Free TP for a year!

I know I've talked about Alice before -- usually in my attempts to win things. Well, I'll admit I'm doing it again: I want free TP for year! I need free TP for a year because I live semi-communally (a large apartment building). One of my neighbors recently had their apartment broken into and the (allegedly) the perpetrator committed arson (wasn't in the perp's MO -- he had already confessed to the break-in). Well, at 1:30 a.m. on that Saturday night, we were woken by someone knocking on doors as that apartment's smoke alarm beeped. The fire department broke down the door, woke us all up, and then stayed speaking loudly in the hall for a few hours. Well, I don't want to shout "Oh, sheet!" (or something less decorous) at 1:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning and awaken my neighbors. Though at least it would probably be so quick, they'd never what had awakened them in the first place. Either way, I deserve free TP for a year because I don't want to awaken myself more than I need to just to fumble for more TP or worse yet, start looking for the tissues.

Positive Addictions

My job isn't always fun and this rough economy isn't making it any easier. This blog post made me think about the things I wouldn't want to give up -- my faith, my loving family, my supportive friends, Ben & Jerry's ice cream, apples, and my cell phone. But are any of those positive addictions? Beyond the first two, no. So my new goal: become addicted to working out again. Or as I read in SELF magazine once, though you may not LOVE working out, LOVE the way it makes you feel.

Lessons from Obama's Speech at ND

So lots of blogging is going on reflecting on Obama's speech at Notre Dame. The biggest one I take from it is this: we are a diverse Church, and this provided us an opportunity to show that diversity, and our ability to be not only civil with each other but admit that we are members of a community larger than ourselves. This was confirmed by a friend who remarked that he had never realized how conservative or liberal some Catholics could be. I should invite him to my brother's wedding -- meet my family, and you'll see that diversity pretty well amongst all sides.

Here are some other interesting takes from the blogosphere and internet articles:

• Eboo Patel's Obama a Champion at Notre Dame
• Russ Shaw's Obama at ND: Three Lessons
• Aaron Zelinsky's Echoes of the Bible: Obama's Notre Dame Address
• Joshua Rhett Miller's Some Complaints That Opposition Politicians Scarce at Notre Dame Protests

See, I do read Fox News!

Late Night Last Call Jalapeno Poppers - from Doritos!

A couple of weeks ago, I saw this Doritos bag hanging from the end of an aisle at the Walgreens across from work (State & Jackson, southwest corner). Okay, aren't Doritos a late night (and other) munchie treat anyway? Much less do you really need it market what would generally be either an appetizer or snack plucked from the frozen food section -- jalapeno poppers -- as a new Doritos flavor? Admittedly, I've never been a HUGE Doritos fan, but I can only imagine what a bad idea this flavor, especially ingested as a 'Late Night Last Call' would be!

A little obsessed with Alice. . .

I used to be a horrible compulsive shopper. In the time since I've moved to Chicago, it has lessened because I have to be able to carry it all home. Which is why I love Alice -- I want stuff delivered to me, no shopping or compulsive purchases! And I'll be able to order toilet paper before I run out of it! As an Alice Twitter follower and blog reader, I'm hooked! I love the item pairings -- even the ones I'd never use (may I never own a car every again). I'm very eager to see what eco-friendly lines they'll be carrying. I love independent organizations, like Indigo Wild! (their laundry soap ROCKS!) and Method -- especially in conjunction with my new euro cleaner which completely makes me happy to use less chemicals!

And one more reason to love the Alice blog: they do fun giveaways! Check out the latest on AquaNotes -- I've decided I need two so that I can have a work list and an "other" list set. For example, this morning's shower included thoughts on: Father's Day gifts, programming ideas for work, my "to do" list (buy wedding card, new shoes and dress for wedding, and something else I've already forgotten).