speaking of schadenfreude - ITS NOT JUST ME

the boss sent these photos from the boston globe around the office today to make me feel a little better for face planting the other day.
Apparently the guy taking the photos was a journalist for the globe and had just fallen in the exact same spot and managed to catch the next poor clod taking a digger too.

my favorite part is that hes got a death grip on that dunkin the whooole waaayyy dowwwwn.
mans got his priorities straight.

schadenfreude

i saw this and laughed and laughed then felt bad for laughing and then decided that the kitten was ultimately okay so it was thus ultimately okay to keep on laughing

Although I seem to resembling a hermit more and more as of late (seems all the fun and random confrontations are on that other coast but at least we have the sun and warmth), there has been some progress in life.

just felt like sharing some happy.

This is especially for you J:

Last night I made 7 Dozen + cookies. And things one should avoid

I just made over 7 dozen cookies.  AND I did not eat a single baked cookie. Instead while I waited for my frozen dinner to thaw/toast in the the over before I even started baking I ate so much raw cookie dough.

and I started this darn post yesterday but my internet kept cutting out.  It was very unfortunate. Now during my afternoon off that i normally go to the ceramics studio I instead went home to eat and work and hide from the blizzard happening outside.  and this happening has made me want to create a list of things one should avoid.

1. Blizzards: they suck. You shovel more snow than one could imagine. it blows.  then you walk around and there is tons of snow coming down at you in every direction and your socks get wet b/c if you are me you refuse to get snow shoes. So moral: stay away from blizzards

2. Tubs of cookie dough: they are very helpful when you need to make tons of cookies, but unless you have the sell control of i don't even know who you will undoubtably eat by far more raw cookie dough than actual baked cookies.  I haven't gotten sick yet, but i still have a ton of cookie dough.

3. Late evening work with undergrads: You are old.  The second you got your diploma your ability to stay up late and hang out and yeah all of that.  or maybe that is just me.  I took a HARD nap this afternoon.  Like i woke up feeling like i had slept for an eternity and wasn't sure what day/what time/who i was.  

AND not cut to 24 hours from when i originally started this post, I am in the back room of a frat as my event goes on in the living room.  it is packed in there, but maybe 5 people realize this was an arts ambassadors event.  they all think this frat is just so generous with cookies. but i have tons of pictures of a packed house so maybe that's a good thing?

ok back to mingling and talk soon!

Maybe I should reconsider

this whole art history and museum path that I somehow seemed to be determined to make

utterly deflating for future prospects

an absolute shocker and reflective of this whole current mess

It's 2:40am and time for more tennis! Jelena Dokic vs Dinara Safina playing for a spot in the semifinals!

And Serena made it through that match the other day . . . only because her opponent nearly fainted on-court from a stomach flu. As terrible as it was, there was no other way that Serena would have won.

And Andy Roddick is into the semifinals with a "win" over Novak Djokovic. The air quotes because Djokovic retired due to heat fatigue. At its highest, on-court temperature was 146 F!

how could i forget to mention this? GREAT NEWS

I'll be heading to New York in two weeks for an interview at Bard Graduate Center! Woo, progress and purpose two things severely missing from my life right now.

fights with frat boys, falling flat and finally free of nostalgia-nausea

saturday evening after barely surviving my first and maybe last boxing session, i dusted myself off like a not-so-champy champ and headed to hanover to visit people i miss and congratulate my coach on getting engaged (YEAH):

there were three notable events:

1. J and i were exiting the HOP after a late night visit to the jewelry studio (following delicious hot chocs with baileys at canoe club) and we noticed a pack of large animal-house-style frat boys across the street heading from AD-land to TDX-land. There was much hooting and hollering and J and i were both agreeing there are some parts of Dartmouth we dont miss, when all of a sudden we hear *THUNK*
J: Did they just kick that car?
D: I think they just kicked that fucking car.
J: Are they about to kick another car?
*THUNK* "WOOOOOOOO! YEAHHHHHH"
D: I believe they just kicked another fucking car.
J: Dont tell me they're going to kick aNOTH--
*THUNK-THUNK* WOOOOOOOOOYEAHHHHHHHOLLLAA
D: Those assholes are kicking every fucking car on this street...and MY car is parked on this street.
J: oh hell no.
D: hellllll yes.
and by the time J and I sped walked up to this pack of apes they had encircled poor barbara (that would be my car) and without shame were winding up to nail her in her tender body when from behind them in flew:
J: EH! EH! EH! EH! EH! and D: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKIN MINDS?!
what followed involved an exchange of such foul language that even I dont feel comfortable transcribing it but suffice it to say that J heard "mother" out of my mouth so many times she got confused and asked me later if it really was my mother's car. she'd missed a word.
In my four years at dartmouth i have never encountered such non-sensical vandalism.
As J said later, they're damn lucky she didnt have her stick with her at the time.

2: J and i decided the next day to go skating on occum pond. i believe we spent more time trying to get J's feet into the skates then we did on the ice. in fact, im sure of that. which alone is funny. but the best moment of that event was our attempt to get FROM the rental area TO the pond which was far and away the most treacherous portion of the journey and at one point J was floundering face down on the snow and I, bracing one hand on a wall managed to reach down and grab her by the BELT and pull her to her feet. that was a winning moment.

3. For a number of reasons i've been back to campus at least four times since graduating. i never thought id be one of those alums who i made fun of for not being able to leave the dartmouth womb, especially because i never went back to choate after graduating- not for reunions or plays, love or money was i stepping foot back on that campus. and not because i didnt enjoy myself there. i loved my time at choate... but i find campuses without the people who made my memories to be sad as hell. and every time ive been back to dartmouth ive felt that sadness along with a deep, almost regretful, (for not taking advantage of it more) fairly resentful (of current students) nostalgia. driving towards campus i'd feel a knot forming in my stomach and driving away ive actually felt sick.
this time though, for whatever reason, it was different. maybe because i have a home and something of a life to move into and on to...or maybe because i look at dartmouth students and see a bunch of kids who have no idea whats in store for them and im too far in the know now to go back and hide under the dartmouth blanket as i'd been wishing i could before... whatever it is, its a beautiful place that i love but love has to take new forms over time, a fact i hate to admit but appear to be learning by force.
and i was able to drive away yesterday without feeling like crying or puking.
so thats progress in my book.

6 month anniversary

So this past wednesday was officially my 6 month work anniversary. I can't believe it's gone by so quickly! The past two weeks have by far been the hardest and most frustrating past two weeks of work. We were doing some strategy work and I just couldn't seem to get anything right which was driving both me and my manager slightly insane. I definitely never thought that 6 months in I'd still be struggling so much. I was hoping that I'd feel more confident and capable when I hit my six month anniversary. Now, especially with this economy, I feel like I need to prove myself really quickly. The only thing that makes me feel better is that at least a couple of the other undergrads who started with me feel the same way. I have another similar project this week and I am really really hoping that it's going to go better. I can't go through another week like the last two.

The only good part of it was that I was working every night so I didn't get to watch any tv. That mean that this weekend I had sooo much to catch up on! Amazing! And who else is so excited about the joint grey's and private practice in two weeks? I can't wait! The other great thing is the undergrads and I had a dinner party/ game night at my house to celebrate our 6 months. The night really drove home for me how much I like the undergrads. We're a random group, but I'm so happy that I met them and that we get along so well. Now the tricky question becomes - do I try to merge them with my friends from home? Tyler comes back in a week (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I'm not sure if I want any of them to meet him. Mixing friends is so complicated. I guess we'll see
what happens!

Oh and D - I bought that book you were talking about in your previous post. I haven't started yet, but I really hope it is going to provide me tons of guidence in my post-college life. There are definitely days/weeks where I feel like I really need it!

Hope you're all doing well and I'm sorry I missed posting last week! I'll try not to let it happen again

RISK!

A semi-useless post, but just needed to express my excitement.

I played RISK with a few friends last night (yes, the board game; I love board games) and I actually won!

This is surprising since I normally veer away from RISK since it takes so long to play and becomes rather tedious after the first hour for me. I'm also a terrible military dictator.

I started from my stronghold in Africa, then worked my way through South America, up through North America, across the Bering Strait into Asia, into Europe, then doubling back to get the Middle East and then down to Australia for complete world domination.

I'm watching tennis right now and Serena is playing terrible. She just lost the first set and doesn't look like she'll be able to regroup.

If you do decide to watch some tennis, catch any of the upcoming men's matches; they all should be competitive and entertaining matches.

posting late once again

ugh, perhaps i should just resign myself to a weekend poster, as once again i find myself posting 1-2 days late. but it does mean that this post will be a tad more exciting as i worked my first auction yesterday! the whole thing was very interesting, from the auctioneers who are not only in charge of the bidding for each piece, but also moving the whole thing along at a pretty good pace. the bidding itself was far less hands flying in the air, then sassy flips of the wrists with paddles just over shoulder height. but that didn't mean that the aggression over things wasn't there, it was just slightly more subtle. the crowd ranged from quirky collectors (many of whom had come in before to examine the pieces, all the while making snarky comments about the other people in the room under their breath/to me, including "i can't believe he just said this piece was __, (sigh) of course it's not, he's never right about these things" and, after returning a hello to a man who just walked in "i vowed after last year never to speak to him, i've just made a horrible horrible error" really? really.) to dealers who were then hoping to go turn around the pieces to their buyers, to museum officials/big time museum donors, to anthropologists (who to me seemed the nicest of the group). but a lot of just plain CRAZIES, or perhaps just plain QUIRKIES... some people also call in their bids to preserve their anonymity which adds a whole element of mystique to the whole thing. it was really cool getting to learn a bit more about these objects, mostly because this was a genre i didn't know almost anything about going into it, and seeing not only the objects but trying to understand the little details that make them valuable (i watched a man pay over $1,000 dollars for what seemed to me to be a nice, (granted, old), stick). its amazing how the tiniest thing makes the difference between valuable and not, and how, for the most part, with the exception of just some wealthy women who wanted home decorations, these people truly love these objects . many people have spent years collecting these objects, and while some of the money being thrown around seemed crazy to me, most of the pieces are one of a kind, and most of the people are so excited to get them.

anyways, that's my update! and as for A's post about getting/seeming/feeling old, i had a moment last week where i was supposed to go out with an old colby friend and when she said "why don't we meet up at 9/9:30 ish?" thought to myself, "ugh, really? thats sort of pj/tea/movie time". but! on the bright side, if we have learned anything from the golden girls it's that, just because we maybe 85+ at heart, does not mean we cannot still have fun, example:

Golden Girls Dance A Thon
by AllisonSNLKid

can i be rose?

new respect for hillary swank

i feel like death warmed over.

please refer back to my monday post to understand why i am now curled up in a ball on my bed white as a ghost head spinning pathetically typing with one finger while L goes to get me a gatorade.

i was taught by a guy is a tshirt flecked with blood form a fight id watched him finish just minutes before starting my little lesson.
the other guys, he informed me, before teaching me how to wrap my hands.

am i going back? most likely. it was fun as hell.
assuming i ever get out of bed.

Karma and Aging

There is a part of me that seriously believes in the karma of the universe or at least some sort of ultimate balance. Now that is not necessarily a statement of praise, it seems to go both ways... when things are crappy something turns up as a bright spot or eventually something turns around for the good, however, it also follows then when things are going your way something will self-destruct. Although not the authority on life, there was an apt quote from the movie Bridgette Jones' Diary that went along the lines of as soon as something is going great in your life something else falls apart. There are moments that seem all dark and others that seem all light, but for better or worse they aren't lasting states. I don't know, just something I've been contemplating and apparently rambling about, but hey isn't that what blogs are for?

Also, there has been some talk of the premature aging of this group. We have some bodily aging and aging of the mind. I would say my premature aging affects my attitude. I am a premature curmudgeon. I already don't understand newfangled technology, often unconsciously shake my head at young whipper-snappers and the other day i found myself making a remark out loud about how much the price of latte drinks has gone up that was eerily reminiscent of a "back in my day" statement. The reasons keep piling up for me to just start building my cat army now and looking at retirement homes for accommodation.

Commentary on the coverage commentary

Any resolution to go to bed earlier is currently shot because Melbourne is 17 hours ahead. Which mean that live coverage here in the CST starts around 9am and goes till 1 am. Then it picks back up again at 2:30am and goes till 6am. The latest I've watched is till 3am, but that is blatantly breaking any resolution.

The upside of all this coverage though is the coverage and commentary. Especially in these early rounds where the matches are pretty lop-sided and don't offer much viewing entertainment. So, the commentators then have hours to fill of talking, speculating, punditry and the like . . . with a cohost. After while, they get a little testy and start to take it out on each other. The best was last night, Chris Fowler and Brad Gilbert. Chris Fowler is a sports broadcaster that covers tennis. Brad Gilbert is a tennis coach (most notably Andre Agassi) doing a bit of braodcasting. Their personalities and backgrounds clashed in the most passive aggressively entertaining way to watch. Neither respected the other and you could feel the tension. More interesting to watch than the actual match itself.

My Thumb is healing! & a proud moment in history.

So for those of you who don't know I spent most of my weekend cooking and in the midst of the power cooking I managed to grate part of my hand off.  And not like a scrape, or a gentle cut, like a solid grate of cheese.  Like enough to have caused lots of bleeding.  So I go to the bathroom and proceed to try and stop the bleeding I manage to break my bathroom a little more than it was already broken.  Amazing I know.  So I was standing in my broken bathroom bleeding as the hot water proceeded to drip out of the faucet even when I turned off the valve from below.  But 2 days later my hand is healing.  Except, except the flap of skin I salvaged and didn't completely grate off is reattached but not nearly as flat as it should be.  So now my hand sorta looks like I was attacked by a hungry dog.  I am trying to make peace with my foolish behaviors, but i think my hand will soon look like one of an animal trainer, a boxer or anyone who normally gets all cut up and gross.  But I guess I will have lots of stories to tell the little children in the park ask their mothers why the crazy old lady with the dogs has all scared hands.

So I have just returned from an evening of 2 Inauguration parties.  An old jewelry professor of mine asked if I was interested in going out with her this evening to celebrate. At first as I stared at the e-mail I thought, "you can just stay in, eat your mashed potatoes and really J you have already taken off your shoes."  Then another part of me said: "J you haven't seen her in a while, you are being a lazy bum, and really your mashed potatos can wait another day."  So I called, I got dressed and I started up the hill.  I got to see 2 very different sides of the upper valley.  One of a rocking dance party for old hippies and the other was a more quiet party for the dignified people of the upper valley.  Both were strange not just by their looks, but also by the company i kept in both places.  The hippy place was, well full of hippies.  And the other place was full of what it seemed like were normal people except the lady I do not love at work. She to me is a wack job.  And in a social setting with someone that likes her, (My lovely date for the evening), she seemed sorta normal.  But then I thought about it.  Life is kinda like my night, either full of people who show they are wack jobs on the surface, or others who are more proper but still wack jobs.  What's a girl to do?  I think it is become a hermit or just deal with the wack jobs because not everyone is like that, and want to know why I know not everyone is like that? Because today we accepted as our president a fine man, one who is a far stretch from a crazy, and has given hope back to a nation. 

I watched Obama take his oath in an auditorium full of people.  An auditorium far away from the Washington Mall and for sure not in listening distance.  Yet at each word there were whoots, at each introduction claps, at each shot of Bush laugher and as the people of Washington DC were asked to rise for the oath of Barack there was no hesitation in the room.  Everyone got to their feet and listened intently as Obama finally took the oath of office and ceremoniously became our 44th president.  There were tears in the room, excitement exchanged in voices, and most importantly for me re-affirmation that this country can be something to be proud of.  So for the first time in 6 or 7 years I placed my right hand on my chest and mouthed the star spangled banner.  (we have to start somewhere, no one every said I was a true patriot) But as I watched this man speak and walk and interact with everyone around him I saw something I have never seem before, the look of a man of distinction, the look of a president.  I know I have lived through many a president.  But thinking back as I spoke to A who brought to my attention that we have really grown up in the Bush era.  Thinking back to Clinton I can't only remember hints of his presidency because I personally was too young to understand what it all meant.  But now as I even if only vaguely get the role of the president and all that sits on his shoulders, I feel something for this man and feel as if he will be the right fit for this moment in history.  And maybe my dreams for a better america that are clouding my judgement, but I truly think if any time we should put hope first it is now.  So I hope that the man who looked like a president, and sounded like a president today proves to be the president we all need him to be. 

brown haired and boxing

if i may speak for both of us, L and I have had a lovely 3 day weekend. some highlights:

we dug, hacked, chiselled and sledge hammered a second space for L's car out of the 2 foot deep snow and ice packed drive way. there was a lot of fist pumping and high fiving involved.

i went for a run and did a triple axle sow cow flip into a snow bank. walked the rest of the way.

we braved the chestnut hill mall to get me a dress for my paternal grandmothers 85th birthday black tie dinner party this week. i hate shopping so we got it done quick and dirty. floor length matte grey-silver grecian type number. currently 5 inches too long since im wearing it with my silver flats, of couse, so im either hemming that baby myself which will probably be a bad idea or im going to beg borrow and plead with a tailor to do it while im at work tomorrow. or just drag it in the mud step on it and fall on my face. again.

we hung all the pictures and paintings in the house and it looks WONDERFUL. including the gummy bear photos in the entrance.

we went out and got brunch at zaftigs, the jewish dinner in coolidge corner that serves up some heaven on a plate. L actually pulled a muscle in her face tyring to fit her mouth around her roast beef sandwich. no joke.

we tromped through snow laden light twinkling boston commons at night after watching a mind bendingly beautiful performance in frost-nixon.

i dyed my hair quite dark brown. and love it. my mother will hate it. which makes me love it more.

we re-ice picked the drive way just for shits, giggles and a good work out this morning. decided were becoming like those suburban men who obsess over their lawn...

we stopped by our local hardware store to get silver spray paint so i could touch up my shoes and tried to get a sled because i noticed yesterday on my run that theres a killer hill behind the house and we are so doing it even if it means taking out some tots and moms along the way. unfortunately the hardware store didnt have a "sled" per se. i would have been fine with a garbage can lid, tupperware container, toilet seat cover or even garbage-bag-wrapped-box, but L vetoed those options. anyway the cute guy working there (not the gay rasta, we love him too, he works on weekends)said hell be getting sleds in soon. we both flirted furiously with him and are not so secretly taking him on as a competitive challenge. all i have to say is bring it, L. you underestimate the sex eyes.

and now im doing spreadsheets! which is less fun but if i can get ahead of/on the ball for the start of this work week maybe i wont arrive at friday feeling steam rolled...

oh speaking of work and steam rolling, ive signed up for a trial session at a local boxing gym place. (ive got to work on the lingo) its not kick boxing (tried that last year and kept donkey kicking the women behind me) its real boxing. its co-ed and they have occasional classes that actually would fit into my crazy schedule so im going next saturday to have a free session with one of the people and if i like it id consider joining. A) talk about a good way to get out work stress. B) i refuse to get on a tread mill and waste more of my life in an airless room staring at the same thing in monotony but have to move somehow because im going stir crazy and feel mushy and walking home 4 miles -though refreshing- has become a little insane, and C. i asked for a punching bag from my (horrified) parents at age 11, 12 and 13 but never got one so this really is one of those long deferred dreams that independent life and a salary can afford me. im pretty psyched. well see how i feel sunday morning. when i cant move.

love to you all,
D

I should spend less time on ABC full player and more time on my dishevelled appearance

So today is my day off, but even with that I had 2 meetings today.  One at 9 am and another at 1pm. I went to bed at a decent hour, woke up, got ready went to my meeting came home, turned abc.com full player on and watched the view as I baked muffins and made chicken tetrazzine for my dinners of the week.  

I discovered last week that General Hospital, my favorite show besides Ugly Betty was now being offered on abc.com.  This was big news, BIG. I spent my saturday morning watching 4 episodes in a row.  God I love that show. It is great, but thats not the point.  Spending that much time on abc.com full player made me realize, hey you do like TV, hey this full episode player isn't too bad, hey that commercial for that other abc seems kinda good, maybe you should watch that.  So I did, I watched, while cooking, while laying on my bed, instead of doing my laundry.  And currently I am still watching the view. 

So getting to my point. I was talking to one of the administrative assistants today as I waited for my meeting and we are just chatting about work and the weekend.  I told her how I was cooking all weekend b/c I am never home and I really wanted to have something to eat that i made.  Then she asked what my work schedule was like. and we got to talking about that and she says, "you work really hard, I mean you have been looking a little (then she makes a face)" So apparently I look like a hot mess and was unaware.  Who knew my personal appearance was hot mess, NOT I. So maybe I should watch less of The Bachelor and do my laundry and comb my hair.

Tennis!

Coverage of the Australian Open begins today. The next two weeks will be consumed by tennis. In glorious HD.

My predictions:

Men - Andy Murray, then Novak Djokovic. As great as Nadal and Federer are, I've never been able to truly root for them. What I would love to see is Andy Roddick win because he's had a tough career and he's not getting any younger.

Women - Venus Williams. She's never won it. And for her that should be more than enough motivation. If she's playing her game, there are few that can even offer a challenge.

see this

d and i just saw it and it was fantastic,and just a FASCINATING character study, of both men. from what i've read the historical details are a little iffy,the interviews definitely happened but some chronologies are shifted around a little to add drama etc. but frank langella's nixon is wonderful, very theatrical but best sense of theater. and not at all a caricature of the man. you come away with a real impression of nixon the man, how intelligent he was but also how manipulative and tricky, which i think is what does make it historically relevant even if the details aren't exactly...anyways, here's the trailer!

so i haven't broken anything yet

but two things were broken during my week 2 of work, one slightly and very fixable, the other not-so-much. both were accidents and not even really the people that did it's fault but its a pretty big deal, an accident report gets written up, with your name attached. it's actually a little surprising how little does get broken given how many people handle each piece, any given piece probably gets transported or moved or picked up at least 12+ times pre-auction, including being shipped each way since the boston office has little to no long term storage. it's amazing the reality and the buisiness side of handling and dealing with some of this rare objects...

anyways, work is okay, its hard being the only new person and i spent my 2 days there this week moving boxes and furniture up and down stairs and then packing up vases to be sent out to UPS. pretty mindless but i shouldn't complain about having work. as for boston life, i am settling in and figuring out my routine etc. still no posters on the walls, but that will hopefully change this afternoon! d and i did some intense-o snow shoveling yesterday, i felt very new england-y AND got to break out my big pom-pom hat for the first real time this winter. fantastic.

oh also! on the book front (i also really think we should continue to use this blog as a sort of book club-recommendation-wise, AND movie club!) i am in the middle of "the coldest winter" which is david halberstam's 700+ page book on the korean war, it's GREAT so far, but it could be kind of a long haul, over xmas i read "then we came to an end" by joshua ferris (have i blogged about this already?) which was a great, quick read, and very applicable to entering the work force and job firings etc. (its set during the 2001 recession) and all about loving/hating your job, and questioning why you do it etc. but it's pretty funny, not laugh-out-loud, but funny!

more later this week, i'm hoping to see frost/nixon today which i am SO excited about!

unrelated but FABULOUS, really WATCH, he is laugh out loud funny
WATCH WATCH WATCH
the lip synching is particularly wonderful

Fish Frottage and Dildo Diaries

Let me start with a quote from the PETA campaign coordinator regarding fish, "...they express affection by gently rubbing against one another." i.e. fish frottage. Okay so that might be a bit of a stretch but I couldn't resist.
Anyway, my point is that I have ridiculous and entertaining things to share.

1. Sea Kittens!

I'm all for the ethical treatment of animals, you all know my love of the small and fluffy, but I find myself often disagreeing with Peta's strategies. The tend to utilize sexist, objectifying portrayals of women's bodies to get their point across and I'm just not down with that. They have recently launched a campaign to recast fish as "sea kittens" in the public's mind. I'm so serious. I could not make this up.

here is a fabulous npr piece on it:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99249669

It is just full of great quotes.


2. Dildo Wars

Sex toys were illegal in Texas until last year and are still illegal in Virgina, Alabama and Mississippi. Think about that. The texas attorney general is apparently appalled and is taking action to counter the decision of the courts. He claims that if "the court's decision may 'invite … challenges to previously-uncontroversial criminal prohibitions" on sexual practices such as "consensual adult incest or bigamy' (Page 4)." Okay now think about that.
(article on it here: http://www.slate.com/id/2185623/entry/2185627/nav/ais/)

Here is an amazing video that is SO worth watching all the way through. Trust me on this.

Cold Wave and Books

Well, quite the opposite is taking hold in the Midwest: we are in the midst of a cold wave (is that even a term?). For the last two days, the mercury did not break zero. It's currently 20, so pretty balmy. Combined with completing my grad apps (!), I now have little purpose, direction or anything to do really. Those jobs I've applied to haven't yielded anything, but you can only expect so much (which is nothing) when just sending out your resume or filling out apps through the internet. First thing Monday, going to actual stores and applying in person for some random retail job.

But, I've been filling my time with reading. Some from the list that I mentioned a few weeks back, some that popped up in my near every-other-daily wanderings of the local library.

From the past month, more or less, the books I've read in no particular order:

I Was Told There'd Be Cake, Sloane Crosley: Okay, I lied, there is some order. This was my favorite book of them all. A series of essays written by a late twentysomething New Yorker recounting funny incidents from her primarily post-college life. It's achingly funny. I was at a Starbucks at laughing out loud. Smart writing, tight essays and sharp details. Highly recommended. Think of a David Sedaris referencing Oregon Trail, Carmen San Diego and neon. D: I think you'd either LOVE this or HATE this, but I can't imagine you feeling ambivalent.

Who Moved My Cheese?, Spencer Johnson: The seminal business leadership/management book. Quite the short book and can be read in one 45-minute sitting. Relevant anecdote and I can understand why it endures. In fact, I think it'd be a great children's book. Every parent should read this to their kid as a bedtime story.

Eats Shoots and Leaves, Lynne Truss: A christmas gift from my sister. A british writer's take on punctuation and grammar and the atrocious state of it. And tries to rectify it by going through each punctuation mark, a bit of its history and appropriate use. Good read and I know that I'm quite more aware (and more fond) of the semicolon and dash because of it.

Holidays on Ice, David Sedaris: Reading his experience as a Macy's elf makes me feel better at my upcoming employment at some retail establishment at the mall. Some of the essays I wasn't so quite fond out, especially the one that involved the baby in the washing machine.

Watchmen, Alan Moore: That graphic novel of all graphic novel that gets all the hype and the fanboys peeing their pants. I enjoyed it, but I'll be honest, I didn't really know how to read it. I mean, I found myself overwhelmed trying to process the text and the graphics all at the same time. Though I'm looking forward to the movie in the spring if they can get the copyright issues sorted out.

Old Masters, New World, Cynthia Saltzman: Quite the interesting read for the art historically inclined. Basically recounts how the first industrialists used their immense wealth to buy old master paintings from Europe to establish American art museums. Great great great read.

Dry Store Room No. 1, Richard Fortey: A natural scientist at the Natural History Museum (London) explaining the importance of taxonomy, natural history, etc by recalling his own life work and that of his peers at the museum. A bit technical at times, but things moved along. And it's amazing at how the smallest things have such a large impact. Also, this guy, spent his entire life studying trilobites. How crazy is that?

Heat Wave!

It seems our country is once again divided, not by politics, but by weather. The western part of the country is experiencing a winter heat wave. A week of 80+ degrees and nothing but sunny (without yucky humidity). Now here is the beauty of California. It is mid-January and I just came back from skiing at Mammoth Lakes, CA where there was all the markings of winter including winter sports (i had forgotten how much i love skiing), yet still sunny and relatively warm (50). Then a 5-6 hour drive (our states are big out west) and I am back in LA were it is much warmer and there are plenty of beach activities and all the perks of one of the countries major cities. Course I'm sure I would enjoy all of this more at the moment if I wasn't sick. My mom has has the flu for a while now and it finally got to me at the most inopportune time, as illness is want to do. Believe you me, skiing for the first time in 3 years while nauseous is quite uncomfortable. But I still enjoyed it and was able to update my ski wear. I finally got a helmet, new goggles, snow pants and a jacket to hopefully last me the next 10 years. I was pretty spiffy looking if i do say so myself (at least while standing still, I can't speak for my gracefulness while actually skiing).
Now I'm just trying to recover while figuring out what the next step it. I'm not sure if I've said this before, but I feel like i'm at a point where i should decide on a path to follow for the next few months of my life. I have 3 1/2 months until my application to graduate school is due then if I get in I have 2 more month to get ready and move myself to a new country, if I don't get in I have no time line and have to go to plan B. So what do I do in the 3 1/2 months that could turn into 5 1/2 months or into the rest of my life. I want to make the most of that time but I'm just not sure how.

I'm sorry for the late posting, I was sans internet this week while out of town.

If it isn't obvious by now, I have at total girl crush on Sarah Haskins. Here's more reason:

Freedom

This is the first time in along time that I haven't been stressed.  Last weeks post was about the lack of stress I was going to feel.  And foolishly I thought I was going to cruise through the week without worry.  But it is me, and my portfolio cover took longer than expected, and I had essay issues and everything got all confused, but today was my first taste of actual freedom.

Yesterday at 3pm I had given S (my school of choice) everything I had.  As our good texas engineering friend J said, I practically birthed this application. And if that is anything like what childbirth is like I am not sure I want to put myself through that torture b/c it could turn out to be the best thing in my life, or just as this situation could be such a sad disappointment. So instead I am focusing in on the good.  And that includes Icy Hockey which I am so bad at it is BEYOND laughable. The bookbinding studio in the Library which is freakin' amazing.  I went there for a class today, and it was such fun.  I hardly did work b/c i hate having to finish something in one day when my idea takes more than a day, so instead i just watch, do a little and mainly look at all the samples.  It is super cool what can be done there.  And tomorrow I go to the ceramics studio to start making zebra tea cups, killer I know. 

And there are 2 incredible exhibitions in the Jaffe-friede and strauss galleries which i am going to have to live with for a while.  A really cool new artist-in-resident for the studio art program.  A moose at the Montshire museum that is calling my name.  So I have been FASCINATED by animals as of late. D can speak of my desire to get a Guinea pig, but also I am dying to see a moose life size.  So I am going to the montshire museum b/c I hear they have one and I really want to see it. 

oh an my new fascination, DiGiorno Pizza.  I never thought about getting it until I was at the Coop and really wanted pizza.  It looked hearty, and I like hearty food.  So I got the self rising 4 cheese pizza.  And I had to dress it up with some garlic, onions, feta (obviously I was eating this alone and not kissing a soul) but it was soooooo good.  With some green leaf or bush like vegetable it would have been even better.  I highly recommend for the young person on the go go go. It is fast and can please anyone!

I am happy but my health may be on the way out temporarily. I have been blowing my nose like mad and swear today i questioned my ability to read from a computer screen and hear over my cell phone.  Which all probably means my behaviors of the previous season are catching up to me.  Poor eating and sleeping habits breeds flu like symptoms, working many hours straight on tedious sewing, hammering, soldering or cutting breeds poor eyesight and well jamming a q-tip in your ear probably isn't the smartest thing to do everyday. 

a sample of office IM conversations

(names changed but otherwise completely unedited)

D (1:18:35 PM): i dont recommend stealing one of the cookies from the coffee room. they look decent but they taste like crap patties.
Boss (1:37:00 PM): dear newbie- that was a rookie kitchen move
Boss(1:37:04 PM): I never had plans to taste test
D (1:37:16 PM): dear boss: never again
Boss(1:37:27 PM): you have learned from this experience
D (1:37:30 PM): i have so much to learn, master
Boss (1:37:47 PM): at least you understand this and are willing to partake in my knowledge
D (1:37:55 PM): *bow*

****

cubegirl1(1:39:13 PM): OMG did you hear that?
cubegirl1 (1:39:16 PM): that woman's obnox homemade ringtone was changed!
D (1:39:19 PM): i heard...
cubegirl1(1:39:20 PM): its no longer her bratty child saying mammmaaa aweelamma!
D (1:39:27 PM): right. now its the bratty kid saying heehaw heeehaw.
cubegirl1 (1:39:31 PM): HAHAHA
cubegirl1 (1:39:42 PM): not sure if it's much of an improvement
daisyfreund (1:39:48 PM): yeahNO
cubegirl1 (2:55:42 PM): also window woman is sooo annoying with her hacking coughs
cubegirl1 (2:55:58 PM): they're infiltrating my cube
cubegirl1 (2:56:02 PM): i can feel them sneaking in
cubegirl1 (3:03:35 PM): i'm going to stuff something down her throat. a marshmellow, maybe.
cubegirl1 (3:03:42 PM): cough NOW woman.
cubegirl1 (3:03:43 PM): hahahahaha
D (3:03:51 PM): pure evil
D(3:04:01 PM): i just spooked hard at this man walking by the womens bathroom as i went out the door. i screamed, he screamed, it was very odd.
cubegirl1 (3:05:15 PM): HAHA
cubegirl1 (3:05:16 PM): screamed, like SCREAMED?
D(3:05:27 PM): well not AHHHHHH!
D(3:05:34 PM): more like ahh!
cubegirl1 (3:57:31 PM): i just ate four marshmellows. and now i have marshie on my chair
cubegirl1 (3:57:35 PM): it's probably on my bottom too.
cubegirl1 (3:57:46 PM): i may need you to look
D (3:57:58 PM): wow. wow.
cubegirl1 (3:58:07 PM): I hear you laughing! I can't walk around like this!
cubegirl1 (3:58:15 PM): and I can't see it myself. im trying but it hurts.
D (3:58:24 PM): oh GOD THIS OFFICE IS ENTERTAINING
cubegirl1(3:59:40 PM): you love it
daisyfreund (4:00:08 PM): love. it.

Weekends

This was a really really good weekend. And everytime I have a weekend like this, I realize that I need to balance work with fun and friends. It's so much easier to go to work tomorrow after doing something other than sit on my couch by myself all weekend. It wasn't anything special - it was just fun and busy. The weather was amazing (it is going to hit 71 tomorrow!!), a lot of my high school friends are back in town, and I'm getting closer to work friends. It makes me feel like I'm building a semi-new life for myself mostly filled with people who I already know and love and trust. Since I'm really not in to change - it's pretty great for me.

My schedule this weekend:

Friday- Leave work by 5:30, pick up Knoxie on bart, dinner at our favorite restaurant, both exhausted from work so we watch the season finale of Lipstick Jungle and don't feel bad at all that we're staying in

Saturday - Brunch with a family friend (although really 9am counts as breakfast, way earlier than I wanted to get up!), followed by the gym (yes you read that right, I'm totally shocked too), followed by my eyebrows getting waxed, then a nap, then I met up with my work friends and wandered around the city trying to find some place with room for all 7 of us and finally settled on a really random and meidocre mexican place. After which we went to a bar I really like where I taught D big face litte face (see below pictures).

Sunday - forgot to set my alarm clock so I didn't get up for step class (so exicted my gym offers it though!), breakfast at home followed by coffee with two high school friends, went to see one friend's new puppy, met up with knoxie to see bride wars, a second gym trip (yay for me!), dinner with my family & friend Lisa where I ate a huge dessert that totally negated my gym trip, and then two hours of sunday night tv.

Basically my perfect weekend. Can't wait to wear a dress to work together and enjoy looking at the window at the sun when I walk from my cube to the printer!

Ha!

saw this and thought fondly of all of you ;)

Why I'm hoping I can keep my klutziness in check...

Ah! Yet again I am late posting, sorry sorry sorry! Perhaps that should have been one of my resolutions, but it really will be better from here on out. Anywho, it has been quite the week, mom and I flew out to Boston on Tuesday where we were met with a wonderful meal by D. And then on Wednesday......... I started work! Wednesday was a set up day for the Thursday/Friday preview days where people can come and look at the pieces before the auction on Saturday. My first task of the day was unpacking the ceramics which was just a tad terrifying once I realized that each of these teeny tiny figurines was worth somewhere over $500, not to mention the huge vases. Anywho after successfully keeping my klutziness in check (knock on wood) I then had to hang about 50 paintings. I hadn't really thought before about how fast the whole process is in these places, hundreds of items have to be transported in from storage, labeled, set up, and then a day or two later taken down and put back into storage so that the same space can be used for an auction. This all happens in about 5 days or less, and then the process begins again. There are about 20 other people who do the same job as me, a mixture of current undergrads, art history grad students who want experience in the field, recent grads doing the same thing as me working one job for the money, and this for the experience and then a couple of older ladies who just like the art. Kitzie a 75+ New England woman who's just sort of great showed me the ropes. Anyways the job is great in all that i get to see and handle, and the company's really small so I literally got to meet everyone in the department on my first day which is fantastic, it is a little frustrating that it is part-time, I really need to find another job to pay the bills (ugh, real world) and its also frustrating that I'm basically a glorified handyman and as of now I'm not really sure where this will lead in terms of potential to move up. It is a good opportunity and just a JOB period so I should be grateful I know and stop whining! I complain when I don't have a job, and i complain when i do... There should be some good stories that come out of this job though, the people that come in to buy these things are pretty ridiculous/great/something....

MORE STORIES TO COME

also, another hugh jackman tony gem...(with an appearance from sarah jessica parker)

"Doesn't it Seem Likely that the Fashion World's Kaiser, Karl Lagerfeld is, in fact, a Robot?

I came across this video from random meanderings of one link to another. It started with a design blog from my google reader, managed to find myself at the Pentagram website (a graphic design firm), then onto an MFA Design site and add a few more steps in there and you get this video.

Nearly 13 minutes, but I found myself fascinated throughout.


Jennifer Wright at Interesting New York from David Nottoli on Vimeo.

she's the boss

Bosslady just marched up to my cubicle and slapped this clipping from the new york post down on my desk.
Here's the convo:

"Dais. This is unacceptable."
"Wha--"
"USA ranks sixth. What is that about? Your newest assignment is to bump us up minimum two spots by fall 2009."
"uhh--"
"Get on it. And you better believe i mean Get On It."

...and then she walked away.

= why i come to work.

Why is this not on cute overload

Ok I actually think this is cute. Makes me really want to get a guinea pig (sorta random connection, but they are so cute and only cost $30!) PS if you are grossed out by rats, you might not want to click play

announcement: i just broke steel with my bare hands

damn key would not turn in my desk file drawer.
apparently the job is turning me into a beast.

Spend Some Quality Time With Your Beaver!

Ha ha ha ha so here is yet another reason I want to go to Australia. This is a hilarious commercial for a brand of tampons, pads and underwear liner. Although it would be nice for a commercial to actually refer to a vagina as a vagina, instead of "down there," this is a pretty positive, cheeky ad. I'm thinking of it in direct comparison to those heinous vagisal ads pushing vaginal shame on us. Since this blog is open to the public, I'm going to stop myself from posting the many more beaver jokes this ad inspires. Enjoy!

I can see a life at the end of the tunnel

Hi all, hope you are doing well. I am in a good mood. For the first time in months I am not freaking out. Which is strange since my application is due on tuesday. Yup tuesday and I am so close to being done I can taste it. Today I did sample printings and discovered that matte eggshell colored paper is the kind I will use and there are some formatting issue and I could still use some more interesting titles but all that relative to the big picture is small. A few more views over the book and it will be done. Which is probably the most exciting thing in the world.

I see a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light is illuminating a Hockey rink. That's right Me, of all people have joined an IM woman's icy hockey team. and I have signed up for a letter press class on making books and am determined to see slumdog millionaires by the weeks end. I am so excited about the life I am so close to having. One that allows for grocery shopping, cooking, trips to the ceramics studio (to make kick a** zebra printed tea cups) and mornings where I don't have to dread getting out of bed because of all the work I have to do. I will still have tons of work but not the crazy stress of this past term. I also might get to make a piece of jewelry, whoa I know, haven't done that in months. It is just very exciting. I am even enjoying work more b/c I am not freaking out about needing to get done and down to the studio.

And I just eat far too much and now am going to roll myself back to the studio to do some work on the binding. I will try to post later with something funny or at the very least another amazing song pre 2005. Oh Oh and I actually got my hair cut yesterday by a person who cuts hair for a living. not me in my bathroom or me in the studio or someone in the studio. It doesn't really look that different, just the way I like it. But it is 6-7 inches shorter. But you can't really tell. That is how disgustingly long my hair was. I am on my way back to civilization!

Happy New Year

I know I am a day late and a dollar short - but reading this weeks posts, I'm definitely not the only one.

My new years was interesting. The actual night was pretty weird - I lost my voice, the club had weird music and even weirder people, and it was super couplely. On a positive note though - my friend Abbey and I went out to a great dinner, I became friends with Emily who plays Rebbecca on brothers & sisters, and I continued my tradition of spending new years eve at the St. Regis (my favorite hotel in San Francisco). So all in all, weird but not awful.

In other news - L I am planning a trip to Vail in Feb or March. As soon as I pick the weekend, I'll let you know and maybe you could come too! Remember your resolution to visit! I'm all about weekend trips right now. Since I have a bunch of friends home we're planning girls trips to Napa, Pebble Beach, and LA. Getting out of town helps me relax so much on the weekends...especially when the trip includes a visit to the spa! We're also startingt the mid-year review process which I'm terrified about because I'm pretty sure it's not going to be positive. I've really had a hard time getting my feet on the ground - which means I need a bunch of massages!

You're so special i'm surprised they haven't roped off the space around you

those were the Boss's words. directed at me. and she actually didnt mean special in the indoor helmet wearing way. Though you might have thought that having read my first post of the day...

Following the calamity that was my morning (see below) i proceeded to majorly turn the day around. I was "ON FIYAH" as the Boss likes to say.
I found two articles in two obscure but influential publications that were so highly relevant to two of my teams that the team leaders asked me to write up summaries and send the articles on to the respective clients to leverage for later use. sort of a big deal. relatively speaking.
i also drew up two pitches, sent out thirty emails to journalists and received responses back from 21 of them,(unheard of)and managed to manipulate an executive on the client side into doing precisely what we wanted him to do without him realizing it.
I then happened upon an award that another publication was quietly doing that would be great for the client and when i pointed it out my team leader got way excited and decided i should be incharge of drawing up the submission. cool except the deadline is umTOMORROW and involves two 500 word essays, among other things, which is why im typing this from the office.
AND THEN i caught a major error on a majorly important document that had allready gone through three upper level lines of defense and was about to be sent out to 73 journalist. it wasn't even mine to edit it, i just noticed it. i was so in teh zone at that point i was getting down right casual about it. i practically walked passed the document on a desk and was like "if i were you i'd double check line 23" and they were all like whooooaaaa.
not quite. but i was firing from all cylinders for the first time since i got here. to be honest, at moments during my day, i was having... fun. and not just because my boss is hilarious and my coworkers love to tease me... i was actually enjoying the particular rush i experienced when i nailed a task or went beyond expectations.
but whats really confusing is that even in the best moments i feel absolutely NO PASSION for this subject. how can i be on fire with no passion to fuel it? its distressing because every little pro weights disproportionately much against the long list of cons about this job. and those cons are what are motivating me to keep looking, not become complacent, as L said... i need to remember that this job is not what i want out of life, its not what the part of me i respect considers a real quality of life... or ill wake up five years from now and still be doing it for all the worst reasons. for some stupid rush i get when i find an article on line. im pretty sure search engines can do that its really nothing to be that proud of.

anyway, its an interesting position to be in but at least i can say that my day didnt start and end with mooning my coworker. though i really will never ever live that down around here.
i should probably direct them to a certain facebook group... D.A.M.N...

skating down chestnut hill avenue into a tree, baring my ass in the office and lying about my age

all three have occurred today and its not even lunch time yet.

the sidewalks of chestnut hill ave are like frickin ice luges but being me, i thought i was slicker than ice and picked up a cautious little jog (toned down from my normal SPRINT to the T) which gave me just enough momentum to not be able to stop when i hit the down slope and litterally slid, arms flailing, for about thirty feet until i hit the side of a snow bank and went face first into a tree.

thirty minutes later i arrived at the office, bleeding from the forehead and knees, which everyone found hilarious, and had so much work to do that i only dealt with the face not the knees. UNTIL three hours later, while on a call, i realized my tights were stuck to my wounds and since i couldnt get off the call and go to the bathroom I decided it was safe to stand up with my headset on and whip down my tights in my cube so i could at least examine the damage...which is exaCtly when coworker V chose to pop her head into my cube.

she was actually ON the GROUND laughing. she called my boss, T, on her day off. at home. to tell her.

and the boss said "shes probably having a flashback to college." (if only she knew) and then goes "shes only 22 after all." and for some reason, probably my desperate desire to have a long youth ahead of me in which i can act a lot younger than this job (normally) allows me to, I didnt correct her error to my age, afterall they dont know i took a year off, and that means that im officially 22 to this entire office.

frankly im surprised im holding this job down at all.

post-new years catch up! (and hugh jackman highkicks)

like J i am playing catch-up with my post-sorry!
i really can't believe all that has happened this past year, after reading A's post i started to reflect on all that has happened, i think the sort of confusion/stagnancy of the past few months made me forget the craziness of the first half of the year. even for all the difficulties, what a great year!
it's been a pretty quiet week for me, i'm just home now gearing up for the return east and beginning the new job! it's been really really nice to be home, but i'm definitely excited to get back and start the next "phase". not much to report, i've been skiing a bit, babysitting a bit and packing a LOT. also working on the resolutions. a big one of which is to make a concerted effort to stay in touch and VISIT people whenever possible, namely you all! (and obvi, you are all welcome at "the bouquet" as d and i so wittily named our apartment). seriously, come make use of the pull-out. i promise to make you all tuna pasta upon arrival (just kidding, except for for craig, the only person who understands the subtlety of that dish). but come!!

on a different note, i was reading something about hugh jackman hosting the oscars, which made me think of his FANTASTIC stint hosting the tonys a few years ago. here's hoping he does some of these high kicks at the oscars. i mean WOW

Old music and trying to find dinner in H-town

Hi all, sorry for missing on tuesday.  I was traveling and once I arrived in D's house I didn't find the moment to check in.  So I am writing now.

Firstly I hope you all had a lovely new years, maybe not as good as A's, hope you recovered.  You post was quite nice until you got to the throwing up part. I never have such hopeful refections.  A year has passed and I can't figure out what I have learned although I know I have learned a lot.  All I know for sure is my body has aged at least 10 years in this one year. I felt it before when everything hurt and I thought I just needed a break.  But yesterday night, or rather this morning at 5 am I decided it was too dark out to walk home after working, but I needed sleep so I grouped 4 chairs together and used 3 scarves and sweater as a pillow.  I have napped like that at the studio before, but only for a half hour.  Well 8am rolled around and I woke up to pains in EVERY part of my body.  And a solid half of my body had fallen asleep.  To the point where it restricted my walking.  And i was so tired and sleepy and if you have ever seen me in sleep it isn't a pretty picture and I am incoherent. So just imagine a hurting, half alseep, incoherent person at 8am.  I ran home and sleep there for 3 more hours.  

But now I am still in major pain.  it feels like I just ran a marathon or something, yet all I did was sleep in the studio.  That is why I think I am 45.  

So i had gone home to nap but then Jeff called me and 15 minutes after I got into bed I got out of bed, and went back to the studio.  That experience taught me to just run home and sleep in my bed, chairs give you serious problems.  The woodshop guy told me to just go into the woodshop office, lock the door and curl up under the table on the carpet. Lets hope I don't try that out tonight.

after some work and breaking a few sawblades I decided it was dinner time.  So I decided to go to Yama which just opened.  I thought it was going to be empty b/c it just opened.  Very wrong.  I have never seen so many people in a restaurant outside of NY. It was crazy.  So then I went to Mollys, a usual in my life.  They all think I am a weird loner who probably leads a virtual life on the internet b/c I always take my computer with me to meals, then proceed to type while I eat. but I don't mind.  good food, large table for typing and sketching, all the things I would ever need in life.  But they too were so very packed.  Then I realized it was 7 on a Saturday night, and all humans use this time to socialize with other humans, not electronic devices.  So I staggered into Boloco where I was relegated to eat.  

I had a sufficient dinner and am headed back to work in a second, but not before I share my new interested in music made before 2005.  I have decided I need to listen to music made only 2005.  This started as D and I were in the car going back to Boston and in one of our many radio surfs cam across this old wonderful song.  Now here is the problem, I can't remember the song! Yet I sang the entire thing to D when we couldn't find it on the radio after an accidental station change.  So I have been hung up on this song for 2 days.  And instead started searching for oldish music. 80-90-early 2000's.  I haven't found that song yet, but I found this one.  Hope you all enjoy. It is just so good!

What better way to start the new year than with a hangover?

First, I'm sorry for the lack of post last week, i was unable to post in the holiday madness. Along that vein, I had a nice Christmas, though having my brother in town proved to be quite the emotional roller coaster ride. In fact, it is very much still Christmas in our household. Anyone who knows my mother, and lets face it myself as well, knows that we celebrate the full 12 days of Christmas plus some. So much good food and holiday spirit. And gaming. This seems to be quite the year of games in our household, we were given guitar hero world tour and a mini air hockey table and I gifted the family with a game set that included chips and a roulette wheel. Then of course there are trusty board games. I look forward to a spirited game of apples to apples next time we are all together. You all have very much been on my mind as i celebrate the season that is about being with family yet I am so far away from the good friends that I think of as my chosen family.

Moving on. Happy New Year! Just think, a year ago we had just finished our first term as seniors in college. Hard to believe that in 12 short months we finished major projects, ran the gambit of relationship experiences and emotional states, graduated college (!), we've lost family members and gained new jobs, moved to new cities and returned to old ones and generally grown as people (among so many other meaningful moments). That is what occupied my mind as 2008 came to a close, reflecting on where I was just a year ago and how many ups and downs I have weathered since then to ultimately come out better for it. Now here we are, trying to find our paths, most of us coping with some degree of feeling lost. I think of all of you (and myself) and how that it can be easy as we transition to forgot or devalue what we have all accomplished, how much we've grown, how much we have succeed and overcome up until this point. Also, I think we lose sight of how much we will succeed from this point on. I firmly believe that all of you will find happiness, fulfillment, love and success somewhere along the line. And I fully believe you all deserve that and more!

Personally, I hate new years, I never have fun and always seem to be doing something or with people I don't want to be. So I was dreading this new years eve as another crappy night to end one year and begin another. But after much hesitation and anxiety, I had a party at my house with mostly friends from high school in attendance. And I have to say, it was pretty successful and I had fun. So perhaps i broke my new years curse. Or not depending on your perspective because after drinking a fair amount but nothing ridiculous I woke up today and could do nothing but vomit violently from 9am to 2pm. And as you might deduce there wasn't anything beside stomach bile to throw up pretty quickly. Since this is already TMI, lets just say I didn't have the best of first days to a new year, pretty much just been in bed recovering all day. Apparently me and alcohol don't mix so well, something to keep in mind as a potential resolution.

Anyway, I want to wish you a good start to a new year and I look forward to many good times to come!

Some good stuff to usher out 2008.

Target women sums it up:



That segment is from this whole video, which is well worth watching:



enjoy! love to you all!

Inevitable question

What are your new year's resolutions?

I have two.

1) Go to bed earlier. At the latest 1, but shoot for midnight. Because re-run syndication on late-night TV is just unnecessary.

2) Do some form of calisthenics everyday: running, biking, sit-ups, push-ups, or stretching. Manageable enough.

And should I break resolution 1 watching that episode of Will and Grace for the umpteenth time, then I'll just have to watch it while stretching or related.