Miss Attitude

I moved!

2008-07-31T22:03:00.003-04:00

If you still want to follow my blog, which I'm sure you do, please follow me on my new and improved Website.

How rude!

2008-07-22T13:39:00.011-04:00

No matter how you explain it, it’s rude! I’m talking about potential employers who don’t let you know whether you got the job or not. As most of you know, I’m back to the world of the working. But it’s amazing to me, I still haven’t heard back from several places where I interviewed. Today, one of my friends sent me an e-mail that clearly showed someone was hired for a position I applied for more than three months ago. Not only did the woman who interviewed me fail to call or e-mail to tell me she hired someone else, she also failed to respond to a follow up e-mail I sent last month. I know she’s probably busy, we’re all busy. But really it’s just plain rude.

I’ve been a supervisor before, I’ve hired people and I just can’t imagine ignoring a candidate’s feelings and leaving them in limbo. It’s a terrible feeling when you’re waiting to see if you get the job, it can make you very antsy. But to realize you don’t even come up on the person’s radar enough to solicit a “We chose someone else” e-mail is impolite, inconsiderate and unmannerly (okay you get my drift!)

For many of us, whether you get hired affects your entire life. If you're unemployed, you need a paycheck. But you also want to make sure it's a good choice for you. If you're underpaid or in debt, you may need to find a higher paying job or you'll lose your home or your car. And in both cases, you may received another offer and need to decide.

But above all, you deserve to know the employer's decision. If they bothered to take the time to bring you in for an interview, it should show they found you qualified. And if that's the case, you should not be punished simply because they liked someone else better. It's 2008, sending an e-mail is not difficult. While of course I'd prefer a phone call if you and your colleagues spent a few hours grilling me about why I'm the best person for the job or why I left my last job, I'll take what I can get!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. I want the record to reflect that I did interview with some very considerate employers who did call or e-mail to let me know their decision, even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear.

Say it isn't so...

2008-07-21T01:00:00.013-04:00

In less than a week I'll be celebrating my birthday. While I'm looking forward to party time with my friends, I'm not looking forward to turning another year older. Although, I'm sure I'm not alone, I can't help but have mixed feelings about this year.

34 is a tough age to swallow for me. When I was younger, 34 sounded so old. I had certain expectations for my life and seemed well on my way to achieving many of my goals. Then I had a few setbacks and had to reevaluate. I've picked myself up several times and kept on moving. So now instead of looking back, I want to look forward. Here are 34 things I want to do this year to make 34 a fabulous year:

1. Start saying no without feeling guilty
2. Get my finances back on track
3. Make money off of my website

4. Stop obsessing about my site's traffic stats
5. Get my writing published in a national publication
6. Write more honestly about my life experiences
7. Work through unresolved issues for closure
8. Travel more
9. Try dating again (like real dinner dates with interesting conversation!)

10. Finally put an end to drunk dialing (and drunk texting!)
11. Leave boys, who've been deleted from phone contacts, deleted
12. Develop a crush
13. Turn my loft into an office
14. Balance my checkbook (last attempt at writing down transactions didn't last long)
15. Read more books (sadly reading has taken a backseat to social media addictions)
16. Remember to take my vitamins every day (or at least almost every day)
17. Exercise more
18. Lose weight
19. Eat less fast food

20. Get more sleep
21. Pamper myself with more manicures/pedicures/massages
22. Buy another Coach purse (no, you can never have too many and I had to refrain during unemployment!)
23. Start writing a book
24. Reevaluate my relationships and spend time only on fulfilling ones
25. Donate blood more frequently
26. Be more Eco-friendly
27. Learn how to cook more dishes without needing the recipe
28. Learn how to build a website
29. Meet someone famous
30. Take more photos
31. Keep the condo cleaner
32. Donate more to charity
33. Buy another pair of Manolo Blahniks

34. Get married in Vegas (this one's been on the list for more than 10 years, but it still sounds fun!)

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Too Flugtag'n hot for me!

2008-07-20T00:08:00.009-04:00

So Tampa's first Flugtag was a lot of fun, but I gotta tell you 90+ degrees, alcoholic beverages and sleep-deprived week did not equal Gasparilla-like fun! There's a reason Tampa hosts Gasparilla in January. It's not this blazing hot! And speaking of hot. What the hell was this dude thinking?

Not only was this hot ridiculous, it's not 9 degrees out, but he was a jackass on top of it. There was an older guy sitting in front of us who had an umbrella. You can see him below in the bottom left corner.

Umbrella man was trying to avoid getting too much sun (probably impossible) and hat boy went up to him a hard time. And told him to ditch the umbrella or go home. Now did get me wrong, people with their umbrellas were blocking the view. But all hat boy needed to do was go move. Instead he kept cursing and complaining about the stupid umbrellas.

Then there was this bunch who tried to beat the heat in an unintelligent way.

I'm surprised they didn't drown! Oh and the Coast Guard crew kind of frowned upon it. So at the start of the event the parachutists, if that's what they're called, propelled down to the FlugTag staging area.

I also tried to take some pictures of the crazy contraptions trying to take flight, but my camera doesn't have quite enough zoom and we weren't right up front.

It was kind of crazy, only the first flying machine actually seemed to take flight going more than 100 feet. And then some of them, like this one went less than 20 feet.

So the heat got to be too much. We were all sweating like pigs, I know, not pretty! After a couple of hours, I went inside my condo for a bathroom break and to sit in the AC for a few minutes with one of my friends. Then, a few minutes later more of the gang came in and we wound up watching the rest of the competition on TV. At one point, I thought we might be kind of lame watching it inside when we were just feet away from the event. But hey, it was too Flugtag'n hot out there!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

What the Flugtag?!?!?!

2008-07-18T17:26:00.007-04:00

Right now I should be napping, in fact I need to be napping. I still have to clean my condo for the 20 or so people who are showing up to party at 9:30 a.m. for Tampa Bay Flugtag 2008.

I think I've mentioned it before. The hype is definitely starting to pick up. All the local TV stations have been previewing it, and even the CBS Early Show was here live this morning.

Last month, when the first signs went up, I asked WTF is a Flugtag? Well now I know and it sounds like a lot of fun. People are going to be launching their handmade "flying machines" off a ramp by the Tampa Convention Center, and land in the water. I know I'd never try a silly stunt like that, but it's going to be fun to watch. Here are some highlights from last month's Flugtag in London:

(Everything's better with an accent!) Or there's this one from two years ago:

I can't wait to take some pictures! And hopefully no one will get hurt! I'll keep you posted and look for tomorrow's blog.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. I don't think this event will even come close to Gasparilla, a.k.a. my favorite day of the entire year, but I'm going to party like it does!

You mean it wasn't true love!?!?!?

2008-07-17T15:45:00.013-04:00

What do you mean Brett Michaels and his Rock of Love 2 broke up? I thought she was his "like of love", "rock of lust", and "rock of love"! Okay, I confess I heard there was going to be a Rock of Love 3 a couple weeks ago. But unfortunately I couldn't confirm it, and it wasn't on VH1's site. Then it appears while I was sleeping last night and working early this morning, the truth came out! (Thanks to my friend Katafer for passing this along to me today.)

According to Access Hollywood:

"Bret Michaels is heading back to VH1 in hopes that his third search will find him lucky in love.

Poison frontman Michaels has spent two seasons trying to find his soulmate on VH1’s popular series 'Rock of Love', and after splitting with Season 2 winner Ambre Lake, he is coming back for a third attempt."

Oh and wait.. there's a new twist:

"For Season 3, Michael’s tough tour schedule will become a focus as they’ve christened the new show, 'Rock of Love Bus with Bret Michaels.'

Premiering early next year, Season 3 will find Michaels on the bus with his lady suitors. The bus will cross the country, pitting the girls in various challenges to win the rock star’s love."

And The Superficial.com's headline: "Bret Michaels gets a third chance to bang more strippers on national television"

Plus, my favorite source for celebrity news People.com reports about Brett and Ambre's split: "Their tour together ends here.

'It’s really sad,' says Lake, who explained that conflicting schedules ultimately worked against the couple. 'Bret and I truly love each other and support each other. But with him touring so much and me trying to travel and work, we just didn’t have a lot of time to dedicate to our relationship. It was mutual. We’re both bummed.'

In a release from VH1, a rep for the rock star confirmed: '[Bret] and Ambre Lake really tried to make it work and although they still remain close friends, between his tour line-up and her work schedule there’s no time for a relationship.'

Lake adds, 'It’s a lot of pressure. We were dating and taking it day by day. We never put a label on us saying, ‘We are boyfriend-girlfriend.’ But when a budding romance is happening like that and you don’t have a lot of time to see each other, you’re being pulled in so many directions.'

She also says there were no third parties involved."

As if I believe that! It's not like he slept with Daisy the night after he slept with Ambre. Or like rockers would never cheat on their girlfriends, right? Or maybe Brett's just waiting to meet Miss Attitude. Sign me up!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

I'm going to try not to cry

2008-07-16T00:00:00.004-04:00

One of my closest friends is moving more than 600 miles away this week. I'm having my goodbye lunch with her today. I can't begin to tell you how sad I am. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for the opportunities she's going to have, but I'm incredibly sad. We've been through a lot together during the last several years. We've been through bad dates, bad relationships, losing jobs, getting new jobs, moving away and moving back. We've gone through different dress sizes, different hair styles, even different hair colors.

Yesterday she told me how she didn't cry once during her last day of work. She wanted to share because she knew I'd be proud of her. But I'm not sure I can do the same at lunch. I know we'll still be good friends, that won't change. But it's hard to imagine my life without her living nearby. The last time she moved away, heck the last time I moved away, I think we both knew in our hearts we'd move back to the Tampa area. This time, I'm afraid, she's leaving for good. And I don't know what to say. I know, I'm rarely speechless.

During the past few months I've been encouraging her to make the best career and lifestyle choices for herself, never once thinking about what I'd be losing. Then I've spent the past few weeks in denial. Today is the reality. She really has been there for me more times than I can count. She's always refreshingly positive and makes me see the silver lining without making it so cliche or pukey sounding. When I lost my job in March she never said anything as trite as everything happens for a reason. Instead we ate ice cream and started brainstorming what my next opportunity would be.

I have so many great things to say about her, but know I'm not doing her justice in my sad, sleep-deprived state. Hopefully I'll have something more poignant to say when we go to her all-time favorite Tampa restaurant for lunch. I have so many memories of our times together and honestly have a hard time remembering life before I met her. She's one of those friends who will literally drop everything she's doing if you need help. She's the one on the sidelines saying "you can do it" when you just want to quit. There aren't enough words to express how lucky I've been to have her in my life. So for now, I'll just tell you how fabulous she and I'll miss her.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

This just in... Courtney Courtney's dreams come true

2008-07-15T14:18:00.005-04:00

Courtney Dempsey and Gary Courtney won their dream wedding from US Weekly. I want to thank all of my readers who voted, and voted, and voted!

Click here to watch their thank you video.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Deal with it!

2008-07-15T00:00:00.006-04:00

I'm cranky, tired and PMSing. Oh, and I have to work two jobs today. I owe this inspiration to my Pleep cajunvegan. If it's good enough for her, it's good enough for me. I try not to use the Memes too much, but you're going to have to deal with it!

I do promise I have a much better post brewing for tomorrow or Thursday. It's actually quite sad and happy all at the same time. So bear with today's post and maybe you'll learn a little bit more about me. Many of my friends know I never answer these e-mails when I get them. In fact, I never responded to this one when I received it weeks ago. So here it goes:

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I don't think so, my mom just liked the name.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Can't remember, but sure it wasn't that long ago.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING No, has the worst handwriting ever. It's quite embarrassing. Maybe I should have been a doctor!

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Boar's Head roast beef

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Of course, I'm freaking fabulous! Oh, and famous:)

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No, never! (What do you think?)

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Hells no! If I jump off a bridge it's not to come back up!

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Krispies. Though I love me some Wheat Chex and Cheerios. (My dad wouldn't let me get sugary cereal as a child.)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Most of the time, though the only shoes I have with ties are sneakers for working out (which get worn less and less these days.)

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Nope. I need to start working out again.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Probably their shoes.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My big butt!

17. WHO OR WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST? That's a tough one. I have several friends who've moved away (or I've moved away from) I miss dearly. Plus, I don't see my family nearly enough.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I would be a hypocrite since I never reply.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I'm not wearing pants! I'm in a tank top and boxers. Blue and blue and white stripes. Woo hoo!

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Spaghetti with whole wheat pasta.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Is watching TV, not listening to music.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Fuschia

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? The beach, strawberries and chocolate.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Miss Sassy

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes, BrwnGirl is an amazing woman who's been so kind and generous to me. She allowed me to live with her in Washington, D.C. when I freelanced. I can't wait to see her this weekend when she's in town.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football in person or on TV. Baseball is best to watch in person. But been watching more on TV recently. Go Rays! (Let's ignore losing streak and remember they went from last place last year to first place up until two days ago.)

27. YOUR HAIR COLOR? Is not sure. Sort of an unnatural brown with red and a little blond sneaking in there. Thank goodness I'm going to see my hairdresser Friday. I had to confess I dyed it myself due to lack of funding.

28. What kind of email do you like to receive? I love to get updates from friends I don't see very often or funny WTF-type e-mails from my closest friends. I also enjoy getting the comments from this blog forwarded to my e-mail. Y'all crack me up!

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yes

30. FAVORITE FOOD? French fries

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Give me a chick flick over a horror film any day!

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Baby Mama

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer, hello I moved to Florida for a reason.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on the person. I'm not a very affectionate person.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Mike's Pies Key Lime Pie or ice cream.

37. PERSON MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A since I'm posting

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? N/A since I'm posting

39. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING NOW? Wish You Were Here by Steward O'Nan (though I'm not getting very far!)

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? No mouse pad. I'm on a laptop.

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch (to see who beat me for the satellite video slot.

42. FAVORITE SOUND? The sound of the ocean or the gulf.

42a. Least favorite sound? The sound of the phone ringing when I'm sleeping

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones

44. Your Favorite Movie Of All Time? Gone with the Wind (please don't judge me)

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? That's for me to know and you to find out;)

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Baltimore, MD

47. Where Is Your Favorite Place To Shop For Home Decorations? Crate and Barrel online since we don't have a store or Pier 1.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. I do believe that took more work than writing an actual post! WTF?!?!?!?!

So much for fame and fortune!

2008-07-14T00:00:00.008-04:00

I thought I was going to make my national TV debut tonight. I was asked to be a guest on The Big Idea With Donny Deutsch on CNBC. I'm was going to be talking about how I got burned by being an alpha female. I can't tell you how excited I was to be a guest on this show.

The talent producer contacted me yesterday. She read about me in Marie Claire and thought I'd be perfect for the segment. It's interesting because I've tried to be very PC when talking about being let go from two different TV stations in less than three years. Then I shared my story with a national magazine, remaining very diplomatic. So could I remain that way on cable news?

I started telling my friends. Then after two phone conversations with producers, several e-mail exchanges, submitting an 'in my own words' and two tips for other women, I found out I wasn't going to be included after all. Here's the e-mail I received.

"Thanks for all your cooperation, but I don't think we'll be able to fit it into the show. We only have time for about 2 minutes and he said he would want to hear the whole story...not just a quick hit. So hopefully, we'll be able to have a bit more lead time, next time and I can contact you for a show that has a bit more breathing room. Thanks again.."

Easy come, easy go I guess. Maybe I'm too alpha female for Donny too!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Imaginary Bitches.. what would my friends think?

2008-07-13T12:42:00.008-04:00

Have you seen Imaginary Bitches on Youtube yet? If you haven't, you should check it out.

This episode cracked me up! While it's not quite Sex and the City, it's definitely entertaining. I wish I'd thought to do something like this. (Produce these for YouTube, not have imaginary friends!) Though I do wonder what some of my friends would think if I had two imaginary bitches to keep me company while they're with their husbands and boyfriends. Probably that I lost my mind. But wouldn't it be cool to blame all your evil thoughts or actions on an imaginary friend, like you did when you were three or four?

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

The "Honey-do" list

2008-07-12T14:41:00.009-04:00

For the most part, I'm content being single. There are times, though, I wish there was someone to share with. And I'm not just talking about sharing the good times and the bad or my deepest darkest secrets. I'm talking about sharing the chores! It's no fun to make a "Honey-do" list for myself!

This week was so crazy most of the chores did not get done. The dry cleaning never got picked up/dropped off, laundry still needs to be put away, the sheets still need to be washed and the dishes are sitting in the sink mocking me. Embarrassingly enough, one of my friends came over last night before dinner. I can't believe I allowed her to not only come in my disorganized mess, but I actually allowed her to see my bedroom. Something I never do when it's in this state. I usually keep the door closed and my closest friends know that's where I shuffle the piles when I'm having a party. (Heck it's a party trick I learned from my mother! Why mess with it?)

Guess what? Next weekend I'm having people for a little pre-party for the FlugTag . It's very clear to me there won't be any time during the week to clean, so it must happen this weekend. And in my opinion, it's not a fun way to spend a weekend. I hate cleaning! Who does?

So this brings me to the fact that being single I have no one else to ask to help with the chores. Several of my married friends have recently complained their husbands don't help without being asked. I guess I'm not the most sympathetic when it comes to this cause. Heck if he still does it, what's it matter if you have to remind him? I've never been married and can't even begin to ask someone else to help me with the dishes or go grocery shopping. Imagine if on my next date I ask a guy if he'd mind folding my laundry or taking out the trash? Wait maybe I'm on to something....

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

TGIF and go enjoy a free Slurpee!

2008-07-11T00:00:00.006-04:00

I am so relieved it's finally Friday. This has been an extremely long and exhausting week as promised.

I know I've seen this pic on several other blogs, but it makes me smile and boy do I need to do that! I've had a very productive week. I just can't help but laugh at how it's always all or nothing with me. I went from being unemployed and bored out of my mind to working more than 50 hours this week. Not to mention a crazy sleeping (or lack thereof) schedule and teaching my first college class! Overall, I'd say it's been a success. So after a nap tomorrow, it may just be time to celebrate.

And speaking of celebrating. Today, 7-11, is 7-11's 81st birthday. The company is celebrating with free Slurpees.

I hadn't had one in years, but had one at the beach a couple weeks ago and it was such a refreshing treat. Free makes it even better! (BTW-- did you know Slurpee has its own MySpace profile?)

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Did he lie or just change his mind?

2008-07-10T00:00:00.003-04:00

Dear Miss Attitude,

I am writing to in the hope that you will be able to give me some advice.

I have been married for 5 years and this July I will be 32 and my husband will be 29. We met and fell in love very quickly but our courtship was long-distance so we talked and email a lot... We talked extensively about all the major issues and we both agreed that we wanted to have children - not right away but it was certainly something we both wanted.

As time has moved on, my desire to have children has grown and grown... We have discussed when to start a family and what started out as 'I need a bit more time' from my husband has turned into 'I am not sure I ever want children'. He feels bad because he knows it is important to me. I feel betrayed that he has changed his mind and I feel bad because I know I definitely do. We have been discussing it (and then shelving the discussion) on and off for about 18 months-2 years. Our relationship has suffered because of this but we have both made efforts to improve things and at the moment, things are pretty strong.

I have considered that he is younger and perhaps he will change his mind - how long do I wait to see? Do I just decide to stay with him regardless? If I do this, will I resent him? I have suggested we see a therapist to try to talk things through since he can't seem to make sense of his feelings. He refused initially but since I raised the issue again recently, he seemed more open to it. I am not sure it will help (or at least, get me the answer I am looking for).

This seems to be a very common problem (having Googled it quickly) but there seems to be no real constructive advice or support for this.

I look forward to hearing your take on this even if it is not what I want to hear.

Dear Reader,
I've been giving your problem some serious consideration and you're right, there is no simple answer. The best advice I can give you comes from what you're already thinking. I definitely believe seeing a therapist is a step in the right direction.

It's important to figure out if your husband is simply not ready or doesn't ever want to have children. There could be reasons behind his change of heart or he may not have been completely honest to begin with. Your husband may be more frank with an impartial third party, and conversations like this are often better mediated with a licensed therapist.

I don't think you have to rush to make a decision since many women who are older than you have children every day, but I wouldn't suggest waiting much longer to have these conversations. If you know being a mother is simply something you aren't willing to give up, then you can't afford to simply hope he's going to change his mind. You have to know for sure and make an educated decision about your future.

In the end, only you can know for sure if it's worth staying with him regardless. But if you give up your dream of having children, it's a pretty good bet you will resent him.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. Don't forget if you need advice, you can e-mail me at missattitude@missattitude.us

(Reader e-mail has been condensed and name removed for anonymity.)

What I wish for Wednesday

2008-07-08T23:44:00.004-04:00

It's my blog and I'll wish if I want to.. no crying here! I warned you it was going to be a rough week for me and tomorrow is going to be even crazier. So I'll amuse you with the top 7 things I wish for today.

1. To eat a meal somewhere other than at my desk or in my car.
2. To wear comfortable shoes that don't disappoint my fabulous shoe reputation. (13 1/2 hours in 3 inch heels was not a wise choice for Tuesday!)
3. For one of my closest friends not to be moving away. (I'm very happy for her, but in denial about her leaving me.. again!)
4. To keep my mouth shut in meetings even though I have tons to say.
5. To ignore the manager voice in my head. (That is not my job anymore!)
6. To have more time to take bathroom breaks.
7. To get a good night's sleep because tomorrow will be the longest day of the week.

Wish me luck!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

It's try a Wordle Tuesday

2008-07-08T00:00:00.002-04:00

Wordle is a pretty cool application where you plug in your Website's URL or you type in some Website copy, a poem, a speech, etc. and it generates a word cloud.

I had never heard of a Wordle until I checked out fellow Plurker AmberCadabra's site The Brand Box.

So after making one for Miss Attitude, I plugged in my favorite poem "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allen Poe. Here's what it looks like:

Wordle allows you to use the image you create however you like. You can print it out, save it to the Wordle gallery or post it to your blog. I'm not sure what I'd really use it for, but it's fun. So try it out!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Do boys call anymore?

2008-07-07T00:00:00.009-04:00

Here's what I want to know, do boys bother to call you anymore? Or do they really think texting is the only way to communicate? A few months ago, I ran into a boy I used to work with several years ago. For some bizarre reason it seemed like we were both interested in each other now, when it had never really been an option or possibility before. Okay, maybe it's not so bizarre. He's very cute and a lot of fun. He was married and I used to be his boss. Guess that's why. Anyway, after an exchange of phone numbers and text messages it seemed to me like we would never actually get together in person. And while frustrating, I'm not going to beg a boy to ask me out to dinner. Then a few weeks ago, while in Key West with my friends, I received a text message from him on a Saturday night. "What are you doing?" it read. I didn't respond.

Here's the deal. I was out with my friends. And honestly what was the point of responding? I hadn't heard from him for weeks prior to that and the last time when I actually (gasp) tried calling he only texted back. So I figure ignoring it was my best bet. Then while on vacation in Ocean City, MD one of my friends sent me an e-mail saying he was asking her about me. He told her he'd been trying to get in touch with me for some time now to have dinner and our schedules never match up, etc. He mentioned the ignored text and asked if I was mad at him. She told him she didn't think so and that I was out of town for the week. Then the following day he told her he'd checked out Miss Attitude and wanted to know what the blog was all about. I'm not sure why I'm telling you this part, except I guess to recognize it's possible he's going to read this blog entry so I'm choosing my words carefully!

Anyway, more than a week later I still hadn't heard from him. I knew I should just let it go. But the attitude in me just couldn't, so I e-mailed him. (Wait, before you criticize me for e-mailing and not calling, I have to confess I no longer had his phone number.) Within a few hours, he e-mailed me back with an included "I figured you were mad at me." And still no invitation for dinner. I don't know why I expected anything different. It's obvious this just isn't going to pan out. So the answer my friend is no, I'm not mad at you. I'm just no longer interested in playing the game. If you ever want to go out to dinner, I'd love to go. All you have to do is call me and ask.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Can you say stress?

2008-07-06T00:00:00.022-04:00

This week is going to be a doozy! I'm not quite ready to share all of the details, so I hope you'll respect my privacy. People who know me well aren't used to me keeping my mouth shut (EVER!) or not returning phone calls. I probably owe a hundred apologies already and it may just get worse. But we all deal with stress and anxiety in our own ways. And I've tried to cope with mine as best as I could.

During the past few months, I've been very blessed with supportive family members and friends. I've also been very lucky to make some new friends through Miss Attitude. I want each and everyone of you to know how much I appreciate it. For me it's been challenging at times to remain positive. It was easy at first to put that spin on it and soldier on, but after a few months with no full-time job you start to lose a little faith. A little faith in yourself and in others. How could an employer not want to hire me? I'm fabulous! Didn't you read the Marie Claire article about me? Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But seriously, things are finally starting to look up for me and I couldn't be happier about the possibility of paying the bills with an income instead of the little that's left from my IRA. Yet, life is never quite as easy as we want it to be. And for once in my life I really feel like I don't have the answers. I know you're probably saying, "Who does have all the answers?" But honestly, I've always been good at knowing exactly what I want to do with my life career-wise and how to get there. And the not knowing is definitely unsettling for a type-A personality.

I'm very appreciative for the new opportunities I'm about to have. And I hope with a little time, my focus will become clearer. As I've often said, "If patience is a virtue, then I'm not virtuous!" And that is the honest to goodness truth! Sometimes I worry about every little thing and have a difficult time just going with the flow. I like to be in charge of everything. Yes, my friends and former employees alike can probably share some clear examples. But instead of feeling in charge lately, I've felt like I've been at the hands of others. It's a feeling I don't enjoy and find difficult to digest. And telling the stories of rejection over and over again, do not make you feel any better about yourself or where your life is headed.

I've had to remind myself, that I'm not alone in this feeling. In fact, the folks at Marie Claire wanted you to get that from the feature. I'd like to quote from the Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles:

"Closer to home, the pink slips are flying as mass corporate layoffs are becoming the norm. The good news is, if it happens to you, there's a very good chance you'll weather it in style, just like the women in our package 'Surviving a Layoff' (p. 94). As Carrie herself put it, after taking a memorable tumble on the runway, 'When real people fall down in life, like they get right back up and keep walking.' Amen to that!"

If you only read the article online, you missed this part. For me it was a pleasant surprise to be compared to Carrie Bradshaw. I know she's a fictional character, but she's also someone women across the country can relate to. She's an intelligent, successful and stylish woman. The woman you want to be, the woman you want to be friends with. And you know she has flaws, but you cheer for her too. So this was the highest compliment you could pay me. Well that, and the compliments from young women like a recent college graduate who e-mailed after reading about me in the magazine.

Dear Miss Attitude,

I'm a loyal Marie Claire reader and after reading about you in the latest issue I decided to check out your website. You seem like a successful woman with a great head on your shoulders and I could use your advice at this point in my life.

She goes on to talk about how she quit her job to re-locate back home. And then six months later found herself still out of work despite intense job search efforts.

I happen to think I have a pretty impressive resume for someone my age but I am starting to feel as if all my hard work and determination were for nothing. Some days I feel as if I have been stripped away of all my pride and confidence. To me, the worse part is knowing that I put myself in this position.

I responded to her e-mail with some advice, including something I needed to remind myself as well.

The one thing I have learned is you have to remain confident about your abilities. You have to remind yourself that all of that hard work did matter and be proud of what you've accomplished so far....
Use that determination you have to stay focused and eventually you will find another job. And keep in mind you may have to accept a position that isn't quite perfect. Sometimes we have to take smaller steps to reach a larger goal. Good luck with your search and keep me posted.

The other day I received an e-mail update and was excited to learn she's found a new job as an assistant to the mayor in her hometown. So perhaps having some faith in yourself is really all you need at the end of the day. And taking your own advice doesn't hurt either! So I know I'll get through this week just like I've gotten through everything else and come out better for it in the end. Just don't get upset if I don't return your phone call;)

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Now that's customer service!

2008-07-05T00:00:00.011-04:00

I finally heard back from Colgate this week about the Eco-friendly dishwasher detergent that wasn't friendly to my dishes. And I have to say, I'm extremely pleased with the response.

The enclosed was a check refund for the amount I paid for the detergent and coupons for several different Colgate products. I'm very impressed with the company's quick response and offer to back up its products or give you your money back. Right on Colgate!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. Click here if you missed the original post.

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T00:00:00.006-04:00

It's 4th of July and hopefully you have the day off to celebrate and watch the fireworks.
But before you head out the door, I want to know how patriotic you are. Do you know who wrote the Star Spangled Banner? How many stars and stripes were on the original United States flag? Who the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence was? Take this 4th of July trivia quiz.

And for an Independence Day smile, how about we rock it Muppets style?!?!?!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

It's a clean sweep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-07-03T00:44:00.010-04:00

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay fans brought the brooms and their team spirit. And the Rays did not disappoint. When the hometown team swept the Boston Red Sox with a 7-6 victory, the fans left Tropicana Field with the excitement of a playoff win. Let's face it, it's a nice feeling to be in first place AND beat the Red Sox three games in a row.

I actually wound up watching the game at Ferg's with my friends because we couldn't get tickets to the game. Well, we could have paid $50 a ticket, NOT! We made a last minute call to go, despite hearing it had been sold out. I thought for sure that was just hype. But, it wasn't. I'm not complaining though, I just love seeing the fans this excited.

It's amazing to watch a team go from having the worst record in the league last year, to the best this year. Plus, my neighbor pitched. Oh yeah, Scott Kazmir lives in my condo building. Okay, I still haven't run into him yet. But some of my friends who live here see him all the time! Then there's Rookie Evan Longoria, he was on fire with three runs. And of course, B.J. Upton who made an amazing catch in center field in the ninth inning which helped hold off the Red Sox.

And some fans had to work, but they still came out to celebrate as everyone left the Trop.

We passed these three firefighters with their brooms on our way out of downtown. Go Rays! I see playoffs in our future.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Please help make her number one!

2008-07-02T06:00:00.005-04:00

Please vote for Courtney Courtney again. This week will be the last time I ask. Courtney and her fiance made the top three finalists for the $100,000 dream wedding by Us Weekly. Voting starts today and runs through next Wednesday. You can vote once every 24 hours.

If you don't remember me mentioning Courtney Courtney before, here's a little brief from the Website:
"I'm going to be Courtney Courtney - I love it!" jokes marketing rep Dempsey, 33. The Tampa resident has battled melanoma, breast cancer (she's had a double mastectomy plus reconstructive surgery), thyroid cancer and a lung condition — with insurance analyst Courtney, 37, by her side. "There's life after cancer and you can find somebody to fall in love with," she says.

You can read more about the happy couple in the issue of Us Weekly on newsstands now. And please don't forget to click here to vote for Courtney Courtney!

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

I know I shouldn't laugh at this...

2008-07-02T00:00:00.007-04:00

My friend Brooke posted this one on her blog and I couldn't resist "borrowing" it! It's freakin' hysterical. If you offend easily, you may want to skip this one. But keep in mind while it may be wrong, there's really nothing technically offensive about it.

Oh, come on! Definitely worth a giggle:)

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude

Oh yeah! Thrasher's french fries!

2008-07-01T00:00:00.022-04:00

Have you ever had Thrasher's french fries? If you haven't, you don't know what you are missing. These are simply the best french fries you'll ever have. And you can only get 'em on the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD. Thrasher's has been around for nearly 80 years. There are three locations on the boardwalk and the one closest to the inlet is always packed. People stand in line for Thrasher's all the time. Though to be honest, Thrasher's employees have the system down pat. And customers who don't, learn very quickly. Think Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. There are only two items on the menu, french fries and soda. And three sizes: small, medium and large. You order, you move down quickly and by the time you pay the fries and drink are ready. (The only complaint I've ever had is Thrasher's serves Pepsi products, not Coke!)

So just in case there was a long line though, we headed to the one on 2nd street where there never is. I know I've already mentioned these fries in my blog twice, but seriously these are amazing. Before we even got to the stand, we spotted a toddler in a stroller eating Thrasher's. But unfortunately I couldn't react quickly enough to get a cell phone picture! A few minutes later, we'd ordered a medium and were set. As I stood there about to take the fries a guy came up to grab more vinegar,yes, you must put vinegar on them! He said to me, "Oh yeah!" then asked, "Do you need vinegar?" When I told him I already put vinegar on there, he seemed skeptical. As if I would skip that part! By the way, Thrasher's only offers salt and vinegar as condiments, no ketchup. You simply can not destroy the taste of these peanut oil-fried deliciousness with ketchup. And don't even think about asking for it.

My mother and I finished a medium in ten minutes. And I'm not kidding. My dad checked his watch. I remember when I thought a small was plenty, but now I only get those tasty fries once a year.

Stylishly (& thoroughly stuffed) yours,
Miss Attitude

P.S. The reason I didn't include a link, is Thrasher's doesn't even have a Website. They don't need it!

I'm really having trouble with this mouse!

2008-06-30T01:00:00.003-04:00

My grandmother had her first spin on a PC the other day. The motivation: online slot machines. First, I should tell you my grandmother loves the slot machines at Dover Downs. When her 80 year old friend told her she could play the slots online for free, my grandmother just had to try. So my mom set her up and here are a few things I overheard:

Grandmother: "I'm really having trouble with this mouse!"
"Can I just tape it down?"
"That's where I have trouble getting it down there."
"See I lost that thing again. get down there!"

Then last night when she came over for dinner with my grandfather and her friend, the first thing she asked was to play on the computer. Here are a few more things I heard as she clicked away:

Grandmother: "I'm trying to get the hang of the mousy mousy"

"Oh, I have more trouble with this guy."

"I don't understand it, it's not doing anything."
Grandmother's 80 yr old friend: "Are you out of money?"

gm: "I don't know what I'm betting, but those credits go fast"

gm's f: " I don't know what you're betting either."

gm: "Now I lost it (mouse) completely."
gm's f: "Move it, you'll find it."

Now my mom will have to let her play everytime she comes over. Somehow I think that's all she'll ever learn online. So I won't hold my breath for an e-mail, though her 80 year old friend does e-mail me.

Stylishly yours,
Miss Attitude