Cookie Monster and the origin of 'Om nom nom'

My main man on Sesame Street may have indeed been the originator of the oft-used 'om nom nom' phrase. Come to think of it, he may have had a role in the origins of LOL speak too. Me can has cookie?



I posted on this a long time ago, but as a refresher: the always entertaining Om nom nom nom blog.

P.S. Happy birthday, Sesame Street!

Being a good guest or host

Chances are you're either going to be traveling somewhere for Thanksgiving or hosting someone who is traveling for the holiday. Domino Magazine has a great guide for either with tips on how to be a good guest to how to make your guest room beautiful and comfortable.

My suggestion on how to be a good host? Adult beverages. For yourself. Hungry Girl has some diet-friendly ones.

National Incompetency Eradication Day Week

UPDATE: Mickey pointed out that I really didn't give enough notice on this one, so I'm taking his NICE action and declaring this a week's worth of celebration. Thanks for your action in eradicating incompetency, Mickey!

Modern gals don't like to be bitchy (or at least not completely bitchy), but we do like to be effective. Inspired by some general incompetencies today, this post from The Park Bencher and Noelle's hoop-jumping to get an iPod accessory replaced (albeit with a happy ending), The Modern Gal is declaring this National Incompetency Eradication Day Week (NICE Day Week for short) aka National Day Week of Complaining.

I have taken the following actions:

1. Complained to McAlister's Deli, my once-favorite lunching spot which has been headed downhill for sometime. Their trademark Spuds (really gigantic baked potatoes with mounds of goodness on top) have become horribly dry and tasteless and the fajita spud I like -- normally topped with about two dozen strips of spicy chicken -- only had three (small) chicken strips today. Also, I always have to request the condiments that ARE SUPPOSED TO COME WITH THE SPUD. I complained via the online comment form.


2. Decided not to return to Zaxby's, what I used to consider the best of this area's half-dozen fried chicken fingers joings (yes, we have places here in the South specifically for selling chicken fingers), after the Modern Beau and I had a particularly disgusting dinner there the other night. My Texas toast was not only buttered before being toasted, it was coated in salt. I was left gagging. I would have complained via their online comment form, but they don't have one.

3. Planned to call the auto bodyshop that spent the last week undoing some damage I did to my precious baby Mazda 3 because of my inability to park in parking garages (seriously, why do they make the spaces so small and place them right next to concrete beams?) In fixing the cosmetic damage, they created actual functional damage by breaking my interior trunk release. Of course I didn't notice until I'd already paid and taken off with said car.

The Modern Beau's response was that he wants me to complain to the state board of law examiners for making the bar exam application too long. I don't know if that qualifies as an incompetency or not.

What action do you plan to take today for NICE Day Week?

Try saying: "go f___ yourself, HR"

My colleague's wife, who works in the marketing department of the local newspaper, forwarded the following e-mail on to the two of us for us to read. It's something her HR supervisor sent out -- not a chain letter.

Working for a company that busts out Office Space caliber crap on a very rare basis, I was on the floor after I read this.

Dear Employees:
>
> It has been brought to management's attention that some individuals throughout the company have been using foul language during the course of normal conversation with their co-workers. Due to complaints received from some employees who may be easily offended, this type of language will no longer be tolerated.
>
> We do however, realize the critical importance of being able to
> accurately express your feelings when communicating with co-workers.
>
> Therefore, a list of 18 New and Innovative "TRY SAYING" phrases have
> Been provided so that proper exchange of ideas and information can
> continue in an effective manner.
>
>
> 1) TRY SAYING: I think you could use more training.
> INSTEAD OF: You don't know what the f___ you're doing.
>
> 2) TRY SAYING: She's an aggressive go-getter.
> INSTEAD OF: She's a ball-busting b__ch.
>
> 3) TRY SAYING: Perhaps I can work late.
> INSTEAD OF: And when the f___ do you expect me to do this?
>
> 4) TRY SAYING: I'm certain that isn't feasible.
> INSTEAD OF: No f______ way.
>
> 5) TRY SAYING: Really?
> INSTEAD OF: You've got to be sh__ing me!
>
> 6) TRY SAYING: Perhaps you should check with...
> INSTEAD OF: Tell someone who gives a sh__.
>
> 7) TRY SAYING: I wasn't involved in the project.
> INSTEAD OF: It's not my f______ problem.
>
> 8) TRY SAYING: That's interesting.
> INSTEAD OF: What the f___?
>
> 9) TRY SAYING: I'm not sure this can be implemented.
> INSTEAD OF: This sh__ won't work.
>
> 10) TRY SAYING: I'll try to schedule that.
> INSTEAD OF: Why the h___ didn't you tell me sooner?
>
> 11) TRY SAYING: He's not familiar with the issues.
> INSTEAD OF: He's got his head up his a__.
>
> 12) TRY SAYING: Excuse me, sir?
> INSTEAD OF: Eat sh__ and die.
>
> 13) TRY SAYING: So you weren't happy with it?
> INSTEAD OF: Kiss my a__.
>
> 14) TRY SAYING: I'm a bit overloaded at the moment.
> INSTEAD OF: F___ it, I'm on salary.
>
> 15) TRY SAYING: I don't think you understand.
> INSTEAD OF: Shove it up your a__.
>
> 16) TRY SAYING: I love a challenge.
> INSTEAD OF: This job sucks.
>
> 17) TRY SAYING: You want me to take care of that?
> INSTEAD OF: Who the h___ died and made you boss?
>
> 18) TRY SAYING: He's somewhat insensitive.
> INSTEAD OF: He's a pr_ck.
>
> Thank You,
>
> Human Resources

I'd argue that several of these "try saying" suggestions aren't expressing the same sentiment as the original phrase.

Thursday gridiron thank-yous

Dear fellow fans of Southern football,

As you're writing your Christmas thank you cards, as I know you will do, remember to include the following gentlemen:

You see, modern gals and guys, the Georgia football team kept the honor of the SEC alive by thumping the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. It was a favor to football fans everywhere, reminding them that even though June Jones is a cool name, especially for someone who wears a lei to work, the WAC just ain't ready to run with the big dogs. Dawgs, ahem.

You may exclude, however, the Florida Gators, who rolled over and took it you know where from the Michigan Wolverines, a big no-no in the book of football.

Please send a sympathy card to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

That is all.

Tip Drill

Don't forget to give a holiday tip or gift to those service professionals whom you depend on regularly. I like to ensure the fact that my newspaper shows up on my stoop everyday, which I've found in the previous cities I've lived in might be too much to ask for.

Don't know how much to give? Check out Real Simple's Guide to Holiday Tipping for some ideas and spending limits. It's worth noting that postal carriers, who are probably most deserving of a gift, can't accept cash or gifts worth more than $20. The Modern Gal's hairstylist, newspaperwoman and mailman all got Target gift cards. I'm tipping myself this afternoon with lunch at McAlister's Deli for all the fine dogwalking work I've done this year.

The etiquette of flying

Delta Airlines is proving it has a sense of humor by offering four short animated videos on You Tube about the annoyances we all encounter whilst flying. They're intended to encourage better passenger behavior on planes, and we all know that the best method of motivation is shame. Cheers to Delta.

My favorite is definitely Kidtastrophe. The Modern Gal is at a stage in her life where she absolutely cannot stand kids, so she completely identifies:


Brats. But I'm sure yours are angels and not anything like them.

And another:

Personally, I think the middle seat should be outlawed.