the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: February 2015
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Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Please Contact Myself if You Have Questions. There's a new guy at work who, in spite of being very smart and having a college degree, continues to use the word myself. Incorrectly. Frequently. Multiple times per day. In both email and spoken conversation. Typical sentences include: "Please reach out to Lisa or myself. If you have questions.". And my assistant will be coming to this meeting.". And: "At some point this week, Ricky, Marni, or myself. Etc, are all reflexive. Can g...
the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: The Award You Pay for Yourself
http://the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-award-you-pay-for-yourself.html
Saturday, August 30, 2014. The Award You Pay for Yourself. We're introducing a new team award today," Chris said enthusiastically. "It's called the Candy Jar Award.". He held up a medium-sized clear plastic container with a blue lid. It looked like it originally held a Kirkland fancy nut mix. Now it was full of Halloween-sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&M's, Kit Kat, and the like. I had to pipe up. So you actually have to pay for your own award then? I asked, trying not to sound contrary. As a reward ...
the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: December 2013
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Thursday, December 19, 2013. Looking a Lot Like Christmas. Behold, the Christmas tree! Once the tree was sufficiently dressed and the boxes put back in the closet, my mom and I had way too much fun taking pictures of ourselves with the Christmas tree. Now it finally feels (and smells) like Christmas. Thanks, Mom! Thursday, December 19, 2013. Sunday, December 15, 2013. Unlike last year's NYE party. At Dave's, this time I was not the only woman in attendance.). Sunday, December 15, 2013. I've had multiple ...
the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: November 2013
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Monday, November 18, 2013. Don't Mess With Texas. At least I like meat. Thankfully I didn't encounter any guns, radical conservatives (that I know of), or over-the-top displays of state pride while I was in Texas. In fact, I found Austin to be a beautiful, green, eclectic city with a vibrant home-grown music scene and very affordable housing to boot! View from the top of Mt. Bonnell. Mmm, barbecue ribs (very smoky flavor! Another morning we went for a bike ride. Before Lucie and Jess moved to Austin,...
the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: August 2014
http://the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com/2014_08_01_archive.html
Saturday, August 30, 2014. The Award You Pay for Yourself. We're introducing a new team award today," Chris said enthusiastically. "It's called the Candy Jar Award.". He held up a medium-sized clear plastic container with a blue lid. It looked like it originally held a Kirkland fancy nut mix. Now it was full of Halloween-sized Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&M's, Kit Kat, and the like. I had to pipe up. So you actually have to pay for your own award then? I asked, trying not to sound contrary. As a reward ...
the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: December 2014
http://the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com/2014_12_01_archive.html
Tuesday, December 30, 2014. Time and the Family Calendar. Amateurish as that calendar was, it was a major hit in the family. In the run-up to Christmas 2007, I was told in no uncertain terms by parents and siblings alike that I "had to" make a family calendar for 2008. What had started as a one-off Christmas gift had, rather surprisingly to me, become a non-negotiable tradition. 2011 calendar; I have loads of fun coming up with a title and special cover for each calendar. Another important element of the...
the-lingua-franca.blogspot.com
Lingua Franca: January 2014
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Thursday, January 2, 2014. This game is not what it sounds like, however it's also not for the faint-of-heart. The tradition originates with my brother-in-law's Danish ancestors and has carried on since he and my sister got married. It involves a large bowl of dense rice pudding, only lightly sweetened and teeming with blanched, slivered almonds. Hidden in the sticky white paste are two whole almonds, also bleached. Mom holding my almond, having bitten hers in three in the excitement. With the almonds fo...
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Lingua Franca: October 2013
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Thursday, October 24, 2013. Wow, That's a Lot of Love! Thursday, October 24, 2013. Thursday, October 3, 2013. I'm sure you'll be glad to know that I have been using this forced stay-cation to catch up on a number of projects around the house and get in some extra bike rides. At least the shut-down happened when the weather is fine, rather than in, say, January. That was considerate of you. Here are a few things I've been doing to stay productive while waiting for you to get your act together. It's so nic...
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Lingua Franca: September 2013
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Saturday, September 7, 2013. Amish and Corn Fields and Bikes! My arms were shivering. Or they would have been if Linda hadn't loaned me her fleece-lined jacket. For all my obsessive planning, early packing, and double-checking of my gear, I neglected to bring a jacket, a long-sleeved jersey, or arm-warmers. Somehow that weather forecast of early-morning temps in the high 50s and low 60s didn't register when I was making my DO NOT FORGET list for this trip. Pre-ride, with my new arm-warmers. By the first ...
