Winning at Life February 28, 2008

I am the biggest nerd in the world. I just discovered I have the ability to video blog. Or just video myself. Or talk to my computer and delete the evidence quickly. I was inspired to see if such web mastery was possible after semi-watching the premiere of “Quarterlife” last night, (anyone else catch that? what are your thoughts?).  Just wait internets, wait until you get me in print AND video. Your mind will explode. However is not the reason I’m a nerd.  I’m a nerd because I’ve had my Mac since June and I’m just figuring out how to work iMovie.  Lest you forgot the weeks it took me to stumble my way around wordpress, this is not “techno-girl blogs,” it’s more like “no-tech-knowledge girl blogs”.
Aside from having to educate myself in this new-fangled vlogging/video creating mess, I’m in a great mood. I’ve made good on my promise to spend more time in the company of Mr. Treadmill and Ms. Leafy Green Vegetables and my body is thanking me for it. Also I’m back on the barrage of vitamins, including Omega-3’s which I swear make me feel like a whole different (read: happier) person.

AMD, my yoga instructor/perfect posture/so-nice-you-want-to-strangle-her-sometimes friend and I decided that the duathlon would be a better goal for us than a triathlon.  I had visions of myself drowning mid-swim. I haven’t mastered the whole “swim and breathe” concept and  after about 2 lengths I feel like I’m drowning.  Anyway the 2 mile run-17 mile bike-5k run will work better for us and I’m looking forward to sending in my registration and having something to work towards at the gym. Currently now the biggest thrill I get at the gym is trying to figure out what the closed captioning was supposed to say on all the televisions that are inconveniently set to Fox News. Gag.

I’ve also been ridiculously good about getting shit done. My room is semi-clean and organized. My mornings have been much less rushed (yet I still cannot manage to get to work on time), and everything has been going swimmingly (except for the swimming, as you probably figured out…).

Since I don’t have class on Wednesdays I had the afternoon to do my own thing, and taking a hint from Chelsea I tried to fill some of my “well.” I picked up some titles from a local bookstore that’s closing and made out like a bandit and then I spent some time at Walgreen’s today trying to find the perfect shade of red lipstick that will make me look like my new girl crush- Kat Dennings in “Charlie Bartlett.” Since I’m rocking the black hair, fair skin look right now I feel it’s only appropriate to have some pin-up girl red lipstick to complete the retro-sexy look.

 Love!

She even has a blog: KAT! Where some crazy homemade music videos can be found.

Back to Walgreens: I don’t know about you, but I get sucked into drug stores. I stood there, debating between Royal Red, Penelope Red, British Red, Summer Red, Ravishing Red, Briar Rose Red, etc. for at least half an hour. It sucks to shop at drug stores because unlike higher end places you can’t try anything and you’ll still be out nine bucks for a tube of lipstick.  So I’m standing there, holding up handfuls of  lipstick to the tiny little mirror trying to see what particular shade of crayola crayon-named lipstick would look the best on my Irish girl death-pale skin.  And then, by the grace of all that is makeup, a bright light came down from the halogen bulbs and illuminated the “Last Chance!” lipstick selection.  And out of the 10 that remained,  I found my shade. For $3.49. I win.

Now if I could only find the perfect red, non-peep-toe, non-patent leather high heeled shoe I’d be a happy consumerist camper.

Truths February 26, 2008

The rest of my immediate family is currently soaking up the sun in Disney world. I am soaking up the NEPA slush that’s accumulated everywhere. I’m not bitter. Well, maybe a little.

My week feels all backwards because I haven’t seen boyfriend since Saturday. Tonight we’ll remedy that. I never thought I’d find someone who’s absence made me crazy, usually it’s just the opposite, after a few days I’m ready to have some alone time. This boy has me all topsy turvey. I like it.

I didn’t fail accounting. I actually ended up with a 3.5. Boyfriend says I’m not allowed to worry about grades ever again. Who’s he kidding?

I’m sad that there are no tickets left for the Eddie Izzard show at the Union Station Theatre. I really wanted to go, but I don’t really want to go by myself and the only tickets that I’ve found are 100+ dollars. While I may be totally willing to pay that much for a live performance of my favorite comedian, my friends are not.

For once, I was pleasantly surprised by my scale.

I’m halfway through the book I’m reading, (TheCIotheDItheN, see What I’m Reading section) and I have to say, I’m not sure what the big deal is. It’s good, but definitely won’t be making my favorites list.

I think I’ll be taking this coming week (Sun-Sun) to complete one of my 101 in 1001, no internet for a week.

 

Me February 25, 2008

I am moonlight path lotion and heavenly mist, straightened hair with renegade curls, heels and bare feet, and unmanicured nails. I am mismatched at the gym and matchy at work. I am water in a coffee mug and a paper covered desk. I am texting you instead of calling you and make up only on occasion. I am one-purse-at-a-time, two books at a time. I am ice cream and turnips, chocolate and shirataki. I am a sister, a coach, a lover, a daughter, a writer, a blogger, a runner, a friend, a liberal, a woman, a student, a feminist, a teacher, a dreamer, a joyful girl. I am a messy car, a messy room, an organized fridge.

I am long island iced teas, and imported beer. I am John Steward for news, Oprah for life. I am anti-blue ink, ugg boots, PINK clothes and any dance involving the word “slide.” I am lilacs and lilies, daisies and lupins.

 

Who are you?

Hmmm February 25, 2008

I’m currently avoiding studying for a midterm by 1) writing here, 2) reevaluating my life, and 3) wasting my “one wild and precious life” on the internets.

My thoughts, in no particularly order…

• I hope I don’t fail this test tomorrow.
• I should be studying
• Should I go all out and attempt a sprint length triathlon or play it safe with the duathlon?
• I need to figure out what a good training program is for such an undertaking.
• I need to make a variety of phone calls. Boo. I hate the phone.
• I wonder if Kinko’s could blow up images for me, and if I take it to them digitally or on paper
• I can’t wait for St. Patrick’s Day
• My family is in Disney world without me, and that kinda sucks.
• But next week brings a trip to CT and the adoption of a different persona.
• I need to buy myself flowers more often. It’s 5 dollars well spent.
• I have 3 articles to write, a pizza party to throw, and dean’s list to put together this week. Busy.
• I need to clean my room before I go to bed.
• I really enjoyed Charlie Bartlett, I keep thinking about it.
• I miss boyfriend.
• I’m really jonesing for a new ring, something with a colorful stone. Maybe one of these? Pictures after the jump.

Home February 23, 2008

I go home to work.

I drive 45 minutes, sometimes in the snow (NEPA does not get to experience Spring. We run on a Winter, Still Winter, Almost Winter, and Construction calendar) to swipe my silly card and sit on an uncomfortable chair for 8 hours and talk to sick people.

But I get to see my momma. And my kitty.

So it’s ok.

Things That Were Not Such Good Ideas February 20, 2008

-that third long island

-calling a woman for information on her late husband, and addressing him as Henry instead of Harvey

–then making one of her sons a girl by accident…I hate gender neutral names.

-forgetting my gloves and scarf at home

-drunken texting

-exclaiming, “if I could have a threesome with any two dead guys it would definitely be Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra”

 

Welcome to my life.

I always think I should be writing while I’m driving February 20, 2008

Now before you go calling the police and the State Farm Safe Drivers guy let me assure you, I only think I should combine the two, never have I actually done it. To my knowledge. While the car was in motion. Maybe once or twice at a stop light.

Anyway, the reason for this is simply-I have really great epiphanies while I’m behind the wheel of my little blue car.
I talk to myself. If something is bothering me immensely I tackle it on the 45 minute drive home. I’ve talked myself to tears once or twice. It’s great really, it’s like therapy only I don’t have to pay anyone and I get to play both parts. Obviously I don’t play this game when I’m traveling with other people. That would just be weird. “Hey guys, sorry but I’m going to be talking to myself for the next hour, it’d be really great if you didn’t interrupt. I have progress I need to make.” Not so much.
Lately I’ve not had to utilize my traveling therapy couch for anything pressing so I’ve been covering more interesting causal topics of one-sided conversation. Tonight I tackled the subject of tattoos. I’m not a fan of tattoos. Probably because I’m not a fan of anything involving needles or the word “permanent.” It took me 21 years to dye my hair. I’m not a fan of permanency.  Add to that the fact that my high school was infiltrated with girls who bought themselves “tramp stamps” for their 18th birthday and boys who thought barbed wire armband tattoos made them tough. Add to that my mother swearing up and down that ¾ of those tattoo wearing teens definitely received Hepatitis from the needle that the artist named Butch probably pulled out of a moldy drawer and you can see why I don’t desire any body art. I’m not a fan of commitment, I don’t want to be a part of the barbed wire crowd, and I am afraid of a long painful death caused by a sparrow etched on my hip by a gross biker man.
Also I think most tattoos are trashy by nature. I said “most” so don’t get all Mean Girls on me if you happen to love the ink.
It’s just not my bag. I don’t want one.
That being said, I have my just-in-case tattoo already picked out and the body location decided upon.  Because, and the following situation is entirely within the realm of possibility, what happens if one night I’m stumbling out of a bar with Sazza and we happen to walk by a parlor and she drunkenly exclaims, “Let’s get tattoos!!?”
I’ll tell you what would happen. I would say, “Yea! Good idea! I love you! TattooOOoooos!” And the last thing I’d want to happen would be myself drunkenly picking out some huge butterfly or Chinese symbol that Sazza and I would get inked in identically inappropriate places and then wake up in the morning realizing that I’d have to stare at the huge squiggly symbol that probably means something like “booger” in Chinese on my chest or hip forever.
So I have a plan. My just-in-case-i-jump-off-the-deep-end tattoo plan is thus: my own personal signature symbol on the second toe of my left foot.  Pretty, unique, discrete and totally shameless. I got the toe tattoo idea one day when I was walking around Manhattan on a school trip. While waiting to cross the street I just happened to look down to see a smiley face tattooed on the toe of a woman standing in front of me.  I thought it was a great idea. I mean who really pays that much attention to toes? How easy is it to conceal a toe? What article of clothing would a toe tattoo put in jeopardy? The answers: no one, very, and flip-flops. So there you have it.
Just in case you were wondering.

The Letter Series February 18, 2008

Dear Girl Scouts,

Damn you and your cuteness. And your caramel delights. You knew I had exactly 4.00 dollars to spare and you lured it out of me with your promise of cookie goodness and cute green outfits. I have never bought a box of your devil cookies until today, something I was strangely proud of, and now, alas, I can no longer say I am a cookie virgin. I will eat these cookies, but believe me I will blame your organization and delicious cookies for the havoc on my waistline.

Yours in packaged cookie-bliss,

Unsuspecting Co-Ed

 

Dear Accounting Class,

I hate you with the fire of all of Hades. You who made me feel confident until I opened that awful final, I will not be singing your praises ever again. You and I will have some battles to fight over the next ten weeks, and I swear to you that I am armed with a calculator and a sharpened pencil and I will not surrender! Until of course, you drag every bit of fun out of my life and make me whine to boyfriend about how I’m dumb and unable to understand the gibberish of your pages which obviously means I’ll fail out of my program and have to spend the rest of my life answering the phones at the hospital…but until then, watch out!

No love,

Frustrated MBA Student

 

Dear Weather Gods,

Thank you for making it a balmy 45 degrees outside today. I actually left my house in shorts. It’s kind of depressing, in a way, that 45 could feel so summery, but by God I’m grateful. Now can we talk about this supposed reversion to 32 degrees that’s scheduled to occur tomorrow? How about we move that back to say, Friday? A few more 45’s would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Cold Blooded Summer Girl

 

 

Dear Annoying Freshman Students Who Don’t Answer Emails,

Could you please, please, please, please answer your damn email?

This would make my life as a GA much more enjoyable. I’m trying to plan a pizza party for your lazy asses. The least you could do is send me a sentence with your availability.

Don’t make me call your cell phones,

Sincerely,

Disgruntled Marketing Graduate Assistant

 

Dear Treadmill at the Gym,

You and I will be meeting again soon.

I promise.

Say tomorrow at 2:00? It’s a date. Be ready to work.

Sincerely,

Girl Whose Lungs Are Functioning Again

 

Dear Local Newspaper,

Thank you for finally recognizing our top shooter for the talent that he has. It’s nice to know that repeated perfection, and a district win is enough to earn him a spot as athlete of the week.

Sincerely,

Proud Assistant Coach

Pondering February 18, 2008

The hallway smells like fishsticks.

I can’t remember the last time I had fish sticks. I think it must have been during the hayday of snap bracelets and pogs.

I’m ok with that.

There are some things, like fish sticks, that should be left as childhood memories.

Yes, I’m Alive February 18, 2008

Hey there internets, I’m still kicking and I missed you all. I’ve been keeping up on google reader but the past few days have been hellish and I haven’t been able to spare a few seconds to write an update until right now.

In a nutshell I spent Tuesday-Thursday on my mom’s couch letting her make me soup and grilled cheese and utilizing her cable tv. I also slept an insane amount and left all my school work go until this weekend. I wrote a paper in 2 hours and sent it in 20 minutes before its due date and turned in my harder-than-it-should-have-been accounting final 15 minutes after the deadline. I have a bad feeling about that final. I really should have spent more time learning the material. Cross your fingers for me.
Anyway I’m feeling almost 100% better, but I’m seriously dreading the workweek and my 5 pages of inbox messages. We have 2 women’s studies events happening this week, which of course I’m supposed to be in charge of and since I wasn’t on campus all last week none of the promotional work was done. I told my advisor that I think I’m relinquishing my control over the club after this semester. I’ll still run the conference, but I just can’t function as President of  club that has no active members. It’s frustrating and unfair. So, though it’ll kill me to watch the club that I started die, I think it’s a loss I have to take. Besides I need to make room in my schedule for new experiences and opportunities. Like working on research with F-Files Feminist radio!
I’m just ready for February to be over. March brings me spring break with my lovely cousin and her friend! We’re going to spend a few days in an inn in Connecticut and go wine tasting and horseback riding. We’re going to pretend to be Gilmore Girls and just chill out. It’ll be so nice. I can’t wait!

Also, I promise to write something more interesting than my daily prattle in the near future!