Impulse

Posted on June 14th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Sponsored Posts, Random.

So I was thinking about mailing lists and the innovative lists company called Martin Worldwide.  I wrote about them previously — their multi-dimensional ResponseCom database helps businesses by identifying prospects with the most “active, responsive, and impulsive buying history,” in order to experience higher response rates, profitability, and new business opportunities through their direct marketing campaigns.  I’ve mentioned how that sends a little chill down my consumer spine — it’s a little scary that businesses you’ve never shopped with can know so much about you — but as a business person, it leaves me intrigued by the possibilities inherent in such information.  Personally, I like getting new catalogs, brochures, coupons, and all that.  Makes me feel lucky, gives me something to look at, exposes me to new things, etc.  A custom, targeted mailing list means that as a consumer, I’m receiving things I might be interested in (instead of, say, a free prostate exam), and the business doing the mailing is using its money wisely.  Still, no one is crazy about having their buying history consolidated and studied — I swear, that fuzzy reindeer sweater was a gift.  For someone I didn’t like. Honest.  ;)

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How I Know I’m Getting Old . . .

Posted on June 10th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Technology, Random, Television.

I just saw a commercial on TV for those Zwinky avatars, where you design and clothe a virtual representation of yourself or who you’d like to be . . . when I was sixteen and first got the Internet, I was all about things like that, especially because of the customization. I could give myself the blue hair and combat boots I don’t get to wear now, since I have to be oh-so-mature and responsible. Lord, but I am tired of dress slacks and twin sets. Unfortunately, as an adult, I have come to the realization that Zwinky and all such things are for the kiddies. Nowadays, all I can think is who has the time? Who can afford the effort? Ah, the joys and luxuries of youth! :)

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Heavenly Hawaii

Posted on June 10th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Work, Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Travel, Sponsored Posts, Money, Random.

It looks like my meeting has been moved from Vegas to Oregon, which is better for me personally and financially, but probably will not give me that Calgon feeling I was hoping for . . . I recently read a web release about Hawaii Vacation Rentals from Gebhart Properties that sound simply divine. I never really consider Hawaii an option when traveling just because of how widely publicized the expense is, especially because if I was going to have a wonderful time, I would want to stay somewhere high class and beautiful, and that’s probably a little out of the range of my pocketbook. But Gebhart offers exactly the kind of accommodations I would want, in a variety of popular Hawaiian locations, including the Waikoloa Beach Resort (they say it has some of “the finest condominiums in all of Hawaii” with 2,576 square feet of living space, featuring private elevator access, gourmet kitchen, an extensive collection of Hawaiian art and outstanding views of Anaeho’omalu Bay and Kileaua”). I think it founds absolutely heavenly! What do you think the chances are that I could convince my company to cover costs for us to meet there instead? :)

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Disgusted

Posted on June 9th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Random.

I stood on the scale today and frankly, I’m pretty angry with myself. 185 lbs. All of my progress, slowly disintegrating . . . I can chalk most of it off to stress, being too busy to maintain healthy habits, but it’s more than that. I just feel wasted, and it’s hard to care when I’m so down. I need to get some exercise and start eating right, and I absolutely have to stop smoking — I’m almost up to three packs a day — and start sleeping like a normal adult — no more staying up until 7 am. But it’s all so easy to say, just not so easy to do. I’ve always been great at identifying my problems and terrible at prioritizing them above the rest of the noise. I used to have a note on my personal cork board that said “Personal Does Not Mean ‘Not Urgent’.” Maybe it’s time to get that back out again . . .

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Basketball Tickets

Posted on June 8th, 2007 by gail helen.
Categories: Personal, Omnia Vanitas, Sponsored Posts, Random.

Now, one sporting event I think my whole family can agree upon is basketball. In my last ’sporty’ post, I should have used Miami Heat Tickets instead of the Dolphins. I’ve always found football (and wrestling, for that matter) to be ridiculous to watch. What is the attraction to attending these events? I guess I don’t really see the skill in getting all padded up to knock each other around (isn’t that like bumper cars?? — real men play rugby! :) ) or in dressing down to roll around on a mat that might as well be a petri dish (while fun, and yes, it does require skill, it seems both pointless and useless — just hit the gym and avoid developing ringworm — seriously, I dated a guy who was a wrestler, and he picked up impetigo from his ‘partner’ which I then caught with a vengeance). But basketball is fun, limited contact, fast, and requires such an extraordinary amount of hand-eye coordination that I will never, ever successfully even manage a granny shot. Living within 40 miles of Chicago, I remember the craziness associated with getting tickets to a Bulls game when Jordan was leading the team to championship after championship — even I developed the fever. My dad had friends with box seats, and so my older sister got to go even when all the tickets had been sold ages in advance. I bet that was nice, but sadly, I never got to see them play. Maybe I will use the aforementioned PremiumSeatsUSA to take Fraser to a game or two when he’s older — I bet they would have a whole stockpile of tickets for the Bulls if they’d been around back then . . .

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