Archives for April 2012

Time Flies

Time Flies

From the top of a parking garage in PortsmouthWas going to spend the night writing. Write a blag post. Write about how my Glorious, Amazing, Crazy, Stupendous Year is going. Write the speech I’m giving at Toastmasters on Wednesday. Write some plans for the next few weeks. Write invitations to possible new Lounging with LannaLee guests.

After work I went to the gym. I walked on the treadmill for 25 minutes while watching Total Recall on my Kindle Fire. I got home at 7:30. Fired up the computer, checked email and Facebook. At 8:30 I realized I was hungry. Since Edmund had already eaten, I ventured into the kitchen to make myself some Annie’s Homegrown Shells & White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese. I picked up A Game of Thrones and continued to read it. Just for a few minutes. I read while I ate. And after I was done reading, I kept reading for a few more minutes. Just a few more.

Before I knew it, it was 10:30.

Whoops.

I forced myself to put down the book and come write my blag post. Here it is. Now I’m going to do some more of the stuff I wanted to do for tonight.

Bed time == midnight.

As long as I don’t pick up Game of Thrones again.

I used to read more

I used to read more

A park in New HampsireYesterday Edmund and I drove to New Hampshire. We spent the night in a Holiday Inn, walked around in Portsmouth Downtown, and had some good food. Last night, rather than go out on the town, we relaxed in the hotel room and while Edmund channel surfed and read various texts, I finished reading The Alchemist of Souls: Night’s Masque, Volume 1 – a fantastic book by the way.

I had an epiphany earlier today: I don’t read as much as I used to. Don’t get me wrong, I still read. But at some points in time, I could read 3 or 4 books in a week.

I’ve been spending too much time on the interwebs and not enough time reading. This is likely to be a very transformative year for me, now that I’m out of school I’m looking to make some life-changes, and maybe one of them will be to use my spare time better. I used to watch many more movies at home, and I don’t do that as much either. I am thinking that watching a two hour movie is a better use of my time than constantly refreshing Facebook to see if anyone posted anything interesting. And better than that would be to read a book.

Right now my reading habits vary. Some weeks I can read several books, but when I’m done I feel like I’ve binged on books. And frankly, I haven’t been able to read depressing books. The last 2 Stephen King books come mind (11/22/63: A Novel and Under the Dome: A Novel in particular). I’m looking to break past that, because, in general I really love King’s work.

One thing Edmund has been doing is a weekly post of everything he’s read throughout the week. He loves doing it and in fact, looks forward to writing the post every week. I think that’s very cool. I’m not sure I can commit to that myself. My blag would likely be better if I did have weekly themes or whatever. But I resist. You’ll have to be content with my Lounging with LannaLee funtimes.

So. I’m going to continue reading A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1). I purchased it a year ago and was never able to get past the first few pages. Until today. I re-started it this morning, now I’m on page 164. [The best thing about Game of Thrones is that there are several more books in the series, so it will be a while before I get bored.] Then I might be able to tackle then Stephen King books again.

And then I’ll write some poems. Why not.

Hot Tub

For you, people.

Don’t Be Mean. We don’t have to be mean.

Wise words from Buckaroo Banzai:

Don’t Be Mean. We don’t have to be mean. Because remember, wherever you go, there you are.

And did I mention how pretty @rachyrach1 is? [Podcast Thursday]

And did I mention how pretty @rachyrach1 is? [Podcast Thursday]

Rachel lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Rachel lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

This is why there is a Lounging with LannaLee. So I can have excellent conversations with awesome (and pretty!) people. Like Rachel Flehinger She’s the latest addition to the WPOR 101.9 morning crew. She is a founding member of the improv comedy group Running with Scissors and is the winner of 2011 and 2012 Portland Phoenix Best Comedian.

How did I get so lucky?! Must be my own good looks.

So here. You should listen to this episode. Click right now, people. You won’t regret it.

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Don’t miss a beat, sign up for the Lounging with LannaLee mailing list today!
Or subscribe to Lounging with LannaLee on iTunes!

Mrs. Winterbourne

Mrs. Winterbourne

Ed wearing a clown noseWatching a movie about a girl who was mistaken for another girl and became rich because she fell in love with the gorgeous brother. Who was rich. And he fell in love back.

This never happened to me. I never fell in love with a rich guy.

That’s okay.

I fell in love with a gorgeous dreamer who spoils me rotten and is so perfect for me that I don’t need no rich guys.

I fell in love with a smartass dude who is passionate about many things and respects my passions, even if he doesn’t understand them.

I fell in love with a huggable hunk who will rub my feet if I want him to.

So, fake movie pseudo-lover with trust fund, forget it. I fell in love with Edmund, and the longer I am with him the more I can’t let him go.

A three-some might be negotiable. I’ll have to ask Ed first.

Flummoxed by stop signs and blinking red lights

Flummoxed by stop signs and blinking red lights

Bruins TowelI got up at 5 am this morning and left the house at quarter to 6. About 2 minutes down the road I realized I forgot my phone, so I drove back home and got it. Then I drove into work and got into another car to go to a Market Research conference in Waltham, MA. Had a good time, got some swag – like this Bruins towel thingy, learned some stuff, was charming, and then this happened:

Hey, it's me and the 2004 World Series thingy and a couple of world series rings

Hey, it's me and the 2004 World Series thingy and a couple of world series rings

Yes, I got to pose next to the 2004 World Series trophy and fondle a couple of World Series rings. This is because one of the speakers was from the Red Sox. Pretty sweet, huh? You want to touch me, don’t you.

We had speakers from The Patriots/The Revolution, The Bruins, The Worcester Sharks, The Red Sox and the NBC Sports network.

Of course, if you really know me, you know that my interest in sports is fairly non-existent. Don’t get me wrong, I am a true New Englander, and I will go to my death trying to irritate fans of the other teams (other being any team not housed in Boston.) Especially Yankee fans.

[Fortunately, I don’t need to like sports in order to do crosstabs. Crosstabs are fun!]

So anyway, after our conference, we got back to our offices after 5 and I rushed to meet Edmund at Local Sprouts in Portland to see the Port Veritas Grand Slam Finals. Port Veritas is the local/Portland Poetry group, and they host open mics very week and a slam a month. Except for in April [National Poetry Month, natch], when they choose through poetry slams, the team that will represent Portland in the National Poetry Slam. Fantastic show. All very excellent poets. I laughed and I cried. Excellent, excellent stuff. Totally want to do it myself. Maybe next year =)

Even though I wanted to, I chose not to go to the after-party at Mama’s Crowbar. Just too tired. It was almost 11, and I left home before 6 am, remember?

Edmund walked me to my car, then I drove him to his car, and I drove home. I knew I was tired, but I didn’t realize how tired until I waited at the first 4-way stop sign for something or someone to tell me to go. And when I got to my first blinking red light, did the same thing. Flummoxed by stop signs and blinking red lights, I was. Flummoxed.

I am home now, so that’s good.

Whooptiedoo

Whooptiedoo

Lenny is not amusedGuess who’s not amused. That’s right. Lenny. Not amused. At all.

I could expound on how Lenny isn’t amused, but then you might figure out that the real issue is that I have nothing in my brain that I feel like writing about, and I’m just riffing over here.

So anyway. I have some awesomeness to share. That will be nice, won’t it?!

Rachel Flehinger, who is beautiful and smart and funny, is my next guest on Lounging with LannaLee!

Don’t forget to tune in on Thursday!

Everybody Say Hey

Everybody Say Hey

Lenny sez pthhthtHello party people. My brain is a sieve or something and I don’t feel like writing much of anything and all I want to do is veg right now so you are stuck with videos.

I tried to find the song I was thinking of when I wrote the blag post headline but I couldn’t because I did not remember it’s title. So sorry about that. It would’ve been cool.

I’m feeling quite Queenly tonight.

Love sure is crazy:

Another one goes, another one goes:

You can’t stop me:

Mamma Mia, Mamma Mia:

You big disgrace:

My friend:

[There was a girl in my class whose last name was Champeon. I think that’s the spelling. The song We Are the Champions always made met think of her and her family and how awesome it was that they had their own theme song. She was one of the cool kids, so I never told her that. But every time I hear We Are the Champions, I think of her and her family singing it together at the top of their lungs. And I smile.]

Party on a Saturday

Off with my love to a party in Portland. Will likely not post anything else tonight.

Try to contain your disappointment.

Thank Goddess It’s Friday

Thank Goddess It’s Friday

Thrilled Lanna is Thrilled
What a week.

It’s Friday, and I know just how Henri feels:

This movie looks like it would be tons of fun, Juan of the Dead:

Eartha Kitt doesn’t care, people.

I need a dollar. A dollar that’s what I need.

Hey hey.

Another Thursday with George: New Podcast on Lounging with LannaLee

George Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

George Lounged with LannaLee and got a couch!

Click here to listen to Part 2 of my lounging with Comedian George Hamm, #007b Comedian George Hamm Part 2: The Passions of George. [If you want to listen to the awesome first episode, #007a Comedian George Hamm Part 1: Adventures in the Combat Zone, click here.]

If you remember from last week, Part 1 got Dottie’s seal of approval. Dottie is my Mom and she is awesome so you must believe her.

So do it, click on this link right here to listen to me and George Hamm rocking out in his basement. It’s good. Very good. CLICK IT!

But don’t take our word for it, how about another word from George:

[Here is what George said last week]

Never seen George Perform? Here you go:

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Don’t miss a beat, sign up for the Lounging with LannaLee mailing list today!
Or subscribe to Lounging with LannaLee on iTunes!

I should be in bed right now

I left home a little after 8 a.m. today and got home after 8 p.m. Just spent the last two hours getting the Lounging with LannaLee post ready to launch tomorrow. [Note: it’s going to be awesome!] I am overtired and I really should be sleeping right now. Or at least drinking my new sleepytime tea.

Hey! I went to the gym today! Go me! I walked (very slowly) for 20 minutes. That was 5 more minutes than I thought I could do. I stopped myself tho, I’ve overdone it before when getting back into exercise. Not sure if I’ll make it again tomorrow, but am working on making it more of a habit.

Grinding my teeth a lot lately. Sure sign my stress levels are way too high. Hopefully the exercise will help.

This will help. It isn’t the greatest song in the world, but it is a tribute:

Busy day

Worked, rescued my Mom from being locked outside of her house, went to a friend’s house for dinner then went out to a movie with the same friend. All while being awesome.

A very busy day.

I mean, I also ate 2 pieces of fruit. Crazy.

So here are some videos.

George talking about the next episode of Lounging with LannaLee:

[Listen to Part 1 here.]

I’m Sexy and I know it LIVE! Awesome.

Some fun with a song and Star Trek:

That’s all I got, people. Peace out.

Have a piece of fruit

Have a piece of fruit

Fresh Fruit Delivered to my DeskLook at this! Fresh fruit, delivered to my desk! [Well, delivered to the front desk at my office, but, because it sounds cooler, let’s just say delivered to my desk. Mkay?]

Not in the picture: two bananas and a paper bag to help ripen the fruit.

What a great idea this is. For just 11 bucks, I have 12-15 servings of fruit that I can eat throughout the week. And you know what they say about a bird in the hand? This is definitely worth two in a bush.

Fresh Fruit in a boxMy workplace is on Fresh Fruit Frenzy‘s delivery route and because other offices in our building order from them, we don’t have a minimum order requirement. Also, I could sign up for this to happen every week. Isn’t that awesome!

What comes with it? I got 4 apples, 2 bananas, a couple plummy things, a pear, an orange, some red raspberries and blackberries, and two specials! One special fruit: this week it was a star fruit, which I don’t ever remember eating. The other was a nutritious non-fruit snack: a baked potato with sour cream and butter.

Is it worth it? Well, I might have been able to purchase that fruit on its own for less money at the grocery store. But remember the bird in the hand? Here is the thing. I DON’T purchase fruit at the grocery store to bring to work. And if I do, I never remember to bring it. So here is a bunch of fruit that I have AT MY WORKDESK that I can eat throughout the week. Today, Monday, compared to any other Monday of the last 6 months, I’ve eaten 3x more fruit (having scarfed down a banana, a plum thing, red raspberries and blackberries.) Tomorrow I am guaranteed to eat some more fruit. So this week is already a win in the fruit category.

I’m going to keep on with it for a another couple of weeks to see how it goes. If I end out eating a lot more fruit, I think it’s worth it.

And if you work in Southern Maine and Portsmouth NH areas, you might be able to get some fruit too! Fresh Fruit Frenzy has delivery routes on “Mondays: South of Portland, ME and Portsmouth, N.H. area” and on “Tuesdays: Portland, ME area and North of Portland”. Note: I was not paid anything nor was I given anything to make this endorsement. I just think it’s a great idea, and I’m going to try it for me, maybe it would work for you.