Dear Diary,

I have a bead friend at work!  It's awesome, but dangerous.  Some days we eat a quick lunch and then zip over to one of our favorite bead stores.  It's fun to talk to someone who shares the same passion. 

We've shopped for beads together and shared tips, but last night was the first time we actually beaded together. 

We took a class at the Beadhive in Minneapolis; we learned the flat spiral stitch.  It was great to shop for a project, learn how to make it and leave with a finished bracelet in two hours. Ahh, instant gratification!

(with Mary's wrist too -- our teacher)

When I got home, the creativity continued to flow and from experience, I knew I had to with go with it.

So I made two more and then this morning I made another one.

I felt like a fourth grader again.  That year at school, we learned how to make an Origami Santa boot.  I had a stash of paper at home, so I whipped it out and started to make them.  And I didn't stop.  At least I can't remember stopping.  When my mom tells the story, she says when she came into my room the next morning, she found me passed out on top of my creations.  I made 200 Santa Origami boots ornaments that night!

And I kinda did the same thing last night.  I made them until I ran out of Swarovski crystal beads. 

When I got to work today, I went straight to find Mel (my beading friend).  She was downstairs at the cafeteria.  We got into our own world and started talking about the class and how much fun it was and which one we are going to take next, etc.  The other people at the table were looking at us like we were freaks.

And we are.  And I'm okay with that.  I have four new bracelets.

A bit of obsessed and inspired, love,

Princess

Dear Diary,

Feels good to FINALLY post this (we taped it a few weeks ago) - I had a small issue adding the music to this video, but all is well.

I'm happy to present: Gabster's Down!  We're On Demand!

This was going to be a typical cheesy behind-the-scenes look at FM107.1 - a quick check in with web guy Tom O.  But it turned out to be our Steven Spielberg moment and we made a cheesy short film instead.

Check it out: Tom O saves the day and we're on demand!

It's a lot of work keeping Gabster going -- so many tools and protective gear --wrapped up in plastic and sweating...yikes, but someone's gotta do it. 

Okay, admittedly dorky, but it was fun and it helps on my quest to learn the video editing software at the station. 

Thanks for watching and listening on the FM dial or On Demand, love,

Princess

Dear Diary,

So here's the story: my cousin sent me this mass email last Friday.  I usually just delete them, but it was called "How to Poop at Work."  How can that NOT get my attention?  Call me juvenile, but I opened it and kept reading...and started laughing out loud.

And that's why I'm posting it here.  We can all use a good laugh on Monday.  The terms are funny, but I laugh more when I think about someone taking the time to come up with them and making this "Survival Guide." Come on, "it" happens...here's the guide (and Tom O gave me the green light to post this):

How to Poop at Work

We've all been there but don't like to admit it.

We've all kicked back in our cubicles and suddenly felt something brewing down below.

As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORK POOP is inevitable.
For those who hate pooping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.


*CROP DUSTING* When farting, you walk really fast around the office so the
smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff, but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full fart has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.


*FLY BY* The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in and check for other poopers.  If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.


*ESCAPEE* A fart that slips out while taking a pee or forcing a poop in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are a man and are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.


*JAILBREAK* When forcing a poop, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.


*COURTESY FLUSH* The act of flushing the toilet the instant the poop hits the water.  This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.


*WALK OF SHAME* Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk up the bathroom.  This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. Can be avoided with the use of the COURTESY
FLUSH.


*OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER* A colleague who poops at work and is Doggone proud of it.  You will often see an Out Of The Closet Pooper enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under their arm.  Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet Pooper before entering the bathroom.


*THE POOPING FRIENDS NETWORK (P.F. N)* A group of co-workers who band
together to ensure emergency pooping goes off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of Out Of The Closet Poopers, and identify SAFE HAVENS.


*SAFE HAVENS* A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors.  Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.


*TURD BURGLAR* Someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a poop at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the Turd Burglar leaves. This way you
will avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.


*CAMO-COUGH* A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential Turd Burglars. Very effective when used in conjunction with a SHIRLEY TEMPLE.


*SHIRLEY TEMPLE* A subtle toe-tapping that is used to alert potential Turd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear a SHIRLEY TEMPLE, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can poop in peace.


*WATERMELON* A poop that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See CAMO-COUGH.


*HAVANA-OMELET* A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water. Often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using a CAMO-COUGH with a SHIRLEY TEMPLE.


*AUNT BETTY* A bathroom user who seems to linger around forever...Could spend extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An AUNT BETTY makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to poop when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as the other bathroom attendees!

Most of you are probably more sophisticated and elegant then I am, but this is just so funny to me and I've learned a few tricks -- pretend the smell is not there -- among others.

Why is it that we are so embarassed to do this in front of others?  It is a natural process.  One of my friends here at the station will hold it all day if she has to and if she can't hold it any longer, she drives home 25 minutes away.  I'm not that bad, but I do try to find safe havens in the building :)

Thinking about starting a P.F.N here, love,

Princess

Dear Diary,

A group of us at FM107.1 got to do something pretty sweet today -- we toured Target Field!  That's the new home of the Twins (not this upcoming season, but the next).  You'll see there's a lot of work yet to do, but that was the fun of it walking around in reflective vests, hard hats and protective eyewear. 

Looking good and protected huh?

Here's the Punnetts crossing the scaffolding

I managed to take some video.

Here's Ian giving us a tour from the suite level

Climbing the scaffolding!  I'm not afraid of heights, but it was reassuring having Ian at the other side.

And at the end, we accomplished our goal -- to explore Target field safely.  Now think Armageddon -- the 1998 movie with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, and Billy Bob Thornton -- well, that's what we were thinking when we taped this:

From the left: another guy on the tour, tour guide, Rocco, Jeremy, Dan, Erica, Margery, Ian, Alexis -- taped by Tom O

Can't wait to see the stadium when it's done.

Love,

Princess

Dear Diary,

I'm taking you behind-the-scenes here at FM107.1.  Our Holiday Cyber Sale kicked off this morning at 8 and I thought it would be fun to check in with our sales team!

They were acting a bit funky...

Hey, I can't blame them -- the sale is jumping!

Happy cyber sale-in', love,

Princess 

P.S. Thank you Rocco for your camera skills