I miss my toy

It's only been a couple hours, but I miss my little iPod so much. The poor thing is in a box on it's way to Apple land and I miss it so.

For the past while it's been freezing and restarting and skipping some songs and just acting up a little. And it just kept getting worse. So, I went to the little iPod page and told the iPod people and they sent me a box and said to send that puppy on back. And so, I'm without my little guy for the weekend. And maybe longer. I'll have to start compulsively checking the status of my iPod on the website and haunting my mailbox waiting for it's return.

I am obviously nothing without my little iPod. Luckily I'll be in a car with a CD player both going to and returning from Connecticut. Unfortunately I forgot the Guns N Roses CD. Hopefully Aerosmith and Billy Idol will be enough to get me through. This wouldn't've been a problem with my little iPod.

Poor little iPod.

AAAAAAAAAAH!

I think someone is spiking my food or drink. I've been feeling totally wired lately. Since about Tuesday. And weirdly so. Is it one of y'all? Do you think I'm just not hyper enough? Because I think I am. Really, I am.

Right now I'm all stressed trying to get things ready for the weekend. Tonight I head to Connecticut to sit through endless meetings, drink lots of beer and flirt inappropriately with collage kids. Should be a rockin' good time. Mom, I'll do you proud.

And I packed my camera. Woo.

DAMMIT

They're putting summer interns in our fucking pod. Summer interns. Have y'all ever met summer interns who WANT to spend their summer working in fucking Equity Research? Geekiest, dumbest, most annoying people you will ever meet. Well, 99 times out of 100. We had one in our pod a couple summers ago. We still cringe when his name comes up. My whole summer is ruined. Well, not really, but I'm very, very unhappy.

Oh, they're so awful. The interns are awful. Young and dumb and big ole losers. Dammit. And so loud. They're always so loud. And they ask the dumbest questions ever. Really.

My god I am a shallow whiny bitch.

Grrrrr...

We have parties in the Econ pod. This is just going to ruin the workday aspect of Birthday Week. I am NOT inviting them to Birthday Week. Where will I keep my Taekwon Do clothing? Dammit.

Topless Boys!

Y'all, someone got to this blog today by doing a yahoo search for "photos of topless boys". I'm going to go do that search right now. Hee hee hee hee. Either they were sorely disappointed or it was someone who knows me well and wanted to find my blog and knew I'd mention topless boys and photos. Hee.

There are more topless girl photo pages coming up in this kind of a search. Even one with the Olsen Twins. Ew, there is some sick stuff out there when it comes to looking for photos of topless boys. Apparently you can see Julie Andrews naked with this search. And Vaginal Childbirth Photos. I guess if a woman were birthing a boy he would be a topless one... They don't come with tops I don't think. "butter topless girls" what does that even MEAN? Okay, I looked through 320 listings of sites on that search and not one was mine. So odd. Wonder how on earth that person got to me.

I went shopping last night and dragged Lovey with me. She's not quite as bad an influence as Pumpkin ("Buy it. Buy that too. Get that. BUY!") but she's bad. And even I was getting ready to kill us if we said, "That's so cute" one more time. Pity the folks shopping around us. "CUTE!" I went looking for cute (heh) pants and didn't find a single pair I liked. I did get a skirt and six different tops though so that's something. And more pink for my wardrobe. And I actually opted not to buy the adorable shoes I was lusting after. Once I realized I really had nothing to wear with bright green shoes and the green top I was buying wouldn't work. I'm so proud of me.

Oh, and if you're wondering, Banana Republic WILL accept a gift certificate from four years ago. Rock on Banana Republic. You're my buddy.

See, shopping tips from Amanda. That's sorta like advice. So maybe my blog title isn't a sham after all. I should start giving advice here. Just put in random questions that people ask me during my day and the responses I give. Heh. I have one to put in here... Do I have to get people's permission before putting their questions in here do you think?

I want a 10 year old of my very own.

My little Beyonce is adorable. We had a great time today at lunch. Apparently she won three fish and got a sunburn at a street fair this weekend. And she named one of the fish Beyonce which amused me. But sadly that fish died. We think it's best not to name the other two as it seems to be bad luck. We also talked about her boyfriend of 4 1/2 months and about how boring boys are no good but that the interesting ones always break your heart. And we discussed the awesomeness of Science and how she likes History and wishes she could time travel. The we read a little. Then more pre-algebra. She is just so awesome and smart and interesting. I am going to miss her like mad this summer. I only have one more day with her and then it's done. I want to find her a really cool math practice book of sorts for her for over the summer. She's 10 but smart with math so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

I have a giant red pimple on my forehead. I'm the grossest woman alive.

I'm sorta out of control on this Birthday Week thing and now I'm paying for it. I sent out an email basically demanding love and attention and now I'm getting it in spades. Well, attention, no so much the love. My friends are all so dirty. I think I need to email them all and remind them that my Daddy is on this email list and they should keep it clean. Or he will beat them all up. Poor, poor Daddy. Hopefully he'll just ignore anything not from me. Daddy, if you read this first, just ignore any Birthday Week emails that don't come from me. But I am hopeful that people will attend Birthday Week. Yay!

Brad Pitt's Ass

Troy was so, so bad. Really. So cheesy. Such bad acting in so many places. Such a trashing of an awesome story. There were some decent moments here and there, especially involving the decent actors, but that really just made it worse. Because then you'd think about how it might've been an okay movie. The audience just gave up before an hour was even up and started laughing and mocking the movie so hard. So, so sad. And not nearly enough naked buff Brad Pitt. I decided my 2 and a half hours would've been better spent reading the Iliad at home while naked Brad Pitt wandered around my apartment. So, I'm going to try and find a way to do that. Though Pumpkin had to remind me last night that Brad is married and I have a rule and all. And I hate to break my rules. But I think I'll worry about that when I actually have naked Brad Pitt in my apartment. Heh.

New York Minute was a thousand times better and that only had shirtless CuteDean and offscreen naked Olsen Twins.

I have nothing else. I'm spent. Done for. I should just go plan birthday week some more. Yay! Birthday Week!

I *heart* CuteDean

Okay, y'all. I LOVED New York Minute. It was actually awesome and a lot of fun. Even Buzz loved it. It wasn't just me. The scene where CuteDean first meets the twins is hilarious. And while they didn't actually SHOW it, there was a LOT of naked Olsen twin going on in that movie. Ashley has a shower scene and a naked dumpster scene. And she spends like twenty minutes of the movie in a towel. I was kinda in awe. It seemed a little inappropriate. And totally fantastic. And CuteDean totally takes his top off - which rocks. You all need to go see it. Really. I wish I was better able to describe the true fabulousness of the movie. It totally made me want to go get a make-over at Big Shirl's House of Bling. It's an awesome movie and I may have to see it again. I'll certainly have to get the DVD. I'm so embarrassed.

Before the movie Buzz and I were walking to dinner and I'd asked him if he'd seen 13 Going on 30. He asked me what kind of guy I thought he was. I said he was "the kinda guy who's going to see the Oslen Twins Movie with me." Some guy was passing us on the sidewalk in the same direction and he just lost it when I said that and kept looking back and giggling. So I totally lost it too. And Buzz decided he could never show his face in that neighborhood again. Though maybe after loving the movie so much he can feel comfortable coming back to midtown some day.

This discussion came about because we were discussing my relatively low mental age. I was talking about how well I bond with little Beyonce because we are both 10 and he felt I was closer to 12. But I'm turning 30. And there's a movie called 13 Going On 30... so it was decided that I am 13 Going On 30. I would be offended, but it's so true. I'm never going to be a grown up.

Buzz and I also spent a few minutes discussing Friendster so I once again spent a hunk of my morning messing around on that. Lovey finally accepted me as her Friendster and I found out Rock Star Fran is on it too. Have y'all made me your friendster yet? Have you made my Mom your friendster yet? Have YOU!?!?!? Like Buzz said, it's just a popularity contest and I am NOT winning right now.

Oh, and this morning I took that all sex no drugs purity test thing that I've seen in some other blogs lately. And I'm really embarrassed. But I will NOT be posting my results here. I just wanted to let you all know, I'm embarrassed. Daddy - my score was 100% pure. It was.

Tonight I think I'll be seeing Troy. Maybe. Planning things with more than two people can be exhausting. And then cleaning for the rest of the weekend. And maybe gardening. Depending upon the weather and my ability to find gardening gloves and azalea plants. I think Vader is coming over to help tomorrow so that'll be nice. Someone to inspire me to clean and keep me from sitting on my tushy. Yay.

***Dad, read no further***

Okay, for Muffy and Steph - for the LAST time. I have rules. Very few rules, but rules. And I'm going to cling to them.

I don't do anyone I don't actively want.

I don't do anyone under 18.

I don't do people with significant others that I know (ie, I don't do my friends' significant others)

And I DO NOT DO MARRIED PEOPLE!

Some people just cannot learn it seems. I may have to print out flashcards for y'all.

Log Ride

I sorta feel like I should clarify yesterday's ramblings. I love my life and don't want anyone else's. I think what I was (and am?) envying is just those times in life when you can just be really excited about something. Things are going well for me, but there isn't anything big or exciting happening right now (birthday week doesn't count and Vegas 2005 is MONTHS away). Like when you have an awesome crush or something amazing happens in your career or you find out you're going to have a baby or move someplace wonderful and exotic. Just those incredible moments where you feel so excited and happy and goofy that you can't stand it. Whether they're small day long ones or month long ones. They're just awesome. And I want one. Maybe I'll have to go find a great job or get a big crush or fall in love or something. Though I guess those moments are best when they aren't forced, huh?

I was thinking about a goofy junior high one of mine yesterday. I think it was 7th or 8th grade. There was this guy I was totally crushing on and had been for a while. I have no idea why. He wasn't all that spectacular. In fact, when I first met him I thought he looked kinda like a non-blue smurf. But he was a really nice guy. And one of the adored popular boys. And really funny too. And he would not swear at all and said things like Dagnabit which I thought was so cute. And I was like 13 so whatever. I was just totally IN LOVE in a 13 year old way.

It was the end of the school year and so it was Rusheon Jr High night at Hamel's Park, the small amusement park in our town. So my girlfriends and I went. And he was there with his buddies. And I was all giddy at seeing him. And my girlfriends knew I was crushing on him so we all just acted like idiots trying to follow his posse around and trying to figure out how to get him to ride on the train with me that circles the park - where the kids go to make out. And it was so awesome. At one point we were gathered at the log ride with a few from each posse planning to ride. I hated log rides but was going to go for it. Only problem is there were 7 of us and only 6 fit in each log. So I was going to bow out. Then one guy said he'd ride alone and gave me his seat. Right in front of Matt. Y'all! I was so excited I think I almost peed. It was in the back half of the car so I was behind the hot Derek (who I crushed on at a later date and I'm not 100% that his name was Derek) and in front of Matt. Who put his hands around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. Bliss! I was on a high for the rest of the week I think.

After the log ride he turned to me and asked if I wanted to ride the roller coaster. I HATE roller coasters. They scare me to pieces. I was 25 years old and on my 5th Walt Disney World visit before I finally worked up the courage to ride Space Mountain. And that is not even a major coaster. I'm a little better about them now - being almost 30 - but I was a wuss at 12 or 13. About coasters at least. So my friends all snickered when he asked because they KNOW I'm not going on that coaster. But they were mistaken about the extreme power of CUTE BOY over me. I said yes before I knew what I was doing. I think I spent the whole ride with my eyes closed and grasping onto Matt for dear life (not such a bad thing).

And that was it. Nothing ever happened with Matt and I. But that didn't really seem to matter. It was just so awesome an event in my little world on it's own and the possibilities it opened up in my mind. I was so excited and peppy and insane. I went home that night and described the whole thing in detail in my diary. And then I drew a diagram of the log and who was sitting where. A diagram.

It makes me a little giddy still, a million years later, thinking about it. Hee. So cute.

Dammit, I just read that Hamel's park closed in 1999. I am very sad. What's happened to Shreveport? No Hamel's, no Captain's baseball team... I don't know how much more I can take. And now I'm feeling all nostalgic for Bossier City and Shreveport, LA. I should get back there sometime soon.

I was a little bummed yesterday, feeling like I don't have a lot of friends in New York because I didn't have that many people to invite to Birthday Week. But everyone's been telling me that I sent my b-day week email to a lot of people. So apparently I'm just being silly again.

I read Pamie.com a lot (she celebrates Birthday Week too - turns out a LOT of people celebrate Birthday Week) and lately she's been writing about being engaged and house shopping and her life and her work and so on and so forth. And I love my life and I don't want to be engaged or live in California (though having a career I liked and writing for TWoP would be awesome), but she seems to be having one of those great life moments where you can kinda just be really happy and content about the way things are and have lots to be excited about and all. So I don't actually want her life, but I theoretically want her life. Does that make any sense? I think it's more that I want my life but I want to have exciting life moment stuff in it. Like a new and exciting job to look forward to or just a lot of really great things happening or something. I don't know. I was also insanely jealous of Turnip's life on Friday as she was getting ready to host a fabulous jacuzzi party with a variety of hot actors attending. How cool is that? Now, I was off to have a really fun weekend with an awesome friend I've known since high school and wouldn't have traded that weekend for hot boys in a jacuzzi, but I was still envying Turnip's life at the moment. You know? Tina Fey's life would be cool now too actually with the Bust cover and Mean Girls and all. Oh hell. I like my life best of all.

Because, really, my life is pretty awesome. I'm celebrating Birthday Week and somehow have enough friends and family who will humor me so that I can get away with it. Hell, some people actually seem excited about it. Well, they're excited about week long fun activities and seeing mutual friends and all more than they're excited about adoring me for a week, but whatever. I'll take it.

I just typed a whole list of things that are great about my life, but it bored me. So I'm sparing y'all. Be grateful. My life is interesting. Lists about my life? Not so interesting.

Speaking of people humoring me... Buzz and I are going to see the Olsen Twin movie tomorrow night. Woo. Muffy (or Muffuletta as Steph sometimes calls her), you are off the hook. You owe Buzz a big ole kiss. Those Olsen twins have been popping up in Page Six a lot lately. Very odd. I guess the almost 18 thing and finally having a movie in theaters is raising interest or something. Huh. Weird. They were speculating about the loss of Ashley's virginity today. Poor thing. I'd freak the fuck out if anyone speculated about the loss of mine (which, Daddy, hasn't happened yet - and never will!), let alone something as widely read as Star Magazine or Page Six. Dang. I cannot believe I spent a paragraph on the Olsen Twins again. Dammit!

Have I mentioned yet that my parents are in CHINA, WITHOUT me? So not over that yet. But it sounds like a really awesome time. And I'm happy for them. I think. No, I am. Very happy for them. And very jealous.

Birthday Week Count Down

One Month

I just sent out the email announcing that Birthday Week starts in One Month. Just to give everyone a heads up so they can arrange their calendars accordingly. Because my ego knows no bounds. It's awesome that way. I really do hope folks come to and enjoy birthday week. Or my ego may have to sit in a corner and cry while I drink madly. Or something.

Last night was a pretty awesome thunderstorm. For New York especially. I remember when I was in NC and we'd sit out on the porch swing sometimes and just watch the lightening and rain and all that. Loved that. I kinda miss good rain storms and thunder storms and all that. Had it been early evening I would've loved sitting out in the back yard watching it or something. Maybe. I don't really have much of an awning back there. Though I guess it's not like I actually have the good sense to come in out of the rain on a normal day anyway. Unfortunately this was a late night one so I just woke up, noted that there was a storm and then kinda went back to sleep. Okay, I guess it couldn't have been that awesome of a storm then, huh?

Busy Weekend

Quite the busy weekend. Friday was more quality time with Amtrak. I'm very, very glad I signed up with their guest rewards program a while ago. Coming in handy these days. I think I can actually switch 5,000 miles to Continental now if I want. Or get free Amtrak tickets. Hmmmm... Anyway, the train was lovely as always. Lots of reading, writing and marveling at human nature. The guy sitting next to me had many buddies on the train so he was hardly ever in his seat. I'm wondering where he kept going off to smoke though, because he REEKED whenever he sat back down next to me. Hmmmm... Bathroom maybe? You could fit a couple smoking buddies in the business class car ones I think.

Saturday was brunch (as always in Boston) at Renee's. Then Hoku walking around the lake - gorgeous day for it. Then Mean Girls. I really liked it. It was good. Though I think I had thought it would've been even better. I don't really remember ever being that mean in High School either. Of course, being that mean would have required caring more about things I couldn't be bothered to care about. Or something. I think I was much meaner in grade school and junior high. I was over the mean thing by high school. Well, over it and totally embarrassed by it.

Anyway, then off to dinner at an Ethiopian place where Pumpkin got smashed on honey wine. I don't care what she says, Fishboy and I both agree that when you say the stairs are hard and you're dizzy that means you're drunk. Silly Pumpkin. And then off for drunken used book store shopping. Pumpkin made me get two gardening books. I now have a giant book on nothing but azaleas. I now have to put azaleas in my backyard. No choice.

It was kinda like date night with Muffy and Steph but switched up. Instead of dinner (making drunk Muffy) then book store then movie we did movie, then dinner (making drunk Pumpkin) then bookstore. Hey, I have a fourth couple in the running for my affections! Woo. I'm never going to decide which one to truly commit to though. Well, I suspect Pumpkin and Fishboy probably don't really want to date me and Buzz and Chuck are hardly around so maybe they aren't so much in the running. Maybe they are just there in case I get dumped by the other couples and am desperate or if I need to whip Muffy & Steph into shape by taunting them with my other options. This paragraph probably only made sense to a handful of folks. Sorry.

Anyway, more brunch on Sunday and then back on the train so I could make it to Madison Square Garden to see the live Survivor Finale. Because who doesn't love being part of a live studio audience? PimpDaddy managed to score tickets through his brother and decided to take me and Steph and another friend - because he's just that awesome of a Pimp.

It was an amusing experience. I am not enough of a Survivor junkie to make it the best night ever, but it was fun. I do have to say though that these folks do not understand crowd control. Lots of mulitcolored wristbands, strange line flows and lots of seat moving and cat herding involved. We ended up in the one section that didn't appear to get any camera time. Heh. There goes my shot at fame and fortune. But we got a good view of Jeff and all. And we were near enough to the middle section to see all the reality-show 'celebrities' filing in. It was awesome to see everyone freak when anyone walked in. Apparently there were quite a few folks from the last two seasons of Survivor which I didn't watch. But then there were some I did remember like Clay and Roger and Butch and such. And some folks from Big Brother episodes that I'd seen. And a few Amazing Race folks too. Mom & Dad: I got a good view of Zack (minus Flo) and the Air Traffic Control guy, Dave. And Team Guido was sitting down front being annoying in matching red shirts so there was that too. And I think that's all I can remember. I was mostly sitting down until I heard the shrieks or until PimpDaddy told me of a new person to check out. I had Steph to chat with and free pringles and M&Ms to enjoy. Corporate Sponsorship and all.

Not too many things different from what was seen on TV. There was a HORRIBLE 'comic' who came to pump up the crowd in the beginning and during the breaks. Lots of old unfunny jokes and a bit of fart humor. Even a Paris Hilton underwear joke. Such a tool. At one point he asked Jeff if he was a boxers or briefs kinda guy and Jeff showed us he was wearing bright green underwear of some kind. Very odd. Jeff also mentioned how the audience was booing or cheering after EVERY SINGLE comment a contestant made, which was pretty true. He said we were like a wrestling crowd or something. I don't know. Loud crowd. Oh, and when they were setting up and having the jury come out to do the live Finale, Tina came on out and sat down and had to be fetched back as they were only doing the jury and the vote and all first. THEN the reunion. Hee. And there was a bit of a kerfluffle during the reunion after Jerri spoke and then she took off. She really shouldn't have taken it to heart. The only person they were really cheering was Rupert, who annoys me no end. And half the time they'd turn around and boo someone they had just cheered a second ago. I liked to yell randomly. But mostly I was cracking up.

There were a TON of kids in the audience which I wasn't expecting. I didn't think it was such a kid show. There were also lots of skanks with I heart Rob signs. See, this is one of the reasons I feel dirty for thinking Boston Rob is hot. I don't want to be like the skanks with I heart Rob signs and wearing buffs as tube tops. I would rather be a more unique, non tube top wearing kinda skank. You know? I wonder how the skanks felt about the BRob & Ambah engagement. I wonder if Amber will have a pre-nup. Heh.

Anyway, it was a fun weekend and I am very grateful to Pumpkin and PimpDaddy for showing me such an awesome time. Now I gotta figure out what exciting thing to do tonight. Eh, who am I kidding. Tonight I clean my apartment and clear my TiVo. I can only maintain my fabulous rock star life a couple days in a row. Then I get tired like the old woman I am.

Bad, bad me.

I'm feeling pissy. It's gorgeous and sunny and warm outside right now and I'm trapped in the office of the evil empire. How is that a good thing? It is not. There's also not a lot that must be done right now so I'm not even feeling like it's useful for me to be trapped in the office of the evil empire. I am a whiney baby.

I did actually get out to run some errands and things. Which was nice. I have mucho gifts to buy for birthdays and mother's day and all that. Though my mother is spending Mother's Day touring China without me. Because she obviously does not love me as she should. She's been shooting the family emails from the road and it sounds like such a fabulous trip. I need to go on a fabulous trip. Does anyone want to go on a fabulous vacation with me? Let me know.

PimpDaddy somehow got tickets for the Survivor Finale at MSG and invited me. Because he is a darling, darling man. And the best pimp ever. I should have a shirt made for him. Though now I'm trying to figure out how early I can leave Boston on Sunday. It's Pumpkin's birthday and I want to celebrate and rejoice with her. And have brunch - though brunch on Mother's Day is going to be a nightmare. So, I'm waiting to hear if she'll still love me if I leave early or not. Maybe if I give her a big wad of cash for her birthday... 11AM isn't that early, right? I'm such a bad friend.

But, it should be fun. If Pumpkin lets me go. I'm looking forward to ogling Boston Rob (even though it makes me feel dirty to do so) and hang out with the rowdy crowd. Though MSG is huge so the odds are that we'll be all the way in the back against the wall straining to hear what's going on. But I'm kinda okay with that. It should be a kick anyway. And if Muffy and Steph are there too, well the snarking should achieve levels not seen before in this country. Yay! Snark!

This and That

Like a fool, I took a nap yesterday after work. And so I couldn't sleep last night. And now, I am tired. I did get October & November 2003 photos online though so that was nice. The Wally World photos have to be attacked next and I fear them. I think I took about 40 photos of EPCOT alone, on a lovely uncrowded morning in the World Showcase. But I should put them up. It's time. And I could probably stand to get the March/April 2004 photos up too. It's kinda nice actually getting some of this stuff done. Though Image Station seems to darken my photos. Though my photos are probably darker than they need to be anyway. Actually, I'm really hoping to get the Muffy & Steph wedding photos up soon. If Mama Steph gets me some names I should be ready to pull those babies together. Yay! Wait, she just got back to me. She's like the best Mom ever. Well, after my mother of course. And the grandmothers. But then, it's Mama Steph.

I only have three more reading sessions with Beyonce this school year and it makes me sad. I don't suspect strangers will let me have their 10 year old girls to do math with, huh? Dangit. I will just have to make the most of these next three weeks and hope I can read with her again next school year. I wish we were allowed to keep in touch over the summer. But there are rules.

Pumpkin turns older this weekend and I'm heading out of to town to help her celebrate. Sadly she and Fishboy do not want to go see New York Minute (with CuteDean & the Olsen Twins!) with me. So Muffy, it looks like you may be stuck. But there may be a viewing of Mean Girls so that could be fun. And I suspect there will also be brunch. They like the brunch in Boston. Hopefully there will be mad fun and she will enjoy the aging experience. Though Pumpkin does claim that her dislike of her birthday is my fault. Some stuff from her 18th birthday and all. Really, it wasn't that bad. And it wasn't like I acted alone.

Lovey and I were talking about my friends and she was asking if I meant a certain one. I was trying to figure out who she was talking about and she said, "I don't know. Some guy you went to some island with." That sentence and the fact that it can and does apply to my life amuses me. I have some guy I went to some island with. And that still didn't narrow down what guy she was talking about. Awesome. My rock star island life.

Tonight, my rock star life includes cleaning the cat box. I can't even tell you how vile it is. Really. I've been neglecting it for so long that the cats are really angry with me. So I will do that. And you will all envy me. I know.

Hee

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen turn 18 during birthday week this year. Crack my shit up. Hee. Hee. Hee.

I think there should be an event in their honor during birthday week. Heh. Heh. Heh.

Loving the Children's Books

This weekend I went shopping with Muffy and Steph for books to read with little Beyonce. We'd been working on A Little Princess but I think some of the ideas and words and the time period were a bit much for her. Though apparently she owns and loves the movie so at least she likes the story of it. I just love the book. Always have. Anyway. She said she was more into stuff about kids her age in the relatively current time period. And mysteries and comedies were always good. So, a-shopping I went.

I was totally thrilled at how many of the books I loved as a kid are still in print and apparently selling well. All the Judy Blumes and Beverly Clearys. Charlotte's Web and A Wrinkle in Time and the Oz books and such. They had some of the Anne of Green Gables series but not a lot. But they had 'em. So I got a whole bunch of books that I didn't have anymore or that are packed away in boxes in Hawai'i and brought 'em to reading today.

I was actually nervous that she might not like any of the books. But she seemed into the Judy Blumes and all. And we got through the first chapter and a half of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great. Heh. But then she wanted to do math. They're doing all that year-end testing this week, and this morning they did some math testing. So she was showing me some of the problems she remembered from the morning. I hope she did well. I'm sure she did. She's pretty bright with the math. Not a huge fan of the reading, but we make sure we do that for at least half the lunch hour. And she even read a couple of pages herself too. Though that's slower going.

But I'm glad she liked the books. Though I think Lovey was more excited about them. She wants to do a reading program too. Maybe I can get her hooked into my in the fall semester. Oh, wait. I really don't want to still be here in the fall. Dammit.

Boys Suck

So I was sitting around listening to country music (shut it, I don't want to hear it) and decided to call The Boy. The Boy is a long complicated story that I really don't understand myself so there's no point in explaining him. But, he is. The Boy. He's been around for a million years. And we fight like crazy and make each other insane, but at my darkest moments, I sometimes call him. And vice versa. And we can't see each other in person for more than an hour without fighting. But at times I don't think anyone knows me better. Maybe my parents. Maybe not. But he's always been around and he's complicated and I love him beyond reason and hate him a ton and wish I could be with him always but am also really happy that he lives far away and I only see him once every 3 or 4 years. See? Complicated.

Anyway, country music always reminds me of him and so I was listening to it and feeling melancholy and thought I'd give him a call. It's been almost a year since our last big ugly blow out and I was looking for some of my standard The Boy talk. And didn't get it. It was kind of awkward and mostly boring and bland. And The Boy and I are never boring and bland. It was just so ordinary. There were a couple of moments that seemed like the old us. But they went quickly. And then it went back to being ordinary. I don't know if it was just him or if it was me too. I don't know if we were just trying too hard to make this a non fighting conversation or if we were both still mad about the last fight or if we're both just annoyed at turning 30 or what. But it made me feel more bummed than I did before. Well, not more bummed. I don't really feel bummed. Melancholy? A little lonely? A little tired. A little nostalgic. A little too 29. A little too unsettled but a little too much in a rut? I don't know.

So, if someone could come and remove all the country from my music playing machines, that would be awesome.

I'm gonna have a beer and do the two-step. Y'all have a nice night.

I hate pimples

Super Fun Week is almost over and it makes me sad. Today is really the last full day of super fun week. Because Friday is the Friday Report day and that's never fun. So I just have to enjoy today as much as possible. Woo. And it's a lovely day too. So I think I'm running outdoor errands this afternoon and leaving at five. Yes, my sexy rock star life.

So, the grill guy downstairs asked me out. Well, he asked me if I wanted to take him out. I think that counts as being asked out though. I told him I'd think about it. I don't know. He doesn't really thrill me. But he seems like a really sweet guy. It's not like it would be the end of the world if we grabbed dinner or something. He does always remember that I like egg whites, broccoli & American cheese on a croissant (wrap if the croissants are all gone) each morning. But I don't know. Why bother going out with someone who doesn't thrill you? Also, he has to be nutty. I do not look good today. Saggy pants, my hair is acting up and I'm totally breaking out like a fiend. Seriously. I would not ask me out today and I'm kinda half in love with me.

Next week is going to suck so hard. Grrrr...

Super Fun Week (not as cool as or to be confused with Birthday Week)

Most of my big bosses are out of the country this week, all week. So it's been a lovely, lovely non-productive week. I'm almost a little sad that as of today, it's half over. I've gotten all kinds of personal stuff done and went to lunch with Rock Star Fran yesterday. Good times. I haven't gotten through nearly enough TWoP recaps this week though. I'm thinking maybe I'll dedicate this afternoon to recaps. Though I do want to make a run to the card store. Maybe I'll do the card store tomorrow. It'll be a nicer day tomorrow. Ah, I love Super Fun Week.

Lovey and I bailed on work early yesterday (it being super fun week and all) and went to see 13 Going on 30. Loved it. Parts of it were totally cornball, but I loved it. Anyone who was a 13 year old girl in the mid to late 80s will probably find lots to cover their eyes about in the movie. Horrible sweaters with hearts on them, wearing as many colors at once as possible, Pat Benetar, partial pony tails (especially ones on the side of your head). Sadly, there was no reference to Breakin' or Breakin' 2. Though I guess she was 13 in '87 (like me) rather than '84 so it would've been past the Breakin' years. Still. Would've been awesome. Man, junior high sucked so hard. And sadly, now that I'm turning 30 I look nothing like Jennifer Garner. But still, loved the movie. Woo.

*Just got back from reading with little Beyonce and she really liked 13 Going on 30 as well. Just so you know. The 10 year olds AND the 30 year olds dig it. I also started teaching her algebra. She is so awesome.

Blog 2: Electric Boogaloo

I watched the start of Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. How jealous are y'all? I love Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. The second one actually came out on DVD first. Which is why I have it and not Breakin'. But I have Breakin' on my wish list. For those who want to know. Did y'all know Lela Rochon was in both as an extra (she was married to Ozone)? And Donovan Leitch is dancer in the second one. Hee. And Ice-T. Hee. Well, he was a rapper and not a dancer. Ah, such good times. But I guess Breakin' is the reason movies like You Got Served exist. And that sorta makes me sad. Though You Got Served led to an excellent South Park episode (episode 805) that brought back the Goth kids and the Raisin girls so maybe it's all good. I miss wearing that much neon and dancewear as actual clothing and all that ripped, shredded stuff. Good times.

Otherwise last night was kind of sad. It was my Nana's birthday. And this time last year my grandfather was dying in a hospital bed. And I always think this stuff won't hit me so hard, but then it does. And I just spent most of the evening missing my grandparents and wishing I could be with my Mom to help her get through this time of year. So I got all sad and sappy and wrote an angsty journal entry and then kinda went to bed missing them. I know I'm lucky to have a great family and I've said as much a thousand times, but this week I don't care. I just feel sad and pissy that I don't have them around anymore. There are all kinds of things each week that I want to share with them and I can't. And it pisses me off and makes me sad.

I kinda wish that there were a heaven where I could be back with the friends and family I've lost. Is there a religion that promises that? Because if there is, maybe I can find my faith again.

Man, is it wrong to mourn my grandparents and worship Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo in the same entry? I don't know. Grandpa John would've hated Electric Boogaloo. Nana probably would've laughed at me and went back to playing cards or something. But they both would've watched for at least a bit if I'd asked them to. They're pretty awesome. All of 'em. Nana, Papaw, Bz, Grandpa John. Amazing grandparents.

YAWN

All the big bosses are out this week so I'm hoping this will be the best work week ever. We've planned movie screenings and macaroni craft hours. Good times ahead I think. Well, maybe not. But I should be able to catch up on email and Television Without Pity and Taekwon Do and so on and so forth. Woo. The excitement.

The weekend was good. I wasn't feeling so hot for most of it, but the enforced home time was good. Saturday was lovely and I spent time in the back yard. Talked with my neighbor and everything is all good with the back. She's apparently just been bitten by the gardening bug and is trying stuff out. And the yard has been neglected for a long time so we're just going to play it by ear now and see if we can get grass in there and maybe some good shade plants. And if we've ruined it beyond repair by June, my friend Jo at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden said she'd check it out and maybe fix whatever we've done then and get us sod and the like. We'll see. But I'm very hopeful for a decent yard by the time my big birthday bash rolls around. Though I will have to go yard furniture shopping...

I also cleared off a lot of TiVo and started cleaning up digital photos and getting them online. Amazing huh? I'm kind of on a roll. Though the 150+ photos from Christmas in Hawai'i almost killed me. Luckily there aren't so many photos for December.

My god, I am the most boring woman alive. Gah.