Sunday, January 23, 2011

Can I Hear a GoogleWoot?

Hey, everyone! Where the hell have you been? You know, it’s really not polite to simply drop off the face of the earth like that. A little warning would have been nice…and I believe an explanation is warranted.

Sniff.

What was that? You feel that I’ve been the errant one? You’re saying that you have been here all along…blogging and crying inconsolably, thinking I could’ve been lying in a ditch somewhere and now that I’ve surfaced, you don’t know whether to smack me or hug me??

(Hangs head) I’ll take that hug now.

A brief overview of the happenings at Kathrynville:

We moved at work. It was only one floor…but it’s a huge improvement in the office environment. Bright colors, open spaces and lots of light results in even more creative thinking…at least, that’s what I assume Dragon, Ric Dragon is thinking. I’ll admit, I had a lot of crap personal belongings to move. I’m a gal who likes her stuff…and it needs to reflect me. Suffice to say that we’re settling in…albeit slowly…and we’re trying to get used to the new layout. This involves a lot of walking and stopping and looking left and right with a perplexed look on one’s face…at least, if you’re me. More later.

Taylor (18) finally took off for college yesterday and I got my office back. Can I hear a “WOOT?!” That was a very long 427 225 42 days. We fit a lot in…and I do believe he got to see everyone on his list. He ate everything in the kitchen that was even remotely edible (okay, so that covers anything I cooked) and left facial hair all over his bathroom sink after he shaved, even after I’d yelled at him several times to cut it out. He claimed the look of disgusted horror on my face (and subsequent bark of, “TAY-LOR!!”) made it totally worth it.

As for Connor…he turned 14 last week. Fourteen! When he woke up on his birthday, he suddenly had peach-fuzz facial hair, became at least half a foot taller than I…and I can no longer identify his voice from Taylor's when he answers the phone. When did this happen? I was here the whole time and I’ve no idea how this happened. Connor’s birthday came complete with an ice storm that dumped two inches of snow, two inches of ice and another two inches of snow…making the ultimate-treacherous-northeastern-winter-sandwich…and making both driving and walking nearly impossible. Good times.

Thursday night, I had another event in Manhattan…also on Madison Avenue. Again…more later. It snowed more Thursday night, making our total accumulation so far: 14 feet, 8 ¾”. Okay, so I’m making this up…but it’s a lot…and we still have February and three-quarters of March to go. Oh, joy.

And now…the news you’ve all been waiting for: (Shame on anyone who scrolled past my life just to get to this part. Shame, shame, shame! Go stand over there and face the wall. I can’t even look at you right now)…the Googlicious Giveaway!

Remember my Google keychain? Remember how you all salivated over it…with one reader offering me a million dollars to part with it…only upon closer inspection, they rescinded their offer, ‘cause by then it was all covered in spit?? Well, I’m now ready to share the Google-loooove…and although my bootie does not include a keychain, there are some pretty terrific items up for grabs:


We’ve got a Google mouse pad, a Google pen and a Google mug. Wait. That was not very descriptive of me…was it? Let’s try that again:

  • The “must-have mouse pad of the year!”, (as described by Connor (14), after much cajoling and the promise of some brownies by his mother) the rainbow-lettering depicting the beloved icon Google is imprinted on a shadowy, durable material measuring approximately…uh…8” from like, one end to the other…but like, straight across…not…ya know, around it or anything. My ruler’s not that bend-y.
  • This exemplary writing instrument features black ink, the Google logo and a really nifty rubber-gripper-thingie making it easy to grip and write stuff. It was only used once…’cause I had to see what color ink it was. I’m not a mind-reader, ya know.
  • This high-quality white coffee mug is emblazoned with the Google logo and will make all your friends so envious, you may need to increase your life insurance. (Remember, under beneficiary, it’s "K-a-t-h-r-y-n".) You can use this mug to hold pencils, an afternoon shot of tequila for the next uber-boring business meeting, or hell…I suppose you could even drink coffee out of it. Honestly, it’s your call…I don’t need to know what you do with it.

ANYWAY.

Rules, Rules….There’s Always Rules

  1. Leave a comment here. (Duh.)
  2. It would be nice if you were a follower on Blogger (I think that would be a nice Google-touch, don’t you think?) Those would be the bobble-heads I love on my sidebar.
  3. I would also love it if you could “like” Inside…Out on Facebook. I’ve linked here…but you can also hit that “like” button in my sidebar. C’mon…all the cool readers are doing it…and then maybe we’ll hit the “25” mark, which according to Facebook will mean we’ve “arrived”, whatever the hell that means.
  4. That’s it for the official rules…but it’s unofficially-optional to follow me on twitter, vow to love me forever and promise if I ever write a book, you’ll buy a copy for everyone you know. Oh and bonus points for anyone who cleans the spit off of my Google key chain. And one more thing: I’ll even add your name again to the hat for each new follower you send my way. Just make sure they tell me in the comments that they've arrived via you.
  5. Contest ends at midnight on January 31, 2011. I shall have Connor (14) pull the winner’s names from a hat. First pick gets the mouse pad, second the pen, third the mug. You get what you get…’cause something’s better than nothing, right?? Remember that you’ll need to send me your mailing address if you win.

One more thing, just for the hell of it: To anyone who may be annoyed by the above rules, I’ll apologize ahead of time. Yes, I love you guys…that’s why I want to share these awesome trinkets with you…but remember that I’m picking up the tab for the shipping, so why not send a little love back my way? I should mention, too, that I also have each of these items for myself, so we’ll be like, twins. It’s a win/win.

Good luck all-

Unknown said...

Gotta love a Googlicious Giveaway! I, for one, was wondering if you fell of the face of the earth. But I figured you'd surface sooner or later. :)

So I get 3 entries for being a blog follower, a FB follower, and a commenter? I guess it would make things easier on you if I actually left 3 separate comments stating those facts? :)

Love ya! Glad you're back!

dailyseeking said...

Yeah! It looks like I'm the first comment. Hope things are going well with you.

Gigi said...

Well if we get to be twins and all - then you know I'm in!

Funny how those boys wake up on their 14th birthday and they are no longer "boys" but young men with facial hair and all.

Glad you've re-surfaced - I was about to put out a call on the Kat-phone.

Anonymous said...

We've missed you. So glad to have you back!

Mich

kathryn said...

Kimberly: Aw. Thank you for worrying about me, sweetie. There were moments when I wondered myself whether I'd fallen off the earth. (Insert Twilight Zone music here) I'm still struggling with the scheduling...trying to fit an extra 10-11 hours worth of work into what I'd accomplished before! Yikes...not easy...but I'm determined. Welcome to Googlisciousland, baybee! Alas, as welcome (and confusing) as 3 comments would be, your loyal loveliness of blog flwr, FB flwgr and commenter leaves you eligible for one name in the hat. Unless you invite someone else to enter, that is. Printing out your name now!

Dailyseeking: Hey! A number is only a number, sweetie...and you know I loves ya. I hope you're doing well during this winter-that-will-never-ever-end. Putting your name in the hat, m'kay?

Gigi: Hello, doll! Yeah, we are seriously twins, regardless. (Altho, into the hat you go.) I can't believe the changes in Connor lately...14 is evidently the number where they cross over from boys to men. (At least, that's what Connor keeps telling me)

Sage said...

Here's my hug. But I can't do those iconic cyper hugs so you'll have to take my word on it.

Is that a mousepad or a frisbee?

I don't link my FB and blogger account so I don't think I qualify.

.end transmission. said...

If I can't win the coffee mug, can I win a hot cup of shut the hell up?

And yes, I missed you terribly.

Meg said...

I would love to have those! Hey, I'm a huge follower of you so please can I have it?!:)Thank you!

Have you been away? Didn't notice that hehehe but I miss you!;)

Lauren said...

-pulls off parka and other winter gear- You could have told me you were alive sooner! I was combing the ditches and it's freezing! Geez! Hug you indeed!

As to the Taylor issue, just leave TMI female/mom products lying around for a similar reaction. Unless he's like me and isn't bothered by much. And happy b-day to Connor!

Runnergirl said...

Glad you're back. I was missing the experience of snorting water all over my keyboard.

ToBlog today said...

YoU're back and all is well with the world!

Jen said...

Good to know your life is kind of getting back to normal. And, yes, I'm not the only one who has been AWOL. I can't believe how the east coast just keeps getting hammered with the weather. Almost as bad as my neck of the woods.

j.m. neeb said...

You've been gone???

(JUST KIDDING, JUST KIDDING!!!)

Glad you're back! I actually might stop by later and comment again, but I just wanted to let you know that you've been missed. :)

Oh yeah, and put my name in for the Google swag. I'm commenting -- in case you haven't noticed -- and following -- like a groupie -- and... well, that's all I have so far. I can't do anything Facebook-related from my current job, so I'll try to get to that later and I will see about sending some new followers your way.

(Note: I've brought some here in the past, so let me try to work my magic again.)

(Read that as "bribe the hell out of people.")

Tia said...

I would LOVE to be able to say I won the Google-licious giveaway.

BTW what color ink is in that pen?

Unknown said...

We've got those 14 feet of snow up here, too - and it -9 this morning! CRAZINESS!! I could use a little cheering up. I was thinking a trip to Hawaii... but I guess a Google coffee cup (or other swag) would do.

Glad to see you're back, BTW! ;-)

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

You're back, you're back
You're the leader of our pack!
And you've got quite the rack
Of Google bric-a-brac!

Extra points for rhyming? C'mon, you know you wannnnnt to...

kathryn said...

Michelle: Aw. And I've missed all of you as well. I do hope you heard me all those times I was thinking about you...

Sage:I'll take that cyber hug...and you've conveyed it just fine. It's a mousepad, dear...and I hadn't even thought about the shape till you brought it up. Really? Don't link Blogger & FB?? 'Cause I'm pretty sure you're in there...

.end transmission: You know you can always have a cup of shut the hell up. You don't even have to ask! (I missed you too.)

kathryn said...

Meg: Nope...not away away....more like AFK. (For the uninformed, that's away from keyboard, even tho I'd initially thought it meant away from computer, with the last letter being....well, wrong.)What was I saying? Oh, yeah! I've put you in!

Lauren: Aw. I have to admit...as much as I hate to worry you, it's so nice to be worried about. And in a non-I'm-going-to-have-you-committed kind of way, too. Connor says, "Thanks." Then, he waved me away...

Runnergirl: Ha! I've missed you, too, sweetie. It's so nice to be where everybody knows your name. Don't you just love Blogville?

kathryn said...

Angelina: Yay! Yup...you all may resume your lives now....as I shall mine. Great to hear from you, sweetie!

Jen: I'm sure that your neck of the woods has way more of everything than we do. We just bitch more over here. We're done. Seriously done. You?

j.m. neeb: Grrrrr. Then you redeemed yourself by making me laugh. Yes, I've jotted you down, my friend. Thanks for any extra loooove you can send my way.

kathryn said...

Tia: Oh, very funny. Seriously, I checked the ink color so that I could accurately report the facts. I figured if I was going into details, I might as well go all the way!

ValleyWriter: Whee! I know what you mean about the cold, sweets. I took a photo of my dash this morning. We were at -10. I don't ever remember my dash registering negatives. However, I do remember it being 99! Life in extremes...

Cathy Webster (Olliffe): HA! Oh, yeah....now that's what I'm talking about! Wow. You've got some raw, Dr. Seuss-talent there, sweetie. Extra-extra points for the hanging innuendo...gotta love that!

Straight Guy said...

Technically, google woots are only legal in 43 states. You know about those prudes in the deep South, though.

I say you can google woot anyone you want to. Whatever floats your boat. But please keep the blinds closed. That's just common decency.

Unless we're thinking about something different.

Alicia said...

First off... ((((Hugz)))). That I understand is an internet hug, or maybe it's {{{{Hugz}}}}, either way consider yourself hugged cause you were truly missed!

Second... *smack on the backside of the head with an open palm*. And that's for making me stay up nights worrying, wondering, scared to death you were laying somewhere in some ditch. Don't you ever scare me like that again young lady. I may not be your mother...but I'm April and Jim's mother and you're setting a very bad example!!!

Third off...Please consider me officially entered in this here googlicious giveaway. I am and have been and will always be a follower. You know I thought I did follow you on facebook cause we're networked blogs...but nope. So I did go over and like you.

Glad you're back, bearing gifts and all!

Full-On-Forward said...

OK--like I GOOGLED You--and it popped up with just

BWAHAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

and that's it?

Just who are you Missy?

Great Post K!!

J

Vince said...

Honestly, I've gone off google. And the quicker the next one comes around the better.
They are getting as sinister and ubiquitous as other major players.
Ditto with FB, 15bil me arse.

Alan W. Davidson said...

Har! Twins!

Don't think that you'd want my grey hair, sister, or my beard...

And don't the boys grow up so fast. Sean's borrowing my stuff now, coz it fits. And we my wife uses a different bathroom than us so we don't get the usual nagging (er...complaining).

Cool...Google stuff...

Alan W. Davidson said...

And don't listen to that Cathy Olliffe chicky...she's won contests by butt-kissing before...

Tinkerschnitzel said...

So...I've done everything but join Twitter. I want the mug. It's fun to irritate my husband when I get another coffee cup, which we have no room for, and he has already forced me to give up several that won't fit in the cabinet. Hehe.

Jerry said...

I failed the Facebook/Twitter part...simply because it's all too confusing. All I got in abundance is the love part.

kathryn said...

Straight Guy: I'm willing to run the risk of being banned in a few states for public wooting. I believe people need to be more accepting of others desire to woot at will. Gee. This would make a good episode of 60 minutes...don't you think??

Alicia: I'm so glad you clarified that you'd smacked me with an open palm and not your fist or I'd probably be internet-unconscious. But YAY for the FB follow! And yeah...I'm so confused between networked blogs, FB pages and FB fan pages. They sure don't make it easy...do they?

John McElveen: Thank you, my friend. I have no idea who I am. I I don't think Google's always too sure, either. It's intuitiveness has lead it to finish my sentences with questions such as "How do I make myself stop singing?" We knwo that is sooooo not me. (Sniff.)

kathryn said...

Vince: Aw. I'm sorry to hear you and Google have had a falling out. I realize some matches are not meant to be and I humbly respect your opinion. (Especially since I'm usually cursing FB out for it's ease of use.) Of course, Mark's laughing his arse all the way to the bank...

Alan W. Davidson: Ha! Well, you two can duke it out in my little hat that I've placed both your names in. But Sean's wearing your clothes 'cause they fit now? Say it ain't so! Alan, when did this happen??

Tinkerschnitzel: Heehee! I'm sending out good vibes for you, sweetie! What's hubby's prob with the coffee mugs? I think you're entitled to have as many as you want. (Don't tell him I said that.)

kathryn said...

Jerry: ...and you know that the love part is worth more to me than the Twitter and Facebook parts put together. You know that, right??

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