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Potluck Potlaw

"Do you think a chef can just say "It's OK"?"

Ian was making fun of my lackluster response.  What am I supposed to say?  I'm not a chef, so what I made for the work potluck was good enough... Though I knew what he meant: The Potluck Potlaw.  I've brought shame to my name. :P

Gloria, Ursula, Slavica, and Me.

But though my dish wasn't very popular (black bean salad), and I wasn't a huge part of the planning of this event, I felt really welcomed back into the Social Committee fold.

The four of us ran like clockwork, transporting all the supplies using the file carts (left), setting up the room in record time, and even having a moment for a selfie and some dancing.

The program was really simple this time around (food, door prizes, a few speeches), but it was all really appreciated.

And here I thought it would be awkward coming back.  I should really worry less.

Hello, I'm Jonathan.

No surprise. 

Who are you? 

WWNDD?

I vaguely remembered the rumour, the same writer who wrote the Nancy Drew mysteries had also penned the Bobbsey Twins books.  And that Carolyn Keene was a pseudonym.  But the truth was more complex. 

CBC's Ideas breaks open the case of the Mystery of the Stratemeyer Legacy.  

Whatever your providence, we still love you, Nancy Drew.

The Fantasy with More Muffins

Paul: "Cheetos!" 
Lana: "No."

Though, they might be some part of Paul's fantasy, Cheetos did not appear as one of the most powerful luxury brands list in The Age of Persuasion's Luxury Advertising episode.

In the episode, Terry O'Reilly delves into the psychology of those who are attracted to luxury brands, noting two points:

1. A high value placed on the sensory benefits of premium craftsmanship
2. A deep desire to feel distinct and uncommon

Most of my friends don't buy into luxury brands.  Theresa and a number of my work friends like these brands, and seem to fit the bill for both points (at least when it comes to purses).

For me, I admire the glamour, but don't like the cost.  Which is why when knock-offs were mentioned, a little light went on in my head.  O'Reilly was almost aligning those who perscribe mostly to the second point as making a self esteem cry for help!  Was this me?  Does it make it better that I attempt to channel my desire to be special in different ways?

Anyway, looking at the actual adverts in question, there were quite a few laughs.  Some were fairly artsy and random which made me think of Bluebirds in the Spring.  Turns out Paul didn't know about Muffin Films!

A nice surprise when I looked up the webpage - it turns out there are more!  For the 10th anniversary Amy Winifred created another half dozen animations. 

My favourite still is Bluebirds in the Spring:



Oh, and then there's Making Fiends...

The Sun’s cover said an “Alberta" ticket won last night's $ 54 million lottery... which means I didn't :( I’m pretty sure if that I had won, they would have at least pin-pointed the ticket location to Edmonton, if not the office where I’m practically living :P Oh, well, guess Elmer will have to cancel the party he had scheduled when he got all of us to join in the lottery pool. That’s o.k., money isn’t everything. And I wouldn’t want be tempted to prove just how stupid I am, like the lottery winner “Jimmy” from 1982 who spent his half a million in 6 weeks mostly on drink. That tidbit came from CBC’s short interview last night with a writer who researched the lives of lottery winners (wonderful that I can’t remember the names). I love CBC :) Though to be technical, Jimmy’s case was more a problem of addiction rather than stupidity, but I wouldn’t want to be given such resources to develop an addiction either.

Yesterday’s class was a lot of fun. Considering this weekend is the Hallowe’en social we dressed up to get into the spirit of things and to encourage the students to come. I almost wish we could dress up every class – I could act outrageous and be silly. But then again, we all are in costume and disguise to some degree. I’m sure we’re not as happy and smiley as we all portray when we’re all on duty. And off-duty is when we get to complain about aching joints, blisters… all that fun stuff :P

Anyway, this is us. Delphine insisted to the class that instead of doing her hair, she just let it be natural, and this is the result. Both Delphine and I had this strange compulsion to follow Christiana around – her bunny tail was just so cute! In case you couldn’t tell, Albert’s the one in the mask. His outfit looked a lot like Star Fleet issue, but he was actually a devil (with killer gams ;) ) Darren and Lynn were supposed to be a generic cowboy and cowgirl, though I think they could be dead-ringers for Garth Brooks, and Shania Twain (the Asian version :P).

I think things at work are finally sinking in. Tomorrow is Day One of our very last month end. No more pushing things to next month to deal with. I have to face the “junk drawer” of accounts, and invoices that I’ve saved up. But tonight and tomorrow are reserved for the project. Wish me luck!