So NOT kosher at the grocery store

As I looked down into my little basket, this combination made me chuckle:
I have clearly spent way too much time thinking about foreigners' dietary restrictions.

Don't you just love when you buy stuff online and then a week later, you get presents delivered to your door?


Like lovely new spring clothes on sale at Banana Republic.


And new fun shoes from Old Navy.


And boxes and boxes of grains you bought in bulk because they don't sell them in stores.









(Wait, what was that last one?)


I'm all set on this stuff for the next year. Okay, three years. Yay!

Things That Continue to Baffle Me About the East Coast

1. The fact that the mulch that is used by everyone from little old ladies to companies with sidewalk flowerbeds is really, really pungent and foul smelling. I know they don't have to use this stuff, because other places also mulch their flower beds with far less terrible odors.

2. The need for all drivers to back into parking spots as though some sort of quick get-a-way is imminent.

3. The incredulous response you will receive when explaining you'll be driving 3+ hours "just to get away for the weekend."

Word to the wise

It's not very smart to start pondering your dinner options when you still have to be at work for another hour. Not only am I annoyed that I'm still here, but now I'm hungry too.

Signs I might be aging

Hello interweb,

Today is my birthday! I am now 28. I've spent most of my birthday so far writing work emails and answering the occasional birthday call/email. Getting in touch with all of you lovely people out there is my favorite part...but the presents, they are also nice too :).

I took off yesterday as a present to myself, since it just wasn't going to happen for today with my work schedule, and let me tell you, I sure do know what I need, present-wise. I didn't even do anything exciting: I slept in, I ran errands, I began a major overhaul of my room. Everything just seemed nicer though: I slept with the windows open with a hint of a fall breeze coming in, I ran all of my errands in record time since no one was around, and my room is actually approaching some form of organization, which it hasn't in well...years. I also picked up my new glasses (which are very nerd chic - I like them). Then later I met up with friends and ate Caribbean food in the park, picnic-style. There was (and will be) no big party, no bar hopping, no super fancy dinner, but I am already relaxed as I head to the beach for the weekend, and that in and of itself is a lovely birthday place to be.

Sound investing

- Aquaphor lip balm
- Cetaphil lotion
- Planter's Cheeze Balls
- OPI nail polish
- Mylanta
- Gap clothing
- Nine West shoes

Given the amount of business that I personally give to each of the above, I'm thinking buying stock in some of them might be a nice way to balance myself out.

Of course, that assumes I have money with which to buy stocks :).

Association

There's been a lot of talk amongst my various groups of friends about showers, both baby and bridal. And most of the time, I end up thinking, "Hmm, I could really go for some cake right now."

This is getting way out of control

Okay, so I know I mentioned a little while ago that I started crocheting, and have yet to post any sort of photographic evidence to that effect. However, that does not mean that I haven't been making things. Lots of things. Some things are completed, some are mostly finished but lacking one last little touch for them to be totally done (i.e. those Christmas slippers I made for all of you guys...), some are just started, and others I just have big plans for. The list currently includes: slipper add-ons, two baby blankets, a wrap, a sweater, and a throw blanket. And that's only what I could think of off the top of my head.

In addition to the crocheting, I also am trying to learn how to knit. Sort of slow going in the very literal sense: crochet is much more instant gratification because it progresses really fast, and I'm realizing that I'm a very instant gratification kind of girl (reference any past shopping posts, if you doubt this!). So far I have about two squares of a scarf, and I haven't had any huge gaping holes in these squares, so at least that's progress from anything else I've tried to knit.

Then a friend gave me a lamp base (i.e. a lamp with no shade), and any sane person would just go buy a new shade. But me? I thought, "I will make a shade! With beads! Melted beads!" So I then began this process of melting beads in my oven in a muffin tin and then remelting the circles together to form a sheet that forms one side of a square lamp cover. I ran out of beads about halfway through, so I'll finish the rest of it later. It's going to be so awesome when it's done though, probably around this time next year, given my current rate of progress.

Most recently I was reading about people who make homemade soap, and as I am addicted to all things bath product, I am already thinking about jumping on that bandwagon. There may be an outside hook-up with this activity though, so I won't have to also do this in our kitchen. I'm hoping anyway.

But just imagine, if I actually become good at any of this stuff, many of you are going to be on the receiving end of some kick-ass presents!

Happy Valentine's Day

Now, let me be upfront. This is not my favorite "holiday." It's not that I am sad or lonely because of it, but mostly because I think Valentine's Day is silly.* Silly in an oversaturation of diamond commercials and 1-800-flowers ads, how does one express one's love in relation to chocolate sort of way. I've mentioned this before, so I won't belabor the point.

But on the other hand, I am all for the food holidays. Christmas and Thanksgiving are of course included in these, as is Halloween (candy!) and Easter (my dad makes this killer chicken with walnut sauce...). I suppose St. Patty's is included, if you consider green beer a food, and don't forget 4th of July, which usually involves some sort of barbecue with lots of sides, at least in Texas. All this is to say, I enjoy eating, and eating for an occasion - well, I do enjoy theme parties too. So Valentine's Day: everything is either pink or red (love that) and there are many scrumptious treats everywhere you turn. For instance, I am going to a little get-together tonight, where there will be fondue (mmm...melted cheese to dip things in...) and other treats. I made red cupcakes with a creamy, fluffy icing. I'm sure there are many people planning to go out to fantastic restaurants for a romantic evening. So despite all of the hype and ugly heart-shaped jewelry running around, Valentine's has my approval for celebration (as if it needed, right? But I give it nonetheless).

So bon appetit, mes amis, and have a delicious Valentine's Day!

*In the spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that I do not have a Valentine, so perhaps my views will change when one appears. Somehow I doubt it.

Something you should know about me

I take immense pleasure in using a thread ripper to tear off obnoxious little bows that always appear on random clothing, particularly pajamas.

Also, I had pomegranates for dinner.

So I'm back from this long, rather unintended hiatus, to bring you all a list of what pretty much boils down to selfishness. In other words, things that I have found strange, and I wanted to share. If you participate in any of the following, this is your clue to never let me know, unless you want to be mocked:

-Couple profiles/email addresses: Seriously people, are you so much into the identity of being with someone, in a couple, proving that you do have a significant other, etc. that the idea of having something still all by yourself is too much to bear? I think the jimandalicesmith@hotmail.com-types are about the dorkiest thing ever. Ditto with any sort of profile, especially on places like myspace or friendster. The whole point is for it to be JUST YOU, not the both of you.*

-The other day, there was a big rainstorm here. I was taking the bus home, and of course didn't have an umbrella. I made it, damply, under the bus stop, to then fight for space with a women who had her umbrella open. Under the bus stop. Where there was no rain. She stood like that for 20 minutes, waiting for the bus, dripping on those around her. I know you might wonder that I didn't say something (and believe me, I thought about it) but then I was really curious to see if she would ever clue in. She didn't. So I took a picture of her, for mocking purposes:















If you know this woman (not that you could probably tell from the picture), please tactfully explain to her why this is ridiculous, okay?

-I'm currently cat-sitting for two very nice guy cats, Sterling and D'Artagnan. Their owners about as granola as it gets though - they even buy holistic cat food and organic kitty tuna. I think they might actually spend more on their cats than I spend on myself. I'm all for eating healthy, but these cats also regularly eat mice and birds, which they probably find hanging out near the trash cans in the back alley.

*This does not include, however, blogs that are shared amongst two or more contributors. In my world, that is more of a forum, and not at all the same thing.

Reasons I haven't really been updating at all

1. Gina keeps getting "Alias" dvds from Netflix, and I am a wee bit obsessed.

2. I might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from an incident that involved stabbing my big toe with a salad fork.

3. I had to bake a lot of small cute dessert-like things for a bridal shower over the weekend. And I had to find all my summer tank tops to take to Texas so I don't die of heat stroke.

4. I'm working on my secret plot to take down UPS...they have messed with me for the LAST TIME. I'll show THEM "not a working address."

5. I got this really badass t-shirt that I have been wanting for just about forever, and I'm spending all my free time trying to figure out how to post a picture of it for you all to admire!

Technology is ruining my life

Well, that's not exactly it...it's more like, I am so reliant on technology, that when it's taken away from me, I get really annoyed. Like last night, we encrypted the wireless network in our house, and it now won't let me log on, even though my roommates can. Grrr. And in addition to that, I got my new cell phone in the mail (yay!) but couldn't activate it because my stupid internet wasn't working.

But onto the new cell phone - expect flickr pictures soon, because I have a camera phone! I know I'm like the second to last person in the U.S. to get one, but my love of gadgets is overruled by my cheap nature, and I was not getting a new phone until my cell phone company gave it to me for free with a new contract. I still have really no idea how to load things from the phone to flickr and then from flickr to here, but I think the possibilities of doing so are quite cool. And I'll be working on that.

I wonder what my first picture post will be? Oh the pressure...

Some Things of Which I Am Inordinately Proud

(in no particular order)

1. I have managed to floss and rinse with Listerine (in addition to brushing) almost every day for about a month now.

2. I intend to delete my facebook account.

3. I parked right next to the elevator in the parking garage this morning, where this other guy who drives a fancy sports car usually parks. Hey, it's not like we have assigned spaces anyway.

4. I can speak three words in Arabic, taught to me by some of the nicest men I have ever met - they were from Syria.

5. I consider myself to have a fairly good grasp on most goings-on in international affairs.

6. I got up before 7:30 this morning.

7. I went to both Target and Bed Bath and Beyond this weekend, and didn't buy anything frivolous.

8. I cooked dinner last night (with lots of leftovers), even though I wasn't really hungry, because I knew that I wouldn't have time to cook tonight or tomorrow night, and didn't want to waste money on eating out.

9. My friend brought me coffee from Jamaica, and I'm giving half of it to my mom for her birthday. Not only am I giving her really fancy coffee (which she will love) but I am ahead on the birthday shopping by more than two weeks!

10. Considering all of the things I always intend to bring to work with me each day, I don't think I forgot anything today.

Why early flights should be illegal

Scene: Approximately 6:00 am this morning, at a baggage security checkpoint in the DFW Airport.

Random TSA guy: Miss, do you have in firearms in your bag?

Me: [Blink. Blink. Blank stare.]

Random TSA guy: Uh, miss? It's not you, I have to ask everyone that...

Me: Um, what was the question? Oh...right. Yes.

Random TSA guy: Yes?!

Me: Yes. I don't have any guns.

Lucky for me I look about 12 years old with no makeup and the hair in a ponytail, otherwise I probably would've been cuffed and face down on the tile floor. Sigh.

You know all of those online sites like facebook, friendster, etc.? Well they always ask who you "would like to meet." I suppose this is for those who use such sites to meet people (which I am not against, just not for myself, thanks). After a week at home on vacation, I'm tempted to write in the blank:

"Someone who finds the ability to do crossword puzzles and sudoku incredibly sexy. Especially in flannel pajamas, with a huge cup of coffee."

Because really, what could be a better morning than that?

Winter Wonderland

We had our first snowfall in DC the other night. Now, this obviously is not my first winter here, but it is my first winter with a car. I knew there would be some differences, but wasn't particularly worried about it.

So yesterday when I came out to drive to work at my usual time, I stopped and thought, "Crap, there's a lot of snow on my car." And then I thought, "Hmm...I wonder how I'm going to get it off." Because, you see, in just sort of anticipating the fact that it would be cold and snowy and such, it never actually occurred to me to buy stuff like ice scrapers or brushes or whatever other accessories one might need to clean snow or ice off a car. In Texas, when there is snow or ice or really just light snow flurries, EVERYTHING shuts down and people run for their lives to get the essentials from the grocery store because it could be a WHOLE DAY before you get to move around again. And really, crazy as it seems, this is how it should be. When the weather is that gross, I think we should all be able to stay in our warm pajamas and fuzzy slippers and watch daytime TLC or whatever Christmas shows are on the family channel. We should not have to pile into galoshes and heavy coats and dig our cars out and slide along to a day of non-essential work that could be accomplished another time.

So the end of my first attempt at digging out my car: I got to work twenty minutes later than normal (not anticipating, once again, the extra time it would take to do the digging) and I shredded up this magazine thing that had been on the floorboard of my car for who knows how long. It doubled very nicely as a shovel of sorts.

Why...

do people clap at the end of movies? It's not like the actors are there to hear you, or take a bow or anything.

do people feel the need to say things like "oh, that song is about..."? The whole point of music is that you get to interpret it for yourself.

do I always wonder when I'm singing along to music (with my headphones on) in my car, "This would sound pretty terrible if my phone accidentally dialed someone and they heard me singing this rocker song a capella right about now..."? Like that would ever really happen.

"Two trailer park girls..."

I can't type "FCC" without launching into an entire Eminem rap. All in my head...luckily for those sitting around me.

Hmmm

It seems when I'm watching mindless TV, like "While You Were Out" on TLC or similar, there are an inordinate number of commercials for things for cats. I hope this isn't indicative of anything. Thank goodness I at least have plans to be social, otherwise I might worry a little :).