Man in the...Scan?

If you have a million dollars lying around (let's face it, who doesn't it), then I have the deal for you. You can be the proud owner of the Michael Jackson 3D Scan Data Avatar from 1996. I don't question the price because let's be real Michael himself would have bought it at that price, but what would you do with a 3D scan of the King of Pop. {daydream with me for a moment}

Hmm, I could use it on my upcoming Christmas cards, who wouldn't like to see the King of Pop's face while celebrating the King of Kings' birthday. I could have a wax figurine made, so I could throw the cops off me while driving in the HOV lane in Nashville. If stopped by the police, I would totally get out of a ticket because he's so life-like since the 3D was made from Michael in 1996. I could finally have a cool morph scene when I'm remaking The Secret World of Alex Mack. Can you imagine the all of the fun that could be had with a 3D Michael doll? I could put him in overalls and have a new My Buddy doll... "My Buddy, My Buddy... My Buddy and meeee!"

I guess I will save my first million dollar purchase to buy something more reasonable, maybe a website domain. There just happens to be one for sale. I think it's a diamond in the rough.

Pattycake, Pattycake

I'm not a chef or even a cook for that matter. However, I do love to BAKE. Baking combines two of my favorite things: creativity AND sugar! I think I could rock a cake decorating class some day. I have so many cake ideas... but the thing about cake decorating is that you always end up with lots and lots of cake. We definitely do not need any extra cake lying around mocking me until I consume it all. So for now, I will have to observe cake from a distance. I window-shop websites and watch Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes, and Amazing Wedding Cakes to get my sugary fix.

The other day my mom made a red velvet cake for the Lambuth girls' basketball team. She let me frost the cake. Of course, I wanted to pipe something out. We started laughing about our techniques and then while spreading the frosting a cake divot popped up. Mom so graciously took over (not really, but she kept making me move over) to show me how a PRO does it. Then, vindication - she smoothed a section of the cake and it looked like the 4th of July. An explosion of RED crumbs everywhere. I guess we both will have to enroll into that decorating class. Here are some cool cake creations from Bakerella. I have been enjoying her blog for about a year now. I bet she knows how to spread cream cheese icing.

photo credit: bakerella

The Outsiders: Body Art

I'm no stranger to the Internets. I surf it all of the time and {if you listen to my parents} - way too much. I think I am quickly moving up Google's index food chain though. However, I still from time to time get surprised by what people put out there on the web. So, I'm going to start an occasional blog posting named "The Outsiders" devoted to all those souls who stepped outside of the proverbial acceptable box and followed the beat of a different drum. Here's to you crazy souls, who afford me a chuckle at your expense.

For all of the tatted Chi Omegas and/or bird of prey lovers:

owltattoos.blogspot.com 

For the ladies who love to get their nails did:

daily-nail.blogspot.com




Disclaimer: Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is not coincidental. I found you on the Internet and reserve the right to make a punch-line of your user content. If you don't like it, then don't publish it for the entire world to see.

Do you eat fish?

One of the funniest flowcharts I have seen in recent years. It is an easy guide to figuring out what should you eat. My favorite question is "Do you eat fish?" That question was designed for me and we all know the answer to that question is a BIG N-O! Well, I guess I need to figure out what mom and I are going to eat tonight. Her name isn't Jared... She has more than $3...

(click on photo to enlarge)






















photo credit: eating the road

Brown Bag (Packaging) Special

Happiness.

The Wanderer

I have been floating from one project to another these days, since being freed from my gilded cage... I mean my job. I have been working on my new business venture with my brother (more to come about that in the coming weeks). If someone asks me to help with something, my mind wanders in another direction while completing their project. My mom asked me to design our Pinson Family Christmas invitation (still haven't done it yet), BUT I did update my mom's blog header. She's asleep right now and doesn't even know it yet. Hope she likes it, oh well back to invitation.

I also side-tracked again and helped my cousin-in-law with her start-up company. I got to help with naming it and the logo. When I finish, I will post the logo on here. Her company will be a consignment fine furniture and home decor store. I named it "Then & Again" and it stuck.

If you know my family at all, we can have one conversation and start a company. Whitney started hers last week. Colby and I formed ours a month ago. We come from a long line of entrepreneurs. One of my favorite family business ventures was my parents' disco club. Yes, you read correctly - a DISCO, a discotheque to be more accurate. It was called the "Nite Lite" and I can only imagine the decor it was rocking back then. My aunt and uncle also started a Pretzel store in the mall on a whim too. Since then, we have had lighting and furniture stores/companies, electronic and appliance stores, corrugated packaging company, mattress store, restaurants, jewelry stores, construction companies, real estate, etc. One thing can be said about my family, if there is a dollar to be made we don't waste time or ideas.

I can trace this back to my childhood. I had the rite of passage Lemonade stand. Who didn't? However, did you recycle your cups to increase your profits? Did you market your stand on two of the busiest corners of the neighborhood? Did you offer a free cookie to the consumer who spent $2 on a 8 oz cup of watered-down lemonade? I can honestly say I did all of these and took my money all the way to the piggy bank. I love business, in any format. During my childhood, I had a Friendship Bracelet business that home-delivered (that was the key!) Way before Slater, Jessie, and Kelly had Buddy Bands (see below if you lived under a rock in the 90's), I had franchised a Ramblewood neighborhood empire of selling various bracelet styles to all of the kids and indirectly to their parents. I deployed my siblings and their friends on bikes to deliver these precious gems. They had walkie-talkies to ensure prompt delivery and customer service. The key was to get kids to do all of the work. By all accounts they were ADHD, so in order to get them to help me with my deliveries one had to make it into a game. I called it the CHiPs Game. So, in essence, Colby was one of my Erik Estrada delivery boys. Everyone wins!

Well, I guess I will design the family invitation tomorrow or maybe...

If you can dodge a wrench...

Kris has been quite the busy bee. In addition to his two soccer teams, he joined another soccer team that plays during the week and he took up Dodgeball. Well, for the day. He joined a team for the NAAAP Dodgeball tournament. His team came in first. He played round after round even though he played a soccer game that morning! Here's a video someone posted on YouTube. He didn't make the video, but some of his teammates are in it. He is still sore from all the throwing. I never know what he is going to join next. Maybe kickball?

For Sale: Malibu Mansion

Admit it. You recognize this house, don't you? It is the Newport Beach mansion of Caleb Nichol, grandfather of Seth Cohen, who gave it to his new wife Julie Cooper, mother of Marisa Cooper, as a wedding gift. In reality, the spread is in Malibu, CA, but it still boasts an awesome ocean view. It is an expansive seven-bedroom, 10-bath pad overlooking Paradise Cove with 1.7 acres lushly landscaped grounds that is on the market for $6.9 million. Chump change!

Achy Breaky Back

Our blog is so neglected. I guess we both stopped sharing because all we were sharing was gloomy news. Well, today I have elected to see the brighter side of life. Okay, I'm not fooling anyone... but I have been more energetic and positive lately so maybe I'm coming back to life, as we know it. For those following at home: Jenny has endured countless surgeries, exploratory medical adventures, every mishap and complication you could throw at woman within the last 13 months. I'm done with it... well not really, but I'm on the downhill, I hope. Got a great report about the rods and screws. They are holding. This isn't my back, but it looks similar.

Through all of this, my wonderful husband and very loving family moved us to Mt. Juliet. Even though our address has been in Wilson County since April, I'm just now living here and exploring our new lands. We live in a new apartment complex within Providence. Yes, I ate tons of crow when we signed the papers. But, we weren't ready for a house commitment with all the medical adventures and uncertainty.

What we have learned since moving in:

1. We HATE (and I use this term in its fullest context) our upstairs neighbor. She is a recently divorced woman who takes out every emotion on her vacuum cleaner. Seriously, I'm not kidding. She will vacuum her apartment 3 times a day! Stop the insanity! Kris and I have to calmly talk each other down from marching up there and kicking her Hoover to the curb.

2. We (well, I) dislike apartment lighting and blinds. I took the blinds down as soon as I saw them. I know its against Section 89b, but puh-lease. Talk about tacky!

3. Water is black gold in Wilson County. Our water bill rivals the cable bill. I think I need to go into the water business here. I could make millions.

4. Though we enjoy having everything at our finger tips (i.e. Providence). We miss the idiosyncrasies of the Boro. There isn't any redlight cameras, one street having four different names, random festivals in the square, driving 30 mins to get across town... There isn't a Hastings, Slick Pig, Toot's, Demo's, All Souped Up... I think I'm hungry.

5. Swimming in a salt water pool can lead to poison ivy. That's all I'm going to say about that one.

Well, I promise to start blogging again. It may end up being quite therapeutic for me.

Artsie Fartsie

Surfing the web again and came across this random artist. Thought I would share his strange installations.

Mark Jenkins

New Year, New Craving

This year has started out like every year in my recent years. I think of all the things I want to change and how I'm going to accomplish my new planned goals. Of course, there are the usual suspects on the "I'm-really-going-to-stick-with-it" list this year. The ever popular "balancing the checkbook, or just writing stuff down" to the "exercising more often, or just at all," but mainly I'm hoping to just stay on track. Last year, took so many twists and turns that Kris and I never knew which way would lead to the light at the end of the tunnel. We are looking forward to what 2009 will bring our way. In the spirit of New Year's Resolutions, I posted the Adieffe designed chocolate. I could eat any sweets this way. How much easier would my life be?

Who's Whoo Shoes

Recently, I bought these for Hayley Clagg's new addition, Connor. They are too cute! I guess I can't escape owls from all my Chi Omega years. I found them at Bugaloo. If you decide to buy something, please use the link above - I'm an affiliate for them. Hootie Hoo!

Bring on the Rain (and needles)

How to explain the last 8 months of our lives... more ups and downs than a play school seesaw. We were doing quite well the first few months of the year, then the proverbial snowball started rolling down the hill. So now, we find ourselves with a lot of life experiences that we really could have done with out. Emotions are all over the place. I get annoyed by the smallest things. Gotta love those extra hormones. My latest annoyance is the I-24 rush-hour drivers, particularly the ones who carpool and refuse to use the HOV lane. Seriously... that is what they created for! So move your clown car over to the far left lane and leave my lane alone. I also have recent disgust for those drivers who ride their brakes. I am 99.9% sure that they are the root cause for the parking lot (aka I-24W). However, today I have found a new and bigger annoyance - the jackhammer of a machine located across the street that is chiseling away at what I can only hope is 2 feet of bedrock. If there had been a gun near me, I wouldn’t had been able to restrain myself. Any who, there are a lot of positive things that have happened too...like Jenny overcoming her fear of needles. Let’s just say, I didn’t have a choice and every doctor/nurse/evil person I met wanted to stick me with a needle to accomplish some ambiguous goal that I’m still trying to figure out. We can also successfully check the “in sickness and in health” portion of our marriage vows. We both feel like 2009 is the year for us and we will be able to get back to normal... whatever that might be. It will be the year of fun and no needles, well a girl can dream!

“Bring on the Rain” by JoDee Messina with Tim McGraw has really put into words what I have been feeling all this year with everything. The song has empowered me during some of my darkest days.

"Bring on the Rain"

Another day has almost come and gone

Can’t imagine what else could wrong

Sometimes I’d like to hide away somewhere and lock the door

A single battle lost but not the war (cause)

Tomorrow’s another day

And I’m thirsty anyway

So bring on the rain

It’s almost like the hard times circle round

A couple drops and they all start coming down

Yeah, I might feel defeated,

I might hang my head

I might be barely breathing - but I’m not dead

Tomorrow’s another day

And I’m thirsty anyway

So bring on the rain

I’m not gonna let it get me down

I’m not gonna cry

And I’m not gonna lose any sleep tonight

Donna Martin Graduates

Candace graduated! All the family came up and celebrated. I'm so proud of her. She finished and can now move on to her next step of adulthood. Kris and I are finally going to Jackson this weekend. First time since Christmas. Classes start next week. I can't express my eagerness.

Lots of troubling times have been and are upon friends and family members these past two weeks. Kris and I are holding everyone in our prayers.

Pause and Review

Life is funny. Just when you think everything is going okay God throws a curve ball. I had mentioned that Kris and I were thinking about something but didn't want to jinx ourselves. Well, we were thinking about buying a house that I had been eyeing for a while but it is on auction. We looked the house over the other day and were pleasantly surprised with all the features of the house (see below). We have been going back and forth with all the paperwork with lenders, lots of fun there! Not sure what we are going to do just yet. All I know it is in God's hands. Stay tuned!

iLikey

Kris and I are now a part of the largest wireless network, AT&T. Yes, we joined the dark side and now have what I said I would never own again. We were out of our Sprint contract and of course, we wanted to see what was out there. Naturally, I gravitated to AT&T because of the iPhone. So we went on Saturday and found out that our monthly bill would be lower than with Sprint and then we learned Kris' work give 18% off. So it was a no brainer. We saved money for new phones and just as you would have guessed by now. I got the iPhone.

It is seriously the best piece of technology that I have ever owned and that is saying a lot. It is amazing!! Two thumbs up, way up! Kris got a cool phone too. He didn't want the fancy iPhone because of his job, but he enjoys mine. I can now update my blog from my phone. How cool! So when I'm in class about to fall asleep, I can play on the internet. The real internet, not WAP. Yea! I'm such a nerd. Well, I have much more to write about but I don't want to jinx ourselves. I will explain later this week. Have a wonderful week! Happy Monday!

I'm not a Stalker! I'm a Professional Fan!

Seriously, I'm not a stalker. But she may be. Actually, if I had money and time this would be a blog of mine. Every time I take a trip I check to see if there are in film locations in the area. Check out Lindsay's blog, Iamnotastalker.

Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Clueless (the scene when Cher is held up)



Friends opening credit shot (The Fountain)

Doss Rewind

We are in the midst of the coming and going so much that our townhouse is taking on attributes of an airport landing strip. Kris has joined not one, but two soccer teams and frequents the soccer fields whenever he can. However, lately with all the rain and storms he has been grounded to the house. This Saturday marked his second official games. His teams lost one and tied another. He scored a goal and had 2 assists. He also had a collision with another player and we have been icing down his knee ever since. He is sore right now from his doubleheader on Saturday, but he is loving every minute of it. He also has what appears to be ringworm. He thinks he got it from me, but this has not been proven.

We heard that there is a fake ringworm that is going around. You treat it just like ringworm, but it isn't ringworm. I forgot what it is called but we are putting our money on that theory. Very strange for two people to get weird red rings and have no access to animals or children. Oh well, we got the fancy cream and soon he will be cured too.

I think I have 2 more weeks of school to go. Really, I have lost count. I have been busy with last minute case studies that have to be turned in. Also, I have been assisting my sister with her senior project. She is graduating on May 3rd. My father and mother can't wait for that day. Both grandparents are attending the event. It will be great to see both sets. Besides that, I'm driving my car everywhere. I love it! I can't wait to go on a long trip soon. I continually find new features on it and fall in love all over again with the car.

I had planned to take the summer off from school, but after calculating when I could graduate. I scheduled 3 classes for this summer. I know I am pushing myself, but if I take these 3 classes, I will graduate next May and can space out the really hard classes for this fall and coming spring. I will keep you posted if this idea turns out for the best. I'm sure I will hate it soon enough. It involves a Saturday class for 5 weeks and a Tuesday/Thursday class for a month and half. So for about a month, I will be on campus 3 times a week, which includes all day on Saturdays. Fun, Fun! Oh well, at least I will have my MBA soon enough. And...that's the Doss Rewind for the week.

365 days of Fun!

April 2nd will mark my 1st anniversary with Randstad. I can't believe that time has flown by so fast. Everything is going great. I received my annual promotion and moving right along up the corporate ladder. God has been very good to me in this role. I'm looking forward to the next year and growing with the Stad.