Not at all listless

A brief listing of some of the lists I have going right now:

1. Things to do at work: this week
2. Things to do at work: this summer
3. Things to do at work: to get step progression
Okay, this one is a little sad. There are at least 10 items on this list that I need to do to get a whopping 30 cents an hour raise.
4. Things to do for TS business
5. Things to do: this week at home
6. Things to do before my birthday
7. Groceries
8. Songs to add to my Ipod. This list, if I had any sense of musical pride or snobbery, would be a source of shame. But I don't. So "We are the World" and "We Belong to the Night" both get added tonight.
9. Things to do before I die: I haven't crossed anything off this list in nearly a year. That must be rectified and soon
10. Books to read: Just added "The Book Thief" at the request of the wonderful Chris. There are a few open lines, so feel free to send a suggestion.

I feel busy when I look at that. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

The Caffeinated Sugar Monkey's Guide to the World Cup

My husband, the delightful Mr. Monkey, loves sports. All sports. There is, to my knowledge, no sporting event that he won’t watch on TV (except maybe golf) so we are, of course, watching the World Cup as often as possible. I am quite happy to watch both because some of the commentators have Irish accents and because some of those soccer players have some, umm, delightfully sturdy thighs (not that I’m noticing at all. Nope. I never peek. Mr. Monkey’s legs are the only ones I’ve ever noticed). Also, I love to hear “GGGGOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!” first thing in the morning.

So, while watching the first round of the World Cup, I have developed several strategies to help me determine which country to cheer for which allows me get more emotionally invested in a match between, for example, Iran and Mexico than I might normally be. Feel free to steal this cheering flow chart for your own use at home:

1. I will always root for the US if they are playing. This satisfies any patriotic urges I might have while also soothes the part of me that roots for the underdog. I know we are officially ranked 5th but after the trouncing on Monday I think we are safely back in underdog territory.

2. I will always pick the Netherlands. I have to have some love for the motherland and I really like all the Dutch last names. In the event of a US vs. Netherlands match, I will hope for a tie.

3. In any game between an African country and a non-African country, I will choose the African country. My first trip overseas was to Ghana and I loved my time there. I know every country is different and blah, blah, blah but I liked Ghana, so I like Africa. Also, the whole underdog thing usually works for me here.

4. In a match between a Latin American country and a team that isn’t US, Dutch or African, I’ll root for the Latin American country. Unless it is Brazil. I think they are cocky and deserve a loss.

5. In a match between two European countries (not including the Netherlands) I’ll root for which ever one seems closest to the Netherlands. Except Germany. A good Dutch girl doesn’t cheer for Germany.

6. Korea. Sigh. I’m not totally sure what to do with Korea. I guess I’d cheer for them in the event that they were playing a team that isn’t US, Dutch, European, African or Latin American (so, basically if they play Iran or Germany) but I don’t really want them to win. When I lived in Korea I heard endlessly about the innate Korean superiority when it comes to all athletic endeavors, so that got pretty tiring. On the other hand, I do have a “Be the Reds!” Korean soccer t-shirt I could wear in the event of a Korean win. I do want them to beat Japan.

7. I don’t care about Australia one way or the other.

I think that covers all my cheering needs. So, cheer with me now: Go Team US/Netherlands/Ghana/Togo/Ivory Coast/Angola/Tunisia/Mexico/Costa Rica/Ecuador/ Paraguay/or Argentina!

My new gig

So, I've got a new gig. Nope, I haven't left the hallowed halls of community college academia just yet. Instead, I've sorta kinda started my own business. I'm now (insert drumroll here) a Tastefully Simple consultant. For those of you not in the know about the fabulous world of home sale parties, Tastefully Simple (TS from here on out) is a company that makes lots of yummy food mixes and dips and spice. I genuinely love their stuff and have for awhile, so the selling part of it is pretty easy for me. The tricky part for me is balancing how to let people know what I'm doing while balancing me deep desire not to annoy/pressure/bug anyone to either buy stuff or host a party (though, if you do want to do either of those things, let me know!). I trust that there are people in my life who will stop me if I become irritating.

That said, I have my own TS website (see link on the side of this little blog) and I may mention TS related stuff here from time to time but I promise that I am going to do my best not to become one of those obnoxious sales people who tries to insert a reference to their business every opportunity they get. I have no need to become dorkier than I already am.

Okay then. I'm out of the home sales closet now. Feels good.

Funny

Confession time: I don't really like the movie Animal House very much.

I realize that this isn't the most shocking confession of all time but as a person who prides herself on having a pretty decent sense of humor, I kind of feel like I should like that movie more than I do. It is a classic after all and I know some people completely love it. I was watching a special on Bravo the other night that proclaimed Animal House as the funniest movie of all time and I just had to shrug, because I remember laughing a few times while watching it but it certainly doesn't crack my top ten of funny movies*.

So, how about you? What is your favorite funny movie? What is an allegedly funny movie that you just don't get or like?


* The top ten would include (in no particular order): Airplane!, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs, Dodgeball, 40-year old Virgin, Rat Race, Ocean's 11 (George Clooney version), and at least one Monty Python (maybe Holy Grail?)