Motivation

I'm sitting on my floor and my body is t-i-r-e-d. I've in Week 2 of P90x and I've worked out every day (with thursday as my rest) included getting up at 5:30am to do the dreaded Core workout the morning after a show and before I had two client meetings. Let's just say I slept very well that night.

My theory was that I would somewhat watch what I eat, but wouldn't go nuts. After all, if I wasn't working out at all before, just adding the heavy sweat-inducing, heart pumping, muscle fatiguing workouts into my life would clearly melt the pounds away, right? Notsomuch. Gained 1/2 a pound. I blame Aunt Flo, honestly. . .and hopefully this week will be more promising. We shall see!

Also, I know nobody wants to think about this right now, but we're about a month away from the Fall TV premieres and I'll be doing my usual watching the pilot (or 2nd ep. . .depending) and blogging about it. Join me, won't you?

Right now I'm enjoying my three days a week of mind goo: Big Brother. Yeah, the people are total troglodytes, but I enjoy it. We all have our vices.

Downgraded Sims 3 style

In the Sims 3 game (which I'm completely obsessed with and play too much!), you can make friends and it goes from Acquaintance --> Friend --> Good Friend --> Best Friend. Just like in real life, you build the relationship by calling your friends, visiting them, hanging out with them in town. Well, if you don't talk to them for a while, the relationship is then downgraded and it says "John Doe is no longer a friend. You should try calling them once in a while to maintain the relationship."

Amazingly, I've experienced the same thing with some of my friends. Some were formerly really close friends and I see what they're doing via facebook and I'm like "wow, 1) that's an activity I would have enjoyed, which they know. and 2) I had no idea they were up to xyz." At this point, they definitely feel more like acquaintances than friends. The thing is, I have friends who I barely see or talk to, but when I do, we're able to pick right up where we left off and we genuinely care for each other.

For example, I hung out with my RA staff from college. . .many of whom I haven't seen in years and it was just like it was back in our heyday. . .joking, supporting, having a great time. And then there's Marla, my bff from high school who I can say the same joke I said 13 years ago, and she still laughs at it like it was the first time she's heard it.

It makes me wonder if the bonds with the downgraded friends were that strong to begin with, and if they can so quickly fluctuate between friend and acquaintance, if it's worth putting in the effort to keep it at "friend" status. Maybe the upgrading/downgrading is just a way for us to filter and keep only those in our lives who are truly glad to be our friend. . .and us theirs. . .no matter the distance or frequency, and not waste effort on those who are only your friend when it's convenient. . .

who would have thought this computer game where i run little fake peoples' lives would actually teach me something about my own life?

Sign o' the times

First and foremost - I need to correct a URL from a previous post. The Sims 3 homelessness blog is actually aliceandkev.wordpress.com, not blogspot. It's very good, so be sure to check it out!

The other day, I got an e-mail at work about a company in our building that went bankrupt and was giving away their remaining furniture for free. "Awesome!" I thought, "Maybe I can get a desk for nothing!" A bunch of us went to the office to check it out, and I'm thinking it was one of the smaller companies in the building, but in actuality, it was a company that took up 2 (maybe 3) floors. Walking around there, we saw their old kitchens, editing rooms, meeting rooms, and offices (every person had an office! jealous!). Bizarre antler chandeliers, cool modern art, and unique wall art in each office. Then. . .while scavenging through what was left, it hit me. . .all of those offices were once filled with people. All of those people are now jobless. They once walked into their swank office for the first time, excited to work in such a vibrant place, and now. . .who knows where they are or what they're doing. As I left, I looked at the door and saw the eviction notice from the building. They owed $173k+ in rent. Wow. It made me wonder how quickly the business went under, and if the people who worked there had any idea things were so bad.

Anyway, hopefully things will get better and no more swank office will have to go empty. With weird mismatched art. . .and furniture that won't fit in my apt. damn.

Sycophancy

I've noticed a disturbing trend of late. . .and if something is not done, it will take over our nation. . .nay, our world. People are becoming incredible suck ups. I'm not good at it. . .I try not to do it, but those times when I must, it always comes off as disingenuous, so I think it's caused me to spot it in other people as well.

We all have things we want to accomplish, and there are certain people can help us accomplish those things. . .but at what point does kissing ass help? You know you're doing it. . .they know you're doing it (or if they don't, they'll realize it when you ask them for something), so who is benefiting from this? Those of you who successfully schmooze, what are your secrets? How do you stay on this side of pandering?

I'm all for giving praise and letting people know when you've heard nice things about them. . .only because we all need it, and if that's how you feel, then why keep it bottled up? BUT, I think we can all agree that there's a difference between that and saying it to get noticed.

Let me know your thoughts. Where is the line? Is it possible to get what you want without shit in your mouth and ass on your lips? I'd like to think so. . .

Also, I'm going to add a poll - if I do a live blog of the Oscars - will you read it? I think I can actually post a poll on here, so you can vote anonymously! I won't be hurt if the answer is no. . .I just want to know if it's worth my while. Thanks!

Liz - Bridezillas

We have another request in! Yay!! The topic is: people who when they get engaged, think their weddings come before everything in your life.

I've only had a few wedding experiences in general, and most of them have been pretty positive. BUT, I've known enough guys and girls who have been in lots of weddings that there is plenty to say.

First, I'll say that a wedding is a wonderful event. It's the one time we think that these two people will defy the odds and stay together and grow old together. Your friend calls you with news about their engagement and you squeal with delight and rehash the proposal. You imagine their happy life together and how you are able to be a part of the the start of it.

Then come the demands:

1) Reserve the date. Hope it's not near anything else you wanted to do! Oh it is? Tough shit. It's my wedding and I'm a princess! Cancel your plans!

2) Bride loves outdoor pics. Bride also loves a winter wedding. It's my day, dammit! Smile until you turn blue, bitches.

3) I will force you to buy a dress. If you're lucky, it will be under $200. If not, well, I don't want you girls looking frumpy! Get a part time job! Oh, you don't like the color? Pay for a spray tan. Oh, it doesn't fit? Pay for alterations.

4) Oops! Did I mention the shoes? I need you to buy a pair and then have them dyed to match the dress. Yeah.

5) I hope none of you bitches were planning on getting pregnant this year. Because then I'm taking your dress and putting it on someone who could keep it in their pants.Ruin my wedding, why don't you!

6) You need me to pay attention to my job? Well too bad, because I have wedding planning activities to do. You understand, right? I mean, it's my special day and if I have gardenias instead of irises, then my marriage is doomed.

7) Oh, did I mention that I need you to fly to town for my bachelorette AND my shower? Unless I want to have it in Vegas. Then you need to fly there. . .and pay for your hotel and part of mine. Thanks!

So what's a bridesmaid to do? Where is it appropriate to draw the line? I have a friend who is in (not invited to, but IN) at least four or five weddings every year. Think of the list above, spending at least $500 on the dress, alterations, and shoes, then paying for travel to the wedding (if applicable), any hotel expenses, car rental, gifts, jewelry (oh yeah, some brides make you buy jewelry to go with the dress), not to mention any special undergarments that the dress might require (I have a bra I still don't know how to wear that has like 6 straps you can arrange 12 different ways. . .or something crazy) and then multiply it by 4. There comes a point where it's not feasible.

Sadly, that's when you have to prioritize friends. Ladies (and gentlemen), sit down right now. If you had to pick 8 of your friends today to be in your wedding, who would they be? Ok, with that list, when the requests come pouring in and you need to pick between friends, consult the list. Or get a job at Starbucks to fund Wedding Season.

Want me to write about something that interests you. . .or just give feedback? Check out my requests blog and post a comment with your request.
http://meauxdub.blogspot.com/2009/01/request-hotline-now-open.html

Also, I'm on Twitter now. Add me!

For Me To Poop On

I love Charmin. Love it. I don't even think they should manufacture other toilet paper I love it so much. My mom bought it exclusively when I was growing up. . .I just think I never gave other paper a chance. I'd come home from college and revel in replacing the icky Scott paper with my pillowy, soothing Charmin. And no, they're not paying me to say this.

Anyway, they make rolls that are HUGE (the Mega Roll), and it rubs up against the wall and does that thing where you only get like one square at a time until you finally work your way down to a fairly normal roll size and it starts rolling smoothly.

So, I'm carrying my 12-pack home (and working whatever muscle is on my inner arms) and notice that they have an offer for an extender which replaces your normal holder and swings out so that it will fit the Mega Roll (imagine a booming voice that echoes when you read that). Oh, and it's free! Free! I got it within a week and it was like Christmas all over again. So uh, get yourself one!

http://www.charmin.com/en_us/pages/extender_request.shtml

"Don't rip yourself a new asshole with those other toilet papers! Use me!"

Mike H - Cell Phone Yammerers

Hey! Why does Mike H get his name in the subject line? Oh, maybe because he made a request. Check out my request post and post a comment with what you want me to blog about (on any post really, I'll see it) and this could be you! You don't have to put your name, but if you do, I'll put it in the subject. Cool, right?

Anyway, I have plenty to say about people who yammer on their cell phones at crazy levels. Let me start though, by saying that I am anti-ringtone. My phone is almost always on vibrate because I can feel it when it rings, and if I can't, then I probably can't answer it. I don't like hearing people's ringtones. . .if it's in the other room, you'll hear it if it's on a table and vibrating. I also can't stand when people leave their ringers on at work. It's at most about 2 feet away from you. Just put it on vibrate. No need to bug the whole office with your weird factory-installed cell phone provider-branded tune.

Ok, back to the yammering. Mike lives in a big city, as do I, and it's inevitable that you'll get a loud cell phone user on your bus or train. They're talking all about some sexcapade or how they're SO pissed at so-and-so and HOW could she be so rude? I mean, what does she take me for? I don't have to put up with her shit, I mean I don't!

Everybody kinda looks at each other awkwardly trying not to laugh (it's even more fun if the convo is super personal and super loud). I actually had somebody on my bus tell her friend that she felt sorry for me because I was next to a girl who was talking about how her friend's fiancee died, but she needs to move on and not be such a bitch. Seriously.

I don't know if these people think they exist in the cone of silence and nobody can hear them, or if they don't realize how loud they're being, or if they simply don't care. In my head, I secretly want their boss or grandmother or someone to pop out from behind a newspaper and shock the hell out of these people.

It also sucks when you're walking on the sidewalk behind these people. It's as though their blood alcohol level shot through the roof, because they can no longer walk a straight line, and manage to block every possible way of passing them on the sidewalk. They also cut their walking pace in about half, and when you're contemplating tripping them, so you can step on their back to finally move past them, they end their call.

Finally, back to PT. Have you ever been on the bus next to someone who can't finish the bus ride sitting alone, quietly? I once sat next to a girl who made no less than 5 phone calls on the way home, so that she had someone to talk to. If only she knew I was there to listen. (awwwww. Not really though, that would have made me peel myself away from my iPod. As if!)

My badass side has this plan to call people out on their shit. I've narrowed it down to 3 options:

1) Start participating in these loud conversations:

Trixie: "OMG I was SO drunk! I don't even know where I woke up this morning!"
Me: "Totally. I'll bet it was super fun! whore."

2) Call my friend and start relaying all the details of their conversation as they happen
Trixie: "OMG. I was SO drunk! I don't even know where I woke up this morning!"
Me: "Mike, you won't believe this. The girl next to me doesn't know where she woke up this morning!"

3)Sit and stare at the offender as though you're listening intently to what they're saying. Super creepy like.

Instead I'll just complain about it passive-aggressively on here. Thanks for listening!


"I can't believe she would say that!"
"I know, what a bitch, right?"

Jack - Unwritten Rules

This is the first of my requested blogs (don't worry Mike, yours is next). That said, there's still time to make requests! So read the one before this, post a request, then start reading.

Made your request? Awesome.

Ok, so I don't know what it is about my Sunday post-improv class trips to Whole Foods, but I'll be damned if it isn't "Carry-my-baby-0n-my-person-palooza." I would never do such a thing because:

1) I don't have a baby
2) I'm wayyy too klutzy.

My non-existent baby shouldn't suffer because I can't walk without tripping. Now, these women always seem to think that their needs are most important. I had one cut in and cut me off while reaching for peppers. Sorry, just because your baby is dangling off your tits, doesn't mean that you get to go first. Invest in a babysitter and let me shop in peace.

My other favorite thing is using the stroller as a mechanism to get through crowds. If you're using that thing like a cattle prod, then it's not my fault if I accidentally hit it. I'm sick of people thinking that just because they have a baby, that means that they automatically get to come first in everything. Until I have one. Then back the hell out of my way.

Also, while I'm ranting. I went to see Slumdog Millionaire this weekend. Jack had to pick up meds for his cat, so after some bad bus luck, we decided to cab it from the pharmacy to make it there on time. We get there, go to the next to last row and sit down. There's two seats between me and the people next to me, and a guy shows up by himself and sits in one of them. There's also a seat on the other side of Jack. So, previews go by (the new Star Trek movie looks awesome!), movie starts, and we're about 5-10 minutes in when these two a-holes show up. The woman asks if anybody is sitting next to me and we tell her no. Then, she asks if we could move down, so they can sit together. I just stare at her blankly because I can't believe how rude this request is. We oblige and then they continue to turn on their iPhone during the movie which shines in my face. They did catch one of my dirty looks, so that made me happy.

Anyway, it's one thing to ask people to move down before the movie, or even during the previews. But when you're late and there aren't any contiguous seats, your punishment is the front row. This is a well-known fact, and we've all fallen victim to it once or twice. I was mad that they were so rude, and I'm also made that I didn't answer "yes" to the is anyone sitting there question. Argh. Damn you honesty!!

Oh, and if you lied before and read this without posting a request, do it now. danke!

Request Hotline Now Open

Hi loyal blog readers and commenters.

I want to write things you want to read (minus my post on yogurt. I just really like yogurt and want the world to know!). Soooo, I'm taking requests! Post your comment on any or all of the following and I'll write something just for you. Maybe I'll even name the blog post after you. hott.

1) As Seen on TV 2. Yes, I'm going to comment on the next round of Blue-Screen DRTV ads that you can't get enough of. Think Billy Mays. Let me know if there's one you want included.

2) Liveblogging. I tried it for the Emmys and it was ok. Let me know what event you want me to Liveblog and I'll do it (within reason. I mean, no porn or anything.)

3) TV Review. Any show you want. I'll review it. (note: I don't get HBO or Showtime or anything fancy. . .but I can be talked into paying a dollar to download a show if you feel passionately).

4) Anything else! Want to know my favorite Jello recipe? Improv warm-up? Drawer organizing tactics? Just ask!

Thanks for reading. I love all the comments and love even more that people are actually reading this crazy thing!

Also, as much as I hate to resort to talking about the weather, my widget says it's -10 right now and the Today Show told me this morning that I'll get frostbite if my extremities (including my nose!) are exposed for 1 minute. wtf? Does -10 feel that much different than -30? I say no. It's all motherf-ing cold.

Tuesday: The New "Me" Day

I've long hated Tuesday. It's not Monday where you're annoyed, but refreshed. And it's nowhere near a weekend. . .and it rhymes with "boo"sday. So this year, I've decided to make it my "me" day. Yes, it helps that Biggest Loser is on (that Joelle! What a nut!), but it's an evening that's all about R&R in 2009. The plan is to try to get out of work as close to 5 as possible, hurry home to throw in laundry, make dinner and catch up on DVRed stuff. Start Biggest Loser a little late to skip all the "coming up" footage and the commercials and bake something. Oh, and folding laundry. There's nothing better than having a hot heap of freshly washed clothes surrounding you when there are sub-zero temps outside.

I love to bake and barely did any of it last year, so there will definitely be more baking in 2009. Shameless plug: Need goodies for a party? I'm definitely willing to be paid for my wares (for just the cost of ingredients and minimal labor). Today I made swag bars, which basically taste like nutter butter filling and have chocolate drizzled on top. They're only 155 calories each! Definitely a filling snack. My coworkers will be enjoying them tomorrow.

Anyway, I say, when the economy is crap, the weather is crap, and work is crap, you might as well take some time to yourself to enjoy the little things.


"Where's Anna Platypus?
She's one hot chick."


"Why don't meow ever look at
me that way? meow meow?"

I'm Pro-Biotic!

I have a new love: yogurt. Seriously, I think I'm obsessed. I've moved it from breakfast to dessert and want to try every new, creamy, luscious flavor out there.

My newest habit involves going to Whole Foods, seeing what's on sale, and buying 2 (or more!). Naturally, I owe it to my blog readers to provide a review of the yogurts I've been sampling.

Brown Cow Yogurt:



They make three different kinds:
-Cream Top. This one is amazing!!! The chocolate one is my favorite because it's thick and rich yogurt with chocolate syrup at the bottom that you mix in. Better than chocolate ice cream!
-Low Fat: I don't think I've tried it
-Nonfat: Ok, I've had either this one or the low fat. Gotta say. . .they put these whole grains in it. . .it's nasty. It's like pieces of barley or wheat kernel or something in your fruity yogurt. It just ends up being kinda bitter.
So with Brown Cow, go big. Do the Cream Top and 15 extra minutes on the treadmill.

Rachel's

They definitely win the packaging battle. So pretty! And their flavors are stuff you can't imagine eating. . .so it must be good. For example: Pink Grapefruit Lychee and Marionberry Guava. Maybe the latter tastes like a coked out mayor and a tropical fruit. . .there's only one way to find out! Honestly, I had Rachel's a long time ago. I don't remember much about it. . .I think it was decent.

Yoplait Light Thick and Creamy


I quite enjoy the Key Lime Pie flavor and marveled at how they get it so thick. It's gelatin!! So basically it's jello yogurt. Two of my favorite things! I tend to get kinda sick of Yoplait and Dannon because of the artificial sweeteners, but I must admit my love of the Thick & Creamy. And please, get your mind out of the gutter.

Fage (pronounced Fah-yay)


So when finding this image, I also found the price. Almost $3 a container! It's really thick and good. . .although they have a 5% version that's 23g of fat! I had the 2% that's only 2.5g of fat and it tasted like it could have had 23. I even double-checked the label. I haven't tried the nonfat version, but I'm sure it's great. I've also heard people recommend using it as a sub for sour cream. If you know me, you know I could totally do a dollop of Daisy, so a yogurt that tastes like sour cream is perfect! Anyway, at the cost, it's a sometimes food.

Wallaby



Wallaby claims that their yogurts are made "Australian style". Apparently that means "Like Dannon, only a little thicker." It was ok. . .I only had a couple of the nonfat flavors, so maybe the lowfat ones are thicker. I tried Mango Lime and Pineapple Coconut, and they were just a little too similar for my liking. Cool cups though. . .

Also, thanks to all of you who commented about your favorite tv ads. I'll be doing another installment, so stay tuned! In the mean time, let me know what kind of yogurt you like. Unless it's that yogurt that makes you poop. I don't need to know about that.

As Seen on TV

Welcome back blog readers! Or rather. . .me. But it's weird to welcome yourself back to your own blog. Took the holidays off from blogging, and instead watched boatloads of tv. What I found is that it's amazing how we all have functioned without some amazing, time-saving products.

First, using blankets is hard. I mean, lie down to watch TV and you might as well be in a straight jacket, right? And then there's the sliding. oof! Well, aren't you lucky there's a Snuggie? It's a blanket with arms! What's more? You can also pretend you're a monk. Order now and you'll get a free booklight. Which is weird, because theoretically, the Snuggie should give your arms the freedom to reach a lamp. Oh well!



"Ok sweetheart, time to transcribe the Bible and give up our worldly possessions!"

To see the actual commercial, go to: https://www.getsnuggie.com/flare/next?videoID=ai195&bufferTime=5

You know what else sucks? When your hangers don't fit in your closet? Ugh, it gets so crowded and then you can't add more. Well, thank goodness for Wonder Hanger. You can hang up 5 (!) items at once and then collapse the hanger so it fits. Wait? What's that? If I order now I'll get a Bend-a-Hanger, so my clothes don't fall off the hanger? And a stick-up light? Wow! I'll have the most tricked out closet in Chicago! And you'll double my order? Think of all the Snuggies I can hang up in there. . .


Enough room for a party! And who has hat boxes anymore?

Oh, how did we ever put on jewelry before? Us women with our lack of flexible arms and long nails? Luckily the folks at Clever Clasp thought all about us. They're magnetic and lock? Awesome! Wow, I can get 4 gold ones and they'll throw in 4 silver ones AND jewelry extenders in each color for when my neck gets fat from laying around in my Snuggie all day.


Aired during the Price is Right "Stuff Old People Can Use" commercial block.


So as you can see, it's amazing the human race has managed to continue to survive without the aid of these terrific products. And if anybody can remember the name of the one that blocks drafts from doors. . .that should be in here too.

Operation 23: Day 15

Brrrr. I'm laying in bed in my comforter and my feet are freezing! The heater doesn't reach my room, so I have to sleep with my door open in the winter. Boo.

Today flew by. . .which could be good and bad. I have a ton to do, and it feels like I have no time to accomplish everything. The downside to all this holiday merriment is that it takes hours out of my work day when we leave early to go to parties, or have holiday lunches. . .or whatnot. Today was holiday party #5 - the account team outing. We left around 4 (or 4:15 if you're me) and headed to Elephant and Castle for some appetizers and drinks (or Coke if you're me again, thanks to my loverly sinus infectch). Typically our account team outings are:

1) long
and
B) way out of hand

This one only lasted 2 hours and was pretty tame. Fun fact: They don't do slumber parties in England! I learned that tonight.

Got my new knee-length down coat. . .just in time! Stupid deep freeze. It also has a hood. So crucial. What's worse than 5-degree weather? 5-degree weather and Chicago winds off the lake. If you've never felt your sinuses freeze, it's quite the experience. Thank goodness I'll get to be in balmy, tropical Cleveland soon. . .where it's actually warm enough to snow!

Have holiday party #6 tomorrow. Until then. . .

Operation 23: Day 10

For a split second today, I thought XMas is next week. P.S. It's not.

A rare quiet day at work. . .rather nice! I felt kinda directionless as a result, but whatevs. Nasty sinus pressure, which I never get! I had used a Neti Pot earlier in the day (YouTube it), and I couldn't get the fluid to come out my other nostil, so I was convinced it was stuck in my face all day. Yuck!

Got home around 6 and Got about 3.5 hours worth of stuff off my DVR. Yay! Was gonna make salad for dinner, but my lettuce was gross. . .like liquid gross. So, instead I had waffles (Kashi Waffles, so I feel slightly less guilty).

Tried the Neti Pot again and almost got it to work. Saw some of the gunk in my nasal passages (hope you're eating right now!), so I count it an almost success. Everybody on YouTube makes it look so easy. I think my sinuses are layed out like the streets in Shaker Heights (Google Map it. It's f-ing impossible to get around there).

Also cleared Dad off my XMas list and found my mom and he the coolest gift. I'll need to remember to tell you about it after the holidays. . .in case they read my blog. If you leave a comment, I'll email you what it is. It's great for snowy locations and it's only $10!

Ok, time for sleepy. yay! Gonna start the process on my 3-day brownies tomorrow.

Operation 23: Day 8

How come none of these days feel like I'm getting any closer to 23? sigh.

Had to get to the Blue Line in the Loop this morning to visit a client for a morning meeting. Decided to plot out my trip the night before on the CTA Website, got to the stop early and then. . .no buses. I then saw the bus I needed pass the stop, completely bulging with people, with no buses behind it. Awesome. Got on this not-so-express bus that didn't really go near where I needed, and ended up almost knocking over a couple post-menopausal women to meet my coworkers.

There has to be little worse than a half day meeting to start off a Monday. I want some doctor to give me a medical condition that indicates my inability to focus throughout a 3 hour meeting. They're brutal. I'm also a little bitter because I had scheduled a vacay day for today. . .

Some weird vibes and defensiveness in the office, but I'm so past taking the blame for shit that isn't my fault. So annoying.

Got home around 6:15. . .downright early! Finished up my South Park script (actually formatted it. . .blech) and watched the uber creepy Duggar family.

Gift idea: www.wholesomewear.com. I recommend the culotte suit. hott.

Operation 23: Day 5

Got a couple days behind. . .so let me catch up!

Work on Friday was notsogood. I think the lack of sleep and general weariness finally got to me and I reacted to something in a way that's incredibly a-typical of me in any situation. And that's all I'll say about that. And no, nobody got hurt. :)

We got to leave around 2:30 to head to our Holiday Party, which was at 10 Pin (upscale bowling alley). We played some practice rounds, then played for points and I did not do well at all! I think I practiced too much, so by the time it counted, my wrists were pretty sore. Luckily my team was filled with a bunch of ringers, so we had the highest score of all the lanes (ok, there were only 4. . .but still. . .). Then we did trick bowling, which was AWESOME! Below is a list of what we had to do and how I was at it:

Under the person's legs who bowls after you (good!)
Backwards through you're own legs (horrible!)
Eyes closed (good!)
On your knees (good!)
Opposite hand (good!)
1-footed (horrible!)
Kicking (horrible!)

Fun fun! We then went to Harry Caray's where we saw the bartender film his Comcast segment. Afterwards, everybody applauds and they ring a bell, and he does a little bow. Cute.

Bowed out after a drink (that I actually left on the bar) and headed home on the bus - saw one of those new heated bus stops. They're ok. . .not as warm as I thought. Got home around 7pm and fell asleep at 8, waking up around 12:30am. I was mad because I was supposed to meet up with a friend who is visiting from out of town, but I think the week just caught up with me. argh.

Operation 23: Day 4

Oh my gosh y'all. . .I'm tired. Got home around midnight from some post-work drinks with former coworkers. I miss them lots.

Was a little late to work today. . .oh wells. Work today was ok, but my coworker basically threatened that I wouldn't be able to go to the holiday party if he didn't approve of a presentation that we have to give on Monday. He decides to bring this up around 5pm. Oh, and he neglected to mention that it needed his approval. . oh. . .ever? So I'm mad and just say "I'm going bowling. This deck will get done". So he says "Maybe you should check with your boss." So I not only check with my boss, but I check with 2nd in command at my company. Dude, don't f- with me. If you're going to be an asshole, I'll make sure everybody damn well knows about it.

Anyway, Carrie and I headed out to John's bday drinks thing in Ukie Village, see Jennifer, eat lots of tater tots, tell lots of stories. Melissa shows up and we tell more stories (including one about some people with a pet raccoon!) and we head home. I leave my winter hat in John's car. Doh!

Ok, need sleep. Realized I have to get up early both Saturday and Sunday. blarf.

15 days ago?!

I just noticed that I last posted 15 days ago. That's insane! I guess I owe you an explanation as to what I've been doing and why I haven't been posting. My days go something like this:

-Wake up
-Get annoyed by someone on the bus
-Spend a dizzying day at work trying to keep up
-Get annoyed by someone on the bus
-Make pasta for dinner
-Don't go to the gym because I have a cold/watch Biggest Loser
-Shower (yeah, I shower at night)
-Read
-Sleep

Throw in a trip to Columbus and Thanksgiving without a secure Wifi connection, and no blogging for me.

Anyway, I'm sitting here watching Legally Blonde for about the 30th time (seriously, I could do a 1-woman show playing each character and reciting the dialogue. . .but so can most other girls in their 20s). The real gem I'm waiting for is the "Addicted to Food" and "I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day" double feature on TLC. Can you beat that? No. You can't. It's not widely known, but TLC has the best shows (with the most direct titles) on Sunday nights. Example: "Half Ton Mom" followed by "Half Ton Dad".

Anyway, we're about to start the calamari trail at work (2 holiday parties this week alone!), so I'll post when I can!

Creepy Comparison

Watching The Wizard of Oz right now and just noticed that these two people look very similar:

Wallowing in Self Pity

Right now, I have a mild cold. Not terrible, but just annoying. I've decided to spend the day "Getting better", which really means I'm just sitting around watching cooking shows. Oh, I went to the library too. I don't know about you, but I hate getting sick. Usually, the realization progresses as such:

(small tickle in nose or throat)

Me: Oh no, I'd better not be getting sick!

(check Zicam package. . .see it expired 2 months ago)

Me: Dammit! No magic bullet this time. Fine. Fine. I'll just drink lots of water.

(nose starts running, need Kleenex)
Me: How did this happen? I've been eating my vegetables and working out? It must be work. Damn work for making me stressed out and compromising my immune system. Damn it! And why don't I have the lotion Kleenex on-hand? When do I use Kleenex except for when I'm sick? Why the hell would I buy the kind without lotion. Great. Now I'm in for a week of nose chafing.

(wake up)
Me: What the hell is going on with my throat? What day is it? Do I need to go to work today? Do I have any sick days left? No? Dammit! How little makeup and hairstyling can I get away with today?

My other regimin usually involves soup, saltines, and Gatorade. . .although I've had none of those this time around (only a mild case. . .don't need to pull out all the stops).

As annoying as colds are. . .they're nothing compared to the flu that went around last year.

Anyway, it's time for phase 2. . .spicy food to clean out the sinuses. Awesome, right?

What is your cold routine? Any good tricks you can share?