Geese a' laying

Merry Sixth Day of Christmas!!!! Sorry about the hiatus, but, you know how life is! Today is the day that we learn about the 6 days of creation. No, really, we do. It's all here...and from what my Grandma said during Christmas vacation when I got dumped at her house for 8 years of childhood...

As a special treat: This video...sorry I couldn't embed it.

Look for my Mary, Mother of God post, as well as New Year's Eve Shenanigans! w00t!

Pure

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CHRISTMAS, I say!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know what you should do at midnight? Watch me on Midnight Mass.

CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sing it, Frank.

funny story

I have a new favorite Christmas song...shocker alert...it is . . .secular.
::Cue eerie music effects::

Also, has anyone seen this movie? I think I am grateful to my parents for not letting me be terrified by it as a child. My only knowledge of this before listening to Christmas music this year is that Arnold Schwarzenegger--err, rather, Mr. Freeze-- makes his henchmen sing along to it in his hide-out in Batman and Robin...

Dear Monday,

I find it quite saddening that so many hate you. Vehemently, even.

Personally, I have nothing against you. I know that it is not your fault. Someone has to kick-off the work week, and I think you do it well.

Thanks for letting me have choir today. That was a good idea.

Okay, see you next week!
~me.

P.S.- Could you let Friday know that I want to see The Princes and the Frog, so I need show times. I have that day off! kaythxbai!

And yet--

Well kids, it seems that I can find something to complain about no matter what state I am in.

After weeks of trying, I finally gained my 5 (actually 7!!! so hopefully 5 will stick around) pounds! Hurrah!! The problem? I still don't fit into a pair of pants that I really like. I think at this point I am staring in the face of such ludicrousness that I must simply donate said pants to charity...or MMMono.

In other news, I inadvertently agreed to go on a date with someone. The fact that this was a date did not dawn on me until after I had given him my number, agreed on a day time and activity, and proceeded to hug goodbye and drive myself home. You would think that I would have learned by now...we'll see how this pans out...be on alert for texts requiring you to call me with an emergency. Or you could all just come and I could not even actually go on a date.

Please? I'll buy!

Time out

Okay. It finally happened. I made a drunk dial that I cannot laugh about with the person the next day. Crap. I can safely say that I have never been so embarrassed.

Mhmm

I have come to the realization that I have never been in a fun choir. Don't take that the wrong way--I **have** fun in choir, but I've never been in a choir that exists to entertain and have fun. Like a show choir. I feel like I might be missing something...something rather important. Or just wonderful. Either way:

Hope...

GUESS WHAT I AM DOING ON MONDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT'S RIGHT--INTERVIEWING!!!!!!!! FOR A LIBRARIAN POSITION!!!!!!!!!!

SO. EXCITED.

Abstained...

ABFW did not go to the work Christmas party...scandalous! MMMono went with me...and I am guessing that she had a good time based on the amount of giggling. Either that or, she was very, very, quite a lot nervous. I'm going with the former.

Also, I am now NEVER consuming alcohol again. Because of this PSA...

All the world's full of stages

I saw The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Abridged tonight. It was actually quite good, though it's getting to be a bit dated. They referenced Next Gingrich. I'm pretty sure that was during the Clinton administration...you know, when I was in middle school.

I have decided that I need new new friends--the current new friends are simply not up to snuff. On the advice of $port, I will "Craig's list that shit". Made me feel better about life--'twas grand.

Awesome Aussie gift idea: a picture of us. Oh, wait; that doesn't exist.

Fortune favors the friendish friend

Count your blessings, friends. . .I was going to be forced to write another angst-ridden, mopey, depressing post that would be so ridden with depressing thought that kittens would have cried.

"What changed," you might ask, "to make our fortunes far less bleak?"

Well, friends, it snowed! And then I went for a walk. And took pictures! Oh happy day!

At first, it was still snowing, which made pretty pics like this:

















And later it let up--which is okay, because I was very wet at this point. Aren't these little guys too cute?

No, seriously, old man.

When, oh when will it come?

This is the first year since I have been a licensed driver that the Thanksgiving trip was not all icy and snowy. Where is my snow?!?!?!? Can I blame global warming for this atrocity? First the polar bears, and now this!?!? Curses!

Old man winter, I know it can be difficult to know what's going on, what with Daylight savings and the poor economy and the decision between lunar and solar calendars that I'm sure you're still coming to terms with...but man up, Old Man Winter. I need some effing snow.

Ruminations

It makes me happy that:
**crickets**
-it is going to snow soon

It depresses me that:
-I wear the same size pants as my obese mother
-people judge me when I drink
-I can't sleep without a drink
-I remember everything from when I drink
-various people are "looking" for a guy for me and yet no such man has appeared or been mentioned
-the majority of people do not understand my sense of humor
-bff is still in Latin America
-chastity is apparently no longer a virtue
-I can't find a job
-my BMI is too low and I cannot gain weight
-my breasts are ridiculously small, even when I wear a Wonderbra
-I am depressed
-my new best friend now hates me
-BDS:II got poor reviews
-The Doctor is not real
-all I have needed for the past 3 weeks is a hug. No dice.
-sushi is so very expensive
-Diva is more of a diva than any of us could have imagined
-I cannot say what must be said face-to-face. Perhaps this is why I keep on watching friends slip away
-I continue to allow friends to slip away
-I have no friends.

Good things come...

So, I bought the trench coat in black. I ordered it online. and got free shipping. Plus $10 off because I used my store card. Plus I had a $20 off coupon. So it was $4.77. I win.

In other news, I was asked to cantor an ecumenical advent prayer service at the Cathedral. I have not served as a cantor since Baccalaureate. When RedHairMary--who cantors regularly--found this out, she looked at me in dumbfounded disbelief and said "Really?" with a tinge of loathing...as though I were stealing from her. Uh-oh. My bitch sense is tingling. I see the makings of some church choir drama.

It's just one tiny prayer service, right? It's not cause for alarm or a turf war. . .but I got the music today and it is going to pretty much be the Aussie show. Unlike mass, prayer services are apparently all Aussie all the time.

MMMMono, you and your mommy should come for moral support!

Christmas alert: I have been to 3 Tree lightings thus far. Oh the glory!

Certainly illustrates the diversity of the word

All Saints Day was surprisingly delightful, considering the crummy reviews.

Christmas concert Saturday and Sunday--should be glorious!

Should I get this coat in black or tan? I feel like I should have one in each color...tan will get dirty, but it would go with things that my current black coat does not go with.

Hmmm.

I shove my hand where?

I think I hate Thanksgiving. I am not thankful for all of the work it is...and for what? I do not like stuffing nor cranberry sauce nor pecan pie nor the dry turkey (don't get me wrong--I LOVE turkey...just not the way it is prepared for a traditional T-Day feast) nor the tiresome conversation.

Blech.

I do enjoy mashed potatoes...and all of the alcohol. And giving thanks. I enjoy that part so much that I do it every night in my prayers before I go to bed. Unless, of course, I am too drunk. . .

My main qualm is that holidays are no longer fun and relaxing for me. "Relaxing" in my world involves a proper amount of sleep. "Fun" implies that I spend time with people whose company I enjoy. Am I simply asking too much?

Also...new vacation plan. Ireland, anyone? Really, I just want to go somewhere wonderful. PLEASE!!!! Anyone? Bueller?

Whoops

Okay, so I missed a few days. Drat.

I wimped-out today. I was going to talk to CathedralNP about something, but I did not. And then I ended-up getting roped into cantoring an ecumenical prayer service. I don't know how I feel about that. It involves singing in Spanish. I took a year of college French nearly 5 years ago. omg...we started college five years ago.

Noa and I have a playdate this week. Should be fun. The Bobber owes me a beer, which means shenanigans.

I love this song. Sorry there are no cute videos of it with good audio.

LOVE!

OMG, I need to blog! Quick! While it is still today!

Things that I love:
-Fudge
-Vy
-Sleeping
-Star Trek
-The Doctor

Things that I hate:
-My current work circumstances
-Decisions
-My overly accommodating nature
-Vibrato in a choral setting
-Loosing at Scrabble. By 3 points. Lame.

Videos that I love:


Fanfiction that I hate.

At least half...

You guys! I am SUPER excited!!!!! "Why?" you might ask. Foolish you.

STAR TREK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my fervor and love, I have started surfing the Tube of You in search of craptastic fan music videos. It's like mash-ups on the interwebs!

Fudge

Today I went to the mall, because that is the only place NY&Co makes itself manifest. I was quickly reminded of many facets of human nature I had entirely forgotten:

1. Sunday is get all of your shit done day. But make it look leisurely, because it is Sunday.
2. Scene kids. Damn. I never knew so many people could fit into Hot Topic. I am impressed.
3. Given to their own devices, people tend to walk very, very slowly. Is it still counted as exercise if you hardly move?

It was not a total loss! I got a cute new top and a lovely pair of earrings. Jewelry was buy one get one 75% off, so I did a bit of Christmas shopping while I was at it!

And then I got hit on. Seriously? Can I not go to a public place without getting some odd comment? At least he was of age--I am reasonably certain.

And then, the best thing EVER happened. I bought Fudge. Three different kinds of it! I forgot what a fatty I am at heart. It tastes so delicious. I forgot how much sugar they jam-pack into treats like fudge. Mono, would you like some? I don't think I could possibly eat it all!

The best part of my shopping experience? The department stores are all CHRISTMAS-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh the JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!

Can my Christmas present this year be a trip to Frankenmuth? PLEASE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Monotonous

I have nothing new to report. Sorry.

I am trying to blog on a regular basis for you lovely ladies, though!

The teen parapro is leaving come the end of December. I fluv her. This makes me realize more and more how much I need to escape my current employer. No, seriously. Escape.

le sigh.

Cattle

You guys, I had an awesome weekend. Let's recap:

Thursday: Got into Chitown. Purchased for LB one last time. Went out, got drunk.

Friday: Woke up still drunk. Ate crepes and screwdrivers for breakfast. Sat-in on LB's piano lesson with an astonishingly brilliant prof. Went out. Drank this:




















Saturday: Woke up drunk. Went to lunch with Pomme. The restaurant was super cute! Turtle soup is yummy, but very salty. Also, had a mimosa and we split a coffee creme brulee. Yummm.
Had more Mimosas with LB and Emily. Dicked around, drinking various things. Went to visit Pomme in the VEHBD/get LB some new Converses. Went out. Got drunkity drunk drunk.

Sunday: Woke up feeling refreshed and lively. No, I'm serious. Everyone else was hung over. I won. Went home. Went to 7:30 Mass. Went out after Mass. Realized halfway through my third beer that I was drunk--zawhat? Likely culprit: having eaten only a granola bar and Jesus the entire day. Ordered tots--with Bacon. Delish.

In other, non-weekend related news:

I did not get the internal position. I am livid.

CADL has an opening for a business librarian. I think this was meant to be, because otherwise I will be completely out of optimism.

$100

Now that I have everyone's attention. . .

I am very upset with myself that I missed a day. I have been trying so very hard, too! Oh well. It is highly unlikely that I will blog whilst visiting the Windy City.

Boy/BFF/I have no idea how I have referred to him before and am too lazy to look-- made me feel loads better about life today. Some chat time was just what I needed--and he claims that he did not cheat by using my FB status. Yay for friends.

In other news, BestBossEVER! showed me this site on joy and wonder and making Aussies happy.

MMM, your latest post has inspired me to stop cheating with blogger and apply the knowledge that I learned from my own silly technology class. That's right, I had-crafted that inner-text link. I rock solid.

Must quit whilst ahead.

I need a Doctor!

I mentioned my IMDB stalkings to MMM and Toi, but I thought you should all know the cast list for the next TWO Doctor Who episodes include:
Donna Noble
The Master
Captain Jack Harkness

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, Rose is slated for the second of the up-coming episodes. I shall have to deal with the consolation prize of her mother.

Awesome Aussie gift idea: Captain Jack's coat. With or without him in it. (Yes, MMM, I realize that he likely has multiple STDs. Risk I am willing to take.)

Treated

Friday Night:
Shakespeare Dinner Party: MacBe--the Scottish Play. Somehow we made it into a comedy. Might have had something to do with the Haitian Rum.
L&B's Ghoul Bash. Saw Gela and LittleE and many, many people.

Saturday Night:
Pregamed with . . .Neener
Billy's
MMM's. Toi, I love you! Saw many people. Met Ivy and Kiker. MMM, I flove Ivy. Also, Galaxy Quest...this is happening when?
Noa's. Tres fun, as per usual. Beezy-watching to prevent from sleeping with her ex-boyfriend--again.

Moi and I have decided that Vermont is next on the vacation list. Who wants to come with us?

Tricked

You guys, I really need to work on pronouncing the word "No." as a response to requests.

For example:

"Aussie, will you cantor this Psalm that you haven't laid eyes on ever before in your life?"

"Aussie, will you be an RCIA sponsor?"

"Aussie, will you divulge the secret family recipe for sausage?"

That last one, I can say no to, only because I don't know the secret recipe for sausage.

But, that was like...3 months ago...

Ho-hum. Nothing too interesting here.

Let's see...there must be something--oh wait! Toi! Remember how I applied to Last Chance College and didn't hear anything back, so I presumed that I was not selected? Because the application on-line said something to the effect of "Don't call us, we'll call you...and if you call us we will put your application in the rubbish bin."

Well. . .I got an email the other day saying:

Good day,



Thank you for applying for the part-time librarian position posted on the [Last Chance College]’s website. I wanted you to know that the committee is currently looking at the applications and will soon be making recommendations on interviews.



If you would like us to not consider your application at this time please contact me. If you have questions, I would be happy to try to answer those for you. Once again, thank you for applying.

My, my. They certainly are serious about NEVER ever EVER contacting them. In summary--there is hope! Job with "Librarian" in the title still a real possibility for ME!!!

Bull's eye

First of all, this totally counts as a post for the 27th. I have not gone to bed yet.

Second of all...I went to Target today. Still too reminiscent. Will this ever end?

Speaking of Target, do you know the origins of the coveted archery achievement of a Bull's Eye? It's an interesting derivation from a old English betting format. In bullbaiting, gamblers placed the bet "on the bull's eye". Eventually, as the sport faded in popularity, the term began to mean not that you were betting, but that your bet was correct. This is also where we get the turn of phrase "on the money".

In any event, here I am at Target, for some last minute Halloween shopping. As an aside, why does Target not sell spirits? They could totally be my one-stop-shop if they did. Just saying.

As it stands, I purchased festive Jones instead:



But I was torn...should I be cute or evil this Halloween?

See my vest...

What do we think, kids, can I pull off a vest? Like this one?

I tried it on in the store, and I *think* it looked okay. I'm really not sure. Are vests like leggings? Is it something I should simply avoid with every fiber of my being?

I sat around and did absolutely nothing today. It was fabulous. Except when I got up to do something. I epic failed at it. Bummer.

Because the entry title got me thinking of the Classic clip:

Achievement

I have blogged 5 out of the past 7 days; 6 out of 8 if we count today. I consider this a monumental personal achievement. Let's celebrate!

Other achievements from the week:
-Watched the last two episodes of Glee. I hate that Beezy wife and her bitch-ass sister. Say it together: ridonkulous

-3 boxes are now full of books to be placed in storage.

-I made bread on Monday...or was it Tuesday?

-I trained a new co-worker on the Serials Module

-I got plenty of sleep.

Ellipse

I checked-out the new Imogen Heap from the Library today! Love her. LOVE.



I really like this track, but the video is...creepy. What is with her hair? The album cover is totally cute...What happened? And that outfit? Zawhat. Fire that stylist! I could do it! I'll use my librarian skills to classify hair styles and outfits into "yes" and "Oh dear GOD! Just don't do it!"

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

Somehow I have become the counselor of choice for many friends. By many, I mean 9. That's a lot of people to have break-down with the expectation of you fixing it within a week.

This, too, shall pass.

In other news, I find this is be quite inspiring:

Flounder Done

I am tearing my entire room apart.

I am such a bad friend.

I distinctly remember writing it out.

I must have put it somewhere that I thought I would be able to remember without an issue.

An issue like this?

WHERE is it?

I do this every time...you would think I would learn from previous mistakes.

Transgressions.

Failings.

Seriously?

My room is not that big! It is in here somewhere!

Like in the fucking drawer. The drawer with stamps and address labels and blanks.

Dammit.

Toi! I found your birthday card! I did! I did! Mailing it noooooow!!!!!!!! If it's not too much trouble, could you refrain from terminating our friendship? Kthxbai!!!!!!!

=o)

Pretty!!!

My personal library will be loosely based on a combination of all of the awesome found here.

Also, I began boxing up my books today. So sad. The stacks on the bedroom floor and lack of space for three more book shelves to undouble stack them has led me to this action. It is difficult selecting which of the hundreds of beloved volumes I shall keep on the shelves and which shall be boxed. I am thinking that I'll have to rotate them in and out of storage to be fair. Also, to prevent icky things happening to them. I'm just glad that our basement has never been at risk of flooding...I won't have to cry when I come home one spring day...

Dear Jesus

Please make a more convenient Mass time for me. You see, on Sundays that I have to work (please don't smite me...it's for the good of the children--you know, so they can read) I have also worked the previous Saturday, so I can't make it to a Saturday matinée. I am also tired from a long week, so getting up early is difficult: Mass before 11am is out, as I need to eat, shower, and sleep until at least 10 am. But 11am mass does not exist close enough to work to prevent me from being late. I am left with late night options at the Cathedral or St Robert's. Both are just so far away...

Please advise.
Love!
~Karen

Rustic, you say?

I had dinner at Auntie V's tonight. Her house is WAY cute. I walked in and was immediately attacked by their new puppy. And then I was ushered into the finished basement to see if I wanted:
-a nice wood night stand
-a nice set of wooden table and chairs
-an adorable rocking chair

I clearly gushed over all of these things and was about to give my regrets that I had nowhere to store these lovely treasures when she said "I can store them here for you, of course, until you have your own place. I just don't want to donate them to Goodwill--I'd rather give them to someone I know will love them and get use out of them"

That's me!

Her kids are way cute...her husband is super nice and sweet with the kids. Ugh. I want to skip the baby part and just have elementary school-aged children.

I brought over bread for dinner. It's one that my grandma made all the time--so it's super easy. It takes about 2 hours WITH rising and baking time. Mangiamo!

Rustic Italian Bread
• 1 C warm water
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 3 C bread flour
• 2 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 pkg dry yeast
• Cornmeal
• 1 egg white, beaten

1. Place the yeast and cup of warm water and allow it to do its thing for a few minutes.
2. Add olive oil, sugar, salt, and flour.
3. Cover bowl with a towel and let set 15-20 minutes
4. Cover baking sheet with cornmeal.
5. Shape dough into baguette on sheet. Cover with towel, allow to rise to double in size (about 30 minutes)
6. Beat an egg white by hand until frothy. Brush onto loaf.
7. Bake at 375 for 25-35 minutes.

Libe! Drama

So, I did not get the Youth Librarian Job at other branch. I am distinctly okay with this. Let's face it, I would have hated it. Immensely. And bitched about it all the time. I do not want to do story time for children aged 18 months to 3 years of age. Simply not appealing to me.

Good news: they hired an internal candidate! That means that her job is now open! Hurray! Let's recap the awesome of this job posting:
1. "Librarian" is in the job title
2. Collection Development is highly marketable to the academic realm
3. This position does nonfiction, which is even better for future academic employment options
4. Did I mention that "Librarian" in in the title?

Best option ever, right? Oh wait, The Downside: Fake dad's...I don't even know--soon to be ex-wife? bitter separated wife?... would be my cubicle-mate. Dammit. You see, kids, I liked FakeMom when she and FakeDad were at least pretending to be happily married. But now, well shit. It's awkward. All she ever talks to me about is how much of a bastard/ass/liar/meanie head he is. I really don't want to get involved. In fact, I don't want to know any details. And she's the blabber-mouth kind of distraught over it that she talks about it ALL THE TIME. Especially at work, even though they work for the same company.

What do we think, kids? Can I handle this?

In other news, a microplane grater would be an excellent Christmas gift. Or belated birthday gift. Your call.

Hee

I am officially caught-up on Glee. Thank you, FOX on demand.

Also, breathing is getting harder. Feeling immobilized more and more.

Ummm. . .I checked-out 27 Christmas CDs from the library today to make me feel better. It made me giggle to realize that all of my Christmas CDs are due on Halloween.

$port came in to visit at work today. That was nice. Exciting really. Easily the highlight of my week.

It made me realize, though, that if I had not been working today, I would likely never see him again. And then I got to thinking about all of the people that were once the driving forces of my life that I will likely never see again. Does the removal of the people I once lived for also remove the meaning of my life? I don't understand how this happened.

It certainly iced the cake that when I got home I was greeted by an invitation to my five year high school reunion. I will be out of town that weekend, so I must send my regrets.

Saturday

I am not going to homecoming. Just thought you should all know...just in case or whatever.

Things have changed for me...

Sorry about the brief hiatus...it's been a busy week. Let's recap:

Monday: worked

Tuesday: worked. Drove to Lansing to drop off my mom at her mom's. Went to Muskegon for rehearsal with the symphony.

Wednesday: Worked 8 hours

Thursday: worked 8 hours, went to Muskegon for rehearsal with symphony. In bed late.

Friday: up way too early, worked 8 hours. Performed Beethoven's 9th with the symphony.

Saturday: Same as Friday

Sunday: Mass came too early. Worked. Went to Art Peers. Accidentally went on date.

Monday: Slept. Slept more. Finished The Lost Symbol. Wow.

Today: Looking for a job. . .again. Beginning to consider part time employment far away.

I'm a double 0

Actual email correspondence:

Hey Aussie,
Next time you're at work, would you check something for me? I returned several books on a Monday morning a week or so ago. My account says one is still checked out, but I KNOW I returned it. I do NOT have this book anymore -- but can't figure out why it appears as if I do.

Can you help?

Thanks so much!

M.

~~~~

No worries, Chic Monica; I've got your back. All taken care of.
~Aussie

~~~~

sounds like subterfuge was involved. do i want to know how you took care of this?

M.

~~~~

It is better that you refrain from asking questions.

Why don't I have one?

I hate having conversations with people about Health Care. It just makes me upset at idiots, bigots, hypocrites, and self-centered jerkfaces.

In other news, I need to get a new job--fast! I am going to kill ABFW relatively soon. Just saying.

Happy! Let's be happy! See friendship overcome all odds!

I can't help it

I saw Boy for the last time for plausibly forever today. We went to lunch. We talked like nothing was wrong. We ignored the elephant of Costa Rica. I'm really proud of myself for refraining from crying.

Best part of the good-bye lunch? We randomly decided to go through a car wash. I have not gone through a car wash since--I don't even know when. It was magical. You know that childlike wonderment that you repress even when you're super excited about something? I can do that around him (MMM, sometimes I do it around you, but then I stop myself for fear of you ripping my eyes out). I will cherish this memory.

Moi, you probably don't want to watch this.

"What we play is life" ~Louis Armstrong

I had super a lot of fun yesterday!

It all started with Mass. The homily was super awesome. I am starting to really like this parish. I am really getting used to sitting alone, but in this parish, it doesn't feel like I'm sitting alone. I don't know how to describe it.

Then! MMM came to visit me at work. There was much frolicking and merrymaking and we looked at the unicorn (see MMM's blog in the near future. I cannot BELIEVE that she has yet to update!!!!!!!1). Then, we went to get Starbucks after work, but were very quickly distracted by the allure of the chocolate shoppe complete with SLURPEES!!!! I had no idea that slurpees would be involved. Bwahaha.

I told Miss M about it today, and she was all about the Slurpee. The root beer flavor really clinched it, I think. Mwahaha.

Ch!pper came into work today freaking out...I asked her what was up and she asked where BestBossEVER! was (at home with a sick child) and then she was like, I really wanted to talk to him and was all not coherent. Naively I asked her what was wrong: "I think I am going to just have to quit."

Okay, bad life choice for her right now. So I sympathetically asked "Are you okay? I am sure that he would let you use some vacation time." Ugh, it was a mess. I left her in Miss M's capable hands, though, so hopefully all is well.

You should be in shampoo commercials

That's what Awkward!Toby said to me the other day.

Sorry about the brief blogging hiatus--I fell and hurt my thumb, so typing and generally functioning has been difficult the past few days. Checking in AV material has been particularly awful.

Hmmm. . . I have not a date tomorrow. That should be fun.

I really have nothing to report. Sorry my life is lame. The job hunt is atrocious, so that's nothing new.

But, I did go to Celebration on the Grand to see the FIREWORKS!!!!!!!!! I flove fireworks. So. Much. Too much, really. I would drive hours to see a fireworks display. They had the crackling kind, the pop into circles kind, the kind where the ends to things...all the major standbys. They also had this super cool kind that I've never seen before (and I was in Boston this past ID4, so you know it was good). I think I shall call them firefly fireworks. They popped into a cluster of bright white spots that then darted about aimlessly for a bit before going out--like FIREFLIES!

Love!

KFH, MLIS

In case you missed it on fb, I dominated my MLIS and am now officially graduated. So, yeah. Unlike Jake Jelsema, AA, I will not be signing my name followed by "MLIS"

It seems like my last graduation was a bigger deal...like, people knew it was coming, so they were all excited. This time it feels like I have to tell everyone in a very braggy way. Not my favorite. I reminded my parents yesterday about it and the response was literally "Yeah, I know." Ugh.

I did not get the Baker job, nor the Chicago job nor the PBG job nor the Interlochen job. I am finally starting to see this bad economy everyone is talking about.

Well, that post was full of cheer. . .sorry about that.

And I thought Gluttony would take the cake

Baker job = no.

BBE thinks it is because I have no managerial experience. He was called to give a reference. . .which apparently entailed a list of 8 questions. I thought references were open-ended, not mini interviews. Ugh. Oh well. Here's hoping LCC comes through!

I find this entertaining.

All in all, I think we're doing okay. This only reinforces my self-imposed ban on living in former confederate states. Just saying. I am impressed with how they figured each map out--like Sloth. It makes sense to look at it that way. But, why, if America is so obese, is Gluttony's map not completely purple?

Trip highlights

To maintain your attention, bullet point formatting.

-The rental car was a Chevy Malibu with Illinois plates. Tots pretended I was from Chicago.

-The scenic drive through was nice. I love driving through mountains

-My hotel was right on the MFL subway line, which runs straight to campus. I def called it the FML line. . .

-The Drexel Dragon.


-The hotel was also right next to City Hall. I could stare at this building all day.



-The city was designed with a large number of squares as small parks and green space--each comes complete with a fountain!



-The Star Trek exhibit was half-off after 6 pm...which is when I had time to go anyway!


**Please note that it says "In Honor of Benjamin Franklin STAR TREK"

-Moi graciously hosted me for lunch on the way back. I missed Moi!

-We ate Italian Ice. I had the Mango flavor. =0)

-We stopped-in at the bike shop. Boy is quite cute and I was rather entertained by the older gentleman.

Moi, I miss busting into your apartment and just talking with you. It was way fun. Let's do it again!

Pop quiz, hot shot

Aussie is almost finished with Grad School. A single term paper remains. A paper that needs to be 20 pages long, "publishable quality" and is, coincidentally due at midnight tonight. Wheeee!

How well do you know Aussie?

After getting home from work at 1:30 p.m., Aussie avoided the 20 page paper she had yet to begin by:

A. Watching a disc of Smallville
B. Runing some errands
C. Making strawberry shortcake
D. Serenading her fish

Good luck, kids!

More about awesome Aussie adventures from this past weekend later! No, really...I need to finish this paper. . .

Look at me!

Drive to Philly= not so much fun by yourself. I left at 8am and got in around 9pm. The hotel does not have its own parking garage. I cannot bring myself to do the whole Valet thing. Too expensive.

So I drove around to find parking and hoofed it a few blocks past many delicious smelling restaurants laden with my bags and by the time I got there I was crazy sweaty. Blech. City heat and I are not friends right now.

The bright side? Ballin' hotel! To use the elevator, you need to insert the room key. Sweet. Plus, there is a library. The most welcome part, however, must have been the bed. I slept very well, thank you.

That was unexpected.

I got a second interview with Baker! Hurrah! Totally unexpected, but I will take it! Now, to figure out what to wear. MMM, I'm looking at you. I guess I'll go shopping while I'm out of town this weekend---for an interview...and then just some fun because I don't have to work and, let's face it, I need a vacation. All previous attempts have failed. Miserably.

Toi, if these job attempts fail, I put in an app at Last Chance College near you. That could be fun! But it's part time. Tragic.

Moi, I can't find my phone right now or else I would text you. Email it is.

Pomme--I miss you. Once I'm settled, let's find a time to be friends. Because I miss you. Plus! Trader Joe beacons me forth. Just saying.

For ever and a day.

So, Penni Lane has been sold.

The new plan? Lola! But not for a very, very long time. Ugh. Stupid farmers.

I've been very...sad...lately. But that all changed on Friday when I did something exhorbitantly out of character. I got a call out of the blue to go to a dinner party followed by a Shakespeare read through. And I went! I went to a random stranger's house, ate their food, and socialized and read As You Like It. And they liked me!

The hosts were a married couple, both English profs. Of course, I did know some of the people present. It was quite delightful, really. The Sangria helped, I am sure. I am so very glad that I went. Who would have thought?

And! The English profs thought that I was a good fit for their group and insisted that I come again, even when the other person that I replaced came as well! Huzzah!

I think it might really have more to do with the fact that I suggested that, should a history be next, I could supply a pair of foils and rudimentary style lessons to make us feel cool. But, we're going to focus on the nice things they said and their compliments and how I made new friends.

I was also pleasantly surprised (as I admittedly have not read As You Like It before) at how many classic Shakespearean quotes come from this latent text. It's got the All the World's a Stage bit, of course, along with the post's title and many tactful means to say "shut up" that I intend to employ. Beware.

So close, yet so not even close

There are no words for this.

Too much is going on to blog about it. I don't even understand what is going on half the time. I think I have ceased giving my attentions.

$port's last day was today. Of course, as soon as he left, the branch apparently imploded, because when I got in four hours after his shift ended, it was redonk. I'm sure in reading the previous sentence, his head became the size of a small elephant. Or maybe it was already that size. Doo doo doo.

What I know for certain: I love potato nachos. Delicious. But they have to be with waffle potato fries. mmmm

3 more weeks

Nothing to blog about.

My brain is congested with the fact that I only have three and a half weeks remaining for this term. . .three, really.

I just want to be done. My courses have devolved into group projects and term papers, so my entertainment level has drastically fallen.

I do not want to do anything. Despite my best efforts, I am doing every assignment mere minutes before it is due. It's just like old times, really.

You can understand, then, that I am very happy that all of my courses seem to be ignoring finals week! I get to spend the last week of term simply lolly gagging and catching up on The Office.

Blast from the past

I officially hate the rental car industry for screwing my on my return trip. A Kia! Even after all of the fees and taxes paid without complaint, they gave me a Kia! Why, cruel fate, why? $190 later, I am home. I went to work today and much to my shagrin (sp?) I still hate my job.

Penni Lane is going to be fixed for her oil pump shenanigans, but then I have to go and get her. Grr. My father thinks that the engine is going to go soon, and that's not worth it, so we are going to pick it up, drive it back and sell it to someone else. Ugh.

In discussing new car options, Uncle Fix It has apparently tracked down a car with Lola's engine that could be a suitable donor. Lola, you guys! The cute, zippy little red car! I love her! So, at least I'll still be at 3 cars in my lifetime if this works out. It's wheat harvest time, so I'll have to be patient for a bit. We shall see what comes of this.

P.S.~Thanks for feeding Carlton while I was gone.

Shhh...Check out the Librarian

Noa is being a beezy. It's kind of ruining my trip. She's acting like taking public transit because Penni Lane is in the shop is the worst possible thing that could have ever befallen her. She complains in "I" statements, like "I had to walk all the way to the bus stop, which took like 10 minutes!" and "I might have to rent a car to get back to Michigan!" as though I A) unaware of these facts and B) did not also walk to the bus stop and C) will magically drive Penni Lane home while she does not. When I tried to point this out, she told me that I was acting like her mom and that I should stop being such a hater. . .Whatever.

Went to the Library with Moi last night--it was pretty nummy. I bought a t-shirt which Noa thinks I will be wearing to work even though I have told her 7 times now that I am not allowed to wear printed shirts unless it is an official KDL shirt. Oh well.

I'll find out about the car tomorrow--that should be fun.

IDK, my BFF Iron City (originally written 23 July, 2009)

Talk about delicious. You guys, I am not a beer person. I’ll drink it if it’s open or purchased for me so as not to let it go to waste, but I would never purchase it for myself. All of this has changed. I love Iron City. Moi says I need to try Yeungling, so I think I shall. I also like Yards—I learned that in Phila. It like the world has opened its arms to me at last. All of this time wasted on main stream shit beer. What was I thinking? What has the popular culture of our fine nation been thinking?

Penni Lane did not like the drive to Pittsburgh as much as she liked the drive to Philly and Boston. She is a bit cranky and I don’t like the ratchet-like sound emanating from her engine. It’s metal on metal which is never good. I hope she just needs oil—that’s what it smells like. It’s a bit odd, though, because the dipstick reads full. I dunno. I shall call Uncle Fix-It and defer to his benevolent wisdom.

I don't know if this is a good thing.

Thanks, Toi, for making me neurotic. I think I might have an aversion to the Michigan accent because I've always been afraid of gaining my mother's UP-er twang. Gross. Oh, and the time stamp is tots accurate.

Which American accent do you have? Neutral You're not Northern, Southern, or Western, you`re just plain -American-. Your national identity is more important than your local identity, because you don`t really have a local identity. You might be from the region in that map, which is defined by this kind of accent, but you could easily not be. Or maybe you just moved around a lot growing up.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

I swear you just had a vacation. . .

Sorry about the week-long hiatus, friends.

My summer has become a tug of war between work, school work, and--well--summer. My weeks have become frantic. I need to cram in as many work hours as I can manage for obvious cash-flow related reasons. To detract further from sleep, I have been taking advantage of summer! This means weekend trips and road trips and just basking in the sun--which I have never done before this summer. I think I may be becoming unrecognizable.

Noa and I are becoming better friends. I am not sure if this is more out of necessity or true friendship or the fact that neither of us really has any one else to turn to. I mean, she answers when I call and we are both willing to drop life to get a beer. I just don't have any other friends like that right now.

So in the frantic working and the weekends of actively doing nothing, I high-tail it through my homework during the first three days of the week. Not my best work. I blame senioritis mixed with summer term! It could be worse, I suppose. 44 days to degree!

Going to see Moi this weekend! You're all jealous, I know. I hope it's not too hot out there. . .

The nice thing about mini-vacations? You get to take more of them! And go more places! And see more stuff!

It's a mess. It's a start. It's a flawed work of art.

Let's see. . .

Got sick this weekend, so original super fun plans were a bust. Instead, I slept a lot and then hung out with Noa for a bit. Her mom knows who I am now and seems to actually like me. Of course, her husband adoring me is a positive factor in this, I am sure.

Noa and I went to see Angels and Demons. I must hand it to the women who brought two toddlers in with her--I did not know that they were in the theater until the CLIMAX of the film. They started crying and carrying on because it had been over an hour and a half and she was telling them very loudly to be quiet. Of course, if I was 4 and had watched someone being eaten by rats, someone burned to death, someone asfixiated, and multiple people shot and killed by slitting of the throat, I would not have made it that long before fussing.

Also, I am steadily becoming less and less okay with going to church alone. It's just no fun.

Oh! My new hair style has garnered me (albiet unwanted) male attentions. I keep on getting hit on, though not from people that I want to hit on me...such as a bike cop. . .

Like what you're doing right now.

I hate it when people lie to me.

Live from Philadelphia

Hey kids!

Penni Lane was very happy to come on this road trip with me, as was Nina!

I'm taking a brief homework break, so this shall be brief.

Drove through the Pennsylvannia turnpike. Surprisingly expensive. But! I really like the rocks! And we drove through 4 tunnels! Yay!

Philly has a very Chicago feel. I am very disappointed by this. It is like a more posh Chicago with a bit more national history. Seriously, the city's style is very preppy. I am terribly underdressed. Oh well.

Ate at Ladder Fifteen. Yumm. They had Blue Moon on the drink list. I was very proud.

Scorpinox is a pretty rockin' name.

A mere 24 hours ago, Mono and I were beginning our Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen adventure. I must say, despite Mono's constant watch-checking and complaints of "Dear God! It's already 2 am and we're not done yet?! I need to work tomorrow, people!" I rather enjoyed the film. No, enjoyed is not the right word. You see, I enjoyed the second Pirates of the Caribbean. I enjoyed the second Matrix film. I *loved* RotF! They kept the same gags, but did not rely on them. The plot was complex enough to keep me involved, but did not lose me or trip all over itself. Michael Bay, of course, did a fantastic job of making me want to simultaneously cheer and vomit from motion sickness.

My only complaint is that the previews sucked. They were all for 12 year olds. Seriously, G-Force? I will happily admit, of course, that I did enjoy this trailer. I am relatively certain that Mr. Shyamalan will not ruin it for me. I mean, any live action of such a fleshed-out cartoon series that compresses three seasons into a single movie is bound to fail a bit, right? But not all the way. . .

On the ride home, Mono and I started talking about how very, very, VERY open the ending was to yet another installment of the lovely franchise.

Me: It would be awesome if they did Beast Wars!

Mono: Yeaaaaaah! I love Beast Wars. The Cheetah!

So we proceeded to talk about the characters from the Beast Wars manifestation and, because Mono thought that Bumblebee was a bee/wasp in this manifestation, and I did not, I told her that I would look it up. And blog it.

Here are the Maximals:

And here is the Wikipedia page, explaining that the Wasp character was evil--not Bumblebee.

Lack of luster

Plain Jane is getting plainer. Her once gold, glistening scales are now a milky white. I don't think she's losing scales because there are none on the bottom of the tank. Of course, Patches could be eating them. He tries to eat everything. EVERYthing. Like, I stuck my hand in there for .3 seconds to dislodge a stuck something and he came over to try to eat me.

So, yeah, Plain Jane is prlly dying.

In other news, my road trip buddy is no longer able to go with me. Le sigh. Do I go without her anyway or do I just give-in and abandon?

$160 dollars that I don't have later...

The wedding was…interesting enough. They used the Hallelujah Chorus as the recessional. When I told Noa about the uneventful events of the wedding, she was appalled that I did not make the most out of the night. I tried to explain that I had gone as someone’s date, so I needed to be on my best behavior.

“Pshhhhaw,” she eloquently replied, “you should have snagged yourself a boy toy. Weddings are crawling with people who are hungry for commitment.”

Me: But…as I said, I was there as someone’s date, I didn’t know anyone outside of said platonic male friend. I couldn’t very well have started making out with some random guy I just met behind the cake.

Noa: It didn’t have to be behind the cake—you could have found a garden terrace or a quiet hallway.

Now she tells me.

----------

Took dad out for the obligatory we don’t actually ever talk, but it’s Father’s Day so I should do something so let’s go to dinner dinner. I asked where he wanted to go and he said “wherever”. Terribly helpful, I know. Well, Mangiamo’s had a free entre for Dad special thing, so I asked if he wanted to go there—it is a bit far away from the house. So that’s where we went. Apparently, I was not clear on the whole Father/Daughter part of this outing, because crazycrankymother and FauxRockBro tagged along. If you’ve never been to Mang, it’s not the nicest restaurant in town, but it is certainly no Applebee’s.

Two things struck me over dinner with the fam: I am astronomically more cultured than they are, and I am astonishingly more courteous than they are. The former can be summed up in the fact that my mother had never heard of crème brulee before this outing. The later can be summed-up in their poor treatment of the wait staff. ::This is me shaking my head in disbelief::

So, the check comes and I cannot allow dad to pay for family dinner on Father’s Day—it just doesn’t seem right. Of course, my mother is a housewife and has no actual assets in life, and FauxRockBro has not had a job in 4 years because he’s working on his music that I had never actually heard him play. Just saying. This is where I start to get frustrated and think that people are idiots and rude and insensitive. My family knows where my paycheck goes. They know that the economy is down and that I have not been able to pick up hours like I have in the past at the Libe. If you weren't paying for your own meal, perhaps you should have thought twice about ordering the $30 steak and the fourth round of top shelf drinks.

So, even though dad got a free entre and I ordered a modest chicken dish and water and splurged on a crème brulee, the bill was a heart-stopping $160—before tip. My entire meal and my father’s desert added up to $32. Good thing I have a credit card. . .

But it's a card game!

I forgot how loud thunder can be. It's kind of weirding me out...just a little.

I was hanging out with a guy the other day. He's tall, brunette, devastatingly handsome, Catholic, and I will never date him. No, I'm not being a whiner. I'm not fishing for complements, either. You see, I would never date him. We were hanging out in a very mixed group of people, and a ginormous red flag reading "No Dice" shot up like a pistol.

We were talking about something silly, and one of the other young gentleman at the table said something to the effect of "Obama's health plan is bullshit. He's just leading us on." And boy got all upset. Yay! I thought, Someone who thinks progressively and socially and also showers! . . . I hope my hair looks okay. If only, friends, if only.

Boy: I'm sorry, I can't sit here any more. I don't tolerate foul language.

Me: [dumbfounded silence. staring in disbelief]

Seriously? Where the fuck were you raised that no one swore? Because it wasn't the city, that's for sure. And I know many farmers who all swear as though no one would understand instructions devoid of expletives. A box, then, I should think. Or by a commune of religious zealots who just so happen to be mutes.

And really, who gets their feathers ruffled over "bullshit"? It's a friggin card game.

Oh well. Wedding tomorrow! That'll be. . .I'll let you know how that one goes.

Gah!

I haven't blogged all week! I'm such a bad person...I'm sorry.

Coop and I chatted for forever today. Love him! He talked me through my vocal drama. He told me not to go to Barbara McCargar--apparently he had a bad experience. Doo doo doo.

I am in the process of job hunting again. I filled out a few online apps. We shall see. I feel horridly underqualified, but I don't think that this is the case. . .I need to get beter at selling myself, I think.

My problem, I think, is that I have so much experience...from undergrad. I feel like I can't use Budget Director as a heavy-hitting bit of experience, you know? I haven't done anything with myself professionally over the past year. Whoops.

The new issue of Gourmet had a wonderful recipe in the back. Yummm. Who am I making these with/for?

Wait...this *isn't* $port's house?

Okay, I'll admit it. I had fun at $port's open house. Of course, I stayed far longer than I intended (no offenbse, $port). You see, BestBossEVER and MissT and husband and DaBoss and hubbie and AuntieV were all there when I arrived, so I hung out with them. Then, ChicMonica appeared with her lovely daughter and I hadn't seen her in ages! Such trendy sunglasses, such friendly conversation...I had to stay! And then ...coworked that I like but haven't named on the blog yet...came. I couldn't leave her all alone!

Then a million gazillion proffs from undergrad institution came and I had to play catch-up with Michael DeRoose (if you guys get that reference, I have a new reason to love you). And then, out of nowhere, it was 5:30. Okay, bye!

My radiator continues to foil me. I couldn't figure out how to get the fan out of the engine compartment so that I could access the radiator to remove it. Daddy didn't know either, but I gave him a super-sad face. He told me that he would fix it tonight and that I could drive his car to work today! Yay! Poor Penni Lane...it's not her fault that the engine design is jumbled and non-conducive to repair.

Hmmm...what else...oh! Sr. Jean is retiring, so Susannah is already asking me about taking her position after she leaves. . .I don't know how I feel about working at GHL...

I learned how to play Canasta last night! It's a slower, less fun version of rummy (Rummie?).

That's all for now!

Coolant leak!

I'm glad that, like the good girl that I am, I checked the fluids in Penni Lane today. My super awesome powers of observation led me to discover a CRACK in my radiator.

DADDY!!!!!!!! Fix my car!!!!!!!!

In other news, Pumpkin Angel Food cake...batter was delicious...not so much on the baked product. Bummer. Super bummer.

I got an A+ in Technical Services!

No, really, that's one of the courses that I took and I got an A+

What other cool, hip, trendy but feasible thing should I do to my way too cool for school website?

I already included the pic of that R2D2 cake that I made, so I don't know how much more awesome it can handle. There must be a limit on that, right?

How did we get here, how the hell?

So long, good friend.

I can't believe that I am saying "good-bye" all over again. It **sucks** I think this good-bye syndrome is why I've been replaying RENT in my head for the past few weeks.

I year has passed and I feel that I have nothing to show for it. I have made no advances, I am, essentially, just as I was before. I don't want to be. I don't want to live here anymore. I don't want to be enthralled in the same drama.

And yet, I have such resolute doubts. Where else could I go where I can sing in prestigious choirs without auditioning? Where else can I have snow and a job and a car and summer?

I am trapped here.

Well, at least I get the Davinci Horse, Yesterdog, and Beltline Bar, to name a few.

What undergrad program were you in again?

I hate working in groups. Like, school work, not work work. Well, I might hate it later in life, but group work at work work just means that things get done more pleasantly and at a quicker pace.

You see, friends, I always end-up working with people with domination complexes. Now, I'm not saying that I don't have a controlling personality. I realize that I am the kind of person that will redo something if it is incomplete, and if it is a group paper, I demand edit time. Because that's just a good idea.

So, there's this girl in my group who has an undergrad degree in pre-med, decided that she didn't have the right stuff to be a doctor, so she wants to work at a medical library instead. Not judging her, I promise. As someone who majored in science, however, she sucks ass at writing. I haven't seen such long sentences since I read Dickens. So, I fixed them. And then I sent the editted draft back to the whole group and said...feel free to take another peak.

She reinserted all of her original text and said that I had changed the meaning of her work by making it grammatically correct. Grrr. Other writing pet-peeves: she began every third sentence with "However" NO COMMA! even when it was a correct use; "there" was present in far too many sentences, considering you should avoid its use like the plague; she would begin numbering things and then just stop using numbers halfway through the list.

Okay, rant over.

In other news, I might be allowed to speak again tomorrow! That'll be fun!

Talent is a myth

Plain Jane, the fish in my aquarium, is looking sickly.  Like, she's losing scales...or maybe they are just paling, as I have found no mound of scales at the bottom of the tank.

Patches and Hailey the Comet seem to be unaffected.  Carlton's looking good, though, isn't he?  So is Connor the Betta.  I saved him!  From Meijer!  Stupid Meijer...

In other news, one class down, three to go.  Ugh.  Hate shit week.  I hope to finish another class tonight or tomorrow, a third by Saturday night, and the 4th Sunday.

So...yeah.

Watch this:

Because if you don't, I will

Overcast weather like today makes me sleepy.  Which is okay, because so does my homework.  I hate that all of my courses have projects instead of exams.  Exams are far more manageable, timewise.  I wish that at least one of my courses had a writen exam.

In other news, I might have vocal nodules or nodes.  They're like blisters on your vocal cords.  Gross.  My normal doctor gave me the name of a ear/nose/throat specialist, but I can't get in until Thursday.  It was really weird...my doctor told me not to talk or sing of whisper or laugh or clear my throat or consume dairy or do anything else that might irritate my cords.  

Fingers crossed!

In other news, I am of the opinion that I need to find a new job.  I hate looking right now, though.  It's terribly depressing.  Terribly.

Should I have worn a skirt?

Epic.  That is the best word to describe the Bachelor Party I went to last night.

We played Diplomacy at one point.  It was intense.  Also, a lot of guitar hero.

I got home just before 5am.  Hee.  I am very impressed that I actually woke up for Mass this morning.  I am also glad that I do not have to work tomorrow so that I might catch-up on all of that precious sleep.

Of *course* I don't remember 1989.

Friends, how old is too old for me to date?  I know that I will never date anyone under 21...but how old is too old?  30?  28?

For entertainment purposes:

Plain Jane

Just one of those days.

I am going to a bachelor party on Saturday.  Part of me doesn't think that they realize that I am a girl...  But they're good, church going boys, so it shouldn't be too awkward.

I called someone by someone else's name at work today as an insult...like, to get the point across that they were acting like someone that they normally bitch about.  She just stared at me.  Then she said, "Uh! You just called me ___."  I stared back at her.  "I know."  Blank.  Stare.  "It was on purpose..." Blaaaaank Stare.  "...because you're acting like her...?"

Ugh.  Idiot.

ooo! oOo!  New thing!  New thing!  I loves them!

Hmmm...

I hate that I have to do homework on what should be a nice, relaxing, long weekend.

* sigh *

I went to see Star Trek with my daddy, because he loves Star Trek.  When I was little, the only time I spent with my dad was when we watched Star Trek together.  Imagine my complete shock when he did not even chuckle once during the entire film.  He **hated** it.  Ugh.  Dear God!  What have I done wrong to incur this wrath?

Study break!

Draw a line in the sand and then make a stand

For some reason, I have had RENT showtunes stuck in my head.  Don't get me wrong, I adore RENT.  It has had a significant impact on my life.  I haven't listened to it since Kimmmmmm, Mono and I went to see it and I can still sing the whole thing through.

What has begun to boggle my mind about this sudden infusion of a long-running, award-winning, life-altering Broadway musical.  You see, I don't believe any of the thinking that drives the cast.  I don't have AIDS.  In fact, I don't know that I know anyone who has AIDS...  There is more than just today.  I am responsible.  I have never played hookey, let alone skipped out on the Rent for the past year, squatting in a random building.  Oh, and I don't throw bruning trash out of my 5th story window.  I don't even have that cool voice mail thing going.  I should start that.  

But now, it leaves me with all of these questions and quandries...

How do you leave the past behind when it keeps finding ways to get to your heart?  

I should tell you, I shoudl tell you--no!

Will I lose my dignity?  Will someone ca-a-a-a-a-are?  Will I wake tomorrow from this nightma-are!?

Why am I the witness?

Why would anyone even consider measuring their life in cups of coffee?

How did I get here?

Why is Roger's great song that's supposedly going to bring him fame so very, very lame?

Should we open up a restaurant in Sante Fe?

Does Mono live in CyberLand?  They only drink Diet Coke. . .

What if Mimi hadn't knocked on Roger's door?

In the original cast, why does one of the only gay cast members play a straight character?

Will you light my candle?

We'll live in fame or go down in flame!

I don't get Memorial Day Weekend.  In fact, I dislike it.

A)  The library is closed, so I can't pick up any hours

B)  Few people actually do truly Memorial Day things...I actually have no idea what these might be.

C)  Gas prices go way up

I've had the Air Force song stuck in my head as of late for no apparent reason.  I find it a bit....odd...that one of the lines is "We'll live in fame/or go down in flame" and every verse ends with the line "Nothing'll stop the U. S. Air Force"  I think that if we went down in flame, that would put a stop to the air force.

Just saying.

Carlton

I have a new best friend.  His name is Carlton.

Feel free to feed him!

I can't help myself

This reminded me of watching Star Trek with Mono.

::During the scene where Kirk, Sulu, and another cadet are going to destroy the drill thing::

Mono: [whispering ineffectively] Who's the other guy?

Me: [actually whispering] Random red shirt who's going to die...

And then he died.

Hungary

After much heckling, I will post.

Auntie V and I are planning to go to Hungary for Robin Hood training camp.  She's in love with Richard Armitage.  It's adorable.

I am upset with local movie theater conglomerate that now has a monopoly in town.  A student ticket used to be $5...it is now $7.  Also, they used to have the first matine cost $4.75.  No longer.

Hate.  At least they haven't cancelled the Big Screen Movie Club yet.  Cause I like getting points.

If you wear orange on St. Patrick's Day, they will car bomb you.

I still haven't finished this effing exam.  My brain simply does not want to.

Slept for 14 hours last night.  Whoops.  Having trouble moving today.

I'm making this later tonight, for work meeting tomorrow.

I am also entertaining the idea of making cookies...mainly because I want some.

I told my kids last week that if you wear orange on St. Patrick's Day, it is an insult to the Irish.  Someone then asked me what an Irish Car Bomb is.  I chose to tell them about the Northern Ireland strife instead of the festive drink.  Of course, I have yet to learn how to expertly craft my statements, so last night, one of my kids wanted me to explain again why if you wear orange in Ireland they'll car bomb you becasue his friend didn't believe him.

Hee.

I = Best religious ed teacher EVER!

Pain in my side.

Since when don't I have any friends?

Ten questions separate me from freedom

That's right.  Ten.  And they are multiple guess.

The Weekend.

Friday:

Happy Friday the 13^th!

Feeling much better today.  Have stopped throwing up from aforementioned poisoning.  Calling it food poisoning makes me think that someone must have done this on purpose; that someone is trying to kill me.

Drove to Michigan City.  Took Northern Indiana Commuter Train to Chicago.  Gave someone directions to their hotel.  SmallFry came to pick me up and we proceeded to his apartment.  I did not realize that he was so close to the water tower.  You know where Borders is on Michigan Ave?  He is situated just south of there.  Sooooo cool!

I think that all Catholic dorms have the same furniture.  Well, last year, in the freshmen dorms, he did not have nice furniture.  It looked more like a dorm out of a State College than anything else.  In the downtown apartments, however, he is living the good life with stackable furniture much like our alma mater.  So much cleaner.

 

Saturday:

Irish Car bombs, green Jell-o shots, and green beer began at 9:30 am.

Left apartment with 8 others at 11:30, Jameson and Coke in hand.

Took pictures of green river.  Proceeded to Grant Park.  Called some peoples.  Watched some of the parade.

Walked back to apartment.  Pit-stop for Taco Bell on the way.  Got separated from SmallFry.  Returned to dorm with others.  He had locked door.  Little Bastard.  Passed-out in random apartment on the couch.  Woke-up.  SmallFry still not awake; door locked, phone goes unanswered.  Watched Notting Hill on the tele.

SmallFry finally wakes-up, reads text.  Apologizes a lot.  Brings me Chipotle.

Drinking resumes.

 

Sunday:

Decided against SouthSide Parade…would be too hard to escape.

Loitered.  Went to Trader Joe’s.

Caught commuter train back to Penni Lane.

Food poisoning sucks.

That's all I have to say about that.

Cooookies!

Girl Scout Cookies, anyone?

I feel like a libraaaaaaar-ian!

Mariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!

Do any of you know the new icon's origin?

I was hit on today by someone whom I know for a fact is married.  No, not BestBossEVER!  Mono, pull that mind out of the gutter.

By abfw's husband.

Ugh.

Why did I consent to going to Billy's...it was either him or JVP...  **shudders**

Won't we look purty in the ballroom?

I'm not dying anymore.

Also, I do not have Mono.

Going to visit SmallFry in Chi-town this weekend.  Going places alone is depressing, but I'll be drunk the whole time, so that probably only adds to the depressing bit.

Feel unloved, unwanted more and more.  Kind of sucks.  Actually, no: it *really* sucks.

For Mono

Ugh.  Don't ask me how I found this.  No, really, don't--it's a boring story, not much of a laugh.

http://rosefromearth.blogspot.com/

C'est le...?

I don't get it.

Someone explain it to me.

Please tell me!

I'm a little disconcerted that none of you know my favorite color.

This, of course, led me to the realization that I do not know any of *your* favorite colors.  Though, I could entertain a guess.

Please tell me!

Top ten things I need to learn to do:

Thing #100

I'm really glad that I did my happy blogiversary post yesterday, because this is a post of sadness.

I have been crying for just over two hours now.  I've never cried for this long.  I didn't realize so much water was in me.

MMM, I don't think I will be up for playing tomorrow.

Please, everyone, send me good vibes this weekend and into next week.  It's going to be a hard one.

#99

How am I only to 99 on this cursed thing?  Well, I shall celebrate 99 in a way no man (or woman) has ever done before!

First, two of my favorite things: Les Mis and NPH

Second, two of my favorite things: Hugh Jackman and aweful hair.  Skip to 2:35.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjRNxUadPGo

Third, a token, really, a triffle!  A random fact about me!  I can only wink with one eye, and even that wink seldom ends-up as a wink.  Mostly, it looks like I'm squinting.  Squinting with questionable intentions.

Fourth, and finally, something wonderful.  To whomever knows my favorite color, claim your something wonderful.

Aussie needs some gin.

Ever do that thing where you google your name and then a verb to see what comes up?

First one: needs.  Apparently, Google knew that I needed a drink, and decided that I should sip from the glory of a pine tree.  If Google were more perceptive, it woul dhave said that I need a friend.  Oh well.

I only slept for 9 hours last night.  It's been going down little by little.  yay.

I have to work at scuzzy branch tomorrow.  Why did I agree to work there?  I mean, I need the dollars and all, but do I really nees dollars that much?  Oh well...

I enjoyed this.

A class act

Apparently, I like high brow music.

Today at work in the back room, I was listening to a selection of Arias to pick a new one to learn and I got multiple comments. I mentioned to the first co-worker to make a comment about my music selection that I was vetting a new song to learn and she just stared. It was a bit unnerving. Then she said "Really?"

I stopped mentioning that after it was clear that that reason was even odder.

To add eveidence to the point, I really like this cover. Two of my favorite instruments!

Merr.

Old Hickory

Friends, I have often wondered at the nickname of our 7th President.

No, not the "American Lion" bit, the "Old Hickory" bit.

I know that he was a considerable opponent on the battlefield, relentless, even, especially in New Orleans, but why does that translate to "Hickory"?

And then Uncle FixIT! answered my question.  I was chatting with him in the barn and he asked me to pass him a shovel. . . so I did.  "No."  he said, scoffing at my city-girl choice of a sturdy-looking metal handled shovel with a pointy blade.  "The ground is frozen.  Give me the one with a hickory handle."

Ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh.

Hickory is used for the sturdy handles of farm tools, such as shovels, as well as walking sticks because it doesn't give way or bend and break easily like other woods.

My life is now complete.