Every day at work I stare at a poster with the following statement:

Vision: The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.

I think it has a lighthouse on it. Anyway, I am not one for motivational crap. My fondest memory of motivational business is probably the saying my friend Lissa used to chant during "swim practice" in high school. We had to do time in the weight room with a bunch of grunting, animal-like men. Icky. Well, there was this one machine where you put your hands up like you were being held up and pulled them together, thus squeezing the chest inward. Lissa loved this machine and saying: "I must, I must, I must increase my bust." It was so odd and silly. Check out the following site. It sort of sticks it to sincere posters like the one I look at every day. (while making copies) A lot of them aren't that funny, but there are some gems. My favorite is the one for quality.

Quality: The race for quality has no finish line- so technically it's more like a death march.

you can do it!

Thanks for the Hanukkah present Joe.

A classic ep of Sex and the City in "Bay of Married Pigs" and a double dose of Law and Order. Love it!

=The Baxter: Some good casting, some laughs, nice to see some of the people from The State. It had a strange feel to it though. Most of the cast seemed to be in an extended episode of Stella- zany-quirky. Yet the Michelle Williams character seemed to be in a slightly different movie, one with a kind of earnest-quirky quality, perhaps like that of The Apartment. Also I believe Michael Showalter (director-writer-baxter) should have cast someone other than himself in the title role. He and Paul Rudd should have switched. As seen in The Shape of Things and Clueless, Paul Rudd is more than capable of playing the nice/dorky guy. He would have been preferable to Showalter, who basically acted like a goon. I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, but it makes sense to me.

I think I might be on a recasting kick. If only movies could be cast to my exact specifications........

=Murderball: I liked it.

I've just started watching that show House and I really like it. Can't wait to start with the first season. I recommend it.

How Cute:
My mom, my aunt Shy and their friend Berta love saying: "WTF?!" How cute is that!

I'd switch to Sanka for you Vincent Schiavelli!

Best wishes to Everyone.

Christmas is a time for cute sweaters and pea coats and hot cocoa and being able to see your own breath when you venture outside. Well, here in California (where I am anyway) it is actually quite warm. I didn't sign up for this Jimmy Buffett bullshit! To the folks in Wisconsin- I miss you dearly and please do some snow angels on my behalf. Or at least throw a snowball at someone. Next year I'll be there. And in the not too distant future (I hope) a trip to NYC at Christmas, for ice-skating. Its always been a dream of mine.

Christmas Mix '05

-Blue Christmas --Elvis
-The Christmas Song --Nat King Cole
-Jingle Bell Rock -- Bobby Helms
-Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee
-Have a Holly Jolly Christmas -- Burl Ives
-I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm -- Ella Fitzgerald
-All I Want for Christmas is You --Mariah Carey (sneak)
-Santa Baby --Eartha Kitt
-Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas --Sinatra, Pretenders and/or Judy Garland versions
-Christmas on the Bayou --Artist unknown, heard it every year at the retail hellhole I used to work at. Hated it at first and then learned to love it.
-Christmas Time is Here --the Peanuts gang/Vince Guaraldi- the saddest, prettiest song ever

Other than that Sinatra and all Ella, all the time.

I saw two canisters of Easy Cheese in a parking lot. Pretty much sums up my day.

Corey Haim turns 34 today. Somebody kill me.

Just read an interview with John Krasinski from the Improper Bostonian. The guy is funny. I love his use of terms like "quippy" and when he describes his hair as "less wing-y." His looking for a carny lady and description of his first job as "raking leaves for a woman named Mrs. Gorin" cracked me up too. Fun article. Brooke and Katie- look into it. He's what Miss King might refer to as a "sexy bastard." (Completely unnecessary explantation: The sexy bastard in question was wearing a cool sweater, hence the "cool sweater" part of the title of this post. Now they've changed the cover picture, so no more cool sweater pic or cool sweater pic link. Take my word for it though, cool sweater. Blue striped and neat.)

Martha Stewart Apprenctice Finale: Trainwreck!

I heard that Dan Fogelberg song "Same Old Lang Syne" earlier. The drama people were obsessed with it at my high school.

Thanks guys, for the neato gifts and all the well-wishes.

Guys: Mom, Dad, Joe, Grama and Grampa Morzenti, Shy, Brooke, Katie, Jesse, Dave, Matt, Jessica, Danielle and Helen.

You are too cool.

Still clinging onto that 18-34 demographic.

I hate these little smiley face things. However boredom, a recent viewing of King Kong and an email from a coworker made me see this one a bit differently. Adrien Brody. It's all in the nose.

Lazy Sunday/Chronicles of Narnia Rap

The claymation Jon Stewart from the "Christmastime for the Jews" video (also on SNL the other night) is too cute.

This Rivers Cuomo celibacy thing all over the news is kinda bizarre. I wish he'd use that energy to make another Pinkerton.

The "Lazy Sunday/Chronicles of Narnia" rap on SNL last night was so funny. Especially the Magnolia cupcake and "Mr. Pibb + Red Vines = crazy delicious" parts.

King Kong: I liked it.

The Family Stone: Cute. As I predicted it reminded me of Home for the Holidays. Many similarities. One has Craig T. Nelson and one has Steve Guttenberg. One has Dermot Mulroney and one has Dylan McDermott. And they both have Claire Danes wearing cute knit caps.

I hope there is some truth to the talk about Arrested Development moving to Showtime.

Startling Realization of the week: I know a quite a bit more about football (players, coaches, etc) than I thought I did. And then this morning I watched the second half of the Chargers vs. Colts game. WTF?

New Glasses: Lisa Loeb-y. Still getting used to them.

Sweet treat: The Pumpkin Pie Shake at Jack in the Box

30!

The Golden Globe nominations were announced. I like (-understatement alert-) the awards shows. Glad to see The Squid and the Whale got some recognition with the Laura Linney, Jeff Daniels and best comedy nominations. Pride and Prejudice was another one I was happy to see on the list. It would be cool to hear Woody Allen's acceptance speech for best director. I need to see more movies before I talk about this further. On the tv side, should be a kooky-funny show with Steve Carell, Jason Lee and Jeremy Piven all in attendance. Dolly Parton is up for best song, which might make up for the usual Randy Newmanishness. I think it might turn out to be a good show. Mainly I'm excited about the dresses, especially to see what Scarlett Johansson wears. All in all it should be an eye-candy extravaganza. More on all this later, I assure you.

I've posted the list of nominees. The boys who read this blog will appreciate the Kate Beckinsale pics.

Golden Globe Nominations

Joe's Syriana Review

I got an eye exam today. When I walked into the office I knew things were going to be a little different. The usual plastic shrubs, muted brown chairs and elevator music (Air Supply meets Kenny G) were nowhere to be seen/heard. First of all, they were playing Built to Spill. Their Christmas tree was actually a huge display of plastic Santa dolls wearing only spectacles (wink, wink) and strategically placed presents in red shiny wrappers. I completed the new patient intake form on a Cadillac seat that had been converted into a couch. Any minute I expected Elvis Costello to step out of the office and introduce himself as my optometrist. I'm not cool enough for my eye doctor! It was fun though. And I picked some really neat glasses too.

Joe's King Kong Article

Tonite I put my Christmas tree up. Very shiny and pretty. The theme this tree seems to be bulbs and birds. One even has a peacock pattern. Shout out to Flannery O'Connor Yo! There is one Snoopy wearing sunglasses and that is okay. And some moose are thrown about too. A nod to Northern Exposure I suppose. Some gaps though. Darn, I'll have to buy a few more ornaments.

Marth Stewart's stable is nicer than my apartment.

Office Product of the Week:
Pentel's Hybrid Gel Grip DX Pen

Spending too much time in the Television Without Pity forums. Having fun though.

Retail Details (May I interest you in the new Po Bronson or a candy cane mochaccino?):

=A frazzled customer complained about Christmas shopping stress: "Can't people just know I love them?"

=Another customer told me of his artwork: "I take over where Kandinsky left off." He wasn't kidding. Who says things like that? Winner of the "Get Over Yourself" award. Sheesh.

TV Time:

=The power was out tonite and I missed Arrested Development. Ticked about that. (I tried reading some Jane Austen by candlelight, which seemed so neat. But I couldn't really see.)

=Official Stance on the US Office:
I love the US Office and I don't care what anyone says. Pam/Jim are the best thing about the show, which I've already mentioned a zillion times. And the side characters are really funny, particularly Kelly, Oscar and Stanley. I expressed major doubt at the start. It improves with each episode. Still love the UK one.

An indie mulitplex will be arriving in Madison, WI. Joe's article on the matter:

Stacie is Jealous

One of my favorite houses is Christmas light ready. They go all out every year, even covering the entire roof with alternating red and white lights. No cheesey projected images or tired balloon lawn ornaments either. Exciting indeed. Highlight of the day.

Hope all is well with everyone.