Count Me In!

The government is after me. (No, not like THAT -- I'm transitioning from legit visa holder to legit greencard holder as we speak!) The government is after me to fill out a 28 page form that I believe is technically for the census, but it's actually cleverly called "The American Community Survey" -- cozy, huh?

Truth be told, I actually don't mind filling out forms like this. Having once been a census-taker for a summer job in Canada (funny stories there for another time), I definitely empathize with how difficult it is to get people to complete these forms. Also, having a background in business/marketing/strategy, I understand the value of survey data and how it can be used to help make important decisions.

(And mostly, since I'm not a citizen and don't get to vote, I figure this is the closest I'll get to having some input on things for a while!)

The Census Bureau sent me a nice letter a couple of weeks ago informing me that I would soon be receiving a package in the mail and that it was very important that I answer the questions and send back the survey in a timely manner. Then as promised, a few days later, the survey package arrived in the mail. (The government actually keeping its word? Alert the press!) And now they are peppering me with little post cards, reminding me to fill out the survey and please send it back promptly. (Someone paid attention in Communications 101 class when the professor outlined the key rules in communicating: "Tell them what you're going to tell them; then tell them; then tell them what you told them.")

So, I've completed the survey and I will do my duty as a (nearly) permanent resident of the United States (who still can't vote, but who can pay taxes like she's the government's petty cash account) and I will send it back tomorrow.

But before I do, I had to share a few questions that I wish had the option of a write-in answer instead of just the "yes" and "no" boxes:

-- Because of a physical, mental or emotional condition, does this person have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions?

I'm sorry, what was the question again?

-- Does this person have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?

Why do you think I live on the first floor?? And I must not, under any circumstance, be allowed to chew gum while attempting either of these two activities.

-- Does this person have difficulty dressing or bathing?

Bathing -- once a fortnight whether I need it or not. (Is soap a requirement?)
Dressing -- I'm going through an "inside out" phase right now, but no one gets close enough to really realize it due to the "bathing" point above.

John heeft een foto van jou getagd op Facebook

Imagine how perplexed I was to see dozens of these kinds of messages in my email inbox when I logged in at an internet cafe in Dublin a couple of weeks ago. At first I thought it was some aggressive spam, but then it dawned on me... it was Dutch! Yes, a language that I speak absolutely NONE of, but the names referenced in the subject lines were names of real friends on Facebook, and words like "foto" lent some credibility to the fact that these were, in fact, bona fide emails.

About 6 days earlier, Special K and I had been in Amsterdam, waiting for our connection to Dublin. Because we had a few hours to kill, we installed ourselves in the KLM lounge and lo and behold if there wasn't free internet access.

We both checked our email, and I updated both Facebook and Twitter.

And because of the 4 hours I was in the Netherlands, Facebook decided that I was most probably fluent in Dutch by then and that I would be happiest with my entire Facebook profile in Dutch as well. Never mind that I've been using Facebook in ENGLISH for the past two and a half years.

In any event, I did manage to get everything switched back to English, but not without canvasing the internet cafe with the question "Does anyone know how to say 'preferences' in Dutch???"

Expansion in the Blogosphere!

I told you I was back to blogging! Well, not only am I aiming to keep this blog regularly updated, but I've also (finally) launched another blog at Kaboodle, the awesome social shopping site where I work.

Since Kaboodle is all about shopping, my Kaboodle blog is mostly product and shopping focused. We have a really fun area called "What I'm Wearing Today", so I'm also trying to post the occasional entry there.

Check it out here. Happy Kaboodling!

Mawwied?? Yes, Mawwied!!

As I mentioned, on June 6 Special K and I pledged we'd love each other for eternity (or at least until football season starts -- just kidding, you can't really be a "football widow" when you love it, too!) The wedding was hosted at the lovely home of our very dear friends, Craig and Dannie, in Encinitas, CA. We had a very small, intimate ceremony and dinner with our families and a few friends -- the day was absolutely perfect and a couple of days later, we were off to Ireland for our honeymoon. Spectacular.

Now, I know this is kind of cheating, but Special K wrote a great email to our wedding guests to recap some of the highlights of the day and of our trip to the Emerald Isle. So, I hereby annoint Special K as my guest blogger and invite you to enjoy his marvelous way with words and sense of humour. (I just may turn the whole blog over to him!)

Here goes:

“Hey, we just flew in from Dublin and – boy - our arms are tired!”
(bah-dah-bing!)

Wanted to send one final note to our wedding posse and share some quick post-ceremony behind the scenes tid-bits and honeymoon highlights:

Betcha didn’t know that Shari’s Dad and Craig had to make two runs to the store to pick up some ice minutes before the party bus pulled into the circular driveway!

Father Peter is actually the Bishop of California’s Catholic Ecumenical Church – and no, he is not one of the co-stars of the current box office hit “The Hangover.”

Pittsburgh Johnny was warming up in the bullpen with his Internet-certified minister certificate in case Father Peter got stuck on the 5 freeway.

In a close vote, Aunt Kathy’s cookies edged out the custom cupcakes and pudding to win the “best dessert” award.

Cincy Bob had a beautiful speech prepared about the bride and groom but was wise enough to recognize that NO ONE – not even Elvis-back-from-the-grave! - could follow Shari’s “red nose” improvisation.

Special thanks to Craig and Dannie McLaughlin for opening their home to us for our special night! As Aunt Audrey said, “This is like one of those places you see on those fancy home and garden cable TV shows!”

IRELAND Honeymoon facts:

Over / under on how long it takes an Irishman to praise Obama as “the second coming”: 47 seconds.

Would you believe: There are more cabs in Dublin than NYC! (look it up!)

What is on TV in Ireland as the Penguins were hoisting the Stanley Cup and the Lakers winning the NBA Championship?...Hurling! (seriously…)

Special K scorecard from piloting a right-hand-drive Hyundai across Ireland?
-1 popped curb speeding thru a roundabout
-2 pissed-off Irishmen from driving head-on into the wrong lane
-3 attempts to enter the car from the wrong side
-4 bruises on his left arm from his wife’s “encouragement” from the passenger seat
-5 maps used navigate across Ireland but – when we pulled back into Dublin we spent an hour trying to find our rental car return location – gave up – and paid $10 Euro to a cab driver to let us follow him there.

Average time the sun would set during our trip: 10pm!

Zero! (the number of clock radios found in our 6 different hotel rooms.)

True or False: The green card bride spent some time in jail during her honeymoon.

TRUE: http://www.kilmainham-gaol.com/

True or False: Special K enjoyed a Galway Hooker during his honeymoon!

TRUE! http://www.galwayhooker.ie/
(it’s a beer, people!)

Thanks again, everyone! And to those who have shared their photos, thank you & stand by – Shari will create “something” with the official wedding and honeymoon photos and forward a link.

Love & Laughs-
-K&S

Did Ya Miss Me??

Didn't even know I was gone, did ya? Well, after an extremely prolonged absence, I am indeed back! Special K and I got hitched on Saturday, June 6 -- if you didn't know, we only set the date in May, so we were busy bees for most of May, juggling crazy work schedules, wedding planning and of course, HONEYMOON planning!

We just got back from our honeymoon in Ireland a few days ago, and now that we're back and life is back to its only semi-frenetic pace, consider Signature Shari officially resurrected!

Ah, it's good to be back!