Bummer Blog Week

This has officially been a bummer blog week. To garner sympathy and proof of need of forgiveness for not posting on my regular schedule, I give you the results-results of my blood test.

Curses!

My thyroid is under-active and I also need to take testosterone because that is also low. Yes, I'm a girl and yes all females have an amount of testosterone in order to maintain normal functions; just like males have a certain amount of estrogen.

I made an awesome funny joke about it, by the way, since I have to apply the testosterone transdermally and it leaves a slight burning sensation.

I'm funny!

I give you my morning dose of medications and supplements in order to combat where my body is under-preforming. I take amount the same amount of stuff in the evening. I use to have to take 37 things, but, I got that reduced to 32 things last week. Sweet!

Morning dose

I'm still looking for some adventures. A friend did post he was looking for someone to help him pick up dead bodies and bring them to a morgue. I just don't have the energy right now.

I am hoping to go out for a bike ride on Friday and see if that kills me. Right after that, I have a whole Saturday of back-to-back people and running around.

Come on body, get with the program!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Monday

Yeah, I need ideas.

Send me ideas for things to do!

Must . .blog. . .

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Friday!

OMG, it's totally Friday!

Winning!

Did you remember to write a blog post?

Smug mug

Uhh. .

Ooops

I actually don't have much to write about. Perhaps my blood work results? No, that's just depressing. Maybe the cool new medications I get to take? Naaa, that's creepy. How about we all just have a great weekend?

Score.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Fix My Den: Progress!

Who knew this would be such an un-dead chain of posts. Back in the day, I created my own adventure called Fix My Den followed up by Fix My Den: Follow Up.

This past weekend, I managed to get a hunk of stuff done on my list (check it out at Stop the Burn Out) and the den was on of them. I didn't get the storage unit I was thinking of, but I pulled apart my closet and threw out a couple bags of stuff. I felt a lot better once I was done - only took about 2 hours. *phew*

Let's just review this small portion - before:

Stuff

And now, let's review after:

Better!

I did reorg my closet - moved all my winter clothes into a bin and was able to store it in my den closet. I even found a pair of sunglasses I thought I was missing. Right now, some cat stuff is in there, some stuff I want to sell or need to store at my parent's house. I also threw out stuff I wasn't using in my desk and got it set up for more of what I use it for. The stuff on my desk is stuff I need to work on right now. 

Find Lucky

Minus the sword.

Lucky the Cat was little to no help, might I add. 

He was thrilled at all the commotion and places to hide as I threw stuff around and looked at what I had. He really liked playing with a bunch of the stuff I was throwing out. He tossed around some feathers and was overjoyed when I moved some of my furniture to find his precious little mice-toys.

I think they are all back under my stove and sofas. He's quite a clingy people-cat. 

I'm rough on my guys

My awesome man-friend, Bob (remember him from my Reveal the Identity of my Devastatingly Handsome Man-Friend post?) also came and helped me clean the kitchen and items around my place. 

I really lucked out with him. He worked at his parents place and then did whatever I said all day. He even felt bad he couldn't help out more - even though I never had anyone help me out as it was!

I mean, I have helped a lot of people out, but, I never thought someone would want to help me. They would get nothing out of it.

After about 6 hours of cleaning where I gave him various tasks (don't worry, I fed him) I found my two males were quite exhausted. I mean, Lucky was just playing and totally excited he wasn't alone all day.

It was just as well, we all needed a break and Bob and I had a BBQ to go to at his friend's house later that night. Best to get the dirt off us. Plus, Bob has to plan our vacation in July. 

Details to follow.

Thoughts

I love this guy. Bob. 

Anyhow, I felt a lot better being able to really get stuff done. I have to still work on my kitchen, bathroom and bedroom - and I need to save up money for storage units and whatnot. I just feel better about what I got done. I think I can keep up with stuff better now.

Much needed manicure

While he and Lucky rested - and planned the vacation - I ended up getting my nails done. I didn't get a gel manicure this time (you can read about my addiction in my Get a Gel Manicure post) I was told to just get a normal one to give my nails a break. I hope this break doesn't break them.

I was excited at the break and my new nails - what up, OPI Samoa Sands.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Reveal the Identity of my Devastatingly Handsome Man-Friend

I have mentioned my man-friend frequently in this blog since he's a big part of my life. If he ever tried to get away, well, I'd probably track him down. Actually, I'd just make a plate of my chicken nuggets and he would totally come back.

Seriously, he's amazing and I feel very lucky to have someone like him to call my own. I can't imagine my life without him. In past relationships, I felt more alone than when I was single and it doesn't feel that way with him. He's funny, honorable, has a heart of gold and he's really hot.

You can read some recaps of our dates in my now dead Dating Amanda blog:

• Match Round 6: Stepping Out: This is where he is on my list of guys - his code name is MacGyver.
• Match Round 6: MacGyver Dates: Recap of our first dates.
• Match.Com Round 6: MacGyver Date Four: When I made him dinner.
• Ex-Single Girl: It's official - meaning it is on FaceBook.

Anyhow, he did give me permission to use his name and likeness on this blog. His name is Bob and this is what he looks like.

Here is the autographed picture he gave me - I had a coupon. I like coupons.

This distracts me more than the Internet

Here he is claiming victory in a four-way board game - Railways of the Eastern US.

Always a winner to me!

Here he is completing a 5K - which you can read about in my Sports Weekend: 5Ks and Bike Rides post.

Headbands are legit!

Here he is cooking up a mean meal.

He was in charge of noodles

Here he is with me, laughing our pants off. 

The flash was really bright

So, now you know all about my handsome gentleman caller, my devastating handsome man-friend, my one and only, my vacation buddy, my love - Bob. 

Friend: Wait, Bob is his real name?
Me: Yes.
Friend: I thought you just called him that.
Me: I do. Because that's his name.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Stop the Burn Out

I've been mildly burnt out for a while. Some of this is probably due to a vitamin D deficiency (I'm not talking about a couple points off normal, it’s pretty low) I have and my adrenals not working perfectly. and it will take a while to get it back up. So, I have to deal with fatigue, bone pain, brain fog and a nice flare up of my neuropathy.

How does one un-burnout? I have no idea. Some people go on vacation, in my area, a lot of people have shore houses they go to. I know some people get a massage or go shopping. These seem pretty classic across the board.

I know two things will make me feel better - (a) Take meds and recover, (b) Get stuff done!

I don't like to take vacations when I have a lot going on. I like to go on vacation knowing I deserved it and I can come home refreshed without a butt-ton of stuff to do. I always feel the best when I am productive and improving my surroundings. I like to be grateful and happy for what I have and take good care of it.

What I Need To Do

Lucky and I

I need to find a home for my foster cat, Lucky. I love Lucky, he’s a great cat, but it means I cannot go anywhere or do much because I have to return to feed him and clean out his litter box.

Plus, you can’t leave any animal alone for days – he gets lonely. I was only supposed to have Lucky for 3 months. That was 5 months ago. He even meows when I leave for work - he's lonely.

I need to clean.

At this point, I have only been able to mildly keep on top of my cleaning because I am not home that much between work and school-girl giggling at my attractive gentleman caller. Besides, once I do clean, things are turned up-side-down a few hours after I finish.

Most of this is due to the cat.

I'm not a slob (maybe according to my Mom) but it feels that way with this list of stuff to do. Here is my list of items I need to do:

Living room
This is where I spend the most time, so, it can either be the cleanest or the messiest. I tend to keep on top of most stuff. It just needs a really good clean.

• I need to move my furniture around to clean under everything.
• I need to insulate the a/c unit.
• I need to de-cat the couches.
• I need to de-cat the cat tree.
• I need to clean the windows inside and out - they have filth on them from when there were renovations happening around me. I just can't seem to reach all the spots.
• I need to clean the radiator.
• I need to clean the ceiling fan and get new lightbulbs put in - I don't use this light too much because it heats up the place a lot, but, be nice to have.

Den
Remember my Fix My Den goal? Still going on.

• I need to get a new filing cabinet. The one I have hardly works. I need more extension cords and a new computer desk in my den. I also need to attach the missing panel of my computer tower back on.
• My “bar” furniture needs to be sold. It really just takes up space. It’s not as much of an issue since it holds like 500 wine glasses people thought I needed. I don’t even know 500 people. I might be able to get rid of some of the wine glasses. If I had the shelves in my kitchen cabinets.
• My largest closet is in this room and it needs a complete overhaul. It has the most space and a lot of BIG plastic containers with nothing inside. Maybe I can use this for my winter clothes.
• I need shelving to put stuff on. This will require money and time to put everything together. 
• I could use a indoor bike rack to store both my bikes. That is also a pipe-dream right now.
• I need to clean the radiator.
• I would like to get one of those plastic mats under my den chair - but I also hate them. I think I hate them more than I hate doing damage to my carpet.
• I would love to be able to get a second computer monitor, too. My desk will not fit two. Bummer.

Kitchen
I keep a clean kitchen. I mean, food is in there. However, still needs a lot of elbow greese that I have no been able to get around to.

Lucky models

• I need to clean out my dishwasher. I think there might be some type of pasta in there from my last tenants. I don’t eat that much pasta and I wouldn't put pasta in the dishwasher. I don't use the dishwasher that often, either. Yep. Dirty.
• I need to get my shelves back up in my kitchen cabinets – they collapsed right before my man-to-be came over for the first time for dinner. Having that space back would be nice. I don’t hold out much hope for this. I think I need to consult the apartment people about it. 
• I need to clean out my cabinets. I do have a decent amount of space in the kitchen, I don't use it all wisely. Time to get rid of items I don't use and use the space for whatever I can.
• Remove everything from on top of the cabinets and dust.
• I got to use some elbow grease on my floors. I had hoped to get new floors by now since mine is very scratched and old – I might try to launch a new campaign. 
• I need to clean the radiator.
• Clean the trashcan - really good.
• Clean and de-grease the vents - I try to do this weekly - the grease is winning.
• Clean under the burners. I fear to open the stove-top again.
• I would like to get rid of my fake kitchen table that is never used in favor of a kitchen island where I two people can eat, I can store stuff and I have additional cooking space.
• I would really love to paint my kitchen a nice moss green. Again, pipedream. 

Bathroom
It's small - I do have some nice shelves.

Hairball

• I need a new shower curtain - once Lucky is re-homed. He shredded it.
• I need to scrub the shower - again, it is cheap material and easily stained. I just want it white! I haven't found a product that works on it.
• Clean the top of the shower - I don't even want to know how dirty it is.
• I need to get all the cat litter out of there. There are little rocks everywhere and I hate it. Again, this is ongoing since Lucky throws it everywhere.
• There is a good amount of dust stuck in the decorative baseboard. I need to get a toothbrush and clean that stuff out.
• The floor actually has a pattern of dirt naturally. Ick. I want to take a toothbrush to it. I wish I could get a new, non-vomit inspiring floor.
• I need to clean the radiators - they produce dirt like crazy! One time my rat, Molly, found an old cigarette butt in one. Whaaaa?! The rats really helped me cleaned. Rat love is true love, baby. Lucky does not help.
• Clean the trashcan - like scrub the bottom junk off it.
• Clean the bathroom rug - or get a new one. A new one will have to be gotten after Lucky is re-homed - he loves to tear it apart.
• Tell my maintenance guy the "metal" on the sink is dissolving and I should get a new one, soon.
• I would love to paint this room - maybe even just the back wall as an accent. That is a pipe-dream. It's a cost I don't need to have.
• I would love to get an over-the-toilet cabinet so I can hide some more personal bathroom items - but I can't until I get rid of the litter box and make sure I get something that is sturdy that can survive in a small bathroom. Oh, and until I get more money.

Bedroom
I keep this place pretty clean. I did some work on it before.

• I need to better insulate my air conditioning units.
• I need to move my furniture to clean under. Next time I buy furniture, there will be no space under it for dirt and cat toys to collect!
• I need to get some under-the-bed storage containers. Maybe some of those vacuum ones because I have all this bedding and no place to put it. It goes under the bed and then I feel it gets filthy over time. What I have does not fit under my bed. 
• Clean the ceiling fan blades and the glass lamp part.
• I have to get rid of chest in my bedroom. It will have to my parents house because it was a gift from my Aunt. Unfortunately, I have no use for it. I need extra help lugging it over to their house and permission since I don’t know how much space they have.
• I need a wardrobe or some sort where I can hang clothes and more draws. I would have to research this a lot. The expense is not going to happen anytime, soon.
• Clean my closet - I have a ton of stuff jammed in a very small space. Some of it can't be helped. I need to pull everything out and make sure I am using everything.
• I would love to trade in my current bed for a queen sized captain's bed - seriously. No dust under but tons of storage!

And. . .
I need to bike! I miss biking, I am far behind with my knee injury and then my health.

I need to get a bike ride because I need to be able to carry two bikes soon so that my lover can train with me. That expense has been moved way down on my list. I might be able to campaign to get one for my birthday which will be late in the game for riding.

Biking by myself right now is out. I can barely stay awake 10 hours. Adding exercise is going to make it impossible for me to also work and function in my social life. Or clean. Check out my list above - I need some energy.

What I Have Done
Things are not a total dumpster-fire. I mean, I have been working on stuff.

• I did get my fridge cleaned out – which is beautiful. 
• I got the bathroom shelves cleaned, purged a bunch of expired products and organized my stuff.
• I went through my clothes and donated about five bags of clothes. If you have ever gone through EVERYTHING, this was a big deal. I don't even have that much stuff.
• I moved all my winter clothes to places that are hard to get to in favor of my summer clothes. 
• I did get my clothes back from the tailor. Tailoring clothes is less expensive than buying new clothes and also meant I got rid of the bag of stuff on my floor that harbored these ill-fitting garments.
• I did get my air conditioning units in the windows and decently secured. Not bad for a 11:30pm activity. 
• I have been dusting everything pretty well.
• Moved all my winter coats and shoes from my rack in the kitchen to my den closet. 
• Purchased and put together a shoe cubby for the kitchen.
• I did get an over-the-door shoe organizer for my bedroom to get shoes off the floor.
• Got new bathroom towels. The downside is they are fluffy and thin. Bad choice. :(
• Got a steam mop, which I use every week, at least.
• I Swiffer and disinfect all floors every week, at least.
• I sweep up the dirt tracked in from the outside and as much kitty litter rocks as possible.
• I wipe down all surfaces in my kitchen, doorknobs and even the doors where grimy hands have been.
• Did a general decluttering of the items on top of my kitchen cabinets.
• Clean the toilet and surfaces of the bathroom at least twice a week.
• Run around like a man-woman with my orange scented Lysol.

Thoughts
The problem is I spend a good deal of my day-time working, I should be biking after work (*sad sigh*) and then I am spending weekends enjoying my guy-friend and doing errands like buying food or going to events and whatnot. I really don't have an interesting life, but, I can't seem to get anywhere with my place.

My adventure - get all of this done and avoid a total melt-down.

Of course, this is all possible and my heart melted a little after getting this text from my one-and-only:

*heart melt*

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Photograph US Post Offices

I like sending mail, so, my enjoyment of the US Postal Service was a given. I also like that the US Postal Office is the "town center" wherever it is. It doesn't mean it is the actual place people want to go or cool stuff is around it, but, if you ever type in a town name or zip code, it will put you at the US Post Office.

Friend: Why do you say US Post Office? Did you feel the need to distinguish from the Canadian Post Office or something?
Me: Maybe.

So, the post office. 

Mission

I want to get as many photos of different post offices as I can. If I travel outside the US, I'd be all for getting other post offices. But, I'm in American, so, US Post Offices for now. 

I brought this mission up with my handsome man friend:

Him: How many pictures do you have?
Me: Two.
Him: I mean total.
Me: Two.

Seriously, why would I lie? In looking in my file, though, I actually have four. I was off because I didn't realize one came out and I thought I accidentally deleted another one.

What I Have So Far

Bally, PA

My most recent is Bally, PA (19503). Bally is a borough in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,090 at the 2010 census. I don't know why this information is important. I guess it means it's a small town. Unless you are in one room with 1,000 some people, then it's a lot of people.

As far as notable people - In 1912, Bally resident Annie Clemmer Funk, a Mennonite missionary to India, died during the sinking of the RMS Titanic. She was en route to Bally to visit her ailing mother, and reportedly gave up her seat in a lifeboat to another passenger or child.

That's a pretty good deed there, Annie. She was only 38 at the time.

I did get a drive-by of the Lake Placid, New York Post Office. It was in a bit of an awkward place and it is also a little hard to explain to Mr. Wonderful you need to stop the car NOW to get a picture of a US Post Office.

There are a lot of great things you can do in Lake Placid - the Post Office is not that far from great Olympic stuff - you can go Ice Skating and even Bobsledding in this sweet location.

Plus, look at that snow! I love a snowy day. You know. In winter. I like my summer, too.

I am not sure why the flag was at half mass. I feel like I should, but, I feel like maybe it was a local thing. It was December 23, 2012.

NY, NY

My third US Post Office was in New York City, New York when I went for one of my first vacations and birthday celebrations ever! I don't get a lot of birthday love 'cept from my parents.

I also lost some weight since then - so. . .this is a great picture. Also, the post office is huge. . .I couldn't get any other markings on it in the picture I was making my friend, Jeff, take.

Anyhow, this is the James Farley Post Office (10001), which was named that in 1982, is the main post office building in New York City. It was built in 1912, and is inscribed with: Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

The Farley Post Office is home to "Operation Santa", made famous in the classic 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street..

Paramus, NJ

My first US Post Office ever, well. it was Paramus, New Jersey (07652). I was lost at the time, I think. Paramus use to be settled by indigenous people - the Lenape people.

Not much really happened here. There was some military set-ups and an African-American colony for freed slaves throughout the Revolution and Civil Wars (respectively).

The city only got its act together in about 1970 - it had lacked any real planning before then.

So, behold, the NJ Paramus US Post Office.

Check-In Will Happen
Yep. Here we go! I'll update you on some of my photos and let you know a little about them. I think it might make for some good road trips. 

My man-friend has Prius. 

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Dress [Work] Appropriate

I am in no way a fashion person, but I do like to look and feel good. I like to dress appropriately for the situations I am in. Work is one of those areas.

I have only worked in highly casual areas of companies, so, jeans were good to wear. However, I did notice

my look-good-feel-good connection was dwindling as more and more people were taking casual to newer, lower levels.

I don't think we are re-defining "casual" - I think it is just really easy to get lazy. I know this because sloth is my favorite of the deadly sins and I have gotten lazy in how I dress on many occasions. I always snap back when I think - why do you want to present yourself badly to those who control your income?

After all, I have a big mouth and I'm clumsy. I really can't be dressing sloppy when I know I'm going to mess up 500 work related things a day. If I can control how I look - if I can make it look like I belong in corporate America - maybe it will dull the fact I just erased the Internet.

Rules
Here are some rules for buying clothes.

• Thou shall only buy clothes that fit. If you need to go a size up, do it! It's better to look good that be obsessed with a size. When trying things on, get the size you think you should wear and then one up and maybe one down so you know how everything fits and lays.
• Thou shall not be a slave to trends. A couple pieces of trend clothing is great to spice up your wardrobe but your wardrobe should be made up of at least 80% basics. This will stretch your budget and then you an always build off it.

Here are a couple rules to keep you honest in this "casual workplace" world:

• No dual purpose clothes. Never wear anything you would wear to the gym, beach or with puky babies. This includes flip-flops. Sorry, I am anti-workplace flip-flops. On an unrelated note, I am pro-pedicure. 
• Work then dress. The quality and statement of your work should always surpass your clothes. Don't dress like you are some type of CEO, do work that makes people want you to be the CEO. Don't go to work proving you are sexy - work to prove you belong there.
• Dress for you. Some say, "Dress for the job you want." No. Dress appropriately for the role you are in and keep yourself professional looking so those who make the decisions to promote will have a good impression of you. Then let your work speak. If you work in a casual place and wear a tux hoping to be promoted - it will be weird. 
• Take pride. Bad day = sweats? Stop. Take pride in how you look in the workplace, even on bad days. 

Mad Maddie rules - here is what I live by:

• No flip-flops: Really. None.
  
• Pantsless Wednesday: Every Wednesday (almost) I wear a dress. At least once a week, I dress up like I am going to be meeting the CEO or going to an important meeting. It keeps me honest. You could also check out when I wore a dress everyday for a week in my 7 Days - No Pants post.
• Cover up: Side on the side of modesty - cover shoulders, no cleavage and nothing tight fitting. It might not be how I would dress for a night on the town or on the weekends, it is how I dress for work.
• Be Comfortable: I refuse to wear things that are uncomfortable. Shoes, pants, shirts, bras - whatever. Life is uncomfortable, there is no need for me to create more discomfort. If an article of clothing is not comfortable and work appropriate, I donate it. 
• Avoid Trends: I just avoid them in my work attire. I want classic things I don't have to re-buy every season or so. I can trend-it-up on my off time, at work, I will stick to things I can always wear. This doesn't mean I don't adore and wear brightly colored pumps or have no flare - I just make sure to reduce anything that would "date" me.

Thoughts

What are some of your work dos and don'ts? What do you do if you have a co-worker who dresses inappropriately? Do you say nasty things behind his/her back or do you talk to him/her about it. Is there any way a company can nicely enforce a dress-code? 

Leave me a comment!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Image of dress types from whatcanyoudowiththat.com
Flip flops from thehouseofbeck.com

Wine Tasting

Mission Level: Success

Background
I have never been on a wine tasting - not like an official one. Every little wine shop and whatnot will let you

I didn't take this picture

sample wines, that doesn't mean you learn anything or that it's a real wine tasting.

Fast forward to my stupidly-handsome man-friend who really likes learning about wine and we are on a wine tasting adventure. It was actually his friend who found our exact location which was Sand Castle Winery.

Sand Castle Winery
The Winery is located in PA. Pennsylvania is not known for its wine, let me tell yous.

However, Sand Castle Winery sits on the type of soil best for growing grapes for wine and also right next to a river. All of this mimics the same conditions in places like Napa Valley. This makes a huge difference in the quality and type of wine. The company also started by building up the vinyard first, then they built the "castle" building. This means they function well as a business. Here is some history from the website:

From the parking lot

Sand Castle Winery, nestled on the banks of the Delaware River in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is the purveyor of world class wines with a long and noble heritage.
Sand Castle's founders, Joseph and Paul Maxian, were born and raised in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, a region renowned for wine making before even the Romans ruled the world. 

In 1974 our family purchased a hillside property in Bucks County overlooking the Delaware River and our dream of Sand Castle Winery was born. In the early 1980s, we began construction of the winery building. Against all odds, and after decades of continuous effort, our Castle was finally completed in 2007.

Wine and Cheese
The tasting was done really well - we did the VIP Educational Tour which let us taste 11 wines. I have been

to some vineyards where they pour you a little wine and give you some crackers.

Not here.

First, 11 wines from tart to sweet with a little lesson about each. The guy also talked about what the labels mean - estate bottled vs.we bought the juice and bottled it here. Then we did experiments.

Love. Experiments.

We chewed on some rosemary and thyme and took a sip of wines. We even tried wine with a little lemon olive oil and wasabi. All this altered the flavor and really gave you a good idea of what foods would go with the wines. Suddenly, a wine I would never sip on my own became a must have for a certain dish I liked. I know most people know this, but, to really have it broken down was awesome. I'm very much a "sniff 'n' taste" type cook, this was right up my alley.

Also, I found a new cheese I must aquire - an espresso Asiago cheese. It was delightful! Thankfully, I can purchase this closer to home. Knowing my love of a fine cheese, though, it will be gone before I get it home.

Best conversation:

Handsome man-friend: Wait, you didn't even have breakfast.
Manda: *hiccup*

Wine cellar

Once we were done with the wine portion, the guy did takes us to where the store and bottle the wine. After a couple glasses of wine, it seems pretty impressive. He talked about the aging process and pointed out items he had talked about during the tasting - now with visuals.

In my picture over there, you can see the oak barrels where they age some of the wines - you can also see the stainless steel tanks where "naked wine" is produced.

Nope, did giggle at all. Just held on to the rail.

The Grounds
At the winery, they were set up for a wedding. We arrived around 11am and left around 3pm without a single sighting of a wedding happening. Ok, there was a some car decorated with "Here comes the Bride" and toil and whatnot - but I thought maybe they always had that setup to drum up more business. It is a very nice place for a wedding.

Beautiful

We did take some nice pictures - there are more, but, no one has sent any too me. Bummer.

My guy taking better pictures than me

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit
Wine label example from flavorofspain.com

Personal Mission: Stop Corporate-Speak

My fellow readians, I have started my own personal mission which my Mom believes will get me fired. I say, bring it. My mission is to remove and correct all corporate jargon, jabber and double-speak from the place of which I work. This I collectively call "corporate-speak."

Why? Because I believe words are powerful and people in high places have been setting the example of bastardizing and spewing words in a way that actually is counterproductive to what they want to accomplish. By using corporate jargon, jabber and double-speak, points are very unclear which leads to distrust and disorganization.

Another why? Using this junk-talk illustrates incompetence, insecurity and laziness. I’m ok with someone being incompetent – I am incompetent in many ways. However, I don’t try to hide it, I try to improve myself or admit some things are too much and hand it over to the better person for the job.  I am not ok with someone being lazy. I refuse to respect insecurity when it comes to my paycheck. If you are too insecure to run the show you are being paid to run, time to find another show.

I dislike this. I like to be clear. I also like to call people out when I think they should be doing better. I need better, corporate world. I need you to be better.

I see this at all levels, which is sad. We got to stop the madness, people. We all have to stop the madness.

My awesome friend Melissa is helping me in this – I have started a list of words I hear in meeting or read in emails that I refuse to use and will question with vengeance if they are directed at me. It’s actually the first page of my notebook. I have made it clear to my manager what my intentions are and I lead by example by refusing to bend words into patterns that they have no business in.

Corporate Jargon
Most companies will have their own common corporate jargon. Normal jargon is sort of like talking shop – there are words that are industry or job specific that everyone in that area understands but outside people do not.

Jargon: (noun) Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.

Corporate jargon is made up of words that no one understands. Sometimes they even battle, like in this Forbes chart:

Battle!

Jabber
This is jabber. It means nothing, however, outside people must read it and promptly make thoughtful noises and agree so as not to appear dumb. It’s sort of like when a toddler babbles without using real words and you agree with him/her and pretend to have a conversation.

Example: One Society plan and process drives budgeting and aligns resources to successfully achieve the goals of the Society’s 2011-15 strategic response.  Unity of our actions will drive our progress faster and more effectively and results in reporting a more complete story of the impact we are making in the lives of people affected by MS.   The FY14 planning and budgeting process is designed to build one organizational plan that will integrate organizational goals, strategies, deliverables and tactics and will provide even greater transparency

What the Hell does this even mean? Seems to be saying, "Our group tries to make sure our group doesn't go out of business."

I think John wrote it. . .

Double-Speak
Doublespeak is language that deliberately disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words

Example: John’s yearly review is coming up in a week. Please send me any information on John’s appears of strength and opportunity by Friday. 

In truth, what is being requested is John's strengths and weaknesses. However, opportunity has been put in - it is double-speak because "opportunity" means a favorable situation and it is being used to cover up an unfavorable trait.

I would say John is a jack-ass. But it would probably be said as he needs to work on his interpersonal communication techniques.

My Current List
How I play this game (because everything is a game) is by using only words I have heard from the source or have been said or emailed to me. I can easily going onto the Internet and pull thousands of words, I want to work with what I am given, though. Here is my list

Ignore my bad spelling

What You Can Do
Help me! Here is how you can!

Say exactly what you mean. When you write something down or are ready to speak, ask yourself if you can use a simpler word or combination to make your point. Do you need to “reach out” to John or do you need to “call” John. Do you need to “leverage your position” or do you need to make sure things go your way?

When you notice someone using jargon, jabber or double-speak simply say, “What do you mean by _____?”

We can do this, people! Take our language back!

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Voiceovers

When I was in high school, actually, I really liked sound. I was more curious about how sound got into movies and TV shows and how to make them. I even had to chance to come up with different sounds for a theater production – with the sound guy, I helped create the sound of bells and rain with neither things on hand.

Not actually recording

I liked theater and I really thought people who did voiceover stuff were cool. I could fall in love with someone’s voice. I can remember a voice. I can feel them and see them. Not just professionals, people in my life. I can't remember names or faces, I can remember voices.

It seems like it’s a simple thing, to talk, but a lot goes into it. Accents (removing, that is) and pronunciation, tone, pitch and emotion. Voice acting can be harder than in-your-face acting.

I thought it would be cool to have a voiceover role somewhere. Be really rich off voicing some cartoon and living in virtual unknown-ish-ness.

First Time
I did some voice work when I worked at a radio station. The station fired me. Not for the voice stuff, mostly because I didn't know how to do my job. I didn't do a good job. It was my first job out of college. I sucked at it. I sucked at learning. It was some of my own fault and some of the fact that I was getting sicker without knowing it – my brain couldn't remember things and my depression was creeping in. I actually had no human contact unless I was at work – and it was with no one my own age. Everyone was in their 50s. Rough.

However, I got to do a couple commercials and I loved it. Man, I wish I could have been in the production department. Copy writing and voicing was right up my alley. I guess those people are also a dime a dozen. Rather, there were 50-year-olds who had been there for 40 years who were not leaving.

Other Stuff
I actually use to record my voice and listen – because it sounds different in my head and that’s weird – in order to help me memorize lines for theater or even when I was in college doing bits for the media part of my degree.

In my third job after college, we hired voiceover people for our training programs. Man, that sounds like the sort-of life. It’s like freelance, which is a world I am use to, plus doing stuff that is really cool that people pay you for.

Current
Oddly enough, I actually am becoming (and fighting to) be the voice of my company. Not in a PR way, in a training way. I have voiced two elearning programs and I hope to do more. Since I worked with sound stuff, I know how to do basic editing and computers today make everything easier.

I never got good at accents or anything that would make this marketable, I don't think. I don't have a way to do a setup where I live to even bring in some money freelancing. I would love to voice a book or maybe take a lesson or two. All of these things will never be in the cards for me, I am sure. But, it's nice to dream.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.