but all this makes me think more about how choosing which brand names to purchase makes a statement to others about who we are as indivduals. through marketing, brands infuse their products with specific idenitites. brand names link the consumer to the identity that the brand has created through marketing. when youre buying a mac (insert whichever brand you want here) you’re buying more than just the computer and the operating system. it also associates you with being stylish and savvy. it even goes as far as making a statement about your lifestyle, political choices, and how much money may (or may not) be in your bank account.

i say all that to demonstrate how difficult it was for me to except the fact that my ibook had finally failed after 4.5 good years. and the hard truth that in this economy, since i was laid-off,  is that i could not afford to make the mac statement about my identity with my new computer.

i am now a proud owner of a hp pavilion!

before making my purchase, i considered what my new pc would silently say about who i am. in the end, the only thing that matters is the true purpose of a laptop to get the job that i want done.  i also spent at most one-third the cost at best buy, than i would have spent on a macbook. literally. and the specs are equal to that of what i would have gotten in a macbook. besides the fact, that i will prolly need a tutorial on how to use a pc again, i am thrilled with my purchase.

i could write an entire thesis on the topic of brand identity but since there is not a degree involved at the end of my blogging. i am signing off.

here are before/after haircut photos of my munchkin. meet miles. he’s a 3 year old poo-mutt with tons of personality searching for humans to drive crazy.

~ak

in the past month, a few things have happened that i’ve wanted to write about. so i’ll start from the beginning.

i left new york for vegas in mid december for my little brothers college graduation. although, i use the term little only in reference to the first 13 years of his life when he actually was little in comparison to me.

i finally got my chance to book a flight on virgin america. after my declaration of never flying american airlines again, i had to see what all the rave was about. and yes, it is justified. there were no lines at the check in counters. and no, i do not mean for the self kiosk. i mean there was no wait to speak face to face with a friendly and helpful representative. and get this! the first check in bag is FREE! and you can stuff it up to a whole 70lbs! i remember the good ole days (makes me feel old just to say “the good ole days” but in this instance it accurately expresses how i feel) when customers used to get 2 free checked bags for 70lbs each. but we live in the day of sucking-your-flying-customers-dry, if they go 2 lbs over the 50lb weight limit. after you’ve made them wait an hour or more to speak to someone. so i take what i can get. some might think that 50lbs is just enough. but i’m a girl who regularly over packs and i appreciate virgin america for those extra 20lbs.

in my book, virgin america gets 2 thumbs up but terminal 4 at jfk, not so much (the domestic side). it took about 30 minutes to get through a security line of maybe 1000 people with only 2 metal/search detectors. and once you’re finally through there is no food! just a muffin stand. a muffin stand? all the good food is on the other side of security. but the catch is you can’t carry liquids through security. argh the frustrations of jet-setting.

oh and i almost forgot the best part. THE COST! was insanely affordable. the price an airline ticket should be!

after my flight to la, we drove to vegas to cheer as tk walked the stage, shook an old man’s hand he’s prolly never met, and swing his tassel from right to left. and then got snowed in in vegas, literally. they closed the highways in and out, and cancelled many flights. but no one was perturbed. it was a delightful snow day. there were palm trees covered in snow. i wish i had gotten a picture of that but sadly, i left my camera in the hotel room. lesson learned.

then came christmas day. which was a perfect day having dinner and playing games with the fam. i made mashed potatoes and sweet potato pie. yes, i can cook and i’m very good at it too. i just hate the clean up process.

and the next day was my birthday! i turned a whole number older. oh what joy. and later the next week was new years eve.

all in all, the month i spent in california was spectacular. and i am happy to be starting a new year.

below are pics from my brother’s graduation. welcome to the real world, lil bro. i’m so proud of you.

~ak