365 project: snooze

Sometimes it's just not worth fighting it.

365 project: Rainbow!

My gas gauge was blinking at me with its furious orange light. I pulled into a gas station and was annoyed with the attendant (yes, it's Jersey. We don't pump our own gas) because he couldn't make up his mind as to which pump he wanted me to park in front of.

After I handed over my credit card I noticed the trickle of rain had stopped and the once gray sky had turned golden. I immediately looked up and there in front of me was a huge rainbow that arched from one side of Route 1 over to the other side of town.

That's when the attendant pointed and shouted, "Rainbow! Look!"

And that made me smile.

Today's Horoscope

You really do want to go out and play and it has (almost) nothing to do with the fact that it's your day to goof off. What you're really after is socializing -- but not on a lighthearted level. You're in the mood for intense, penetrating conversations, late into the night, about the big issues -- politics, religion and education, for example. All the topics that no one would usually dare to bring up at the dinner table. Good luck!

I love when my horoscope seems to align with my life. This is exactly how I'm feeling lately. I feel involved. I feel like I want to do stuff, to discuss stuff.

Sorority Nerd

Image by bearclau via Flickr

I have become obsessed.

Since I have been asked to serve as the Chapter Advisor for my sorority at my school, I have charged at this responsibility full steam ahead.

First, I am a sorority geek. As an undergrad, I was my chapter president, house manager (our version of a RA), and was heavily involved in the recruitment of new members. As an alumnae, I was the Recruitment Advisor for 2 years and worked on several iterations of a chapter/alumnae website.

But now I've taken on this reaction that I can only describe as passionate. For the first time, I find myself doing something that just seems so incredibly fun, and professionally relevant. All the things I've done career-wise is coming together: project management, technology stuff, training & development. And matching it up with the joy I received out of being in a sorority: the sense of belonging, natural leadership, relationship building -- has turned into the perfect blend for me.

Within the two weeks since I agreed to take on this role, I have already formed a relationship with my 'mentee', met both the Greek Advisor and House Director, contacted most of my fellow alumnae advisors and created a website for the Advisors to communicate with each other. I've gone through the manuals and the electronic file-sharing site. I'm even preparing a 4-hour officer retreat program from scratch to be delivered next weekend.

I am overwhelmed with information which will take time for me to process, but all these great ideas are coming to me like lightning strikes and I have to record then when it happens, on paper, in a file, or even a voice memo on the iPhone.

I haven't been this charged in I don't know how long. It feels pretty good.

Things I like: Super Mario Jesus

A marker, a post it note cube, and a little bit of creativity is apparently all I need to smile. Oh, and a ass-kicking Jesus.

Things I like: Edible Art

This is the coolest thing I've seen. And its making me hungry.

100 Games Cupcake Game
100 cupcakes were decorated like board/video games. They are amazing!




(found this from my geek-lover Wil Wheaton)

things I like: Animals bombing photos

This seal looks like one cool dude that I'd like to hang out with!

I bet he knows this guy.

365 project: floppys

I opened a seldom used drawer at work and found a bunch of 3.5" floppy disks hiding in the back. I wonder how long they've been in there. I wonder what's on them. It's not like I can find out since none of my computers even have a floppy drive anymore.

Hey. 1997 called and it wants its floppys back.

Did You Know?

The higher a patient's body-mass index, the less respect he or she gets from doctors.

Well, crap. Doctors must think I'm Rodney Dangerfield.

See this and 49 other things that was learned in 2009.

WTF? People of Wal-Mart

I'm convinced that there is a different breed of people who frequent Wal-Mart. And that Wal-Mart obviously does not sell mirrors.

See more at People of Wal-Mart.

365 Project: Found buttons

I found these buttons sitting all alone in a tray in the mailroom waiting to be thrown out. I rescued them and gave them a new home on my cube wall.

I love them.

The bright, cheery colors, the sayings. I feel like they were made just for me.

365 Project: Cover me

I've been thinking a lot about health care lately, especially since I'll have to be paying a lot more for it soon when I have to get it through COBRA.

I consider myself pretty lucky that I could get bloodwork done, talk with my primary physician and get x-rays without an appointment all for a $20 copay.

I thought about letting my health insurance lapse when I go unemployed, but decided against that. While I'm all for living spontaneously, I'm not about to get irresponsible. Even if it means shelling out about $350 a month when no income is coming in.

I sure hope Congress figures out this health care bill soon.

2010: Resolutions

New Years Day I sat with my cousins around the breakfast table talking about what we wanted to accomplish in the new year.

Liam wants to put on weight (unlike millions of other Americans)
Ken wants to finish working on the laundry room.
Eric wants to take Ali on a trip to Europe.
Priscilla wants a job (so do I).

Me, along with my usual wish of seeing a new country, I also want to take pictures, video or write every day to record the wonderful but sometimes mundane aspects of the year. Because when you look back on it, it's a beautiful reminder of what you accomplished, witnessed or just survived.

So, with the help of my wonderful family, here's my first fulfillment of my 2010 New Years Resolutions.

2009: Year in Photos

I say goodbye to another year, and look forward to the next.

Wishing you health, love and laughter in 2010.

Don't Stop Believin'

Don't Stop Believin'
Originally uploaded by Rich Anderson

I love the fun you can have with stop signs!

See more Hacked Stop Signs

What Christmas Means To Me

Christmas seems to change for me over the years.

When I was little, there was magic in the air. From the lights on the christmas tree, to the sounds of spanish christmas music to the anticipation of listening for the reindeer on the roof.

During my tween and teen years it was about what cool gift was waiting under the tree.

College was about meeting up with your friends after all the family obligations were over.

Now Christmas is about none of that -- yet all of that.

Its about the magic of having my extended family all under the same roof.

About the cool gifts of laughter we share.

And about getting together with my family after all the work obligations are over.

I love Christmas.

Caro Christmas 2009 from Claudine Caro on Vimeo.

I really poop, too!

This is my response to Skim and her tweet.

2009, ready to see you go

Looks like I'll be job hunting again in a few weeks. My horoscope knows the deal and has send timely advice:

If you remain calm, cool and collected right now, your performance rating will soar. You may be paying a price for your independence and uncompromising attitude. You might have joined the wrong team, but it's too late for regrets. Jump overboard at the first sign of trouble, but think fast once you start swimming. Nobody wants to be at the wheel when the ship goes down. Prove to others that you can be counted on during a crisis.

So you know that huge project I was hired for in July? Well, it was continually pushed back and pushed back, so now it won't actually begin until January.

However, the company that I'm contracting for has just signed an exclusive contract with a training developer vendor that begins January 1. What that means is that independent contractors who are currently with this company will not get their contracts renewed.

I've been working on smaller, pick-up projects at this company since I got here, so that's been keeping me busy... and paid. But my current two projects will last through the end of January and once they're over, my contract is officially over.

Let the job hunt begin again.

The good news is that I've had some good experience here and I've received excellent recommendations from the clients I worked with. I was even recommended to the new vendor as a new hire to aid with the transition.

I'm not freaking out yet about being unemployed in a few weeks. Ask me again at the end of January.

Barry found the warmest spot in the house

Barry found the warmest spot in the house
Originally uploaded by bearclau

I <3 Wil Wheaton

I have been having this completely ridiculous, irrational crush on Wil Wheaton these past few months. I've been listening to his Memories of the Futurecast religiously and am truly saddened that they're over for a while (although I will be listing to Radio Free Burrito). I obsess over watching The Guild and I've rented Star Trek:TNG on Netflix just so I can watch the episodes as he narrates them on the podcast. I've even spent hours just reading his blog and articles that he's written all over the InterWebs.

I love his snarkiness and the sound of his voice. I love the way he has conversations with himself and imaginary things.

But most of all I love that he's a complete geek and revels in it. Actually, with his beard, to me he's kind of a sexy geek... but I digress.

He has this great writing style where I imagine it's just him and me, sitting in his living room with his dogs while his lovely wife is in the kitchen making nachos.

This is the fundamental difference between what JJ Abrams did with Star Trek, and what George Lucas did with Star Wars. Lucas told us, "Hey, you know all that stuff you love so much? That stuff that's been a huge part of your life? Well, you're stupid for liking it because I didn't mean it. These are my toys, always have been, and now I'm taking them back. Ha. Ha. Ha. Fuck you, now give me more of your money."

I wish there was a Teen Beat or a Bop magazine for adults about famous adults. Sure there's People and other TMZ-worthy trash, but that's not what I want. I want articles and photos of the innocent sillyness of Wil's favorite ice cream flavor or highest score on Centipede. I would totally be in his fan club, hell, I might even be Treasurer.