I'm broke but going skiing anyway, and NO ONE CAN STOP ME.
Why?
1. I'm already overdrawn in one bank account.
2. I don't have enough money in the other bank account to cover the overdraft, so it wouldn't do jack.
3. So I might as well use it to do something fun!
Sigh. At least the money pit is getting shallower. I'm digging myself out, slowly but surely.
Warning: Boring Post.
Newsflash: I PAINTED MY NAILS. Yes, I did. I can't remember the last time I had painted nails--either toe or finger. For those who want to know: the fingernails are clear, the toenails are silver. Gunmetal silver.
Because, you see, I had low-grade food poisoning last night, which prevented me from going to the gym. Note to self: Don't eat B's cafeteria's attempt at Indian food, no matter how hungry you are. Full disclosure: I probably wouldn't have gone to the gym anyway. I had a great day at work, but it involved walking all over the factory--which is the size of NINETY-ONE FOOTBALL FIELDS--and climbing up to planes and back down again and all over the planes, everywhere. I was exhausted. Which was my excuse as to why I spent three hours watching TV, which is in turn what sponsored the nail-painting. Love you, CSI.
Things I want to do that I haven't done in awhile:
1. Climb the wall at REI!
2. Ski! (Happening on Saturday!)
3. Have a dinner party! (Happening on Saturday!)
Things I HAVE done:
1. Sold all my old doll memorabilia!
2. Written a page of my novel!
3. Cleaned my room!
4. Hand-washed all my sweaters! (A waste of time--I could have put them in the washer on Very Gentle.)
5. Gotten my shoes re-heeled!
6. Taken stuff to the dry-cleaners!
7. Started tutoring again!
Things I NEED to do:
1. Finish Organizing Music Collection, Dammit.
2. Wash the dishes.
3. Make stencils for shirts.
*Title is blatantly stolen from a post title of T-Town Girl.
And thank you for writing your requiem, which is so apropos for today, in the middle of so much death.
May Connie Waits, mother of two middle-school girls in my church, see her idea of heaven, and may it have all not been a sham.
And may the childhood friend of CAE's father rest in peace for eternity.
At least a reasonable facsimile of it. Because everyone falls into money pits occassionally, and at least it's not credit card debt, and I'm still way above average in debt anyway, and it'll all get fixed tonight. Who cares if I've given $600 to Key Bank this month.
Moving on. In order to combat this temporary poverty, I am following Kristy's excellent example and blatantly stealing her NJ06 model, otherwise known as No Joy in '06. Except it'll just be No Joy in February, or NJFB.
So! NJFB, here I come!
My soul is a deep dark navy blue. I am so broke, and yet Key Bank keeps withdrawing money. I don't even have energy to fight it. Verizon is screwing me over. I have no energy to fight that. CAE lives very far away from me and I'm tired of that fact. I'm tired of living in Tacoma. I'm tired of him living in Mill Creek. I'm tired of driving up there. I'm tired of waking up in the dark and coming home in the fucking dark! I'm tired of everything! I'm tired of it! Go away, world.
Yeah! Go Seahawks, Go Seahawks, go, go, go Seahawks!
For those of you who are Seattle natives, and care about pro ball (which would be no one who reads this blog) I don't have to explain what a big deal this is. For those of you who aren't Seattle natives or don't care about pro ball, I'll save you the explanation.
So, moving on. I spent most of my day sitting very still in my office chair and trying to stifle my groans. Note to self: walking, for an hour and a half, letting your dog set the pace, when you're still not at 100% health-wise and haven't worked out in a week...is a bad idea. My muscles aren't on fire so much as they're at sort of a dull roar. It's like I've been beaten, hard, by a pillow with a core of lead--not sharp enough to leave bruising, but hard enough to leave deep-tissue aches. And no, I don't really have any idea what that feels like. Thank God.
Obviously the way to counteract this would be to eat the health food I have here--spinach, peppers, and organic mac and cheese--but digesting "real" food just seems like too much work. And so I ate pizza for lunch and have had one mini Mr. Good bar, one mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and one cherry Starburst. And dry cereal. (In other news, can someone tell me while cereal that's really good for you--like Kashi or Smart Start--is so effin' high in calories, and a cereal like Lucky Charms has a calorie content of almost HALF that of Smart Start? Why? Why? Oh, the insanity!)
Moving on, again. Finally the painkiller that I took (god bless you, ibuprofen) kicked in, and now I have some semblance of a sense of humor. I missed it while it was gone. Welcome back, humor.
In other news, everyone really needs to read this: 'Tis the Season to Be Sickly. Note to CAE: walking in the rain does NOT cause colds!
Also in today's news, I said "Foucault's Pendulum" when I meant to say "Occam's Razor". Whoops.
And finally, it will be the best Superbowl ever (at least for me) because PITTSBURGH is playing the HAWKS! (It would be helpful to know for everyone that I went to Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh for college. Nonetheless, there's no doubt who I'm rooting for. The Steelers have been to the 'Bowl already. Seattle is the underdog, and Seattle will WIN, WIN WIN.
So, a long time ago (about three paychecks ago, maybe four) I thought I had a lot of money in the bank. A LOT of money, I thought. And it was about to be Christmas. So I bought a lot of stuff. And fell off the Starbucks wagon. In a big way. (Can we say a ten dollar PER DIEM Starbucks habit? Yes, we can. Um. Assuming I can even pay for the use of my own vocal cords anymore. And assuming we know that Per Diem is Latin for per day. And by "we" I mean "you".)
So, about two paychecks ago, I became overdrawn at the bank. Which happened because even though my roommate kindly wrote me a check for his half of the rent, ON TIME, I FORGOT TO DEPOSIT IT. Did you read that correctly? I FORGOT TO DEPOSIT IT.
So, that check did not make it into my account, yet I continued to spend as if it had. The day before I'm about to LEAVE for WHISTLER, my MOTHER calls me and says,
"Did you know you're overdrawn at the bank?"
Can we all let that sink in for a second? That my MOTHER knew that I was overdrawn before I did? And how did she know? Why, she was talking to my father, who happens to be a cosigner on my account, and he was looking at his accounts online, and mine happens to show up because it's an account he's on, after all. I also imagine that besides telling my mother, my father called HIS mother, who probably called her sister, and her sister probably called five other church ladies, who probably eventually told Former Boss, who probably told his friend, the editor of The Tacoma News Tribune, and I fully expect the fact that I was overdrawn to be front page news anytime.
Moving on. So, because Key Bank is the devil, they charged me a lot for being overdrawn. Like, about 160 dollars. Out of money that I already didn't have. So the day I'm supposed to leave for Whistler (one of the cheapest vacation spots in the world, ha ha!) I'm running around from bank to bank with two people that I DON'T know from Adam in my car, treating them to a first-hand view of how badly I manage money.
But no, it's not over. Not by a long shot.
I cash Roommate's check into Key Bank, mentally cursing them for raping me with overdraft charges, and run over to BECU, at which is my "savings" (HAHA!) account, and withdraw $200, CAD. In preparation for Whistler. I'm thinking, it'll be tight, but I can make it! Yay!
AND THEN I FORGET MY SKI PANTS. Yes. Really. And I totally forget that you can rent ski pants, so I run out and spend $100 CAD on ski pants, trusting my $100 CAD to get me through three days of skiing and parting at Whistler.
Ha. Did I mention I now owe a bunch of strangers some money? Yes. The people who I went on the ski trip with floated me money.
But no, the pain is not over yet. Perhaps now would be the time to mention that I got a call way back in JULY with an offer to add unlimited text-and-picture messaging to my Verizon account for the low, low price of $5.00. At the time, I thought: well, I don't use text messaging OR picture messaging that much, I'll just keep it to a reasonable amount.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! God, I crack myself up.
Because then I started dating CAE, who LOVES to text message, not to mention that we spent all of the holidays away from each other. In loud bars. Where speaking, or hearing, wasn't really possible. So, we texted. A lot.
And then (yes, there's several more "and thens") I forgot to pay my phone bill and got a late charge! So I come back from Whistler, completely broke and owing people money, and I get a phone bill for $221.89. I just about cried.
Did I mention, also, that my insurance check bounced as well, giving me a ton more late charges, and that my phone bill bounced too? Did I mention that up to now, I've given freely of my own accord TWO HUNDRED FORTY FUCKING DOLLARS to Key Bank? Did I mention that? And spent easily $60 on phone bills that were completely unnecessary? Did I mention I just got a letter from my no-good cut-rate insurance company that seems to be the only one who will insure me because of my expensive driving record that states, verbatim, "due to the above referenced-loss the amount of property damage may exceed the liability coverage available to you under the above-referenced policy"? And that maybe turning tricks on the corner for quick cash is beginning to look completely appealing? And that I'm seriously considering selling my body to science? Hey, four weekends and ten day-time appointments = $1800 in my book.
We can all welcome CAE (Chicago Aerospace Engineer) to this blog, because he has the address and may read it.
Hi, honey!
MY HAIR IS SHORT! WOO! Pictures are coming!
In other news, I'm super sick. My head feels stuffed with cotton, I haven't gotten anything done at work because I can't think, all the people I see annoy me, etc. Good times.
Blech.
Two posts in one day! Who'da thunk? Okay, so this is copied straight off the internet. I still found it hysterical.
25 Signs That You Are Grown Up:
1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can't smoke any of them.
2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.
3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.
4. 6:00 AM is when you get up, not when you go to bed.
5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.
6. You watch the Weather Channel.
7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of "hook up" and "break up."
8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.
9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as "dressed up."
10. You're the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door
won't turn down the stereo.
11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.
12. You don't know what time Taco Bell closes anymore.
13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.
14. You feed your dog Science Diet instead of McDonald's leftovers.
15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
16. You take naps.
17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of
one.
18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at 3 AM would severely upset,
rather than settle, your stomach.
19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and
pregnancy tests.
20. A $4.00 bottle of wine is no longer "pretty good stuff."
21.You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
22. "I just can't drink the way I used to" replaces "I'm never going to
drink that much again."
23. 90% of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.
24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.
25. When you find out your friend is pregnant, you congratulate them
instead of asking, "Oh S*$#, what the hell happened?"
Bonus: 26: You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign
that doesn't apply to you and can't find one to save your sorry old
butt.
I would like to be able to say that I cut my hair off yesterday...
But I can't. Because I didn't.
Although, in spite of the title of this post, it was NOT because I chickened out! Really!
I was stuck in meetings all day. Scout's Honor. On the plus side, the meetings went AWESOME and my new lead APPRECIATES me! People listen to what I have to say! I'm INCLUDED on email chains! My lead COMPLIMENTS me on my work!
It's sad that I'm excited about being treated well at work for the first time ever.
But it's important! This is the last time for awhile I'll get to be Lady Godiva.
My long, wet hair. (Click for actual pic.)
Because it's all coming off for Locks of Love on Thursday at NOON! That's TOMORROW!
And yes, there will be before and after pictures. Duh.
Also, B----- peeps continue to get out of control, the weather outside is frightful, and when I called Bank of America to investigate their Loan Consolidation offer, the guy I got helping me out was this STUD named Patrick from Virginia, just a month older than me.
Actually, I have no idea what he looks like, but he was so hot and funny on the phone! I had no idea that consolidating my loans would be that enjoyable!
Think that's strange? I've gotten picked up in hospitals, by police officers patrolling clubs, and while walking four blocks between a Metro Stop and a bar in Foggy Bottom in DC (shoutout to THE SCHARDT!) among other places.
What does that mean? Am I building muscle?
I mean, for Chrissake, I went skiing and dancing for four days in Whistler!
And yes, to say I had a good time would be an understatement. Whistler is really paradise. 
Cheers!
Other, extremely boring news:
1. I couldn't find a swimsuit at Nordstrom that was a) cute, and b) not 130 dollars.
2. I realized that even with my $50 Nordstrom gift card, I wouldn't be able to afford anything AND eat in Whistler. (Unless the entire swimsuit was less than $50.)
3. They have really great sheet sets on Overstock.com that I can't buy, either, even though I really need new sheets.
4. Following the above rationale, I can't afford an old team suit at NW Swim Shop either. I will just wear the bikini I already have with the stained crotch and take what comes.
5. At least my legs will be shaved.
6. I cannot make CAE pay enough attention to me.
7. Of course, I'm in a mood in which "enough attention" would be physically covering me, 24-7.
8. Really. I just want to be held. I've realized, while talking to him on IM today, that I don't really have anything to say.
9. And there's nothing wrong with the relationship. I just want to be covered in CAE. Not in a sick way. Just in a smothering kind of way.
10. Why is it that when you really need to be entertained, no one will entertain you?
Good things about today!
1. Yesterday I spent all day at my desk just ACHING for the gym. Could not wait to get to that gym. That was odd, but great.
2. Today, too, I can't wait to get home and maybe go for a run before Hip Hop Anonymous. (HHA) (CAE came up with that and I love it.)
3. Actually Did Stuff at work. (still on a path toward World Domination)
4. Had a great lunch with other new-hire friends. Funny and wonderful.
5. Last day of work for the week! WOO!
6. Leaving for Whistler for THREE AND A HALF DAYS, TOMORROW!
7. Picking my one of my BEST friends and partners in crime up tonight at the airport!
8. Going to Karaoke!
And an observation: in the New World Order, there will be no meetings. Ever.
a. If two people need to talk, they can talk on the phone. (Cell, of course.) So that they can be anywhere. Like, a Starbucks.
b. If three or more people need to talk, they can get a conference call through a central operator. And still be on cell phones. Shopping, or walking along downtown.
c. If a face-to-face event is required, there will be NO SITTING. And discussions will last no longer than 15 minutes without a break.
ARGH.
February 11, 2005
So, I'm dating these two guys, named B and D. I know. Recipe for disaster, right? The worst thing is, their names on my Caller ID look almost EXACTLY alike—I really have to look closely when either one calls, and now I'm so paranoid about it that I have to look three or four times to check and re-check, and I still forget by the time I pick up the phone. Fortunately, their voices sound different—D's got the typical West Coast quick-quick-slow pattern, whereas B is from Cleveland and is a bit more nasal, almost Pittsburgh-type in sound. But it's hard to tell that from a simple "Hello".
Moving on. B's supposed to call me at 11:30 today, so I step outside for a walk at about this time. While waiting, I call mom. She's on lunch break too, and we both have so much to say to each other that we immediately start to chatter full speed ahead, often talking over each other trying to get the words out in time. We're still in full flow twenty minutes later when someone beeps in. I look at the phone, expecting it to be B, and it's D. Or is it? I double check. Nope, still says D. I interrupt my mom in the middle of a life-changing realization and say I'll call her back. I look at the phone again. Still says D.
Me, purring: "Hi." (I figure I can't go wrong either way with this.)
Then I get the shock of my life: the guy who says "Hello" back sounds incredibly nasal. I'm terrified. My phone said "D"! How can it be B? But it does sound like D, somewhat, but really: he's so nasal! A dozen possibilities flash through my head: have they merged into one person? Have they discovered each other's existence and is one of them calling to fuck with me? What if they traded phones to bring me to my doom? Is my phone fucking with me out of revenge for being dropped in the dog’s water dish?
Fortunately, because I'm dating both these guys, a lot of my conversation is transferable, and nervousness has made me more hyper than usual. I chatter about the gorgeous day and what I'm doing right then, which is walking along the banks of the Duwamish River. Even more confusing, D (if it IS D) is in full business mode, asking me about B----- and so on, which is more of a B thing to do. Finally, my head is spinning like a top in full Exorcist mode when the guy on the other end (whom I've barely been listening to) says, "...blah blah blah Local Tacoma Restaurant blah blah..." and I'm saved. It IS D! Hallelujah! I settle down and begin to pepper my conversation with terms of endearment. After all, I am sleeping with him and calling him my boyfriend—he and I have a different relationship than me and B. D and I are in the middle of exchanging dirty suggestions when my phone beeps again.
You guessed it. It's B, calling half an hour late.
Me: "Oh, hang on sexy, it's my Mom." *beep*
D: "Sure, go ahead."
Me (praying that I have actually switched over lines): "Hiiiiiiiii," purred.
B (very nasal and Cleveland): "Hi! Blah blah blah I hurt my foot on my run this morning and might have to get it operated on!"
Me: "Oh no, hon! Tell me all about it!"
B: "Blah blah blah blah blah remember our date tonight blah blah blah!"
Me (several minutes later when I remember that I'm still on the phone with D): "Oh, hon, I have to go! I got so caught up in talking to you that I forgot I was on the phone with my mom! Can I call you back at 2:30?"
B: "Sure!"
Me (clicking over again, praying equally hard): "Geez, my mom! Talk talk talk!"
D: (laughs) "So, My Friend blah blah blah what are you doing on your night as a free woman blah blah?"
(aka the night I already told D I wouldn't be free because I'm going out with B, but told D I was going out the The Girlz.)
Me (inventing frantically and stalling, but trying to make it sound like I'm just drawing out the revelation): "Weeeeeeelllll...Co-Waitress and I have been in some talks...blah blah blah no actual plans yet blah blah probably come home early anyway blah blah total bullshit blah blah blah!"
D: "Sounds great!"
Me: (silently) Thank you, Goddess of Courtesans.
First, I Resolve To Do These Things Better!
1. I resolve to, henceforth, not like Unworthy Boys! I resolve to spend more time with Slightly Nerdy and Secretly HOT Boys! So far, dating CAE, I'm doing well at this.
2. I resolve to Finish My Christmas Cards. (Hopefully, this will happen very soon.)
3. I resolve to Clean The House Weekly. Now that I'm on vacation, I cleaned the house on Tuesday, and you know what? It's not that hard and it doesn't take that long. Seriously.
4. I resolve to finish cataloguing and organizing my mp3 collection.
5. I resolve to Do More Laundry. So far, I'm actually doing pretty good at this. (My usual routine is about once a month. And that's just gross.) (Note: I resolved to this last year.)
6. I resolve to wash my face TWICE A DAY. Yes, I have to resolve this.
7. I resolve to take two classes: A language class and Dale Carnegie's How To Win Friends and Influence People.
8. Also, I resolve to take one business-related short class every quarter. Composites, DER Training, SOMETHING.
9. Along with the above, I also resolve to Love My Job More.
10. I also resolve to get involved in the Big Sister Program. Tacompton T, want to buddy up?
11. I resolve to get less involved in church. Yes, really. I feel like a hypocrite while there. Or get more involved and just give into the brainwashing. Could go either way.
12. I resolve to walk Titan more. At least five walks/runs a week. (Okay, I'm a terrible dog owner, okay? And yes, I resolved this last year, too.)
13. I resolve to drink Apple Cider Vinegar, Detox Tea, and eight glasses of water EVERY DAY. (Sigh. You guessed it: I resolved this last year, too.)
14. Is 13 an unlucky number? Not anymore!
And, Things I DID Do in 2005:
1. Resolved to lose weight--and did so! Woo!
2. Resolved to hit the gym more--and I did!
3. Resolved to drink less Starbucks--and I did!
Hope all of you are just as full of new plans!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It's the end of 2005. It's been a long year. I have moved three times, changed roommates four times, and changed boyfriends at least twice. I have done great things, and I have done things I regret. That's right, you heard me! I regret stuff!
Fuck all of you who say you have no regrets. That's idiotically optimistic, completely untrue, and worst of all, it smacks of revisionist history. Terribly illogical. Of COURSE you regret stuff. Everyone does. Yes, you may have learned from it, and yes, that lesson may have value...but does it really combat the overarching shame resulting from doing That Thing You Regret? Couldn't you have learned that lesson in some easier manner?
Yes, you could have. So in the spirit of The Stranger, I present:
We Regret These Errors.
1. I regret dating a man who has so few social skills that, when I see him in a bar, and I go up and politely ask how he's doing, his answer is..."Uh....go away."
2. Yes. In fact, I regret the entire encounter with Hardware Engineer and would like to take this opportunity to mention that he's NOT an engineer, he's a social doofus who never graduated from high school. Thank you.
3. I do not regret in entirety all of the boys I met while living with T-Town Girl. Nor is she to be blamed for any of my actions. In fact, all of the attention I got that year was extremely good. What I regret is my general behavior during daylight hours. Could I have BEEN any more needy or delusional? No, I couldn't have been. I regret that.
4. I regret being so infatuated with CAE that, when he asked me to give up 1) other men, and 2) smoking, I agreed, because frankly I would have said anything to keep the making out going.
5. Not that I regret dating CAE--far from it. I regret not asking him to give up some bad habits of his own while in the conversation.
6. Because every time I turn down a cute boy, I really, really regret it, and then I want a cigarette, which I can't have. UGH.
7. I regret ever trying to live in West Seattle. Really, what was I thinking?
8. I do not regret every minute I spent on the beaches in West Seattle with Titan, even though it was totally illegal.
9. I regret thinking, two years ago, that all mp3 players were pretty much the same and I could get any brand that I wanted. Because although I now have an iPod and don't feel behind the times anymore, I still regret being that stupid about the future of iPod.
10. I regret not owning stock. Even though I have told people that I do.
11. I do NOT regret gaining weight. Because it makes losing it all that much more sweet.
12. At the same time, I do not regret this pint of Ben & Jerry's I am downing right now.
13. I regret being such a huge bitch about T-Town's relationship with Boyfriend. (Hers, not mine.) I was wrong, all year. And I'm sorry.
14. I do NOT regret not breaking up with Ex-TheBoy when the time was right, and instead sticking it out until the bitter end. I learned a lot. That is, in this case, entirely worth the heartache I paid for it.
15. At the same time, I regret not dating CAE earlier. Again, what WAS I thinking?
16. I do NOT regret meeting kt in Real Life. Because she's totally AWESOME! And her brother is too! (Hi, C!)
17. Back to boys: I regret not inviting Houseguest to Seattle earlier. I mean, seriously.
18. Also I regret not living closer to Houseguest. Like, in L.A.
19. Speaking of worthy boys, I completely regret liking unworthy boys, included but not limited to: Messed-Up Wannabe Artist and Pothead.
22. In fact, I regret not spending enough time, attention, or favors on Slightly Nerdy But Totally Worth It Boys. They really deserve it.
23. I reget being such a Tacompton Girl that when I go to a bar with friends, and one of their boyfriends goes from Normal to Whacked Out in 60 seconds, and tries to start shit with 20 Federal Rangers, I'm not surprised.
24. In addition, I regret that Tacoma is such a dirty, lawless, and dangerous city.
25. I regret that certain Tacoma natives are trying to deny this. It is what it is! You can't change the facts!
26. However, I do NOT regret that I'm comfortable here! Yeah, peeps! Reprazent!
27. So, clearly, I do not regret moving back here from college. But if I'm still here in a year, and I don't have a good reason, I WILL regret that.
29. I regret that I have to cut off my hair in a very short time. I hope I will not regret the actual act.
30. I regret ever seeing the Fantastic Four. Or Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
31. I regret not taking Titan on more walks.
32. I regret continually taking my mother's and grandmother's bait.
33. It's hard not to.
34. Occasionally, I regret being such an egotistical, paranoid meglomaniac. But not often.
35. I regret that I don't regret being an egotistical, paranoid meglomaniac MORE often.
36. I regret that I did not love my job more. My job is awesome and deserves to be loved. (Actually, I have a cakewalk of a job that I generally love and pays me a ridiculous amount. I should be worshipping my job.)
37. I regret that I haven't traveled more...
38. ...especially to meet all you IIFs! Have a great New Year's and, in 2006, I hope that you don't regret a thing!
Things I HAVE done since the last post:
1. Sent out 25 Christmas cards.
2. Gone skiing.
3. Talked to kt on the phone. And made plans to hang out! She's in Tacoma!
4. Finished re-organizing bookshelf. Woo!
5. Had a great conversation with CAE.
6. Worked 35 hours in three days.
Things I have NOT done:
Called Houseguest.
2. Done laundry. Clarification: I did a load of dark--sheets, underwear, workout clothes. They never got put away. They are still in a pile on my bed. Yes: the sheets that need to go ON my bed are in a clean (and getting dirtier by the second--thank you, dog hair) pile ON TOP OF my bed. I'm sleeping on my mattress pad with no covers on my pillows.
3. Cleaned the house.
4. Burned any Christmas CDs. This is, for obvious reasons, now off the list.
5. Done anything, Ebay or otherwise, with any old toys whatsoever.
Woo! Vacation! That is all.
I'm still here. I'm just busy as hell. It's the holiday season. Y'all know.
Things I have been doing:
1. Running. Twice, now, in the last week!
2. Arguing with CAE. We had a very heated debate about things (about us, and about Life Issues) during which my phone may have accidentally hung up on him. And then we talked a little more, and then we were better. Isn't it a little early in the relationship to be fighting? Probably. But at least we're passionate. We are just really, really different.
3. Working a lot.
4. Receiving a battery-operated toy. Yes, from kiwi. When I get time to properly try it out, you may never hear from me again.
Things I Have NOT Done:
1. Sent out a single Christmas card. Or put addresses on more than 12 out of 50. Or picked up the prints of Titan that I want to include with them.
2. Cleaned my house.
3. Done laundry.
4. Finished re-organizing my bookshelf. I started this project Sunday, put books all over the floor, gave up, and left them there. I'm hoping they might antique and gain value. (Note: this project was initialized by receiving an absolutely lovely birthday present from Houseguest, that I wanted to properly display. So I thought I'd reorganize. And then...right. Note to Houseguest: your present is in a safe place. NOT on the floor.)
5. Burned any Christmas CDs.
6. Called Houseguest on his birthday. Or yet at all.
7. Put old toys up for auction on Ebay.
8. Boxed up the rest of the old toys to give away for Christmas NEXT year.
Sigh.
That's right, folks! The big 2-5! I'm a Quarter-Century old, TODAY!
And did you know that John Lennon was shot twenty-five years and six days ago? Just to make that more clear:
Dec. 8th, 1980: John Lennon is shot
Dec. 14th, 1980: Aarwenn is born.
I was pointing this out to Houseguest in L.A. last night, and he said, over the roar of the laundromat where he was doing his laundry,
"So, you're saying that you're the reincarnation of John Lennon?"
Duh. No wonder I'm a demanding, egotistical person. I was born to be a star!
Other big things in December:
Dec. 7th, 1941: Pearl Harbor is bombed.
Dec. 14th, 1981: My friend Amy is born. (That's right, we share a birthday.)
Dec. 14th, 2004: My friend Aaron gets married. The funny thing is that he and I had a thing, and he also dated Amy. So, smart readers will notice that he managed to make his anniversary The Same Day as TWO of his ex girlfriend's birthdays. That's an overachiever for you.
Dec. 18th, 197X: Houseguest is born! (That's right, our birthdays are that close.)
And many other wonderful people were born in December, like my lead engineer here at B-----, Hardware Engineer's Sister, my friend Kathleen, who just got married, and Patty Duke, just to name a few.
More birthday stuff:
Sagittarius:Your independence may be compromised when a parent or other loved one needs your assistance during an illness or while recovering from an injury. This means putting your own plans on hold, especially when travel is involved. This is a time for you to express unspoken love and gratitude.
Lucky Number: 560
Financial Outlook: excellent
Compatible Sign: Leo
Hmmmmmmmm...
And this one:
TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (December 14). You belong. This year, the stars remind you often that your contributions matter -- you're vital in the lives of others. Next month, you are able to shift your work in a more fulfilling direction. A longstanding family issue is settled next month to the best possible end. Virgo and Cancer share completely with you, bringing you joy and laughter. Your lucky numbers are: 50, 3, 22, 12 and 35.
(Note: this is surprisingly accurate regarding work.)
And another:
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Projects seem stale. Relationships need new energy. You can't see the charm in staying put. Long ago you started running, and you're running still.
This is also surprisingly accurate, which is why the news that I'm being moved to a new project here at B----- was so great to hear.
And finally, an new motto for life, and one that eerily echoes my last horoscope:
Keep your walking shoes on.
I went for a pre-birthday run last night, and it was really glorious. Cold and foggy, but not windy. Titan and I trotted and breathed for four miles, and I arrived home feeling euphoric, almost high. I also got to think about a lot of things, with just he and I pounding the pavement, like: CAE, and how different we are, and how his Ex is still so prominent in his life, and what I think about that, and how I second guess myself and try to please others, even when I shouldn't, and how there's still so much I want to do and try before I settle down, and how I want to get more into art, and, and...
And so I came up with the motto:
Keep your walking shoes on.
