Friday, February 27, 2009

Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh... DAMN!

G's sleeping so I didn't watch who got booted from America's Best Dance Crew. They're down to only three crews at this point in the season. But...

Oh.

My.

Gawd.

Friggin Quest Crew and Beat Freeks r-o-c-k. Awesome hip-hop routines. I'm sure they'll be the top two crews next week... but I think I'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out what happened.

Oh, boy. David Letterman's on in the background. It's a repeat of the episode with Joaquin Phoenix. I must watch it again. So facinatined...

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Scandalous

Okay, Bossch. I just had to try this...

1. Put your MP3 player, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag at least 10 friends (make me #11 so I can see your results).
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!


IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Spread (Outkast)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF
I Wish You Knew (Mariah Carey)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Cadillac Car (Dreamgirls Soundtrack)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Go-Go Gadget Gospel (Gnarls Barkley)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Free Design (Christmas in the Day)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
SloLove (Janet Jackson) <--FUNNY!!!

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Taylor (Jack Johnson) <--Makes no sense

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Can You Stand The Rain (New Edition)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Tomorrow Morning (Jack Johnson)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Where Is Your Heart (Kelly Clarkson)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Feel Good Inc (Gorillaz)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
In My Head (Anna Nalick)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Don't Miss You at All (Norah Jones)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Sea Legs (The Shins)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Plan B (Mute Math)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Idle Hands (Gutter Twins)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Pride...In the Name of Love (Nouvelle Vague)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Until the End of Time (Sunburst)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Collarbone (Fujiya & Miyagi)

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Head Turner (Joss Stone)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Bicycle Race (Queen)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Scandalous (Prince)

Give it up for... Lent!

'Tis Ash Wednesday. The start of Lent. It's gonna be hard but I've decided to give up Facebook for Lent. I wasn't even thinking of giving up anything this year 'cause I'm not super religious. But that would be weird 'cause I give up something for Lent every year.

I always feel like these scarafices make me a much better person. For example, one of things I gave up last year was road rage. I know, I know. Sounds silly. But, honestly, I had a huge problem. I used to really get pissed at other drivers. At first it was hard. I started getting angry at another driver then, dangit, I remembered that my sacrafice was to stop doing that. I kept forgetting. Over & over & over again. But, then, all of a sudden, I started being less angry on the road. And, eventually, I didn't have to remind myself any longer.

Don't get mi incorrecto. I still get annoyed and disappointed at other drivers. But at least now, I don't let it consume me. Which, by the way, is what Facebook has done to me. The games, the finding old friends, the updating statuses, the commenting, etc... Yes, folks. I am a Face-book-a-holic. I have a problem. And it stops. Now.

I got the idea from a "friend" on Facebook. She's more of an acquaintance from college. Her mom's good friends with G's mom. Glad I saw it 'cause I think it's a great idea. It's about time I stopped getting distracted by social networking...

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

It's finally happened to me

This has never happened to me. I've been working for thirteen years at the same place. I've seen it happen to so many other folks. But not me.

I was so late to today's company meeting. I was off last Thursday & Friday and, yesterday, I stayed home sick. Why did they set the company meeting for nine-in-the-friggin-morning? That's just a wee bit early. I'm usually into work 9:15ish.

Times our tough. I understand. But times have never been this bad. Ever.

Add to my usual time all the traffic from West Seattle. Ugh. I got into the parking lot at 9:05am and ran quickly across the street to the Palace Room where the meeting's being held. Please, please, please... let there be an open seat in the back.

It's strange when it happens to you. Especially if it's never happened to you. I just don't know how to feel.

Every. Single. Seat. Was taken. I would have preferred to have just stood in the back of the room but one of the facilitators comes up to me and says, "I know it's never a popular choice but there's a seat up in front." Great. Let's announce to everyone that Rodney's come in late. Bah.

I really have no emotion. Not a "I'm-numb-from-such-a-traumatic-event" type of no emotion. I mean, a feeling of absolutely no feeling.

Hiro is presenting slides of our sales, costs, expenses, and losses the past five years. Some good. Some bad. Okay, a lot of bad. The screens were filled with so many red numbers. Finally, he presents a slide showing the changes. He's no longer our CEO. And, now, Active Voice will be reporting under NEC Infrontia. As of April 1, 2009, Active Voice will no longer exist. Done. Kaput. Finis.

Actually, I am a little scared. Of the unknown. Lots of uncertainty.

The next slide showed two list of names. The first list of a dozen folks were told to report to the Explorer Conference Room back at headquarters. The second list of nine were told to go to the Discovery Conference Room. The remaining group of about fifty were told to remain seated at the Palace Room.

I knew this day was coming. I just didn't realize this day... was today.

So there I am there with eight others in Discovery. My boss is there with an HR rep from NEC. She explains the situation. After March 31, Active Voice will close its books and only certain Development, QA, & other miscellaneous folks will be staying with NEC. Those were the people back in the Palace Room. The folks in Explorer would be gone on March 31. And our group? We were a transition group. We would stay beyond March 31 to help transition pieces of the company to NEC. Our individual lengths of employment would vary but it would be around 2-6 months.

I can't believe it. I'm no longer working for Active Voice.

My boss tells us that our letters of temporary employment under NEC will be distributed sometime in March. Worst case scenario, my last day at Active Voice will be May 31. But I'm optimistic my services will extend beyond that date to assist in the systems transition. My boss did refer to me today as an expert of our accounting/manufacturing software. Hmph. Really?

An end to a chapter of my life. I was a kid when I joined the company in November 1995. I've matured so much.

The good news is that I'm getting a nice severance package. The base severance is four weeks salary. But on top of that, I'm getting a week's salary for every six months of service. Having been at Active Voice for over thirteen years puts me at the maximum 26 weeks (or 6 months) of salary. Wow. I am honestly amazed at that compensation. I'll also have about three weeks of unused vacation by that time. I'm really hoping that my experience on top of my recent college degree will make me marketable - even in this tough economy. It's time to truly test my networking skills...

I am so thankful for everything Active Voice has done for me. I was a mess before this company came into my life. Sure, it's not the same company I knew when I first started. But they were there when I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. My fiancee and I grew to know one another as coworkers. She was just a friend when I helped her get a job there in the Fall of 1999. Without Active Voice, we would never have taken our relationship from friends to best friends... to soul mates. And when I finally decided to go back to school, Active Voice guided me to a career in Accounting and even paid for my schooling - tuition & books. Saying I'm forever grateful to Active Voice completely understates how I feel. I'm the person I am today because of this company and I will never forget that. Ever.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Spinning round & round

Ugh. This weekend was a bit busy. Little sleep, lots to do. I guess that's why I woke up all not-so-good-feeling. Room spinning. Sucked. I finally woke up around 1pm. Ate some leftovers from yesterday's Oscar shindig, watched some Jerry Springer (JERRY-JERRY-JERRY-JERRY), and now I'm back in bed 'cause I don't feel good again.

I was on YouTube, thinking of watching something (can't remember what) when this girl caught my eye on the promoted video section. I've been watching so many of her old videos. Loving it. How can someone be so talented? I think she produces all her own stuff... she hosts, writes, acts, directs, edits, films, etc. Amazing. Here's a random video. Although she's mean with her own opinions, she understands everyone's entitled to her own. Funny gal.



Back to watching more of her silliness...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Fear of the run

I'm scared. It's fairly sad when the last run I can remember doing is... something I can't remember. I mean I'm racking my brains to come up with a time I've run since I went back to college. And that was in Fall of 2005. So, is what I'm trying to tell myself is that... what? I haven't run in almost four years? That can't be right. Sadly, that's definitely the case.

I can't wait. T-minus 50 minutes before meeting up with friends and doing a 2.7 mile around Greenlake. Most of us are just running to run. One of my friends is trying to coerce us into training for the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Half Marathon in June. I want to be inspired. I want that goal. That might be good for me. We'll see. This should be i n t e r e s t i n g . . .

Friday, February 20, 2009

New look... new blog

Last night, I tried to change the template of my blog but Internet Explorer locked up. I forgot all about it until visiting my site this morning and seeing the change took. I'm happy with the new colors.

Not sure what I'm going to do with this blog. I like this being my personal private place on the world wide web. But I just joined a new blog with some friends. There's only three of us right now... and I seem to be the only one writing. But, eventually, the three other folks who were invited will join in...

Utterances and Anamolies

There's potential for it to be good considering I really enjoy the writing of these folks. But it can only be enjoyable if they join. Which I hope they do. But, yeah, should I duplicate blog entries to both sites? I think I might. We'll see...

Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Mini-High School Reunion

I see my buddy Eric fairly often. There's the annual Oscar pool, we used to have Fantasy Football, and now we see each other for a weekly Pop Culture Trivia night at Jillian's. He's the one high school friend I see regularly.

Then there's Mark M. We graduated from high school together, were roomies at different times in college, were in a Filipino dance troupe together (even if I'm not Filipino), and we have a ton of UW friends in common. Through the 2000s (I still don't know what to call this decade), we haven't seen much of each other. But I've always made it a point to have lunch together at least twice a year.

Today, the three of us had lunch with a girl we all knew in high school... Kersten. She was just a nice, sweet, smart girl we all had in various classes. Being from a class of 500+, that's quite a connection. I set the whole lunch up after reconnecting with her on Facebook. Yes. That thing.

What a fun lunch! Kersten has a witty sense of humor. I was the driver for Mark & Eric. After parting ways with Kersten, we were all talking about how we all wish we knew her a little better back in high school. Nooooo, not like "that". Just as a friend. She's quite the dude around us, while being a proud mama. For the past 3+ years, we've all worked within two miles of each other. I think we're gonna try to get together for lunch every once in awhile.

I guess these social networking websites do have some value. I've arranged a poker night with Eric, Mark, and a couple of other guys from high school. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm still the same guy who would prefer just a chill night with me and mah ladeee.... But, I think getting together with old friends every once in awhile has been awesome.

I'm really looking forward to the Oscars and Watchmen. And I'm denial about how busy work is...

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Watchmen... Simpson's Style

I'm really looking forward to the Watchmen. I guess that's why a picture like this gets posted on my blog...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Monday YouTube Day

Had a chance to check out the Joaquin Phoenix interview with David Letterman and the Christian Bale meltdown (NSFW). Tell me... what the heck is going on with these celebrities???? It makes me think that we should never strive for fame & fortune... just a so-so life. That way, we don't fall apart like these folks:



Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Two anchors during commercial break

As the story goes (from another blog)...

The two anchors from Chicago's WGN are Robert Jordan and Jackie Bange. They have been anchoring together for many years. The two of them started doing a little routine for fun during commercial breaks. The routine has become increasingly elaborate and someone from the set filmed it and put it up on YouTube:

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Grammys '09

I'm watching the Grammys from the DVR. Fast forwarding through a lot of it...

--Justin with Al Green. Awesome. Poor Boys-II-Men in the back - didn't get to hear much of them.

--Chris Martin starts off performing with Jay-Z. Then, he joins the rest of Coldplay to sing "Viva La Vida."

--Jason Mraz, my favorite male artist at the moment, loses to Coldplay for Song of the Year. Dammit. Not awesome. I expected "Viva La Vida" to win (sorry Jason). But still not cool. "I'm Yours" is MY song of the year.

--Jason presented which performers? What the _____ ???? The Jonas Bros? Good grief! And they're singing with one of my favorite R&B singers of all time... Stevie Wonder? Dammit Stevie... why must you make them sound much better with your awesomeness. Not awesome. I refuse to record their performance onto DVD.

--I sure don't care for Kanye West when it comes to his acceptance speeches or any other time he speaks. But I sure like his songs. I like "American Boy" with Estelle. Good performance even if he's sportin the mull-fro (mullet meets afro).

--Poor Jason. He looked great in the audience with... his mom? But he sure didn't look happy losing to John Mayer for the Male performer award. Hmmm... I'd have that look too I guess.

--Justin's back. He's performing with TI. JT and TI. I've never heard of this song. "Dead and Gone" Not bad. Never heard of it 'cause, of course, I'm out of it.

--Ne-Yo & Jamie Foxx performing as part of Smokey Robinsons' Four Tops? Nice.

--Josh Groban presented Neil Diamond's performance... and there's Jason at the end applauding and happy with Neil. Mr. Mraz is smooth lookin. Man? Am I writing enough about that guy?

--Cool. Robin Thicke with Li'l Wayne. Robin Thicke's got some soul. Too bad he looks too much like Daddy Growing Pains. Show me that smile again... (show me that smile)...

It's over. Nothing for Jason. Oh well. He'll get his one year...

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Catchin' up on TV

Today has been a relaxin stay-at-home-slash-do-some-chores-slash-catch-up-on-TV kinda day. I just have to comment on the past week's episode of Smallville. There's a scene where Oliver "The Hottie" Queen is in the hospital. Ummm... why does he shirt off? For viewers, sure. But, c'mon, what hospital has their male patients in their beds without clothes?

Got done watching Heroes, ABDC, and The Office. And going on Facebook to find some pleasant friend requests. It's gonna be one of those lazy days. But it's all good. That's what Saturdays are for.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

25 Random Things

Facebook note challenges people to come up with 25 random factoids. Here were mine:

1. My full first name is Rodney Lloyd. That's right… a very black name combined with a very white name. I've thanked my parents on numerous occasions for such a wonderful name.

2. I have had permanent residences in Maryland, Guam, Washington, Germany, Kansas, and Colorado. I lived in all those places by the time I was eleven.

3. When sleeping, I've been known to snore, talk, raise my thumbs in the air, scream, laugh, and other things I'd prefer not to put in writing.

4. When I graduated from high school, I was awarded the Outstanding Math Student of my graduating class. I know what you're thinking… "What? YOU??? No way!" Yep. Believe it.

5. I don't like talking on the phone. I prefer texting, emailing, or being an “in-person” socializer. I can’t function on audio alone. I’m totally visual.

6. After high school, I lived in eleven different dorms/apartments/houses before settling in my current West Seattle house. That was all in a span of nine years.

7. I dropped my sister three times when she was a baby - once on a hard wooden chair and another two times on the floor. My brother used to threaten to tell my parents about it. It was all an accident, I swear! She's alive and kickin on Facebook.

8. I like eating spaghetti with rice. Step aside, garlic bread.

9. Through high school, I preferred to eat all my meals with a spoon. Being around other folks in college changed all that. I've now fully converted over to a fork.

10. My favorite movies in fourth & fifth grade were Breakin' & Beat Street. I was a complete b-boy-wannabe.

11. The three canned foods I like to eat on occasion: corned beef, spam, and vienna sausage. Add any of these with fried eggs & steam rice? That's choice.

12. My favorite TV show is The Office. And by favorite, I mean obsessed. And when I say obsessed, I mean I would actually go to conventions they have in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

13. The only fight I've ever been in was in second grade. This guy with glasses was teasing me and said I'd never hit a guy with glasses. After hitting him in the face and knocking his glasses off, I ran. Now, I have glasses.

14. My phrase of the moment is, "I-want-to-go-to-there." You gotta say it all monotone like. I heard it on an episode of "30 Rock". Tina Fey rules.

15. Every year, I watch all the Best Picture nominees before the actual academy awards. That way, I know what’s going on during the Oscars.

16. When I was a kid, I used to love eating potted meat with rice. That's right, a sandwich/cracker spread with rice. And quite a disgusting one if I'm being honest. My parents didn't purposely serve it as a meal. I guess I just started do it on my own. Just goes to show you I'll eat anything with rice.

17. My top celebrity crushes are Jessica Alba, Leeann Tweeden, Brooke Burke, Kim Kardashian, and Kristen Bell. And, yes, I did watch that last season of Dancing With the Stars for two reasons.

18. I can’t speak Chamorro but I totally understand it. If you asked me for the Chamorro equivalent of a specific English word, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. But I do understand the word when I hear it.

19. When I was nine years old in Germany, I had my picture taken for a TV spot on the Armed Forces Network (AFN). Under my picture was the caption, "Make sure to have your child immunized…" Or something like that. It was a picture of me getting a shot.

20. When I eat cheap baked frozen pizzas, I like dipping each bite in ketchup. At home. In private. With nobody looking. It’s pretty boss.

21. I have a great appreciation for Broadway musicals. Okay, I love 'em. My favorite shows are Lion King, Miss Saigon, Spring Awakening, and Rent. I would recommend these particular ones to anyone.

22. At home, it’s my job to clean the automatic cat litter for our two cats (Maddie & Luna). I empty it every 3-4 days into a huge sealed garbage bag lined bucket. Once it's full, I take all 30 pounds of crap and dump it in the garbage. I'm sure the garbage guy hates us.

23. I've had the pleasure of meeting Margaret Cho, Jamie Lynn Sigler, and Taye Diggs in person. All nice folks. And hot. What?

24. One day, I want to perform a stand-up routine. Just once in my life. Funny or not, that’s one of my goals.

25. My dating anniversary with Glodine is January 1, 2000. That’s 1/1/00. It just happened that way. But, thankfully, I’ll never forget that date. 'Cause I'm bad with dates.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009