in eric's head

Above is a picture of the new desktop screen provided to me...

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:45:00 -0700

Above is a picture of the new desktop screen provided to me today by IT.

Seriously, it’s so big, I feel like i’m part of NASA’s control center.

Can you find me in this photo? :)

It's official -- getting engaged officially the "in thing" to do in 2009

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:51:31 -0700

The tell-tale signs:

(1) Co-worker is engaged per weekend update this morning

(2) Another co-worker just tweeted that he’s engaged

(3) Einat engaged and we just received our invitation

Woot for Thursday Plans...

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:47:58 -0700

Woot for Thursday Plans...:

Seriously cannot wait for the goodie bags. Thank you Meuy for getting us in — gratis, no less!

"Rescued passengers given refreshments"

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:42:00 -0700

"Rescued passengers given refreshments":

As if I needed another reason to hate the ride “Invertigo” at Six Flags Great America. Last time I went, it was with Joe and EJ when we went for “Gay Day” and even while intoxicated, it was scary as hell. I can’t stand that “hang.”

The funniest bit are the sound bites that were included in the story posted on MSNBC (…seriously, though, would you laugh this off?):

“They’re being fed and drinks are available to them,” Kouns said. “They’re being accommodated quite nicely by the Great America staff here.” “There are people out there laughing, carrying on and talking about their experiences,” he said as the rescue was taking place. Many of those stuck on the ride could be seen swinging their legs back and forth as they waited to be rescued. The Invertigo consists of a seven-car train that takes riders upside-down six times, to heights of up to 161 feet, in one minute and 10 seconds, according to Great America’s Web site.

…and to put a cap on the madness, apparently a rider had...

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:41:23 -0700

…and to put a cap on the madness, apparently a rider had the nerve to tweet about the experience.

…really though?

…seeing Serena Williams play last week only three rows...

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:15:00 -0700

…seeing Serena Williams play last week only three rows away from the court. Glad I remembered for once to bring my FlipCamera. The last minute of Serena’s reaction is my total favorite—freakin Serena fierce, I love it. Can’t get enough.

And of course, thanks to Chris for sharing this on our...

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:39:31 -0700

And of course, thanks to Chris for sharing this on our after-four-drink-cab-ride to Embarcadero.

For my bestie, Claire. An ode to: (1) Twelve hour phone...

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:37:22 -0700

For my bestie, Claire.

An ode to:

(1) Twelve hour phone conversations in highschool (including daytime and evening news, two meals, one snack, and bath). Btw, remember “Christina Mendonza”? LOL.

(2) Almost getting into a car crash because we’re laughing so hard from storytelling (…thinking about it, best ones are usually when you pick me up and drop me off at the airport).

(3) Door step conversations while getting ready for a fun night out.

(4) Watching recorded DVR television shows (usually, though not limited to, underage skate professionals, domestic disturbances, serial crime, dog whispering, true hollywood stories, little people, and conjoined twins).

I seriously cannot wait till the end of the month to see you and Einat! yay!

Just saw this posted on Claire’s wall and I died in my...

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:16:00 -0700

Just saw this posted on Claire’s wall and I died in my chair laughing. One of the funniest parts was seeing the owners hands cosmically splashing about while the poor tortured cat with that desperate, vacant look in its eyes. Like with new drop of water a little piece of the cat dies.

Highlight of the day...

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:21:13 -0700

…laughing with Chelsea and Angela for 45 minutes over discussion of a mutual acquaintance (over 50) who recently became a fan of “morning sex” on Facebook.

…thinking to ourselves, this person coming into her current work place one day and being greeted with questions like “why are you so winded? it’s only 8 o’clock in the morning?” or “is there a reason you’re so flushed?” or even like “what’s going on with your hair today? rough start to the morning?”

Reason #1 you know you work in advertising when...

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:15:00 -0700

I actually asked myself if I had enough time to pee.

…after already holding it for 4 hours.

…like really, who does that?

…like when did meetings become more important than the release of bodily toxins?

I've come to a decision...

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:10:27 -0700

I wanna be MADE …

…into a trust fund baby

…or lottery winner

Rachel Zoe Project

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:11:00 -0700

Rachel Zoe Project :

For Clara and Einat who are always “shut-ting-it-DOWN.” Completely fell in love, for the second time, when I came home to find repeats on my DVR. To quote Rachel, “I die.”

Seriously have to click and watch the video on above link.

What I wanna know...

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:40:16 -0700

…is how on Facebook you’ll get event invitations from people for events nowhere close to a 50 mile radius of your current location.

…it’s like “yeah, I’ll go to your housewarming … in Toronto … Canada”

If i have to hear another promotional sound bite of her saying...

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:39:48 -0700

If i have to hear another promotional sound bite of her saying “Something you have to know about my family is that we’re as thick as thieves” I think I’m gonna scream. Love the show. Love her. But cannot stand that sound bite of her channeling Robin Hood.

Please Pardon my Language in the Following Post

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:36:14 -0700

yourdp:

To the pompous-ass motherfucker driving a tan ‘95 Audi A4 you probably stole today between Southwest Blvd and Mission Road this evening - thank you for choosing to throw your drink out of the window hitting me square in the chest. You are out of your goddamn mind and I surely hope we meet again down the road so the opportunity to toss a baseball-sized rock through your windshield will present itself.

You are a complete cock and thanks for ruining what was an enjoyable bike ride home. Fucker.

My reply to this For Aren: “Move out the way clown” For an explanation for others who weren’t there, I was with Aren in Santa Cruz one weekend and as we were leaving this fantastic Brazilian restaurant, I was run over by someone on a bike who then proceeded to yell “Move out the way clown.” Completely inexcusable when you consider it was me who got bruised. It’s like maybe if you actually biked on the road instead of the side walk, you wouldn’t be in MY way…CLOWN. At that moment I wish I had a car so I could return the favor by driving into him and yelling “Move out the way clown.” Breaking a good amount of rib cage in the process. Unfortunately, living out this twisted fantasy would require a license.

Groaning with co-workers over studio guy's expired subscription

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:30:04 -0700

Shannon (to Angela and I): Did you hear that Jason's subscription to OK! got cancelled?

Eric: Seriously? That is not OK!

Angela: I know...We need to get that to US Weekly, because we're PEOPLE who are In Touch, with Life & Style.

**Side bar: Cannot believe Angela came up with that line out of nowhere in literally seconds. Comic genious. Love her.

Friday afternoon with my mates

Fri, 29 May 2009 18:25:34 -0700

Angela: ooohhh....KFC grilled chicken (points to ad in PEOPLE)

Shannon: mmmmm, have you ever had it?

Angela: no but I heard it's salty.

Me: I've had it ... and I totally love it ... must be because I love all things salty.

[collective groan]

Me: ... the only thing is, when they grill it, the chicken totally shrinks and shrivels up.

[taking a moment to find the best analogy]

Me: ... like seriously

Me: ... if i were to compare the size of the grilled chicken

Me: ... it's like what am I eating really...? ... an aborted baby chicken?

[Angela and Shannon clearly grossed out]

Me: like really though

Claire and I texting back and forth about Chris Brown and Rihanna

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:09:09 -0800

Me: Okay, how dead obsessed are you over all the Rihanna, Chris Brown drama? It's like a Lifetime Movie Network made for TV movie come to life...I'm following as closely as a presidential election.

Claire: OMG, seriously obsessed. Did you hear that she had bit marks? WTF? I never thought of Chris Brown as a biter. Please keep me updated of every tidbit you hear about this, even if it's 4am. In terms of a career boost, this is on par with a tragic death ala Aaliyah.

"My 25 random list" (aka ... a thing I did on Facebook...yes, another questionnaire) :)

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:05:27 -0800

1. I’m very much a creature of habit. I have a tendency to adopt new ones on a whim with absolutely no rhyme or reason behind them, and usually for an un-pre-determined extended amount of time. For example, right after college, I went through an ICEE period that lasted everyday for two years (yes, like the cherry kind you get from 7-11). Before I went to bed, I’d head over to 7-11 and buy the biggest size and then go home to finish it while watching and falling asleep to whatever happened to be on at 1 a.m. Other more recent examples are the breakfast burritos from the Mexican place out back that I had every morning for six months last year, and the shared habit I currently share with Angela and Chelsea. We have our daily run to 7-11 for $1 lottery scratchers and big gulps (note: my commitment to developing and nurturing new habits does not extend to work outs).

2. Related to point number one, although I don’t necessarily love the feeling of being water-logged after mass consumption of fluids, I love rolling onto my side and hearing all of the liquid move inside of me. To the point, that I’ll actually lay on my back and move my waist vigorously from side to side just to hear the sound even louder. I have a feeling this had a lot to do with my childhood dream of owning a waterbed. For some reason, the idea of a water bed, which seemed much more like a toy or novelty to me, made me think sleep would be a lot more fun.

3. I’d argue I’m a bright to dark cherry red in at least 75% of the photos of me saved on our office server from pictures taken over the last three years during work functions. Those who know me probably know the reason behind ‘the glow.’ Highly likely this is conspiracy related.

4. I’ve known that I’m lactose intolerant since age 14 or 15. That said, I can count the number of times I’ve actually taken lactaid on two hands. I’ve never even purchased a box of lactaid. I’m not even sure I spelled it correctly, nor will I bother to ‘google’ or ‘wiki’ it. Finally, my apathy for using medicine to overcome my intake of dairy products has never prevented me from consuming large quantities of chocolate milkshakes from Ghirardelli. Let’s just say, I usually take mine to go. And only if I know I can get back to the apartment in a car and not unreliable MUNI.

5. I’m pretty notorious for spelling errors. My mind moves a lot faster than my fingers and I hate going back to correct spelling errors. I feel that if I do—in real time—I’ll forget key points I’m trying to make in whatever I’m writing.

6. I used the term “de facto” today for the first time ever in an email to a co-worker. I think it’s my new favorite. There’s no other reason beyond I just like the way it sounds.

7. I’m annoyed by people who stand in the middle of the road to see if the MUNI bus is coming, as if their squinted gaze is going to make the bus come any faster. I secretly wish they get grazed when it eventually arrives or that they’re standing behind the bus when it sporadically goes ‘off track’ and they’re greeted by a sudden shower of electric sparks.

8. I’m very particular about the height of my pillow when I go to bed. If it’s not at the ‘perfect’ height, I usually wake up with a headache. That’s why I like to choose different colored pillow cases, so that I can easily identify them (e.g. at my apartment, pillow with tan pillow case + pillow with blue pillow case = perfect height / perfect sleep).

9. If I don’t finish a book within the first five days I start reading it, the likelihood of me finishing the book within the next couple weeks goes down to 25%. Let’s just say, life happens.

10. From a very early age, I’ve always enjoyed the smell of gasoline stations and nail polish. To clarify, I’ve never gotten high from high exposure.

11. I was about 5’0 short until the 8^th grade. Kids teased me a lot, calling me names like “shrimp.” Whatever though, I got over it pretty fast. Plus, shrimp are among my favorite foods.

12. My top three fears: (1) Walking over sewer covers. I hate that you can see all the way down. I’m always freaked out that one day I’m just going to fall through, and literally be that person “trapped in a well” with my screams made silent because the enormity of the pain has forced my body into instant shock and paralysis. Adding insult to injury, I would then try to use my phone to call emergency only to find my reception limited to zero bars, a battery symbol flashing red and empty, all of which is followed with a message saying “phone turning off” (2) Violent homeless people on MUNI. A lot of this has to do with the fact that I’ve seen people get beat up on the bus and the driver never does anything. He/she usually resigns themselves to ‘still in (rearview mirror) sight, yet out of mind.’ Much of the same can be said for other passengers. (3) Little person doctors. Though not a part of my current reality, I saw this special a couple weeks ago on a little person couple, one of which was a doctor. In the name of not wanting to offend, I’ll just say if my mind could earn frequent miles for all of the places it went while watching that special, I could likely travel to the moon for free.

13. Similar to my best friend Claire, I have a phobia when it comes to throw-up. This translates to me doing everything I can not to throw up, and me needing to vacate the premises if anyone else has to since I’m a huge sympathy barfer. If anyone else is throwing up, I’ll plug my nose, shut my eyes and hum. And as for me, the last time I threw up was my 23^rd birthday. A night I can barely remember and hopefully will never have to re-live. (Please no sequels or repeats, thanks). That was the same night I got kicked out of my own V.I.P. area and had to be carried out by the bouncer. Worst party moment ever. To this day, if I happen to get intoxicated I will always ask the cab driver to roll down all the windows (even if raining), and take the route with the least amount of red lights, stop signs and hills.

14. I’m at my happiest / giddiest when at a 24-hour restaurant after a fun night out with friends, when we’re all so deliriously tired and everything is funny. Same can be said, when waking up the next day without a head ache and heading over to brunch.

15. At one point after college I maxed at 170#. Mind you, I’m about 5’4. Let’s just say, as I struggled with sorting out my independence, 90% of what I over-ate were my feelings.

16. I’m more attracted to raising children then being married. A single-person home, especially to those less fortunate, is still, at the very least a home.

17. I’m a tennis fanatic. This past Australian Open, I actually stayed up till 4am watching the finals as they were happening on ESPN2.

18. I’m really bad about taking regular meals at work. It has a lot to do with my own unhealthy perspective of seeing “eating” as a luxury I shouldn’t have until I’m done with what I want to get done. It’s so bad, I know. That said, I thank my co-workers for their constant daily offer of “can we pick you up anything?”

19. From about age 6 through high school, I had an irrational fear of aliens which birthed after watching a documentary that my aunt taped, that she made me, my sister and my cousin watch on a random rainy day. This situation was exacerbated by my loyalty to shows like ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ and ‘Sightings,’ and movies like ‘Communion’ and ‘Fire in the Sky.’ Shows and movies that, despite my fears, I could not wait to watch over and over and over again. Kind of like going to a traveling carnival and buying an ‘unlimited rides’ bracelet. Seriously, those things are like death traps with how squeaky and barely functional they are. Another juicy tidbit is that I learned from watching these shows and movies that when in the presence of aliens, you become completely paralyzed. Let’s just say, you can’t even silent scream. “Oh the ho-rra!” Knowing this, I would force myself to move and fidget throughout the night as a way to convince my half-asleep-self there weren’t any aliens in my room.

20. It’s always been my dream to learn how to fly planes. Growing up, and to this day, I was fascinated by airplanes. I still like going to the airport early to watch the airplanes land and take off. What makes this whole situation funny is when you consider #21, and #22.

21. I’ve never had a driver’s license. In fact, I failed my permit test 6 times as a teenager. Then, I got in a bad car accident and have never wanted to be behind the wheel again. Coincidence then that I live in SF? (Though, the public transportation could be better). The only time I felt bad about not driving was when I told my boss he had to drive us to the client meeting in Milpitas.

22. For some reason, I love the thrill of running for a bus. If, while getting ready, I have more than 5 minutes to get to the stop, I’ll sit down and watch TV. (note: Don’t try to make sense of this. It doesn’t make sense to me either. I’ve just accepted it).

23. My sister and I, during summer vacations (from 3^rd grade through high school), would watch the same three movies while eating macaroni and cheese…every day…for the whole three months. We’d watch “Princess Bride,” “Willow,” and “Mrs. Doubtfire.” To this day, we still know all the words to those movies.

24. My time on the bus en route to work in the morning or en route to home in the evening is what I consider “my time.” I will make every effort to avoid everyone I know, so I can listen to my iPod and de-compress. I’ll go to such lengths as try and make myself more discrete looking (ala the unibomber). Exceptions: Amanda and Chelsea.

25. My favorite activity is coming up with interesting analogies or story-telling. Makes sense then that I ended up in advertising (…not just because of the drugs and booze). Kidding. Obviously.