Narcissistic musings, babblings and rants about New York, family, travel, the vagina, food, B-movies and everything else that pertains to life as experienced by a slightly nutty Brooklyn (for the moment) girl.
Friday, October 29, 2004
My Daddy is so cool. "Sorry about your Yankees, now maybe Boston Will go away for another 86 years or so." He understands what a small petty person I am. Mom's the nice one who thinks it's great that the Red Sox finally got to win one. Though she also lost interest in the post-season after the Yankees lost and she is more of a baseball fan. Eh, they're both adorable. Daddy even just bought me a new camera, that's how adorable he is. And how much of a spoiled princess I am.
I am soooo tired. Don't know how I'm going to stay awake through the big birthday fun tonight. I'll just have to drink a lot or something. They're having a post-earnings/Halloween thing here at work at 3:30. There will be beer, so I can start early. Lovey and I will be attending for sure. Good times. You wish you had my rock star life.
Steph's parents were in town this week so last night I met them and Muffy for dinner while Steph was in class like the bad son, but good student, that he is. They're lovely people so I get a kick out of hanging with them. And dinner was nice. A good conversational mix of baseball, families, card playing, politics (vote for Kerry), science and what exactly Rigatoni and Gnocchi are. Plus they brought me a gift from Joan - an awesome butt shot of Nomar that she took this summer. It's a great shot and a good photograph and quite a nice tushy. Even if he was in a Red Sox uniform at the time. You just gotta love people who will take, print, give and transport such a thing for you.
Then it was back to Steph & Muffy Manor for cake! Apparently Steph's Mum (they need names of their own) had a birthday on Monday and Muffy's is today so there were two cakes. I couldn't refuse two cakes. Right? So more chatting and wedding photograph viewing and discussions of genealogy and Vegas. What could be better.
Man, I need more coffee, I think I'm babbling.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Did something happen last night?
Rock Star Fran had a show with her girl band at the Knitting Factory. In the bowls of the Knitting Factory actually, also known as Old Office. So, I went to that. Monkey Man from work was going with me but had to work until 7. So I stuck around earning my paycheck for a couple extra hours, grabbed dinner with him and then headed to the show. Another interesting girl from work was there, a bar was there and Fran's honey was performing as well so time-killing before the main event wasn't a problem. Actually, I don't think they were technically the main event of the night, but they were for me. And in my blog, it's all about me.
Fran rocked her little heart out like the rock star she is and I had a good time. She was even wearing a skirt and sassy fishnets and everything. Though she outed me as a perv to the whole audience. She was playing drums for one song and was using a sweatshirt as a 'privacy shield' so she wouldn't flash the audience. Then she told the audience that AMANDA would rather she just flash everyone. A comment which met with dead silence if I recall correctly. I pondered shouting a big ole "WOO" at that point but had only had one beer and thus enough sense to not do that. So, now you know. I'm a Kenny Loggins lovin', privacy shield hatin' perv. Who hates the Red Sox. Who?
After the show Monkey Man and I headed out so he could call and wish his mom a happy birthday (like the forgetful slacker he is) and I could go home to watch some thing that was on the TV, I don't remember what, but there was something I wanted to get home and watch, hmmmmm... I'd totally forgotten about the eclipse, but we walked out and there it was. Just a tiny sliver of the moon was yet to be covered. So we decided to stand in the street and gawk. It was cool. Though not as cool as the solar eclipse I saw in Hawaii in '91. But still good. Monkey Man got some dumb work call at that point so he did that and I stared at the moon, while standing in the street, leaning against construction piling. I know how to have a good time. Oh yes, oh yes I do.
Anyway, eventually he wrapped that up, the moon got covered and looked cool and we headed home. So I could turn on my TV. And watch the sadness. Ah, the sadness.
They looked so happy though. The unwashed, long-haired, scary little Red Sox players. And it is a huge thing. They won the World Series. For the first time in 86 years. By winning their last 8 post-season games in a row. And my Red Sox fan friends are delirious. And that's awesome. And I'm trying very hard to be happy for them. Through the phone calls, the emails, the gloating and the mocking. Because I know it's going to be another 86 years before they do it again. A person should only have to suffer one Red Sox World Series title in their lifetime. This was mine. I accept that. And I'm ready to move on to the next season.
Alas
But the Red Sox did a great job and had an amazing post season and my friends are so happy they're about to pee so I'm happy for y'all. As much as it pains me.
And no, Muffy, I do not think now is the time to start chanting 2000. Smartasses, the lot of ya'.
Freakin' Red Sox.
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Photographic Memories
I also saw a lot of great photos of someone who used to be a really good friend of mine and now is not, and that made me a little sad. Actually a lot sad. Thinking of all the relationships that were great and don't exist anymore. I miss some of those friends and boyfriends and whatnots and such. I'm thankful I had those relationships in my life and that I can look back on them fondly and think of how they improved my life and made me happy. All that's great. And I know that if relationships didn't change and fade and grow I wouldn't have the awesome relationships now. And at this moment I wouldn't change a thing about Pumpkin and Muffy and Steph and Turnip and PimpDaddy and Spanky and Muppet and BigD and Buzz and Lovey and RSFran and Vader and my family and others I haven't yet named. Well, I probably would change the amount of time I spend with them if I could get away with not working and having unlimited airfare. But other than that I wouldn't change it. And I probably wouldn't be so close with all of them if I were still so close with other people. Because there's only so much time and energy in a day. And I know that some of them will fade and change a little. But others will grow and folks who are distant now might be closer later. And I'll probably sit around a couple years from now looking over this year's photos getting all moony and silly. And grateful that I take so many damn photos.
Of course I then had a very high schoolesque dream last night about some of the people in my life who now aren't just not close with me but actively dislike me. It was weird. There were lots of girlfriends and plans for a movie but then everyone ate all my nachoes and ditched me while I was taking a quick shower and it was weird. So, no more nostalgia for me this week!
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Yo' mama
I love the iPod. The iPod doesn't judge me when I need a little Bon Jovi and Cher and Duran Duran to get me through my day. Or even a little Kenny Loggins. Though iPod does allow me to quickly find out that I have twelve Kenny Loggins sons on there. Dear god. Maybe Rock Star Fran was right. Maybe I am Kenny Loggins'esqe. I don't even have a CD of the Top Gun soundtrack to put on there. Not even any Caddyshack. This is all Footloose and that Return to Pooh Corner CD.
Okay, let me explain the Pooh Corner CD. I was dating a guy for a long time who loved Winnie the Pooh. And I loved the guy. So I went along with this mad Pooh love even though I don't feel it myself. I like the Winnie the Pooh ride at DisneyWorld and Pooh is cute and all, but it wasn't much of a childhood thing for me. But it was for him. So I helped mend his little Pooh doll. And tolerated the equating of my love of pigs & Disney into Piglet love. And got the Return to Pooh Corner CD with that Pooh song on it. It also had All the Pretty Little Horses on it too though, which Mom sang to me when I was a kid. But, well, yes. I have a whole Kenny Loggins CD of children's songs. I am such a freakin' loser. I'm so embarrassed. Now I'm judging me in a way iPod never would.
The Pretty Little Horses song is a little different from the version Mom sang to me anyway. But I like it and it's the only version of the song I have. It wasn't my favorite Mommy song, but it's in the top ten. My favorite was Polly Von. But I would only let her sing it to me sometimes. Because it always made me cry. I thought it was a really, really pretty song and loved the way my mom sang it, but sometimes I just couldn't handle such a sad song. Though really, it's kind of a silly song. A hunter goes out, sees a swan, shoots it and then it turns out it was his girlfriend and not a swan. And she dies. I know, it's weird, but I liked it. And still do. 'Cause my Mommy sang it to me. She also sang Puff the Magic Dragon and Where Have All the Flowers Gone and For Baby, For Bobbie (I think). We were a very Peter, Paul & Mary kinda house. And now I sing those songs to kids I babysit and sang them at nap time when I was working at the local day care while in college. And probably will sing them to my kids, when I have them.
Hippies are contagious, don'cha know?
Monday, October 25, 2004
I am NOTHING Like Kenny Loggins
I kind of dread the Red Sox winning the World Series because it's fun to taunt. I love having Red Sox fan friends and the whole rivalry and chanting "1918" and the Red Sox always being the underdogs and so on and so forth. So, I'm kinda rooting for the Cardinals now. Because I don't want my fun times to change. And because I don't want to hear about it for the next year. And because I don't want this curse to end as it's fun. I think it's a little fun for the Red Sox fans, even. Or not. Certainly not for the team...
But it would be really exciting for my friends if they won and I kinda want them to have that happiness. Especially JBeth who has been waiting for this for close to a million years. Though if it was going to have to happen in my lifetime it probably would've been cooler last year with a Cubs/Red Sox series. Anyway, enough about baseball...
This past weekend I went to Wesleyan's Homecoming for hanging and drinking and board meetings and PUPPY. It was a good time. Though I really do wish people would quit telling me I'm old. The guys of '52, '53 and '54 were awesome about telling me how not old I was, so big love for them. Though they did then start singing a really dirty song after that and kinda scared me some.
But it was a fun time. Diner runs, staying at the always classy Super 8, thinking inappropriate thoughts about undergraduates, dancing, playing with the cutest puppy in the world, hanging in front of the fire with girlfriends, catching up with folks I only see once or twice a year when we all come back to Alpha Delt, singing ridiculous songs with people, complaining about 'kids today' in a mostly joking manner, getting dressed for dinner... things like that. All good stuff. It's also nice to show up somewhere for a weekend and have lots of people shriek and smile and hug you as soon as they see you. It's nice to feel like people are actually excited to see you again. Lots and lots of people.
I like being loved. I dig it. The most. Love and attention make me so happy. I don't actually require it. I'm not really insecure. In fact, I'm rather cocky and egotistical, I think. But it's nice. It's nice to know that other folks think I'm as fun and pretty and smart and sassy as I think I am. Big D laughed at me in the car yesterday because I said that I respected people who liked me. He thought that was funny. But yeah, it's nice to occasionally get mad love to counteract all the folks who think I'm a loud, obnoxious tool.
Rock Star Fran just compared me to Kenny Loggins. She is no longer the kewlist person I know at the moment and might not be kewler than Britney Spears now. Kenny freakin' Loggins.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
My Poor Babies
And I'm trying to figure out what to say. What snappy little comebacks to have ready when the taunting begins.
Well, when the taunting continues. Skipper left me a voicemail midway through the game, around the 7th Inning. Pumpkin (who apparently became a baseball/Red Sox fan tonight) called seconds after the game ended. Then Steph called (with Muffy cackling in the background). He kept giving me some line of how he was trying to offer an olive branch by asking if I wanted to grab a beer. I don't buy his line. The man was calling to taunt. Because Red Sox fans (even brand spankin' new ones PUMPKIN) are just mean, mean people.
But I have no snappy comebacks. I will just let them enjoy their fun. It happens so rarely and is usually so shortlived. And I know the Yankees will come back next season and beat their asses like they normally do. Because Yankees win and Red Sox lose and that's just life.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Oh Happy Day (I still hate the red sox)
I hate the Red Sox
I cannot get those first three words from the Team America theme out of my head. Seriously. All day long I'm at work with "A-mer-i-ca, Fuck Yeah!" going on a constant loop in the back of my head. I know that at some point I'll just start singing it out loud. And then I'll get the funny looks again. I hate the funny looks. But I hate the Red Sox more. Damn Red Sox.
I just finished rereading Valley of the Dolls. Amusing book. Depressing book. I can't really remember much of the movie, but I always picture Patty Duke as Neely O'Hara when I read it. The whole evil people and drug abuse stuff aside, the book really depresses me because of the whole 'woman needs man' theme. It' so offensive. That all women desperately want to get married on some level. That a man has to be the one to support the family even if the woman has millions. That a woman needs to be married to be successful. Even if you have piles of money and a great career you're something to be pitied without a husband. And then the idea that men cheat because they're men. It's just what they do. Women accept it and move on. So gross. So very, very gross. Blech. I think the thing I really like about the book is that pills (especially sleeping pills) are called dolls. It's a habit my family has picked up, for no reason I can explain. We just call sleeping pills dolls. Like last night Mom told me to just take some dolls and go to bed.
We have lots of little in jokes, the folks and I. Like Dad and I often do a whole, "Let us go then you and I" schtick whenever we're heading off somewhere. We've done that since before I ever read the poem. It's weird and dorky, but a funny family thing. We often call Dad Sparky or Clark because of a whole Wally World/National Lampoon's Vacation thing we have going. We have our dolls. We have little nicknames and jokes and things like that. We have jokes about Dad's girlfriend and now his boyfriend (usually his roommates) and Mom's boyfriend - though now that he's going to be a father and all she hardly ever talks to him which takes all the fun out of that joke. Most of the time they make no sense to anyone else and often convince others that we are not a healthy family. But we really are. It's just our weird sense of humor. I like the fact that our brains are twisted in the same way. Drugs and poetry and mockery bringing us closer. Good times.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Woo
See, Mommy's Magical Heart got Dad a promotion. That puppy is POWERFUL.
I'm Not Feeling Well... (excuse the swearing)
Sorry. Had to get that out. Cannot believe the Yankees haven't wrapped this up already. And with today's weather it looks like we'll have to wait until tomorrow to put that team out of it's misery. Bah.
I'm not having a happy day. Really. The Yankees haven't won yet. I just typed that as one and not won because I'm not very bright. I had to walk to work (well, to the train and then to the office from the train) in the cold and the wet (uphill, both ways, with snow as well as rain and no shoes). And it's still cold and wet. I have a really gross overflowing catbox that I just cannot be bothered with right now. My apartment is vile. Seriously. I weigh about a thousand pounds. Some bitch I work with gave my freaking cell phone number to my jackass of a boss and they both felt it was acceptable to use it on a Sunday night. And I know if I don't change it he'll start making a habit of calling me on the weekends and at night and on vacations because he is evil. Which is why I've spent the past couple of years not letting him have it. And I'm annoyed at the fuckers who trip over themselves in the elevator to let the girls out first even if they're at the back of the elevator. I'm a girl, not a freak who can't handle waiting at the back of an elevator for half a second. And it does take you boneheads longer to push yourselves up against the wall and indicate to me that I should go... and poop on you. And Muppet is leaving me for a week to go to London. And all the freakin' gross black and mint jelly beans in my jelly bean tub. And the cramps. Oh my god the cramps are making me want to cry. CRY!!! WEEP!!!
Anyone wanna come over and hang out tonight? Heh.
But really, I'm being a spoiled child. Because yesterday brought the best news ever. Mom is doing well. Really well. Super duper well. Best Heart Attack Ever well. She got her stress test results back yesterday and the cardiologist said if he ever has a heart attack then he wants the heart attack Mom had. YAY! My Mom really is freakishly overachieving. It's always going for the A+ with her. But yeah. There wasn't any damage to her heart. It's functioning normally and with medication and some slight lifestyle changes (though not as much of a sodium cut down as she thought) she should be good to go for a million years. Or at least to her goal of seeing me turn fifty. Though why she wants to see that after seeing how well I handle 30, I don't know. But, I'm so happy. I'm happy for me to know this and feel better about her and worry a little less. I'm happy for her because I think it's a big weight off of her and now she can get back to her life without worrying that something might be wrong that she can't really feel. It's all so good. Go Mommy, go Mommy, It's your birthday, it's your birthday...
Maybe I shouldn't've put my Mommy news at the bottom of the swearing entry? But see, I wrote about the awesomeness of her heart and now the cramps are gone. Her heart is magical. That's how she's able to love the complete idiot that she and Daddy raised. Magical Mommy Heart.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Manda Shot
Anyway, gallivanting around Poland for work apparently involves a lot of drinking. I don't know why. It just does. So she IMs me yesterday to inform me of a drink she saw over there called a Manda Shot. How awesome is that? She sent me photos of the menu with the Manda Shot on it as well as some advertisement or something to do with the Manda Shot and it seems like it might have something to do with a superhero. And I need to find out more about this. I mean, a superhero named Manda? A drink called the Manda Shot? Well, a shot called the Manda Shot. It's all very exciting and I must know more. Though so far my research isn't bringing up much. And I am a little worried about the fact that the superhero cartoon girl in the photo was a blonde and that's WAY off from the true superhero Manda. Because I am the true superhero Manda and I have dark brown hair.
Super Manda! Manda Shot! So cool.
Turnip never mentioned what is actually in a Manda Shot. She was probably drunk while IMing me even though she said she wasn't. Luckily she's in Poland for a while and can do some more research for me. Yay. Get on that, young Turnip!
Why he is my PimpDaddy
This amused me way more than it should've. Really.
PimpDaddy: i just had crazy night
Amanda: Dude, more car chases?
PimpDaddy: no not that crazy
Amanda: Hos?
PimpDaddy: i did see some boob though
Amanda: HOOKERS!?!?!
PimpDaddy: no
Amanda: Oh.
PimpDaddy: just some gals i was out with
Amanda: Did they make out?
PimpDaddy: no
Amanda: Why do you go out with gals other than me?
PimpDaddy: just flashed me
Amanda: For fun?
PimpDaddy: this was the first time
PimpDaddy: yes
Amanda: Just you?
PimpDaddy: just me what?
Amanda: Were you the only one they flashed?
PimpDaddy: i was the only one in easy view, although we were in a bar...so someone looking could have easily
Amanda: Were the boobies pretty?
PimpDaddy: not overly
Amanda: That's unfortunate.
PimpDaddy: its ok
PimpDaddy: boobies are boobies
Amanda: Do you feel guilty about hanging with gals who were not me?
True, but some are prettier than others.
Amanda: Jennifer Connelly had awesome ones before she became Skeletor.
PimpDaddy: yes...hers were fab
Amanda: Too bad she ruined them.
Amanda: But, do you feel guilty about hanging with gals who were not me?
PimpDaddy: no. i think its ok once in a while
PimpDaddy: better than being alone at home
Amanda: You wound me.
PimpDaddy: you're easily wounded, apparently
Amanda: So, how did this exciting evening come about?
I am. I'm sensitive.
PimpDaddy: she wanted to take me out for my birthday
Amanda: Who?
PimpDaddy: she and her friends always hit a pub in JC on wednesday
PimpDaddy: one of the secretaries from work
Amanda: You saw
PimpDaddy: its ok
PimpDaddy: i'll survive
Amanda: It's still boobie.
PimpDaddy: precisely
Amanda: Wait, you saw your secretary's boobie?
PimpDaddy: nooo
Amanda: Stranger boobie?
PimpDaddy: i saw a secretary's friend's boobies
PimpDaddy: (not my secretary)
Amanda: Okay.
Amanda: Was it boobie for your birthday?
PimpDaddy: although of all the secretaries in my office, i'd probably choose to see my secretary's first
Amanda: Awwwww, that's sweet. Never tell her.
PimpDaddy: nope. just a flash for the sake of flashing
Amanda: Oh. Birthday Boobie would've been cooler.
PimpDaddy: well my secretary is also the only one under 40
Amanda: No one wants to see old boobie. I can never flash again. (Note: Daddy, I would never ever flash, this is just a hypothetical comment, going along with the theme of the conversation.)
PimpDaddy: nah you're not that old
Amanda: I'm 30. I have a gray hair taped to my desk.
PimpDaddy: its ok. you could be older
Amanda: I could be older. Tomorrow, I will be older. A year from now I'll be way older.
PimpDaddy: stupid yankees won. so upset
Amanda: Can I put the boobie conversation in my blog.
AWESOME YANKEES WON!
PimpDaddy: if you want...sure
Amanda: Thanks.
Amanda: Should I change your name to protect you?
PimpDaddy: up to you. i don't know that anyone really knows i'm pimp daddy, do they?
PimpDaddy: and i somehow doubt that anyone from work reads the blog
Amanda: Muffy and Steph.
Amanda: No one reads my blog.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Watching the Debates
I just did a google search on "Cheney scares me" and all kinds of stuff came up. Hopefully I will be okay. He hasn't climbed through my TV screen yet...
It also seems that my Alma Mater is having a phone-a-thon tonight, calling and asking for money from Alums. Huh, I wonder if going to Wesleyan has me on a list already. Now I'll be on a list of Wesleyan alums who publicly (semi-publicly) express their fear of Cheney. Ooooh, another google... Something called Cheerleader News came up. I'm putting google away now.
Anyway. Someone from
Oh, whatever, Cheney. Like your administration gives a crap about women. This administration hates the vagina and would like to lock it up somewhere rather than letting women have control of their own bodies and wow I cannot get started on this right now.
ANYWAY. Wesleyan calls asking for money. I said now wasn't a good time and the woman on the phone laughed and said I was watching the debates, huh? Apparently everyone she's called is watching the debates. At first that made me smile being all glad that my fellow Wesleyanites are all into the debates and what's going on and all. And then I wondered what dumbasses decided that the night of the only Vice-Presidential debate of this oh so close and oh so important election would be a good night for a phone-a-thon. Silliness.
This stuff makes me so twitchy. Really. I'm glad the first debate tightened the race and that makes me happy. But reading about the election and watching these debates just makes me so tense. I'm truly terrified that Bush will win again. It's possible. And it scares the crap out of me. I fear losing my rights. I fear what horrible things this country might inflict on other nations under this administration. I fear being a non-married, non-straight, non-Christian woman in this country with Bush as a president again for a final term. I fear being asked to give up more freedom in exchange for a kind of security that I don't want and am not sure is effective. I love this country. Always have and I can't imagine me ever fleeing it. But I can also see how attractive the urge to run to Canada might be. They do have Television Without Pity there. But it's cold. But no Bush.
Dammit this election scares me. This administration scares me. And a screen for my TV might keep Cheney from coming though and eating me, but it's not going to help me or anyone if Bush wins.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Sick Girl
But really, no one should be subjected to me when I'm sick. It's a horrible thing. I am a horrible thing. I whine constantly. When I'm not blowing my nose in a disgusting manner or running off to the bathroom or changing from one shapeless housedress into another. Yeah, I bring the anti-sexy into my sickly state. So gross.
Let me give you an example of the evil that is sick me.
Years and years ago I started dating this guy. Less than two months into the relationship I came down with Mono. It took a while to diagnose it though. Well, first it took forever to get me to the University Health Center. I was convinced they'd just tell me it was a viral infection and to get plenty of rest and fluids. I figured I could tell myself that and save me the time and hassle. Not that I actually bothered to get plenty of rest at this time. I ran around like a maniac like I always did. Even went on a long, long jaunt that wore me out way more than it should've. Since the 'viral infection' wasn't getting better and I was having low energy I was finally convinced to go to the health center. They thought it was mono and took my blood. The test came back negative for mono. The health center told me that either the mono wasn't showing up yet or I didn't have mono but instead had a mono-like virus. A Mono-LIKE virus. Whatever the hell that is. They took my blood for three weeks before it finally tested positive for mono. The fourth week I got my period. So a full four weeks of blood letting. Heh. Sorry, that always amused me and no one else.
Eventually the full force of my mono hit. And it was not pretty. Apparently lots of people just sleep and sleep and sleep when they have mono. I couldn't sleep. Not more than a couple of hours at a time. Nyquil didn't work, nothing worked. I was just up a lot. But I had no energy. I could barely walk to the bathroom on my own. Lots of clinging to the walls for me. Good times. So, here I was, awake all the time and yet unable to do anything. This makes me crazy. If I'm this low energy I should be napping lots and getting better. And if I can't sleep I should be up and around doing a million things. And if neither are happening? Well, you can't even imagine the whining and crying that happens. I would just cry over nothing. Over just being sick and in bed. And this nice boy listened to it all. He even answered the phone and gave my Mom updates and such if she happened to call on the rare occasion I was sleeping. He got assignments and ran errands and did all kinds of things for me when I was sick. And yet that wasn't the worst of me. Ugh.
At one point developed a sore throat. The brilliant health center thought it might be strep. But they weren't sure. They just gave me penicillin and Tylenol with codeine and sent me on my way. One or both of which made me throw up a lot. Or maybe it was just the mono. I don't know. But the nice boy kept track of my medication schedule and held my hair when I threw up and was very sweet and patient. Especially with my cocoa obsession. See, the medicine didn't really help the throat. The only thing that made my throat feel better was hot cocoa. And god forbid I go to the kitchen and make it myself. No, I woke this guy up (this guy who was having to go to classes and work and all because he wasn't sick) in the middle of the night to make my sorry ass some cocoa. And he did it. With a minimum of fuss. After dating me for less than than two months. Oh, and in order to be there for me to wake him in the middle of the night for cocoa making, he had to share a college dorm twin bed with my gross, gross self.
I would also whine because he could go out into the world for class and work and social activity when I could not. Of course lots of his 'outside' time involved turning in assignments for me and fetching things, but I was jealous. And became a crazy paranoid person as a result. One day he went off to work. And I was home. Sick and crazed and paranoid and exhausted and just miserable. And I was waiting and waiting for him to come home. I knew when he got off work and was trying to imagine in my mind the time it would take for him to get back to my room. And he didn't come back in that time. Or even a little while later. Finally I broke down and called his work. They said he left on time. So I just sat in my bed like a crazy person having no idea where he was. This guy I'd been dating for a few weeks and was good enough to take care of me rather than let me suffer in the health center alone. WHERE WAS HE!?!?!? The longer he was gone the crazier I think I got.
He finally walked through the door and was confronted with my gross, sick, delirious self sitting up in bed bellowing, "WHERE WHERE YOU!?!?!" I swear to you I do not know how this man didn't just turn around, shut the door and flee from me forever. Really. Instead he came in and said he'd just gone to the campus center for a cup of coffee and to read the paper. In peace. Away from the crazy sicko at home. Well, he didn't say the last two, but you know it's true. And he totally earned that break as well as a million others that he didn't take. Which I know now. And probably knew at the time. But I wasn't in a good frame of mind. And so I started crying and freaking out. Insisting that he should call me if he's going to do that or some such nonsense.
We stayed together for almost three years after that. Can you imagine?
Oh, and a couple of months later I was visiting him and he got mono. The symptoms consisted of a slight sore throat for three days. And that's it. After all my weeks of pain and agony that was all he got. And I was cranky about it. But I think I was mostly upset that I didn't get to repay the favor and not so much that he 'got off easy', because after weeks of sick me, he did NOT get off easy.
This go round hasn't been SO bad yet, but who knows. Maybe if Mom wasn't getting her nuclear stress test and someone was over at my apartment offering my sympathy and tea I'd be more of a mess. Like when I got really nasty sick around Thanksgiving last year. I think I remember talking (or sobbing hysterically) to my Mom in my delirium and informing her that I would obviously never be healthy again. And I think I believed it.
I can never be married. No one can put up with this shit and stay sane.
Happy Birthday PimpDaddy!!!!!!
Monday, September 27, 2004
It's Been a Busy Week. Or Two. Need Sleep
Didn't do too many wildly exciting things. Lots of TV watching and all. We did head to Waikiki on the 15th. Dad was flying the island hopper from Guam to Honolulu so he got a hotel room in Waikiki for his layover. So we headed down, checked into the hotel and then went out into the heat and the tourists. We headed over to The Cheesecake Factory as it seemed appropriately touristy. Ed's Shirt was a bit snobby about it, but you know how that pesky shirt is. We ordered the appetizer sampler AND entrees not realizing how much food came in the sampler. So dinner pretty much got wrapped up to go. Dad and I also got big ole fruity drinks. Well, I did. He got a margarita. But it was big. And lime was involved. So it's kind of like a big ole fruity drink. Whatever. Shut up.
After dinner we waddled around a little bit checking out the stores and the tourists and all. We took Mom back to the room so she could stay glued to CNN and all the Hurricane Ivan coverage while Dad and I went back out for more shopping. I had lots of requests for purchases like a grass skirt and mac nuts and things. But as I learned, there's a mac nut shortage or some such silliness. So I couldn't find ANY maui onion nuts or kona glazed. So weird. And disappointing. But Dad and I got a good walk in (after eating twice my weight in appetizers (and I'm a big girl!)) and amused ourselves with tourists and all. Waikiki is so odd to me now. I hung out there some in high school with friends. We'd buy crap jewelry in the International Marketplace, make fun of tourists, see movies, wander around on the beach and giggle when guys from Fort DeRussy hit on us. Good times. But now they've made it more upscale and touristy than before. Lots of fancy high end stores have moved in. The movie theaters are gone. It doesn't quite seem the same to me. I am a dork. Ah well.
Thursday morning Dad and I got up and went for a walk around Kapiolani Park. It was nice but he mocked me for my slow pace. He's been lapping the park for a few weeks now and I am hopelessly out of shape. I made it, though. After that I hit the beach for a little while. But I'd forgotten how rocky Waikiki is and how much I hate tourists when I want to be quiet and alone with the sun, sand and book (The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay right now). So I packed it in after a little bit and headed home with the rents.
That night we headed to Chiang Mai, which I love. And a fun last night (or so I thought) with both folks as Dad had to head back to Guam ridiculously early on Friday. Friday morning, Mom and I went out to Bellows and had a lovely time. It's a gorgeous beach with soft sand and trees and a breeze and a beautiful view and all that. It's Mom's favorite beach so it wasn't too hard to convince her to drive out. She got to read, I got some sun and swimming in and all was right with the world. Then that night I got to see Jello Girl for the first time in forever. Last year she was in New York the exact days I was in Hawai'i. Mean of her if you ask me. So she popped by to say hi to Mom and then we headed off to Verbano's for dinner and chatting and all. It was so nice to catch up on everyone and each other and to also just sit and chat about all sorts of things. I'm looking forward to seeing her again at Christmas. She promises me she's not going anywhere. And there was talk of an awesome Tiki Bar. We'll see.
Saturday was just mellow time. Errands and hanging out and doing laundry and watching TV and all in prep for me heading out on Sunday. Which didn't happen. The flights were suddenly all packed out of Honolulu. And loads of standby passengers were all trying to get out as well. So, I missed all the flight options and had to inform work I would not be there on Monday. Luckily they decided not to fire me so that was a win-win. Monday looked bad as well and the folks and I (Dad got back Monday morning) thought we'd have a nice little picnic after I missed the 3:35PM Newark flight. They even bought me treats and everything. But, miracle of miracles, I got on the flight.
I was stuck in a middle seat. Not fun. But at least I was on. And ended up with a nice person next to me. He started off on the phone bitching about how his friend was supposed to be sitting next to him but then his friend decided to switch seats and get an aisle seat. So it didn't seem promising. But then I pulled out How to Make Love Like a Porn Star with Jenna's boobs all hanging out in a photo and he became very friendly. Heh. He let me put all my stuff on his tray when I wanted to root around in my bags, he got a breakfast for me while I was dozing and held it on his tray until I woke up towards the end of the flight. He recommended a book he was reading. Chatted about Jenna, life, all that. Made it much easier to be squeezed into the middle seat. And no, for those of you like Muffy and Steph who have dirty minds, I did not have sweaty airport sex with him. Some people just belong in the gutter.
So, landed at 7AM, hopped on all my various trains and got to work. Where I actually did work. It was odd. Then, off to meet Vader and Taylor so we could go to TARCON 5 at Play by Play at the Garden. The website I love, Television Without Pity, has forums for all the shows they recap. And back in season one, lots of New Yorkers from The Amazing Race forums (as well as the recapper I think?) decided to gather at a bar to watch the finale. The racers ended up showing up after the CBS finale party and since then it's ballooned into this huge event. Vader went last year, but I've never been. I love the show and Dad and I plan to be on it one day. So I figured it was time to attend a TARCON. And I did have fun. But it was, um, interesting. It seemed a little cliquey to me at first. I felt like there was a bit of an attitude of superiority for the folks who posted on the forums a lot and have been to lots of TARCONs and all. And the goodie back table had a LOT of snottiness. I don't post on the forums a lot because I just don't have the time. But I bought my TARCON ticket like everyone and even contributed to the goodie bag fun financially since I couldn't give the time. And the woman manning the goodie bag table just didn't want to give me a goodie bag. I wasn't worthy. I don't know. It was so silly. Really. It's a goodie bag. I didn't even want the stuff in it, I just wanted to see what cute jokes people came up with for the bag. And there were some funny jokes. I know, because I did end up getting a goodie bag. It just all seemed so silly, you know? The day after there were apparently some little spats on the forums. Over goodie bags. Mind boggling. I'm going to TARCON6 for sure but am staying so very, very far from the goodie bag table. So far away.
Um, yeah. Okay. Now to bad moment number two. We get in and are told they have no room in the sit down bar area so we have to go to the overflow terrace area. Fine. It's a big crowd. They say we can order food 'to go' at the bar and will have no problems. I don't think they told the bar this. I went to get food for the three of us and it was madness. The bartender I got was really nice. He just seemed confused by it all at first. I don't think he knew LOTS of folks would be ordering to go for the terrace. And he also informed me that in order to get a veggie wrap (the only other vegetarian option but cheese sticks) I had to talk to a manager. Yeah, whatever. I got cheese sticks. And then waited forEVER for the food. It was a madhouse. My sweet bartender went all the way down to the kitchen to check on my food twice it was taking so long. Apparently they kept screwing up my order (two sandwiches and some cheese sticks). The worst of it was this AWFUL woman standing next to me at the bar. She was so loud from the moment she pulled up to the bar. Shrieking for the bartender, "Hey, barkeep, barkeep, I need food. I need to place an order to go!" This place was packed. He was at the other end of the bar serving people. It wasn't like he was standing around drinking and ignoring folks. He was just going to take a minute to get to her. But she was bellowing like nobody's business. And continued to do so after placing her order. She kept bellowing about where was her order and is that her order and why are other orders coming out before hers and blah blah blah I am an asshole... Then if anyone came up next to her and wanted to order she'd bellow at him again about THEIR order. I wanted to cry. She was so rude. So rude. And did not leave a tip. No one did in that corner except for me. Poor, poor bartender. He must've hated everyone that night.
Anyway, I finally got the food and made it back to my peeps for the start of the show. I pouted a little bit but quickly got over it. Well, quickly for me. Vader might disagree. And then I started to have some fun. A lot of the people there kind of scared me. For so many reasons. Reasons I will not mention for fear of insulting people more than I already have. But the episode was awesome and some of the folks were a lot of fun and it's just kind of interesting to watch a show you love with several other hundred folks who like it just as much.
After the finale the racers started coming in. I was amazed at how many folks showed up. As far as I can tell the folks there were:
Host
Phil!!! (didn't see)
Season 1
Brennan
Joe & Bill - Guidos
Kevin & Drew
Pat &/or Brenda (didn't see)
2
Oswald & Danny
3
Andrew
Derek & Drew
Flo & Zach
John Vito & Jill
Ken & Gerard
4
Jon & Al
5
Brandon & Nicole
Chip & Kim
Colin & Christie
Linda & Karen
Mirna
Other:
Wanda Sykes
Shii-ann - Survivor
Ken - Survivor
Mitchell - Survivor
I was sad about missing out on seeing Phil and have no idea why Wanda Sykes was there, but it was interesting seeing all the racers up close and personal. Lots of tiny people on this show. Dad and I should be able to squash them all easily. I hope. Vader and I aren't big celebrity whores so we didn't feel a huge need to take pictures with everyone. Also, we are awful with names and faces and weren't even sure who everyone was right away. So we sat and mocked quietly for a while. Which was great fun. Then we figured that we should go get seats at the bar while everyone was out in the entryway greeting racers. Good call on our parts. I had been awake and in the same clothes for over 30 hours, she was getting over the flu. Drinking was a good choice for us. Rather than, um, going home. It was. Really. The better choice. And we got a great view of all the racers as they came by. Which was nice.
At one point Andrew, a former cheerleader, came out and did a cheer/dance routine making fun of past and current contestants and all which was quite a sight to behold. I cannot describe it. I wish I could. He did end up without a shirt and "Phil" written on his chest. He looks pretty without a shirt. I might've asked for a picture if he hadn't put a shirt back on after the performance.
I had Ed's Shirt with me and I laid it out on the bar so I wouldn't forget to take it home with me once I was very drunk. Flo (one of the winners of Season 3) wandered up and said she went to school near there in Poughkeepsie. I asked if it was Vassar and of course it was. That's where she met her teammate and other winner, Zach. Heh. We chatted about Vassar for a bit and she sorta called me old (being class of '96 as opposed to '0something like she was) and then she asked me about Ed's Shirt. I explained it to her and asked if she wanted her photo with it. She did and made Zach come over so they could pose. For me being drunk the photo seems to have come out really well. Yay! And then I gave Zach one of Ed's Shirt's business cards. Hee. Muffy, a reality show contestant has a picture of your boobs in Ed's Shirt and a purple bra. How proud are you? Anyway, that was the only racer photo I got, I think. Ooooh, I got a butt shot of Team Cha cha cha at one point because they were right there while Vader and I snarked and it was too easy for me to take the shot. Towards the end Vader seemed bummed to have not chatted with Colin & Christie though so I think next time we'll sit at the bar a little less and torture racers a little more.
Anyway, it was good time and I am looking forward to next season. I've learned a few lessons such as eating ahead of time and avoiding the goodie bag table and tackling more racers. Plus I'll be bringing PimpDaddy and the folks. So it should be a blast.
I got home a little before 3AM though. Making Wednesday at work PAINFUL. And then Wednesday afternoon Turnip arrived for a New York minibreak. Woo. She actually was sweet and went out with other friends Wednesday, Thursday & Friday night giving me some quiet time. And instead of taking this chance to go to bed early those nights I just went wild with the clearing of TiVo and doing assorted home things. I don't know why. Turnip even tried making me go to bed before 2AM on Wednesday but I was too wired and having none of it. And while she was out with friends lots then, I still got to spend some quality time with her. Which is good.
Saturday we got up and had brunch with a friend of hers. Lovely guy. I think he thinks I'm a bit odd, though. Then she and I hurried to make the last three-hour full island circle line boat tour of the day. Turnip keeps coming to New York and doing lots of shows, bars, restaurants and friends but was complaining about not doing tourist things. So we're now going to do at least one a visit. The boat ride was a lot of fun. Good photos, fun times and excellent sightseeing. Woo. Then it was off to Don Giovanni's to meet another friend of hers from college. Lots of wine there and some excellent pasta. Then we walked to the Empire State Building for a nighttime viewing. I love the Empire State Building, actually. I hadn't been in a while and all, but I had a touch of the crowd hating while there. I think it was fatigue and all the crowds on the boat and the evil children on the boat. Just made me touchy. Which is too bad. It was still fun. Though there was a line for the elevators from the 80th floor to the top. So we took the stairs. OW! The pain, the pain. And the pushy tourists abounded up there. But Turnip got some pretty photos and we got to see the sights from up there. Then we wandered home exhausted. I showered and then we watched dr. vegas. Then Turnip showered and I crawled into bed. She had a 5:30AM car pick up for her flight and I was to stay up with her. But I napped a little and she read Fairy Porn and all was right with the world. She headed out to her car and I finally turned out the lights and really went to sleep. Woo. Until I had to get up for more fun.
Yesterday was the Atlantic Antic which is an enormous Brooklyn Street fair. I joined Muffy & Steph there about 2 and we caught the Cheesecake Eating Contest. Very amusing, but scary. Oddly enough, Zach, the racer from The Amazing Race Season 3 was there. The one who posed with the shirt. I saw him way back at the Survivor All-Stars finale, Tuesday at the TARCON event and then Sunday at the Antic. I think the boy is stalking me. Seriously. How else do you explain it? And you know who else is stalking me? Gabriel Byrne. Yeah. He is. Saw him Friday night walking home from the subway on Smith Street and then at the Antic yesterday. Stalker. He has pretty, pretty eyes...
I finally bailed on the Antic about 5:30 because I was so tired I couldn't see. And I figured I was about 15 minutes from ugly crankiness. Muffy & Steph did NOT need to see that.
And yet, after all this, I couldn't sleep last night. I want to cry. Tonight, I drug myself.
Seriously, the searches freak me out.
tapeworms that help you lose weight - I do not Advocate this.
dirty dancing Extras - Jennifer Grey screen test. Hee.
shreveport hookers - This time SHREVEPORT Hookers and not Barksdale Hookers. Is there really that little to do in Shreveport/Bossier these days?
Shreveport "Hamel's Park" - Apparently so.
shiny dancewear for kids performances - Hee. I've worn shiny dancewear as a kid.
"you got served" lyrics "south park" episode - An excellent episode.
Judy Blumes - Good stuff
hershey's swoops cupcakes - Oh my.
"Matt y" connecticut - Huh?
premade funnel cakes - They had funnel cakes at the Antic.
Siegfried and Roy's Black Panther - Dirty.
poekoelan feminist - I'm sure they were not pleased with my entry.
It boggles my mind.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Chillin' in Paradise
Sunday Dad headed off to fly and Mom and I were just bums. Really. We watched some TV. Made Tuna Salad Sandwiches. Talked lots. Watched the Mama Dove sitting on her babies. There's a dove nest in the eaves (is that the right word?) of the Lanai and every few weeks a new Mama lays eggs there, hatches 'em, feeds 'em, teaches 'em to fly and then they all abandon the nest. Right now the babies have just hatched so we're watching her try and feed them and occasionally get to see baby bird heads over the top of the nest. Rather cute.
Yesterday I woke up early but kept trying to fall asleep until about 8. I had a really depressing dream. I can't remember what it was, but I remember it feeling "very high school" to me. The petty kind of high school meanness going on in the dream. Which left me a little bummed that whole morning. Plus I actually woke up thinking that it was 2PM at work on Monday and I was over half way through of my first of five days of work vacation. And that depressed me. Thinking I'd be back there in a week. I really need a new job.
Anyway, Mom went to the Dentist and I shopped around Kahala Mall getting a few gifts and things for our facial day. Then we ran out to Costco for a flash card for my camera and random crap.
You know what? This is all so boring. I give up. I'm chillin' with my Mom. I've made her watch New York Minute (which she hated) and Amelie (which she liked, thanks for the loan, Lovey). We ate veggie sausage balls. We've talked a lot. Good times.
Oh dear god. Mom and I are in different rooms, just a few feet from each other, IMing. And I started it. Must log off. Now.
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Aloha
Seeing Mom was great. She looks good. And the big ugly hematoma on her thigh and hip and groin is hardly noticeable. She keeps wanting to show me, but basically it's just a little darker than the rest of her. It's even past the yellow stage of bruising. Which is great news. But I thinks she's sad I couldn't see it in all it's glory. But it's so nice to see her and to see that she's mostly just the same. A little paranoid of any twitch or twinge, but that's totally understandable until they get the other artery clear and do the stress test and all. I'm that way a little bit myself right now. I keep having to remind myself that heartburn and heart attack are separate things.
The flight was fine. Got to watch Stepford Wives, the remake, which was much better than expected. Glenn Close was lovely. And I caught an episode of Scrubs, read some of How to Make Love Like a Porn Star (no real pointers on that yet) and slept over almost all of the Continental US. Good times. They tend to feed you lots of meals and little snackies on these long flights. Kind of amusing. I slept through the big lunch though. I was sad to have missed the Milano cookies. My god I am boring. Sorry.
Mom and Dad met me at the airport with a pretty lei that smelled great and matched my outfit. Always a plus for me. Dad looks really good having lost a bunch of weight. Go Daddy. And we grabbed take out from the Olive Tree at the bottom of our hill. Spanikopita, hummus, stuffed grape leaves and pineapple-orange juice. Good times. Then we forced Dad to watch The Apprentice. I think he's now sucked in. As it ended he rolled his eyes and announced that he now has another recap to read. Hee.
Now I'm chillin'. Showing Mom some photos of a friend's wedding, doing laundry, drinking my coffee. She's talking to my grandmother right now and Dad just left for Guam. So it's a mellow day with the family. Soon I'm going to show her the rest of the photos and try and convince her to start using Trillian. And maybe something more exciting to write about tomorrow. Or maybe make Mom guest blog. Hee. I suppose I can always finish the LA stuff...
Thursday, September 09, 2004
My Mom had a Heart Attack
On August 18th I got a late night call from my Dad that they were heading out to the Emergency Room. They thought she might be having a heart attack. It was a pretty horrible night for me, though I think in most ways it was far worse for Mom and Dad. I was just scared and worried and feeling too far away from my family. Dad was beyond scared and Mom was in a lot of pain and, well, having a heart attack.
But she's doing okay. The cardiologist told her that it was "big but aborted". So, apparently she was going to have a doozy of a heart attack if she hadn't gotten to the hospital as soon as she did. But she did get there quickly and they stopped it and put a stent in and cleared the artery that was 100% blocked. And gave her one of the biggest, ugliest hematomas the hospital has seen. I think she's kind of proud of it. After looking at the photo of it, I'm mostly just grossed out by it.
They kept telling her conflicting things about what the damage might be but it mostly seemed good. She felt fine aside from bruising and having just gone through a major trauma and all. She was talking and moving around. She was actually conscious the whole time of the attack. And her heart was functioning fine once they cleared the artery. They even released her from the hospital on the 21st. And she managed to walk the 43 (or is it 42?) steps up to the house on her own.
And then she had her follow-up appointment on the 27th which eased our minds a great deal. She still has one artery that's 50-60% blocked, but they can take care of that in early October or so. But it looks like there was little to no serious damage. Which is amazing and wonderful. She's got to get the nuclear imaging stress test thing (I'm not so good with the medical terms) done, hopefully at the end of this month. And then they'll really know what's going on. But it seems like good news for the most part. Really, after the initial bad news that she was having a heart attack, just about everything else has been good news. And she keeps promising me that she feels fine.
She's cut back on smoking a great deal and the plan is to eventually be free of the cigs. I think. Dad's been getting into the job of chef/nutritionist looking for all sorts of low-salt, low-cholesterol foods for the two of them. And I think he's losing weight. And she is too. So I've sorta decided if they can do it, I should too. Actually, aside from my age I think I'm the most at risk for a heart attack amongst the three of us. And maybe even if you take my age into account.
But Mom's building up her strength and is pretty much back to business as usual. Though things will really be back to normal once the insurance mess is worked out and we find out who her cardiologist will be, once she gets the stress test and once this other artery is cleared. Then we can really breath a sigh of relief and get her going on with the rest of her life.
But, I'm still a little worried. You know? I wanted to fly out there right away. But Dad said to wait until she got out of the hospital, since surgery wasn't required and all. And then he said he'd rather I came when he was heading back to work, so Mom could have company for an extra week or so and ease into having her chef away more often. So, I'm heading to Hawai'i on Saturday. And I'm so excited. I just can't wait to hug her and to see for myself that she's really okay. That she's really going to be around for another 40-50 years or more. And to check out the hematoma. So, future blogging will probably be from the islands. With my Mommy. I'll make her say hi.