Where else can you hear the following phrase come out of an employees mouth (and yes, he’s talking business) “Well, our cat butt buffer is almost gone.”

Our own dear Purchasing Manager.  Yep.  That’s right.  Sergio Bencivenga is back.  Again.  With another music diatribe.  Here goes.  Sergio, take it away:

LISTEN UP!!
I got the BEST secret santa gift ever! 
OK.
My secret santa got me the new Pearl Jam Album (Backspacer) on VINYL! Vinyl! Not CD, Not an iTunes download, but VINYL! I love it!
 

There is something so awesome about going back to the vinyl days. It’s something that all of our kids are going to miss out on (but not my kids, just yours). And that’s a tragedy. The music is…unadulterated – the way it was meant to be. Here, I’ll prove it to you. When you go to a concert, you know why the band you’re listening too sounds so much better live than on their CD or iTunes download?

Times up – cause it’s raw!

It’s not messed with. It’s left alone.  No mixing.  No “oops, can you clean that part up”.  If they mess up, you hear it!  Dirty the guitar riff up a bit?  Yup, you hear that too!  It’s raw, pure, rich, and if the band is any good – freaking awesome. You will never be able to duplicate that sound at home.  But vinyl will get you damn close to it.  Yeah, I know, there’s a bit of clean up here and there with vinyl too, but it’s about as close as you’re going to get to the raw listening pleasure you get from being at a concert. And don’t say “just buy the live cd”, cause it’s not the same!

A vinyl album is a needle on a record – dirty by nature. Pure listening enjoyment if you ask me.

Oh, and you also get the bonus of kicking back and flipping through the gigantic booklet full of album art all while listening to the melody’s bursting out of your speakers. Check it:
 

Ask yourself this:

When was the last time you kicked back and not only listened to the song, but absorbed the album cover, booklet, lyrics, and whatever other goodies came with the album?  Yeah..I thought so, it’s been a while hasn’t it? Vinyl can give you all that and more.
So dust off that old record player and hop on the vinyl band wagon. I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

Trust me. I know. I’m an expert.

I’ll even throw in this bonus: need a Christmas gift idea for that music lover in your life?  Hook’em up with vinyl!  Here are a couple of links to get you started:

Go here.

And here.

And here.

One more here.

Another guest blogger today. 

Welcome Jessica Rowe (but don’t call her Jessica.  Jess is best.)  She’s Blue Q’s amazingly talented and dedicated “Purchasing and Inventory Agent I Guess and Close Out Queen and Lot’s of Other Things”.   And she’s too busy doing whatever the heck it takes 2 computer monitors to do so here’s her “talk to the hand” photo and her gorgeous miracle baby, Lylah.

Take it away Jess:

6 Blue Q Gift Suggestions for this Holiday season:

For your little nieces & nephews that you’re sick of getting monogrammed Lillian Vernon gift items for:
 
I Heart Water Water Bottles…if you don’t think these are the cutest things on the planet, you have a problem.  A gator, an octopus and a beaver (shown)?  Perfect for little girls and little boys.

Coupled with a small lunch bag such as the Dick & Jane handy tote- a perfect little preschool combo!  And you’re teaching little tykes early on how to be ‘green’.

For your divorced mother in law:
Cougar Soap…do I have to say more?  I know…it’s embarrassing seeing her at the same bar you’re at on Friday nights.

To the person who has everything and you’ve searched every corner of the web for something original:
Everyone eats & washes dishes so who wouldn’t want or need a new, fresh, crisp dishtowel?  If that person doesn’t cook and they do need a dishtowel…hello???  The Microwave Is My Friend Dish Towel would be a perfect addition to their kitchen.

To all your favorite girlfriends that discuss the best products on the market over margaritas on the weekends:
Miso Pretty Hand & Body Cream.  My favorite Blue Q item…ever.  I love this stuff!  First the presentation is a gift in itself but the cream smells amazing and it’s truly a quality product…you won’t be disappointed.  Note- it will not erase wrinkles or shave cellulite off your ass.

To my police patrolling husband -
Police Are My Favorite People Car Freshener.  Because patrol cars stink!  It’s donut scented.  But policemen really don’t eat that many donuts.  Where did this stereo type evolve from?

Editors note: Ok.  I researched the whole donut police thing.  Looks like easy answer is….donuts shops are open all the time.  But trust me, I’ve seen that hottie husband of hers and I can tell you this, I doubt he eats many Krispy Kremes.

I’m just saying.

A light up dreidel.  On my keyboard.  Ah yes, a reminder that I am indeed a Jew.  I forget who started this tradition with me – no crappy foil chocolate balls for you, Miss Israelite.  I am known here as the Prime Minister of Jewish Products.  Seriously.  And as you might know, we are really equal opportunity offenders here at Blue Q.  Although we’ve been lacking a bit in the Jewish Product category….(I’m workin’ on it!!).

But, back to this dreidel….

This could be from anyone.  No good clues here.   But thank you, Jew Appreciating Santa.

Speaking of Jewish people…(or not)….  This guy is my new favorite Christmas guy:

What a man.

Yukon Cornelius.

In all his prospector splendor.

Now, growing up as a Chosen person, I never watched this historical document of Rudolf.  We watched it this weekend.  I am totally in love.  Perfect, simple guy.   He wanders through his world, with these, his only provisions:

Corn meal
Ham hocks
Gun powder
Guitar strings

And except for not being Jewish, even my great grandmother might have approved.

Now, come on, how patriotic can one person get during this time of Thanks and Reflection, Love and Family, Food and Alcohol? 

Thanks Leigh for the pic!

You know the holidays are just around the corner when it takes two arms to carry in the mail. While I can hear the trees screaming every time I open my mailbox, I actually like looking at the catalogs. Not because I’m into acquisition but because I want to see what kind of crap people are willing to shell out good money for.

Hence, crap-a-logs.

Today’s big find is a 5-foot artificial pink Christmas Tree.

(By the way, the only thing more redundant than “artificial pink Christmas Tree” is “free kittens.”)

They also offer you an “alternate view”.  Thank goodness.

“Don’t let the whimsical hue fool you,” reads the descriptive copy.

“Fool you”? 

Fool you into what?
Fool you into thinking this was a good idea?
Or fool you into thinking that this abomination (pre-strung with 350 pink lights) is worth, get this, $129?

A companion Fantasy Ornament Collection features hearts, glitter balls, butterflies, chandeliers, and “shoe pairs.”
Let’s just say, if Tammy Faye Baker were to come back as a tree, she’d be yours for $129.

I am proud to present a guest blogger today – Deborah Sims, Thought Director (a.k.a. Manager of New Product Development).  She sits across from me, hails from Virginia, eats yogurt for breakfast, and likes squirrels (and deer and other woodland creatures, but I digress).  She’s got some Blue Q Gift Giving suggestions for you thoughtless creatures out there.

Deborah’s desk is highlighted in the picture below – you can see Deborah kinda sorta waving in the back there (she’s in a meeting.  A very important meeting, I am sure).

Ok.  Here goes:

10 Blue Q things I like  to give as gifts:

1) The Bird Vases - making these was a labor of love
2) Feed The Birds Dish Towel -  illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal (2 more in these series coming in January…shhhh)
3) Bottoms Up Stainless Steel Water Bottle- reminds me of my daughter who has a small anchor tattoo
4) Savin Up to Start a Business Bank -  Artist Dana Wyse at her most wicked.  I’ll never forget the day Mitch and I tracked her down to ask her to collaborate on products.
5) Sleep by Michael Putnam – Michael Putnam is an incredible photographer who has traveled extensively.  This is a collection of photographs he has taken through the years of people all over the world sleeping in public places.  It is a poignant and surprising little book.
6) La La Land Orange Ginger Soap - This yummy smelling bar is wrapped in waxed paper with a band printed with a squirrel.  I love Squirrels.
7) Nelson Mandela Car Air Freshener – So kooky and smells like Cookies! Created by the Ad Agency Mother in NYC. 
8) Miso Pretty Bath Sake This is one of the most gorgeous bath items we have ever made.  Designer Fiona Hewit’s art is ornamented with fancy bits of silver foil.
9) I Heart Paris Shopper -  Tres chic. I went to Paris on my Honeymoon after my first wedding. 
10) Dirty Girl Juice Glasses -  I have been at Blue Q for over 10 years and made a ton of Dirty Girl stuff.  These glasses were a bit unusual in the lineup of bath and beauty items but so damn cute.  Who can’t use juice glasses with a pink naked girl on it?