I just bought, for the first time in my entire life, a pack of cigarettes. I'm 28.

They were of course for someone else. Still the feelings of guilt and shame are setting in. Trying to think up some good deed to counteract the purchase.

I love the whole wide world!

I've been meaning to post this for a while. I love the Discovery Channel!



I also realized that, coincidentally, it's Earth Day, which I'm sort of indifferent to, but hey, I do like the Earth!

A Reminder to Stop and Smell the Roses (or Listen to the Busker, as it were...)

Yesterday all the Pulitzers were announced, with one going to the Washington Post article, "Pearls Before Breakfast." The gist of it is that a Post reporter asked one of the world's greatest violinist to play classic concertos and such on his Stradivarius violin in a crowded Metro station during rush hour. I don't take the Metro these days, but if I did, I would go right through L'Enfant Plaza. Would I have stopped? Who can know...

(via NPR)

Sarah's list, published without permission :).

opening credits: "Maybe We Should Just Sleep On It" by Tim McGraw
waking up: "Winter Wonderland" by Johnny Mathis
first day at school: "Pennies from Heaven" by Billie Holiday
falling in love: "My Place" by Nelly featuring Jaheim (AWESOME!)
breaking up: "Covered in Rain" by John Mayer (so, the love songs are good)
prom: "Peace of Mind" by Boston
life’s okay: "Don’t Miss You at All" by Norah Jones
breakdown: "Holy, Holy, Etc” by Sufjan Stevens
driving: "I’m Gonna Love You Anyway" by Trace Adkins
flashback: "Slow and Low" by Beastie Boys
getting back together: "Someone Like You" by Van Morrison (appropriate)
wedding: "The Tiding" by Blues Traveler (not so appropriate)
birth of child: "We Carry On" by Tim McGraw (I hope not)
final battle: "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys (I can’t make that up)
death scene: "Typical Situation" by Dave Matthews Band
credits: "Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (has a rockin’ harmonica intro)

This set up reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on it...sort of like MASH meets iPod?

Self-Tagged Meme - Soundtrack

No one tagged me for this, I just came across it while playing. But it's fun, so I'm going to do it. Clearly I have a penchant for listing songs, so you all just going to have to bear with me.

Here’s how it works:
1. open your library (iTunes, winamp, media player, iPod)
2. put it on shuffle
3. press play
4. for every question, type the song that’s playing
5. new question — press the next button
6. don’t lie

opening credits: "Almost Like Being in Love"- Gene Kelly from Brigadoon (Aw, love this song!)
waking up: "Walking on Broken Glass" - Annie Lennox (also my 4th grade jazz class warm up song)
first day at school: "Canceled Check" - Beck (er, no idea...good song though)
falling in love: "Never Gonna Dance Again" - Wham! (not so much)
breaking up: "Adding to the Noise" - Switchfoot (okay...)
prom: "Schlindler's List Theme" - Williams (seriously messed up, category wise)
life’s okay: "The First Song" - Band of Horses (spot on)
breakdown: "A Good Man is Easy to Kill" - Beulah (awesome)
driving: "We Got the Beat" - Go Gos (I could drive to this)
flashback: "Let it Snow!" - Bing Crosby (no more snow, please)
getting back together: "Save Me From Myself" - Christina Aguilera (appropriate)
wedding: Black Wave/Bad Vibrations - The Arcade Fire (not so appropriate)
birth of child: Coming Home - Caedmon's Call (I love this whole CD, so yes)
final battle: The Little Things You Do Together - Sondheim from Company (so great)
death scene: Rocket Man - Elton John (why not?)
end credits: I Ran (So Far Away) - Flock of Seagulls (lots of 80's...)

Kind of stupid, in retrospect. But then I already spent all this time typing, so it's going up.

Since I wasn't tagged, I'm not going to tag anyone either. Play along if you're feeling it...

2 bits, 4 bits...

I recently was sent a video on you tube that featured a woman explaining how to put on make up. The model appeared to be around 6, and the whole thing was part of some series about throwing a "modeling birthday party." Pretty stupid, if you ask me.

I was also recently working on compiling a little list (that will come by later, never you fear) inspired by this one. It's not as easy to do as you might imagine. While pondering moments that are truly happy standouts, especially when I was younger, I really remember unhappy ones more - times when I was sad or embarrassed.

For some reason I have a distinct memory of going to a particular birthday party. The party must have been for both a boy and a girl, because we were divided into groups. And what was the activity? Well, the boys played some sort of sport (baseball, maybe) and we were the cheerleaders. For real. They passed out little pom-poms and had cheers printed out for us, the whole works. I think I was maybe 6 or 7. To this day I think of it all with a little cringe. And I'm not entirely sure why, to be honest. Nothing terrible happened, and I actually don't have any problems with cheerleaders generally. Perhaps even at that age, I knew these were not my people. And not cheerleaders, because some of them are DEFINITELY my people, but maybe folks that thought a birthday party that introduced defined gender roles to first graders (with props!) was a good plan.

Gray and sleepy weather

Why oh why didn't I appreciate nap time back when it was both required and encouraged?

SO FUN.

(via Mighty Girl)

oof

I knew that this ballet class thing was going to have an eventual result: one day, I would wake up, and every inch of me would hurt. So far I've only had the pleasant soreness of having done something active and slightly strenuous, but I hadn't really minded, because it wasn't that bad, and also I felt a sense of accomplishment, like "I've done something good for myself! Yay me!"

Class number seven was the magic one. I woke up this morning, and my first thought was "ouch." And that was before I had actually moved at all. So instead of "Yay me!" this morning was "Yay Tylenol!"

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!

Throwback

A friend in grad school once mentioned that her uncle had made her a CD that was a compilation of all of the Top 40 #1 Songs on her birthday through the years. Being a professed mixed CD addict and loving the sure to come cheesiness of such an endeavor, I made my own list:

1. My Sharona - The Knack (1979)
2. Upside Down - Diana Ross (1980)
3. Endless Love - Diana Ross and Lionel Richie (1981)
4. Hard to Say I'm Sorry - Chicago (1982)
5. Maniac - Michael Sembello (1983)
6. What's Love Got to Do with It? - Tina Turner (1984)
7. St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion) - John Parr (1985)
8. Take My Breath Away - Berlin (1986)
9. La Bamba - Los Lobos (1987)
10. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns 'N' Roses (1988)
11. Hanging Tough - New Kids on the Block (1989)
12. Blaze of Glory - Jon Bon Jovi (1990)
13. Promise of a New Day - Paula Abdul (1991)
14. End of the Road - Boyz II Men (1992)
15. Dreamlover - Mariah Carey (1993)
16. I'll Make Love to You - Boyz II Men (1994)
17. Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio (1995)
18. Macarena - Los Del Rio (1996)
19. Honey - Mariah Carey (1997)
20. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith (1998)
21. Bailamos - Enrique Iglesias (1999)
22. Doesn't Really Matter - Janet (2000)
23. I'm Real - Jennifer Lopez/Ja Rule (2001)
24. Dilemma - Nelly (2002)
25. Shake Ya Tailfeather - Nelly (2003)
26. Lean Back - The Terror Squad (2004)
27. We Belong Together - Mariah Carey (200)5
28. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake (2006)
29. Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie (2007)

I particularly love the multiple appearances by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey. Find yours here!

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."

You would be shocked to find out how many people make it to my blog while looking for John Denver lyrics. Awwwwesooommmme.

5ives

Number 2 is my favorite.

new food obsession

I've always found rice to be a bit boring. And I also rather despise frozen dinners for many reasons, not the least of which includes the fact that it's not even close to enough food to fill me up (the real reason behind the "lean" of Lean Cuisines). However, I've tried the Kashi frozen ones recently, and let me tell you, they are delicious. They are also mostly served over Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf, which is pretty much the best thing ever. And of course it's not sold in grocery stores, at least not that I could find.

But it is sold in bulk at Amazon. Thank goodness, because I'm now convinced that everything I make from now until whenever NEEDS this to be good. Yum.

Is this one of the signs of Spring?

Along with the cherry blossoms peaking out and temperatures staying above freezing, the Wolf Trap Summer Season is released!

And, I have to admit, it's a smidge lackluster this year. Oh well.

Definites include Candide, the Gilbert and Sullivan players, and maybe Pilobolus (why are the dance shows always on effing Tuesday nights, the ONE night I am committed for the foreseeable future?!).

I'll be there with wine and cheese, if any of you care to join.

Adieu, sponge paint.

Ever since Kandi explained her many house painting plans to me, I have been on a mission to my paint my own kitchen. Until yesterday, it was sponge painted yellow. For three and a half years, I have lived in a place where at least one room was sponge painted. This is not okay.

At our last house, it was only the downstairs half bath, and it was dark blue. The girls who lived there before us said that the dining room used to also be sponge painted maroon, and it looked as though someone had been violently murdered there. Then we moved to this place, with the yellow spattered kitchen. Blech.

Here it is, in all its glory:












Do note the fact that whoever painted it didn't even try to get close to the edges. Also note that Gina and I had bacon for breakfast that day. Yum.

So then, off to Home Depot! To wander around for awhile because we don't really even know what we're looking for! Eventually we made it home and got down to painting:












We even taped stuff up and everything. We're practically professionals.













Isn't it just lovely? I have no comments about some small blue smudges that may or may not be on various surfaces including countertops, cabinets, and/or the ceiling. However, I will admit to the small incident where I was painting the edge up near the ceiling, and Gina was painting the side next to the cabinets (see diagram below), and I might have dripped a blob of paint down the little space in between her shirt and the top of her paints. Um, oops? Pretty impressive aim though.












I get really happy every time I walk by.

Ballet Class, encore

I finally took my first ballet class since high school last night. I really did mean to go last week, and had plans and everything to go with a friend from work, but was in a big rush in the morning, and left the bag with all my stuff in it at home. I was worried I was going to miss it last night too, since I couldn't find the studio ANYWHERE and the time for the class to begin was rapidly approaching. I squeezed in at the last possible second though, so all was well.

And it was really fun! I had forgotten how mental it can be - having to remember all the combinations and such. I'm a bit sore today, but nothing terrible.

I still have the same pair of shoes I danced in in 1998, and they are a bit the worse for wear...there are definitely some minor-approaching-major holes in the big toe area in both shoes. I should get a new pair, but I'm actually really attached to these for inexplicable reasons. We've been through a lot together, I guess :). Then my mind jumped from them to other dance shoes and/or costumes I've had and remember fondly. Here are a few (in chronological order):

-When I was really little, maybe 4 or 5, I was in a tap number and our costumes were gold sequins. They spray-painted our tap shoes gold and put glitter all over them. Of course we left a huge trail of gold crap every where we went, but I remember thinking they were SO PRETTY.

-There was a ballet number once to "Surrey with a Fringe on Top" and I had never seen Oklahoma! at the time. I thought the song was so strange.

-I was one of about twenty Batmen in a jazz dance to "Lemon Crush" by Prince. No really, I swear.

-I had red pointe shoes I wore when I was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. They were so cool. I mean, hello, have you ever seen the Red Shoes? Case in point. Classic.

For those "cleaning out my jewelry box and my life days", see here.

Wow.

Mmmm...

Snuggling down into my bed, with the windows cracked and the sound of rain, with a nice almost spring breeze, gives me the littlest glimpse of what heaven will be like.

It's been a while since I posted about food

Have I told y'all how much I love brunch? I can't remember. But I do. Lots.

We went to "The Original Pancake House" on Saturday. It's important such meals happen at brunchy sort of time, since the average human can't (shouldn't?) eat their body weight in pancakes, eggs, bacon, and hash browns first thing in morning. Through a series of miscommunications, we had to wait about an hour to eat, and in typical fashion, I was running late in the morning so I didn't make myself any coffee before we left. By the time we were seated, the waitress practically had to insert an intravenous drip into my arm so I could function enough to peruse the menu. Fortunately, everything looked so tasty I couldn't really go all that wrong. I ended up with a Pecan Waffle and we all split a gigantor Apple Pancake.

But in the end, it isn't the food. It's the lazy, roll out of bed and hang out with friends, have some coffee and silly laughs, and look up and oh wait it's already 2 pm. Saturdays rock.

Other good brunch places: Kramerbooks, Bob and Edith's, and I hear Carlyle but haven't been. Kandi's on a mission to hit the whole list in the Washingtonian, so apparently my next twenty Saturdays are spoken for.

too hyped, can't even think about sleep

The New York City Ballet was amazing! Symphony in C especially!!

I have the coolest mom: she totally realized how great it was that I got to see "Serenade" and the above and we got to talk about stuff that nobody else I know gets, like Jerome Robbins choreography and how insane it is that Darci Kistler is still a principal dancer.

The "Once" people are coming to Baltimore in concert!

Allison let me borrow a leotard, I'm getting new elastic for my old hole-in-the-toe ballet shoes, and I'm so ready for Friday, hurt and all.

And I lived through today without collapsing into a stressed, weepy ball of nerves, which didn't seem very possible at 11 am.

Taking the plunge

I just agreed to go to a ballet class with a friend on Friday. It's been approximately 9 and a half years since I've taken a formal class. Crazy? Yes. Exciting too.

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.

So happy

That "Falling Slowly" from Once won last night.

Girls' Poker Night

Buy in was $10, and I left with aching sides, a little lightheaded from champagne, and $9.95. Best buy for a nickel.

Alvin Ailey Company

Last night, Anne and Gina and I went to see Alvin Ailey at the Kennedy Center. While it wasn't life changing (as it was last year for me), it was a really wonderful show. Of all the many, many things I have seen in theatres, "Revelations" might be the best of them all.

Not to say there weren't some odd moments - the piece "Flowers" seemed promising, given that the music was by Janis Joplin and Pink Floyd, but in the end it was my least favorite. The costumes were really distracting, and though I'm sure it was supposed portray what one must feel like during a drug trip, mostly I felt like I was in a strip club. I kept thinking about these two sweet little girls that had been in the elevator with us and how it was really inappropriate for them, and also it reminded me of this terrible, terrible musical that Gina and I got free tickets to once. The dancers were still great though, despite the bad costumes.

The rest of the program was great. We saw "Night Creature" (music by Duke Ellington), "Unfold," and of course the favorite "Revelations," which is really a collection of pieces set to spirituals. Last year I loved the solo "I Wanna Be Ready" most, this year it was the pas de deux "Fix Me, Jesus." The woman in that piece, Alicia Graf (who was also in "Unfold") was freaking PHENOMENAL. I'm not sure she actually has bones, because human bodies aren't capable of doing the things she did. "Fix Me, Jesus" was hauntingly beautiful, and I spent most of it hovering between amazed goosebumps, slight teariness, and twitchy muscles because I could just feel how hard it was do (not that I was ever capable of that, but you get my drift I'm sure). All of this is to say, if AAADT comes to your city, you MUST see them.



("Fix Me, Jesus" is the third number in, but it doesn't do it any justice).

I've been having some trouble with my grains lately. Last night, I attempted to make some bread (focaccia, actually, from a mix), and it didn't end well. Despite all the things I'm decently good at when cooking, I'm still very intimidated by bread, particularly when I have do the yeast thing. So this time I painstakingly checked the water temperature, added just a smidge of sugar like my mama taught me, and added the yeast. All seemed to be going well. I let it grow a bit, and then added the mix and the yeast water together. And everything seemed...runny. Really runny. Again, I'm no bread expert, but I do know the difference between dough and batter. And this was definitely on the batter side of things. Seems that in all my concern about water temperature and such, I had decided that the box said to add 2 cups of warm water when it really said 1 cup. Oops. I tried to fix it by adding some flour, but in the end, it was a yeasty gooey mess. That didn't taste very good. Fortunately the rest of the meal was good, however breadless.

And then this morning I exploded my oatmeal all over the microwave at work. Excellent.

Seven Random Facts

So Joi tagged me for this AGAIN. Isn't there some sort of double indemnity on these things :)? I'm trying very hard to list things that I've never written about before.

1. I was very into "imagining" when I was little, and my brother and cousins were excellent accomplices in this. The favorite game was to play Robin Hood, but we intentionally played the Disney version so that we were foxes and bears and stuff, in addition to being the Robin Hood characters. I, being the eldest girl and by far the bossiest, got to be Maid Marian, and Chris (also bossy and older) was Robin Hood. Anna and Aaron were very good sports as Lady Cluck and Little Bear for a while, until they rebelled and we made up new characters. I also have fond memories of myself as Princess Leia.

2. Several years into the pretending, Chris and Anna got a baby sister, which their parents named Marion. This was pretty much the coolest thing EVER.

3. I can still spent a lot of time daydreaming (grown up pretending, really), but don't think it's particularly healthy, so I try to avoid it.

4. I gave up buying unnecessary stuff for myself for Lent. In other words, I'm allowed to buy things I need that I run out of (i.e. soap, lotion) but no frivolous makeup or clothing purchases. While it can be tough, it's actually very freeing too. Presents for other people are allowed (so never you fear, February and March birthdays...and there are many of you!).

5. Until I got glasses in third grade, I thought everyone saw trees as sort of topped by fuzzy greenness. Imagine my surprise that you can actually make out individual leaves!

6. I love old things - old posters, maps, antique jewelry, whatever. I like the idea that there's some sort of unknown story behind an object, or even better if it comes with a story.

7. I listen to music obsessively. If I have something new, and I like it, chances are good that I will listen to it non-stop for a good couple of weeks. For this moment, that music is by Mute Math.

Okay, I tag all of the same people I always do. Woot. Ebony, Barbara, Steph, Anne, and Danielle.

Awesome

Declaration of Romantic Intent (via Anne). So freakin' funny, and perhaps even useful? If it becomes so, please do share!

7. This weekend is a three-day one! Woo-hoo!

I mean, really

Is it necessary that Congress continue to interview baseball players about steroid use? Don't they have ANYTHING more pressing to deal with than that?

I once had a visitor from Denmark who I took to a Nationals game. We were supposed to meet up at the stadium, but he was a no-show for a while (fortunately Gina was along too, so I wasn't just sitting around twiddling my thumbs). Turns out he was wandering around the stadium, comparing and contrasting to soccer stadiums in Copenhagen and other various places he'd been. One of the questions he asked involved the whole steroid scandal. I believe it was something like "Why do they need steroids? I mean, they're just sort of these overweight guys with sticks...they don't even have to run that far." Exactly.

And in breaking news, it's still not even a little bit important in the grand scheme of things. New topic!

And the fun just keeps on coming

Yesterday it took me almost 3 hours to go the 8.4 miles in between work and my friend Jill's house. I know it's 8.4 miles because I checked on Google Maps. We had some winter weather issues, and combined with the reality that people here drive like reckless idiots, there were about 25 major crashes all over the city, shutting down most of the major highways. People often refer to the famed Beltway as a measure of people's attitudes in DC vs. the rest of the U.S; however, it is in fact an actual loop that runs around the city - in other words, all the roads eventually feed into it. So when there are several major wrecks, all those roads that would normally lead to the Beltway are parking lots, and people like me, who really only need to get to that house...that little one right over there...are pretty much screwed.

I finally made it to Jill's around 8:20 or so and managed to make it in the front door without falling or anything (no small feat, I can promise!). We had a good visit about life in general and some books in particular, and then I headed home.

Flashforward to this morning...we have no hot water in our building. Gina and I had issues with our water last week - there was a continuous hot water drip in the shower that turned into a full-on leak. Our hot water is really, really HOT, so things were getting a little steamy. Our landlord was supposed to send a plumber, but he never showed, so after a long day of dripping, steamy water, our entire apartment was like an Amazon jungle. Everything was just a little damp, and Gina's wall calendar wilted. So today there wasn't any hot water until about an hour ago, and even then, it was really spotty - I had to be prepared to hop all over the tub to avoid the scalding hot or freezing cold blast of water.

The only saving grace is that we have a two hour delay. If I didn't have a mountain of work staring me down, I would totally just crawl into bed and call it a day.

I'm feeling a little whiny, despite having aired all of the above, so in an attempt to brighten my mood, I'm going to list the things for which I am grateful in the midst of this:

1. I had lots of gas in my car last night before I left work.
2. I had just bought a radio converter for my ipod, and had music the whole time.
3. I have lovely friends that are willing to entertain me through various phone calls and text messages while I'm stuck in my car.
4. I am now clean and don't have to go to work unshowered.
5. My winter boots from Sarah came in yesterday, so my feet will be warm despite the slush.
6. Tomorrow is Valentine's, and my friends are having a party, where there will be cupcakes and good people.

I'm so ready for some sunshine, literally or figuratively. I'll take what I can get :).

Another link I like

Seriously folks, real content might come soon. Maybe.

In the meantime: Learning to Love You More.

U2 in 3D

Surely you've already heard about this, but there's a movie going around Imax theaters that shows several performances by U2 in 3D. Given the various rhapsodies and odes that I've written in the past on U2 and their concerts, it's pretty much a no-brainer that I was going to be seeing this.

Based on our informal straw poll of an experience, both long-term and listen-on-the-radio fans will both enjoy seeing this (we were 2 hardcore, 1 casual: all 3 were impressed). Not only is the music pretty freakin' amazing (more on that in a moment), the up close shots of the band rocking out are fun no matter your level of love for them. The camera swoops in so close that there were moments it was almost uncomfortable - in their faces, is Bono going to touch MY face?, wow some of them are looking a wee bit older. My only complaints were as follows: it was too short, and it was frustrating to not be able to throw my arms up and dance along to the music. And oh, was the music great. I had to remind myself to keep my eyes open...I was enjoying it all so much (especially the slower numbers) I had to keep myself from snuggling down in the movie seat, closing my eyes, and just absorbing the music, which is pretty ridiculous considering the whole point is to WATCH the concert :).

So go see it! I promise you won't be disappointed.

In fair Glendale, where we lay our scene...

This is the best thing to come out of anything related to the Super Bowl (in my opinion, anyway).

I really like this idea called Every Monday Matters. Maybe this will help lift me out of the "I don't want to go to work funk." Although, the funk doesn't just occur on Mondays...I suppose I have to start somewhere :).

I've been listening to music I want to try out by having you tube videos play (but I'm not really watching...I find music videos sort of boring). The interesting thing is that many of them are actually clips from TV shows (Grey's Anatomy, Prison Break, etc.) that people have put together with the song in the background. And there are thousands of these - apparently lots of people make montages of their favorite shows with a sort of related song. What's up with that?

The Ultimate Cheesy Mixed CD

Last night I was driving home from tutoring (yet again!) and found myself singing loudly along to Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes." Now, this is a very cheesy song, I realize, but I happen to really, really like it. It's all wrapped up in something to do with the over-the-top lyrics and its inclusion in "Say Anything." It got me thinking about songs that I am slightly embarassed about enjoying, because they are terribly corny or silly or whatever, but not so embarassed that I would change the station to hide my enjoyment from people around me and thus miss hearing the rest of the song.

So with that as the intro, may I present to you, Rachel's Ultimate Cheesy Mixed CD:

Beach Boys - Wouldn't It Be Nice
Christopher Cross - Sailing
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Berlin - Take My Breath Away
The Cars - Who's Gonna Drive You Home?
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
The Ronnettes - Then He Kissed Me
Dadoo - Making Off (Generiq) (I know none of you know this one, but in the spirit of full disclosure I had to include it. It's French rap. Don't judge me.)
The Corrs - What Can I Do?
Sophie Hawkins - As I Lay Me Down

Which ones have I missed?

The Weekend in List Form (hello, lazy!)

Bob and Edith's French toast with coffee, catching up with Ryan about life after law/grad school.

Double, double, toil and trouble...do it yourself beer brewing here. Tried something called a chocolate donut stout, which I was a little skeptical about but it was in fact delicious.

Much, much tutoring. Spanish and world history. The subjunctive and the scientific revolution. I'm going to be so glad when mid-terms are over (but not as happy as the students!).

Such good movies! Finally finished "Once" (was already lovin' the soundtrack), and PBS' Masterpiece series is doing all Austen for the next few weeks (swoon!). This week was "Persuasion," next up is "Northanger Abbey."

Attempted some cooking, but forgot to buy the major ingredient for my intended lunch for the next few days. Oops. But was solaced by the almond/bacon/cheddar spread from the cookbook Holly gave me for Christmas (drool).

Hope your weekends were good too!

Thai Food for Dinner

I had really, really strange dreams last night. Including a leak in my room ceiling, but it wasn't my actual room so much as a combination of all of the bedrooms I have ever had, and it had this weird plastic ceiling that sort of resembled the one in the yoga studio in Waxahachie. And then I was going on a trip with some friends from college (reminiscent of the cruise?) but my mom had my luggage and everyone kept trying to leave without me.

I blame the penang curry.

Hmm

I have never participated in a strike. I don't really have much of an opinion on them, to be honest. I assume that the people striking feel that they have one or many grievances that need to be addressed, and that they would like to be taken seriously.

So why, I ask you, do they do very silly things while striking? I was also listening to NPR this morning on the way in (as I admit to doing every morning...my nerdiness was established long ago on this site, so no shame) they were covering the writers' strike in LA. And what do I hear in the background? Singing. And not just any singing...I'm thinking I've heard this before...ah, yes, the song from "Remember the Titans" (everywhere we go...people want to know...who we are...so we tell them...). Granted, one of the picketers probably wrote that song, but it still didn't come across as particularly dignified. And the chants are usually stupid too (hell no, we won't go!). I mean, really.

In DC, they have this huge inflatable rat that they camp out in front of the building where I assume the Man and his friends reside. But it's like a communal union rat, because I've seen this same rat all over town, and for different unions and causes. I wonder if the AFL-CIO headquarters keeps this rat and then lends it out, like a library book? I wonder if they'll let me check it out?

Fun Game (with a little charity thrown in)

At work, we are sponsoring several second grade classrooms in a DC public school. When we got the list of "needs", I have to say I was a little appalled. I mean, I realized that DC schools have a bad reputation and are very underfunded, but seriously. The main request is for copy cards from places like Kinkos or FedEx, because there isn't a working copy maching in the entire school and as such the teachers are spending their own money to make copies of worksheets for the kids. They also requested used books for the classrooms, anywhere from pre-K to 4th grade reading levels. So being that I once was a reading nut (and still have that nut somewhere deep inside of be, which will be nurtured in approximately 1.5 days when I leave for Texas on Christmas break and have free time), I went to Border's over the weekend, just to see what I could find.

Shopping in the children's section of a bookstore is some serious reminiscing fun. I wanted to buy everything in sight, and I really wanted to buy some of the books for myself, just to have. Who wouldn't want to curl up with a nice new copy of the Berenstein Bears or Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel? I did a quick texting poll of friends to ask what their favorite books were at the age of 8, and got this list: Little House on the Prairie, Captain Underpants, Choose Your Own Adventure, anything by Roald Dahl, Hardy Boys, The Hurry Hurry Book, Where the Wild Things Are, Dr. Seuss, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and "something about animals." What I failed to take into account in my texting is that my friends were probably a wee bit more advanced readers than the average attender of a DC public school, so many of those will be over their heads, for now anyway. So I settled on Amelia Bedelia, Little Bear (the same guy that illustrated Where the Wild Things Are did the illustrations for Little Bear too, which was a fun thing to learn), Curious George, and a children's world atlas that was on sale and had pretty pictures.

So now I'll ask you - what were your favorite books when you were 8?

Two Songs and a Phrase That Confused Me at the Age of Six

"Hark the Harold angels sing...."

"Give my regards to Broadway, remember me to Harold Square..."

"Okay kids, get in the car so we can run some Aarons..."

Just some Christmas stuff

I absolutely love the holidays. I do not, however, enjoy in any way the most of the holiday commercials. Most particularly, the jewelry commercials are wearing me out. Between the vapid "every kiss begins with Kay" to the stupidly named "Jared's Galleria of Jewelry" (this one, really, who knows anyone named Jared that they also would associate with diamonds? I've known many a Jared, none of whom brings to mind any sort of gemstone), I want to throw things at the TV. But they are EVERYWHERE, on the radio, on my computer...and most of it is really ugly. Guys, not that any of you read this for shopping advice, but just in case, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES buy the featured Christmas gift. They are all ugly, and it will not end well for you.

I'm still behind on my Christmas shopping, but progress is being made. I haven't had any particularly brilliant ideas this year, but I'm slowly working through what I hope will be meaningful gift ideas. I've still got some movies to see as well, to get me into the reminiscing that I so enjoy. These include, but are not limited to, Santa Claus: The Movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and Babes in Toyland. I have already seen the Charlie Brown Christmas and White Christmas, so they're crossed off my list. Any other suggestions are welcome.

Mostly I'm looking forward to being away from my desk, which is currently involving things including, but not limited to, intellectual property rights, university administration, and natural disaster relief. But not all in the same project, thankfully :).

Talent

I would imagine I'm the only person you know that has burned the roof of their mouth while eating an artichoke.

So, this blog...(sigh)

You have probably noticed, but I haven't really been updating all that much. It's not that I'm not busy with things to report (quite the opposite, in fact), it just turns out that I don't really feel like relaying it all, or nothing strikes me as things that will be particularly interesting for others to read about.

So, in quick recap, things that I have thought about recently and/or enjoyed, that might have been full blown entries if I wasn't so blah about the whole thing:

This website is awesome. I already paid my $2 in search of some books I read at age 10-ish. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I'm getting a bonus at the end of this month, and I think (against some of my better fiscal judgment) that I will be spending a chunk of it on one of these.

I'm obsessed with the New Pornographer's (it's a terrible name for a band, I know! Please don't judge me!!) "Go Places," "Myriad Harbor," and "Mutiny, I Promise You." Actually scratch that, the whole CD is wonderful.

I want my next car to be a Volkswagen Golf, even though I keep hearing how often they break down. Can I help it that I think they are so adorable and cute and little? Nope, I sure can't.

This is a great way to kill some time and also laugh out loud every now and then.

Holy cow can you guys believe it's mid-November already? I better start coming up with some Christmas ideas pronto.

That's all for now. Let's all hope for more creativity in the days ahead :).

Quick Update

Sandy won! She's number 132 in the comments, and that was a good number to be on Friday!!

Thanks to all of you for dropping by, and for offering so many nice things as well!

Taxi Strike in DC

Okay, so maybe it's a little mean of me as I do have a car and as such am not dependent on taxis to get me places. But really, a taxi driver strike? Best day for driving ever. No crazies cutting you off and honking at you if you don't leave within .5 seconds of the light turning green. No super slow cab blocking your way as he trolls at 5 mph for a fare. They should have these more often.

Oh, and happy halloween. I barely even remembered it was today, except that all my tutoring students had to reschedule, because duh! Halloween is totally like today, and they totally do not want to be studying French while all their friends are at the cool party. Can't say that I blame them :).

Follow Up: Whoa, Y'all

Okay, so I'm a bit impulsive. I know it doesn't seem like it sometimes, but every now then I just jump directly into something with so little forethought it is quite incredible.

Take for instance, this contest thingy I posted. I don't regret this a bit, mind you, but now feel totally like the weird kid who thought that this fall party was a costume one, but it is fact NOT and now I'm the only person in a room full of adults dressed like a lady bug (or a rabbit, a la Elle). I did NO research whatsoever, and come to find out this group of bloggers are all some serious moms. For the real. Except for Anne, who got me into this in the first place :). I have no problems with moms. Really...I read some mommy bloggers regularly, I have a mom, I would like to be a mom someday, but I'm soooooo nowhere near that now. So imagine my surprise that most of the other blogs are giving away kid/baby related stuff. Awkward.

All that being said, I still think the concept is awesome. And I'm still totally making that hat and scarf. And if you're here reading because of this, and you're a mom with a blog (and probably a church-goin' one at that!), you are more than welcome and I will gladly check out your site as well.

Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway

Okay, so I got this from Anne, who got it from here, and I completely love the idea.



I'm giving away a matching hat and scarf set, made by me, and in fall colors like dark red or brown or orange or yellow or really whatever your little heart desires.

I'm going to ask Anne about this random number generator thingy, otherwise I'll just ask someone in my office to pick a number. I'll choose and post the winner on Friday afternoon. Don't forget to shop around at the other sites, as they have tons of cool stuff!

The Trip for Ginger's Wedding in Review

Flying: D-
I seriously had the most hellish trip getting from Philadelphia to Houston. The only reason flying didn't flunk entirely was that my trip home was uneventful (albeit a little tight, as I was in a window seat with two rather large people next to me, and they encroached on my seat space a bit). Getting to Houston involved being bumped off a flight, melting down at the ticket counter (at which some nice lady took pity on me and gave me her seat and some kleenex), hanging out on the runway for an hour, running low on fuel and having to stop in Shreveport, having mechanical problems in Shreveport and waiting there for two hours, and finally landing in Houston approximately 4 hours late. And then my taxi got a flat tire on the way to the hotel, which technically doesn't count as flying, but was a fitting end to the journey, I think.

Clothing: B
Mercifully after that trip everything in my luggage arrived on schedule, with nothing spilled or damaged (including my dress for the wedding, which I was stupid enough to pack in my checked luggage, but it all worked out). Unfortunately, the red dress for which I spent a great deal of time hunting in the spring ended up being a wee bit snug in the um, bosom area, so I was not the most comfortable person on Saturday night. I got a few compliments though, so apparently I was the only one aware of the squeeze situation.

Food: A+
I ate so well - favorites included my fish (trout with almonds) at the rehearsal dinner, Dos Salsas in G-town, and of course some good old-fashioned BBQ at Rudy's. I think the wedding food was pretty good too, but I wasn't all that hungry due to adrenaline and such. And the dress, as mentioned above, did not really lend itself to comfortable eating.

Book, Devil in the White City: A
Now I really, really want to visit Chicago. And am very glad I wasn't born in like 1880 or anything. If you like history/architecture/murder psychology, this is a good book for you too!

Amtrak Station at BWI: F
Seriously, BOTH of the elevators are out of service? Both? What the heck am I supposed to do with this giant suitcase and a freakin' sewing machine in a box, huh? Better yet, what do people in wheelchairs do?

People to whom I would send thank you letters if I knew their names and/or addresses:
Nice lady at the PHL airport
Two guys at BWI that helped me lug suitcases up and down the train station stairs
Taxi driver who continued all the way to the hotel on a flat tire
The people who invented champagne

Happy Marriage, Ginger and James!

It's Tuesday, But I Want it to Be Friday

And not just in that "I'm so done with work and wish the week were already over" sort of way (even though that's a little true as well...).

Here are the lovely activities I have to look forward to this upcoming weekend:

Arlington Library Book Sale! I limit myself to $20, and usually walk away with a sack full of books. I know it's uber-nerdy of me to be so into it, but if the books were not on shelves, but in a big pile on the floor, I would probably roll around in them, because they are THAT EXCITING.

Dupont Circle Farmer's Market! Not for shopping mind you, I will be selling this super smelling soap. I don't exactly know why I'm so into farmer's markets anyway, but the thought of working at one is a whole other level of happy. Plus there's the added bonus of taking a twenty minute break and buying all of my fresh veggies and fruits for the week.

And then there's also sleeping, which is going to be exciting too.

**EDIT: There's also Crafty Bastards, featuring stuff from Joi!

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.

I'm it, apparently...

Courtesy of Joi. See comments in last post for details.

Seven (oh so very) random facts about me. In the order that they popped into my head :).

1) Any time I get really nervous or stressed out, I get sick to my stomach. I inherited this trait from my father, who got it from his mother, so basically anyone on that side of my family is ill at any given moment. Actually, my father promptly threw up after I was born, because there had been some problems with the delivery, and as an OB, he knew what that might mean. I think with that sort of christening, I never really stood much of a chance to avoid the stomach thing.

2) I love just about anything that is cheese flavored - cheeze puffs, cheetos, cheese straws.

3) I have read (and own, come to think of it) practically every book that L.M. Montgomery ever wrote (there are LOTS more than the Anne books, in case you were wondering).

4) I have terrible, terrible eyesight, and sometimes have nightmares where I have to do something very important or there's a big emergency but I can't see anything.

5) I took a semester of beginning figure skating in college for a PE credit, and was pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.

6) I love snuggling into bed when there's a big thunderstorm raging. I don't find them the least bit scary.

7) I can still perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in it's entirety, although probably not that well.


Whew...

I tag Ebony, Barbara, Stephanie, Ava, and Anne (Like I have much choice. More of my friends need to start blogging. Not that y'all aren't fabulously entertaining...you get what I mean...I hope :).

Re-Entry

As a few of you may know, I recently ventured back to Texas for a long weekend. Which ended up feeling like a week (at least) due to a lot of activity. Not that I had anything planned mind you. Actually I had no plans at all, beyond eating things and visiting and staying up too late and sleeping in, at which I was remarkably successful.

I also managed to make a purse for Ebony (happy birthday Ebony!), and make coin purses for others with the leftovers, visit with both sides of my family (all of the grandparents, which is a miracle in and of itself, and no less than 6 cousins if you count spouses), and track down our repeat offender escapee cat. My mom talked me into yoga twice, and I am still feeling the after effects. It was freakin' hot in Texas...like lay in your living room languid on the couch because you have lost the will to move hot. I shopped at my favorite cheap jewelry store, went to a Target that was not completely stripped free of sale clothes, and visited the new hip store that Sarah's managing. I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning and still managed to miss my flight, and as such had to take one that left four hours later. Yep, FOUR hours. So I finished reading one mindless fluffy book and then bought another. Part of me felt a smidge guilty, in that I should probably be reading something more high brow, and even though I recognize it's pretty much a waste of time, I still have to admit that I enjoyed myself immensely, and it was a great way to push through an entire day. Plus, a girl can only be so intellectual on 4 hours of sleep.

Coming home to Arlington is a little less hot, a little more crowded, and a little bittersweet. Apparently I'm going to be straddling between here and there for quite some time.

Oh, and my car died. Awesome. So for another $600 (that brings the total to a whole, whole lot that I've put into my car this year) it will be fixed and ready to trade in for something more reliable. Any advice on that front would be very, very welcome, if any of you are so inclined :). It seems like such a grownup sort of thing to face.

So tomorrow, back to work. And oh, there is so, so much work to be done. So. Much. Work. But it was totally worth it.

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 :).

So cool

This couple (along with their two sons) dropped by my work today. Check out the website, and then try to make me believe that you aren't the littlest bit jealous.

I am too. And planning a road trip :).

Adoption link

I don't know if any of you that read this are particularly interested in the topic, but adoption is something that always seems to lurk in the back of my brain as a "someday" sort of idea. Not that I am anywhere near something like that, but there are lots of ways to get involved with adoption and orphan care that doesn't actually involve bringing a child into your home.

Just today, I heard a really wonderful story as part of a series on adoption on NPR. You can listen to all of them here, if you're interested.

What does your Netflix queue say about you?

Mine says that I'm into French and Spanish-language stuff, random dance documentaries (krump, anyone?), BBC miniseries, satire, social change, weird independent films, old school heist adventures, classic Disney, Agatha Christie mysteries, and handsome leading men of the 40s and 50s.

Woohoo split personality disorder.

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."

Mind, changed (a little)

After all of my railing against reality television, I would like to state here and now that I'm most definitely hooked on "So You Think You Can Dance." This show, in a word, rocks.

That is all.

How to Find Out if You Are a Nerd of Incurable Proportions

Take this quiz:

1. What music do they play on NPR's "Marketplace" when the stocks are up? How about down?

2. Name your three favorite BBC miniseries.

3. On a beautiful summer day at the beach, your preferred discussion would be about:
a) the fashion magazine you are currently reading
b) your favorite gulity pleasure summer television show
c) the impact of human rights legislation on global trade

What others did I miss?

With all of my talk of crafty-ness, I still haven't posted a darn thing. That's not going to change today :).

However, in my recent craft-like activities, I attempted iron-on transfers. I, along with girls in my church small group, decided that volunteering to help out with the t-shirts for the vacation Bible school would be great. I loved going to VBS as a kid, and the thought of helping out with that is great. Also, how hard can it be to make t-shirts? I'll tell you...really effing hard.

Jill and I made it through a rockin' 10 shirts in 2 1/2 hours...and most of those didn't look all that great. How many are we supposed to do, you might ask? 100. 100 preschool size t-shirts with four iron-on transfers per shirt. It's going to take FOREVER. And in the end some cute kids are going to be walking around in some wonky-looking shirts, so I apologize in advance. At least know they were made with love (and some minor amounts of curse words, burns, plastic melted on irons, etc.).

At Sarah's Suggestion

This is currently my favorite thing on the internet.

Here comes Peter Cotton tail...

Oh, internet...where did a whole month go? More than that even. I have been one busy girl, if I do say so myself. So what happened?

Well, first, Barbara got married to this great guy named Zach. And I flew back and got to hang with everyone. And it turns out, there are a lot of you that read my blog, and I had no freakin' clue. So now I feel like such a slacker, and since the wedding was May 5 and that's where I heard all about you blog-readers, you would think that I would have updated more. But that's where you're wrong...

Because I came back to a new position at my job! It's only a seasonal promotion, but it comes with an office, with a door that I can close, should I choose to do so (although I haven't yet). I have to give the office back in October, but it's good experience for me, and lets me use my brain in all sorts of new and interesting ways. But leaves sadly little time for internet perusal and/or blog writing.

Last weekend I went to West Virginia, home of...John Denver? Was he from there? I mean, I know "Country Roads" references it, but it just could have been that he liked it there. We had a very historical afternoon at Harper's Ferry, and then drove through a town with the world's best diner-like/hometown fastfood place (they had FUNNEL CAKES, people. And FRIED CAULIFLOWER. I cannot begin to tell you how delicious fried cauliflower is...I don't think I'm going to be able to go back to it healthy-style). If you ever find yourself in Fairmont, West Virginia, give me a call and I will totally hook you up.

So after the grease-binge, we drove on to a state park that also had a nice lodge to stay in (they called it a resort, which sounds fancier and snottier than it was, though it was really very lovely). It was right next to a lake, where we kayaked. That's right, I, Rachel, paddled a kayak around a lake. And LOVED it. Wasn't even sore the next day, which I think is totally a fluke thing. I felt like such an Amazon though...I mean, KAYAKING. Me! We also spent a ridiculous amount of time at Wal-Marts (yep, plural) because we first needed snacks, and also I forgot pajamas. At the first Wal-Mart stop, Kandi found $1 sequin tube tops for each of us (there were exactly 4 left! Providential!), which will perhaps be making an appearances at an upcoming 80's concert, assuming I'm feeling brave :).

My most recent adventure today involved a last minute decision to stop into the so-named "Oriental Grocery Store" that is across the street from my house. I have all these fresh herbs, because I had this romantic idea that I could grow them in my window box, and holy cow, I can, but whoa are there now a lot of herbs and I really haven't had a great deal of time to cook with them. So I decided to make spring rolls, and what better place to buy the wrappers and noodles than the local asian dive grocery store? The best part though was the 10 minutes I spent gawking in the frozen section. Have you ever seen an entire frozen eel curled up in ziploc baggy? I have! Also, whole frogs, crates of fishes with scales and eyes still there, and random bags of stuff labeled (helpfully) as "seafood." It was the most fantastic and horrifying thing I have seen in a while.

Well, I do believe that is enough rabbit chasing for the night. I'll be back soon...er than last time, anway.

You can take the girl out of the south...

"Do you remember hearing the word 'wampum'?"

"As in, I'm goin' to womp' um upside the head?"

"Um, no, not exactly."





(Just for the record, neither of these people is me.)

Hold the presses!

I am cat-sitting for a friend for a few days, and I packed for the night in quite a hurry. So this morning, I didn't have the following: toothbrush, clean socks, or makeup. You read the last part right - MAKEUP. None of it.

For the first time in my entire adult life (at least that I can remember), I am at work without a stitch of makeup on. No mascara, no powder, nada. It feels surprisingly the same; however I will be avoiding any mirrors and will be operating under the illusion that I look pretty much the same. Is it Wednesday yet?

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!

Suggested New Slogans for DC

(via NPR)

"Visit your tax dollars!"
"Capital of crime!"
"The U.S. Capital: Contributing to global warming since the 1700's!"

Hola Paco. Que tal?

I just finished tutoring a Spanish student, and man is my brain fried right now. Couldn't even figure out how to do the upside question mark up there (don't judge me, okay...I KNOW it's wrong) which I swear I used to know how to do.

I would like to point your attention to one of my favorite websites to frequent: postsecret.blogspot.com. I know this is old news, and it was so the rage like a year ago or something, but I am drawn with tractor-beam force to the site every Sunday. The confessions are mesmerizing...sometimes disturbing, sometimes graphic, sometimes sort of foreign, but it's always worth the click.

I often muse as to what secrets I could send in. Some are bitter and hateful (and as such, will not be shared in this oh-so-not anonymous setting), others are proof that I am crazy. Most are just silly. For instance, I often catch myself deciding on what perfume I will choose for the day based on the perfume bottle's coordination with my outfit. Like the smell has a color? But I associate it with one, and as such would prefer everything to match. Maybe this is a crazy indicator as well as a silly thing. Anyhoo. There are others that I can't summon right this minute, but you get my point.

I love the silly non sequiturs into other people's brains. But then are those tidbits really all that irrelevant in the end? Is it possible that they reveal something really important that "deep" conversations don't even touch? Answer: I have no idea. But I like to let the thought roll around in my head a little.

And with that, bedtime.

Text message redux

This idea was blatantly stolen from another blogger, which I think should be taken as a compliment, because it's such a good one.

In no particular order...

"Don't ever make out with your son."

"Hiney. I hate the word hiney."

"Toothless man @ bus stop just smiled at me and said 'Hola.' I am so impressed and flattered. How very multicultural of him. Or not at all. Even a little bit."

"Whiney white boy music at tonight's concert. Bleh!"

"There's a woman at the bar w/ light-up shoes! Thought u'd appreciate that."

"I do what I can for my nation and its people."

"What Ninja Turtle am I?~ ~Raphael.~~Sweet."

"Damn you extreme home makeover for making me sit here crying like a baby"

"When you stand beside the ocean, i hope you feel small."

Good haircut = new lease on life (a saga, just so you're warned)

I had been annoyed with my hair for quite some time. I was growing it out...which seemed like a really good idea when I started. I looked back at photos of me in college, with long, pretty hair, and remembered all of the fun I had fixing it and being creative. And there were other justifications - wouldn't have to get my hair cut all the time, which is cheaper, and when I straighten it, I wouldn't have to wash it every day, which allows me to sleep more in the mornings.

However, there were some very fatal flaws in this logic. The most glaringly obvious one is that I do not have anywhere near as much free time as I did in college. Fifteen hours of class a week, punctuated by afternoon naps, girly trips to Sonic, doing a little bit of homework, and going to parties left me lots of extra time to do things like fix my hair (and my friends' hair) into elaborate up-do's and funky braids and such. Or just spend forever and a day straightening it. Nowadays I give myself one hour in the morning to get ready, and this includes everything from shower to breakfast to dressing and blowdrying my hair (for which I have allotted about 5 minutes). So lately I've felt like my curly hair was sticking out from my head in every direction but the ones that I would have preferred. And I was going through a LOT of this product, which is like gold for one's curly hair, and costs about the same. So I decided to take the plunge and pay someone to chop it all off.

Cue second part of the decision process, because I do not have any sort of an idea about hairstylists in DC. None of my girlfriends have curly hair (that resembles mine, anyway), and if I like someone's hair, it typically turns out that they pay $90+ to have it done. Which is all fine and good for them, but I just can't pay that and also buy groceries. And a good haircut, while valuable, is definitely not worth going hungry to me. So I went the nerd route and searched the internet for recommended beauty salons. I found one in the Washingtonian (which apparently has information on more things than restaurants - who knew?) that seemed reasonably priced and was close to my work.

It ended up being a great experience too. There are several factors that contribute to me enjoying a haircut: 1) The stylist not only LISTENS to what I have to say, he also tells me what he intends to do before he starts chopping; 2) He does not attempt to chat me up the whole time...there might be a little chit chat, but for the most part, he just does my hair and leaves me with my thoughts; 3) He does not give me layers that in any way resemble Carol Brady's hair or a mullet. All of these factors were present, and in day 2 (having worn the "do" both curly and straight) I am still a happy camper.

I know that few of you that read this actually live in DC, but if you're interested, the place was Subairi, I went to Daniel, and I ended up spending $52 for cut, blowdry, and tip. Worth every penny for the feeling of extra cuteness thanks to my new hair.

Strange things are afoot

Well, only one strange thing in particular. I have had a yahoo! account for a really long time (long in email world, anyway) - it's going on 8 years. I got it when I first moved to London, because we could only access our school email (my very first email address ever) through this weird little window thing that got on my nerves. It's definitely no longer my primary email address, but it's sort of comforting that it's still there...and eventually I will post pictures on my flickr account, and then it will actually be used. I check it every other day or so, just to clean out the spam and occasionally read an article from the NY Times emails that I still get there.

Then yesterday, I tried to log in, and was informed that my password was incorrect. Now, I had just gotten an email in another account (linked to that one) that a yahoo password was changed, but I just assumed it was junkmail as I hadn't changed anything. So then I tried to do the whole "I forgot my password" routine with the computer, but it kept telling me that the verification information I entered wasn't correct. Now, I did have to try about 6 different zip codes (I have moved a LOT in 8 years), but even then, had no luck.

Fast forward to this morning, where I received yet another email in the other account, informing me that my password was changed again, and then I got an email FROM MYSELF telling me the new password. It basically said "Hi Ellie. Here's your new password." I tried to log in and...it worked. I promptly changed all of the information back to my own (the zip code was definitely no place I have lived) and did all the security stuff I had been putting off for a while now. But how weird is that? As far as I can tell, they didn't send any messages to anyone. I keep looking at all of the different sites I visit that are associated with the email (amazon, flickr) but nothing seems to be affected. I had still already notified the Yahoo! people to explain the craziness.

So if you notice a spike in weird spam, maybe that's why they hacked my account. Or just really borrowed it for a while.

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.

Brr...it's cold in here

So after all of these ridiculous people COMPLAINING that it was way too warm for wintertime, the winter arrived. To the tune of a negative 6 wind chill. I cannot cope with this people, I just can't. Heat, particularly heat that is dry and desert like and not humid, I can deal with. This cold thing is not fun at all.

I'm trying my very best to winterize my wardrobe, but currently own maybe 4 things with wool in them. Everything else is cotton! Who would buy a wool sweater when they live in Austin? Not me! And now I regret passing by those incredibly reduced sweaters on the sale racks (because no one else would buy them either)...just think how warm I could be had I only thought ahead.

Yesterday people were going to walk to a nearby neighborhood for lunch, and asked if I'd like to join. My response was something along the lines of: "Are you out of your mind? I brought my lunch and will be staying where it is warm, until I am forced to go into the cold to go home. I will not voluntarily leave for any reason. ANY reason." And then these well-intentioned but looney people attempted to explain to me that it was SO much warmer now than it had been the day before. Yes, because the day before was the -6 day, and yesterday the high was a balmy 25. So I'm supposed to do what now, break out my flip-flops and t-shirts?! It's still freezing. The snow is still not melting. The wind is still painfully cold. Call me when it's 75.

Come ON, People

Right before I left on my cruise, my aunt asked me if I had a passport. Of course, I replied. I have studied abroad. I would like to be prepared in the event that I A) need to leave the country in a hurry, or B) find some incredible, last minute travel deal that is too good to pass up. Neither of which have occurred as of yet, but one never knows.

Apparently with all of the DHS and TSA and other annoying acronym-using agencies trying to weed out the terrorists, they are cracking on people coming in from Mexico and Canada who, until yesterday, could come in with their birth certificates. And these are only the people who are flying - everyone coming by car or bus or boat (presuming they are coming legally, of course) can still use their birth certificate or driver's license. All the experts are worried about the impact it will have on tourism, because passports are apparently prohibitively expensive (mine was $60 a couple of years ago...and in light of all the 13 year olds I see with iPods, I somehow find the expense argument a little hard to swallow).

So all of this is mostly to say: SUCK IT UP AND GET A PASSPORT. I find it disgraceful that so few Americans have them (around 20%, based on the range of statistics I could find). Get off your lazy asses and pretend that you have some interest in other cultures. Or at least in cultures that allow you to have a fruity drink with an umbrella (and just so you know, if you add an "o" to the English word, i.e. a "seabreeze-o", that's not Spanish). It's much better to actually interact with people from other places, but honestly, if you will even make it to another country, even one that is so white-washed you might as well be in Disneyworld, I'll take it. You have to start somewhere, right?

Last Night Was Fun

Someone said this to me, in front of a big group of people:

"I understand what you're saying, but I get sort of nervous when you're telling me things, because I feel that while you're talking, it's like your hands are also telling me something really important that I'm missing. Like your friend is drowning in lake and needs help. And I don't know whatever sort of crazy sign language you're using, so I'm letting the friend drown. And then I also miss whatever it is you're telling me with actual words, because I'm really worried about your friend." Hysterical laughter ensued. I'm a hand-talker, no apologies for that :).

We had some really intense U2 discussions. If you want to endear yourself to me in a quick fashion, just be able to discuss random U2 trivia, or obscure songs that only hardcore fans would know, or similar. I mean, I won't rule you out as a friend if you don't know a thing about the band at all, but an abiding love for all things U2 at the beginning of our friendship will get you big bonus points.

On the drive home, I heard a favorite song on the radio, which I promptly cranked up and sang along to. It makes me want a blue-eyed boy so at least half of the lyrics will be true. If you catch that reference, are a blue-eyed boy, and like really talkative girls that gesture wildly when story telling*... um, call me?


*I choose to believe that someone will one day find it charming and not annoying. We shall see...

Oh, little blog, I have been woefully neglectful of you. Often (well, every now and then) I think, "I should write about this in my blog" but then that thought is always followed by another, "Meh. I don't feel like it." And here we are, the entire month of December passed by with nary an entry.

I mean, stuff DID happen in December. I went on a cruise, which was pretty cool. And no, I did not get a tan because some things are just against the laws of nature. I did buy some fun things, and ate a lot, and was so relaxed by the end that my whole body felt like one giant noodle. I also went to my parents' for Christmas, which was great, albeit crowded. I ate a lot (again) and did some crazy power yoga with my mom and Sarah (and Holly and anyone else the yoga-crazies could rope into it). And when it was time to come back to DC, I was feeling a little mopey at having to leave my family and sad because they live so far away...but then I got back and was driving down Rock Creek Parkway (best drive in DC) and it opens up onto the Potomac River right next to the Kennedy Center, and I thought it was also nice to be home here too. So recent stats: heart is 2/3 in Texas, 1/3 still in Virginia. I'm such a dork. If only I knew what I wanted to be when I grow up - that might make future planning REMARKABLY easier.

So anyway, Happy New Year to you all. Hope you smooched someone fantastic, or had some champagne, or at the very least played dominos and drank red wine with your family like I did. It was a rockin' good time (with no sarcasm at all! Really!).

Oh How We Shopped

It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and unlike some others, we had avoided any sort of shopping on Black Friday. I like to sleep, for one thing, and also, I don't really need anything electronic, and most of the deals seemed to be in that general neighborhood. Plus I like to sleep. But I still had this shopping bug, so Gina and I decided to try it out on Saturday, when there would still (hopefully) be some sales, and maybe fewer people. Our game plan was to try Ross out for some cheap work clothes, run by Kohl's to look at a potential present for her mom, and then hit the big mall. We barely made it out of Ross.

So lucky were we at the first stop that we easily spent our quota in that store. Probably more than the day's allotted shopping funds, if we're being honest. This is where I'll confess a little something: I really, really like a good deal. It is ridiculous to have such a sense of accomplishment from getting a good deal on something, whether it's shoes or DVDs or coats or whatever, but I still love it. But Gina, she loves shopping more than even me. So asking her to take me to stores is akin to asking the alcoholic to take you to the bar - you know exactly how it will end.

We really did get amazing deals: great winter coat, gorgeous shoes, presents for others, smokin' little black dress (that one's Gina's...she also got shoes and lots more), but still...walking out with our trashbag-like sacks of stuff was a little out of control. To reinforce our sense of accomplishment we went home and got out the calculator to add up how much we would have spent had we bought the items for a retail price (which I of course would NEVER do...I can count on one hand the things I have paid full price for) and lordy, we each saved like $300. Good times.

We also did well at Kohl's, and had to stop there, because the mall would have been just too much and I also have to eat and such. Can't spent ALL the grocery money on earrings.

It's Okay, TJ's, I Still Love You

Did you know that the time between 5-6 pm is cranky old lady hour at Trader Joe's? I, myself, did not know this fact until today. But I now I certainly do.

Normally I go early on Saturday or late on a weekday, but got out of work a wee bit earlier than usual, and I'm out of coffee (aka sweetnectar of morning caffeine) so I thought I'd drop by. How could I tell it was said Cranky Hour? Well:

-Apparently the lines were WAY too long. Unacceptably long. And anyone wearing a badge, including the checkers that were working very quickly to get everyone moving, got to hear all about it.
-The clementine oranges (which I bought, by the way) were marked from California, when EVERYONE knows that the best ones are from Morocco [dramatically put out sigh].
-Anyone caught dallying in a place that might slightly inconvenience someone (read: everywhere) got to hear about it with fake politeness: "Um, exCUSE me, THANK you."

The bitching was truly endless. Maybe these people didn't get the laid back memo about Trader Joe's - I mean everyone in the place is freakin' wearing an Hawaiian shirt. The whole reason I go to places like that is to ESCAPE from you uptight, repressed DC dames. Curse you all for invading my clearly designated, laid back, granola-type space.

In other words, lesson learned, and am vowing to keep to my original schedule without variance. And to thoroughly enjoy my Californian clementines :).

Alright, ladies

I was chatting with my mom over the weekend (yes, she came in from Texas for what amounted to the most gorgeous fall weekend ever in DC) about my new discovery in skin care. I am, as I have perhaps previously mentioned, extremely cheap about things. I mean, I can spend money when necessary, but there is nothing I love more than a good deal, whether it be a sweater on sale or gas that is 3 cents cheaper than the station across the road.

So I have recently discovered that oldie but goodie product: Pond's Cold Cream. I have unbearably dry skin, which is just awful in the wintertime, and this stuff is great for it. Plus, it costs a whopping $5 at Target, which is just too cool. It got me thinking: which things do I consider my "secret" deals, and which things do I consider worth the splurge? Here's my list:

Things that are cheap but great nonetheless:
Pond's Cold Cream
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (seriously, this stuff costs like $6 as well, and it is AWESOME. I have puny eyelashes and people consistently ask me if I have fake ones on when I sport this)
Lubriderm lotion (okay, this isn't as cheap as some of the others, but I have yet to find an all-purpose lotion that works as good as this stuff does)

Things that I like to spend a little extra on:
Face masks (and really anything) from Lush (the masks are great - homemade, and work wonders - although it could be a placebo effect because I love everything they make* but whatever works, right? - and you smell so very wonderful from even being in the vicinity of the store)
Shampoo, conditioner, and Be Curly from Aveda (keeping the curls in line is totally worth the extra dough, plus it also smells so lovely)

Of course I am listing these things in the hope that all of you will chime in with your fabulous deals and such, because I would LOVE to add to my list. So, dish!

*Because I discovered the store while studying in London - over a weekend in Scotland, to be exact - and Lush has always had a special place in my heart since, although it is so very less coveted now that there are actually stores in the U.S. Things are less of a premium when you don't have to fly across an ocean for them...

A New(ish) Hobby

It's all Joi's fault, really. She (and her many crafty friends) are always making cute things and posting photos on their websites, and it makes me want to make stuff. There's also this side of me that really wants to make things that are tangible and do not deal with Microsoft Office in any way, shape or form. So when I went to visit Joi this summer, she taught me some basics of crochet. And then I went and bought a book, and now, in November, there is yarn all over my freakin' apartment (with apologies to Gina, who is a very nice and understanding roommate).

All of this is to say that, if I can get my act in gear, I might from time to time, show you guys stuff I'm making. So now you are forewarned. Also, this has led to conversations with other people who also do things with yarn (i.e. knit and/or crochet...there's a difference! I'm learning something new all the time!), so notice a new link to the right, so you can go and ogle the pretty things Ava makes as well.

My favorite passage from Everything is Illuminated*

The 120 Marriages of Joseph and Sarah L

The young couple first married on August 5, 1744, when Joseph was eight, and Sarah six, and first ended their marriage six days later, when Joseph refused to believe, to Sarah's frustration, that the stars were silver nails in the sky, pinning up the black nightscape...They remarried four days later...They were sixty and fifty-eight at their last marriage, only three weeks before Sarah died of heart failure and Joseph drowned himself in the bath. Their marriage contract still hangs over the door of the house they on-and-off shared...

"It is with everlasting devotion that we, Joseph and Sarah L, reunite in the indestructible union of matrimony, promising love until death, with the understanding that the stars are silver nails in the sky, regardless of the existence of the bottom of the Brod...agreeing to forget that Joseph played sticks and balls with his friends when he promised he would help Sarah thread the needle for the quilt she was sewing, and that Sarah was supposed to give the quilt to Joseph, not his buddy...ignoring the simple fact that Joseph snores like a pig, and that Sarah is no great treat to sleep with either, letting slide certain tendencies of both parties to look too long at members of the opposite sex, not making a fuss over why Joseph is such a slob, leaving his clothes wherever he feels like taking them off...trying to erase the memory of a long since expired rose bush that a certain someone was supposed to remember to water when his wife was visiting family...
accepting the compromise of the way we have been, the way we are, and the way we will likely be..."

*Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, 2002.

On the way to work this morning (at about 9:45 am), I heard this line from a comedian who will apparently be featured in a show in the area:

"You know what sucks about the whole 9 to 5 thing? The 9. Seriously, am I a farmer?!"

To Do List

My friend Anne has inspired me: she has a goal to see all 50 U.S. states by the time she's 30. Really I don't care about an age deadline, but it would cool to check them all off. As of now, I have 21 to go:

1. Nevada
2. Oregon
3. Arizona
4. Massachusetts
5. Connecticut
6. New Hampshire
7. Vermont
8. Maine
9. Rhode Island
10. Kentucky
11. Ohio
12. Indiana
13. Illinois
14. Michigan
15. Wisconsin
16. Minnesota
17. Iowa
18. South Dakota
19. North Dakota
20. Alaska
21. Hawaii

Now, I don't define having been to a state too narrowly, except that a layover in an airport does not count. Driving through a state, however, does count. Not that that will help me much with Hawaii.

What are your random goals?

My life is spinning wildly out of control

I just realized that I'm going to be out of town for the third weekend in a row, and the thought made me want to break down and cry at my desk from despair. I doesn't help that I'm running on about 5 hours of sleep, because there's this long story about my flight being delayed from Seattle and having to spend the night in St. Louis with no luggage, and then to have my luggage arrive at 4 am this morning (via a courier who called my cell phone in the freakin' middle of the night to let me know he was downstairs), and then I couldn't really go back to sleep, and I have really bad sinus headache. And a lot of my stuff is still in boxes and our bathroom smells really funky and there's just NO TIME to deal with it all.

But then I realized that I don't have to work on Monday, and that thought made me so happy I considered tap dancing on my desk.

I'm feeling the strain of the emotional roller coaster - as I haven't felt it since, oh, we'll guess the age of 14.