Climbing in Skirts

Uncoordinated

2007-07-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend has once again confirmed my lack of coordination. I tell you, I am like a baby giraffe or a muppet. Or maybe a muppet version of a baby giraffe.

Friday I was silkscreening some stuff with handmade screens and I was sitting at my drafting table on the rolling chair. I leaned to reach for a tissue to wipe up the paint and managed to fall out of the chair. I felt like the little old lady in the Lifealeart commercial.

Saturday I managed to injure myself once again. The flourescent light in the kitchen decided that it wanted to join it's mate which had been taken down over a month ago. In removing the light box I managed to cut my finger and cut my foot on one of the clips that held the light in place. (will that force me to wear shoes in the house? Hell no!)

Sunday I decided to install my new mailbox. I managed to smash my thumb with the hammer (blood blister) and scrape my leg hauling off the old mailbox.

I hope the rule of 3s still applies. If it doesn't, atleast my tetanus shot is still current.

Goodbye men.

2007-05-03T22:28:00.000-05:00

I am done with men. (no I don't plan on knitting a sweater as my man replacement).

I think life would be easier without them. I will check out on them before more check out on me. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it for now.

People keep telling me that one day I will find the right one. Or that I should just find the one for right now. It is beginning to sound a lot like Charlie Brown's teachers "waa-waa whaa-whaa".

Lost and found

2007-04-30T23:49:00.000-05:00

I'll admit that I've been off the grid for awhile. I have 2 jobs and I keep myself pretty busy around the house. But I figure that my phone and my email work in both directions. There are some people who I play tag with and things never quite work out to the point where both parties are available to do something.

There are some people that assume that I have skipped town. Nope, I've just changed hobbies. Regardless, when you lose something, it's best to go back to the place that you last saw that item (unless it's a sock that you have lost, those you just have to let go).

It's times like these that I do a full purging of email addresses, phone numbers and myspace friends. It's all about the Big E. Those that make the effort get to stick around. Then there are some people that are permanent fixtures.

PS. I have had the same cell phone number for the last 10 years.

Songs in the Key of Life

2007-04-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Since I started this stroll down memory lane...

One of my earliest memories is of this album cover. I also remember listening to it with my dad. I don't know how old I was but I recall my dad having a big 'fro.

I don't have that many memories of hanging out with my dad. He travelled a lot. But this album reminds me of him. I was his princess.

Vinyl

2007-04-11T22:19:00.000-05:00

I remember my first record player. It was a little one that played 45s. I had my own collection of Raggedy Ann and Andy records along with a few random singles.

The second record player was the Fisher Price record player. Now that was a serious record player. I could play 33s on that one. In addition to Strawberry Shortcake, the Care Bears, and the Smurfs, I remember playing Prince's Purple Rain, my 45 of Strawberry Beret, and the double album soundtrack of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the BeeGees and Peter Frampton.

It was all about vinyl. I remember dancing around the basement (I grew up in the east so we had basements) with my mom. I remember the album covers. Lips Incorporated, Sugar Hill Gang, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, the Pointer Sisters, the soundtrack to the Wiz...

I took care of my records. I made sure that they didn't get scratched. I kept the jackets in good shape. There was a certain level of respect for records. CDs are fairly indestructable. I've destroyed many jewel cases and left many cds abandoned under the front seat of my car.

In case you were wondering, I still listen to all of the old stuff. Right now I am listening to Earth Wind & Fire. But it's all mp3. One of these days I will go back to vinyl. I have a record player (just in case).

Dating is scary

2007-04-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

Truth be told, I am afraid of ~~dating~~ rejection. It's not the only thing I am afraid of. It's merely something that I am afraid of that is easy for me to write about. We will discuss my other fears some other time.

My friend's boyfriend asked me if I get asked out all the time. I shocked him by saying that I never get asked out. I am not alone though. My friend Em is the same way. Is it me, or are guys looking for a wounded bird to take care of?

A year ago I went on strike. I decided that I wasn't going to ask anyone out. I decided that maybe, just maybe, someone would ask me out before I turned 30. Around November it actually happened. One guy in a whole year. Not so good. I had a chat with Megan today about putting myself out there and just asking someone out. She thinks it is time (and I now have a homework assignment).That doesn't stop it from being scary. I have trust issues and I don't like sharing (but atleast I am aware of that).

The last last guy I went out with, I met at a party. I decided to go for it because my inner circle of friends is completely tapped out (he was a co-worker of a friend). I either know where the guys have been or they are too young or I am just not interested. I have explored online dating but something about it just doesn't seem right. Besides there is only so much you can really know about a person through there online profile (and its much easier to lie online)

Sure each new person is a learning experience but I would like to avoid getting hurt again. It's definitely getting easier explaining that I am not perfect and that I am a little complicated. The difficulty is trying to communicate that my needs are simple. It seems like most guys see the
fact that I can look after myself and begin to wonder what exactly do I need them for.

My friend Chris is convinced that my independence is a good thing. Most guys probably won't understand that, but some will get the fact that I am looking for someone to compliment my life, not to be my life.

Sunday

2007-04-08T22:23:00.000-05:00

I'll admit it. I have a Sunday routine. Any other day of the week I just wing it. But Sunday, there is a routine. Sometimes you just need to decide on a day to get things done.

As much as I enjoy sleeping in, back when I had roommates I would get up early on Sunday just to enjoy some quiet. I'd bake muffins or some other tasty breakfast treat, and enjoy my coffee, maybe read the paper. Then I would clean the house (I cleaned the house a lot when I had roomates).

When the roommates were gone, I started waking up later. I'd still bake stuff but just not every week. Sometimes I'd clean, most of the time I would not. When there were boys in the picture, I enjoyed loafing in bed and then grabbing a late breakfast.

Now that all is quiet, I listen to chillville on the radio, I get out of bed around 10. I change the sheets on my bed (cause it is the only way I remember to do it on a regular basis) and I do laundry. I clean up around the house and try and put things back in order after a week of leaving things wherever I dropped them when I came in from work.

Today, I woke up way earlier than usual. I woke up around 8 (probably because I passed out on the couch last night around 8ish woke up around 10ish and then fell back asleep). I made whole wheat biscuts and started the laundry. I spent a chunk of the morning on the internet doing research for a sewing class. Then I puttered around in my sewing room. I did the final fitting for the prom dress I am altering. I went outside for a bit to take care of my roses that had decided that they wanted to lie down. I made homemade veggie burgers (I have faith that the weather will improve and we will go back to the regularly scheduled grilling season). I returned to the internet to research composite lumber (for my fence) and dual-flush toilets (I need to replace the toilet in my bathroom and I am looking at the high efficiency ones). I made lunch for the next few days. I chatted with Megan on the phone and then I made quesadillas for dinner. Then it was guilty pleasure tv time. Every Sunday I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition (and usually have a good cry during the heartwrenching moment when they move the bus). Then I fold laundry.

Internet Confessional

2007-04-06T13:54:00.000-05:00

Usually I just send emails to Megan (who forgave my previous confession of coveting someone else's man) but I discovered that there is an online service called iConfessional.com. It's a website that allows you to submit anonymous confessions. I think I may have to test it out.

Thou shalt not covet thy girlfriend's man

2007-04-05T22:59:00.000-05:00

I will confess to the internet once again that I had one hell of a dream last night. It's been a while since I had a dream that intense. The shocking part was that it involved me and my friend's man. No one cheated on anyone. Somehow it was one of those right place/right time post break up reboundish kind of things.

If only I could plan these dreams to occur on mornings that I could sleep in. This one was rudely interrupted by my alarm. I don't think it's one of those, want what you can't have type situations. Most of the time the men in my dreams are pretty random. Mostly people I know, but totally chosen at random. If I were going to break some rules I would go for someone's husband.

I have rules about dating after my friends. It is just a bad idea. You know too much about the person (cause girls talk). I did it once, but from now on I'll pass on seconds.

Boyfriend Season

2007-04-04T18:56:00.000-05:00

Apparently I didn't get the memo. But I did see this ad on MySpace (No, I am not as supporter of this "TRUE" dating site. MySpace just sells them a lot of ad space. I don't even find the dude in the picture attractive. They could have chosen a better picture to announce the kick off of boyfriend season.). I didn't know that boyfriends were ever out of season. My question is, When is fuckbuddy season? Does that season exist? I don't necessarily have time for a boyfriend type person. Not right now. I could go for a friends with benefits type person. Someone to hang out with, see a show, maybe a movie, and have really great sex (or maybe just make out on my couch).

Damn them and their stickers

2007-04-03T21:48:00.000-05:00

I had a Deja vu moment not to long ago. I got a sticker, from a DJ. Had this not just happened a few months ago I would have thought nothing of it.

But...

In my quest for fresh blog material, I was digging through old emails and found a conversation between myself and Em about the last DJ...

> Yeah, that's too bad about the DJ, cause you know DJ's are always hot...
> any dude that puts on headphones, stands behind some decks and bounces his
> head around is always going to be hot. Ha...

The head bobbing... Em and I caught the end of MSTRKRFT's set during SXSW. The music and the head bobbing, such a turn on.

Luckily I haven't seen the whole head bobbing thing yet. Besides, I didn't know this one was a DJ until the sticker was handed out. I met the former one at a party he was DJing at. Slightly diffferent, no?

Then I reminded myself of the internet stalking with the other DJ. For starters, they all put their web address on the sticker. The web address usually leads to some sort of blog and/or MySpace page. Then there is music to download and listen to while you read everything they wrote.

Yes, internet stalking is bad. But it is their fault for giving me the sticker in the first place.

I don't like to share

2007-04-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

Yet I write to you, people of the internet.

I mean it, I don't like sharing. I blame my younger sister for this. I shared a room with her when we were little. When she was about 3, she packed up her stuff and moved to my mom's sewing room/the guest bedroom. She wanted her own space (and she had my mom paint it pink, a very scary shade of pink).

Anyways, as much as I don't like to share, I don't mind sharing my bed. I rather like sleeping next to someone. Crazy right? It's not like I have an enormous bed to fill. I just like it. I don't need to spoon for the entire night. I sleep on my stomach so the side sleeping doesn't work. It's the knowing that someone is there.

I am so judgemental

2007-04-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in a past post that I do dock points for lack of dorkiness. I was checking out some guy's website and I started docking points for coding errors and layout issues (I did toss him a few extra points for some cool graphics and use of CSS). I wonder if they judge me when I fuck up my coding? I doubt it.

Anyways, I just overhauled another website. I was a little annoyed by the request to change it (this is a freebie) but I figured that I should think of it as an opportunity for me to stay on top of my game.

Check it out www.ProjectreFashion.com

Gymnastics

2007-03-27T18:22:00.000-05:00

Back to that whole thing on appearances. Kids always pick up on differences. Even in the earliest stages of development they start to sort things out, group them by similarities.

My mom enrolled me in gymnastics when I was about 4. (It probably had something to do with the fact that my sister and I were using the basement couch to vault off of.) Anyways, I wasn't all that coordinated. I blame it on the fact that my legs were way out of proportion with the rest of my body (and then there was the fact that I was chubby and lacking in upper body strength).
One day sticks out in my head. I was at gymnastics and I had decided to cover myself in white chalk. The chalk that we used on our hands to grip the bars. I thought nothing of it. I was wearing my leotard and I started with my legs. Then my arms. I don't remember if I got to my face. I just remember my mom being mad and taking me to the restroom to remove the chalk.

Kids notice differences. I was convinced that my sister, who is several shades lighter than me, was adopted. When I was a preschool teacher one of my kids asked if the brown washed off. I had to explain that it didn't (and I recall secretly wishing that it did).

Feral, like my cat

2007-03-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

About 9 years ago I made an attempt to domesticate this cat. Sure he may look like some average lazy-ass house cat, but that is only during the winter. As soon as spring hits, he is out the door. New baby animals, BEWARE. Louis was a dumpster diving kitty before we rescued him, part of him will remain that way forever.

Every year I take him to the vet and get lectured on what a bad pet owner I am. I should keep the cat inside. He will live a longer life (the cat is atleast 10, I think he has lived way past the lifespan of the average dumpster diving cat.

So, why am I babbling about the cat? Megan is concerned that one day I will be feral like my cat.

So what exactly does that mean?

I asked the Wikipedia.

"A feral animal is one that has reverted from the domesticated state to a stable condition more or less resembling the wild."

She's basically concered that lack of contact with actual human beings will ruin my whole ability to socialize/communicate with others. In some ways I agree (I might consider myself socially challenged), but in reading the definition it doesn't say that being feral is a bad thing. It can lead to diversification of the species (but I don't think that excuse is going to fly with Meg)

A while back, Meg established the rule that I needed to be out and about with people atleast twice a week. I could hermit all I wanted for the rest of the week. But there is a flaw in that requirement. Going out to a concert counts as being out and about with people. Even if I go alone. If I am not going out to meet up with people I am still capable of withdrawing completely.
One show that sticks out is the Of Montreal show I went to at Emo's. I was tired, it was cold out, the venue was crowded and smokey. I was grumpy. I didn't talk to anyone and I pretty much spaced out and enjoyed the music. Once I got past the doorman asking for my ID and stamping my wrist I was done interacting with people. Usually I am not that bad, but I find myself doing that more often lately. I caught myself zoning out a few times like that during SXSW.

My not meeting new people is partially my fault for closing myself off. But it is partially the rest of the world's fault for not letting me in.

As for the cat, well, maybe he will be a full-time house cat in his next life.

fast and lovely like the gazelle

2007-03-25T21:50:00.000-05:00

I bought my first piece of exercise equipment a few weeks ago. I had been chatting with Meg about the fact that "my people" may look good but they drop like flies without warning. I decided that I needed more than pilates. I needed cardio. But I hate running (I feel like a muppet when I run). I used to do the whole cardio strip tease thing with Leslie but, the studio closed and I didn't want to join the gym to take the class.

March is a good time to hunt for exercise equipment on Craigslist. Most people are cleaning out their garages and giving up on that new years resolution. I was thinking eliptical machine or exercise bike. Something that I could use while watching tv. Even better if I could find something for $50 or less.

I found a Gazelle for $50 and talked the owner down to $40. Unfortunately I don't have a vehicle that could go pick it up. Then by total chance I found another one listed on Craigslist for $30. I called around to see if someone could go get it. I lucked out. Keely was downtown and she had $30 to pay for it.

I am now the proud owner of the Gazelle Supra. It's slightly used, I cleaned it up (it was covered in red dust) and oiled it up. I replaced the batteries in the "computer). The model doesn't exist anymore (the name has changed) but the new model costs about $279.99. The only thing missing was the cup holder. Which really isn't that important. I attached some velcro to it so I can stick the remote to it.

So now I do my zero impact run on the Gazelle while I watch tv. I figure I can watch crappy shows like "The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll" as long as I am working out. It's not as bad as if I was just lying on the couch watching such crap.

I feel better since I started on this quest. I don't know that I will live any longer because of it. Will it make me more coordinated. Make me less muppet-like should I decide to take up running? Who knows? Health aside, I just want to look good naked.

Telephone

2007-03-24T22:15:00.000-05:00

My family has never been that great at communicating. Usually things come up in more of an "oh, by the way" manner, family emergencies included. Like when my grandfather passed away. My dad called my sister to say that we had lost our grandfather. Lost?? Steph didn't know she was responsible for keeping track of him. Anyways, the message could have been conveyed a little better. Or when my aunt was hospitalized for a heart problem. "Oh, your mom had to leave town to take care of your aunt in the hospital." No explaination as to what happened. I don't think that anyone was informed of my car accident (head on collision), until way after the fact. For the most part I was ok. I just had a few broken teeth

So, Steph called me last night. I was in the middle of cooking dinner so I didn't answer the phone. I checked the voice mail and it sounded a little frantic. " Mom's hands are in splints, she has carpal tunnel, Dad took her to the doctor because her hands turned blue". First I thought, "gee why didn't mom and dad call me?" Then I called Steph to get the story. I called her first because my parent's aren't the greatest at explaining how serious a situation is. Steph and I chatted for a bit about what went down and about our family's communication problem. She found out that mom went to the hospital for her hands because mom called to ask how much Steph's hairdresser charged to wash hair. Most mom's would have pulled the "I brought you into this world card" and said "I am injured, can you come over and wash my hair?" Not my mom. I am guessing that she doesn't want to be a burden to us like her mom was to her and my aunt. Burdens aside. We all live in the same city. It's no big deal.

I called mom last night and got the story. She was out walking with her neighbor and her hands turned blue. She came home and they went from blue to red. So dad took her to the doctor. They took some blood tests. They had her come in for more tests and then they told her that she had carpal tunnel and she had to wear splints for the next 2 weeks. I told her that I never heard of blue hands being a symptom of carpal tunnel (I had researched carpal tunnel a few years ago before I was diagnosed as having scar tissue built up in my wrist from that car accident). I told her to hang tight and I would get a second opinion. This was sounding like a vascular problem and that maybe she should ask about those blood tests.

Yet another situation that I am thankful that my best friend is a nurse. I called Meg for her opinion. I was right in guessing that it was a vascular thing. I spent an hour on the phone with Meg playing doctor. I now have a list of thing to ask mom about when I call tomorrow.

manscaping

2007-03-22T18:26:00.000-05:00

I have never dated a hairy man but apparently friends of mine have. One in particular has dated enough hairy men that she should be a professional manscaper by now. From using clippers to going all out with the Epilady (even I wouldn't subject someone to the Epilady). I was curious about the manscaping thing so I googled it and found this article, "Manscaping 101 with Marcel".

I am not afraid of dating a hairy guy, but how do you know that your date isn't sasquatch? There are some signs that indicate that he may be a wookie under that shirt. There's the wearers of 2 shirts. Even in the heat of summer they wear 2 shirts to keep the hairs from sticking out like a porcupine. On occasion you can make an assumption based on the amount of arm and leg hair. Then there are the hairs that stick up over their collar, total wookie trait.

Do I dare discuss odd hair patterns or hair in odd places? I can't help it. I think it is really weird that when guys start balding, hair starts to migrate to other places. Like their lower back or their ass. Then there is the ear hair or the caterpillar eyebrows (although I think that if they were really awesome eyebrows like Pi Mei's..., nah I would still make fun of them).

Ok, I am going to stop now before things get worse.

Outsourcing and Contractors

2007-03-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

Is there a need for something a little more permanent?

Many say that in order for small businesses to survive it is better to avoid hiring full time employees. I begin to wonder if the same applies to aspects of life.

I think that love would require a set up that is a bit more permanent. For example, Em and I were discussing the fact that it wouldbe hard to find someone who loved us as much as Meg does. I am not saying that it is impossible, I am just saying that it would be hard. Meg has been a permanent fixture in my life for the last 7 years. For the longest time she was the last person I talked to before I went to bed.

That aside, I think that sex is definitely something that could be contracted (friends with benefits even). Or outsourced to our battery operated friends (Although, I am told that really good sex usually involves some sort of emotional connection).

Why do I bring this up? I've been scrolling through old emails and found this...

> The thing I had to realize about dating - or perhaps it would be more
> accurate to say that I'm still learning it - is that one need not
> invest everything in a relationship at the beginning.  It helps
> reduce the fear of rejection, and it keeps one from going too fast,
> expecting too much, and being let down.

That's right, that whole issue of emotional investment. Do you stick your toe in the water to test it out? or do you jump right in?

Something for you to ponder.

I am not your ghetto princess

2007-03-20T18:07:00.000-05:00

I haven't really brought up the topic of race on my site but I figure that there is no better time than the present. It may give you a little more insight into why I am the way that I am. [That would be me over there on the right.]

I attended a panel at SXSW on Identity, Attention, Presence and Reputation. One of the big focuses was on using blogs as a tool to communicate identity.

I hope that by now you can tell that there are different people who write for this blog (although I write more often than the others). From our writing styles you probably couldn't figure out all of our ethnicities or ages. But does that matter that there are 2 black girls, 3 white girls, and a half asian girl?

Back to me and my identity "crisis". Here is the deal. When I go out I get cat calls and the occasional "Baby, What's up?" from dudes that look like they belong in a rap video. I seem to attract the one thing that I am not interested in. I don't dress anything like one of those girls in one of those rap guys videos. Do they not see the hipster glasses.

Forgive me for being blunt. I like tall dorky white boys. It's been that way since I was a kid. I grew up in white suburbia. We were upper middle class. All of the schools were predominantly white. Although sometimes there is a bit of a problem when they want me to be their ghetto princess. I am not joking about this. They seriously thought that I had some inner ghetto princess and that I was supressing it. Silly boys.

Part of the reason that I chose to stay in Austin is because of it's acceptance of interacial relationships (I wan't to keep my options open). It's pretty accepting of most things. I have only had a few run ins with the occasional racist bastard. There were a few landlords that wouldn't rent out places to me and my white roommate (even after my dad volunteered to pay 6 months rent up front). But, for the most part it isn't an issue (well, atleast not so much in Austin). If anything, I am discriminated against by people of my own race. Which isn't new. Visiting my Dad's family in the south was rough. My sister and I weren't accepted by our cousin because we didn't "act black" (whatever that means).

To be honest, I am a little afraid of black people. Another environmental thing. Being "raised white" I too was influenced by the way that black people are often portrayed in the media. I've tried to shed the images but it's hard. The best thing I can do is try to remember that we are all human beings.

txt msgs

2007-03-19T13:21:00.000-05:00

I don't text. Sure, I am a blogger. I write for all the internet to see. I write the way I talk. Most of the time I write what I have shared with Meg or what I plan to share with Meg. Texting is way to limiting.

There are some people that live by text messages. I just can't do it. I spent 2 hours on the phone with Meg yesterday. We talked about some pretty heavy stuff. Stuff that required more than a few abbreviated words. I needed to hear how the tone of her voice changed. I could tell that she was scared, upset, excited. Things that text messages can't share.

There are a few occasions that text messages would be useful. During SXSW it's a little noisy to be using a cell phone and most of the calls I get are about scheduling. Next year I may decide to turn on text messages for the month of March.

Is ignorance really bliss?

2007-03-19T13:06:00.000-05:00

Do you really want to know who your ex has moved on to? Do you want to know why they chose that person? What do they have that you didn't? Or better yet, did your ex settle for something less? Maybe something a little more manageable? A little less challenging?

On occasion I have found myself checking out the MySpace profile of my replacement. I don't really want to meet them in person. I prefer to use the army's approach of "don't ask, don't tell" but if it's on the internet, it is fair game.

She was plain. A little less controversial. Someone you could take home to mom (Not that you couldn't take me home to mom, I clean up well. It's just that the brown on my skin doesn't come off in the shower). She may even want to have a million of your babies.

She was definitely not me. In a way I feel better, knowing that she isn't me. Why accept an imitation when you can have the real thing.

Like sands through the hourglass...

2007-03-04T00:31:00.000-06:00

Most of the time, I feel like things are moving at turtle speed. I looked through my calendar in my Palm pilot out of bordom the other day (meetings, yawn...) and realized...

As of Friday, I will have owned my home for 5 years.
I have had my cat for 9 years. I am still amazed that he runs off for weeks and still finds his way home.
It has been a year since I have had sex. Yes, it has been a whole year. But that was totally my choice. I refuse to lower my standards (and I am afraid of catching something). Lucky for me I have a good support network and a battery charger.
I have lived in Austin for 12.5 years.
It's been 6 years since my car accident. The dental work to fix my broken teeth hasn't needed any repairs.
It's been over a year since I have been out dancing. I realized that I really didn't make me happy.
The people I keep closest to me are the ones that I have known for atleast 8 years. They know my deepest, darkest secrets and I know theirs.
This is my 3rd year of SXSW.
I have had my passport for 5 years and haven't left the country yet.
It's been almost 3 years since I have had roommates. I don't think I could go back to having one.
I've been blogging for a little over 2 years. I am not sure who is out there reading, it was more important that I get all of this stuff out of my head.

..., so are the days of our lives.

30 years of Jen

2007-01-30T18:27:00.000-06:00

I turned 30 on Friday. 30 doesn't feel that much different than 29. Some people say that it is the new 21. If it really was the new 21 I would have had a margarita machine and a bouncy castle...

The festivities began on Thursday. My co-workers decorated my office with a ton of balloons. Then they cookied my car when I was in a meeting.

Those would be lemon-cream filled sandwich cookies plastered all over my car (no, they didn't hurt the paint). This was how I started my long weekend (I had scheduled myself to be off through Tuesday)

After work I went to the container store (my car was still covered in cookies and only a few were lost in transit). I picked up shelves so I could finish my pantry project. The shelving project required a drill bit I didn't have so I tabled installation until Friday.

I slept in on Friday morning (till about 10ish). I had a chocolate-chocolate chip cookie for breakfast (I was meeting my parents for lunch at noon so I didn't eat a "real breakfast"). I removed most of the cookies from my car and then I headed off to meet my parents for lunch at Hyde Park Bar and Grill.

After lunch I headed out to FirstSamples. I needed to return a key and talk to Shauna about the future of Level IV. There is still one cookie stuck to the top of my car (this cookie was still on my car when I took it to be washed on Monday afternoon).

I went to Home Depot on the way home from the studio. I had to get the giant drill bit in order to install my new shelves. I bought a nifty new set of drill bits and headed home to my lemon-scented garage.

Shelf installation went pretty quick. I was done in 20 minutes or so. All of my food is one space now. I no longer use a giant rubbermaid tub for food storage. Elfa is expensive, but it rocks.

I went to Trudy's for dinner (and my free Mexmart). I was shocked that my party of 10 was seated in 45 minutes and not the hour and 30 minutes we were quoted. After dinner I finished the night off at the Alamo Drafthouse (Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation Festival). The festival has seen better days but it is pretty hard to compete against YouTube.

Saturday was spent cleaning my house and loafing. I did some prep work for the dinner party I was hosting on Sunday. I went back to the container store (they are having a sale). I went to World Market (they have a great wine selection and the prices are pretty good). I went to the grocery store (which I hate) because I needed some key ingredients for dinner. Before retiring to the couch for the evening I made the chocolate mousse and biscotti. I ended up watching Life Aquatic with the commentary on (and falling asleep because I was worn out).

Sunday I was up early. I went to Costco (I drove by on Saturday and it was a zoo). I washed my hair and began the baking marathon (ok, not like my Christmas baking marathon). Portobella Brie cups for the appetizer. I made pasta with artichoke hearts, spinach and feta for the main course. Chocolate mousse with whipped cream (from scratch and spiked with Bailey's) for dessert.

I had 7 of my closest friends around one table. This has NEVER happened before. I can rarely arrange time with just two of them. Most of them I have known since college. Some have been roommates. We ate and drank and talked from 7 until around 10 ish. Keely and Megan ended up staying until 2am (It was nice. The last time we did something like that was after I broke up with the first boy. This time all of us were resting firmly on the plateau without issues).

Monday I slept in until around 10:30. Mom came over to drop off some things. I went to the post office and ran a few errands. I got my car washed. They did a pretty crappy job. There is still some lemon frosting here and there. I spent a big chunk of my evening organizing my sewing room and pondering if I could skip another day of work. Maybe I could become a professional organizer. Maybe work at the container store?

So that would be my 30th birthday weekend.

The internet and its lies...

2007-01-16T22:54:00.000-06:00

Ok, I have been trapped in the house for a full 5 days and I will be stuck here tomorrow. I did manage to back away from the internet for a few hours to read a book and make pizza dough. Unfortunately I returned to this...

Why is it unfortunate that this green eyed stranger greets me when I am checking my MySpace mail? Well, it's because this man is not waiting for me and if he is he is most likely a smoker or gay (or maybe both). I've checked out a billion online dating sites and this is not out there. Nothing remotely close. I think that this man is some sort of digitally enhanced clip art that was generated to lure people in.

But if he is real, and waiting for me, I hope that he isn't some sort of stalker waiting outside my bedroom window with a knife.