Rebecca A. Foster

Because I must have this dress, I'm going to look incredible while I put together this year's puzzle and have a Netflix marathon. Wooo! I'll post pics.  Or maybe I'll actually take the dress' advice and go out this year!

My co-worker J. and I were bickering about whether or not my office candle warmer gets hot enough to A. start a fire and B. cook food. There was only one way to settle this...assume the fire question  is a yes for safety reasons, and try to cook an egg. He numbered a raw egg into 4 quadrants and my job was to turn the egg 90 degrees every hour for 4 hours: Now, 4 hours later, we're ready to take the egg into the break room to see if it cooked. It was hot, so he carried it in a soup bowl lid:  And... here, you can see the results for yourself:

This article in today's NYT reminded me of my first visit to NYC in the 90's after getting a cell phone. After landing, I was trying to call my cousin from the gate (remember when people picking you up could come to the gate??) and couldn't make a call. I called my service provider and was told that so many stolen cell phones end up in NYC, the carrier automatically suspended service for roaming in NYC; I would've had to call before my trip to ask for it to remain unlocked. Of course, I had no idea of their policy so I didn't make advance arrangements. They did unlock my service, though, and I was able to use my phone in NYC with no problem. I'd forgotten about that. Weird throwback cell phone practice history. This was the phone I was using:

Yesterday while texting with a buddy from China I made a tiny obscure joke I wasn't sure he'd remember and pick up on, but he got the joke and I was *tickled pink* he still remembered, appreciated and understood with no explanation needed. Our shorthand is so very short. I adore this guy in a way different from guys I've met in America and I think it has everything to do with the crap and inconvenience and hardships we battled and two years later I wonder: how long will it be until I don't feel this attachment? I feel similar special attachments to other friends I knew there and sometimes it's like I'm trapped in this tension that will never be assuaged because we'll never live that life again. And if I always feel it, is that okay? To just live with that? I get attached to people, but as a human being I don't think that's anything to apologize for. Aren't we supposed to? (However, when someone dogs me or is constantly "too busy"...

...because I can't sleep now thanks to his show, so it's only fair, right? My new celebrity crush, Josh Gates, who hosts the very entertaining cable show Destination Truth  (available for streaming on Netflix) and who also introduced me to the macabre Doll Island of Mexico and ghosts of Chernobyl's dead city, amongst other creepy things, and is now the reason I'm awake in bed at midnight wishing I had a thermal imaging camera to confirm or deny the shadows in my apartment are ghosts. I mean, come on Josh, you started it...finish it! (His show is creepy, but he is charming and hilarious, two of my favorite things in the opposite sex. AND he travels the world investigating legends? I have no defenses. My passport loves his passport.)

I like small alpine trees for Christmas trees because I can do themes; this year, I've done Chinese and personal significance themed trees (and a generic Christmas theme tree). I only have 3 trees this year, but I'll add 2 larger trees next year.  The little dragon is in memory of my grandpa, who called me Puff (as in the Magic Dragon). Up until he died, he sent me birthday and holiday cards addressed to "Puff Foster."  The Raggedy Ann doll is in honor of my grandma; we made a Raggedy Ann quilt together and she surprised me with dolls and books.  The little alpalca is Chilean. The Texas ornaments were gifts from my family. I'll add ornaments of significance as I come across them; I hope to have enough to fill a full tree someday. (I'll definitely pick some up in the UK and Germany in honor of my college major and my dad's military service.) 

I sent my cute, exuberant, talkative coworker this picture. We had to have a (non-serious) conversation about early morning talking, in which I asked (very jokingly) if she has cocaine for breakfast because OMG THE TALKING IT IS NON STOP AND WAY TOO EARLY TO SAY SO MANY WORDS IN A ROW.  Now she always checks if it's BC (before coffee) or AC (after coffee) before launching in. She is hilarious, I love working with her, but yeah, the picture still stands. I'm a morning person only in that I wake up early; interaction is another story.