the house that ruth built

Me, Josh, All-Star Game, Yankee Stadium, tonight.

sushi, apple

Got incredibly, disgustingly, violently ill yesterday. Probably food poisoning. Couldn't keep anything down and have probably dropped five pounds in water weight.

(Yay!)

((I'm kidding.))

Seriously, though, that shit knocked me out, son. I'm just now able to stomach something other than a handful of Cheerios and small sips of Gatorade.

(Emma, I'm sorry about my mix-up in emails; I was obviously out of it.)

Ho hum. That's all. I haven't gotten out of bed much at all today and I just wanted to share with you my unfortunate malady.

Oh, other goings-on: saw "Hancock" with Justin on Thursday and it actually surprised me: it wasn't that bad. Jason Bateman, of course, played THE JASON BATEMAN CHARACTER, but I'm a fan, so I wasn't complaining. Tomorrow brings Bastille Day on Smith Street with Scarny, to which I will drag my ass no matter how I feel. After that, The New Guy and I will attend Boobiecubes at Noreen's new place, where he will meet the crew and be sized up. Poor guy. I wish him luck.

truth

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

big spender

So, perhaps Ikea isn't for masochists if you go on a weekday. This is the trick, you see. Also, be sure to go with someone with whom you enjoy spending time and who will tell you "My God, that is the ugliest rug ever -- you should NOT buy it", just so you can buy it and make him carry it around.

Remember that there is a FREE shuttle that takes you from Park Slope to Red Hook and not only that, but the seats are upholstered and you won't have to stand up.

Remember that even if something is listed as in stock, it probably won't be and you'll have to send your shopping companion around to seek out alternatives.

In other news, note to self: Asian food five days in a row is the epitome of good livin'.

rococcoesque

"Did you just complain about him wanting to take a nap with you?"

I replied, "Yeah, I did."

"Girl, you totally do not like this boy."

I think that's how it went, anyhow.

My future life shall include a floppy hat, big sunglasses, Scarny, and Morocco. Oh, and lots of booze. And Momofuku. Maybe we will bring ramen noodles to the Moroccan masses, just like we'll bring pornography to LA someday.

Ikea is for masochists.

The bar bathroom is for masochists.

Stalking old classmates in the East Village is for masochists.

Johnson's in the daylight, however, is forever!

sugar coma

Mom and I went to the Javits Center today for the 54th Annual Fancy Food Show and OMGWTF! Miles and miles of fancy food was to be found!

(Mom's a florist and her store does the gift basket thing, hence how we were able to snag tickets.)

I delightfully fell off the Health Wagon for the day and sampled little bites of goat milk ice cream, black truffle butter, caffeinated jelly beans, jalapeno-stuffed olives, banana peanut butter, apple rosemary preserves, chocolate-covered potato chips, wasabi mustard, fig jam, Israeli couscous, Kona coffee, raw honey, Bellini preserves (can you tell I like my condiments?), and on and on...

The best thing I put in my mouth all day, however, hands down, had to be a piece of Collier's Powerful Welsh Cheddar. It practically made me tear up.

Oh, and I snagged some peanut butter and chocolate candy samples for the guy I went out with the night before, aaaaaaaaand with whom I'll go out again tomorrow night.

Yes. I'm apparently not playing it cool at all.

running!

This is what running in the heat on very little sleep looks like:

i got it

From KM:

i promise i'll even pretend it's reaganomics trickling down from the 80s

So, like, things have been busy.

Monday I hit the gym after work (that lil' Nike+iPod gizmo really motivates!) and then went home and draaaaaagged my ass out on a date... which ended up being a nice surprise. We're going out again on Saturday.

I put no stock into these things, by the way. I don't mean to sound bitter and jaded, but I'm perpetually underwhelmed and have become so during my 5-year stint in singledom. This guy seemed pretty okay, though, and he shares my love of "Lost" and my guilty pleasure of occasionally listening to the Counting Crows, so...

(Yes, I really liked "August and Everything After" so suck it.)

Tuesday was a trip to Shea Stadium with Paul, Josh, Porkchop, Colleen, and others to see the Mets get CREAMED 11-0. I think I stopped paying attention to the game around Inning 5.

Yesterday I checked out an apartment. I'm moving in by myself for the first time ever, and as you probably have heard, gentle reader(s), the New York apartment hunt is ruthless. (Four figures a month just to have a roof over my head! What is this world coming to?) This unit, however, seems pretty pretty pretty good and I'm going back tonight to be interviewed by the building owner. Fingers crossed, good thoughts, prayers, chants, etc. plz.

Just got back from lunchtime trip to the gym and my hair is still wet and I feel totally unprofessional.

Le sigh.

ticky tacky

I was talking to KB yesterday on his birthday (happy birthday, KB!) and he mentioned that I seemed to be on-track with nutrition, exercise, etc. as of late, according to my last blog post.

Oh, but I know how to self-sabotage! Read on...

Friday was happy hour instead of the gym, and then a platter of Mexican food with Paul and lots of wine and hangout time 'til 5am. Saturday morning started with a text to Scarny that read: "brunch plz" or something along those lines. Had a waffle (?! -- I never eat a sweet brunch!) with creme fraiche, banana, and real maple syrup with the requisite Bloody or two. Needed more sweets later in the afternoon and treated self to vegan cookie from Whole Foods. Dinner was a vegan tempeh burrito from Burritoville. (My body must be craving sugar and Mexican food.) Met up with the gang at the bar at midnight and drank many a vodka soda and crashed at home around 4:30 AM. Sunday was a platter of (yes, yes) Mexican food and a bowl of fresh cherries and vegan chili with brown rice for dinner.

WTF, I ask you.

Back on the 6" Veggie Delite (no cheese) Subway Diet today, which includes a much-needed dose of a 3-mile run and hour-long strength training class after work.

I told my friend Pat that I'm "good" during the week and I undo everything on the weekends and he found this sensible.

(I apologize for turning this blog into a food diary, but it's a bit all-consuming right now. It's gonna be either that or how I'm stressed out about finding an apartment by the end of July or how much I loved the first season of "Weeds".)

consumption!

Maybe I've been reading too much KERF, but I have the overwhelming desire to share with you, gentle reader(s), what I've been consuming and sweating off my body as of late.

Woke up at 6:00 AM and watched 45 minutes of Scarny's show while doing some weight training on my stability ball. All the while, consuming 16 ounces of French pressed unsweetened black coffee. Yeah, simultaneously.

Breakfast today was a cranberry-flavored (vegan! raw! cold-pressed!) Organic Fiber Bar, which is tastier than it sounds. 14 grams of fiber! In! One! Bar! I paired that with a 24-ounce cup of unsweetened black coffee.

Mid-morning snack was a banana, which had been purchased at my local gas station, before I hopped on the train at 7:45 AM. As usual, listened to yesterday's "TOTN" on the commute. (Hi, Sarah!)

Lunch was a walk from my office at Rockefeller Center to the SECRET SUBWAY ON EIGHTH AVENUE (roughly 15 minutes away by foot), where I purchased a $5 foot-long Veggie Delite on wheat bread with no cheese, all the veggies in the house, spicy mustard, vinegar, S&P, and dried oregano. (No oil. No mayo.) Ate only half, but paired it with a bag of (vegan!) Glenny's Soy Crisps in caramel flavor. A bit too sweet for the middle of the day. Should have stuck with my old S&P standby, and yes! I'm the director of a nutrition counseling program and understand glucose spikes! So, it was no surprise that later i craved...

My mid-afternoon snack, which was an impulse buy: (vegan!) S'mores Luna Bar. I had left the office briefly to run to Duane Reade with J ('Member him? I feel like he and I make a joint trip to the DR daily.) so that I could drop off my prescription for my weird photodermatitis-related rash. (Never mind that; I'll live.) He and I also bought one large unsweetened black iced coffee each. (Do you think I drink too much coffee? Don't answer that!)

!!!

Went to the gym after work, decided to skip Vinyasa Yoga and instead, ran on the treadmill for a half hour, alternating between 4.5 MPH and 6.0 MPH every two minutes. Only reached 2.5 miles total, but used my Nike+iPod which I highly recommend for it's lowlowlow price of $20ish, as well as all of its bells and whistles.. Also did some more light weight training. (Off-topic: I lovvvvvvve the lotion that is provided post-shower in the NYSC Rock Center locker room. I can still smell it on my skin, hours later.)

Had a Gala apple after work on the train ride home, and while perusing the latest issue of "Food & Wine" and decided that yes, I needed some. Food. And wine. Bought a bottle of Domaine Brusset Laurent B. Cotes du Rhone and had the other 6" of my SECRET SUBWAY (WHICH IS ON EIGHTH AVENUE AND 47TH STREET) Veggie Delite sandwich, this time with an Okara Courage Burger added to it, while watching Chris Matthews on "Hardball".

And here I am.

(Gratitute: Big ups to Kath -- you make me wanna eat kale chips and wheatberries daily! And thank you, J, for enduring my work-related venting on a daily basis. And thank you, Justin, for providing me the location of the SECRET SUBWAY ON EIGHTH AND 47TH STREET IN MIDTOWN MANHATTAN. And thank you, Pauly, for being my constant, even when I am judgmental. And thank you, Scarny, for getting me out of bed at 6:00 AM so that I can watch your show.)

(More gratitude to come.)

thank my potlucky stars

What a spread!



Clever stand-outs included Scarny's "Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie" (though he succeeded in bringing the temp in my apartment to the triple digits -- hotttt!), KM's "Strawberry Fields Forever" Salad, DMcG's "Put the Lime in the Coconut" Chicken & Tofu & Rice, Heather's "Mean Mr. Mustard" Potato Salad, Colleen's (who was missed) "Margaritaville" Cookies, and (ain't no shame in my game), my "Cheeseburger in Paradise" Cookies...



Other yummy contributions included Bethany's ceviche, Paul's paella and sangria, Josh's jambalaya, Mindi's figs and prosciutto, my bro's Hot Pockets & Juicy Fruit gum (!!!), Brandon, Justin, and Noreen's wings, Porkchop's traditional (mayo-based) potato salad, my tempeh "chicken" salad, Devang's guacamole, and Pam's Greek salad.

And thennnnnnnn... we had a dance party in the dark and I shattered my roommate's glass blender jar and and Justin wiped blood off of my toe and peeled skin from my arm and popped my blisters and a crazy actress crashed the joint and I drank full cups of white wine and then hit the wall and slept in my clothes.

Good times!

r.i.p. russert

My Sunday mornings won't be the same.

on my mind and what is happening now

"Top Chef" finale

Cava

Paul with pita chips and pretzel rods

Kayaking

Curly hair

Potluck planning

Solo vacation planning

Many balls in the air at work

I need a pedicure

I am peeling

Coney Island Sundays

Impress during impromptu "Jeopardy" sessions

$5 footlong Veggie Delite (no cheese) from Subway

Spike

Pineapple boat

Lifting heavy weights

Not really caring about "SATC"

Hawaii

Moving forward with the Paperback Bestseller Plan

Moving forward with career change plan in L.A. (This means you, Rippy!)

Etc.

clinch!

Onto November!

there's no place like home

This post isn't spoiler-y unless you click on the links. Don't worry.

For "Lost" enthusiasts, tomorrow brings a bittersweet day: hopefully the best episode of the season but also the final one.

From 8pm-9pm ET, last week's episode "There's No Place Like Home (Part 1)" will be rebroadcast, though this time with extra footage. From 9pm-11pm, "There's No Place Like Home (Parts 2 & 3) will be aired.

TV Guide is noting that for full finale-viewing pleasure, please be sure you are up to date with the goings-on in these six episodes:

"Pilot" (Season 1)
"White Rabbit" (Season 1)
"Live Together, Die Alone" (Season 2)
"Through the Looking Glass" (Season 3)
"The Shape of Things to Come" (Season 4)

I'll be geeking it out at a "Lost" finale party (but of COURSE) for the second year in a row.

Don't tell me what I can't do!

endless weekend

Friday was 1-2-3 and girls in b.o.o.t.a.y. shorts with Scarny, TRich, DMcG, Paul, Josh, Justin, et al. Fast forward to me singing "Hangin' Tough" and (naturally) "Against All Odds" in the East Village while drinking overpriced wine. Was simply knocked -- knocked! -- off of my feet by Paul's rendition of "Rosalita". Seriously, you should hire this guy to sing at weddings. He also does a mean Morrissey.

Saturday was gettin' roots done and gettin' the fear of God put into me by my stylist, who warned me that my hair was on the verge of serious breakage. Like, you're-gonna-have-to-pull-a-Britney-Spears-and-shave-that-shit situation. Frown. Ran home, baked vegan blackberry oat bars, and made it to P'chop & Colleen's for graduvacation party with green-ish (but yummy!) Tofurky Beer Brats in tow.

Sunday was Coney Island and sunburns and snacks and Cyclone.

Monday was drinking in Central Park with Scarny in the morning and then a pound of cherries at P'chop & Colleen's with Paul and Justin and Mindi and Josh and more Tofurky and more light beer and more sunshine and...

Tuesday was exhaustion.

climb climb climb

As part of my Get More Awesome plan, I'm getting more active at the gym. I've seen Frank-the-Trainer twice now, have taken kickboxing and yoga and total body conditioning... but nothing scares me more than what I'll be experiencing tonight:

My first spinning class.

My goal isn't too far out-of-reach: I just want to be in the best fucking shape of my life. Forever.

Or at least, you know, get to the gym a couple times a week and stop eating crap.

makes me feel fine

For those of you not in the NYC area next month, here's what you'll (unfortunately) be missing:

THE SECOND ANNUAL SUMMER BREEZE* POTLUCK.
*Note: May or may not feature Summer Breeze.

If you recall last year, Summer Breeze was the drink concocted by the fellas and mixed in a victory cooler in my bathroom for the First Annual (So Icy/Stuffed) Summer Potluck. It included Coors Light, vodka, Red Bull, and other beverages that escape me at this time. It was (surprisingly!) tasty.

This year, piggy-backing on the fact that the drink of yesteryear was named for a brilliant Seals & Crofts song, I'm declaring the theme to be music-related: your contribution to said potluck should be inspired by a song.

For instance:

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" -- Def Leppard
"Scarborough Fair" -- Simon & Garfunkel
"Savoy Truffle" -- the Beatles
"Mashed Potato Time" -- Dee Dee Sharp
"Know Your Chicken" -- Cibo Matto

You get the idea.

This stomachache-waiting-to-happen goes down on Saturday, June 14th. I've already thought of one or two dishes, myself. We'll see what others come up with.

(And, boy, I've never realized how many songs refer to candy until today.)

get by

The Get More Awesome Plan (which brings to mind Kanye and Talib):

1. Get a pet: Mine is a Siamese Fighting Fish. He is purple and his name is Cecil.
2. Get your own place: As of August 1, I will live alone for the first time in my life. Apartment will be decorated with milk crates and cinder blocks.
3. Get a personal trainer: He is muscular and his name is Frank.
4. Get your learn on: I'm finally tackling "Crime & Punishment", which most of you probably read in 11th grade.
5. Get a new hobby: Mine is cross-stitch.
6. Get a new kitchen tool: Mine is a French Press.
7. Get an indulgence: Mine is semi-regular manicures.
8. Get rid of your bad habits: Mine shall remain nameless here.
9. Get an ashram: I'm visiting an ashram in NYC, yes, but an ashram nonetheless.
10. Get some perspective: I may not stick with all of this in the long run, but I'm on a kick to try.

jet set domino

Taking a personal day because the last four were some of the most ridiculous in recent memory.

Between two flights on Friday, a sub-par Greek salad in Detroit, a Derby party, nonsense nonsense nonsense until the early morning, recovering on Sunday, two flights on Monday, dinner with Dennis the bartender in Irvine, a bath of tears, broken wine glasses, two flights on Tuesday, and devouring "Eat Pray Love" in 32 hours, I'm a little out of my gourd.

road azz

Going to Detroit and back tomorrow and then off to L.A. (yay!) (I mean, actually Irvine -- boooo!) on Monday. Will return on Tuesday night a very weary business traveler.

Somewhere in between those two grown-up trips, I shall find time to don a hat, drink a mint julep, and bet on a horse.

But right now, first thing is motherfucking first: TAE-BO. Like it's 1999.

every day is a wasted day

What a weekend. Time to eat salads and drink sparkling water for oh, twelve days.

skytopless

T-minus 20 hours or something and counting, and what does T stand for again? Scarny & I will be in the sky and three Bloodys deep in no time flat.

baby come back

"I want you to find someone who makes you as happy as I wanted to make you."

even steven

Boating season again. GYC. A gaggle of us drank pitchers under the Christmas lights and then went in various directions; five of us ended up at a party in the Burg or the Wick or somewhere that is apparently ATM-free and then I found myself in a sketchy SUV at 2am. Watched the Peaks extras when I made it home, as I've completed all 30 episodes at a lightning-fast pace. (Damn good coffee - and hot! The owls are not what they seem! Fire walk with me! I could go on.)

Awoke and met Scarny for a brunch of trout and egg and horseradish cream. Enjoyed one of the best Bloodys ever at the Johnson's -- perhaps in future times we'll say 'fuck the pomp and circumstance', grab a Subway 12"er and once again fawn over Nancy Wilson's high note with the bartender.

	Heart - Alone
	Found at skreemr.com

Taking it easy tonight. Will soon be knee-high in a Lynchian film festival in my bedroom.

xxi

This is what shopping sounds like.

	Kleerup ft. Robyn - With Every Heartbeat
	Found at skreemr.com

lol bob lol

KB came to town last week and we had two Mexican meals, a Vietnamese dinner, and a few beverages. Snagged a garden table at La Palapa and enjoyed the Bloodys.

Josh turned 30 and I made a chocolate and cinnamon and espresso four-layer cake with mocha buttercream frosting, adorned with coconut marshmallow cookies. (It all fit together surprisingly well.) Ended the night at a pool hall in a horseshoe-shaped booth, attempting to not elbow Paul in the eye as I devoured the fried calamari before me.

I have a terrible addiction to "Twin Peaks" and have successfully, within two weeks or so, caught up to Scarny -- who has been watching for months. I do this every so often, as you know: binge on the television shows via Netflix ("The Wire", "Lost", "Battlestar Galactica" -- yes, I have impeccable taste) and then my world is colored with the characters, settings, and storylines and it's nearly all I can think about.

I head to Georgia for Twilight Delirium 10 in 10 days. Prior to that I shall spend some QT with AC in NYC and wait patiently for Episodes 23+ to arrive in the mail.

Let's rock.

a b & c

In the end, it all works out the way it's supposed to work out, yes, but this middle part is murky.

where the new york city winters aren't bleeding me

Things are good.

Heading to Georgia in less than a month. Saw Wuxtry and the REM office on CBS's "Sunday Morning" today. Remembered the time that AC and I had to drop off a cat carrier to the latter establishment when he was doing community service for the Humane Society. (It was to be autographed by the band members and auctioned off for fundraising purposes.) I volunteered a few times, just because I enjoyed being around him. He drove the red Cavalier and would ride his brakes, making me nauseous.

I haven't thought about that in years.

I also heard "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel today and thought about drinking Zima-with-Jolly-Ranchers in Creswell and listening to AC's roommate sing the praises of the saxophone in the song. We were in the dark, sitting on the floor. I was 17.

Now the years are rolling by me
They are rocking evenly
And I am older than I once was
And younger than I'll be, but that's not unusual
No, it isn't strange
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same

I guess that time has been on my mind. It's not often that I take trips that far down memory lane anymore.

Things are good.

faaaaaamous

Okay, so I look lame, but I've made it to MTV.

I'm one proud sister.

it's the smile that does it

Perpetually tired-ass-tired. Almost fell asleep on the train on the way to work this morning, if only because I could. (One train!) Watched "Meet the Press" and pondered Tim's diet.

Didn't fall asleep on the way home, though, as I had company.

Despite the exhaustion, I like my new digs. Quite a bit. The proverbial view is spectacular.

It's like Bizarro 2006. Or 2005. Or something. It's like the same, but different. No more trips to 2112, no, but J and I discussed the blessed '90s today and oh, how nice it was to discuss even the Gin Blossoms with a coworker. How nice it was to discuss anything with a coworker. How nice it was to hang with J again.

After two days, I already feel out of touch with my GChat friends, sadly. How dependent upon GChat I became in the last twelve months! My God. Hitting up the Big East tournament tomorrow night at MSG with Josh, however, so all is not lost.

KM and Scarny say I'm a grown-up. I guess I'll try it on for size.

last day last day last day

('Twas I.)

No more workin' in Brooklyn. No more three trains in the morning. No more Dunkin' Donuts for lunch.

fierce!

i've sunshine enough to spread

Scarny and I kicked out the birthday jamz this weekend, what with the shopping, the haircut, the double-trip to Esperanto, Bloodys, pigeon fights, cupcakes galore, THERE WILL BE DRAMA, new iPod, reading material, "Twin Peaks", vid chat with KB, dance party on the couch, UES vacation, maddening Dean Martin loop over omelettes, coffee brandy, lotto tix, taking cabs like I got some money, quotable stoop-dwellers of Alphabet City, my viewing of Da Gremlins, and this jam:

	Van She - Kelly
	Found at skreemr.com

Happy birthday to us.

Thank-you-thank-you-thank-you to everyone who came out on Saturday night, to everyone who wished us well, to Josh & Mindi & Porkchop & Colleen for the delicious cupcakes, to my friends for dealing with me when that Jameson hasn't exactly done me right, to Scarny for being the best birthday buddy ever, and now-I'll-stop-before-I-sound-like-my-blubbering-mother.

yessssssss

primo!

Holy snow! KB is making a last-minute appearance in NYC for the big birthday weekend! What a fabulous surprise!

drift away

Wanna see a teaser of a video in which I appear? Yes. Yes, you do.

improvements

Porkchop blogged about my silly "American Idol"-esque idea to boost ratings for the Oscars.

I, personally, watch the Oscars every year no matter the length of the show or movies nominated, but I know that many people do not. Many seem to dig the "American Idol" concept, so why not blend the two?

It could be argued that this idea would effectively dumb-down what should be a classy show... but I think that perhaps this has already been done by having that perky Hannah Montana show up to the party.

oscahs

My favorite dress of the night!



Safe, yes, but I love it.

Now, seriously, what was Diablo Cody thinking?



(I mean, Tilda's dress wins for Most Atrocious but it was sort of expected.) She looked great at the Spirit awards a mere 24 hours earlier! Le sigh!

Javier Bardem looked ridiculously hot, after frightening the pants off of me on Saturday afternoon when I finally got around to seeing "No Country". Clooney looked dapper, as usual. Daniel Day-Lewis looked a wee bit too Beethoven-y for me. (That hair! Yikes.) I thought Penelope Cruz was smokin'. I thought Amy Adams could have pulled off a brighter green. I thought Helen Mirren's dress fit her like a glove. I thought Ellen Page's choice was poor.

Remember, I know nothing about fashion.

ta da!

Well, I'm plum over the moon. Lemme tell you why.

My hair (on no 'poo day two) looks good. It's snowing outside and looks like a movie set. I'm wearing my new favorite shirt. J.Lo had her babies.

These all pale in comparison, however, to the fact that I got The Job. I'll return to my old company, but this time with a staff and a pay raise and a real challenge. I'm thrilled. Even better? I found out yesterday (via BlackBerry -- man, did it come in handy or what?) while on the way to a second date that went smashingly well.

(Oh, no "Lost" spoilers, please. I didn't watch yet. I was too busy celebrating.)

I hate to flaunt all of this and jinx it but man-oh-man, things seem good.

no poo

I read this article in today's NYT and decided to consult with AB. When I told her that I, indeed, wash my hair every single day, she replied with an exasperated, "That's ridiculous!"

Apparently shampoo just strips your hair of the oils that you inevitably replace with conditioner.

Who knew?

My hair has been bleached, dyed, fried, permed, blown out, flat ironed, and even clothes ironed throughout the years. I started dying it when I was 12. It's been chocolate brown and platinum blonde and (ugh) red and (ughhhh) purple in my day. I think I need to treat it with a bit more respect.

I'm going to try to give up the sham (HA!) for a bit and see what happens.

More info here.

neo-cons unite

In case you haven't clicked on the link in my sidebar.

Ten years ago today, Perle, Abrams, Armitage, Bolton, Kristol, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, et al gave us a peek at what they were planning.

hmog

Friday: Mixes (Chex, 90s) and clutching cereal boxes 'tween the teeth and hiking up the tight jeans and a melee in the street and asparagus and stuffed mushrooms and friendsssss.

(Side note: Let's talk the 90s for a second, okay? Can you send me a list of songs that would be on your definitive mix tape? Here's one to get the creative juices flowing!

Nutshell - Alice in Chains
Pretend We're Dead - L7
Rearviewmirror - Pearl Jam
Mayonaise - Smashing Pumpkins
Alien She - Bikini Kill
Chloe Dancer / Crown Of Thorns - Mother Love Bone
Kid Candy - Seaweed
Violet - Hole
Suck You Dry - Mudhoney
Hunger Strike - Temple of the Dog

90s music is really the only thing I want for my birthday-which-arrives-in-a-mere-thirteen-days. Okay, now, back to the weekend.)

Saturday: Enid's and potential claustrophobia and $3 Bloodys and free coffee and college talks and Laura Ashley flannel sheets and mechanical bulls and potential coke-heads 'cross the table and hugs at the train stop.

Sunday...

Oh, wait.

This was the day of Enid's and potential claustrophobia and $3 Bloodys and free coffee and college talks and Laura Ashley flannel sheets and getting my financial shit IN ORDER.

So what was Saturday?

Cleaning house, sleeping in, devouring the NYT, running in the park, (ah, and then...) mechanical bulls, potential coke-heads 'cross the table, hugs at the train stop.

(Forgive me; this weekend was a jumble of various good times.)

Monday: Lodge, KM!, tea, walks, talks.

Hello, Tuesday.

PS: For reals. 90s mix. Do it.

PPS: I will bake those cookies for you, KB, soon-soon-soon. I'm sorry I've been such a bum about it. And I'm sorry about not getting back to you. XOXO.

PPPS: Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage.

what's gonna set you free

Happy VD and all that jazz. I'm going to spend it with Jack and Sawyer and maybe I'll bake myself a single serving chocolate dessert and drink a glass of wine and toast to singledom!

That's not meant to be a fish for pity, by the way. Things are good. I'm grateful. As a good friend remarked, "I'm in love with myself, so I'm my own valentine."

Thank you for your thoughts on Tuesday. They worked. (OMG, "The Secret" changes liiiives! -- "Reno 911" reference, there.) My second interview is next week. I'll give you more details when things are finalized, but let's just say, I'm almost all growns up and shit. No more Google searches for day spas and mindless GChats and arts and craft time to fill up my work day. (At least for a while.)

Instead, I may be able to finally buy a real chest of drawers and a real bed and maybe some clothes from a store other than Old Navy.

Huzzah!

the serious comeback

So, I'm onto the next round. The CEO round. Fingers are crossed. Think good thoughts.

Other things that have clogged up my headspace as of late:

"Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" (and Mary Carey, God bless her, in particular)
"LOST"
"In Treatment"
"Inland Empire"
The Law of Attraction
Obama's winning streak
cookiemadness dot net
Solo vacations
The UWS
Hair extensions
Being the boss-lady
Women in the conservative movement
Investments
Oliver Peoples sunglasses
New furniture
New hair dryer
Mechanical bulls
Julia Phillips' "You'll Never Eat Lunch In This Town Again"
Hidden restaurants
Making time to see "There Will Be Blood"

all together now

Please think good thoughts for me at 4:30 PM ET today (for my interview). Perhaps collectively we can create a rope to pull me out of my current dark well (that is my job).

...

I will now choose to believe in the Law of Attraction. Thanks, Oprah!

with 30 points

Congrats to KB, who won the first annual Super Duper Tsunami Pick'em.

Cookies!

i love sex workers

VOTE

shrove monday

I'm no Catholic, but deprivation is totally my style. The Lenten season is just another way for me to appropriate a religion for my own selfish purposes.

One year I gave up dairy for Lent. Another year it was chocolate.

I'm going to skip the diet-related vices this year and go with social networking sites. No more MySpace, no more Facebook. I don't think I will wither and die without them, though it will admittedly be a challenge.

So, y'know, if my zombie doesn't attack your werewolf during the months of February and March or whatever, you know why.

superb

Just a reminder that your Tsunami Tuesday Picks are due today!

Final candidates in the running:

Democratic Party: Obama, Clinton, Gravel (he's still in this thing?)
Republican Party: McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Paul

Good luck.

In other news, I fucking sprained my motherfucking knee while running a fucking piece-of-cake 4 mile race yesterday. Fuuuuuck.

I ran a course the day before that included a steep downhill, and while running said course, felt my knee starting to ache. (Like it needed to pop, but, like, wouldn't?) I bought a brace and said to myself, "Self, even if you have to get a fucking knee replacement, you are running this entire race tomorrow. No walking allowed."

So, sure enough, around mile one (c'mon!), the knee started aching again. And then hurting. And there were hills. But I kept running. I crossed the finish line with my pride intact but my knee a mess. I iced it up for most of the rest of the day before heading to watch the G-Men kick out the jamz.

I wanted to be tough like Plaxico but I guess I ain't no footballer.

yessssssssss

the wait is over

"LOST" begins again tonight and oh-what-a-hiatus-it's-been. (Not sure how many times I need to stress that.) Phew! Glad that's all done and over with! Back to some normalcy, for Christ's sake. Fuck this regression bullshit.

With "normalcy" comes hanging out with the Doc. My emotions have ranged from yes-I-am-interested to no-we-don't-need-to-hang-out to yes-I-could possibly-be-interested to no-we-should-be-friends back to yes-I-am-interested -- and it is there that they currently reside. He's nice. Like, nice-nice. Like, I don't date dudes like that. Like, I am an asshole-magnet.

Or was. Or whatever.

I am running a race on Sunday. The Doc is meeting me there to take me to brunch afterwards. I will hobble, sweaty and spent, toward a Bloody Mary any day, thank you. He's scoring some points for suggesting it.

And so, yes, fittingly, "LOST" begins tonight. When it last aired, I had a regular date with the gym and was more sober than not. I felt pleased most of the time, or when I did not, you know, it was all my doing. (I mean, who are we kidding? I can usually make myself feel horrible enough on my own -- I don't need someone assisting me.)

And so, yes, things are fine. Normal. Even-keeled. I am not waiting for that other shoe to drop on a daily basis and it's hard to believe I endured the nonsense for as long as I did.

Trim the fat.

Watch "LOST".

Run, don't walk.

Be nice to the Doc.

Yes.

well, duh

Me: i mean, seriously -- for someone who puts a lot of emphasis on intelligence, i certainly don't demand it from the boys in my life.

Friend: NO SHIT!

shameless plug

Check out my brother's single, from his upcoming release "Small-Time Machine", out March 11th.

(I'll be in the video.)

breaking news

With Edwards and Giuliani out, we'll have to revise that Super Duper Tsunami Tuesday Pick'em, kids.

Wow, what a shake-up. (Though we saw it coming.)

Will Edwards' departure help or hurt Obama? On the one hand, Edwards was splitting the anti-Clinton vote with Obama, but on the other, his supporters are more demographically-aligned with Clinton's base.

Seems Edwards is gonna have to endorse Obama pronto if we want this to help us.

i've been running hot

I'll go on the record to say that "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones is the best song ever recorded.

That's saying something, because I just finished dancing around my room to Ram Jam's "Black Betty".

the round-up

I am running a race on Sunday.
I am in dance class tonight.
I am walking to work on a regular basis.

"LOST" begins on Thursday.
Super Tuesday is a week away.

I am playing trivia tomorrow.
I am drinking less.
I am happy more.

I am watching "In Treatment".

TSUNAMI!

Super Duper Tsunami Tuesday is upon us and in the spirit of KB's College Pick'Em, I present to you the...

OVERUNDULATING FEVER SUPER DUPER TSUNAMI TUESDAY PICK'EM 2008

Please pick one candidate from each of the Democratic and Republican parties (as applicable; some states are only holding a primary/caucus for one party) for the following states:

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho (Democratic Party Only)
Illinois
Kansas (Democratic Party Only)
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
New Jersey
New Mexico (Democratic Party Only)
New York
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Utah
West Virginia (Republican Party Only)

Candidates are as follows:

REPUBLICANS
Mitt Romney
Mike Huckabee
Ron Paul
Rudy Giuliani
John McCain

DEMOCRATS
Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
Dennis Kucinich
Mike Gravel

Remember, don't necessarily vote for whom you want to win, but rather for whom you think will take these states on February 5th.

Each correct pick will earn 1 point. The person with the most points on February 6th will receive two dozen cookies of your choice (my usual prize, yes?) baked by moi. (Sent via FedEx for those of you outside the NYC area!)

Picks must be submitted via email by Monday, February 4th at 12:00 (that's noon-time, folks) PM ET.

GOOD LUCK!

the after-school special

It's been that kind of day.



Great in '08.



Thank you, AB.

slusho

I spent Friday night with the "Cloverfield" monster and a karaoke machine, Saturday night on a barstool with K, Sunday night jumping around in a circle thanks to the G-Men, and Monday recovering while watching that nasty debate.

I also ran 6 miles this weekend.

Yay.

#

I made a $100 bet that I could lose 10 pounds by my birthday. Please be very encouraging.

If I win, I am 10 pounds lighter (but not $100 richer).
If I lose, I am $100 poorer and a terrible failure.

Let the games begin.

(PS: Emma, I made this bet an hour before listening to my saved copy of the Talk of the Nation podcast where it was discussed. Must be in the collective unconscious right now!)

look

Ran this weekend 'round the park. Twice. Listened to many a podcast on the elections. Watched the politico shows. Watched "The Wire". Met up with Josh, Tom, and Hilary at R&B to see the Giants beat the Cowboys. Drank a Bloody Mary. Baked a pina colada cake. Made vegan jambalaya. Read the Times, now that I am a weekend subscriber, while drinking strong coffee on my couch. Re-watched "BSG" episodes.

Crossed my fingers. Made some progress. Put it out there.

Lyndia says, "Let's eliminate negative thinking."

47 days until 30 is up.

the architect

Why is Karl Rove being so sympathetic to Hillary Clinton? Calling her "appealing", acknowledging her "powerful moments", and admitting that her playful responses at the New Hampshire primary "couldn't help but [make one] smile"?

Why is Karl Rove harshly criticizing Barack Obama? Calling him "lazy" and accusing him of "saying one thing and doing another"?

Has Karl Rove found a soft spot in his hardened heart for Hillary? I mean, even his BFF admits that he thinks she'll scoop up the nomination.

Those Republicans -- they really believe in Hillary?

Not likely.

Call it sexist if you will, but the GOP needs Hillary to be the candidate.

girl girl girl

Have you noticed that the introduction to the Milli Vanilli gem "Girl You Know It's True" sounds something like this?

Sexy female voice: "So, what are you doing back?"

Not Rob or Fab: "Well. I. Sat. Back. And. Thought. About. The. Days. We. Used. To. Do. It. Really. Means. A. Lot. To. Me. You. Mean. A. Lot. To. Me."

Sexy female voice: "I really mean that much to you?"

Not Rob or Fab: "Girl. You. Know. It's. True."

Well, you've convinced me.

between two ferns

(Thanks, Scarny.)

yes, we can

Last night, T.Rich and I had a nice Thai dinner, discussed our Career Advancement Plan, and then headed to the Riviera for a returns-watching party.

Hillary upset Barack, yes. Onto Nevada.

I must say, it was a joy to be back in that sort of environment, the room buzzing with excitement and hope and determination. I hadn't been a part of something similar since watching the 2004 debates at Manuel's Tavern in Atlanta.

After the networks projected McCain as the winner and we had each finished one glass of the house red wine, we agreed to go our separate ways. I would finish up the night on my couch, flipping between MSNBC and CNN, diligently working on my knitting.

(Oh, and before heading to the train, we stopped by a palm reader. She was closed for the night. Next time.)

After a lot of back-and-forth over the last couple of months, I have finally – on this, New Hampshire Primary Day -- decided upon a candidate.

Some of you may be surprised that I'm not supporting Hillary, as I volunteered briefly on her senatorial reelection campaign, attended a fundraiser, and fully supported her husband (even volunteering on the 1992 campaign when my Republican parents had to drive me to the HQ). I believe in a lot of what she stands for ideologically, but I worry about her electablity: I feel she is far too polarizing of a candidate to win in the general election. Many Republicans are so fed up with the Bush administration that they are willing to cross party lines -- for anyone but Hillary.

Some of you may be surprised that I'm not supporting Edwards, as he was who I had predicted would win the nomination months ago. (One, unfortunately, can never underestimate the power of racism and sexism, even within the Democratic Party.) I voted for Edwards in the 2004 primary and supported his run for VP. My friend, Susie, has been working on his campaign doing advance work in New Hampshire for many months now. She believes in him, and I do, too; I think he's completely believable as a populist candidate, looking out for the working class, $400 haircut and all. After his relative failure in Iowa, however, I think it’s time to wake up and smell the future.



Obama.

The man embodies change. It has been said before, but he’s Kennedy-esque, no doubt about it. (In fact, he’s been described as JFK-meets-MLK – not too shabby of a hybrid.) When I re-watch his speech at the DNC in ’04, I still get chills. I remember that night, and I remember that speech, and I remember having that reaction at the time.

The man is special.

The man is inspirational.

Tonight, I’ll be attending a party to watch the returns in the West Village. I think New Hampshire voters are going to go with Obama and I think it’s the right move.

candidates

84% Hillary Clinton
84% Chris Dodd
84% Barack Obama
83% John Edwards
79% Mike Gravel
78% Dennis Kucinich
75% Joe Biden
74% Bill Richardson
47% Rudy Giuliani
37% John McCain
27% Mike Huckabee
27% Mitt Romney
27% Tom Tancredo
20% Ron Paul
16% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

grand old party

7:19: Giuliani doesn't believe that our foreign policy instigates Islamic terrorism.

7:30: Huckabee says, "I'm not running for George Bush's third term." I'll agree he's a likable guy, even though I think he's nutty on the issues. On Leno last week, he argued that most Americans would rather have a president who looks like someone they work with (himself), rather than one who looks like the guy who laid them off (Romney). Clever. It got a laugh.

8:08: Romney doesn't believe that illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country. Where do the American-born children of illegal immigrants go?

8:12: McCain and Romney are getting into it. It's rather annoying. I haven't heard from Huckabee in a while.

8:16: Now we're parsing what amnesty really means.

8:19: Honestly, I still don't buy that Thompson really wants to be president. I'm surprised he's still in the race. I would have thought that the day after Iowa, he would have awoken and remarked, with that whistle-ly voice, "Well, shucks. Looks like I didn't win. Okay, no more of that!" and moved on.

8:22: Ron Paul is a funny guy. I don't think any of the other candidates take him seriously. McCain just shot him a look of complete confusion. I think Ron Paul is the Dennis Kucinich of the Republicans.

8:28: Ah, a question about Obama. Since the campaign's infancy, the candidates assumed Clinton would be the nominee, and most pundits assumed they hoped she would be. So, Charlie's question is: Why should America vote for a Republican over Obama? (The question the candidates are thinking actually is: Is it easier to beat a woman or an African-American?)

8:27: McCain is taking pot-shots at Romney again. Yes, Romney is a threat, but honestly? This strategy isn't effective. It sounds like little boys on the playground. McCain is so pleased with himself. I thought he was doing quite well in New Hampshire polls, but now he's acting like he's got nothing to lose.

8:31: Huckabee gives props to Obama and recognizes his threat.

8:35: Listen, I don't agree with him on the issues, but Romney just looks presidential. I'll admit it: I find him attractive. Shoot me. I was telling Josh and Paul last night that I also have this unfortunate crush on Tucker Carlson. Sheesh.

8:41: Republican debate is over. Charlie is talking all about unity and bringing all of the candidates onto the stage now. Hillary and Giuliani are talking and I'd love to hear what snarky remarks they're exchanging, both with smiles plastered on their faces. I like that Charlie did this. Obama and Romney are chatting, too. Hill is laughing. Edwards and Huckabee look like they are about to smooch. The audience is still clapping, though growing tired.

8:50: The pundits are saying that John McCain had a great night. I'm not sure we were watching the same debate.

No more live-blogging. Settling in for the Democratic debate -- the one to which I really must pay attention.

electability

me: did you see that obama won?

Jason: i heard, didnt even know it was going on

me: welcome to america, son!

Jason: what did he win? a prize?

me: ?!
are you serious?

Jason: he won to be da prezidant?
iowa?
primarys?

me: dude, you gotta read a newspaper!
he won the iowa caucus.
and huckabee won for the republicans.

Jason: so what does that mean?
hilary aint running?

me: hillary came in THIRD.

Jason: so she cant run?

me: no, she can run -- it's just that iowa and new hampshire are big b/c if you win those, you have more momentum in the other primaries.
obama will raise more money now.
makes him a more viable candidate.

Jason: snoozefest. wake me up when the real deal is happening

me: also, people who thought he couldn't win and were gonna go with another candidate may change their minds now.
THIS IS AWESOME. THIS IS DEMOCRACY IN ACTION!
this isn't the super bowl, yo!

Jason: so snoozefest. let me know who our next president is. i've lost faith in democracy

me: i wish there was an emoticon for : eyeroll :

jameson!

Date went well.

But, I woke up on New Year's Day on a pull-out couch, sandwiched between two dudes, so I think it might just be that kind of year.

PS: Hillary must be losing her shit right now.

ce soir

Another top list of 2007.

Does anyone else agree with my assessment of "Juno"?

25

I like this mash-up because, yes, I like some of those songs.

with or without my best intentions

I bought a BlackBerry. I am thrilled with the purchase because I can never be too connected to God and everyone.

I have a date tonight. I want all that stupid old shit, like letters and sodas.

i'd make wine from your tears

2008 began at Porkchop & Colleen's apartment, with a glass of pink Cava in hand, while wearing a party dress and 3" heels. Many kisses and hugs and smiles followed. Was joined in revelry by Scarny, Josh, Paul, Noreen, Tom, Zoe, Hilary, Mindi, Meg, Garett, Carol, AssCobra, and a bunch of people I didn't know.

We cut Josh's dreads off.
We danced to Peter, Bjorn & John.
We watched the sun rise.
We slept four to the bed.
We ate bacon and eggs and lard bread and drank Bloodys in the morning.
We watched "Knocked Up".

I think 2008 will be the year I have a baby.

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.