Blog Abandonment

Well, not really. I went on vacation for a week, and then with the holidays and everything, I just didn't have much time to think about things I don't get. But I'm back now, and commercials during the bowl games have provided more than enough fodder for blog postings.

One thing is a Jeep commercial I've seen which advertises Zero Payments until Summer 2008! So, there are actually people out there who are on the fence about buying a new car, or what kind of new car, but the idea of not paying anything for 6 months is enough to push them into that new Wrangler. I do not get this. They will be driving a car around for 6 months, depreciated a few thousand bucks the minute they drive it off the lot, and they don't in any sense own the car. Then, in July, they get the privilege of beginning to pay the price the car was worth when they drove it off the lot. Brilliant.

Another thing: Weight Watchers calling itself not a diet (because diets don't work; they are a lifestyle change). Kate Harding has covered this pretty well, but it's a dumb thing to say. Of course diets don't work, of course people have trouble losing weight in the long term. I don't get people who believe Weight Watchers is substantially different. My friend Nicole swears by it, and she says without them she never would have lost about 40 pounds, but I don't know that she's going to have any success keeping that weight off forever anyway. I guess we'll see, but still, people, it's a diet. Geez.

Gingerbread Lattes

First of all, they don't even taste like gingerbread. For holiday flavors, I like pumpkin spice much better, and the peppermint white mocha Starbucks is featuring this year sounds nice, though I haven't tried it. For the sugar free lattes, I like the vanilla just fine, but I don't like the gingerbread, either regular or sugar free. I like to watch what other people are picking up from the bar, and this time of year there are a lot of all the regular things, plus eggnog lattes and peppermint hot chocolates, but I don't see a lot of other people getting the gingerbread either, so maybe it's not just me.

People who want it fixed NOW

Something came to my attention today at work. Back in September I worked on a project where the way some things were accessed was changed. Apparently, in the process, a few things were overlooked, so now those aren't available at all. As it turns out, a couple of weeks ago some people noticed that this stuff wasn't there anymore, and ZOMG they want it fixed right away. At first I assumed that due to some weird but not totally unlikely systems in place, the stuff was continuing to work until a couple of weeks ago, but actually, it wasn't. Everything broke for good on September 13. I'm not opposed to getting a fix in place, and as soon as we can come up with the content that was lost (it probably exists somewhere), I can do something for them, but if they'd let me know sooner (like in September) it would have been somewhat easier to make a workaround.

Sigh. I don't know if this is just another example of people who feel a little too much entitled, or what, but it's annoying, and I don't get it.

Rachael Ray's Wardrobe

If she has a wardrobe consultant for her 30 Minute Meals show, I think either that person hates Rachael or they are blackmailing her, because the things she wears are really awful. It's always the same outfit: a tight, solid-colored long-sleeved shirt, tucked into fairly high rise jeans. I'm not sure this is a look that will flatter much of anyone, but it's very dated, and is particularly bad on Rachael, given her relatively small chest and big hips. Rach isn't fat by any means, but she doesn't have an hourglass figure and all that tight tucked in shirt does is illustrate that.

She dressed much better on her $40 a Day show, and on her talk show, so I guess it's the way she dresses when she's cooking. I am glad she gives some thought to comfort and keeping her clothes out of what she's preparing, but she needs to overhaul the wardrobe. I don't get it why she hasn't.

On a related note: I don't get Giada de Laurentiis's over use of low cut tops. Unlike Rachael, she does wear figure-flattering clothing, but I don't need to see the cleavage on every single show. I've seen speculation that this is a Food Network executive decision, and it wouldn't surprise me. I could write a book about the things I don't get about Food Network's decision making.

Christmas Presents

So yesterday I didn't get a girlfriend thinking it's lame for her boyfriend to decide to set a spending limit on birthday presents. This got me to thinking that I don't really get the deal about Christmas presents in the first place. I've been in a relationship for a long time, and it's been a while since we exchanged presents, for either Christmas or birthdays. There's just not really much of a point. If there's something either of us wants, we tend to get it for ourselves. I would actually be kind of appalled if he gave me a Lexus on Christmas morning, like in those commercials. My first thought would be, "Wow!" My second, third, etc, thoughts would be, "Uh, so what kind of loan did you take out for this?" and "What are we going to do with my old car?" I understand that a new car is kind of on the extreme end, but the point holds. The only thing I can think of that would make a practical gift is something either too frivolous or too unusual for the person to realize they could use it. The malls are full of these sorts of stores today, like the teapot store. Really, I've seen one. I don't have a teapot, and I guess if I had anywhere in the kitchen to store one, I could use it from time to time, and it would be a memorable gift. (Note to anyone reading this: I don't want a teapot.)

So, anyway, if you haven't already given it some thought, consider either not getting presents for your parents, or your partner, or your siblings, or your friends this year. If you want to show your affection, give them a box of chocolates. Don't feel like you have to go buy somebody something just because it's Christmas.

Part I of a forever series

I was listening to the radio on the way home today, and I heard a promo for tomorrow's morning show: "A girlfriend wonders, is it weak to set a spending limit between boyfriend and girlfriend for Christmas presents? Tune in tomorrow!"

This would be thing #1 I don't get (chronological order, the event that spurred me to create a blog to discuss these things. Not the biggest thing in the world that I don't get, I'm almost positive).

From the way the promo was worded, I'm guessing the girlfriend does indeed think it's weak. Now, is it because she doesn't want there to be a spending limit on what her guy can buy her, or what she can buy him? If the former, well, she's just a selfish bitch, now isn't she? But if it's the latter, it's not that I don't totally get where she's coming from. She wants to give her boyfriend some big huge present that he'll adore because (hopefully) she adores him, and in her head it all ties together. But... assuming she and the guy have discussed this, and this is what he wants to do, and the limit isn't like $5, then it seems that after a little thought, the girlfriend should realize her boyfriend doesn't want a big extravagant gift from her, he just wants to continue their relationship, and he'll be fine with whatever gift she can pick out.

The thing I don't get: why this is apparently not occurring to the girlfriend. Or maybe she just likes the idea of starting a conversation on the radio that's all about her. That would also be something I don't get, but sadly, I recognize the motive.