Friday, March 20, 2009

Who Does That - Part XXII

There is a local business that uses a husband and wife type team in their commercials. The advertisements always astound me whenever they are on. I can't help but to stop whatever I am doing and watch. Every single time.


I think the more appropriate title to this post should be "How Does One Do That". How would you get your hair to stick out like that? It truly amazes me.

However, I highly doubt I would ever want my hair to look like that. So it still gets a big........

Who does that?

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Please, Please, Please

From MSNBC.com:

Is the ugly shoe craze about to end?

Crocs auditor questions whether plastic shoe maker can survive

updated 7:38 p.m. CT, Wed., March. 18, 2009

NIWOT, Colo. - The auditor of Crocs Inc. says it has “substantial doubt” about the shoe company’s ability to stay in business amid falling revenue.

Crocs disclosed the opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP in an annual report filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“It’s a really serious sign the company has some financial difficulties ahead,” said Chris Hughen, associate professor of finance at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business. Still, he didn’t expect the company would die. “If they can right-size the company, the company will survive,” he said.

A Crocs spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a phone message Wednesday.

Crocs, which had ramped up for strong international and product growth only to watch sales drop last year, said it needs to find a cost structure that its revenues will support. The company lost $185.1 million last year as revenues fell almost 15 percent to $721.6 million.

The number of footwear units sold fell 24.7 percent over the year, the filing said. The company blamed deteriorating global economic conditions, falling demand and difficulty marketing its expanded product line.

Crocs said it must secure financing and maintain enough liquidity to pay obligations. It said it has $22.4 million in borrowings under a loan that matures April 2. As of Dec. 31, it had $51.6 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Through the end of 2007, Crocs grew so quickly it had difficulty meeting demand for its colorful, lightweight shoes, the company said in the SEC filing. It boosted production capacity, warehouse space and inventory, but revenue growth slid in 2008.

It had about 3,700 employees at the end of last year, down from 5,300 a year earlier. It also closed manufacturing facilities in Brazil and Canada last year.

Crocs said it expects more operating losses for the quarter that ends March 31. It is working to get a new credit facility and is exploring options for raising capital.

Crocs shares, which traded near $70 last year, were down 27 cents Wednesday, or 19 percent, to $1.14.

“The bottom line is, it’s a horrible time to be a premium product. People are looking to cut back on discretionary spending, and they view these shoes as something discretionary,” Hughen said.


Please let there be some merit to this article! If there is any fashion mercy on the Earth then, yes, the ugly shoe craze is over.

I give a free pass to children ages five and under, as kids are supposed to wear colorful, ugly shoes. On them it's cute. Plus, I'm sure any shoe that little Johnny can put on without help from mom or dad is welcomed. However, anyone above the age of six is held to an entirely different standard. You can tie a shoe. You're past the age of needing assistance to put on footwear. There are no more excuses for lazy, ugly shoe wearing.

Those things are just hideous and I pray for their demise everyday.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Long Sigh

Prior to moving to my current city and job I took an annual vacation to beautiful, tropical locations with my best friend. Those trips were the highlight of my year, every year.

The sub par vacation package at my current employer, dealing with a long-distance relationship and traveling to see my significant other, and adjusting to the increase in cost of living from my old city to my city have prevented me from taking one of my beloved holidays for the last three years.

No longer.

I finally have vacation time and a little nest egg. Maverick and I have (hopeful) plans to enjoy a tropical vacation this fall.

Any suggested destinations?

Monday, March 02, 2009

Who Does That - Part XXI

My daily commute takes me past a very popular city park. This park is filled with people engaging in some type of physical activity year round. Regardless of the weather people are always utilizing the fantastic trails and abundance of land. Walking, running, cycling, roller blading, soccer, baseball, softball, football, cross country skiing--basically any type of exercise can be seen in this park.

It is a not a surprise at all to see many people bundled up and running even in the dead of winter. It is, however, a surprise to see people who engage in these physical activities not dressed weather appropriate. Over the course of the last month and a half I have seen one particular such person several times.

In the midst of winter I have witnessed the same woman running in a tank top, shorts and gloves multiple times. What good do gloves do you when you're half naked anyway? Plus, I'm not just talking a sort of tank top or shorts either--shorty shorts and a spaghetti strap number. Nor have the times that I have seen her been on the rare nice days in the middle of January or February. The temperature on each occasion has been below 30. One day it was in the 20s and the ground was covered with six inches of snow!

Being that I am always driving at 30+ mph when I catch a glimpse of this woman I have not been able to snap a picture. I did my best (read awful) attempt to sketch a little drawing of her though, which you will find below.
However ridiculous you find this piece of artwork, multiply it by about 20 and you will understand what I'm talking about.

One other important detail to note--this woman has to be at least 45, meaning she probably shouldn't be wearing the outfit regardless of the weather.



Who does that?