is not $167,000.00 a year, and we manage to do just fine here at the Big Yellow House in terms of being able to pay our bills and ensure my Hot Daughter is getting an education. We're not eating Top Ramen (except when we want to), and we even manage to leave the house periodically, in addition to putting a pretty sizable chunk into our retirement savings.

Where the hell do these people think I'm going to live in my retirement? Monaco?

That's my condo - the dump on the left

For some strange reason they've decided I need at least $142,000.00 a year to live in 2011 dollars in my retirement. NEWSFLASH: I won't.

So either their calculations are wildly optimistic (more likely), or they really do think I'm going to be spending my golden years in one of the most expensive places in the world (less likely). I tend to believe they need to revamp their automatic calculations and perhaps even review the output before they send out their letters shilling for business.

But I do hear Monaco is nice this time of year...

_____________
*I'm on a variable compensation plan since I'm in sales. Some years my income is above my target, most years it's below.

The Unsung

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
This is absolutely worth twelve minutes of your time.

On 9/11, as the Twin Towers burned, the United States Coast Guard called for assistance to help evacuate the island of Manhattan. Local shipmasters and sailors responded, and conducted the largest sea evacuation in history - they ferried 500,000 people to safety, not knowing if additional attacks were imminent.

This is what it means to be an American.



___________
Wave of the flag to my Hot Mom.

On Work, Self-Worth and Being a Statistical Outlier

For me, self-worth has always been an elusive and tricky thing.

As a teen, I had no interest in scholastic pursuits. In fact, my academic record was so poor I barely graduated from high school - so no self-worth there.

But my complete and utter lack of accomplishment in school didn't mean that I was incapable of working hard. In fact, working hard - and being recognized for it - was the cornerstone of my identity.

When I was on active duty, I made Chief (E-7) in nine years. And was disappointed that I wasn't selected the first time I was eligible for promotion. After I joined the reserves, I was selected to Senior Chief (E-8) the first time I went before the board. There's an excellent chance I would have been selected to Master Chief (E-9) equally quickly had I chosen to continue.

My civilian career path has been equally ambitious. Over the course of ten years, I managed to select jobs (and excel at them) at a rate that allowed me to increase my salary by 500%*.

And the whole time, I was always THE BEST. The best Petty Officer, the best Chief, the best technician, the best technical instructor, the best Systems Engineer. A statistical outlier, rated as "4.0" or "far exceeds expectations" or whatever the highest performance mark was. In my confusion and occasional despair, I hung my self-worth, my identity, my entire life on that single thing.

That's a slender reed to bear such a heavy weight.


I've written before about my personal journey and the work it took to become the person I want to be, so I won't repeat that maudlin narrative again. But a funny thing happened on my way to a balanced life - being a statistical outlier in my professional endeavors stopped being so damned important. Once I was able to maintain meaningful, long-term relationships with someone other than The Mechanicky Gal, once I was able to conduct myself in a way that demonstrated my effort to become the person I wanted to be, being THE BEST started to lose its attraction. I no longer wanted to sacrifice the time and energy it takes to maintain that outlier position, so I stopped. No more 60+ hour weeks, no more saying "yes" to every request, no matter how ridiculous, no more placing my professional performance ahead of my personal relationships.

Don't get me wrong - I perform the work for which I'm paid. I maintain my professional credentials and keep abreast of new technology and standards. I meet my commitments to my company, my team, my boss. I just no longer have a need to define myself entirely by my professional success.

Last year when I got my performance review for fiscal year 2010 I received a mark of "meets expectations" for the first time ever. And I didn't feel bad about it. Only one member of our team was eligible to receive the highest mark, "exceeds expectations," and the gentleman who received it totally earned it. Last year, he was the statistical outlier, working his ass off to achieve that status. I didn't, so I got the mark I had earned.

Even ten years ago, I would have been devastated by my failure to be THE BEST. I would have sought out additional responsibilities to bolster my position and increased my workload to unmanageable proportions in order to earn that "exceeds expectations" mark. Now? I thanked my boss for the small raise he was able to secure on my behalf, and went into fiscal year 2011 satisfied that I gave good value for my salary.

My 2011 performance review is coming up in October. I fully expect to be "meeting expectations" once again. And once again, I expect to be fully satisfied with my professional accomplishments, knowing that my self-worth isn't entirely dependent on my professional success.

It's a good feeling.


________
*Part of this is because I started out making bupkis, and part is because I work in sales, the most overpaid category of work on the planet. Welcome to my golden handcuffs.

Chick Stuff - Packing my Shit for Business Travel

Tuesday, September 27, 2011
First, the requisite photo for the dudes:

Vroom! Vroom!

To the Chick Stuff!

For me, this year has seen a pretty marked increase in my business travel. Some months are worse than others, but most of my business travel consists of trips lasting one or two nights, usually to places I wouldn't want to go if I had a choice. The one thing all of these trips had in common is that I really prefer not to waste my time checking luggage - I want to carry all my shit on board, and take it off the same way. I pretty much have the suitcase licked - I have a tiny Swiss Army roller that's so small it actually fits into the overhead compartments on any plane, but still has enough space that I can bring what I need.

It's my damn laptop that gives me fits.

I've been through a number of bags in the last year, and they've all proven to be unsatisfactory in some way - they hurt my back, they're not big enough, they're too big, I can't "consolidate" my travel purse into the larger bag, they're not professional looking for those occasions when I'm in meetings with pretentious executives, blah, blah, blah. The last six months or so I've been using this Swiss Army backpack, which was sweet because it had a "checkpoint friendly" laptop compartment that would lay flat on the security belt. This relieved me of the chore of taking my laptop out of the backpack at airport security - the faster to have my Fourth Amendment rights violated.






I really like this bag, and may continue to use it periodically, but it doesn't work for when I'm in meetings with pretentious executives.*

So while I was in San Diego with Sister from another Mister The Mechanicky Gal and the Superlative Jeri last weekend, we hit the Coach Outlet Store (always a dangerous turn of events). I was actually looking for a new travel purse, since the two I had bought last month tragically turned out to be too small (damnit), but while I was there, I started looking at bags that might suit for business travel, as well.

The Mechanicky Gal is an experienced pleasure traveler, and Jeri is an experienced business traveler, so between the three of us we came up with the PERFECT SOLUTION. BEHOLD:



The little grey purse is the perfect size for travel (I checked more thoroughly this time), and will fit just fine in both my backpack and my new PERFECT SOLUTION bag.

The reason that awesome raspberry bag is perfect? IT'S A DIAPER BAG, Y'ALL. That's right -a diaper bag. It has pockets in its pockets. It has four outside pockets. It has both a sturdy shoulder strap and double handles. It has elasticized pockets for bottles, but will work just fine for water and snacks. It holds the new neoprene sleeve I bought for my laptop in addition to the little bag that holds my cables, portable surge protector and other technological detritus. PERFECT.

Plus there's the awesome color - how can I not be of good cheer while carrying my awesome RASPBERRY COLORED BAG? I can't. As Jeri notes, if you're buying something new, and you have a choice to make, why wouldn't you buy the item that brings a smile to your face?

I don't have any business travel on my calendar at the moment, but the next time I travel, I'm totally giving this a go.

Also? I got fitted for new bras while in San Diego (again). I'm now convinced that this is something ladies should do every couple years. That has nothing to do with packing my shit for business travel (or maybe it does - ha!), but I thought I'd throw it out there as a Chick Stuff PSA.

__________
*I know, I know. But I work in sales. Even though it makes me throw up in my mouth, these things are noticed and apparently matter to some people.

Free Shit Friday Winners (and other matters)

Monday, September 26, 2011
The winners of the Free Shit Friday Cherry Pineapple jam are Beastly (who entered on Facebook) with a random number of 21, and Megan, with a random number of 9. Megan, I have your address, but Beastly, I'm not sure where you landed, so send your snail mail along and I'll get those in the mail.

I'm back from a fun-filled weekend in San Diego with my Sister from Another Mister the Mechanicky Gal and the Superlative Jeri. I think it's fair to say that a good time was had by all (except perhaps the Mechanicky Guy, who is always just appalled at the quantities of junk food and alcohol involved in these ventures). There was Outlet Mall shopping, Spa time, and lots of Mexican food. FAAAAABULOUS.

Tomorrow it's back to the grind. Considering the beating my credit card took (they put a fraud alert on it mid-way through the weekend) earning more money is probably a good plan at this point.

2011 Flower Pr0n - Wildflowers!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Free Shit Friday - Cherry Pineapple Jam

Friday, September 23, 2011
Today's Free Shit Friday offering is two jars of Cherry Pineapple jam. These are smaller jars than normal, because the recipe doesn't make as much, and this is also my Hot Daughter's favorite.

The announcement of the winner will be delayed once again this week - I'll be in San Diego with long-time pal The Mechanicky Gal and the Superlative Jeri. We have BIG, BIG PLANS. Plans that include a spa, and shopping, and Taco Chop Mexican Food, and Entemann's coffee cake. All of which will certainly distract me from my dancing monkey duties here at Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men. I'm sure you'll get over it.


Da Rules.

Nerd Love - Elizabeth Warren

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Even if Elizabeth Warren wasn't one of the most principled, ethical public servants of her generation, she would have earned that honor with this comment. Reality - it's not just for non-politicians anymore.

Photo Scavenger Hunt: Autumnal Edition

So my friend Random Michelle holds a weekly photo scavenger hunt. I've never participated, partly because I have very little skill with a camera (very little), and partly because I rarely leave my house and its environs, thus limiting my opportunities for interesting subject matter.

However, I've been informed that my excuses are just that - excuses, fit only for Whiny McWhinyson, and that if I want to participate, I should. So here we are.

This week's theme is "Autumn." I think that choice is probably wishful thinking on Michelle's part, but I did my best.



Brown Plant Matter
Brown Vehicle
Something Else Brown


Shadow
Sign
Season

Of Politics and People

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
While I like to go new places and see new things, I'm not a big fan of the process of traveling. I have to fly twice a month or so for my job, and the indignity of having my Fourth Amendment rights violated, the constant inconvenience of airlines who couldn't get a flight to leave on time if our national security depended on it, and the sardine-like quality of both airports and airplanes gets on my last damn nerve. Add those issues to the fact that I seldom travel anywhere that I'd go if given the choice, and mostly I just want people to LEAVE ME ALONE on my travel days.

So imagine my delight when last week I was forced to change planes in Houston. Twice. In two days.

Overheard conversation 1: A couple was discussing the recent Republican Debate, specifically the question surrounding what should be done for a comatose patient who chose not to purchase insurance. Their consensus? Let him die. Die, die, die, because after all, it's his bed and he should be forced to lay in it, goddamnit.

Overheard conversation 2: Two men were discussing Rick Perry's bid for the Republican nomination for President, specifically his record as it pertains to the administration of the death penalty in Texas. While the men allowed that the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham was probably a mistake, it's okay because you "can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs."

The look on my face in the Houston Airport

The comment I made on Facebook was "You would not believe the conversations I'm overhearing here in the Houston Airport. Are we sure these people are part of the Union?"*

Seriously - what the fuck is wrong with these people? Do they honestly think that allowing people to die is right and just, and that having the state periodically put the innocent to death is the act of a moral and judicious society? I just don't get it. And the moral decrepitude of such attitudes made me wonder about the political attitudes of people of my acquaintance.

If I know someone who holds the morally indefensible position of the true Libertarian or Tea Party nutjob, then at what point does such a position become a deal-breaker in terms of my interpersonal relationships? After all, it's just politics, right? Their political position doesn't make them a bad person, or an immoral person...does it?

The older I get, the more I'm coming to think that holding a morally repugnant political position doesn't necessarily make someone an immoral person. But it sure as hell makes them an unthoughtful one. Someone cannot assert that they have a considered, thoughtful opinion advocating Libertarianism in a modern, civilized society, and simultaneously claim to be moral and just, with a dedication to doing what's right. After all, Libertarianism, by definition, is the attitude of "fuck you - I've got mine" (which they probably got through their unearned privilege, by the way). How can that be justified as a moral point of view?

So from my point of view, such an attitude makes its holder either unthoughtful and/or stupid, or immoral. In neither case are those attributes ones that I seek out in those I want to be my friends and confidantes.

And yet, and yet...

Writing off entire segments of the population due to their political opinion seems a bit...harsh. Perhaps they're fabulous people in terms of other personal qualities. Perhaps they spend their free time feeding the poor, succoring the ill, mentoring the young. Or perhaps they really are the racist, selfish assbags their politics suggest.** After all, there are other personal opinions that are single-issue deal-breakers for me, racism being the obvious example. Why is the emotionally retarded position personified in Libertarianism any different?

I haven't reached any hard and fast conclusion on this issue, as it's hard to know what's the right thing. I wonder how much of my conundrum is being fueled by the hyper-partisanship of our current political climate and how much is due to my own personal growth. Is dismissing someone on the basis of a political position unkind and immoral in its own right? Or is it a principled position, based on the standing up for what's right and just?

Where do I draw the line?

___________
*This comment precipitated the friend of a family member to tell me to go home if I didn't like the people there, followed by her "unfriending" me. First of all, getting the hell out of the state that repeatedly elected that hypocritical, cankerous choad Rick Perry will always be a priority for me without the encouragement of strangers. Second of all,  I don't feel too bad about it because the person in question leans toward the very political opinions I find so repugnant. I've decided that "good riddance," on both our parts, is probably the order of the day.

**I wonder how many Libertarians are people of color on a percentage basis? It seems to me that Libertarian attitudes depend in part on the confusion of unearned privilege with personal self-worth, and so people of color would be less susceptible to its foolishness. This may merit further study.

Sea Change

Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Today the U.S. Armed Forces will formally acknowledge the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that prohibited gay and lesbian men and women from openly serving in the military.

In the seventeen years that I served in the Armed Forces, my shipmates were straight and gay. With few exceptions, everyone "knew" who the gay service members were. We shared berthing compartments with them, we shared meals, we shared showers. Believe me - we knew. And with the exception of a small, self-righteous minority, no one gave a good goddamn. The gender of your sexual partner wasn't really the issue, but whether or not you were a good Radioman, a good Signalman, a good Hospital Corpsman, a good Damage Controlman, a good Photographer's Mate, a good sailor. It makes me proud that the organization where I spent so many years is finally catching up with its members and acknowledging that sexual orientation simply doesn't matter in this context.

And yet, I worry about that small, self-righteous minority.

Evangelical Christians have made significant progress in infiltrating the military in an attempt to push their religious agenda and marginalize other faith traditions. And one of the tenants of this initiative is a belief that homosexuality is "wrong," "unnatural," and "sinful." There is no doubt in my mind that these self-styled "prayer warriors" will do whatever they can to marginalize those gay service members who choose to come out under the protections of this repeal. And they'll feel good about it. I can only hope the leadership of the Armed Forces will force the cultural change that will be necessary for gay and lesbian service members to serve openly and in safety.

Sea change is never, never easy. One of my children is a member of the United States Navy. The other is a lesbian. They will both be affected by this change, for good or for ill, and I can only hope that the example of Admiral Mike Mullen will inspire and inform people of good conscience:
Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at the issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me, personally, it comes down to integrity -- theirs as individuals and ours as an institution. I also believe that the great young men and women of our military can and would accommodate such a change. I never underestimate their ability to adapt.
Move forward with grace and courage, shipmates. Non sibi sed patriae.

Colorado Adventures - Breckenridge Oktoberfest

Monday, September 19, 2011
The Abbett Placer Inn
Last weekend the Smart Man and I had a weekend getaway to Breckenridge, Colorado for the Breckenridge Oktoberfest. We were really looking forward to it, as this was the first of our Colorado Adventures.

We stayed at the Abbett Placer Inn, a lovely bed and breakfast two blocks from Main Street. It was a lovely home, a refurbished Victorian whose only negative attribute was the fact that the outside was painted a really odd shade of purple, including the picket fence. Our room was the "Miners Shaft Suite," and was decorated with historic photos and implements from Breckenridge's mining history. The Innkeepers were both gracious, the breakfasts were delicious, and the entire operation was extremely well organized and easy. Score on the B&B!

The Miners Shaft Suite

The first night we were there, we wandered around looking for a place to eat and ended up at a place called The Hearthstone, a fine restaurant a block from the Inn. Housed in another renovated Victorian home, it was charming, the service was exemplary, and the food was amazing. The Smart Man had the Blackberry Elk (one of their specialties), and I had the Striped Bass. For dessert we enjoyed their version of a banana split, which should probably be illegal.

It rained.
The following day we went down to the Oktoberfest, and wouldn't you know it - the weather WOULD NOT COOPERATE. It rained on and off (mostly on) for the entire day, and was chilly, as well. Nothing to be done about the weather, of course, and they had several varieties of Paulaner beers on tap, so it wasn't a complete waste. There were tons of people, though. Lots and lots of people. And we all know how much the Smart Man and I just LOVE PEOPLE. Not. The Innkeeper told us Sunday morning that Saturday is always super busy at the 'fest, and that planning on a Sunday visit is usually better (provided you don't have to leave until Monday). So now we know - if we go back next year, we'll take a Monday vacation day, come up on Saturday, and enjoy the 'fest on Sunday, when there're FEWER PEOPLE.


We came home on Sunday, and admired Lake Dillon on our way out. We may end up putting Frisco, the town next to the Lake, on our list for next year, provided there are sufficient activities to make us happy.


Lake Dillon, taken from the Jeep on our way home
While the Smart Man was a bit disappointed that the Oktoberfest was not more similar to the ones he attended as a young soldier in Germany, we still enjoyed our first Adventure - we love Breckenridge, and we'll probably go back at some point. Next month: The historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado!

Free Shit Friday Winner...

Sunday, September 18, 2011
...of The Jazz Singers is Random Michelle, with a random number of 8. Enjoy!

2011 Flower Pr0n - Fall is Coming Edition

Saturday, September 17, 2011


Free Shit Friday - The Jazz Singers

Friday, September 16, 2011

This week's Free Shit is a copy of The Jazz Singers, a jazz collection offered by the Smithsonian as a companion to the documentary of the same name.

This is a fabulous collection. From Billie Holiday to Blind Willie Johnson, all the greats are represented, and the collection is a joy to listen to.

So why is it in the Free Shit pile? Well, because the Smart Man and I choose to manage our media as electronic content. Most of my physical media was given away to the Good Will after it was loaded to my hard drives, but this collection is expensive enough, and awesome enough, to merit its own place in the pantheon of give-aways. Plus I can think of several frequent visitors to this space who would thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this collection.

Da rules.

Food for Thought

Thursday, September 15, 2011
Today I'll be attending a technical meeting. Like 95% of the technical meetings I attend, I will probably be the only woman in the room. And even though I still think that's a problem and pretty indicative of the institutional sexism that's entrenched in my industry, I'm getting a little bored hearing myself bitch about it.

So I'll bitch about something else.

Speaking only for myself (and in a more generic sense, my industry), it seems to me that in some ways, I live in the worst of both worlds. I continue to work in a male dominated industry where I'm the frequent target of casual (and mostly unintentional) sexism, and yet, the so-called "perqs" of being a woman are no longer afforded me, either. As an example, when I was taking the rental car shuttle yesterday evening, I was one of two women on the bus. Both of us were standing, and all the seats were taken by men. Five or ten years ago, I would have been automatically offered a seat by one of the men.

Now let me me absolutely clear - I am not a delicate flower who is incapable of standing on a shuttle, nor do I think that any of those men had any obligation whatsoever to offer me their seat. On the (fewer and fewer) occasions when men do offer me a seat, or hold a door for me, I thank them graciously and move on - and I don't take offense when they choose not to do so.

I just think we're at a point in the zeitgeist where it's still okay to marginalize me professionally because of my gender, but we're also at a point where gender-based courtesies are becoming outdated. I find the contrast...interesting.

Overscheduled...but at least there's beer

Monday, September 12, 2011
That time of year

It's the time of year where my company forces me to go through the agonizing process known as "performance review." They insist that I document my work-related accomplishments in a tool called "Talent Maker," which reminds me a bit of the old DOS CLI in terms of usability.

I hate this time of year.

While I think I do a perfectly acceptable job in my professional endeavors, I'm at a point in my life where I really resent the need to document every little thing I do in order to justify my continued employment. I'm a good engineer. I keep apprised of new technology in my field, I'm responsive to my customers, and I work hard to be a good team-mate. People who know me in a professional context know these things about me, and yet every Fall I spend hours justifying my life.

Ah, corporate America. I love you for paying my mortgage. I hate you for allowing your bureaucracy to turn me into a cynical old grump.

Take me out to the ball game

On Saturday the Smart Man and I went out to Coors Field to watch the Colorado Rockies take on the Cincinnati Reds with my fabulous Aunt and Uncle. The Rockies won (for a change), which was disappointing to the Smart Man who is a Reds fan from way back. I was very sympathetic, though. Okay, not really. I believe I gave him the Nelson Muntz laugh, in fact.

However, the weather was just perfect for a game, sunny but not too hot, and Coors Field is an awesome venue. So we have a crappy team and an awesome venue. One out of two isn't bad, especially in baseball.


On the road again

I'll be leaving tomorrow for Austin, Texas, followed by Kansas City (again), returning on Thursday evening. I had a request to fly to Pennsylvania immediately following KC for a meeting on Friday, but declined - the logistics of such a trip made my hair stand on end. Now that the Smart Twins are self-sufficient and off the payroll, I don't mind traveling periodically, but I do try to keep the travel-related stress below the "stroking out" level.

Plus, the Smart Man and I will be leaving for the Breckenridge Oktoberfest on Friday, and I'm not really interested in cancelling another personal trip due to work-related travel. Because, you know - beer.

Then I'll be heading out to San Diego the following weekend to spend time with The Mechanicky Gal and the inestimable Jeri. I'm not sure how I managed to get so over-scheduled for September. Usually I don't allow that to happen, but since most of my activities are friend/family/fun related rather than telecom related, I'm going to take the whole thing as a "win." And then possibly hole up for the entire month of October.

I Remember

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Free Shit Friday Winner...

...of Our Kind of Traitor is Karl, with a random number of 6. Enjoy!

2011 Wildflower Pr0n - Yellow!

Saturday, September 10, 2011


Free Shit Friday - Our Kind of Traitor

Friday, September 9, 2011
Today's free shit offer is a Hardcover First American Edition of John le Carré's Our Kind of Traitor.

"For nearly half a century, John le Carré's limitless imagination has enthralled millions of readers and moviegoers around the globe. From the cold war to the bitter fruits of colonialism to unrest in the Middle East, he has reinvented the spy novel again and again. Now, le Carré makes his Viking debut with a stunning tour-de-force that only a craftsman of his caliber could pen. As menacing and flawlessly paced as The Little Drummer Girl and as morally complex as The Constant Gardener, Our Kind of Traitor is signature le Carré.

"Perry and Gail are idealistic and very much in love when they splurge on a tennis vacation at a posh beach resort in Antigua. But the charm begins to pall when a big-time Russian money launderer enlists their help to defect. In exchange for amnesty, Dima is ready to rat out his vory (Russian criminal brotherhood) compatriots and expose corruption throughout the so-called legitimate financial and political worlds. Soon, the guileless couple find themselves pawns in a deadly endgame whose outcome will be determined by the victor of the British Secret Service's ruthless internecine battles."
I've not read this one, although I do think le Carré is a decent author with some serious skills.

Da Rules.

1st Annual Hot Chicks and Smart Men Dig Reading Summer Reading Program

Thursday, September 8, 2011
Well, the First Annual Hot Chicks and Smart Men Dig Reading Summer Reading Program is over, and the response has been great!

During the time frame (June 21 - September 6), you all read 158 books, and I read 24 books. That ends up translating into a $220.00 contribution to the Douglas County Library Foundation, which has already been made. Go, us!

But wait - there's MORE. It turns out that the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado is currently matching new contributions to the Douglas County Library for the purpose of supporting the development of mobile computer labs to supplement technology resources available to library patrons. So the contribution is actually $440.00! We rock!

But wait - there's MORE! Filelalaine has agreed to match my donation to the DCL to her local library in Studio City, so the total library donation is actually $660.00! We rule!

And now, as promised, here are the winners of the $25.00 Amazon Gift Cards:
  • With a random number of 90, Debby read The Confession by John Grishom.
  • With a random number of 6, ExpatMom read Where Shadows Dance by C.S. Harris.
  • With a random number of 44, Anne C. read Juggler of Worlds, by Larry Nivan.
Winners, please contact me at hotchicksdigsmartmen (at) comcast (dot) net and let me know what e:mail address you want me to use for your prizes. 

Keep reading, and we'll see you next year!

Free Shit Friday Winners...

Wednesday, September 7, 2011
...of the homemade Blackberry Jam is Carol Elaine,* with a Random Number of 17, and Dr. Phil, with a Random Number of 10. I'll get those in the mail this weekend.

Enjoy!



____________
*This is the third time Carol Elaine has won jam, and I'm beginning to suspect her friends at JPL are somehow gaming the Random Number Generator I use on her behalf. ::looks suspicious::

Heading Home

Tuesday, September 6, 2011
We're heading home this morning after a fabulous long weekend visiting our Awesome, Awesome Niece and her equally Awesome Parents.

Unsurprisingly, my Smart BIL and his Fabulous Wife are amazing parents to their baby girl, patient, informed and extremely conscientious. Although she had kind of a rough start due to a premature birth, she's thriving now, and has no compunction about letting her opinions be known.

Also? She is CUTE. Cute, cute, cute.* Not as cute as the Smart Twins were, of course, but CUTE.

We'll get back to our regularly scheduled programing tomorrow, including the contest results from the Hot Chicks and Smart Men Summer Reading Program, Free Shit Friday contest results and generalized carping. Exciting times.

__________________
*There will be no photographic evidence of her astounding cuteness. Her parents prefer to keep her image off the public Internet, and their wishes will be absolutely respected here at Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men.

2011 Wildflower Pr0n

Saturday, September 3, 2011


Free Shit Friday - Blackberry Jam

Friday, September 2, 2011

Today's Free Shit Friday item is two jars of homemade Blackberry Jam. Hmm...jam.

The winner won't be selected until next week, because I'm going to be busy this weekend taking care of busy Auntie business. With my AWESOME, AWESOME NIECE. Which is FAR MORE important than jam. Or free shit.

Da rules.

Detritus*

Thursday, September 1, 2011
We still suck

From my friend Jenn, who is a social worker in Utah:
So reading a great PR piece on doctors doing free surgeries overseas for walk right, face this or that, or hearts....but a guy in the shelter lost his foot to gangrene because the awesome hospitals here kept sending him to 4th street clinic without seeing him...see we should have sent him overseas...silly us...no PR in helping poor people here in Utah.
Yes, we still suck. Because after all we've been through, we still embrace a for-profit health care system, and there's no margin in providing health care services to the poor. U.S.A! We're #1! In leaving people by the side of the road, I mean.

In more ways than one

Turns out that the so-called "gender gap" that we see here in the good ole U.S. of A. disappears in cultures where women are empowered. Our ladybrains really are suited to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and our inability to find a place there is a cultural problem. I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell you! No, I'm not.

The scarlet "A"

For "Atheist," that is. There's a new (or old) whackadoodle in town - one Michael Stahl, a Christian chat-room stalker, and he has a FABULOUS IDEA. He thinks that I should have to register with the Federal Government as an ADMITTED ATHEIST. You know - like a convicted sex offender. That way all the God-Fearing Folk can try and show me the error of my ways. And if I refuse to change my mind (presumably because I'm too busy being a contributing member of society, respecting others' points of view and knitting for charity), then they'll know exactly where I am so they can persecute me with ease. I'm sure Teh Gayz, the Jews and the Muslims will be next. I'm so glad I won't be alone.

I have a short attention span

I participate in "BOINC," which is a volunteer distributed computing program where anyone with a computer can help crunch data for a variety of scientific endeavors. Previously I ran projects for SETI and the LHC, but I wanted to expand my projects, so recently I signed up for Malaria Control and Climate Prediction, as well. DUDE! Climate Prediction projects are like 350 hours long. Yes, yes, climate modeling is complex and takes a long time. Whatever. 350 hours long. I'm only running them one at a time so that I can also run short projects simultaneously in order to satisfy my need for instant gratification. I'm such an American.

Are you still reading?

If so, you only have until Monday to log your reading in the Hot Chicks Dig Smart Men 1st Annual Summer Reading Program page. Then entry for the prizes will be CLOSED. CLOSED FOREVER.** How sad will you be in you miss out a prize because you neglected to log your reading? VERY, VERY SAD.

_______
*The detritus of my mind, not the Troll in
Disworld.

**Not actually "forever." You'll get another chance next summer.