Are you sure that's a man?

So, I just got back from Mindy's fabulous bachelorette party in San Diego. The weekend was full of the typical festivities, friends, girl talk, pillow fights, drinking, dinner, games, spa, and of course, a trip to a drag show...yes, you heard me right. We went to see a drag/dinner show and it was so much fun! My only question is, does anyone think it is weird that I want the body of a drag queen?

Good Article on Wine

With Sandy and I getting more into wine over the past year or so, I have really made an effort to try and read up as much as I can about it. If you have any interest in learning more, there is a good article here on the 11 most common questions for two wine experts (and their answers) - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123516947573436527.html#articleTabs%3Darticle.

Bye Bye Supply Chain

So, as I am sure some of you saw on my facebook, I have accepted a new position in my company. I am leaving the world of supply chain and venturing into the world of HR. HR you might ask? Yes, at first I thought the same thing. No offense to anyone in HR, but I have to admit I was fairly ignorant to what HR entailed...I thought it was simply hiring, firing, employee relations, etc...and although those are part of HR, there is so much more, so much analytical stuff that makes nerds like me drool! My new boss (and his boss) both have supply chain backgrounds, and they sold it to me as supply chain with people, not products =) I have to say that I am very excited. A bit scared, but I welcome the challenge. My new title is HR Process Leader, and essentially I will be a process engineer and a project manager, which means I will have a TON of work and responsibility and lots of deadlines. Until I start, I have a bunch of transition work to do as they look for my replacement. I must say, I feel validated that they are replacing me, as we haven't replaced the last two people that left our team =) Anyway, I really feel that this is a good move career wise and I am really looking forward to the opportunity. I might go back to Supply Chain at some point in my future as it is something I enjoy, but until then, I am going to strive to become a HR Queen!

The Dregs of Consumerism - Mall Kiosks

Sandy and I went to a nearby mall yesterday and the occasion served well to remind me of what I most dislike about shopping malls - the kiosk businesses. The funny thing about these kiosks is that I have never met any other people who like them. Moreover, I don't know anyone who purchases things from them.

Their business model is hilarious - pick an extremely useless product or service, staff the kiosk with pushy 18-25 year old people, have these employees interrupt, yell, and beckon at people as they walk by in an attempt to convince them to buy the product, repeat. I would even argue that the advent and onslaught of kiosk businesses in American shopping malls is directly correlated to the downfall of large-size shopping malls and their overall enjoyment. More kiosks = more crappy products = less people going to malls = more large businesses bailing from malls = malls go bankrupt or cater to low brow customers.

This brings me to my favorite part about kiosks - the different products they offer! I have seen the following types of products offered:

• Sunglasses


• Chia pets


• Homes


• Lotions / skin care products


• Vacations


• Time shares


• Strange hair accessories


• Wigs / hair extensions


• Crappy jewelry / fake bling


• Watch repair


• Wannabe bonsai plants


• Tourist clothing


• Fudge


• Candy


• Coffee


• Custom engraving


• Water massage tables / massage chairs


• Mini remote control helicopters


• Hair threading

That's right - hair threading. Have you ever heard of this? Sandy and I have passed this one particular kiosk several times where there are two chairs and two employees who hold strings and use them on people's faces. Sandy speculated that they were weaving people's eyebrows, but further research by me has found that they are practicing hair threading or epilation. Hair threading is the process of using strings to trim body hair, first originating in ancient Iran. In other words, these kiosks sell the service of having teenagers use strings to trim your eyebrows - and people were buying it!

I can only fret to think of what the future holds for mall kiosks...

A Haiku Ode to Excel Shortcuts

Workplace deadlines loom

Quick F9 and CTRL+S

booya! Silent boss.

A Pop Culture Lesson In Karma

As I'm sure you all heard, Olympic extraordinaire swimmer Michael Phelps was recently photographed smoking marijuana. His decision to engage in such illegal behavior, amidst a time when he was reaping enormous marketing and pecuniary benefits, will be seen by many as incredibly irresponsible. I, however, chose to view it as an example of how karma affects people. You see, Michael attended the University of Michigan. Such a decision was sure to eventually cause him negative consequences.

Is business really about money?

Business Class 101- the goal of a business is to make money. Makes sense, right? Absolutely, which is why I wonder how some business stay open, because there is no way they can be making a profit. For example, have you ever seen the store Cartridge World? If not, it is a chain of stores dedicated to refilling ink cartridges...seriously. Or what about Batteries Plus, whose name fits perfectly? I just don't see how in this day and age (with Internet shopping, big box retailer, etc...) these companies survive. Do they know something I don't...is the joke on me?

Random

I went to Tucson to see Mindy this past weekend. We were watching TV and enjoying a few drinks on Saturday night, when a random commercial came on...I cant recall exactly what company it was for, but it had people who only had one eye. As Mindy and I died of laughter, she said "this commercial would not have come on if we had not been drinking". It made me think. How many times does stuff like that happen...where what is on TV/the radio, etc...seems too perfect for chance? I remember heartbroken times in high school where every radio station was playing the one song that reminded me of a boy, or being stressed about being sick and every TV commercial was about drugs/dying, or forgetting my license and seeing 25 cops as I drove, etc...Does this occur all the time and we only tune in when something strikes our fancy? Or, is there something that brings these "random" moments to us to test us? Not sure, but if you happen to see a commercial where everyone only has one eye, jot down the company for me!