reminiscing

What made 2007 memorable?

My 30th birthday with SM and KB in attendance
Settling into a new apartment and borough
Settling into a new job
Josh, Porkchop, Colleen, Paul, Tom, Garett, Noreen, Mindi, et al
Morning Gchats with Scarny
Splish Splash
Pitchers at GYC
Cheese fries at Trout
NYC time with AC
Glasses of wine with T.Rich
4th of July in Georgia with KM
Caribbean cruise
Still Flyin' show at Sound Fix
Rhianna's "Umbrella"
Jay-Z's "Roc Boys"
Watching "The Wire"
"LOST" finale
Watching "BSG"
Reading "Lolita"
Acquiring nice kitchenware
NYSC
Not leaving Brooklyn for weeks on end

...and too many other things to recollect at this time.

I wish you a happy, healthy, prosperous, fruitful, fulfilling, inspirational, and peaceful 2008.

xoxo

2 double-aught 7

2007 MySpace survey!
BE HONEST

1-Did you kiss anyone?
Probably.

2-Did you date anyone?
Only those whose names I forget.

3-Are you going to kiss someone when the ball drops?
Doubtful.

4-Did you lose any friends?
TBD.

5-Did you gain any friends?
Mucho.

6-Did you do something new?
I ate bacon-stuffed sausage. Other than that, it was behavior-as-usual.

7-Did anyone important to you die?
Tammy Faye Messner, Norman Mailer, Benazir Bhutto, Anna Nicole Smith, Deborah Kerr, Leona Helmsley, Merv Griffin, Bill Walsh, Ingmar Bergman, Lady Bird Johnson, Liz Claiborne, Kurt Vonnegut, Don Ho, Arthur Schlesinger, Barbaro.

8-Did you change?
I am a work in process.

9-Are you happy with the year overall?
Yikes.

10-What's the best thing that's happened to you?
Gchat, NYSC, new friends, old friends.

11-Did you fall in or out of love?
Every single day.

12-Are you happy the year's almost over?
You don't even fucking know.

13-Are you going to change something about yourself next year?
I am a work in process.

14-Do you think 2008 will be a better year then 2007?
I will bet on it.

15-Are you looking forward to 2008?
See number 12.

16-How many things did you screw up in 2007?
One.

17-Did you go to an amusement park?
Only of the Splish Splash variety.

18-Did you go to a concert?
A couple.

19-Did you go to any parties?
Many.

20-Did you go on a summer vacation?
Topless beach vacation! HOLLER.

21-Did you lie to your parents?
I stopped doing this in my 20s.

22-Did you get into a fight?
Sure.

23-Did you leave the country?
Sure.

24-Did you have a good birthday?
I became an "adult". I ate delicious food. I drank many a beer. I hugged many a friend. It was quality.

25-Did anyone in your family get married?
My cousin.

26-Do you think you grew?
I regressed, I grew. Net zero.

27-Did you dye your hair?
Expensive highlights, bitches.

28-Who do you think you were on the phone with the most?
SM.

29-Did anyone sing to you?
I sing to myself.

30-Did you sing to anyone?
I sing to myself.

31-Did anyone tell you they loved you?
Kinda sorta maybe a little bit. Yes.

32-Did you ever go to the hospital?
Just on the cruise ship.

33-What did you drink and eat the most?
Cheap beer. Lentil soup.

34-Did you change your top 8 at least 8 times?
Yes.

35-Did you change your profile over 10 times?
Yes.

36-Did you change your default picture at least 20 times?
Yes.

37-Did you get a tattoo?
No. I am still regretting the one that I have.

38-Did you vote?
Not this year.

39-Are you going to make New Year's resolutions?
Done and done.

40-Did you stick to your 2007 New Year's resolution?
No, but I resolve to stick to the ones I make for 2008.

41.Think you'll date someone in 2008?
Eh.

42. Where will you be when the ball drops?
Looking classy in Porkchop & Colleen's living room, holding a glass of sparkling wine. Not kissing anyone. More sober than not.

43. Do you think you will make new friends in 2008?
Not sure if it's possible.

44. Are you hoping to meet someone special in 2008?
Fingers crossed I meet someone rich. With a yacht.

45. How do you feel, another year has passed you by?
YAY.

the courtney love success program for women

JBD in 2007:



JBD in 2008:

aggregate

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Sunbathed topless in public. Mmm hmmm.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more
for next year?
I broke my resolutions within a few days; I have resolved to change behavior in 2008, yes, and I hope to actually do it, yes. Thank you.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Melanie had Sophia, Mandy had Andes.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, St. Thomas.

6. What would you like to have had in 2007?
Will power.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?
July 18.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Meeting Terry.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Ditching Annette.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just a touch.

11. What were the best things you bought?
Food and drinks with friends.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
KM's, SM's, AB's, T.Rich's.

13. Whose behavior appalled you?
My own.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Alcohol.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My feet in the sand on St. Maarten, a Thai cooking class, numerous parties and potlucks, some dudes.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006 oops! 2007?
"Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder? Who knows? It varies.
ii. Thinner or fatter? Oh, that alcohol caught up with me.
iii. Richer or poorer? Oh, those credit cards caught up with me.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Dancing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Falling down.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family in New Jersey.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
No.

22. How many one-night stands?
Yes.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
"The Wire"

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate? No. Dislike? Sure.

25. What was the best book you read?
"Lolita"

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Band of Horses.

27. What did you want and get?
A tangerine-colored KitchenAid stand mixer.

28. What did you want and not get?
Crackberry.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
It came out in 2006, yeah, but I finally got around to seeing "The Departed".

30. What did you do on your birthday?
Appropriately, it was my 30th. Had dinner with Scarny, KM, SM, KB, and my bro at Devi, followed by drinks with many others at Hi-Fi.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Moderation.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
H&M on sale.

33. What kept you sane?
Scarny, SM, KM, my bro, T.Rich, Annette, Terry, Gchat, NPR podcasts, cigarettes, knitting, baking, glasses of red wine in my living room.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Bill Clinton. Always.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Presidential campaigns in general.

36. Who did you miss?
Only those I always miss.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Though I met some of them prior to 2007, I spent much more time with the following: Josh, Porkchop, Paul, Colleen, Garett, Tom, etc...

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
You can, seriously seriously seriously, only change yourself.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
I'd like to think I'm the mess you'd wear with pride.

40. What would you like to be a year from now?
Classy!

merry

Watching "Scrooged" in my pajamas and eating bruschetta and drinking egg nog and thinking about all that will happen in the New Year and that which makes me happy and hopeful and sated and all that I will leave behind.

Acting as if.

It is what it is.

Happy Christmas, everyone.

seasonings

Greetings from the 'burbs.

I have decided to truly indulge the masochistic side of myself, as I have yet to complete a lick of Christmas shopping. The plan is to hit the mall tomorrow and knock it all out. (Knock out some whiny children, as well, I'm afraid.)

I have been living in yoga pants and tank tops and my vintage apron and unwashed hair and barefeet. I am a mess -- albeit quite comfortable.

I have been baking up a storm (pumpkin muffins, apricot jelly roll, cranberry apple pie, sugar cookies), watching football (Giants clinched a post-season spot), getting along with both of the parents (ahem, a first!), etc.

Etc.

I'm ready for the '08, when tough meets classy.

I want to be Jay-Z at 0:49 in this video.



The way he pulls up his overcoat? Yes, that.

(Oh, and that's Tristan Wilds playing the nephew; he was Michael in Season 4 of "The Wire". Finished all that up, and though Koryn spoiled me, the death in the final episode was nevertheless devastating.)

cloverfield

flight 815

As I've been told my blog is treading too far into emo territory as of late (and I might be inclined to agree), I'll mention something superficial: "LOST" begins again on January 31, 2008 -- this time on Thursdays.

Oh, what a hiatus it's been.

goodbye cruel world

I might be ready for some social networking suicide.

Why does it feel like it would be so hard to do? I mean, I'm 30 years old and sick of collecting friends like baseball cards.

a lack of evidence

I sound like a broken record, I know. Things need to change. They aren't good. Another Monday morning approaches and things. Are. Not. Good.

Things could be fine. Things will be fine. I need to make some changes.

I am regressing.

scraaaaabulous

If you find yourself at work with nothing to do, and you wanna use some of those brain muscles, and you wanna play a game of Scrabble via email, hit me up. I'm serious.

I am currently a bit disheartened as Paul threw down SOVIET as his first word -- for 30 points! -- but will persevere.

<3

Happy birthday, KM! The world is a better place because you are here.

out of mistletoe, naturally

Paul: What are you yentas talking about now
OMG WE'RE GONNA CUDDLE WITH BOYS HE HE HE EH HE

me: !!!

Mindi: !!!
don't hate paul

Paul: You guys are retarded
and what does this mean

me: it means that eating a peanut butter cup is hot.

Mindi: who doesn't love a reeses???
how did you not get that paul?

me: mmmmm!
because he's gay.

Paul: That's not what you were screamin this summaaaaaaa

me: :-|

Paul: ahahahahaahha
omg i think this is my favorite group chat of all time

Mindi: its good

me: ahem

Mindi: it's reeses chomping good

me: it's pretty hot

Paul: jen are you blushing on the other side of that screen

me: i am not.

Paul: mmhmm
you can admit it its just me and mindi

me: no blushing.

Mindi: me either
i wish someone would make me blush
can a girl get a blush already?!

Paul: Mindi

Mindi: paul

Paul: you're so beautiful you make Supergirl look like Spidergirl

me: that's an authentic compliment coming from fanboy over there.

Mindi: SHUCKKKKKKSSSSS PAUL
thanks for the blush friend

me: her blush was nicer than mine!
wait
i wasn't blushing.
never mind.

Mindi: hahaha
true
don't let your guard down!

me: shit!

Paul: suckaaaa

me: i hate you.

do we want too much

What to say? Things have been put to rest neatly and succinctly. Epiphanies are popping like corn kernels.

Is this the last hurrah? True superficiality? I feel like I am on the brink. I feel as if I am teetering on the edge and could either fall into bliss or remain an adolescent forever as my insides shrivel like raisins.

pineapple express

Seth Rogan + David Gordon Green + James Franco = OMGWTF

wah wah wah

In my old age, I've become paralyzed.

A mere three years ago, I moved to New York without a job, without an apartment, without any sort of real plan. Eight years ago, I moved to Texas -- a state where I knew nobody -- to subsist on an annual salary of $9000.

Now I find myself at a job where I don't use any skills, don't do any work, don't have any true satisfaction (think "Office Space" but less funny) -- and though I apply for other jobs, it seems I am just not following any sort of passion.

I think about returning to school but then am seized with fear from the financial burden I would undertake.

I am beginning to think, however, that it may be more emotionally costly to spend every day doing absolutely nothing. I can't chat online with my friends forever, nursing a hangover from the night before. These friends are moving forward with their careers. Meanwhile, I go out at night because I know that I have no responsibilities at work to tend to.

I am a fucking grown-up and I need to do something.

girl crush

Sigh.

the fact that i only talk about myself once in a while is a testament to my humility

You have invited AC to this chat.
This is now a group chat. Add another person.
AC has joined.
AB has joined.

AC: group chat is better in theory than practice

AB: hahahahahahahaha!

Me: ;)

AB: did you invent group chat, AC?

Me: i feel like we're back in creswell!

AB: only i would be crying!

Me: hahahahaha -- omg, and i wouldn't be saying anything but rather just listening through a closed door

AC: i would be afraid, much like i am now

Me: you would have a reason to be!

AC: anyway i don't see anything wrong with getting a dander free cat for allergies, but you people are purists and afraid of technology

AB: and you will be the one that gives our defense codes to our robot masters!

AC: they may prefer dander free humans and breed us selectively

Me: well, i prefer dander-free humans, but cats, i can live with
look, AC, just buy me diamonds and a smush-faced cat and you can have your genetically engineered feline

AB: yes! diamonds for me, too!

AC: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Me: yay! diamonds for everyone!

AB: or really nice shoes?

AC: maybe i need more diamonds

AB: i can send you the link to these $940 burberry shoes i want!

AC: how about this: we don't buy anything

Me: also, buy me this
http://www.coach.com/content/product.aspx?product_no=9987&category_id=788
thx

AC: it's like a rap video up in here

a miscarriage of just us

Going to bed at 5am on a school night is not a smart way to start the day.

Feeding yourself bacon and eggs and toast and a big cup of coffee is an honest attempt at normalcy, but next time, you simply need to tell your friend beside you that you need to go home.

Oh, and watch out for that slippery black ice.

that was the plan

Group GChat is fun and exhausting. Using AIM-within-GChat is efficient.

My brother is covering many a song from the '90s, which fits nicely with his sister's new college-era hairstyle.

I would prefer to communicate with everyone via someecards.com.

Josh heads to Dubai on Thursday and, while stealing a joke, I cannot wait to see what he Du-bais me.

"Juno" arrives today.

I asked Paul yesterday if I should wink at a boy whose online profile was LongShlong69 and his response was, "Do it. Do it and never look back." (I didn't do it.)

I am researching restaurants for a date that is not my own.

I am in-between knitting projects.

Aaaaaand...

I have not eaten a proper meal today.

(Pictures from last Tuesday and Saturday here.)

I'm voting for tuxedos and cocktail dresses at Tom's place in Flatbush.

Hard to believe that we have a mere four weeks left until we resolve to make the same old mistakes in the new year!

Oh, I'm just kidding. You'll be happy to know that I'm done with the mistake-making, thank you.

pseudo

In falling snow, I walked to the supermarket to buy bacon and eggs and prosciutto bread for breakfast. I cheerfully wished a good morning, with no sense of irony, to everyone I passed along the way. While perusing the goods in the bakery aisle, I encouraged myself to remember how happy I was at that moment because things would most likely change later.

Events of the previous night included the RK show at the Knit and the after-party at Mona's with the crew. Cab ride home was spent listening to the born-and-bred New Yorker discuss his knowledge of ska. Watched some cable but surprisingly, no VH1 Classic.

Later on Sunday, the unhappiness never arrived. Instead, movies were watched and fake meatballs were fried and pasta was boiled and tea was drunk and brain-busters were posed.

Awoke at 6 this morning to an irritating alarm. The snow had all melted away. It is, as Scarnsworth would say, the proverbial Monday morning.

Things are odd.