Monday, March 10, 2008

Sheridan's Birthday Party

A great time was had by all Saturday night at our housewarming party/ Sheridan's birthday party! Here are a few pictures of the event and the new pad...

Sorry I've been so quiet lately! It's been a challenge managing my time, having a new job, new house, and all kinds of projects on my plate. But life is great! I could not be happier... :)

I'll write more soon!

Love, Mer xo












Thursday, February 28, 2008

Affymetrix - My New Employer

Affymetrix was just named one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies. In the March 2008 issue, Fast Company Magazine ranked Affymetrix 13th, right alongside leading innovative brands like Google, Apple and Facebook. Affymetrix is the only life sciences company on the list and is ranked in front of companies like Disney, IBM and Boeing.

http://www.fastcompany.com/multimedia/slideshows/content/fast50_08.html?page=38

“Imagine going in for a half-hour doctor's visit and coming out with a treatment plan tailored to your unique genetic blueprint. That's the vision at Santa Clara, California-based Affymetrix, which makes lab tests that scan tissue samples for variations in thousands of genes…Now the race is on to develop tests for genetic predisposition to heart disease and the most common types of cancer.”

I'm excited to be a part of this innovative biotechnology organization and am busy assimilating myself to the company. If anyone has any suggestions on good places to network within the biotech industry, helpful associations or users groups that might be useful in my recruiting efforts, I welcome the input!

Mer

Monday, February 25, 2008

Guest Blogger - The Sher Show

I've been bugging my lovely boyfriend, Sheridan, for some time now about writing a piece for The Mer Show and he finally found a topic that fires him up enough to take the time to write for you fine folks - bathroom etiquette, particularly as it pertains to the mens room. So please enjoy this literary masterpiece written just for The Mer Show readers by the love of my life.

Love, Mer

------------------------------------------------------

Meredith felt that a little talk on bathroom etiquette was appropriate for the male audience of her blog. I will henceforth give my best effort to discuss the issue in a rational and dignified manner suitable for her educated, sophisticated, and mature readers.

Here goes:

Let's divide the bathroom into 2 segments. Most dudes will head in there to do one of two things - use the one on the wall, or the one in the stall. Let's discuss some etiquette tips for the receptacle on the wall first.

When heading in there, it is always advisable to survey the landscape first. If there are a multitude of choices, find your donkey and pin the tail. If there is a toilet in use, the general rule applies of one empty toilet between users, please. Nothing is going to make you enemies faster than brushing elbows with someone whose fly is open when you don't have to. If you happen to walk in and there is a fellow at every other toilet, thereby making your only choices limited, bite your lower lip, curse the gods, and head in there between two guys. It is best to never look down, nor ever look around. (Actually, there is one thing that will make you enemies faster than brushing elbows - getting caught with wandering eyes.) Pick a spot on the wall in front of you and analyze said spot until you are finished. If there happens to be newspapers hanging on the wall for reading material, life just got better.

Note: if you are bracing yourself against the wall with your arm, even at work, it is safe to assume you are drunk.

Another helpful hint - don't talk to me while I am taking care of business. I don't care if you are getting drinks with the new intern, just bought a Porsche, or hooked up with my sister. Now isn't the time, as I am busy analyzing the spot on the wall in front of me and hoping not to drip on myself when I do "the shake". Talk to me at the sinks.

Do us all a favor, flush.

The (dreaded) stall:

If I am sacrificing home field advantage and using a public restroom to take care of business, I am not happy about it - I will really not be happy about it if you talk to me while I am busy. I can't imagine a topic being so important that I need to discuss it with you with my pants around my ankles. It is an awkward moment we can all avoid rather easily. You can think about it, but don't do it.

If you are using a stall and are getting rid of some bad sushi from the night before, let me put some words into your vocabulary: courtesy flush. Do us all a favor and send that stuff back to where it came from pronto! Just because you flush doesn't mean you are done, or need to get up, it just means you are one nice individual to consider your fellow man. It is bad enough we all have to use a dirty, over used, under cleaned commode, but using it while smelling someone else's chili con carne isn't cool, man.

If you view your time in the stall as your time to catch up phone calls, don't be mad if I throw a courtesy flush your way. It is only fair the person you are talking to knows you are talking to them with your pants around your ankles.

If you have to share a bathroom with me, you should be nice to me. I can see your shoes under the stall wall, and whether you are an Executive Vice President, or a mailroom guy, you don't want your business to be public knowledge. Don't make me tell everyone you made the bathroom unusable for a few hours.

When you flush, it is perfectly acceptable to use your foot to jiggle the handle. If you touch that thing with your hand, you are a brave soul, and one dirty mofo.

And finally,

If you are in to use the wall version, you must still wash your hands. Don't think I don't know who you are; I can see your shoes! Believe me, you don't want to be known as "that guy".

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Update on NorCal

Hey everyone! Well, greetings from my new home - San Jose, California. Yep, The Mer Show has moved for good!! I started my new job at Affymetrix, a publicly held biotechnical company in Santa Clara, this Wednesday and am going to have my hands full there - I'm going to be recruiting for technical and professional hires within the company and already have over 20 requisitions for which I'm responsible! It's a lot of information to take in all at one time - new hiring managers, processes, technologies, applicant tracking system - all while learning to cohabitate with my sweetie, trying to navigate my way around a new city, processing all the stuff that's going on with my body right now, and figuring out how the heck I'm going to get my dog, car, and stuff here to Northern California. I really miss my STUFF and especially my little Baci ball - he's been down in San Diego without me for almost two weeks now, while I've been figuring things out up here, and I bet he thinks that his mommy left him... It's been a big change for everyone involved in this move!! Thanks to all of you that have been so incredibly supportive and encouraging.

All in all, I'm really happy with my decision to move north, be with Sheridan, and pursue my professional endeavours here!! I know that I'm going to be very happy in Northern California and can't wait to get started exploring the area, making new friends, and making my mark here.

This weekend Sheridan and I are heading down to San Diego to pack my things into the Uhaul (I should own stock in the darn company!) and make the 10 hour drive up to the Bay Area. Everyone say a prayer that we get here safely and without incident, please. Once we're back and unpacked, though, a major source of stress will be done for The Sher and Mer Show, and we get can get the official show on the road!! Yea for that!!

Meanwhile, I hope all of you have a great weekend. Who's going to be the first visitor to Chez Jose? The guest suite awaits you!

Love, Mer xo

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!

Well, for those of you that know me, this is a particularly special Valentine's Day, since I have met the love of my life, Sheridan. It's our first of many, many Valentine's Days together and I'm so thrilled about it!

I woke up this morning to a hot pot of coffee made for me (he was already at work), waiting patiently for me to get my lazy ass out of bed, a dozen gorgeous pink roses, and a lovely Valentine. I got him a little gift bag of goodies too, but I can't say what's in it just yet, because he reads The Mer Show, and I haven't given it to him yet! ;) Tonight we're going to a lovely place in Los Gatos for a romantic dinner together, and I'm looking forward to my hot date.

Oh yeah, and I just accepted a long term contract up here in Santa Clara today! As of Wednesday, February 20th, I'm going to be officially employed, people! Very exciting stuff - everything is coming together...

To all The Mer Show fans, may you and your loved ones (spouses, girl/boyfriends, friends, pets, and otherwise) have a lovely day filled with lots of sweet surprises!

Love, Mer xo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BACI!!!!!!

To my dear little Baci ball,

I can't tell you how much you have changed my life in the last 10 months that I've had the pleasure of taking care of you. You came into my life like a fresh breath of air and filled my heart and home with so much love, and I love you for it. Even though you ate my favorite pair of shoes, pooped in the crate a few times, peed on my future mother-in-law's foot, and spilled tomato soup on the Life Sucker 4000, you're still my favorite little doggie ever. I wouldn't trade being your mom for anything in the whole, wide world!!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY today, my little Valentine doggie!! I look forward to many more years of cuddles, kisses, and growing experiences together.

Love, Mommy

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FINLEY!

Auntie Mer loves you so much!! I'm so proud of you for being TWO whole years old today!! Didn't your mommy just tell me that she's pregnant?? Wow!

I can't wait to watch you grow, learn, and explore the world. You're the best 'nephew' in the world!

Love, Auntie Mer Mer xoxoxoxo

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

SUPER TUESDAY!!!

Oooooooooooooooooooooooh, what's gonna happen? I'm so excited!!! It's Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. and I plan to spend the rest of the night on the Lifesucker 4000 (that's my fabulous couch) and watch things unfold. Who did you vote for? I say OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!!!!! Crossing my fingers...

Otherwise, I know it's been a quite front on The Mer Show, so here's a quick update:

1. My contract at Fair Isaac ended last Friday and I'm furiously interviewing for new opportunities, both in San Diego and the Bay Area, and it's looking like the latter is going to win the race, as I have 2 really formidable openings for which I'm interviewing currently. Stay tuned for an amended move date to San Jose!

2. On that note, Sheridan and I... drum roll please... signed a lease!! We found a gorgeous place to live up there, in downtown San Jose, and he's going to be moving in next weekend. I'll be shortly behind!

3. Mom was here for about 6 days and we had a really nice visit. After my little surgerito (that's the Spanglish version of little surgery) on Thursday, we did a lot of lounging, eating, catching up, packing for the move, and touring San Diego via car so I could sit and host at the same time. :) She left today and the house sure is quiet tonight! Baci and she are new BFFs - it's very sweet.

4. While Mom was here, we had a fabulous dinner with his father and stepmother, Fred and Bonnie, and introduced the future in-laws. What a lovely time we had! Fred hosted the ladies to a lovely dinner at Il Fornaio and we had a great night of conversation, introductions, and family.

5. Eye heart Sheridan!

That's it. GO BARACK!!!!!!!!!

Love, Mer

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

I DO! Does everyone know that I'm moving up to the Bay Area in May of this year? Yep, moving again!! I'm SUPER excited about moving up to be with Sheridan and starting a new adventure together. Baci, Sheridan, and I are going to find a great little love nest and get The Sher and Mer Show on the road. There are tons of recruiting opportunities with tech companies up there (remember - keep spending, people, to keep the economy strong!) and I feel confident that I'll land somewhere great professionally, so I'm really excited about a new professional endeavour, as well.

This weekend, Sheridan and I did some more searching to figure out where we want to live and thought maybe Mountain View would be the place to be, but then we did some research on rentals of 2 bedroom/ 2 bath places, and decided that maybe we should expand the search... It's *pretty* spendy there!

Anyway, it seems like some of my peeps didn't get the memo, so I thought I'd just make the official press release - GOODBYE SAN DIEGO, HELLO BAY AREA! And thank you, Sheridan, for making my life happier every single day, and taking this step with me - we're going to be SO great together!

Love, Mer

Baci and Jasmine



How cute are these two together? Prasad took these while looking after Baci the week I was gone for the holidays... I love the one of them in the car together - it looks like they're on a date! hahaha



Love, Mer

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Random Thoughts

It’s been pretty quiet on The Mer Show, but don’t be fooled – that doesn’t mean that life is quiet! I’ve been swamped with work, being the crazy half of a long distance romance, cheering on the Chargers, Junior League, Baci ball, and getting ready for my mom to arrive on the 30th. It’s been a crazy couple of months with the holidays, and now dealing with the cleanup from the holidays!

Baci’s doing great – he got a new haircut this weekend and has been a pill all week to thank me for the experience... I need to take him to daycare tomorrow to wear him out in preparation for another weekend with me away, since I’m headed to San Jose this weekend to see Sheridan. Yea for me, boo for Baci! Anyone want to take care of him for me? I still haven’t worked that out yet…

On a random note, I just had a very memorable song pop up on my streaming radio today – Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order. You know how in gymnastics the ladies perform to music on the floor – in high school, when I competed in gymnastics, this was my floor routine music! Gymnastics floor music can’t include any lyrics or vocalization of any kind, has to be 90 seconds in length, give or take a few seconds, and can be any style. For the gymnast, the music she chooses for her floor routine is usually very reflective of her personality or style. I’ve already expressed my love for electronic dance music, which started at a very early age, on my blog so this song was definitely reflective of my personal style… energetic, intense dance music. I guess I’m consistent! As for a high school girl dancing and tumbling to a song about a love triangle… maybe that was foreshadowing for my 20s!! ;)

On another note, it looks like my recruiting contract is going to be extended indefinitely, so that’s great news! Everyone keep your fingers crossed that the economy holds up – when the economy is strong, companies grow, hire, and need recruiters. When it weakens, we could be the first to go… So everyone get out there and spend money to keep things going, ok?

And go CHARGERS!!!

Love, Mer xo

Friday, January 11, 2008

Tips For the Ladies

Just found this article today. Awesome stuff!

Love, Mer

Style expert Jenn Falik shares style breakthroughs for those times you are caught in a snag.

Style Solutions for Common Clothing Quandaries:

Jeans won’t stay up where they should be?
Try Invisibelt, $19.95 at www.invisibelt.com
Sure, jeans with Lycra in them can have a great fit through the leg and tend to be more comfortable, but they also tend to lose their hip-hugging quality after one wear, which is frustrating and uncomfortable, not to mention expensive if you need to dry-clean them in order to get them back in shape. This is GENIUS! It is a clear, flat belt (with a superflat buckle so you can lay a thin, fitted top over it and you would never even know there was a belt in the picture) that holds your pants up where you want them. This is also great for anyone who is sticking to their New Year’s diet resolution. If you have shed a few pounds but aren’t ready to commit to purchasing a new pants wardrobe, the Invisibelt can cinch in the waistline of your favorite pairs to fit your new shape.

Pants hemmed for heels are are ruined from pairing them with flats?
Try Zakkerz Magnetic Hems, $24.99 at www.zakkerz.com
You get your pants hemmed for heels, but every now and then, you feel like sporting flats. So you go for it, and end up with ragged hemlines and dirty pant bottoms that can make even your nicest black slacks look like gym pants. The “how to hem” quandary is a common one. With these magnetic pant hems, you can take your favorite heels-only pants and make them fitted for flats! Just hook one on the inside and outside of each pant leg, and voila!, you have miraculously transformed your trousers! Also great for commuters: Clip them up when you walk to work in flats, and pull them off in the elevator, throw on your heels, and enter the workplace perfectly polished.

Sweating through your shirt?
Try Garment Guard, $23 for 12 pairs at www.beauty.com
As a self-confessed sweat machine, these are an obsession. These ultra-thin shields protect your clothes from underarm perspiration stains, and your ego from the humiliation that they can cause. Made of breathable cotton, they have adhesive on one side that sticks to your garment, and then shape themselves with your body for up to 12 hours of sweat-stain-free bliss. Also, it's a money saver: No need to constantly dry-clean clothes to keep those pesky yellow stains from setting in.

Stepping out of your favorite stilettos? Shoes stretched out?
Airplus for Her Hug My Heels, $5.99 at Walgreens and Rite Aid
When your favorite shoes stretch out — which, from extensive personal experience, I can attest, is both devastating and embarrassing! — these will save you from stepping out of them. Just stick them in the backs of your shoes and they not only make the shoes overall more comfy, they mold around your heel so that stretched-out shoe once again fits like a glove. And, at $6 a pop, much less pricey then most shoe service places, and definitely less pricey than another pair!

Layering pieces leave you looking a little large?
Try SPANX Hide & Sleek Cami, $38 at www.spanx.com
The idea of layering makes sense — after all, you need something under your blazers, cardigan sweaters and chunky knits (which are often laden with see-through wide stitching, not to mention itchy wool fabrics). But layering tends to add extra bulk, and can also be uncomfortable, as shirts bunch, ride up and lose their shape. Enter the Hide & Sleek Cami. Not only is the breathable fabric comfy on the skin, but it has a slimming liner so it enhances your shape. It smoothes out any bra lines that show bulges where you don’t want them, and stays in place — never riding up. It really is the perfect camisole.

© 2008 MSNBC Interactive

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22607744/

Monday, January 07, 2008

Open Letter to Finley

Dear sweet little boofuls nephew Finley,

Your mommy says that this weekend you looked a picture of her and me and exclaimed "Mer Mer"! How exciting that you recognize my face now! I'm somewhat surprised that you can tell the difference between your mommy and me, especially when we have same hair and skin color, and almost always have the same exact color on... You're such a smart boy!!

It seems as though you have a 2nd birthday coming up soon. I wish I could make it to your party, but I'll send you a little pressie to remind you that Auntie Mer Mer loves you SOOOOOOOO much!

It was so nice seeing your sweet little face at Christmas - you're such a funny, precious boy and I want one just like YOU! You be a good boy for your Mommy and Daddy, OK? And I'll see you again soon.

Love, Mer Mer

Geaux Tigers!

Beat Ohio State!!!

That's it. Love, Mer

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to 2008, everyone!

For the New Year, after I got back from Htown, I flew up to San Jose to see where, exactly, I'm going to be moving (by the way, I LOVE it up there!!!), meet some of Sheridan's friends, and share the New Years celebration with him. Matt and Carolyn, Sheridan's brother and future sister-in-law, were in town from Nashville and Indianapolis, respectively, and we got to see them, too. Sheridan and I shared a very special kiss at midnight and an exceptionally sweet wish for the upcoming year. Sweetie, I can't wait to move up and get the show on the road! :)

I hope all of you had a great and safe New Years celebration and a very special Christmas with your loved ones! May 2008 hold the key to all our dreams come true!!

Love, Mer

Friday, December 21, 2007

Dear Santa,

I have been a pretty girl girl this year! I have done a lot of good things (just a couple bad things), given to charity, made new friends, become closer with family, and adopted a poor, defenseless puppy and given him a home. ;)

So with that, here's my Christmas list! Don't forget I'm in Houston - remember where you used to bring me toys as a kid? THERE!!! I'm pretty much the same person - just taller and fatter now.

I promise to be good all next year if you bring me all the things on my list this year. Thanks, in advance, Santa Claus!! Love, Mer

1. Turbo Beetle Convertible (yep, still on the list!)

2. A big, fat sapphire cocktail ring

3. Burberry collar and leash for my designer doggie

4. 7 foot tall black TV armoire with a new TV (after all, mine ist he one my parents bought me when I left home in 1994!)

5. Vintage print Gucci bag

6. Brown Escada sunglasses

7. New gym wardrobe

8. World peace and global environmental awareness

9. The man of my dreams at the breakfast table on Christmas morning. :)

Mer-ry Christmas!!

Hi everyone! So I'm heading out to Houston tomorrow for the holidays. I'm looking forward to seeing family, friends, and showing Sheridan my hometown (The Livable Forest...)! He's flying into Hobby Airport, which is the GHETTO, so I hope it doesn't scare him! hahaha

I could bring the Baci ball, but he's just too darn big!! I purposely bought a "purse dog" so that I could travel with him, but it turns out the stupid breeders mated the Maltese with a Standard Poodle (instead of the Toy Poodle), so my giant 18 lb puppy won't fit under the seat, as planned. He'll be in good hands, though, with Prasad (my old roommate, at our old apartment) and Rose, who's house/dogsitting for 6 days! Much thanks to you two, P and M, for taking care of my baby. I know he'll be in great hands!!

Meanwhile, I'm off work until the 2nd of January, so postings could be sporadic. So to all the rest of my friends and family scattered all over the place, I miss you lots and love you tons. Thank you for all your love and support throughout this crazy year - all your friendship means so much to me. Best wishes for a lovely Christmas holiday and a safe, fun New Year's celebration. May 2008 be our best year EVER!

Love, Mer

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Raleigh’s Best Ever Cookies

This recipe is from the Raleigh Junior League cookbook, You’re Invited. I actually won a cookie-baking contest with this one once… true story!! If you have time and the inclination to bake, it’s truly the best cookie I’ve ever had! Enjoy.

My doorguys in my building will be enjoying these cookies tomorrow to thank them for giving my doggie treats, getting me help when I'm locked out of my place, returning items to exes that I don't care to see, and making me feel so safe and secure every night when I go to sleep. :)

Love, Mer

Raleigh’s Best Ever Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups (18 ounces) crunchy peanut butter
4 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 (10 ounce) bag M&M’s or Reese’s pieces
1 cup semi sweet chocolate morsels

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine first 9 ingredients and mix well. Mix in oats. Stir in chocolate and candy.
3. Drop by tablespoonfuls, about 2 inches apart, on a greased baking sheet.
4. Bake for 10-13 minutes until golden brown around the edges.
5. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Yep, More Birthday Celebrations!

At this point, it's just becoming silly. We celebrated the 4th annual 29th birthday *again* this weekend! Drinks, gossip, friends, and some very amusing photos... but the best part was having my Sheridan come to town to meet all my peeps and play house with me for a weekend. :) Thanks to all of you that joined us at Wine Cabana (and then Old Town Saloon for the late-night party) for yet another birthday celly!

Saturday night, Sheridan and I met up with the future in-laws for some dinner at their house and then a cheesy little Christmas parade on the SD Bay Sunday night. I'm so excited to have met a guy with an awesome family - the Halls are great people!!

OK, the birthday is officially done and it's time for Christmas. Houston, here we come!!!

Love, Mer

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Extended Birthday Show

So this weekend was a trip up to see Sheridan in SF for my actual birthday on Sunday. We had a beautiful, romantic dinner a deux on Friday night at this sweet little spot called Tiramisu (we would have never found this place if it weren't for the concierge at our hotel - it was adorable!) and met up with Sheridan's friend Brent and his gal pal du noir for drinks and funny stories about Sheridan. I kept thinking that these stories were from high school, or something, but it turns out that they were from a couple of years ago!! I'm glad he has recent stories which include rather silly behavior, too... hahaha We're obviously meant to be together, because I'm the queen of it!

Saturday we had breakfast at a sidewalk cafe, went to Union Square and did some shopping (Sheridan got some awesome shoes that he graciously let me pick out - swoon!), and hit the Yahoo! year end party Saturday night. I've NEVER been to a party so cool in my life - casino, live bands, arcade, indoor ice skating rink, ice sculptures, open bar, food for days... it was an awesome time!! Sunday - slept in, had breakfast with my very old friend Marc, who lives in the city (he spilled some of my embarassing stories!), rode the cable cars down to Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square, and roamed around the city until it was time to go home. Parting is always such sweet sorrow, but this week, my honey's coming to visit on Thursday - so it wasn't quite so bad this time!! :)

Anyway, the birthday extended to yesterday - some girlfriends took me for a lovely lunch at Il Fornaio in Del Mar, and this weekend is the birthday soiree at a wine bar with about 20 of my peeps. It's the most extended birthday week ever, but I love it! Thanks to all my friends and family - and Sheridan!!! - for making this year's birthday so full of joy and love. I'm so lucky!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Frisco

Well peeps, I'm headed to San Francisco to celebrate my birthday with Sheridan this weekend - I'm so excited and ready to see my sweetie and have some fun to dull the pain of turning 29 again!! I'll be sure to get back with some pics and potentially... stories. :)

Say a prayer, please, for my friend Nicole, who's watching Baci this weekend. Godspeed, girlfriend!!

And last, but not least, happy shared birthday, Gina!! xoxo

Love, Mer

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Oh Christmas Tree!

So this is the first time in YEARS that I've put up a Christmas tree, and I'm really excited about it! :) My tree turned out gorgeous this year, thanks to a new (well, used - I bought it from Craigslist!) fake tree. I've been doing research to compare the most earth-friendly manner of celebrating this tradition, and I have decided that for me, the fake route is the way to go. Turns out that potted trees are REALLY pricy, and my allergies couldn't handle it anyway. So my new, but used, pre-lit tree is going to be with me for a long time to come to be as 'green' as possible!

What do you think? How lovely are her branches?


Love, Mer

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Nutrition behind "The Secret"

For those of you that know me best, I have eliminated a lot of toxins from my life this year ("energy vampires", caffeine, aspartame, several drugs/ prescriptions, and reduced my animal product intake by at least one half), and I feel like good things are happening as a result!! I'm paying the physical price of beating up my body in my 20s and making some questionable decisions, but I do feel like my new commitment to getting my life on track, making good decisions, and living life healthfully has brought me several great things like love, friendships, and financial security - I feel like if I continue committed to my purpose and living life positively, everything else will fall into place!

In that spirit, this article totally inspired me today. I was researching nutritional supplements to help cure my physical woes and stumbled across it... I hope you get something out of this piece too. Are you a "high vibration" individual? I'm trying!!!

Love, Mer

-------------------------

With the popularity of "The Secret" rapidly growing in the United States and around the world, there's growing interest in finding ways to maximize results while using the power of intention and Law of Attraction. Few people really know one of the most important secrets to making "The Secret" work: Establishing the right nutrition and dietary habits that clear your nervous system and allow intention to flow. In this article, I'll share some of the best nutritional secrets about The Secret, covering:

1) Foods and substances that interfere with the power of your intention.
2) Foods and substances that enhance the power of your intention.

Once you learn this information, you'll instantly discover ways to greatly enhance the effects you get when you apply your intention (or invoke the Law of Attraction). You'll also come to recognize why the great spiritual leaders throughout the world all gravitate towards similar diets that are free of certain substances (such as red meat).

Let's begin by examining those foods and substances that interfere with the power of intention and the Law of Attraction.

Foods and substances that block the power of intentionThe power of intention (i.e. the Law of Attraction) only works when you have a clear, healthy nervous system that's free from distortion. Invoking the power of intention is a lot like broadcasting a message from a radio tower, and your nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves, etc.) are the transmission tissues.
A radio tower only works well when it has sufficient electricity, clarity and symmetry. It also can't be gunked up with interfering signals or overriding disturbances. Your own nervous system is the same -for it to function well, it must be free of distortion and operating at peak performance.

The following items greatly interfere with healthy nervous system function and therefore inhibit your power of intention:

Meat products: All animal-derived foods impair the clarity of intention, and this is especially so if those foods are derived from cruelly-treated animals (like feedlot cattle). This is why so many spiritual leaders around the world refrain from eating meat. It's also why vegetarians are generally more peaceful, spiritually balanced people than heavy meat eaters.

Alcohol and drugs: All recreational drugs (including alcohol) impair healthy nervous system function. Clarity cannot be achieved while under the influence of nicotine, alcohol, meth or street drugs. While there are medicinal uses for some natural drugs (such as medical marijuana), their use still inevitably interferes with clarity and clouds the Law of Attraction, so use them sparingly if at all. On the other hand, there are also natural plant-based medicines that actually enhance clarity when used as part of sacred spiritual journeys. Western society has declared such substances to be illegal drugs, but they are deliberately and consciously used with great care in healing journey experiences in many other parts of the world.

Caffeine: Even caffeine interferes with healthy nervous system function. The onslaught of daily stimulants leaves the body depleted of energy, unable to reach the level of vibration necessary to effectively broadcast intention to the universe.

Television: Watching television fills your mind with false messages, clouding your mind with ideas that distort reality and impair your ability to connect with the universe. Have you ever noticed that the people who watch the most television seem to be unable to attract those things into their lives that they want? It's because television acts like an intention blocking device, draining away your intention energy and filling your head with ideas and beliefs that only serve the interests of corporations and governments.

Processed foods: Processed foods not only lack the nutrition necessary for healthy nervous system function, they're also typically loaded with excitotoxins like MSG, aspartame and yeast extract. These substances damage the functioning of the nervous system, making any practice of the Law of Attraction virtually impossible.

Fragrance products: All fragrance products based on artificial chemicals impair the healthy functioning of the nervous system by dulling the senses and limiting sensory acquity. Achieving success with the power of intention requires eliminating ALL fragrance products from your life. These include most shampoos, laundry detergents, dryer sheets, soaps, perfumes, cosmetics, deodorants, skin creams and other similar products. In each of these categories, there are many alternatives available: Natural products that are either fragrance-free or made from essential oil fragrances only. If you wish to find success in applying the Law of Attraction, it's crucial to get these artificial fragrance chemicals out of your life (and away from your nervous system).

Processed sugar: Sugar greatly impacts the healthy functioning of the nervous system, and refined sugar is a lot like crack in the way it alters (and impairs) brain function. All refined sugars should be avoided, including high-fructose corn syrup (the sweetener in sodas), dextrose, sucrose and others. While you're at it, avoid white bread and refined grains, too, because they're very similar to sugars in the way they impact the nervous system.

Aspartame: This artificial chemical sweetener greatly impairs healthy nervous system function. This is partly because aspartame can chemically break down into trace amounts of formaldehyde, and formaldehyde is an extremely toxic nerve poison. Drinking aspartame is sort of like poisoning your brain with chemical preservatives. That's great if you're trying to embalm yourself, but not so good if you actually plan to use your brain for anything useful.

Things that enhance the power of your intention

Once you're free of the substances interfering with your power of intention, you can move on to enhancing your nervous system health with proper supportive substances. Here are the most important items to consider:

Raw foods: Raw foods really cleanse your nervous system and restore healthy brain function. Drinking raw food juices on a regular basis (freshly made in your own blender, not processed) greatly enhances clarity and the power of intention. Most spiritual leaders around the world follow diets based at least in part on raw foods. Following a raw foods diet for just 30 days will dramatically clear your senses and turn you into a powerful broadcaster of intention.

Vegetarian foods: Avoiding the consumption of meat and dairy products is also an important way to keep your system clear and lend power to your intention. Meat and dairy products stagnate the flow of energy throughout your mind and body, blocking the intention. To get the best results, go completely dairy free (except for raw, unprocessed milk, which qualifies as a raw food) and meat free.

Personal integrity: Acting with integrity multiplies the power of your intention. When you consistently do what you promise, especially in relation to others, you gain power and confidence in your own actions. This translates into significant improvements in the Law of Attraction. People who steal from others, exploit them or harm them are acting outside of personal integrity and typically demonstrate a very poor ability to attract things into their lives that they really want. It's a vicious cycle, too: When they can't attract what they want, they turn to stealing, and this in turn diminishes their ability to attract what they want in the future.

Clean water: Hydration is crucial for good nervous system performance. I will even say that you cannot possibly engage in effective intention exercises when you're in a state of chronic dehydration (as most people are). Drinking plenty of water clears metabolic wastes from your body and even lubricates the nerve cells throughout your body! So drink more water and you'll boost your results.

Microalgae superfoods: These superfoods offer a two-fold benefit: They cleanse the liver (which purifies the blood and improves mental clarity) and they offer natural high-density nutrition from nature. The four I recommend are spiruline, chlorella, blue-green algae and astaxanthin (http://www.nutrex-hawaii.com/). One of the top brands of raw microalgae is E3 Live, which you can find at http://www.e3live.com/index.htm

Healthy oils: Consuming regular quantities of healthy oils and omega-3 fatty acids makes a huge difference on the power and reach of your intention. Eat more chia seeds (http://www.goodcausewellness.com/), avocados, raw coconut oil (http://www.rawfoods.com/) and minimally processed plant-based oils. Fish oils can also be supportive if you choose to eat fish-derived products. Flax seeds serve a similar purpose for those who are vegetarian.

Berries: Eat massive quantities of fresh, raw berries to boost nervous system function and greatly enhance the power of your intention. Berries offer nervous system protection medicines, and they also happen to halt cancer, prevent eye disease, enhance memory and prevent Alzheimer's disease. Be sure to eat a variety of berries so you get all sorts of different colors: Black raspberries, blueberries, red raspberries, strawberries, acai, red currants, wild berries, etc.

There are, of course, many other nutrients and natural substances that can enhance mental function and clarity. Everything from tropical fruits to garden greens provides a strong benefit in boosting the power of your intention.

My personal secret to successPeople tend to look at my own accomplishments as being "remarkable" or highly successful in various ways. They see me as getting many things done in a very short period of time, and they often wonder how I accomplish these things. My greatest secret is that I frequently practice the power of intention (and I have a specific process through which that is practiced), and I avoid all the foods, beverages and personal care products that interfere with the power of intention.

In the past, some people have wondered why I drink no alcohol, use no drugs, drink no coffee, take no medications, etc. People have asked me if I'm a member of some specific religion with pristine dietary practices, but the answer is quite simply that I have arrived at my own spiritual practice and I choose to respect my body and mind as tools for creating a better future. I actually came to this conclusion mostly on my own, and have since found that it is aligned with the spiritual paths found in virtually all world religions. It all makes sense, too: You simply can't be a highly spiritual person if you're consuming angry cow meats and altered dairy fats!

I intentionally avoid all substances that intefere with intelligence, clarity or spirituality, and I go to great lengths to cleanse my body using nature's medicines: superfoods, rainforest herbs, raw foods, and so on. By the way, the best cleansing products I've ever found at available at http://www.baselinenutritionals.com/ (look for the Liver Tincture and the cilantro-based anti-mercury tincture).

The secret to my productivity and ability to manifest those things is simply that I'm wholly committed to treating my body and mind as sacred entities. I do not allow myself to be polluted with television, pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, energy vampire people (like friends who drain away all your energy) or processed foods. The result is that when I focus on something, it manifests relatively quickly (there's still a whole lot of work involved, of course, but that's the nature of getting things done in this physical world). Perhaps there is some other version of the multiverse in which intention is instantly translated into effects, but here in this one we all share, intention often requires practical steps for manifestation. (So don't forget the part about applying effort, too!)

Want a better life? Clean up your energy channels

This is not information I've shared before, but it's probably the most important secret to success that I've ever written about. If you want to make things happen in your life and manifest more wealth, abundance, loving relationships, happiness or whatever, you've got to get serious about cleaning up your "broadcast channels," which means cleaning up your diet, eliminating any substance abuse, avoiding influence from television and so on. It doesn't mean you have to become a hermit and live in the woods somewhere (although that certainly wouldn't hurt on a temporary basis), but you do have to stop living the disconnected life of typical consumers who are addicted to processed foods, alcohol, television, drugs, video gaming and other things.
I don't claim to be perfect in my own habits. I still eat meat when traveling (but never from mammals such as cows or pigs), and my diet isn't as raw as I would like. I also spend way too much time sitting in front of a computer, but that's a necessary choice I've made for engaging in online education and article writing. But like you, I'm always striving to make my diet and lifestyle one step better, and by doing that I'm constantly moving into higher states of vibration that naturally augment the power of my intention.

You can do the same. All it takes is making the commitment and taking on one change at a time until you're completely rid of the toxic influencing factors and fully embracing those things that work to multiply the power of your intention. Before long, you'll find the Law of Attraction working far better than you ever imagined, and you'll really start living the magical life you're attracting through conscious intention.

It's really not complicated, nor even mystical or "new agey." It's just the application of common sense: If you want to create a better future and manifest your desires, you've got to clear you head, get rid of the junk and start nourishing your internal broadcast antenna (your nervous system). Once you do that, you can start to broadcast your intention to the universe, and you'll find that everything you focus on begins to manifest far more quickly.

Speaking of intention, please feel free to share this article with anyone you know who's familiar with "The Secret" and who might benefit from knowing these nutritional tips. You can copy and paste the article in an email, or just send the web address (URL). Spread the word: We need more people with high vibrations in order to overcome all those folks running around with LOW vibration, don't you think? The more high-vibration people we have in the world, the brighter the future will be for us all.

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About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher and author with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2007, Adams launched EcoLEDs, a manufacturer of mercury-free, energy-efficient LED lighting products that save electricity and help prevent global warming. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also the founder of a well known HTML email software company whose 'Email Marketing Director' software currently runs the NewsTarget subscription database. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and regularly pursues cycling, nature photography, Capoeira and Pilates. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at http://www.healthranger.org/

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

About Sagittarius

Since the sun has moved into Sagittarius, I thought I'd share with you guys the astrological profile. Sheridan, this is what you're getting yourself into... I'm a pretty typical one!

Love, Mer






Astrological Profile for Sagitarrius

Element: Fire
Mode: Mutable
Ruler: Jupiter
Color: Purple, Violet

Famous Sagittarians: Woody Allen, Jane Austen, Christina Applegate, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Maria Callas, Eugene Ionesco, John F. Kennedy Jr., Bette Midler, Brad Pitt, Monica Seles, Frank Sinatra, Steven Spielberg, Tina Turner, Mark Twain, Gianni Versace

Strengths: Convivial, enthusiastic, ethical, expansive, fair, generous, idealistic, independent, optimistic, outgoing, spontaneous, tolerant, wise

Weaknesses: Arrogant, dogmatic, excessive, fanatic, flamboyant, irresponsible, ostentatious, reckless, unbound, philandering

Sagittarius is the ninth Sign of the Zodiac. After Libra's first reaching out to others and Scorpio's exploration of the world through emotion, Sagittarius uses knowledge to understand the world. It is the Sign of Philosophy and Religion, and people born under this Sign are the scholars and learners of the Zodiac. They seek the truth and the meaning of life, and they love to explore through knowledge. Higher learning is a major focus of their lives. As the ninth Sign, it also rules the ninth House: the House of Philosophy.

The Sign In Depth

The Astrological Symbol of Sagittarius is the Archer. The Archer is a Centaur, half man and half horse, and it is the only Sign of the Zodiac that is half man and half beast. Centaurs were the great scholars and intellectuals of Greek and Roman myth, but they could also be hotheaded and aggressive. This tradition is maintained in Sagittarians. They are not fixed or opinionated, and they have no set plan or bias but seek to learn things as they come. In this way, Sagittarius exemplifies the Mutable Quality assigned to it. They desire the freedom to do what they want, when they want, and tend to be impulsive and independent. Within the Zodiac, Sagittarius is opposite Gemini, the Sign of Communication. While Gemini likes to learn a little bit about many subjects, Sagittarius tends to be about deeper and more focused learning. They are versatile and progressive, but at times they can be impatient and pushy if things aren't getting done in the way they want. The sign is ruled by the Planet Jupiter. In ancient Roman mythology, Jupiter (and his Greek equivalent, Zeus) was the King of the Gods. Jupiter represents expansion in all its forms, including the mental outreach so prominent in Sagittarians, but it also may invite excess. It is the Planet of Luck, and many people born under the sign do experience good luck. Jupiter rules both Sagittarius and Pisces; The sign is the masculine, or day, aspect of Jupiter and Pisces is the feminine, or night. Both Signs are about thought and outreach, but while Pisces focuses on the higher ideal of a perfect world Sagittarius is more interested in mental exploration as teachers and philosophers. At times they can procrastinate or seem self-indulgent, but they are trustworthy and charming, adaptable to all situations. While they can appear to be extravagant and flashy, they are generally good-humored and generous.

The Element associated with this sign is Fire. Fire Signs are physical: they tend to respond to the world through action, rather than practicality, intellect, or emotion. While they are about action and getting things started, they are not in a hurry like Aries can be. They want to experience life, rather than read about it, and they are outgoing and friendly. Sagittarians are broad-minded and enthusiastic, but they may sometimes seem to have foot-in-mouth disease as they may talk too much or speak before thinking. They are eager and inspirational, experts at getting things started, but they can also seem irresponsible or tactless if they jump in too quickly. They are not pioneers in the sense that Aries is, but they are explorers and interested in mental outreach. Their innate optimism and belief in straightforward dealings with other people can sometimes make them careless or impulsive. Many Sagittarians enjoy travel and spiritual study, and they have daring and adventurous spirits.

Sagittarians love to have a good time, and they are outgoing and friendly. Many are natural comedians, sometimes exaggerating their adventures to entertain people. Their innate confidence in themselves may make them argumentative or blunt, but they want to learn, not offend. They are high-spirited and enthusiastic, often flirtatious, and tend to enjoy social life immensely.

In their leisure time, Sagittarians' athleticism comes to the forefront. Personal challenge is always appreciated, and they tend to prefer solitary or one-on-one sports that stretch them to the limit, such as skydiving and big game fishing. They tend to be lucky, and may enjoy gambling. Their philosophical side makes them enjoy drama and debate, as well as most other mentally challenging pursuits. In love relationships, Sagittarius is flirtatious and playful.
Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs. People born under the sign may be more susceptible to hip troubles and leg pain than people of other Signs.

The great strength of the Sagittarian is in their philosophical and exploratory nature. It is important to them that they live life to the fullest, experiencing everything they can. Their great love of knowledge and exploration makes them one of the most learned characters of the Zodiac.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Turkey Day Update

Hey guys! I hope all of you had a phenomenal holiday with your friends and families. Mine was my favorite Thanksgiving ever - even better than the infamous year that I served pork tenderloin! ;) As you know, I drove to Phoenix to join Sheridan and his family for a traditional weekend of family, food, and the like. Friday, we all drove up to Sedona and checked that out - it was gorgeous! And I have now indoctrinated another family to the delicious sweet potato souffle (they loved it, of course!) and met the majority of the new man's family - it was a great weekend.

Sheridan's peeps are amazing people and made me feel so incredibly welcome. I know now why he is such an amazing person - he comes by it honestly. I really liked them a lot and he says they think I'm "a keeper", so things went G R E A T! :) If it weren't for getting stopped by the CHP (I sweet talked my way out of ticket - yeah, baby!) and dropping several hundred bucks on 4 new tires (somewhere along the way to Phoenix, I drove over 4 nails!), it would have been a PERFECT weekend!!! It was so amazing to see Sheridan - he makes me so happy!

Oh, and Baci went with me this weekend, too. THAT was interesting!!! I was pretty pleased with the pup's performance - there were no major mishaps like furniture destroyed or poop on the carpet... Just a lot of puppy misbehavior like picking on the other doggie in the house, Daisy, and jumping on furniture that was off limits... Oh yes, and he did pee on Sheridan's mom's foot, but I really do think that was a sign of affection!!! hahaha Baci certainly livened up the party and was great company during the road trip, so I'm glad he came. :)

Anyway, it's back to the grind tomorrow... I hope you all have a great week!!!

Love, Mer

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Sweet Potato Souffle

Quite simply, this is the best holiday recipe EVER. It's a good ole North Carolina recipe from my favorite Southern Belle, Weezie Busby. Every time I make this recipe, I think of her at my house in North Carolina at Christmas dinner, with Dylan (my late kitty) on the back of her chair, staring at her plate of food. I hope Weezie and Dylan are both resting in peace - I miss both of them!

Meanwhile, enjoy Weezie's Sweet Potato Souffle. Sheridan's family is about to learn all about this yummy dish on Thursday! :)

Love, Mer

Sweet Potato Souffle

3 cups YAMS (sliced, boiled, drained, mashed)
1 cup sugar (I use Splenda)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

Mix all ingredients and place in casserole dish. It's best if you mix everything while the potatoes are still hot.

Top with the following:

1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
1 cup chopped nuts (pecans)

Mix together and sprinkle on potatoes. Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Serves 8-10 people.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

So Thanksgiving is Thursday and it's going to be a crazy week, so I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to post very much. However, I just want to wish all my friends and family a very lovely Thanksgiving - I hope you all have a safe Turkey Day. I'll be in Phoenix with Sheridan (meeting the 2nd set of parents and the brother/ his fiancee - wowsers!) - I can't wait to see him and meet more of his peeps!!

Before I go, I want to share with The Mer Show readers all the things I have to be thankful about this year. You may not care, but HEY, it's my blog, so I can write whatever I want. :)

Things Mer is grateful for at Thanksgiving:

1. Friends and family all over the world, whose support never ceases to overwhelm me and gives me so much strength

2. A stronger, healthier relationship with my mother, father, and brother after a few years of serious drama

3. I have cleaned house of a lot of toxic influences in my life this year

4. I have fallen for a wonderful man who is changing my life every single day for the better

5. My doggie, Baci

6. Last but not least... Weezie's Sweet Potato Souffle and football!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!
Love, Mer

Friday, November 16, 2007

Professional Mission Statement

I went to a professional development event this morning and we went through an exercise to determine our future professional goals and mission statement; this is what I created. Whatcha think? Mer
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I will take action to improve my skills as an HR professional to improve processes and efficacy for recruiting and provide value to the staffing process for my client while using my innate client focus and keen perceptivity of human behavior in order to hire quality technical professionals. Eventually, I will successfully become a top independent recruiting professional in California and nationwide.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Should I Enter?

(Click on image to see full size of post!)

Because I might be the biggest fan of Chick Fil A EVER!!!!! All my Texas and NC peeps know this about me...

Anyone want to help me with my entry? I'm definitely going to tell CFA that I ate a 6 piece nuggets meal for lunch EVERY DAY in college (there was a Chick Fil A in the UT student union) and that when CFA came to San Diego, I ate it 4 times that week and announced the opening on The Mer Show!!! I think I might have a chance...

Ever since I did the master cleanse in May, I haven't been eating my beloved Chick Fil A nuggets (I have heard them equated with crack rock) as much, but I do think about them as lovingly as ever! In fact, I think I'm going to get some right now!! Gotta go!

Love, Mer

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Random Thoughts

Sorry I haven’t been very vocal lately!! I have a great reason, though – most of my extra time during the day is spent communicating with someone really special in my life. I used to use my free time to ponder life, vocalize random thoughts, share random news stories, and spread celebrity gossip. These days, life is very simple - I take care of myself and Baci, I work hard at a job I love, and I spend every other waking moment that I’m not busy talking to Sheridan. And starting soon, I’m going to be traveling quite a bit to see this very important person in my life! How fun is that?

What a year! I could go on and on about that, but anyone that reads this blog probably already knows my goings on. So many changes for me and practically everyone I know! There have been romantic and friendship breakups, new relationships and friendships formed, fires, illnesses, engagements, babies (Nicole's preggers again, everyone!), war deployments, layoffs, moves, and all kinds of crazy stuff. Let’s hope that 2008 brings a sense of stability and contentment to The Mer Show friends and family. I wish you all much success in life, love, and health! I know I’m definitely on the right track and hope that you all are too. A super special electronic hug goes out my girlfriend Shayne – 2008 is going to be your best year yet, my friend. Trust me!!

Anyway, I hope all is well. Love, Mer

p.s. Look at Keith’s new baby, Ian. Isn’t he perfect?



Monday, November 05, 2007

Finley The Monkey

Look at my sweet little nephew, Finley, in his monkey outfit for Halloween. He's getting so big, my little munchkin... Love him!

Proud Auntie Mer

Mistletoe Mercado Gala

So Saturday night was the much anticipated Junior League fundraiser and I had an absolute BLAST. We dressed up in our finest black tie attire, ate, drank, and spent lots of dough in the name of charity. I bought several Christmas presents and bid (and won) on a package including a night's stay at Pala Casino, with dinner included. Who wants to party, eat, and gamble with me at Pala soon? :)

Sheridan accompanied me to the gala and looked absolutely dashing in his tuxedo! Lisa joined us for cocktails and snacks before the party and we all went together. How lucky was Mr. Hall to have two lovely ladies on his arm? Actually, he should be commended for putting up with two silly drunk girls, listening to Justin Timberlake blasted in the car, and getting us home safely. What a guy!!! Thanks for being a lovely escort, Sheridan. You rock!!!

My neighbor Amanda probably had more fun than anyone there - see photo. She's so adorable!

It was a great night benefitting the Junior League's charitable works, but more than anything, it was a great night. Just wanted to share...

Love, Mer

Friday, November 02, 2007

Guest Blogger - P. Daddy

So I have a new addition to the blog - I have invited several guest writers to be a part of my new series of postings by my friends and loyal subscribers. I look forward to introducing new points of view to this literary debacle known as The Mer Show, and hope you enjoy it too!

Today, I'm proud to introduce Petri, who happens to be my ex brother-in-law, the father of my favorite nephew, husband to my close friend Shannon (and ex sissy-in-law), and simply a cool dude. I hope you enjoy his thoughts on Alanis Morrisette's hit single, "Isn't It Ironic".

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Almost nothing Alanis Morissette referenced in her song "Isn't it Ironic" actually qualifies as irony. "An old man turned ninety-eight, he won the lottery and died the next day. It's a death row pardon two minutes too late. And isn't it ironic...don't you think." No Alanis, I don't. These things are not ironic - they just suck.

That her song contains almost no examples of irony is indeed ironic. Here is some guidance as to what truly can be characterized as irony:

Dramatic Irony - A situation in which the audience knows something about present or future circumstances that the character does not know

Definition of Verbal Irony - A contradiction of expectation between what is said and what is meant

Definition of Situational Irony - A contradiction of expectation between what might be expected and what actually occurs often connected to a fatalistic or pessimistic view of life


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Maybe the song should be called "Isn't it a Bummer?" instead. What do you think?

Thanks, Petri, for being my first guest writer on The Mer Show. You rock!!

Love, Mer

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Mistletoe Mercado, Friday through Sunday

The Junior League of San Diego is holding its annual shopping fundraiser, Mistletoe Mercado, this coming Friday-Sunday (Nov 2-4). In order to respond to the community’s most immediate need, we will be accepting monetary donations for fire victims and proceeds of the event will be directed toward wildfire relief funds as well as our focus on education & nutrition for families.

The event showcases *select* vendors with quality merchandise just in time for the holidays. Other special events include happy hour on Friday, book signings of children’s books on Saturday, and Santa, children’s crafts & entertainment on Sunday, so tell your friends & family and come together! To the left is a complimentary admission ticket to the event (dates and times are on the ticket as well as listed below). Click on image and print the larger version, and you're good to go!!

When: Friday-Sunday, Nov 2-4 (Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-5) – parking is free on Friday!
Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Activity Center
What: Unique jewelry, children’s apparel, women’s apparel and accessories, holiday gifts, gourmet foods, luxury pet supplies, home decor, raffles, etc.