Finley Update

Little Finley isn't a baby anymore - he's officially a little man! What a little heartbreaker, no? I hope mine is just as cute!!!









Love, Mer

Vote Mer for President!

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Deep Thoughts By Mer

Sorry for my lack of postings lately - it's been a particularly hectic time for me!! I'll explain more soon. Meanwhile, please find below some random thoughts I have on several very important issues.

1. So I watched the finale of The Bachelorette on Monday, and DeAnna chose the exciting and romantic 26 year old professional snowboarder over the good-looking, sweet, and stable 31 year old professional with a son. I have to say that when I single, I didn't prefer dating men with children (because an ex-wife usually comes with the kid, and who likes exes?), but this guy really has his act together - good looking, good guy. I know that Jesse was really sentimental and expressive and romantic, but honestly, I just don't buy it - he lost me with that whole diatribe regarding how his lack of career aspirations doesn't matter - "only love matters". Uh, ok... Good luck with that, DeAnna! Furthermore, I don't think any man under the age of 30 years old is capable of what he was professing... and this one is only 26, nowhere near the maturity point for guys. My bet is that DeAnna is going to have to figure that on her own. I could be wrong, but my prediction is that it ain't gonna last!

2. So poor Shania Twain caught her producer husband cheating on her with... SHOCKER - his assistant. I feel sorry for her, but as a huge fan of her vapid, yet fabulous music (she made 2 of my favorite two-stepping songs EVER, "Any Man of Mine" and "If You're Not in It for Love, I'm Outta Here"), I'm somewhat excited!! She basically went into hiding with her husband, because I think he is a bit of a hermit, but maybe now she'll come out of her hiding place, and make us some more sugary poppish country music. Bring it on, girl!!

3. So the summer Olympics starts soon and I can't wait!! You know what the best part of this year's festivities is? My DVR service!!! Every 4 years I have to figure out when the gymnastics is going to be, and have to either schedule my whole week around it, and then invariably, I miss it!! Ever since I dumped my VCR like 8 years ago, I haven't seen any Olympic gymnastics... And in 1996, I was in Spain studying for the summer, so I missed them then, too!! But anyway, my point is that DVR is going to revolutionize my Olympics-watching experience this year, and I'm pretty excited about it!!

4. I must have done something right, because karma finally got me back for recycling, letting people into my lane during rush hour, wiping off the wet counter in the work bathroom, and being careful not to ding people's car doors. I set my iPhone down at the mall last weekend and someone actually turned it in, and it was returned to me. Can you believe it? I'm so grateful!! I gotta keep up with my random good deeds. :)

That's it for now. I hope everyone's doing great!!

Love, Mer

Pass the Word!

I was driving down the road on the way to work this morning, noticing that almost all the cars driving next to me had big door dings. I recently got a big one on the side of my passenger side, and it really ticked me off! When I think about, I'm not exactly the nicest person in the whole world or anything, but I ALWAYS make an effort to be careful getting out of my car so that I don't knock the car next to me. You know, it's just not that much of a burden... Is it really that much to ask of people to ask that they be careful when getting out of their cars, just to be nice to our fellow drivers?

I was thinking to myself... there are certainly worse problems in the world than door dings, but wouldn't it be nice if everyone took a little extra care to avoid them? It's sort of like global warming - if everyone does their part, the world would be a better place.

So please spread the world!! Let's reduce door dings, one Mer Show reader at a time, and make the world a better place. :)

Love, Mer

Art Deco Doggie

So Baci went to get groomed yesterday and apparently he had a LITTLE BIT too much energy, because the groomer tacked on an extra $20 to trim the furball’s coat. I call it the “bad doggie fee”! Well, he did have dreadlocks practically after a bad bath by his daycare place a couple of weeks ago, so I’m sure it hurt quite a bit. Apparently they had to put a muzzle on the poor little guy!!

I took this sweet picture of him using my leg as a pillow on the couch last night with my phone, and when I pulled it into MS Paint, the colors distorted.

I call this shot “Art Deco Doggie”.

Love, Mer

I Just Saved a Bundle on My Car Insurance!

Nope, it's not a Geico commercial - I really just got a phone call from Farmer's Insurance saying that they missed the fact that I'm eligible for a new discount, and my insurance dropped $40/ month!! Not only THAT, but apparently I was eligible for it the last 6 months too, so I got a refund for those months too...

I should go out and buy some lottery tickets!!!

Love, Mer

Just For Fun

A Hall family favorite (meaning Sheridan and me, that is)... Enjoy!

(For subscribers of my blog that read this via email, click here: http://mershow.blogspot.com/2008/06/just-for-fun.html)

Love, Mer

New Picture

Well, I've had the same picture up for the whole time I've been writing this blog, and I figure that since I really never wear my hair straight anymore, that old picture didn't even look like me anymore. And as I get older, I look more and more like my mother (what a quagmire - she's a very nice looking lady, but every woman fears turning into her mother, right?)! So when I looked at that old photo of me on my 31st birthday (yesterday was my 32nd half birthday, meaning that I'm now 32.5), I hardly recognize myself!

I guess, too, that my life is SO different than when that photo was taken... it was time for a new one. Don't you agree?

And as my life changes even more, keep your eyes peeled for new features to The Mer Show. Could it perhaps be The Sher and Mer Show at some point? Or the Hall show? Stay tuned!

Love, Mer

It's Here!

After much speculation in the press and here in Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs announced today that the Apple iPhone 3G is finally officially on its way July 11th. Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray!

(BUY ONE!)

This new version is faster, better, and has many more gadgets with which to play, like a GPS. Guys, this is a great tool to have on you when your significant other is in the dressing room trying to figure out if she wants to buy fat jeans or skinny jeans... it might take a while, and you're going to need something to keep you company in the "man chair". You can peruse YouTube, text your friends, view photos from your last romantic weekend with your sweetie (or her doggie, right Sheridan?), jot down your 'honey do' list for when you get home, check your stocks, see what the weather's like where you're vacationing next month, or check out ESPN - that last one got you, right guys?

(YOU NEED ONE!)

And did I mention this one's cheaper than its predecessor? The 8G is only $199 and the 16G is only $299, and the 16G is also available in white. How cute is that? Mine has a hot pink skin on it, but white is darling too!!

(IT'S THE MUST-HAVE ACCESSORY OF THE YEAR!)

So get thee to the Apple store and reserve yours now!!

Love, Mer (AKA Apple Pusher)

Happy Birthday Miss Ellie!

Dear Miss Ellie, AKA Pooter Puntington,

Oh Ellie, ye of crossed eyes and lover of the hand jive, it is again your birthday. I remember when you came into Shannon's life so many years ago - the precursor to the hubby and child for Miss Kraus. You were there for her as she moved out of her high school bedroom and into the marital home, for all the wedding madness, and as several new additions joined the Kraus/ Orr family - Emily, Liam, Kaity, Gina's new kitties, and most importantly, your new humans Petri and little Finley. You've watched mommy learn how to cook, host family and friends for holidays and parties, and even lived through the experience of the escaped goat from the slaughterhouse. You, my friend, have lived a FULL life!!

May your crossed eyes see many more years of lovely experiences with your family, who loves you very much.

Happy birthday, Miss Ellie!!

Love, Auntie Mer Mer

Today in History

So I was walking Baci this morning and saw the front page of the San Jose Mercury News - "Obama Clinches The Nomination" - and seeing this photo just gave me goosebumps. As you know, I've been a big Obama supporter from the very beginning: http://mershow.blogspot.com/2007/08/inspiration-and-hope.html

I love his character, his panache, straight forwardness, that he's totally unlike a seasoned politician that says and does everything with votes in mind, and that he brings a new perspective to the table - he's lived a life like REAL Americans! He's struggled with identity and race, put himself through college and law school, tried drugs, been exposed to all kinds of faiths, and now has a functional, happy family - normal stuff. And hopefully he'll bring our troops home from the Middle East so we can stop losing our friends and loved ones to a political agenda that obviously isn't working and wasn't necessary in the first place. And hopefully he'll be able to bring together a fractured nation after about 10 years of total political unrest (2 years of Monicagate and 8 of Wgate).

Actually, I do like John McCain - he's a decorated war hero and is a good, honest person. But I'm just not sure he has the spunk that America needs right now to propel our history forward in this time of war, financial woes, and desperate need of change. He's the same thing we've had in the White House, with the exception of Clinton, since the 80s. BORRRRRING and not what we need. Oh yeah, and I don't agree with many of his policies.

And last but not least, my Hillary. This is so bittersweet, as I don't think she's the right person for the job at hand, but I've been hoping that she'd make a run at the presidency ever since I shook her hand in Austin in 1996 (she was campaigning for Bill and I got to meet her). I've been watching her, cheering her on, and was ready for the first female president of the U.S. for THAT long... but with all that's happened, she's just not the right person for the job anymore. She's just too polar - like W. was - and our country simply can't handle it. I wish her lots of luck and success in the future.

So today I feel the total opposite of the way I did on November 5, 2004 - I feel hopeful, inspired, and ready for change. Do you?

Love, Mer

Speedy Gonzales Update

It's a crazy day, so I can't chat much, but I have some updates on The Mer Show.

1. My job has made a turn for the better and it looks like I'm staying for 6 more months as a college/ university relations recruiter. I thought my contract was ending!! Apparently not...

2. Can't wait for the Sex and The City movie on Friday - I'm meeting a handful of girls I've met here in the Bay Area through work for drinks and the movie on Friday night. I used to be Samantha, but I'm more of a Charlotte these days!!!

3. Sheridan and I are heading down Hearst Castle for the 50th anniversary of the tours of the property. Sheridan put together a sweet little weekend for us - we're staying an inn on the water in Cambria, hitting the cocktail party on the veranda of the castle, and then heading back to enjoy the fireplace in our suite. Update next week!

4. My father is in the hospital as we speak after taking a nasty fall yesterday. Everyone send him warm thoughts for a speedy recovery!!

I hope all of you are doing great! Love, Mer

They Do

Finally - my lovable, liberal, beloved state of California has legalized gay marriage. It's about time! And sort of romantic, don't you think? How many people are going to soon profess their love for each other publicly, in front of God and family, promising to love and cherish each other until death do they part? It's sweet!

I personally think that two people that love each other and want to commit to each other should be able to get married, divorce, have (adopt) children together, fight over the wedding china in the divorce, and live just as happily or miserably any heterosexual married person! I know the argument on the conservative side says that marriage is for the purpose of procreation, but that's just silly - what about hetero couples that don't want, or can't have, children? Should they not be married and able to commit civically and religously to the person they want to love and take care of for the rest of their lives? That's what marriage is about, right?! Anyway, I'm so pleased with this development and can't wait to watch the rest of the nation finally catch on to the truth, just like it did with other civil liberties that have been denied in the past.

Go forth and get hitched, gay Californians!! I'm rooting for you!! Meanwhile, please pardon me as I enter law school to become a divorce attorney in San Francisco... Admissions, 3 years school, pass the bar... YEP - just about perfect timing for a big wave of cases. :)

Love, Mer

The Big B

As in Baci!!! I haven't shown pictures of the sweet love muffin in a while, so I figured you guys could use some new shots. Here are a few of my favorites, taken lately.

Love, Mer

The Big D

A little late, but better late than never... So last week Sheridan and I went to Dallas for the wedding of a very old friend of mine, Laura, who did gymnastics with me growing up. Laura was one year older, always a little bit better than me, and was a superstar at everything she attempted. We were sort of a package deal for a very long time - the two of us were really close in age and talent level - although she worked really hard, and I was always screwing around, cheating on how many sets of routines I was instructed to do and relying on what little talent I had, rather than working hard to improve. She was the "good one" and I was the "bad one" - in high school, she was studying hard and participating in National Charity League, and I was chasing boys, going to parties, skipping gymnastics practice, and causing trouble. I guess some things never change!! ;)

Anyway, it was Sheridan's 2nd trip to Texas, and first to Dallas. I decided to take him to Gilley's, an old school honky tonk, where Urban Cowboy was filmed (although technically it was filmed at the original bar in Houston) to see what he thought. We had a blast - there was good music, cheap drinks, fun people watching, mechanical bull riding, and all kinds of fun stuff. I didn't teach him to two step yet, but I could see in his eyes that he REALLLLLY wanted to... (not) Anyway, I rode the bull to impress my California boy and it was pretty amusing - I STILL have a huge bruise a week later to show for it, but it was SO worth it! Good times.

Saturday night we saw Laura Belle get married, and it was a lovely event. She had a beautiful dress, a sparkle in her eye, and it made me happy to see my old friend so happy! The wedding was on the 50th floor on an old building in downtown Dallas, at the Empire Room, and was a classy affair. We ate, drank, celebrated, and when that was over, one of the bridesmaids talked us into crashing the Greek wedding next door. That was FUN... until we got kicked out viciously! Gotta keep an eye on those crazy Texans - we're a bunch of troublemakers. Anyway, it was a great wedding and I'm so happy for my old friend.

Otherwise, I took Sheridan to see Dealey Plaza, where JFK was assassinated in Dallas. We visited the JFK museum and learned all about the logistics of the day, saw home videos of the motorcade, learned about conspiracy theories and saw the exact spot where the president was mortally wounded. Here's a shot of Sheridan looking very shady behind the fence on the "grassy knoll"! We had massive amounts of Tex Mex throughout our trip, visited a sculture garden of cattle, had a rental car breakdown, and all kinds of fun stuff - it was a great time in the Big D!

Next stop - Seattle in June for a big Sheridan-style wedding (that's Sheridan's mom's maiden name, so I'm referring to the 9 Sheridan siblings, their spouses, offspring, and signicant others, plus the groom's peeps). Should be lots of fun - both of Sheridan's brothers and their wives, plus his mom, will be there, so it should be a great time. :)

Love, Mer

THIS is what I'm talking about!

Could it be an Obama/ Edwards ticket?

Wow is all I have to say. Crossing my fingers..........

Mer

HARD CANDY!!! Wooooooooo!

OMG, the new album by Madonna - Hard Candy - is out!! You know what that means, right? TOUR!!!!!!!!!!!! This time, I'm not going to miss it - I almost CRIED when I missed the Confessions on a Dance Floor tour because there wasn't a tour date in San Diego and noone would go to Vegas to see it with me.

Saturday November 1st, Oracle Arena, Oakland, California. Who's coming with me? Am I going to have to make some friends locally, or what?? Maybe I'll place an ad:

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

SWF looking for girlfriends or gay males to attend Madonna concert with me in November. Must be loads of fun, be prepared to drink and celebrate this momentous occasion, and lift 125 pounds in case I pass out from the excitement! Please apply at MadonnaFreak2008 at yah00 dot c0m.

What do you think?

Love, Mer

Feliz Cinco de Mayo and Happy Anniversary!

Today is not only Cinco de Mayo - YAY, a chance to use all my handpainted Mexican pottery - it's also mine and Sheridan's SIX month anniversary! With that, I have quite a feast planned for tonight! You ready for the menu?

Carne Asada
Tequila and jalapeno shrimp
Saffron rice and homemade "refried" black beans (they're not really fried, so they're healthier)
Mer's homemade salsa
Mer's homemade guac
Organic flour tortillas
Mergaritas

Here are a couple of the recipes for your gastronomic pleasure!

Mer's Salsa

1/2 onion

1/4 jalapeno, seeded and cleaned

1 clove garlic

1 can Mexican style stewed tomatoes
1 lime
cilantro

Put first 3 ingredients in a mini chopper or food processor and blend very well. Add tomatoes, blend again. Add juice from one small lime, or 1/2 large lime and blend again. Add large handful of cilantro and blend again. Voila! It's yummy, I promise - one of Sheridan's faves!

Mergaritas

6 oz frozen limeade
6 oz cold, filtered or bottled water
4 oz good tequila
2 oz Cointreau

Shake in a cocktail shaker and pour over ice. Voila again!

"Refried" Black Beans

1 1/2 cups organic dry black beans
1 onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 heaping T cilantro
2 tablespoons good olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice, divided
1 teaspoon organic dried oregano

Soak beans for at least 6 hours in 4 ½ cups water. When complete, combine the beans with their water, the onion, and 2 of the garlic cloves in a bean pot, a heavy-bottomed casserole, or a Dutch oven and bring to a boil. The beans should be covered by 1 inch of water; add water if necessary. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer 1 hour. Add the remaining garlic, the salt, and the cilantro, cover, and simmer for another hour, until the beans are soft and their liquid is thick and soupy. Remove from the heat and drain off about 1 cup of the liquid from the beans.

In a large bowl, roughly mash the beans with a fork. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and mash until incorporated. Add the chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the oregano and mash until incorporated. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of olive oil until blended. (Depending on the dryness of the beans, you may need more olive oil.) Stir in the lemon juice, a small amount at a time, tasting until it has the flavor you like. Adjust the salt if needed.


Garlic and Tequila Shrimp

About 12-20 shrimp
Salt, pepper, paprika
1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeds and veins removed, diced
cilantro, chopped
juice of one lime
2 ounces tequila

Dry shrimp and sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika. In a shallow sauté pan, heat olive oil and garlic together. When garlic starts to brown, add peppers and parsley. Stir to coat. Add shrimp and sear on one side. Turn shrimp and pour in tequila. Cook for 4 minutes until tequila reduces to dry. Remove and sprinkle with a little paprika and squeeze in a little lime.

And TO SHERIDAN:

Thanks for changing my life for the better - you've made my life happier every single day we've been together. I love you and will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I appreciate you! Thanks for a great 6 months...

Love, Mer

Man Rooms

Sheridan and I talk all the time about "man rooms" and "man caves" - you know, the space that every man as a part of a couple deserves as a small token of understand that YES, we know we've taken over their lives. We pick the bedding, the wall colors, the artwork, the dinnerware and corresponding silverware, and in some extreme cases (such as Sheridan's), their clothes and shoes! It's only fair that a man has a little bit of space to call his own - he can put whatever he wants in there, do whatever he wants in there (as long as it's not disrespectful to the woman or illegal; scratch that - illegal is actually fine, just as long as we're not forced to take part).

I wish we could have a man room for Sheridan to have some space for his... um, artwork, if that's what you call it (signed photos of football players, pictures of Vince Lombardi with motivational sayings, and pictures of boys playing baseball, and such) and other things that he deems necessary. I can't really imagine what that would be, but I'm guessing a big TV and tons of dudely DVDs with several beanbags for his friends, a beer fridge and maybe some nudie magazines - that all sounds pretty reasonable to me, really, but our little apartment is just too darn small. So here, on The Mer Show, in writing, I promise to offer the man of my dreams an official man room of his very own. Perhaps a finished basement, 4th bedroom, bonus room, or some other space that isn't totally necessary for future kids or guests. :)

What precipated this grand gesture? This article. http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/05/02/mantuary.marriage/index.html Apparently our discussions of man rooms aren't the first ones to be had... And I thought I was somewhat original!!

Anyway, have a great weekend, everyone.
Love, Mer

p.s. Who's your horse for the Derby? I'm doing my homework tonight, and will decide by tomorrow morning. Sheridan and I are heading to the track in Sacramento for a Derby party thingy, and you know I'll put a few bucks on my horsie. If anyone has any hot leads, call me on my cell!! hahaha

Biker Mer

Guess what? I got a bike this weekend!! Sheridan - the former bike pro - helped me pick out a hard-tail something or other at the bike shop yesterday, and we tried her out on the bike trails of Los Gatos. It was pretty painful and I was pretty winded, so it'll be interesting to see how my endurance improves over the next few weeks and months. And hopefully I'll lose a few LBs! Stay tuned.

Otherwise, I'm on day 3 of 11 of my Isagenix cleanse. Things are going well. I have to admit, it's hard to come to my desk and not have my traditional coffee and toast to start off my day. I'm sure it's going to be hard to come home after a long day and forgo my standard cocktail at cocktail hour, too, but I'm sure my liver and belly fat will appreciate it. Anyway, it's day 3 and I've lost 3 pounds, and today and tomorrow are the hardest days of the cleanse, as I'm basically fasting... I have to drink this liquid drano stuff (it's called Cleanse for Life) 4x a day, and then a ton of water, and I get to eat these little snacks (they look like chocolate Tums, and I call them Scooby snacks) throughout the day. The other days I get to drink a shake in place of breakfast and dinner, and eat a healthy lunch, and it's pretty easy. I already feel less bloated and a little lighter on my feet, so that's a great feeling - totally worth the 11 days without a normal diet.

Anyway, I have a good attitude about it right now, but try me in about 24 hours. It could be a different story...

I hope you all have a super fabulous week!!

Love, Mer

Short Shorts

Nope, not as in Daisy Dukes... but as in short life stories. I just read an article in a magazine about a book that is comprised of 6 word, very short short life stories, and thought I'd take a stab at it. To preface mine, I thought I'd share some of the ones that were printed from Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure:

Well, I thought it was funny - Stephen Colbert

Lived in moment until moment sucked - Janine Goss

Tequila made her clothes fall off - Susanne Broderick

In a Manolo world, I'm Keds - Colleen Cook

No shit I'm critical - you're flawed - Elizabeth Koch

Revenge is living well - without you - Joyce Carol Oates

Happiest when ignoring huge financial debt - Ayanna Bryan

Brought it to a boil, often - Mario Batali

AND PRESENTING... the six word life story by The Mer Show...

Fell down, got back up. Repeat.

What's yours? Please share!

Love, Mer

Health Kick Tips by Mer

So I'm getting ready for my impending health kick and just encountered this very motivational list of healthy nutritional tips. I thought I'd share with you fine folks to inspire more healthy eating habits for you, as well. Enjoy!

Love, Mer

Basic Dietary Tips to remain lean and healthy...

Learn how to create healthy balanced meals with proper portions. Throw in a delicious vegetarian meal or two per week. Observe healthy diets such as Asian (i.e.: various vegetables with lean meats) and Mediterranean diets (i.e.:hummus, lean shish kebobs, finely prepared raw vegetables with healthy spices). Start a collection of very healthy recipes that you feel are delicious and enjoyable. Consider learning more about healthy cooking, vegetable juice recipes, etc.

If you need a healthy energy boost try drinking homemade vegetable juices such as carrot juice with some red beets thrown in. If you wish to drink certain fruit juices for their phytochemical benefits, consider adding 50% purified water to lower the sugar level of the juice. This will also lower the level of beneficial phytochemicals.

Rotate a wide variety of vegetables every week and try to eat at least 2-3 different colored vegetables per day. Do not overcook vegetables, because it destroys vitamins, enzymes, and beneficial phytochemicals. Raw is best, followed by gently steamed with some crispness left.

Start some of your meals with a garden salad when possible, and consider making your own healthy salad dressings, or else squeeze a lime over your salad and learn to love it. Be very careful with salad dressings. Try to make your own salad dressings with olive oil, or even look for innovative healthier options such as using a thin Hummus as a salad dressing.

Cook with olive oil. It has a very good balance of saturated, unsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

Avoid or limit processed and prepared foods. Avoid or limit eating man-made food substances and chemical ingredients. Learn how to cook completely "from scratch" using basic simple ingredients that are natural.

Avoid or limit trans fatty acids and hydrogenated vegetable oils such as margarines and commercially baked goods containing these synthetic substances.

Avoid burnt, overheated, oxidized, or rancid fats and oils.

Avoid or limit all burnt foods, as in blackened with fire or high-temp frying.

Avoid or limit all sources of dietary aluminum-containing ingredients such as aluminum silicate or sodium aluminum silicate. This is sometimes used as an anticaking agent for powders and baking mixes and to make some processed cheeses flow smoother. Also do not allow acidic or salt containing foods to come in contact with aluminum. Avoid cooking foods in aluminum pots or pans. Avoid storing liquids or foods in aluminum containers. Use glass or quality stainless steel for all of the above.

Avoid or limit meats with nitrates. Eat natural cuts of lean meats, especially salmon and fish that's low in mercury. Know that tuna contains mercury., as well as other fish. Shellfish generally have a much higher potential to store toxics in their tissues than actual fish because they live on the bottom and actually filter the water. Some top predator fish will also bioaccumulate and store toxic pollutants.

Exercise Moderation in everything you consume. This statement is also good from a toxicology perspective.

Hydrate your body with 100% natural beverages, not man-made beverage drinks. Drink purified water or homemade lemonade (or limeade) with lowered sugar, for example. Make your own refreshing "fruit waters" using pureed fruit and purified water with a little sugar.

Avoid most restaurant food, especially fast food, if you are prone to gaining weight. (Some restaurants are good for you if you exercise portion control and take part of your meal home with you.) If you must eat at a restaurant and you do not wish to break your diet, go for the soup and salad as your main course if there is not anything else that falls within the parameters of your "balanced sensible meal". Another good choice would be to ask for broiled salmon with two full portions of different vegetables - with no starches such as rice, noodles, or potatoes.

When it comes to food, USUALLY the better it tastes the worse it is for you. (This is not true for fruits, which are "nature's desserts".)

In general, usually the less calories you consume over your lifetime, the longer you live. This is related to the biochemistry of aging and the free radicals produced when your body burns a calorie (an indogenous source of free radicals, vs. exogenous sources such as air pollution or inhaled tobacco smoke.)

Mer Show Update

So it's been some time since I've written on my blog... Sorry to my loyal readers who have been awaiting an update (crickets...)! ;) I have some interesting stuff to share today.

1. Sheridan and I spent this past weekend in San Diego - I had a doctor appointment on Friday, and attended the Biospace job fair on Monday on behalf of my company, and Sheridan just came to hang with me. It was great to get back to SD (I realized that perhaps I'm a little homesick for my old city - I think it's just because I have no life here yet) and see some friends and do some familiar things, like get a haircut with my fave hairstylist and pal Holly. I also got to see Emory, Lisa, Nicole, Brandy, some Junior League pals, and spend a lot of QT with Sheridan's dad and Bonnie. We attended Island Divine, a Junior League fundraiser and food and wine event, dined with love ones, did some shopping, and had spa treatments Sunday - it was a great weekend! Today, I got back to San Ho around noon, and decided to take a wellness half-day to spend on the couch with Baci. I'm catching up on a lot, including this blog, and it's so nice!! Back to work tomorrow.

1. I'm healthy - looks like I have no more excuse for not going to the gym! Operation Fatass is in full swing again, and to kick off my impending health kick, I'm going to do another cleanse. Last year, after the Master Cleanse, I've never felt and looked better, so I'm going to try and complete another one. However, this time, I'm using a product to help me with purging my body of all its impurities - Isagenix. My pilates instructor was telling me about the product, and I thought I'd give it a whirl. I'm going to start it sometime this week - whenever the box of products arrives - and will try my best to blog about my progress. Stay tuned!!

2. Sarah and Brandon, Sheridan's brother and sister in law, have bestowed Sheridan and me a new name. Rather than the Sher and Mer Show - my idea - they have dubbed us... MERIDAN. Pretty funny, huh?! So please note that from here forward, if I ever use that word, I'm referring to the romantic unit. :)

3. My pal Nicole taught me the coolest thing in the world this weekend while we were dining on sushi at Japengo on Sunday night. This is a great trick to "freeze out" troublesome people in your life; perhaps it's an ex you'd like to shoo away, a boss that's giving you a hard time, or perhaps some enemies you'd like to forget. Take a piece of paper and write the person's name on it, fold it and put it in a freezerproof container half-full with water. Then put the container in the back of the freezer and forget about it, and you'll forget about the person and protect yourself from their bad juju. Way cool, huh?? I'm making a list and freezing it! ;) (Yes, I have an entire list...)

OK, I think that's it. Hope all of you are doing great!

Love, Mer xo

Earth Day Tips

As a self-pronounced and very proud tree hugger, I'd be remiss if I didn't send out some new tips on how to save the planet on this Earth Day. I hope all my friends and readers will take to heart what you can do to help reduce your carbon footprint - if all of us make small changes, it could add up to a great deal of difference!!! Please consider some of these things for the sake of our kids and their kids.

Love, Mer

CHECKLIST FOR THE ENVIRONMENTALLY MINDED CITIZEN

Our daily activities have far reaching impacts on the environment ~ just driving to work today contributed to air pollution. We need the conveniences of our lives, but with them comes a responsibility to use our resources wisely. Make a commitment to make difference every day. Every person has an impact on the environment. The following lists some simple ways YOU can help change the world.

AT HOME:

• Landfill space is running out fast – What can you do? Practice the 3 R’s: Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

• It takes 12 million barrels of oil, and 14 million trees, to make all the paper and plastic bags Americans go through each years. Next time you shop, take reusable cloth bags or bring plastic or paper bags back to the store with you.

• Choose products that feature reduced or recyclable packaging.

• Do you consistently throw away food leftovers? Up to 30% of landfill waste is food waste! Start your own composting effort for food waste, grass clippings, etc. You’ll reduce waste & get some great fertilizer for your plants.

• Avoid disposable products – they are generally more expensive and produce much more waste.

• Use pesticides and fertilizers carefully. Apply in the recommended amounts – more is not necessarily better. Read labels and buy biodegradable when possible. Follow disposal instructions.

• Except for medicines and certain pesticides, if you end up with more product than you need, give what is left over to someone who can use it – in the original container with the label intact – rather than throwing it out (Many schools & clubs may appreciate extra paint, etc.)

• Avoid buying unnecessary household hazardous waste (many of the product you use contain hazardous chemicals, for example, nail polish remover may contain acetone). Consider how you will dispose of unused portions before you buy. Check the container labels for disposal information or take it to a Household Hazardous Waste Center rather than putting it in the trash or dumping it down the drain.
• Make sure to keep your car in good running condition to reduce hazardous air emissions and save fuel.

• Plan your trips to maximize the number of errands completed.

• Pump up the tires. This improves gas mileage and reduces emissions. If all American drivers kept their tires at the recommended pressure, we could save about 4 million gallons of gas a day (and the tires would last a lot longer too).

• Walk, jog or ride a bike when commuting short distances; Carpool or use public transportation whenever possible.

• Substitute less toxic materials where possible; a mixture of vinegar & water make a great (& cheap) glass cleaner.

• Repair leaky faucets and pipes. Leaky faucets that drip at the rate of one drop per second can waste up to 2,700 gallons of water each year! Install flow control devices on faucets and showerheads to reduce water consumption.

• Caulk and weather-strip windows and doors to minimize drafts and keep your fireplace damper closed when not in use – Dad was right – no point in heating the outside air.
• Turn off the water while brushing you teeth or shaving - you can save up to 20 gallons of water.

• Sweep patios and driveways with a broom rather than hosing them off with water – not only will you save water, but can get some exercise too.

• Leave grass clippings lay – they will provide nutrients for your lawn and help reduce evaporation of moisture.

• Remember materials you put on your lawn can end up in water sources through stormwater runoff. Read product labels, use biodegradable when possible and avoid using copper sulfate based products.

• Unplug TVs, DVD players, computers and other major electronics when they’re not in use. Even when they’re turned off, the standby consumption is about equal to running a light bulb continuously. This could keep thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air each year. Plug several electronic items onto one power strip to avoid the hassle of constantly plugging and unplugging.

• Break the bottle habit. Making and even recycling plastic water bottles uses energy and releases pollution, and every year millions of them wind up in landfills and in waterways (as the bottles degrade they release toxic chemicals into the water). Use refillable containers. Did you know that about a quarter of bottled water actually comers from the tap?

• Reduce the amount of junk mail to be thrown out by requesting to be removed from mailing lists.

• Donate usable furniture, appliances, clothes and books to charities or others who can use them.

AT WORK:

• Practice good housekeeping.

• Save a Tree – use double-sided copies, email or route items rather than making a copy for everyone. RECYCLE!! There are paper recycling bins located in the mailrooms and throughout the buildings.

• Purchase only the amount of products you need – Just in Time (JIT) ordering minimizes waste. The cost of disposing of unused chemical costs much more than you save buying in bulk.

• Substitute less toxic materials where possible to reduce the safety risk and the amount of hazardous waste to be disposed.

• Never evaporate chemicals in the fume hood. Unless you are transferring chemical from one container to another, KEEP THE LID CLOSED.

• You can reduce lighting expenses by 10 to 40% by lighting office space only when it is in use. Turn off lights when you leave conference rooms and if you are going to be away from your desk for more than 15 minutes.

• Turn off your computer on weekends

Geeky Humor

In San Diego, when I had slow jobs that allowed me a lot of time to waste time at work, I read a lot of 'Rants and Raves' on Craigslist. These days, I work hard for my money, but still, every once in a while, I'll take some time to read the random smut people post on Craigslist. I sat down tonight to catch up on 'Missed Connections' here in the Bay Area and discovered this funny little piece someone posted regarding the potential hostile takeover of Yahoo! by Microsoft... This is big news here in the Silicon Valley - a real digital telenovela!

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. :)

Love, Mer

I Thought You We're Looking at Me in Silicon Valley - 33 (sunnyvale)

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Reply to: pers-634073633@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-04-07, 4:47PM PDT


I have been watching you for a long time, and I know you have been watching me too.

We're both middle-aged, although I know you are much younger than me. But I think we can help each other feel young again.

I have always had great respect for you, and together we can offer an increasingly exciting romance while becoming better positioned to please each other.

Our lives, our careers, and even our society have been progressively transformed by what we've achieved on our own. Just think of what we can do together! We can deliver an experience that that neither of us would have achieved on our own!

In February 2007, I received a letter from you indicating your view that "now is not the right time to enter into discussions." According to that letter, the principal reason for this view was the your confidence in the "potential upside" if you successfully executed on a reformulated strategy based on certain bachelor initiatives. A year has gone by, and the competitive situation has not improved.

Due to the importance of these discussions and the value represented by my proposal, I expect you to engage in a full review of my proposal. I would be happy to make myself available to meet with you at your earliest convenience. Depending on the nature of your response, I reserve the right to pursue all necessary steps to ensure that you and your loved ones are provided with the opportunity to realize the value inherent in my proposal.

I believe this proposal represents a unique opportunity to create significant value for you and your loved ones, and the two of us together will be better positioned to provide an enhanced value proposition to all of us. I hope that you and your family share my enthusiasm, and I look forward to a prompt and favorable reply.

American Gangster

It was pretty good. Entertaining, but the plot wasn't what I was expecting... The front end was highly developed, but the end went too fast. However, I do have to say that Denzel's clothing was absolutely epic - GORGEOUS. Great costume designer!! Just my $.02.

Still, if you're looking for a big budget action flick with some shock value, this is definitely recommended!

By the way, my boyfriend just said this from the couch as I type this: "Man, I need a gorilla suit for parties. They're so funny... Who doesn't love a good gorilla suit? People dig 'em." What precipitated this, I'll never know... Perhaps a commercial (and several cocktails - we just dubbed today "Get Drunk Monday")? Tales from cohabitation. Gotta love it!

Mer xo

The Four O Eight

Yo yo yo! For those of you that don't know, I got a new iPhone and needed to switch to AT&T. I thought this was perfect reason to go ahead and commit to the 408 - my new area code!

So if you belong in my telephone contacts and don't have my new number, feel free to drop me an email, and I'll dole it out. If not, then you'll have to settle for leaving me comments on my blog.

Have a great week!

Love, Mer xo

Wow, do I live here?

Every time I move from city to city, I always go through this period of waking up in the morning and saying to myself "Wait, where do I live again? X City? How did that happen?". As you can probably guess, I'm going through that right now!! I've spent a substantial amount of time in my life in this status...

Let's count the times I've made major moves:

Houston to Austin, Austin to Los Angeles, L.A. to Raleigh, Raleigh to Newport, RI, Newport to San Diego, San Diego to Raleigh, Raleigh back to San Diego!, and San Diego to San Jose. Whew!!

I guess the thing that makes it so much easier to process is that I'm absolutely sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that coming up to San Jose was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made!! I couldn't be more thrilled to be here, living with Sheridan, learning a new city, visiting San Francisco pretty often, and starting a very exciting period of my life...

But it still doesn't stop those feelings of "wait, where am I again?"!!

Anyway, happy Easter to all my friends and family. Love you lots!

Mer

p.s. Photo is a shot that I took earlier this week in San Francisco, while visiting for a job fair. I was driving down a typical San Fran street and just wanted to capture what I was experiencing at that time. Hope you like!

Speedy Gonzalez Movie Reviews

Gone Baby Gone - Great concept, bad screenplay. Guess Ben Affleck needs Matt Damon to create literary magic!

Little Miss Sunshine (for the 3rd time) - Dysfunctional family connects over a dead grandpa in the trunk, degenerating VW bus, and sweet little girl who isn't jaded by life yet. Laughed so hard I almost peed my pants!

Swordfish - Recycling John Travolta's Pulp Fiction hairdo just wasn't enough. I was confused the whole time... Or maybe I just took my blonde pill yesterday. But Halle Berry looked really pretty in this flick, or for my male viewers, you get to see her topless, so maybe that makes it more palatable for you.

Didn't get to American Gangster, but I'll let you know when I do... Stay tuned!

Love, Mer

Hangin' Wit Da Peeps!

Netflix

I have finally bitten the bullet and done something that I've been considering for years now... I signed up with Netflix!! I'm so excited!! Get ready Life Sucker 4000 and new LCD flatscreen - we're about to spend some quality time together!

As most of you know, I'm a huge movie buff and love everything from action movies, drama, comedies, chick flicks, and especially indie flicks. But of course, Sheridan and I have a little bit different idea of what constitutes great cinema... Like most dudes, he likes mostly testosterone-filled action movies and slapstick comedy from the 80s, like "Caddyshack" and Mel Brooks crap, I mean movies. ;) So getting him to watch movies where two people happen to love one another is pretty much impossible, as he categorizes them as chick flicks. I am not a huge fan of fantastical stuff, like scary movies with ghosts (it's unrealistic, so why would that scare me?), sci fi (like space movies, "Lord of the Rings" type of stuff), or historical flicks, which most guys love. And then there's the "Death Avenger III" movies, which is my 'generic name for all stupid movies that girls would never watch' category.

I bring up these categories to demonstrate the difference between movies that men like to watch vs. the types of movies that women like to watch. I don't consider myself the typical chick-flick-only kind of girl, but Sheridan still takes exception to my taste in movies, so this should be interesting to see what kinds of movies we're going to find to watch together. Particularly when we both LOVE movies, but love different kinds of movies...

Ahhhh, the beauty of cohabitation. Isn't it lovely? I love you Sheridan, and will watch "Death Avenger 9, 10, and 11" if you'll watch "Billy Elliott" and "Little Miss Sunshine" with me... Deal?

Love, Mer

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

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

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

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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".

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

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

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

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