I ❤NY!

The route of my completely random run through my neighborhood looks oddly familiar...

Sometimes a Horse is Just a Horse...

...and a kayak is just a kayak!

   My HR partner just called to tell me she had a dream last night, in which she was babysitting my chestnut-brown horse and my orange tabby, and she lost the horse. It turned out okay—she got him back. But she was worried for a bit! She said, "Jen, you're not thinking of adding a horse to your menagerie, are you?" I said, "Not right now, but you never know what's on the horizon!"

   Last week while staying at the hotel in Omaha, Allyson and Scott and I all reported having unusual, very-specific dreams such as this one. In one of my dreams, I was at the swim meet for Corporate Challenge, and before the meet we were all taken to a huge room (essentially a giant shower) and told that we all had to shower together prior to the meet. And no one wanted to compete, because we knew we had to look each other in the eyes and work together on Monday!
   I also had a dream that I had a date with a new guy, and we had only emailed each other so far, and when we met at dinner he informed me excitedly that he had just bought a brand-new kayak—the same kind I have from LL Bean. And it was a total turnoff because I felt like he was trying too hard and thought, "This guy doesn't even KNOW me yet—I'm not going to kayak with a guy on the FIRST DATE!" LOL
   The subconscious mind works in strange ways; who knows what all this could mean. I certainly don't want to know what Freud would make of it!!!

Random Hallmark Moments: Hot Dogs!

   We may have gone a lil' overboard for Carrie's 5th anniversary. Given that it was the first day of summer, and Carrie loves summer, and given that she also loves hot dogs—and who doesn't love cooking hot dogs on George Foreman grills at work, risking being caught by the Fire Marshall?—we couldn't resist.

   Alison even made hot dog cookies, and Angela had the Crown Room put my hot dog character on a cake!

   I don't even like hot dogs, but I have to admit that it tasted mighty good today. Have I ever mentioned that I love my team & that they're the best ever?

Hot dog, and a tribute to Carrie's favorite color of OPI nail polish

Happy 5th, Mighty Mac!!!

Random Hallmark Moments: the big 15!

   To celebrate my 15th anniversary working for Hallmark, which was on 6/11, my awesome, awesome team surprised me with all of my favorite things: Japanese culture, stars of rap music, and salt & vinegar potato chips. (Do they KNOW me, or what?!)

The lineup: Angie, Anne, Carrie, Stephen, Amy, Wendy, Alison, Bess & Dawn
(not pictured: Olivia, who was too busy sneaking around the office with a bonsai tree)

Dan & Lora ordered special no-cinnamon/no-vanilla cupcakes for me. Officially THE BEST cupcake I have ever eaten. (And I've eaten 3 so far, so I should know.)

Not to be outdone, Bess made homemade sushi dessert rolls.
All I can say is 「すごい！！！」

Colleen & Angela gave me a card by my good friend (& incredible artist), Kelly

Lined up from shortest to tallest. Note to self: hire someone shorter than self.

LOOK AT ALL THIS AWESOME STUFF!!! Cards, art, snacks and a bonsai tree!!!

Everybody on my team drew their self-portrait on canvas. "The Rarey Bunch". LOL!

And on the back? Flo Rida... and my boss!

And what would a party be without photos of me...
with my friends Beyonce, Jay-z, and Kanye?

   I was seriously blown away by everything they had planned and am so lucky to be working with such a talented, fun, and thoughtful team. As I've always said, Hallmark is an amazing company, but the reason you stay is for the people. And when you get to work with people you actually love hanging out with, you can hardly call it work.
   In keeping with the Japanese angle, I sent my thanks in a cartoon:

For those of you who may be rusty on your Japanese, here's the translation: 

Jen: I LOVE all the wonderful gifts—thank you SO much! My team is the world's best. THANK YOU. 

Aki & Taylor: Yes, we say thank you, too. 

Kismet: And I will love to eat the little tree.   (Just kidding on that, btw)

Random Hallmark Moments: It sounds like me

   I just received the following email from one of my favorite, funny coworkers, Dave S. (Context: Hallmark HQ has online want ads for employee use.) The email:
   Thought it might be you... on Hallmark classified ads!
******** Japanese Collector Doll, $10 ***  Girl & her feisty dog stand 9.5" tall on wooden base. 40+ yrs old, in storage for many years. Would be a prized addition to any collection of antique toys, dolls or Asian art. ********

   Of course, for me, it would have to be TWO feisty dogs, and a feisty cat too!