28.3.08

Cruelty-Free?

I appreciate companies who do not use animals to test cosmetics. Using mascara, lipstick or blusher is optional and a rabbit certainly doesn’t choose to use it! But, the other day, I picked up some moisturizing gloves and socks (you put lotion on your hands/feet, then put on the gloves/socks). The back of the packaging indicated that they are “cruelty-free”. I must say that I feel OH so much better knowing that they didn’t lube up some rabbits paws and make them wear cotton gloves to see if they had softer toes or if they reacted poorly to the 100% cotton. I just hope they meant that the COMPANY only uses cruelty-free methods of testing ALL of their products.

I have a better idea: cosmetic companies can use CEOs, accountants and public servants who, through deliberate misdeeds, bilk millions out of their companies/government agencies creating financial ruin or negative consequences for reasonable, trusting employees/citizens. Steal from Metro by pocketing parking fees? Here’s a little mascara in your eye! Use the company jet, expense hookers and hotel rooms, buy vacation houses and set up offshore accounts because you are greedy therefore screwing (pun intended) employees out of their retirement savings? Chew on this tube of lipstick (in addition to spending the rest of your life in prison) So what if you suffer from a hives outbreak. TOUGH! Those little rabbits and monkeys certainly didn’t do it.

6.3.08

About me, by others

A friend sent a questionnaire to be completed by those who know, or think they know, you. I sent it out and received a response by all but two. Here are the Qs and As:

1. Where did we meet?
My mom: At Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md . . .12.15. a few years ago
Mark: Trantech
Alex: In front of our houses
Kathy: AOL, but in person it was at Clark's
Ken: AOL party??

2. Take a stab at my middle name: (I’d like to point out the fact that my middle name is part of my email address, so this was an easy one!)
My mom: Grandmother Rogers wanted Laura after her mother, but it didn't fit with Stacey. So you got Lorraine after my step grandmother, a very sweet lady with a mind of her own and a passion for cooking
Mark: Lorraine
Alex: Lorraine
Kathy: Lorraine
Ken: Lorraine

3. Do I smoke?
My mom: NO, at least no tobacco
Mark: no
Alex: No, but you're nice to smokers :)
Kathy: no
Ken: Smoke what?..lol

4. Do I drink; if yes, what?
My mom: Yes, mostly red wine but a few mixed drinks.
Mark: Gin tonics
Alex: You do drink. You like red wine, margaritas, sangria
Kathy: wine
Ken: Yes..i sorta remember a time in the sand ..lol...

5. Color of my eyes:
My mom: Brown, but a light shape, more topaz
Mark: brown
Alex: Brown
Kathy: brown
Ken: Blue

6. Do I have any siblings?
My mom: Yes, many
Mark: no
Alex: Yes--a sister (Heather), a brother (Scott), and another half-brother. There may be another half sibling, but I'm not sure
Kathy: lots - one full-blood sister, two half brothers by your mother and step-father, and either two or three by your father (at least one brother and one sister)
Ken: Yes

7. What's one of my favorite things to do?
My mom: Start projects . . . sing
Mark: eat lunch with mark
Alex: Buying things at the outlets to sell on eBay
Kathy: tear up the house and rebuild it again
Ken: ummmmmmm see above

8. What's my favorite type of music?
My mom: Don't know the name . . . current vocals
Mark: not rascal flats
Alex: Rock
Kathy: your tastes are eclectic
Ken: the kind to stumble to...

9. Am I shy or outgoing?
My mom: Outgoing
Mark: outgoing
Alex: Outgoing
Kathy: outgoing
Ken: mix of both

10. Am I a rebel or do I follow the rules?
My mom: Trick question ! Co-vert rebel, you follow the rules but shape them to fit your needs
Mark: rebel
Alex: A combination of both, but a little bit more of a rebel
Kathy: depends on who made the rules
Ken: ummmmm

11. Any special talents:
My mom: Many, very creative and visual
Mark: hot glue gun, beware
Alex: You sing and do home improvements
Kathy: home improvement, graphic design
Ken: lol ohhhh ya

12. What am I most adamant about?
My mom: Correcting the follies of others and protecting small creatures from an unkind world
Mark: that people respect you
Alex: Not playing games in relationships
Kathy: J doing the laundry ;)
Ken: i have no clue

13. How many children do I have?
My mom: One, that I know of
Mark: 1 that I know of
Alex: One son named Jackson
Kathy: one, thank God
Ken: just Flea

14. Thought or memory when hearing my name:
My mom: Image of a 4 yo girl wearing a turtle neck shirt and a frilly top (school photo) because you had decided to cut your own hair in front about a 1/2" from your scalp amd I had to cut the rest of it in a pixie cut which made you look like a little boy. So I had to make 'girlie' apron tops to go with your current wardrobe. Actually I thought you looked pretty good with the pixie cut.
Mark: Blue Iguana
Alex: Sunday dinners :)
Kathy: reckless, fun, interesting, late
Ken: BREAD!

15. What is my job?
My mom: I would say for lack of a better title, graphic designer, again with the creativity and visuals
Mark: graphics Flunky
Alex: Graphic designer
Kathy: graphic artist
Ken: Webpage person

16. If you and I were stranded on a desert island, what is one thing that I would bring?
My mom: "Being stranded" implies no for-planning, but you would have your laptop and therefore not truly 'stranded'
Mark: your purse full of stuff
Alex: Clive Owen
Kathy: Wine
Ken: BREAD!