K's Junk Drawer

"Pawn Stars" Is Fun And Interesting Reality Television

2011-05-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

Guest post written by Derick Burks

One of the best shows I watch on satellite TV from Cannon Satellite.

Gold and Silver Pawn looks at an endless variety of items that people bring into their shop. Everything from hot air ballons to dinosaur bones are items that people want to make money from. The pawn shop relies on its pool of experts to help them determine the true value of the items. Viewers get to find out lots of interesting facts about unique items, but the show is also interesting because the family who owns the shop presents a unique cast of characters. Gold and Silver Pawn is run by "Old Man" who is the father, and his sons, who like all siblings, have completely different personalities from each other. The folks who come into the shop to sell or pawn things also add to the show's fascinating cast because of their huge variety of both personalities and reactions. The interactions between the pawn shops's owners and the public-at-large spans a wider range of emotions than one can see in years, much less one half hour of reality television!

Homemade throw pillows for my bed

2011-02-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

Guest post written by Cayla Hopkins

I love to sit and read in bed. That means that just regular old pillows don't do a very good job at helping me propping myself up to read. So I decided that what I should do is actually get some throw pillows to put on my bed.

I thought it would be fun to try and find some really festive and unique looking pillows to put on my bed. So I went online to find some really special ones. When I was online looking for them I came across some WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDERS deals that sounded really great and I ended up ordering one of them for my home internet service.

Well, I ended up getting really inspired by some interior design blog that was really good that I randomly round and I decided to make some homemade throw pillows. So I went out to the craft store with a pillow sham that matches my comforter and found about four different kinds of fabrics that go with it that I'm going to use to make pillows.

Mother's Day gift ideas

2010-04-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

With Mother's Day just a few weeks away, many retailers are advertising Mothers Day sales and specials. I always try to think of something unique yet useful to give for Mothers Day. Bath products and flowers are always good gift options, but for something even more memorable, considering a gift that will allow you to spend time with your mother and engage in a special project together.

Plants are a great option for Mothers Day gifts that, with proper care, will be a lasting reminder of your thoughtfulness on Mother's Day. Flowering potted plants can brighten up a home all spring. Or, if your mother enjoys gardening, you can give her a flowering plant that she can transplant into her garden. Perennials will come back year after year and be a beautiful addition to your mother’s permanent garden. Considering starting a tradition of building a garden with your mother and adding to it every year. The act of engaging in a special project together will be a gift that is more memorable and valuable to your mother than any gift you could buy.

Valentine’s Day specials from 1800flowers

2010-02-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

Valentine’s Day is just four days away. Like any holiday, Valentine’s Day can have a way of sneaking up on you, and if you don’t plan ahead, you may be stuck paying top dollar for last-minute gifts. Fortunately, for those who still haven’t settled on a Valentine’s Day present, 1800flowers has some unique and beautiful arrangements of flowers still available for Valentine's Day delivery. I love the Lily Meadow Bouquet and the Lavender Bliss bouquet with roses and Calla lilies.

There is also a collection of Valentine’s Day roses available for free shipping and no service charges. With prices starting at $29.99, you can’t go wrong with these arrangements, whether you choose traditional red roses or a blooming rose plant. Some even come with chocolates and teddy bears, making them a complete Valentine’s Day package.

Thoughts of Valentine's Day

2010-02-06T17:33:00.001-08:00

With Valentine’s Day coming up, I wonder if R will get me flowers again this year. He usually does, but I told him we could keep things low-key this year to save money. He’s always pretty good about buying flowers for special occasions, though. He bought me white roses on my birthday, and every once in a while, he’ll pick up some flowers when he is at the grocery store, for no real reason. A few weeks ago he brought home a single coral-colored rose that was really beautiful. Usually for Valentine’s Day, he gets me red roses. I also suggested that we make each other gifts this year, but he wasn’t too sure about that idea, so I told him dinner counts. He’s a great cook and I’m always asking him to make the stuffed chicken that he made the first time he cooked for me. Even if we keep things low-key this year, it will be a special Valentine’s Day because it will be our first one as a married couple!

Parco San Marco Resort offers endless vacation activities in an idyllic setting

2010-01-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

Offering private beaches, pools, golf, spa services, and family activities, the Parco San Marco Beach Resort is an ideal destination for a Lake Lugano Vacation. This resort is situated on the largest private beach at Lake Lugano, a beautiful and enchanting lake located on the border between Italy and Switzerland.

This Italian Spa Hotel offers a variety of luxurious wellness services that focus on healing the mind, body, and soul. Guests can unwind and de-stress with relaxing massages, foot reflexology, hot stone treatments, and facials. The spa even offers mini massages for children.

For those who like to be active while on vacation, the resort and the surrounding area offer a wide array of activities, including mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, water skiing, and beach volleyball. Lake Como golf enthusiasts enjoy the many nearby beautifully appointed courses. With the breathtaking botanic walk, yoga, creative workshops, and many other activities, this resort offers something for every traveler.

The cost of wedding flowers

2009-11-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to report that R & I kept the entire budget for our recent wedding under $3000. Considering that anything under $10,000 is a "budget" wedding, I think we did pretty well ... and we didn’t even really have to sacrifice anything we wanted.

One of the biggest expenses was actually the flowers. I went with a small local florist and I paid over $90 just for my bouquet, which was orange lilies with some roses and crocosmia mixed in. It was gorgeous, and I loved the colors, but I think I could have found something cheaper and just as pretty if I had ordered off a web site like 1800flowers.com. They have beautiful bouquets of lilies for a fraction of what I paid, plus they can do corsages and boutonnieres also.

I'm very happy with the way everything turned out, but I think I could have saved some money on the flowers if I had shopped around a little more!

Buying a new home theatre system

2009-09-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

If you’re in the market for a new home theater system, be sure to do your homework. You can plan on spending anywhere from $200 to $3000 or more, depending on your needs and your budget. The two main factors to keep in mind when buying a new TV are size and screen quality. You can find large-screen TVs that are inexpensive but may still offer a poor picture quality. For the same price, you may want to consider a smaller screen size that will provide you with a better image.

If you have a lot of money to put towards a new state-of-the-art, plasma televisions provide excellent picture quality and are best for large screen viewing. LCDs also offer excellent picture quality, but are better for smaller screens and may blur when displaying fast movement. High definition TVs also offer exceptional picture quality.
For general TV watching, you will be fine with a traditional square-shaped screen, but if you plan on watching a lot of movies, you may want to opt for a wide-screen TV.

Be sure to compare prices and look for the best offer. You can get more for your money if you watch sales and do your research before you go shopping.

Shasta Pools offers a variety of custom features

2009-06-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

The other day I was watching a show on TV about amazing pools. One Arizona family had a pool that looked more like a water park, with water slides, fountains, waterfalls, and all kinds of special features. I was kind of surprised that all these features were available for a backyard pool, but it turns out that you can get practically anything you want in a home pool. For example, Arizona-based Shasta Pools, which offers both new pool construction and pool remodeling, creates some amazing looking pools with natural rock features, remote-controlled color-changing lights, and even swim-up bars.

When designing a custom pool with Shasta Pools, there’s almost no limit to what you can accomplish: beautiful mosaic tile inserts, misting systems, decorative wok pots, and deck jets all make your pool a truly one-of-a-kind creation. Plus, Shasta Pools offers a variety of finishes such as large pebble, small pebble, or even plaster with quartz, allowing you to achieve the perfect custom pool for your backyard.

Thoughts about Mother's Day

2009-05-04T11:07:00.001-07:00

I'm still debating about Mothers day gifts, and I'm running out of time! The thing is, my mom doesn't really need anything. I always try to get her something meaningful for Mothers day or her birthday, because the last thing she needs is some trinket that's just going to sit around the house. I don't think she cares about getting presents, really. But it might be nice to send some Mother's day flowers to her office. Everyone enjoys a surprise like that.

Mother's Day

2009-04-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

I realized yesterday that Mother's Day is just around the corner. I haven't even started to think of gift ideas. If I can't think of anything else, I suppose you really can't go wrong with flowers.

My mom lives out of state, so I probably won't see her on Mothers Day. I could always have some flowers delivered, though. I bet places like 1-800-flowers have some great Mother's Day arrangements.

Time For New Glasses

2009-03-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

My sister keeps saying she needs to go to the eye doctor and get new glasses. Buying glasses at the eye doctor's office can be expensive, so I was looking at some options at www.eyeglasses.com. They have the round styles of glasses she wants.

They have a great selection of name brands at pretty reasonable prices, so she could even get a second pair of glasses to use as a backup. Then she would be able to have more variety and could easily change up her look.

My New Favorite Holiday

2009-01-22T18:52:00.001-08:00

The other day as R and I were cooking dinner, the subject of Valentine's Day came up. I asked him what we were going to to for the holiday and he told me not to worry about it.

"That's my job," he said.

It's kind of strange to think that this will be our second Valentine's Day together. I've never spent two Valentine's Days with anyone before, so that in itself is exciting. And I know whatever we do, it will be great. Last year he bought me a dozen roses and took me out for sushi. (Yeah, he's good.)

A couple of days later, I noticed that he had written down some of his recent credit card purchases on the white board in his kitchen. One of them "Roses - $60." I couldn't believe it. I told him, seriously, that he shouldn't have spent the money. Of course, I appreciated the gesture (and I still have the dried flowers), but I told him that was just too much money. He wouldn't hear of it.

"It was Valentine's Day. You have to have red roses on Valentine's Day."

Later, he admitted that he had waited until the last minute and bought them at a pricey flower shop. I hope this year he plans ahead and does some comparison shopping. I'm sure online retailers like 1-800-flowers are already running specials. I love that he was thoughtful enough to buy me flowers, but I don't want him spending a lot of money needlessly.

Mohammed Babangida's Reflections on African Music

2009-01-20T13:02:00.001-08:00

When I lived in Africa, I had the great opportunity to experience many different forms of African music firsthand. While Mali has its share of well-known singers who play traditional Malian music, such as Oumou Sangare and Salif Keita, there are many others who borrow from different styles of music, especially reggae. In his blog about music, Mohammed Babangida discusses the influences of African music on other musical styles and famous musicians. Mohammed Babangida is a Nigerian with a great love of jazz music. He examines how jazz’s West African roots are evident in its use of blue notes, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopations, and swing notes.

To learn more about Mohammed Babangida, visit www.muhammad-babangida.com.

Consolidated Resorts Offers Luxurious Vacation Options

2009-01-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

With more than 29 years of vacation ownership development, Consolidated Resorts provides premium vacation destinations at 13 vacation ownership properties in Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Florida. Consolidated Resorts’ owners enjoy many benefits of vacation ownership, including cost savings, vacation flexibility, and access to luxurious vacation around the world. Through the Interval International exchange network, Consolidated Resorts’ owners can trade vacation time for vacations at hundreds of resorts in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, making affordable worldwide travel a reality. Consolidated Resorts properties include the paradisiacal Kauai Sands Hotel located on a mile-long, white sand beach of Kauai, Hawaii.

To learn more about Consolidated Resorts, visit www.consolidatedresorts.com.

United American Insurance Company Offers Affordable Health Care

2009-01-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

In business since 1947, United American Insurance Company specializes in individual health coverage, with a special emphasis on health plans for seniors. United American Insurance Company offers plans including health insurance, life insurance, cancer/critical illness insurance, Medicare supplement plans, and Medicare Part D plans. UAIC offers flexible, affordable plans that come with a guaranteed renewal, meaning the policy cannot be cancelled as long as premiums are paid on time. The company has received an A+ (Superior) rating for financial strength from A.M. Best for more than 30 years in a row.

To learn more about United American Insurance Company, visit www.unitedamerican.com.

Amos Tamam Develops Wireless Technology for Cab Drivers

2009-01-19T10:36:00.001-08:00

I’ve often wondered why cab drivers can’t accept credit cards. I never carry cash, so if I ever have to take a cab, usually when I'm on vacation, I have to make sure to hit the ATM first. But apparently some taxi drivers are now making use of wireless technology that enables them to accept credit cards. Develop by Amos Tamam, the new technology is now being offered in New York City and Philadelphia. Not only does this make transportation more convenient, but the cab drivers are able to carry less cash, making them less likely to be targeted for robbery. After studying electrical engineering at Tel Aviv University in Israel, Amos Tamam came to the United States and began servicing taxicabs in New York and is now the CEO of Verifone Transportation Systems, Inc.

To learn more about Amos Tamam, visit www.amos-tamam.com.

K Designers Awarded for Excellence in Service

2009-01-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

K Designers has been in the home remodeling business for more than 30 years and has received more than 15 national awards for expert design, premium products, and quality craftsmanship, including the Revere Premium Renovator of the Year for Excellence in Service, Workmanship, and Professional Business Ethics for 7 years in a row.

K Designers specializes in siding, windows, and doors — including garage doors, storm and security doors, entry doors, and patio doors. The company also offers a wide variety of flexible financing options in order to make the remodeling process affordable and comfortable for everyone. To learn more about K Designers, visit the company’s Web site at www.k-designers.com.

Innovative Water Features from Shasta Pools

2009-01-18T15:57:00.000-08:00

Shopping centers with innovative outdoor water features are becoming increasingly popular. Shasta Pools and Spas Commercial Division is just one of the companies building impressive water features for retail spaces. Often incorporating various elements such as a splash area for kids, waterfalls, and elaborate lighting, these water features can be highly complicated construction projects. For Tempe Marketplace in Arizona, Shasta Pools created an "urban stream" that wraps around a long fireplace, creating an inviting atmosphere for shoppers. The Marketplace's splash pad is a popular destination for families after a day of shopping, and Shasta Pools even offers a smaller backyard version for customers who wish to create a similar "spraygound" at home.

Fuel Conservation Tips from Nachshon Draiman

2009-01-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

In my other blog, I've written about hypermiling, the practice of applying deliberate driving techniques in order to conserve fuel. There are several other things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption, particulary when you're at the gas pump. In his blog, Nachshon Draiman offers several tips to keep in mind when refueling your vehicle.

The first piece of advice Nachshon Draiman gives is to fill up your car in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cool. This is because gasoline, which is typically stored underground, is more dense when the ground is cold. If you fill up when it is warmer outside, the gasoline will be thinner and you will actually receive less for the same price.

Nachshon Draiman also cautions against pumping your gas too quickly, as this will release more vapors into the air, wasting fuel (which you are paying for!) Keep the trigger on the lowest setting to reduce vapor release.

Also remember to fill up when your tank is half full. Have you ever noticed that the needle on your gas gauge seems to fall more quickly when it's below half a tank? You're not imagining things. The less gasoline in the tank, the more air is present, which speeds up the rate of evaporation. Keeping your tank relatively full will slow down the evaporation.

Keep these tips in mind when you're at the pump and your actions will have a positive effect on your fuel consumption — and your wallet.

Power Properties Offers High-End Amenities

2009-01-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

While reading up on home and apartment renovation, I looked a little more at the work of Power Properties (see last blog). Their properties feature a lot of the amenities R and I both eventually want to have in our own home: hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances. We'd like to one day build our own home and we are in the process of collecting ideas. The French doors and European cabinetry offered in Power Properties condominiums are nice touches as well. I also love the indoor-outdoor feel that Power Properties creates with lush landscaping and livable courtyard spaces. R loves the outdoors and gardening, so those types of features are going to be high on his list when we eventually start looking for a new home (or looking at designs!).

Braden Power Offers Affordable Renovations in East Dallas

2009-01-18T14:32:00.001-08:00

I've become addicted to HGTV lately. I love old buildings, and I love seeing old houses renovated into modern, attractive living spaces that retain the character and charm of their original architecture. This is exactly what Dallas developer Braden Power is doing in an effort to revitalize run-down neighborhoods. Braden Power and his brother Craig founded Power Properties in 1990 to rehabilitate apartment buildings in the East Dallas area.

Power Properties apartments cater to young professionals. The homes typically feature tropical garden settings and lavish courtyards with pools and coffee bars. Because they are renovating old buildings instead of building new ones, Braden and Craig are able to keep rents affordable and still offer various amenities.

To learn more about Braden Power, visit www.powerproperties.com.

A Faith-Based Look at Finances from Frank Hanna

2009-01-18T13:54:00.001-08:00

In his book, What Your Money Means and How to Use it Well, entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Hanna presents a unique faith-based approach to money management. "Money is a gift from God," he says, "that is frequently abused because of our lack of understanding of its proper use." In addition to examining the questions of what having money means and how much money is enough, Hanna cautions against developing an unhealthy attachment to money. One of the main themes in Frank Hanna's book is the importance of giving money to worthy causes, and how to determine the best ways of giving to those in need.

Frank Hanna is CEO of Hanna Capital in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a frequent speaker on issues of faith and their relevance in the business world.

Tax Debt Relief from American Tax Relief

2009-01-18T13:17:00.000-08:00

Did you know the IRS is offering a one-time opportunity to settle delinquent tax liabilities for a fraction of the amount owed? Even though millions of taxpayers may be eligible for this settlement — known as an offer in compromise — few people are approved because of a lack of knowledge about the laws or a failure to properly complete the paperwork.

You can find out how to properly file for an offer in compromise settlement with the help of American Tax Relief. American Tax Relief specializes in settling tax debts, removing penalties and interest, and stopping wage garnishments. If you owe back taxes, American Tax Relief can help you get a handle on your payments and resolve your tax debt once and for all.

Linus Gitahi's Runners of Kenya

2009-01-16T14:58:00.000-08:00

I used to have a doctor who drove me crazy. Every year when I went in to see him he would say "Hey, you were in Africa! How was that?" Never mind that I had been home from Africa six or seven years already and he’d already asked me this question multiple times. Then without even waiting for an answer he would say "Where were you? Mali? Is that where they jump really high? Don’t they jump really high over there?"

"You asked her that last time," his assistant said once. Even she remembered we’d been through this routine before.

Nobody jumped really high in Mali, to my knowledge. I can only assume he was referring to the 1994 Kevin Bacon movie, The Air Up There, about a team of basketball players from Africa. I never saw it, but I believe the movie was shot in Kenya, where Maasai warriors are commonly over six feet tall. So maybe the premise of the movie wasn’t that they were such good jumpers, but that they were just tall. This probably also accounts for the fact that Kenya produces a lot of world-champion runners, including Kip Keino, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. According to Linus Gitahi, in his blog The Runners of Kenya, Kenyan men hold six of the top 10 fastest recorded times in the marathon. Linus Gitahi also posits that running up and down the steep mountains of Kenya have conditioned the athletes there to lean forward and use gravity to their advantage. They also use a unique hop-like foot strike that allegedly expends less energy while running. So while I’m not sure about their jumping ability, they certainly do seem to have an edge in running.

Linus Gitahi is the CEO of Nation Media Group, the largest media firm in East and Central Africa.

Wangethi Mwangi’s Kenyan Recipes

2009-01-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

People are always interested in what kind of food I ate when I lived in Africa. I guess they expect African food to be exotic and flavorful, but where I lived, people subsisted mainly on rice and millet, so the food was generally pretty bland. The main staple for much of the year was a millet paste that had the consistency of play-doh made from bird seed. It’s definitely not something I would make now that I am back in the US.

If you’re interested in trying new ethnic foods, this blog of recipes from Kenya by Wangethi Mwangi features foods that sound a little more palatable. Wangethi Mwangi’s recipes look like an easy option you can prepare at home yourself. Many of them include fresh ingredients like corn, beans, and potatoes, and he also provides some background into Kenyan culture and describes how the foods are traditionally eaten. Stay away from the millet paste and try some of his Githeri instead.

Wangethi Mwangi is the Editorial Director for Nation Media Group, the largest media company in Kenya.

My Troubled Relationship with Sleep

2009-01-13T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have never been what you would call a morning person. My whole life, I have had difficulty getting up in the morning. I will hit the snooze button for an hour until the alarm shuts itself off. I use two alarms and it still doesn’t help. I’ve tried sunrise simulators, clock radios, and alarms that sound like birds chirping. In high school, it wasn’t uncommon for me to sleep until noon on the weekends. I sometimes nap during the day. I’m sure if I brought a pillow to work, I could easily crawl under my desk and fall asleep in the afternoon. I maintain a healthy diet and work out, but none of it seems to affect my need for sleep. I constantly beat myself up over it, since I feel like I am wasting time that I could be using for other things. R says not to worry so much about it; some people just need more sleep than others. But I still feel lazy. What’s more, I feel like crap if I allow myself to sleep as much as I want. I rarely wake up feeling rested. I suppose I could suffer from clinical hypersomnolence, although I’ve never been officially diagnosed.

Since I have a job where it doesn’t really matter what time I get to work, it only exacerbates my problem. I know I don’t really need to get up at a certain time, so I’m not very motivated. Even though I know getting to work late will force me to stay late in the evening, cutting into my personal time, I can’t seem to drag myself out of bed most mornings. I arrive at work at 10:00 or even 10:30, feeling guilty. Sometimes I wish my laissez-faire boss would actually be more authoritative. Sometimes I wonder if it would make a difference if I had a job that was a little more interesting. Sometimes I wonder if I would be better off working from home and adapting my work schedule to my natural rhythms.

Two years ago, I had a bout of insomnia that lasted for about a month. It was inexplicable and devastating. The inability to sleep was completely foreign to me. Being sleep-deprived left me emotionally fragile and mentally scattered. I had to quit my part-time serving job. I saw a sleep specialist, briefly tried medication, and came close to enrolling in a sleep study. Eventually, the insomnia went away, as mysteriously as it had begun. I hope I never have to experience it again. As lazy as I sometimes feel, I’d much rather be a hypersomniac than suffer through that again. But still, since my sleep habits leave me feeling like a slacker, it would be nice to find some balance. Maybe I should check into another sleep study. I certainly wouldn’t want to be dependent on medication to regulate my routine, but if there is something that can help me wake up feeling refreshed, I’d be willing to give it a try.

Pet Peeve of the Day: Use Your Indoor Voices, Please

2008-12-19T13:58:00.001-08:00

We have small cubicles with short walls in my office, and even with the white noise being piped in, voices carry. I practically whisper whenever I’m on the phone, and if I have to make a personal call, I usually take it outside or to an empty conference room. My team is often proofreading, which requires intense concentration, and I’m very careful about disturbing anyone. However, there are a few people who just don’t seem to get the concept of using indoor voices. In the next aisle, an accounting employee regularly carries on personal phone conversations as if she is speaking to someone with a hearing disability. Obviously, the occasional personal phone call at work is inevitable, but this is not the time to chat, as she is clearly doing. It’s amazing to me that no one in her department says anything to her — this entire side of the building can hear her. How can someone be so oblivious to the volume of her voice in such a quiet environment?

Pet Peeve of the Day: Flush It!

2008-12-18T09:31:00.001-08:00

Earlier this year my company moved into a new building. Our floor was renovated before our arrival, and we now have fancy automatic toilets, soap dispensers, and water faucets in the restrooms. As automatic toilets go, however, ours are kind of crappy (har har). They don’t activate until you actually leave the stall, or unless you do a little dance while you are pulling up your pants. Just to be on the safe side, I usually hit the button on the side on the sensor, but many of my coworkers seem to be too lazy to make the effort. At least once a day, I walk into a stall only to find that the previous occupant did not bother to confirm that the toilet actually flushed.

"That’s something my kids would do," a coworker said the other day as we bypassed a stall where a paper toilet-seat cover was still perched on the seat. "But, you know, they’re kids."

Enough said. Is it really too much to ask? Am I going to have to start leaving passive-aggressive notes in the restroom?

I'm Dreaming of a Chocolately Christmas

2008-12-17T12:01:00.001-08:00

I previously wrote in my other blog about how I love food, particularly chocolate. At this time of year, chocolate seems to be everywhere. Usually, my company receives large gift baskets from some of our vendors for the holidays, but this year, a lot of companies are scaling back. People who used to send us large baskets full of myriad Christmas goodies are now just sending a smaller box of chocolates, which is fine with me. I might even follow their example and buy some chocolate for the few people I have left on my list. Who doesn't love chocolate for the holidays? Online retailer Fannie May offers a wide variety of seasonal chocolates, candies, and novelties, including little gift bags that would be perfect for passing out at work. I'm nearly over my Christmas budget, so a small affordable indulgence like chocolate would be the perfect thing to finish off my shopping this year.

Pet Peeve of the Day: Nosy Coworkers

2008-12-17T08:51:00.000-08:00

I have a coworker we call Planters because, well, she’s a bit nutty. Whenever she comes over to talk to me — which isn’t often, fortunately — she tends to sit on my desk. Right on top of my papers and file folders. Conversations between the two of us usually consist of me giving her a blank stare while she rambles nonsensically.

Yesterday, she stopped me in the hall and said, “I heard you had surgery. What for?”

Again the blank stare, as I tried to figure out how to respond to such an inappropriate question. Fortunately, she gave me an out when she looked down at my foot. “Was it your toe? Or something else?”

I considered just saying yes, it was my toe, since many of my coworkers already know my big toenail was ripped off in a rock-climbing competition. But I couldn’t imagine what sort of surgery would be required for a missing toenail, so I simply said “Something else,” in a firm enough manner that (I hoped) would indicate the discussion was closed.

“Are you okay?”

At this I softened a bit and tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she was just being concerned and not nosy. But how can some people have so little tact? I don’t mind if someone told her I had surgery, but my health is not something I wish to discuss with someone I barely know. You’d think that sort of thing would be common sense.