I Can't Stop Listening to Barbra's Christmas Album. Seriously.

Hello internets!  Just wanted to check in, as this is my first time on a real computer since I came home to oHIo for the holidays.  Also, my gmail was hacked, and I've heard the blog isn't showing...but it worked for me.  So let me know if you're reading this.  Helloooo, anybody out there?

Home is great.  Lots of food, napping, friend time, babies to hold, walking in snow (though I'm jealous of the blizzard they got in the northeast!), layers of clothing (my parents keep their house FREEZING), puzzles, driving, showering only every other day (and that's being optimistic...), shopping, etc.  Last night I went with Britch, her two sisters, her Scottish boyfriend and my friends B&J and their kid to see the Christmas lights at the zoo AND THE POLAR BEAR.  (That was the best part.)  Today I dropped some major bills at Victoria's Secret and that was pretty fun, then I had coffee with a school chum, her lovely husband and mother and newborn baby!  I held the baby for awhile and felt my ovaries sigh.  Tonight our family friend (my "aunt") is coming for dinner, then I'm heading over to watch Inception at my friends' house, then tomorrow I'll maybe have coffee with my old Sunday School teacher-turned-adult friend (NOT in that way, gross), and then tomorrow night is family time, and then Thursday is when Hike arrives in the afternoon, so there will be house cleaning and leg shaving to be done.  I miss him and can't wait to see him, and I'm very curious about how he'll fit in here in the midwest.  I mean, I know he'll be nice and pleasant, but I'm interested to see this Long Islander discover the Anthony Wayne Trail.  No, that is not a euphemism.

When Hike's here, we'll be going to the Scot's 30th birthday party downtown (ohhh yeah, rockin' Toledo), then New Year's Eve is a party at Britch's sister's house (where she's living), then Saturday we'll go to a Walleye hockey game with my parents, and then Sunday will be church and dinner and then he leaves. :(  But it should be a fun time full of Toledo goodness and some day-down time.

And now I'm off to help set the table, but I wanted you to know I was alive and well.  And that for two nights in a row I have had very strange erotic dreams -- Sunday night's was about Alexis Bledel (I KNOW), and then last night there was one involving Ian Somerholder (sp?) and a vibrating chocolate orange.  Indeed.  And with that in mind, happy holidays to you all!

Just the One Problem, Really

Sometimes I wish my vagina could talk.  I would say "Just tell me what's wrong, little one," and it WOULD.  And I would not have to alternate between thinking "Oh, what, this early bleeding?  It's nothing, the antibiotics just overrode my birth control." and "OH MY GOD. My insides are falling out." 

I also need a new doctor.  I hate my doctor's office, at least the staff.  They are the worst.  I wasn't even going to call and then roommate thought I should just to ask, and now I have to call back at 1:30 when he's in, after an unnecessary argument with the nurse lady about which doctor I saw on Friday.  Yes, I saw a different doctor because mine wasn't in the office that day.  It's not a big deal and we do not need to debate who my "normal" doctor is.

The only help that I've found on the internets is this interaction mention: Until further data are available, women using oral contraceptives should be advised of the risk of breakthrough bleeding and unintended pregnancy during concomitant antimicrobial therapy.

So I'm going to imagine this is breakthrough bleeding, since nothing hurts and my other symptoms are all gone.  Oh, and don't worry, there's no chance of an unintended pregnancy right now.  I just keep thinking that I hate my vagina, which is not fair or very positive and pro-women, but damnit.  I should become a nun.

Making the Yuletide Gay Since 1981

Hello snow angels.  Happy Tuesday!  I'm lucky that I'm finally mostly caught up with my work, because I can't focus for the life of me.  I'm so busy organizing my personal life that I'd say I'm only putting 50% effort into the work tasks.  Oh well, happy holidays!

So let's talk about how productive I've been.  I'm such a nerd because this makes me very happy.  Last night I wrote the majority of my Christmas cards after I went to the gym and got back on the elliptical for the first time in forever (I usually prefer the bike).  Then I was at the DMV License Express this morning at 8:40, later than I wanted to arrive, but I was in and out in 10 minutes -- it was so easy and quick!  TWSS.  I also got a glimpse of my new photo on the computer screen when they were processing my renewal, and I think it's an improvement over the bloated horridness of my old one.  I hope.  While my bonus after taxes isn't quite enough to cover my student loans ($400 ish short), I'm going to use a bit of savings and get them paid by end of week.  I'm in good shape with work (despite my lack of effort) and tonight I'm going to cook dinner for Hike.

I plan on making these chicken apple sausages with whipped or baked sweet potatoes and some braised greens that I will invent.  It should be yummy and seasonal, and he already told me it sounded "intoxicating."   I mean, I'd cook anyway, but it's more fun when someone else is amazed.

I can't stop eating the Godiva chocolates that someone sent to our office.  I keep taking comfort in the fact that they're almost gone, but I'm sure another gift package of goodies will arrive soon.  God, I have no willpower whatsoever.  Our work holiday party is going to be at this Brazilian steakhouse, heaven help me.  It's one of those where they bring you meat until you signal that you don't want anymore, and all the guys are already talking major eating contest.  Whereas my goal is "enjoy myself and do not make myself sick."  I mean, that's sort of my life philosophy, but specifically at a meat buffet.  It's this Friday for lunch, and then we'll go out afterwards (if I can stand up) for more drinking festivities.  It'll be fun, but my level of nervousness about my own lack of self-control is ridiculous.  I need to get a grip.

So now I think I've decided that I want an iPod Nano for Christmas (since my oooold iPod isn't going to last much longer), but I'm going to ask my parents.  Well, this is all rambly since nothing exciting is going on, but isn't life grand, mes amies?

And that's what's in my head today.  How is it only Tuesday?  Why isn't it NEXT TUESDAY and almost the holiday?  I am SO EXCITED to go home to Ohiooooo.  Because it's round on both ends and hi in the middle.  Yeah, that's right.

Your Love is Like a Rollercoaster, Baby

And now let's talk about what else has been going on with little ol' me. Last week was a big one for feeling productive.  I finally got caught up at work, so while there are still some minor settling-in issues (mostly having to do with our computer network), I am much calmer and on top of things.  I also got my yearly review, which was entirely positive and glowing, and I'm getting a raise and a large bonus as a reward for my efforts.  It's very exciting!  I'm going to use the bonus to pay off my student loans, so I will be debt-free by 2011.  I can't wait!  Oh, and I finished my Christmas shopping for the most part, too, so it was a good week for being organized.

But the same day as the review, I got a call from my doctor's office, as I'd had a lady-doc checkup on Monday of last week.  So they needed to see me on Friday but wouldn't tell me why, which spun me into a panic overnight.  I hate HIPA rules because I should be able to sign a waiver saying GIVE ME INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE, ASSHOLES.  At least we had Harpie dinner on Thursday (theme: Bingo's birthday, so each dish had to start with one letter of the word Bingo), so I was distract and reassured by my dear friends. 

Friday morning (after paying $50 copay for a specialist and then waiting 90 minutes to sit with a doctor for a 5-minute conversation) I learned I have a bacterial infection.  I'm not going to give you details, as there are some things that embarrass even me, but basically I am not sure how I contracted it.  That said, it's easily fixed with a strong dose of antibiotics (that I took on Friday, which promptly made me spend the afternoon in the bathroom), so medically I will be/am already fine.

Saturday I went to the gym (yes, I'm back!), ran errands, and caught up with Britch and my mom on the phone.  Then Hike picked me up to go watch the UFC fight with his friends.  Yes, I know.  Initially it was going to be a larger group and still fun (despite the homo-erotic man wrestling) but it ended up being his one guy friend and the two of us.  Standing in a packed bar.  And not eating dinner.  I got a bit low-blood-sugary, but after the fight we shared a sandwich and I perked right up.  Just in time for everyone else to be tired and leave.  It was still a decent night, and I earned points for being "a good sport," as he put it.  Besides, I looked pretty, and I needed to spruce myself up after spending Friday night with him in my PJs with no makeup.  Though he still thought I looked great.  Le sigh.

Sunday I met up with Schmauren and Schmess for dinner at Vesta, and it was delicious and fun.  Such a good treat at the end of a rainy day!  It was good to catch up and eat some meatballs and roasted cauliflower with raisins and pine nuts.  And have a glass of wine.  Siiiigh.  Schmillie went to visit Schmauren this weekend in Boston and I was living vicariously through the stories -- I miss Schmauren and Boston!  I'll have to go up soon.  And Hike came over to Vesta for a few minutes to meet Schmauren (since lives across the street), but then left us to have a ladies' dinner and he went to stay at his brother's for the night.  Then I walked home for bed, full and happy.  And sort of drenched.

And foodwise, I've been good at eating well during the week and on the weekends except for my meals out, and my weight is hovering in the 135-136 range, which I'm pleased with.  I think my goal for the holiday season is to not go any/much higher than that, and then in the New Year I'll try to drop it lower. 

Tonight I want to go to the gym after work then write out some Christmas cards, which will be healthy.  What won't be healthy is the ENTIRE APPLE PECAN STREUSEL PIE that my neighbors gave me for feeding their cats over the weekend.  Argh.  I'm going to freeze 3/4 of it so that I can still have some treats this week, and I think that will help me keep control. 

This week will be relaxing, as it's pretty open and I can enjoy being Christmassy at home.  I started watching the movie Date Night last night, and may I say that it is surprisingly good!  I've even laughed out loud a few times.  And James Franco and Mark Wahlberg are in it!  And that girl from That 70s Show and Forgetting Sarah Marshall who's name I'm forgetting.

Anyway, I think the health situation is resolved for the most part, and I'm entirely head over heels for Hike, and now I just can't wait for Christmas vacation!  I was feeling so good last week and I think the universe gave me an infection as corrective to how amazing my life was, but shove it, universe -- it's still going great.  Or another option is that God decided that I'd just have one really shitty year (2010) but he'd give me a light at the end of the tunnel, and then 2011 could be the best yet.  I'm going with that theory, I think. 

Thanks for reading to the end of this book, champs.

My, How Time Flies

Welcome, friends.  Pull up a stool, as we have lots to catch up on!  Well, sort of.  I've been quiet, though -- I'm sorry.  I'll have to break this up into a few posts, but I missed you all.

Let's see, we left off right before my birthday party, correct?  I had a bunch of friends out to Sweet Afton, and it was a great time.  The turnout included Hike, work friends, Harpies, Munchers Minus One, Astoria buds, and some others.  All of my worlds were colliding, but I think it went really well!  I did not get too drunk, but I certainly enjoyed my beers and that quarter of a grilled cheese sandwich, that one fried pickle, and some cookies that Schmeather so kindly baked for me.  (Bakes!)  So needless to say, I hit up the taco truck on the way home.  My poor boyfriend wasn't feeling too well, so he was mostly drinking club soda all night, but he stayed as long as I wanted to, helped cover the tab, and paid for my tacos before driving us home.  Which was especially fantastic as it was FREEZING outside.  That walk seems a lot longer when it's 20 degrees out.

Saturday was a lovely relaxing day (I can't even remember what I did, but a lot of it involved phone calls with loved ones), and then Hike picked me up at 7 for my surprise birth-date.  When I got into the car, he gave me a card on which he wrote lovely things and a really nice sweater that he picked out for me!  He also gave me a present that his mom had sent along for me, which was some wonderful-smelling bath products from Victoria's Secret and a nice card, too.  Then we embarked on the birth-date.  We drove into midtown to go see the Rock Center tree and take pictures. It was all Christmassy and fun, and I hadn't seen it this year because I don't work in that area anymore, so I loved it. 

Then we had 9 pm reservations at Spiga on the UWS.  He'd been there once before and was raving about their pumpkin gnocchi, and he'd been wanting to bring me, and I am very glad he did.  The meal was phenomenal.  First, the place was nice and cozy and small and warm, and then we started with a crab- and shrimp-appetizer with a citrus dressing and avocado in a PARMESEAN BOWL, people.  Amazing.  Then we shared the aforementioned pumpkin gnocchi and the duck breast in cognac sauce with baked apples, walnuts, sweet potato and cabbage.  I was just in heaven, and closed my eyes a lot in a food orgasm.  I could not have imagined a better menu for me.  Plus, it was all very romantic.  Oh, and he still wasn't feeling well but he really rallied for the night, which I completely appreciate.

So after dinner he took me to this "secret" Moroccan bar which is a secret because you'd never be able to find it from the street, or actually walk down the stairs, unless you knew you wanted to go there.  There is one small menu outside and no other signage, but downstairs it's all stone-walled with candles and rose petals and cushions and small rooms and Moroccan music.  It was very romantic and I felt like I was in Europe!  Funnily enough, his brother and sis-in-law had pulled up behind us in their car while both parties were driving around looking for parking, so they ended up coming with us to the bar for a drink, which was nice.

Anyway, we had one drink at that bar and were pretty tired, so we headed home, but it was such a great birthday.  I felt so cared for.  Oh, and I looked hot -- I wore a new dress from Express.  It's black and has "bandage" strips on the lower half and a drapey upper half with a V-neck and a bit of short sleeve.  I looked super trim and curvy in the right ways (if I say so myself), and I put my hair up with a pouf then a high pony, and it was really fun to get sexy for the date. 

Sunday I don't remember at all, but I'm sure it was relaxing...

And thus ends the birthday recap, a week too late.  More soon!

Flames, Flames...on the Side of My Face

Allright, another something went wrong at work (this time it's our error-prone billing database) so instead of getting angry for the fourth time this morning, I'm going to take a blog break.  As much as I love the new office, I will be very relieved when things start running smoothly and I'm working on normal daily tasks instead of putting out fires.

So, how are our weeks?  Let's see...on Monday I came home from work and was so tired and it was so dark out, I believe I just watched some tv and then took a bath and then read in bed (a biography of the writers of Nancy Drew) and went to sleep on the early side.

Tuesday night I was again so tired after work, which seems ridiculous after 8 hours of being in an office, that I decided to go back to the gym after a long break. So right, renewed my gym membership, rode 16 miles on the bike and did a little tricep work, and it woke me right up!  I love those endorphins.  I'd missed them.  So then home, dinner, reading, bed.

Yesterday I went home after work and used my super strength to lug an old broken TV out of our living room to the curb.  We'd been waiting until we could have a man help us (because roommate thought we'd hurt ourselves) and finally Hike was going to do it with us last night (heh) but then I sort of got determined and didn't want to deal with it while/after cooking dinner and eating, etc., so I just put that puppy on a towel, dragged it to the front door, then slowly maneuvered it down the stairs.  When I had 3 stairs left, my neighbor guy came out to help, but I still can take most of the credit.  So right, I didn't get hurt, did it alone, and felt very proud.

Then I made Schmate's Famous Beet Salad with Feta, Hike came over, I served him a delicious dinner of chicken sausages with spinach and feta (and a hint of rosemary) on toasted Italian rolls and the beet salad.  He brought an extra DVD player that he had at home (which is better than our actual living room DVD player) to keep in my bedroom, and then we watched the first Harry Potter.  He hasn't seen them all so it'll be a goal to get through them over the next few weeks.

Tonight I plan on just getting my nails did after work and relaxing a bit, then tomorrow is my birthday party at Sweet Afton!  At least 15 people are coming, and Hike will meet loads of friends, and I can't wait.  Then Saturday is our romantic birthday date that's a surprise, and it'll be wonderful.  It's almost here!

Tales of Bravery

I left off on Saturday, so let me tell you about the rest of my weekend, since I know you're ENTHRALLED.  Saturday I slept in, finally, as I'd thought I'd lost the ability.  Then up for some coffee and cereal, then a big shopping excursion to Steinway Street in Astoria.  I bought two dresses and a top cheaply from the discount store on the way (Famous Brands) and then hit up one of those shoe/purse/jewelry stores to stock up on 50% discounted costume necklaces and earrings, as well as find a new purse.  I'd just bought a cheap one recently from Rainbow that I liked, but the lining was falling apart after less than a month, so I was on the hunt.  I spotted a Jessica Simpson bag (horror of horrors) that I really liked (not based on the designer) and it was 20% off, so I decided to "invest" and get a bag that should last for awhile.  Then I stopped at Victoria's Secret to use my $10 birthday month gift card and buy some good smelling bath stuff, then to Express to destroy their dress section.  I was so pleased after trying to find a birthday party dress at a billion stores last week -- they had such a selection!  And when I was heavier, I could never shop at Express, since I think their clothes are cut on the narrow, long side.  But GUESS WHAT, I can now!

While tallying up my purchases in my head, I called my mom to ask if she wanted to buy some of that stuff for me for my birthday, since I hadn't given her any ideas yet and we'd usually shop together on Thanksgiving weekend, anyway.  So it worked out well, as she agreed.  I bought one sexy bandage dress (in black) that's super tight up to the abdomen and then has a draped v-neck top, and then a color block one with a ruffled, army-green skirt and black tank top that I'll wear to my party, and then another more casual color-blocked one with a teal top and black skirt with pockets that was on sale.  Also, that was a size 2.  The black dress is an XS and the other is a 6!  I could've, possibly should've gotten the others a bit larger, but they didn't have any larger sizes and I actually think they look fine because of the cuts and stretchy fabric.  So that was fantastic, then I bought two slimming blouses I can wear to work (which will go great tucked into a pencil skirt) and then four pairs of tights.  Total score.  And I opened an Express credit card so I saved about $100 dollars.  Whew, shopping high!

Home for a bit, then I went to meet Schmannon and Schmeather at JJ's for sushi in Astoria.  It was delish and I gave them my turkey day(s) recap, and then we got some peanut butter hot chocolate from Il Bambino and headed to Shannon's to relax for a bit, then Schmeather and I took our leaves. (?)  I was home around 9, and it was great, as I was worn out from my spending.

Sunday I slept in again, then met up with Hike on the UWS and we went back to his brother's to watch the end of the Giants, game and the Knicks' game.  And they both won!  I'm no longer a jinx to his teams, which is good.  While there, Hike finalized his itinerary with me and bought his tickets to come to Toledo for New Year's!  He's going to come in the daytime on the 30th, and he'll be able to go to Britch's Scottish boyfriend's birthday party that night, and then our New Year's House Party on the 31st, and etc. until he leaves on Sunday.  I am so excited.

We left after the games to catch our 5 pm showing of 127 Hours, and good lord.  I was so scared, knowing the gore that was going to come, but the anticipation was actually worse than the fated scene.  (I won't say it here in case it's a spoiler.) I did not love the movie but I survived it, and then we went to Rosa Mexicano for some delicious Mexican goodness.  We had to wait awhile, so we had a cocktail at the bar and then finally go to our table.  We shared the guacamole (medium!) and a Budin de Pollo that I would have never ordered but loved, and then some crab empanadas (meh).

[redacted]

Wow, I feel rambly now.  I'm sleepy, and it's not even 10 pm!  Thank you for seeing me through the dark times, dear readers, and listening to my stream of consciousness.  Goodnight!

Thanksgiving Day the First

Good morning, angels.  I have tons of work to do today, but I feel like I want to start recapping this looong past weekend for you first.  I owe you that much, right?  We'll start with Wednesday and Thursday for this post.

So we finally had internet and functioning computers at work on Wednesday, which meant I was scrambling to pay the bills before the long holiday.  It was a good day, but I only barely unburied myself from my to-do list.  I left a few minutes before 5, as the office had pretty much cleared out and the big boss said I could.  I went home to drop off an Anne Taylor Loft bag I'd purchased in the afternoon (2 pairs of gray pants! 40% off!) then met Schmeather and Schmannon at Mad Donkey in Astoria.  It was fun and we were treated very well, as luckily for me, those ladies are good friends with the owner.  Hike came by later on as well, and got to meet his first few of my friends.  I think it went well, though some of us (ahem) had done more shots than others (not me this time!)  But everyone seemed to like each other and it was a very fun night.  Then we left at about 1 in the morning (possibly?) and went home. 

Thursday, off we went to Huntington Station, Long Island.  It was a wonderful Thanksgiving, and as I couldn't be home with my family, I had the next best option.  I felt very welcomed and loved and thankful and well-fed.

Disney Songs are Playing in My Head

Well, it's appropriate that I have Joan Holloway on a billboard outside of my office window, as we didn't have internet at work until today, and I felt like I was working in the 1960s.  (We also had to shut down the computers for long stretches so work could be done.  Don't ask me what.)  But that meant we had time to unpack most everything, which was a big relief, and now it means I'm scrambling to make up the computer work I couldn't do the past two days.  My big goal for tomorrow is to pay a giant stack of bills, but it should be quiet (famous last words) as most people are leaving to travel for Thanksgiving, so I'm optimistic.

The move went well, as you sort of know, and once I'm fully settled in I'm going to be really happy in my own office.  With, you know, guest chairs and a door and a window.  So thrilling.  I'm also going to bring in a lamp to set the mood.  Thanks for those extra lamps, HarperCollins.  (Mwa ha ha.)

Let's recap the weekend!  Friday night I was so loopy after the busy week with not much sleep.  I was talking to my mom on the phone and apparently not making much sense, as she said "Oh honey, go to bed.  You sound insane."  So yeah, I watched some Millionaire Matchmaker (UM, how cute is Caroline Manzo's older son from Real Housewives of NJ?) and then conked out around 10 pm...and woke up at 8:30 on Saturday.  I mean, that was a good amount of sleep, but I was hoping for more.  I had leisurely coffee, cleaned my room, and then got a mani/pedi.  I had a date planned with Hike for the evening, though I didn't know what our plans were, so I'd offered to go into the city to hang out with Schmillie for awhile and keep her company during a rough patch.  Turns out Hike had wanted to drive out to Long Island to a restaurant he loves, which is such a romantic idea, but I felt like I was needed in the friend department, so we postponed those plans until another time.  He was very understanding with me not being able to commit to a time or plan, and it worked out that I met up with him at 9 and saw his apartment and met his roommates.

So then we went to Mojave in Astoria, a spot I've been wanting to try for awhile.  It was really romantic with lots of low lighting, and the food was AMAZING.  We shared the Chicken Spinach Mole Enchiladas and a Blue Crab Quesedilla.  Then we went to this Czech bar across the street from his apartment and had two beers and just talked and got goofy and all that.  Sunday morning I lounged around here, gabbing on the phone to Britch (who is back in the States!) and Schmauren, and then went to see the new Harry Potter with my roommate and a friend.  It was good to see it, but man, they are killing me with this Ron and Hermione tension!  (That's not a spoiler, right?)  Then bed on the early side.

And then it's Thanksgiving!  I'm sad to miss my family's celebration for the first time, but I will be pretty distracted by the fun of spending the day with Hike and meeting his family.  (Now I just have to figure out what to wear.)  We're just going for the day, and we have plans to watch a Harry Potter movie marathon at some point during the weekend, too.

So right, I'm thankful for my life.  I'm thankful for loving friends who will listen to me yammer in the best and worst of times, for a fulfilling and rewarding job that doesn't require much extra-curricular effort (not counting last week), for a family that always lets me know how much I am loved and missed, and for God's incredible grace and generosity.

Move It or Lose It

Whew!  I am a normal person again after ten hours of sleep last night, and now I can tell you about my week.  Let's do it in bullets, shall we?  I love bullets.

• Tuesday night was Harpie dinner, and the theme was Men.  I made pigs in a blanket with a delicious balsamic mustard dipping sauce (also with apple slices.)  We had this mustard at the beer pairing party, and I'm obsessed with it.  Try it.  Our main course was Manwiches (made by Schmate), prosciutto-wrapped asparagus bundles (which were p-in-v), and Tom Collinses to drink.  Our dessert bringer, the only actual man, couldn't make it at the last minute, which was sad.  But there were plenty of penis jokes without him.  I also had a minor Chrohn's situation, even though we didn't eat any cheese, so I have to rethink my theories about that.  Maybe the Harpies just cause an attack?
• Wednesday I had to work from 8 until 7, and then because that meant no time to make dinner, my understanding and patient man brought over sushi and chicken udon at 8 pm.  We tried to watch Killers with Ashton and Katherine Heigl (hate), and it was awful.  
• Thursday was the big move day.  I got in at 8:30 and then left from the new space at midnight.  It was such a strange day, because we were all packed and done by noon, and had pizza and a champagne toast at the old office.  Then one of the managing partners (the more fun one) and I walked to the new space and killed time, and then we met up with four of the lawyers (who were free after lunch) at The Ginger Man for two beers, then split up and I went back to the old space then the new one (I was just killing time, basically).  I met back up with the fun managing partner and we went for tapas and sangria for dinner (it was very romantic) and then back to the space to help answer layout questions as the movers delivered stuff.  It was a super long day, but parts were fun, and I had good bonding time with the boss.  I'm hoping they remember all this at bonus time this Christmas.  I was in bed around 1 am, and entirely dead on my feet.
• Friday I was back at the office at 9 am, and it was mostly an unpacking day.  We had donuts for breakfast and pizza for lunch, and I was seriously loopy in the afternoon from exhaustion, but I felt like the move went well.  If they could just connect our internet (and e-mail), we'd be in business.  Friday evening I came home, watched Millionaire Matchmaker in bed until 10, then off to sleep until about 8:30 this morning.  I wish I could have slept in more, but I did sleep for a long time.  I may nap this afternoon, too, just because I still feel a little behind.  But much better today.
• Side note:  I'm feeling Smee's total crush on me a bit more again, which is fine since he's not actually going to do or say anything about it, but I'm not sure if I should mention that I'm seeing someone.  I mean, it would be awkward to be like, Hey, just wanted you to know... but I also don't want him to think I'm single or think something may happen when I'm currently off the market.  I'll probably just leave it, but I somehow wonder if he should know.

I think that covers it. Anyway, I want to be more positive starting today, since I have the move stress lifted off my shoulders now, and a fancy new office with a window and mismatched wooden furniture, and a cute boyfriend.  Life is grand.

Baggage Check

But before we get into that, let's recap!  Friday night I was suddenly super exhausted after work, so I came home and climbed into bed to watch some Fringe until a reasonable bedtime (9ish, I think), take some sleeping pills, and conk (konk?) out.  Our receptionist at work has another cold, and I wanted to make sure my immune system was in fighting shape for this week's craziness.  I was up early on Saturday and managed to get some laundry done and relax before a monster nap again in the afternoon.  Saturday evening I met up with Schmillie to see Due Date, about which I'm still conflicted.  It was alternately hilarious, touching, disgusting and boring.  But it was definitely an interesting evening.  Also, we smuggled in Pret sandwiches and cider doughnuts from the farmer's market in Union Square.  So that was a score.  I was back in Astoria around 9, so I met up with Shmannon for a few beers and some surprisingly good live music at the hole-in-the-wall McLaughlin's on Broadway.  There were no shenanigans, though.  We were mature (because Shmannon made the call.)

Sunday I woke up and was very productive in giving my room a thorough cleaning (with vacuuming! and dusting!)  I texted with Schmillie for most of the afternoon, and then Hike called to solidify our meet-up plans -- 4 pm on the platform to head into the city early.  We got some food, nursed some beers (he only had one! I had two.  That's reasonable.) and watched the Giants be really disappointing.  But it was lovely.  And then over to MSG for the Knicks to be also disappointing.

This week will be crazy, too, so I wanted to post something up here while I could.  Work is all about the move, which happens Thursday evening, and I have Harpie dinner tomorrow night (theme: men.)  Wednesday I have book club and then Hike is coming over for dinner and a movie at my place, and then it's the BIG MOVE and then finally the weekend.

High in Sugar

As I've mentioned, this week is crazytown at work, but it's also had some highlights.  Tuesday night, the young female attorney here had won a free happy hour at The Public House, so we used that opportunity to celebrate our Goodbye to the East Side.  We drank fast and well, and I had four beers in an hour and a half, which got me good and drunk.  I cabbed it home and was in bed by 10:30, but yet still hungover the next day.  It's really a speed game, as evidenced by my slow burn last Saturday compared to Tuesday night.

Hike came over for dinner last night, and I made that Harvest Pizza from the Beer Pairing Party (since he didn't get to try it that day) with salad.  He thought the salad was delicious (it was just lettuce, yellow pepper, cuke, tomato, toasted pine nuts, and my special sauce) and the pizza was AMAZING, and we watched tv and hung out for the evening.

This weekend is about to begin.  Tonight I am exhausted after not sleeping well last night, and staying up past my bedtime anyway, so I will hopefully do some laundry and then just relax.  Tomorrow evening I have a movie date with Schmillie, then some 16 (Love) Handles fro yo, then home at a reasonable hour, and then Sunday evening is the Knicks game with Hike.  That should be a lot of fun, since he's a huge fan and super psyched about it.

And that's what's going on in my manic panic head today.  Happy weekend, lovers.

Brews & Bros

Wow, I've been silent.  I apologize.  Work has been crazy; they upgraded all of our computers and our server last weekend, so this week has been a mess of putting out fires and dealing with the move and ordering new furniture and insurance certificates for deliveries in the new building, etc., etc, etc.  I am a bit stressed but I feel that things are mostly under control, and it'll be nice to be done with the move and look AWESOME, but yeah, not so much playtime this week.

What can we catch up on?  Last weekend was great.  Friday evening I went over to Schmate's apartment for wine with the Munchers, since Schmauren was visiting from Boston.  It was a lovely evening of ladies, wine and cheese (these are a few of my favorite things), and then when Schmate's sisters arrived in town, the other three of us headed downtown for a few more beers, then Schmauren and I cabbed it back to my place, got giant sandwiches at the deli on the corner as well as delicious Dorito flavors and Cinnamon Bun Ben & Jerry's (best when eaten in the same mouthful as Sweet & Spicy Chili Doritos).  Then bed (separately but at my apartment).  Then Saturday we grocery shopped, made our Harvest Pizza for the Autumn Beer Pairing Party (butternut squash and sage sauce, topped with mozz, blue cheese, prosciutto, carmelized onions), got cleaned up and headed to Schmess' house.  We had fifteen people there, and it was great!  My favorite beer was:


I very much recommend it for fall and into the winter.  And then a small group of us hit The Sparrow, and then on my way home I heard from Shmannon that the crew that had left to see Pee Wee on Broadway was coming back and going to Sweet Afton, so I met up with them for one more beer.  10 hours of drinking and not really drunk, my friends.

Boy-wise, the party was interesting.  Hike was in touch all day but couldn't make it after all.  So the Marine was there, and boy did he get belligerently drunk.  I'm still not sure how EVERYONE else drank him under the table, but he was saying mean things, calling me a bitch (actually he'd slur "Stephanie, you're so attractive...and you're such a bitch,") and word came out that he has a girlfriend who is living in Italy, and he was basically flirtateous and then quickly became an asshole.  It was so strange, as I'd never seen him like that.  Finally as the party was winding down, Schmess and I went to a bar with her boyfriend, two of his co-workers, and the Marine, and apparently while I was in the restroom at one point, the Marine very quietly puked INTO HIS PINT GLASS OF BEER.  Yeah...then he left and went across the street to the beer garden for dancing?  He wouldn't listen to us telling him to get in a cab, so there's a point where you just have to let them go.  Especially if they're stubborn Marines.  I'm not really sure what the right thing to do there was, but after being verbally abused for a few hours, I was ready to let him go.

Sunday I just relaxed at home and got my nails done and worked on a freelance editing project.  I wasn't too hungover, weirdly, but most of the drinking was sort of slow and I got more sleepy than silly on Saturday, which was probably for the best.  It was a great weekend, and so good to have Schmauren back in town for a brief visit -- it felt like she never left.

Ok, more on this week, etc. in the next post!

Sedatives, Please

Oyyy I think someone slipped me some caffeine last night.  I couldn't sleep until after 1:00 am, which is way too late for this little princess.  My eyes are tired and sore today, and to top it off, I forgot to bring my eyeliner, so I look rather dead.  Today is going to be rough.  I was just up worrying about the gamut of things I could possibly fret about, and my brain would not slow down.  It's so aggravating.

So today!  I have dodgeball late, at 8:20, so I may be able to get a nap in beforehand.  I'm also tentatively Skyping with Britch, but I can have it all, right?  ANNNDDD in sad news for Britch but happy news for me, she has to come back to the States for awhile until she can get her Visa in order to live in London and get her PhD, so that means she'll be in Ohio at Christmas and I can finally SEE HER.  It's been a year, I think, which is the longest we've ever been apart.  *Sniff*  And I can meet her sexy Scottish boyfriend when he visits for the holidays, too.  Amazing.

My haircut last night was lovely, and on the way to the salon I walked through Madison Square Park to check out the doggies (aw) and then through Eataly, which wasn't so crowded on a Monday evening and was very interesting!  It's a little overwhelming, but not as crazy as I'd pictured from reading about it, and I'm glad I saw the whole Italian market mall in person.  Hike and I were texting, and I mentioned where I was, and he said he was just going to check it out too, on his way to an open house (for an MBA program at Baruch), but he ran out of time.  Otherwise we would've run into each other (or not, as that place is large.)  How romantic comedy that would have been!  We have so much in common. 

Then after a battle with the MTA that resulted in my finally hailing a cab at 63rd and Lex after being underground for almost an hour, I ate dinner, watched HIMYM, then read more of my freelance project.

I was thinking about this as I lay awake for hours last night, and I have such a romantic pattern ingrained in me -- that of pursuit, of always needing more attention/affection, of chasing.  And to be really psychoanalytical about it, I know it can be traced back to my childhood.  I had very loving parents, don't get me wrong, but I had a very busy Dad who had to be away from the house a lot for work all day and then again for meetings after dinner at home with the family.  I never felt unloved, but I definitely felt like he wasn't around and I wanted to see him a lot more.  But then when he was, it was so special and exciting -- and sometimes we'd go roller skating!  So basically I formed this pattern of drought then flood, in terms of love or time spent together, which is one of my main "love languages." 

I'm not trying to be creepy about this, just aware of why my brain both loves and hates unavailable men.  And why I sometimes get cranky about this one that is super-available.  I'm also not complaining -- I feel very lucky to have met Hike and to have his attention so readily.  So now I have to make sure to appreciate what I have and to relax when I feel like we're talking too much and we have nothing to say.

Anyway, those are my deep thoughts for today.  I don't even want to get into my inferiority complex at work, which is another topic that I worked to death in my brain last night.  (Along with panic about the possibility of having a boyfriend, fear that I'm still hung up on Mex, nerves about mixing my two worlds this weekend, etc.)  Maybe some other time -- aren't you excited? 

OH, but I read in an astrology guide that people born on my birthday are destined to be worriers.  So it's not my fault.

Halloweekend 2010

Hello, ghouls and ghosts.  Did we all celebrate in style?  And by style, I mean with home-made costumes and possibly 3:00 am pizza in a parlor full of drunk weirdos?

Let's catch up.  Fridate was great. Hike walked to pick me up, then we went to this Thai place on Broadway (Benjamin's) that his friend had recommended. It was good food with a weird Asian-attempting-to-be-romantic atmosphere, but it was nice. We shared two entrees and a bottle of wine and dumplings, and had good conversation, as usual. He also managed to read my mind when we were deciding what to order, so we apparently have similiar tastes, which is convenient. Then we went to Crescent Lounge for a few drinks on the way home. We ran into his friend on Broadway while walking back, and I was being sized up before I realized he knew the guy...I hope I wasn't drooling or something. So then couch cuddling at the Lounge then home.

Saturday after a panicked search for my Indian feathers, went to meet Schmillie at Schmate's. We hung out, searched in vain for the light switch, and drank wine. Then we walked to the party, which was sort of too much, I think. Just loud and clubby and hard to get drinks because of the line at the bar, but we managed to have some fun. It was good to see other friends in great costumes, however--including a group of Troop Beverly Hills ladies. Hike and I were attempting to meet up (he was with his bro, sis in law, and others) but it was getting very complicated as they kept moving and he couldn't say where they'd be, and I nearly gave up, but then around 2 am we left the party and he was up in the 50s (at Black Finn) so I cabbed it up there for a drink on my way home and Schmil headed to the train. I met everybody, we sort of danced a little, I shared his drink, and then we all went for pizza, which was the best way to end the night. I love seeing a pizza parlor full of costumed drunk people!

Sunday I slept in, watched DVR, ordered a pizza (I know), read half of a manuscript I'm editing for freelance, and that's about it. It was a nice recovery day, since I didn't have anything to do anyway except read. So that was 'Weener 10! I think next year I'd rather do a houseparty or small gathering with costumes and wine. My old age is showing.

Tonight I'm getting a haircut, yay!  I love getting my hair cut, and it only happens about 3 times a year, so I'm planning on relaxing and enjoying as much as possible.  Also, today I'm wearing a size 4 pair of dress pants that haven't seen the light of day in 2 years, so that is exciting.  Wow, lots of numbers in this paragraph.

Anyway, now that November and cold temps are here, let's all start listening to Christmas music.  I broke out my red coat this morning plus my checked hat, so I'm feeling very Mary Tyler Moore today.  Let's hope the week zooms by, as I'm so looking forward to the weekend again!

Happy Halloweener!

It's my tied-for-favorite holiday tomorrow, and I am so excited.  But oh Friday, won't you end?  I suppose I can live 40 more minutes, but I am sluggish.

Tonight Hike is taking me to dinner, Thai, in Astoria, at 8 pm.  I still don't know where, and I'm debating jeans with heels vs. dress with tights and heels.  Oh, dating.  But luckily he picked 8 pm, because that gives mama time to go home, shave, shower, blow dry hair, and then NAP.  My eyes are drooping as we speak, so I'm grateful for the extra time.

Tomorrow I'm most likely going to a swanky private party here with Schmillie.  I'm going to resurrect my Indian costume and she's going to be a lesbian cowboy.  The best part is that Schmate offered up her Murray Hill apartment to us as a place to get ready while consuming wine, and that means we don't have to schlep our stuff to one borough and then another.  So convenient and generous! 

That's my weekend, but it's going to be lots of fun.  I can't wait to get it started.  And then on Monday I'm getting my hair cut, which is always a relaxing experience.  Especially when it starts to feel like dead weight, as it does now.  Tuesday is dodgeball, and we'll see what the rest of the week has to offer.  On Saturday it's our second Beer and Food Pairing Party, this time with fall brews, and that's always a blast.  I am going to invite Hike to meet some of the friends, too...I hope he can make it.  I've never been so proud for someone to meet my friends before.  So many new things with him! 

That's about all.  Oh, I ate a giant quesadilla for lunch.  But I have to wait till 8 pm for dinner, so I figured I was allowed!  Maybe that's why I'm so sleepy, though.  Stupid cheese that I love.

I Just Threw Up In My Mouth a Little

Holy cannoli, folks.  I weighed myself this morning because I could spare the time and because I keep tabs on how far things have (or have not) gotten out of hand, and I weighed 136 lbs!  My lowest ever weight was 134 (on my cheapo scale, which is the Bible here.)  I am so pleasantly surprised, considering I haven't changed much in the way of diet lately, I've only increased my activity level by a few long walks last week, and I'm eating leftover "weekend food" for dinner three nights this week.  But it's motivating me to be even healthier, since I'm so close to lowest, and then maybe to goal!  (Not that I'm as goal-focused as I used to be.  I'm happy-focused.) 

I just looked back at my first weight-related post on this blog, and I weighed 150 pounds at the end of last year.  I can't believe that I let myself get back up that high--I've already forgotten about that.  But that also means that while this year has been more about keeping the weight off that I'd lost previously, I've managed to progress.  In fact, I'd venture to say I've improved in all three main categories of this blog.  I'm feeling really content lately.  Or I should say today, since you know how mood-swingy I can be.

Obviously we're not done, as we're never done, and I'm still really terrible at discipline with the smoking.  Any sign of stress and I'm back on the sticks.  I really think I need to put in more mental effort before picking a random day to quit, so I'm formulating a plan and consulting some resources.  More on this soon, I hope.

That said, I have cut back on my drinking--or drinking to the point where I make unwise decisions and/or feel like I want to die the next day.  I can tell a difference in my general outlook, and it's really positive.  My skin is better thanks to Proactiv.  I usually feel pretty or at least cute.  My body isn't the worst, and my legs are ROCKING.  I have fantastic friends who do fun activities with me and who probably saved me this summer, and I'm very thankful for my life right now.

So, smoking, diet, mental health are the orders of the day.  And by mental health, I include trying to BE COOL about the Hike thing, and any other dating situations that may arise. 

Food today has been healthy -- the Curried Zucchini Soup with almonds for lunch, yogurt with pear slices soon, and tonight will be my last serving of Sweet & Sour Chicken from Sunday's order.  After work I'm going to walk to return a book to the library and then either Skype with Britch or call my mama.  And then max out and relax.  Tomorrow's supposed to be back to fall weather, which means it'll be more fun to dress for my date.  I wonder where we'll go?  I feel more excited because it is a Friday night -- is that weird?  Oh, clearly I'm obsessed. 

Man, this whole post was very high in sugar.  I'm sorry, readers, but I guess this is better than how I was last summer, right?  You know what I did last summer.

Happy humping, folks.  How's the week going?  I had a fantastic time at last night's Sound of Music sing along.  Turns out it was not quite as I expected -- there were no drag queens, no costumes, and no rowdy groups.  Instead there were some old couples and lots of women our age, as well as some random thugs, which was sort of charming.  Everyone was very hesitant about the singing in the beginning, but soon we all warmed up and began to belt it.  It helped that we also started heckling, like hissing when the Baroness came on the screen, and booing the Nazis.  Soon we were like one big family, we the audience, and I sort of wish all movies were like that.  It was so interactive.  It also helped that Schmillie and I killed a bottle of wine before the "insert 2nd tape" part of the movie.

It was also just amazing to see it on the screen, fully restored.  I really enjoyed the details in the scenery and the costumes that I'd never been able to see, as well as the subtle facial expressions, and laughing at Schmillie's creepy childhood crush Kurt, and my obviously gay childhood crush Friedrich.  So after a shaky start, I'd say the sing along was a success.

Food today is usual, except I skipped the cereal as I wasn't hungry for it, though now, an hour after soup, I'm starving, so I think I'll eat some now.  It's OK to rearrange!  Oh, and I have been eating pretty heavy foods for dinners since I had so much leftover from the weekend, so it'll be Sweet & Sour Chicken for dinner tonight, but at least I'm practicing portion control.  It would be good to get some exercise, but I'm so tired today after many late nights in a row that I don't think it'll happen tonight.  I have DVR to catch up on after I get the veggies, anyway.  Oh, but we're signing up for a winter share with our CSA, which they'd never offered before.  It looks exciting -- we'll get produce, "value-added items"??, dairy (cheese, yogurt, eggs, butter, milk) and occasionally ground beef and/or chicken.  And it's a monthly pickup, which makes it easier schedule-wise (though maybe not bag-carrying-wise.)  I'm looking forward to local cheese THE MOSTEST.

Happy rainy, crappy Wednesday, friends.  Hope you get to be lazy, too.

Your Life, Little Girl, Is an Empty Page That Men Will Want to Write On

So in less than an hour and a half, I will be participating in the Sound of Music sing-along screening, and I CAN'T WAIT.  I'm super sleepy and loopy today, because I had a nightmare (about stupid work) that woke me up at 5 am, and I couldn't fall back asleep and was crying from dream thrall, and then I was hungry so I ate leftover crab rangoon, and then I finally drifted away again at 6:30 or so.  It was an exciting morning.  But I'm absolutely going to be in fighting shape for singing, and I think the bottle of wine Schmillie and I are smuggling into the theater will help.

Work went quickly, however, and no one made me cry in real life (which always makes for a good day), and now I'm eating yogurt to try and get food in my tummy before wine and Maria problem-solving. 

Harpie dinner was fantastic last night, as we checked out one Harpie's new apartment in Williamsburg and he also made us delicious pumpkin lasagne.  I think we were more sedate and adult than usual, but it was very nice to see everyone and catch up.  And I had a really quick and cheap ($13) cab ride home, which was much better than an hour-long train ride.  Yes, NYC, people want to travel between Brooklyn and Queens.  Crazy, I know.

Hike texted me yesterday afternoon and we chatted all evening (with spaced-out messages) and today. Anyway, I think we're running out of things to text about now...so I'll tell him to have a nice dinner at Rosa Mexicana and leave it.  But I still get smiley every time my phone beeps.

AND I'M OFF.  To Austria.  Later, my favorite things!


Edelweiss - Sound of Music - Christopher Plummer's own voice from Mark on Vimeo.

Miscellany

Oh, and I forgot to tell you that Sleeve texted me last night, after two weeks of silence.  He said "What up stranger??"  I ignored it.  If he texts again to call me out for the ignoring (as he has before), I'll say something about how I don't want to start this up again.  Such a weirdo.

Also, my boss complimented me today.  He came by and said "By the way, have you lost a lot of weight?  You look great!"  I said thanks and quickly moved on, but it felt uncomfortable.  Especially after the appraising eyes he's been giving me.  I tell you, something about a pencil skirt with a belt really does it for the menfolk.  And ew.

Love Handles for All

Happy sad Monday!  I am really loving the weather today, and I had a great weekend, so once again I'm in a good mood.  Now if I could just make myself do some work.

Let's recap!  Friday I had a friend date with Schmillie to see The Social Network, then we had dinner after the movie at Republic and then got 16 (Love) Handles frozen yogurt, and I tried PUMPKIN. It was good, but I think pumpkin-flavored dairy needs to be full-fat, as it got a little chemically after a few bites. Saturday I made a Curry Zucchini Soup, then got my nails did, then napped, then met Schmess and her bf and Schmess' visiting friend for dinner at Il Bambino in Astoria (along with two bottles of wine) and then beer at Sweet Afton, where our friend the Marine from d-ball met up, too. Hike was possibly going to be in Astoria that night but ended up going out in the city with his bro and friends, so I didn't see him but we texted all night and said flirty things, etc. Sunday I nursed my hangover for awhile, skyped with Britch, then Hike picked me up at 4 to see The Town. We had discussed going to see Paranormal Activity 2 and I was saying I'll be terrified but I'd try it, and then on Sunday I was like "Um, is there anything else you might want to see, perhaps?" and he did want to see The Town so he gallantly did not force me to be traumatized by PA2. So The Town. I think I was a little disappointed (did I become a movie jerk recently? Maybe.) because it moved slowly at parts, but you know how I LOVE terrible (read: awesome) Boston accents and Ben Affleck in track suits, and I got plenty of that. There was also a preview for another Boston blue-collar Ben movie with COSTNER that I am excited about. So movie date then dinner after at 5 Napkin Burger (yum), and then home to hang out/watch Fox cartoons/make out a lot. It was a good date.

NO, I'M NOT GETTING CARRIED AWAY. But I'm enjoying it. And trying desperately not to get crazy or worried, to various degrees of success.
 
As far as Rockabilly goes, I forgot to tell you last week that there was never any communication so the "date night" passed by silently, and I'm good with that.  After Hike said he wasn't signing onto OKCupid, he asked me, and I said it'd been about a week...and that was as far as we took that conversation, but I want to see what happens with him without further hedging my bets.  At least right now.
 
Tonight is Harpie dinner at someone's new place in Williamsburg, and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and the new apartment!  Our theme is "spooky" and I'm making zucchini latkes that I will call mashed brains and/or guts.  Then tomorrow is SING-ALONG SOUND OF MUSIC, which is going to be amazing.  (Yes, I'm blowing off dodgeball.  Tough luck, suckers.)
 
Oh, and food this weekend was mostly a disaster, though I still feel skinny today.  Weird!  I did walk home from work on Thursday, and I'm sure that shaved POUNDS off.  Friday we ate good noodles (I had Pad Thai), Saturday I had crostinis for dinner, and Sunday I ordered crab rangoon in the morning and then had half a burger and Parmesan herb fries at dinner.  Alas.  My goal for tonight is to not feel sick to my stomach after dinner -- here's hoping!
 
KFC you later, lovers.

Crazytown

[redacted]

I had a nice outdoor (slightly chilly) last-minute lunch date with Schmillie today, and I'm considering walking home from work (I know, I'm sort of amazed myself since I haven't moved this body in AGES), and I'm loving my iPod again after some time apart, and things are good.

Oh, and today Schmillie and I bought tickets to THIS.  I CAN'T WAIT.

Food today: The usual, except for eating some croutons from Schmillie's salad.  Oh, and my afternoon snack was Craisinets, but they're only 100 calories and 4 grams of fat.
Stomach today:  Being a bitch again.  I don't want to have to go back to the doctor and swallow a CAMERA like a Magic School Bus book!  No!

It's almost Friday, lovers.

If You Believe in Fairies, Then Clap Your Hands

Good morning!  Happy humper day.  I'm in good spirits -- it's a nice, cloudy Fall day, work is going slowly but surely, and I think I'll be able to have a night to myself tonight.  I haven't heard any more from Rockabilly, so I think the date (that was scheduled for tonight) is not happening.  I feel pretty relieved.  My new plan is to hit Rite Aid on the way home for some supplies (I love buying drugstore items), then home to get the hippie re-usable grocery bags, then off to pick up the week's veggie share.  Then it's time to FINALLY watch Sunday's Mad Men!  Though certain things have been spoiled for me by the internets, I still don't know exactly what happens, and I'm pumped.

Things are going well with Hike, and we've been texting.  I'm entering a familiar emotional worrying cycle now, actually.  It has three points, all along a circle:
1.  Get giddy and excited and all day-dreamy about Object Of Affection.
2.  Get concerned that I'm wearing rose-colored glasses and OOA will most likely prove disappointing, probably by disappearing or betraying me.
3.  Realize I'm over analyzing the situation and try to relax and enjoy the ride (literally or not).  Then back to Step 1 and repeat.

Ok, the points are labeled wrong on there and not even legible, but you get what I'm saying.  Am I ever going to outgrow this?  Am I ever going to be able to control my BRAIN?

So dodgeball was frustrating, as usual, with stupid people complaining about the game and other stupid people not following the rules (there is a LINE for a reason--stop hogging all the playing time, dick), but then we went to the bar afterwards for three beers (the third is free) and it was fun to hang out with Schmess, her bf, and the other cute boy on our team.  (The engaged guy wasn't there, which was fine.)  I've always had a small crush on the other cute boy (let's call him Marine), but we have a definite "buddy" relationship.  Then last night Schmess told me she thinks he likes me.  We polled her bf, though, who didn't agree, so that made things less complicated.  Marine wants to hang out with us this weekend, like the group, and I was worried that meant I shouldn't invite Hike, but we determined that it's Marine's responsibility to make some overture to me if he does indeed like me, and otherwise I'm perfectly free to be dating other boys.  So there.

WOW I need to find something else to talk about besides boys.  Is it grating?  Or is this why you love me?

Food today:
B - coffee, honey b's, milk
L - soup probably
D - bbq pulled chicken, english muffin, veg of some sort
S - yogurt or cottage cheese, decaf coffee, Jello-O Mousse Temptations (which are orgasmic)
Exercise - Walking around for errands.  Shut up.



His Eye is on the Spaaaaaa-rooooow

Ho hum, it's a mellow Tuesday afternoon.  Not much to report, but now that I'm Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit of blogging, I wanted to get my daily fix.

In other news, I am quitting smoking, though I don't feel like my motivation is exactly where it should be.  I bummed one cig today, but otherwise it's nic gum for me.  I know intellectually I don't want to smoke, but it just seems like I can (always) wait a little longer to stop.  And it's not even that great, it's just a cruel mistress, that nicotine. 

I'm supposed to have a date with Rockabilly tomorrow after work, but so far I haven't heard from him about specific plans.  I wonder if it'll just go away?  I wouldn't be upset if it did, and I'm waiting to let him make the overture.  It's strange since we only talked for about 10 minutes when we met, and we've had some text conversations, but that's it.  I'm the opposite of invested, so we'll just see if I hear from him.  He's also been OK at keeping in touch, just sort of at the last-minute about things, so that might be what's happening.

OH, let's talk about Sleeve for a second.  After the "things will be different" conversation, then "oops I forgot we made a date again" night that he came over, he ignored my invitation on that Saturday to come out and drink pumpkin beer, so when he texted Sunday to say "sorry, I wasn't looking at my phone last night" I just said "Why am I not surprised."  And that was the last convo!  It was over a week ago now!  I am kind of glad that I don't have to try to stop talking to him again, that it just stopped, but man, I wasn't even that mean so I'm surprised he went away.  I'd certainly been meaner before!  Anyway, I am happy that the caliber of men I'm spending time with/talking to has improved recently.  Aren't you proud of me?

I guess that's it today.  Tonight I have dodgeball at an early enough time that I think we'll be able to hang out and have some beers afterwards, so that should be fun.  I can see my engaged boyfriend and the military man I have a crush on, and that's always nice.  And I know I'm not writing down my food today, but once again I don't know what I'm having for dinner -- probably a salad from the deli before the afternoon is over so I can be tided until the beer drinking starts.  It's not ideal.

Oh that reminds me--for dinner last night, I ate the other half of a cheeseburger and fries from my dinner on Sunday night (that made me sick), and it hurt my tummy again!  It wasn't quite as bad, but I don't know if I need to avoid the red meat or the cheddar or the fries.  I think I can have limited fried things without problems (I had fries last Wednesday on the date, even), so maybe I can't eat meat?  Or was this burger particularly dangerous?  The hurting started like before I even finished eating, so it's clearly an immediate reaction.  I hope I don't have to go back to the doctor.

Hellooooo lovers.  How are we?

Let's talk weekend.  Friday night I went home with Schmillie for a yummy, healthy dinner that she made, which was a whole-grain tortilla wrap with chicken, kale, onions and tomatoes, and a little manchego.  So good for us.  Then we went to the Brooklyn Ethical Society (wine in tow, in a water bottle) to see a friend play bass. We caught the end of the "first act" who was really good (and the boy was cutish), then the second act was terrible and the leader of that band was just really cocky and also, after they'd played a song or two, he turned one way in the spotlight and we realized he had a giant goiter on his cheek. Then we could not stop laughing (Schmils was crying) so we waited outside the room until they were done sucking. Then friend's band was good and he sang and it was fun. Then we went to a bar for a beer (and I could have possibly had a love connection with the accordion player but I didn't have the energy) before heading home on the subway like good (tired) girls.

Saturday I met Schmammi for brunch at Il Bambino, which was lovely and chatty and we compared online dating notes, then we walked to my library so I could get the book club book (and one non-fiction about the creators of Nancy Drew! I'm so excited!), then she got the train and I walked home for room cleaning and a nap. Hike and I were texting and he had plans with friends in Astoria that night and asked if I'd want to come along, and though he didn't know the exact plans, he'd keep me posted. I wanted to have a drink with Schmeather and/or Schmannon, but Schmeather was meeting someone in Manhattan and Schmannon was going to a wedding, so I hung out at home for awhile, taking a bubble bath, reading, and having an upset stomach (I don't know why!) Al called to see if I wanted to play pool, but I ignored it.  I may be mean, but I have to be, right?

Around 9:30 Hike texts again and his friends had decided to go into the city but he stayed in Astoria, so we made plans to meet up for beers. (I was feeling better by then.  I chewed Tums, swallowed Gas-X, and something seemed to work.) He picked me up in his Altima (oh yeah) and we went to Sunswick. It was an awesome date two. We drank Pumking beer, talked non-stop, enjoyed the live music, made fun of Frenchies sitting near us, bonded with the bartenders, and were increasingly romantic.

Then Sunday I spoke to Mex (I tried to call Saturday and he gave me this whole text rigmarole about how he was busy and he'd call Sunday, and I said it wasn't fair that it was on his schedule, and he told me to pick a time Sunday so it'd be on my schedule, and I was like whatever, I don't know when on Sunday but we'll talk.) He apologized for texting, I said I'd like him to delete my number and I don't want to talk to him while he's drinking (I meant like in general drinking, in his life, but I think it came across as literally while he's drunk, but whatever), and he said he thought of that too so that it wouldn't happen again, so he'd do it when we hung up. And that was mostly it -- he said he's been "thinking" about the drinking problem and trying to be better, but yeah, heard that before. But instead of getting into it I just thanked him (for agreeing to delete) and said goodbye. It was fine and I was plenty distracted by the Hike thing to be too sad.  And Schmillie's the one who advised me to call him and ask him to delete, and I think it was a good idea.  I don't want to live with the threat of a looming Mex-Text Bomb (aka a burrito?) over my head.

So then I Skyped with Britch for a bit, napped, then met Schmannon and Schmeather at Mad Donkey for a beer and a burger, then I got sick in a bathroom way and went home. I was watching Fringe, and Hike texted and we chatted a little bit, and then I went to bed.  I am really excited that he's been so communicative with me -- he hasn't really given me time to worry about him disappearing.  Not that that means he won't, but so far I've been very sane with this thing, if I do say so myself.

I'm pretty crushy here, but we'll see how it goes. It feels so new and different with him, and that's good. I don't think I'm ahead of myself, though...but I'm enjoying it!  And then I have a date on Wednesday with someone else (not from online), so that should at least give me a distraction IN CASE I get too worked up over Hike.  Hike knows about the date, too, so no secrets or possible guilt problems. 

Tonight I need to do some laundry and that's my main, very exciting plan.  The week will be busy-ish again with dodgeball tomorrow night and then a date on Wednesday, and HOPEFULLY a third date with Hike in my future.

Just When You Think You've Gotten Away With It

My office is a ghost town today!  I have a feeling I'll be enjoying the bounty of the internet quite a bit.  I also tracked down the lady singer from the Avett Brothers concert, so I'm checking out her Youtube offerings, though there is not much.  What do you think?



The Munchers are discussing starting a month-long self-improvement game, that involves setting personal goals and getting points for reaching them.  It's sort of a competition, but with friendly encouragement included.  I think we're still working on details, but if it doesn't take off soon, I'll start on my goal list myself.  One of my items is to track my food again, so we'll be returning to that shortly.  In fact, I can do it today, though I don't know what I'm having for lunch yet.  I let myself buy (and I get one of those a week!)

So last night was a much-needed night in.  I got home and Skyped with Britch for an hour and a half or so, and we got all caught up and my psyche feels more balanced again.  Hike texted me during the day and I was pleased.

Oh right, so other than the fact that I need to trim down a bit for myself, as well as work these muscles again, as I can tell I'm not as flexible as I used to be, I also want to make sure I'll feel OK taking off my clothes in front of Hike or someone like him.  Ha, this is why I always liked slightly chubby guys, I think.  Hike is really fit and seems smooth and it makes me nervous to be all jiggly and lumpy.  So yeah, another motivating factor.  I mean, who knows if it'll happen, but I must get prepared.

As I was falling asleep last night (early! finally!), I was thinking about the Mex situation, and how I'll handle it when I'm more seriously dating someone new.  As in, how I'd talk about it, or what I'd do if we ran into him in the neighborhood.  I think the latter would make me very uncomfortable and I'd want to leave the establishment (if it were indoors), but I am not sure how to explain that to a suitor.  It's not that I want Mex back in my life, or that I still have romantic feelings for him, but I just still have a lot of pain and anger about what he did.  And I feel like that will seem as if I'm too hung up on it, and I probably AM too hung up on it, but I don't know what to do.  I mean, I'm progressing, I just don't want to turn somebody new off.  Anyway, I'm not looking for an exact answer, I'm just mulling this over. 

So right, then at 5:30 this morning I am awakened by a text message.  My phone just beeps once and doesn't usually wake me up, but I must've been rolling over or something so I wasn't as asleep.  Anyway, it's Mex (and we haven't talked in awhile now -- maybe nearly 2 months?) and he said "You were right."  I immediately roll my eyes and think "Oh god, the baiting of an alocoholic," because my friends who are more experienced with the disease have taught me about this.  Then the second thing I think is "Oh god, does he have an STD or something else horrible?"  (I wasn't entirely awake, obviously, and I am a worrier by nature, as you know.)  So I respond "About?"  Dumb move, Stevie.  He then is like "Oh, u r awake!" etc.  He misses me, he wants to see me, and then he tried calling, and I ignored it all.  The last one was just a pleading "baby" and for fuck's sake, man.  It was him crying wolf, being wasted, and being lonely, and it's sad.  I will say it's slightly better that I wasn't entirely awake at the time, because when I woke up for real this morning, it sort of just seemed like a bad dream.  (And I later dreamed about snakes, so you know, they connected.)  And I'm also encouraged that I'm not totally messed up by hearing from him, or hearing such things from him.  I'll admit it's nice to know that I'm not missing out on anything, as he's still a drunk, desperate loser, and it's also nice to know that YEAH it's not that easy to get over me, shithead.  But you know, in general I don't want to think about it much, and I think I can accomplish that.

Right, that happened.  But onwards.  The weekend should be great, and nice and cold and fall-ish!  Today I have fun lunch plans with the two local Munchers, and then tonight I'm going to Park Slope to see a friend's band with Schmillie, and at first I was thinking "Oh, I'm too old and tired," but then I realized that 1) I miss her and 2) I don't have much else planned this weekend, so that's lame.  Tomorrow I'm having brunch at Il Bambino in Astoria with Schmammi (where I didn't get to go on my brunch date last weekend), and that's it so far.  I know Mars (my date from Monday) has a wedding in NJ this weekend, so he won't be around, but perhaps Hike will want to meet up.  That would be lovely.  Happy Friday!

Food today:
B - Honey Bunches, coffee, milk
L - soup & half sandwich at 'Wichcraft
D - TBD
S - beer tonight

I'll Pommes Your Frites

Stevie, reporting for duty.  Let's talk about last night.

Before the date began, I met up with my old boss in publishing, the fabulous MoMo.  We had a drink at Bill's (aka Bill's Gay Nineties), I met her ex-boyfriend, and we caught up for an hour.  I wish we had longer, but she'll be back in town soon.  She's so supportive and fun, and I miss her.

The Avett Brothers concert was amazing. The curtains opened on LANGHORNE EFFING SLIM, my boyfriend and Schmillie's ex-boyfriend, singing solo, then the Avetts come out and it's great, and they have some other guests throughout the night (including this woman with an amazing voice who I can't find online, and I want to listen to more), and Langhorne comes back for a few songs, and they talked about how when you play Radio City, you bring your family, and it was just awesome. They played for two hours, they kept up a good pace, and it was totally worth the ticket price.  Here's Langhorne, swoon:

My date Hike was sweet, nice, fun, etc. It was a really great night. And he's not the type I'm used to, but I think that's also good. He just seems happy and together and not too serious, and also so clean-cut. So why not try it, right? It's funny sort-of liking two boys at once, because I get flashes of "Oh I have to decide," but I DON'T. Especially since who knows if either will actually ask me out again. It's fun dating multiple people, as long as none are too serious, which obviously they're not now.

And I need to drop these 10 pounds again.  He seems pretty in-shape, and I don't want to be worried about getting nekkid...with anyone, I suppose.  I'm not putting all my eggs in his breadbasket!  Must stop that line of thinking!

Blah Blah Blah

Aw, Mars just texted and told me to have a good time at the show tonight.  That is sweet and slightly makes up for the NO answer he gave me.  Maybe he won't disappear?

Oh, and the guy from brunch on Saturday asked me to go to a movie sometime this week, but I said "Hey thanks, but I don't think we had the right chemistry.  It was nice to meet you, and I wish you the best!"  That's a gentle rejection, right?  I wanted to say "Put your napkin on your lap and then we'll talk," but that makes me feel too much like my mother.

The Mice Are Playing

I've accomplished very little real work today so far, and it's thrilling.  I'm also counting down the eight hours until I will be seeing my boyfriends, The Avett Brothers, at Radio City.

It will also be my first date with Hike from OKC.  I think it should at least be fun, as he seems nice and friendly, and he'd have to be pretty awful to ruin my experience with those bearded boys above.

Last night's dodgeball game was depressing, as we only had 6 people show up so we all got worn out pretty quickly, especially as we're one of the worst teams so we're constantly fighting for our lives.  I hate half my team, though, and I think they're just giving up.  Thanks, assholes.  Also I caught one ball where the force made me fall back onto my butt, and now my left butt hurts.  Maybe I'll ask my date to massage it?  :)

I did talk to the engaged friend, and of course HE knows and loves the Avett Brothers.  I had a moment of thinking "shoot, I should have asked him, " but then I realized that would be sort of pointless.  It's better to at least have a date, even if it may not work out.  It was all part of my plan that barely happened.  (I am probably jinxing myself right now.)

In other news, my dear old boss is in town for business, and I think I'll be able to swing by and see her at happy hour before I meet up with Mike.  MoMo is in the house, and I'm excited.

So wish me luck, and I'll report back tomorrow.

When It Rains, It Pours...and It's Raining Men

How many more cliches would fit there?  Come on, contribute, dear readers!

Let's catch up.  Well, Friday night I went home to relax after a busy-ish week, so that was uneventful, though there was delicious Indian food involved. Oh, but a guy who I wasn't so into on OK Cupid sent me a second message, and since I was catching up on my emailing there, I decided to give it a shot.  He had asked me to text him, and he wanted to get a drink that night but I said I was staying in, and so we made brunch plans. I liked the idea because it was less sexy than evening plans and I like brunch. So Saturday I met him for a nice outdoor brunch at Brick Cafe, and he was sweet but I wasn't feeling it, especially physically. He didn't really have a chin (or shoulders to speak of), he was only a little taller than me, he left his cloth napkin on the table the entire time, he asked me if the "Proscuitto and Buffalo Mozzerella Panini" meant there was chicken in it (because of the word buffalo), etc.  He also was very gung-ho about us going out again, and a bit touchy, and I let him kiss me goodbye with his mushy lips. He was going to visit his mom in NJ to pick pumpkins for the weekend so said he'd text me when he got back yesterday. But then he texted me Saturday afternoon about how much he liked me, and how I was easy to talk to, laugh with, and cute!  Nice but sad when you don't like the guy, right?  I was considering a second date just to make sure, but now I'm not.  Plus, he didn't text me last night so that's good!  It's uncomfortable turning men down.  I still have this nagging feeling like I should be grateful for their interest, you know?  Oh, the perils of being a teen with low self-esteem.

Saturday afternoon I napped for HOURS and it was great, then met up with Schmess for seasonal beers and dinner at Sweet Afton, then we went to Blackbird's for more beers and wings (what?) and it was a fun night but nothing crazy. I made the adult decision to go home from McCaffrey's (our last stop, hi Al) when she did, as opposed to trying to play pool all night. I was proud of myself. Sunday I was on a Mad Men mission, as we have a Time Warner appt on Thursday and they may have to take our cable box, which means the DVR would be gone. I watched nearly all of season 3 and most of what's aired of season 4. Ohhh yeah. Oh, and I'd heard from another OK Cupid guy, let's call him Mars, and he had to work Monday but wanted to get a drink after.

So Monday I e-mail Mars my phone number, so he texts and we make plans. He's living in College Point, Queens for the time being (rent-free at a friend's) but has lived in Astoria and will come back around Christmastime.  He parks his car at the 36th Ave stop (my stop!) for work commuting. Anyway, we made plans to meet over at Mad Donkey on 36th Ave. Then I got a mani/pedi/wax, baked chocolate zucchini bread to bring into work today, then got ready for my date. He is super cute (to me) -- tall, bearded, blue eyes, slight tummy, jeans, plaid shirt. He seems quieter and a bit more acerbic than I might like, but we'll see, as it could have been first-date nerves. We had a similar sense of humor and had lots of pop culture stuff in common. He was very gentlemanly with buying the beers and the appetizers, and we just slowly had two beers with food and left around 8:30. He asked if we should head out to try and beat the rain, but it had already started when we walked out, so he said "maybe in the deli..." and walked away only to come back with an umbrella. He was going to walk me home but we realized his car was parked on our way, so we go to the car and he drove me the rest of the blocks.  I picked Britney Spears off of his iPod, then he played me Brooks & Dunn while saying he hates country, and he kissed me outside my apartment in the car. I'm the one that broke the kiss because it was GOOD and I needed it to be chaster for now. :) Also he had just been teasing me and I had something to say in return. Anyway, I'd say I 65-70% like him, and I'd definitely go out with him again, but no plans were discussed. SO CUTE THOUGH.

Tonight is dodgeball at mothereffing 9:15 pm, and tomorrow is my Avett Brothers concert at Radio City.  Rockabilly told me yesterday he doesn't think it's his style of music, but he wants to go out next week (as he's out of town this weekend.)  Did I mention he's a vegan who doesn't want children?  I already told him I wouldn't marry him, so at least that's out of the way.  We're doing drinks/dinner on Wednesday, but that meant I needed a date for the show.  I actually texted Lars (to thank him for a good time, ostensibly) and he was reasonably chatty so I invited him, but he looked them up and ALSO didn't think it was his thing (wtf, guys?) so I asked this other OKC guy I'm chatting with, Hike.  Hike's now my date, and we're having dinner beforehand.  It's not an ideal first date but whatever, I'm achieving goals.

And for those keeping score, that's:
3.5 dates in one week (if we're counting Wednesday - Wednesday)
3 kisses (so far), 1 good one
0 slutty mistakes

I think it's a good scoreboard.  Obviously I don't want to keep up this pace for very long, but it's fun, and it makes me not worry so much about Lars REJECTING ME for the concert but then being vaguely flirty in the texting.  (He said he should also do laundry on Wednesday.  I said "Oh how sweet, I come second to laundry."  We tease like that.  He responded "Hmm, do you not want me smelling clean?"  That sort of implies I'd be smelling him later, right?) 

Well anyway, this is the news.  I'm sort of sleepy thinking about it all.  How soon can I retire?

up/down DATE

I didn't want to mention this yesterday, but I have a confession:  I am still talking to Sleeve.  I "put my foot down" a few times in the past few weeks, as you know, about how nothing was happening and we weren't hanging out.  Though obviously I didn't do it very effectively, as sometimes I enjoyed the frequent texting.  I guess it made me feel less lonely, and it has been about two months of this fictional text romance.

So he called me on Tuesday night and we talked for awhile.  I already knew he was good at being/seeming very sincere in conversation, just not great at the follow-through.  He said that he's been treating me poorly and acting like an idiot, and he's been dealing with something that was taking up a lot of his time, and that he now cleared it so he can really prove to me that he's serious about seeing me.  I'm not used to a man talking so much about the relational situation, but this guy doesn't stop.  So I kept saying that it sounds nice, but I'm just reserving judgement, but I do believe he has good intentions or I wouldn't have taken his phone call.  I've been trying to keep him at arms' length, despite his entreaties, and he tells me he understands and he's going to prove himself to me, yada yada yada.  So he asks when he can see me, and we decide we'll meet up in Astoria around 8:30 pm last night.  He was going to skip his second class, since he's busy Thursday and this was important (or whatever.)  He said he'd be in touch yesterday, but that was the plan.

Guess how yesterday went?  I didn't hear anything, and to be honest, I'd sort of figured.  I did take a shower after I got home from picking up the veggies, but I did NOT proceed with makeup or getting dressed in date clothes or anything.  So at 9:30, when I'm snuggled in PJs and watching Cougar Town (shut up), I text him and say What the hell?  He responds, and the long and short of it is that a classmate texted him that morning to remind him of a midterm review, which requires him rushing to work to finish things in order to leave in time to make the review and classes, etc.  I said that he should have told me, and he said to be honest, he didn't think of it.  He also forgot to call his mother as scheduled, and this is one big mama's boy.

Ha, now I'm getting mad again.

So he leaves his class to call me and says he'll come back now and we can go out, and then I'm all "why did you leave?!  go back!" and he can't, and I said it was too late for me to go out at 10 on a work night, and he is apologizing up and down and I am angry and upset so I say I want to get off the phone and I hang up.  I cool down for awhile, then I text that I'm sorry I hung up so abruptly.  (I know I'm in the right, people, but I don't like acting that way.)  He says he's on the train and asks if he can some by and we can have a cigarette on the stoop together.  I said OK.  Frankly, at this point it's been built up way too much and I wanted to see him in person again, JUST TO SEE.  So basically he comes over, I let him inside and we sit on my bed and talk and watch the Yankees and drink one beer each.  He won't shut up with the apologizing and how he's going to be more thoughtful and it was just such a terrible day and we'll go out properly soon, since he didn't mean for it to be like this, and I get tired of talking about it.  He's so adamant that I know he's "for real" and I am willing to admit that I'm exploring the option.  And I know that's crazy.  Oh, full disclosure, there was a tiny bit of cuddling/hand holding and a chaste kiss goodnight. 

Right, so I don't want anyone to jump down my throat here.  I realize this is like a minefield and probably not a good idea, but I haven't been able to stop being somewhat interested in him.  I can make a pro/con list, but I think basically I like how he talks to me.  He's a big, dumb Italian with a heart o' gold (most of the time).  He's so direct and open in conversation, and I've never had anyone talk to me like this.  I also don't know what the reason is that he wants to sit down and talk to me about (for why it's taken two months to hang out), but he said he wants to tell me, so we'll see.  (Since last night was sort of his last-ditch attempt to salvage something, I didn't feel like having more serious discussions.)  There are many cons, but for now, it feels kinda OK.  And that is all.

Fishing in the Wrong Pond

Friends! Romans! Countrymen!

I've been avoiding you, I'm sorry.  I haven't been ready for the necessary amount of reflection to post here, which is silly, but my brain wants to be a hermit sometimes lately.  I think I've been a little sad and lonely and lethargic, and I was having some strange stomach pains that were helping me feel like DYING, but I think they've gotten better.  I probably can't allow myself as much cheating on how I should be eating with Crohn's.  Suck.

So the weekend.  Friday I was home from work with a weird side pain that had gotten worse since Wednesday.  But Thursday night it had gotten really steady and dull (as opposed to just sharp when I coughed/laughed/laid on it) and I also had a near-pass out at home.  I'm glad the roomie was there, as I sort of zombie walked into the living room, feeling like I was about to lose it (with the ringing ears, sweats, nausea symptoms) and she freaked out about what color I was and ended her phone convo to get me water and watch me try to stay conscious for a bit.  It went away after about 15 minutes, but she put me in bed and took my temperature and it was very nice to have a nurse.  And she actually called a nurse friend of hers to explain my pain and that reaction and see if we should go to the ER...but the nurse said if I didn't have a fever, I could probably wait until the morning.  So I saw the doc Friday morning, and she sort of laughed at me for thinking I might have a hernia (I don't know) and also didn't explain the fainting, but said to eat a bland diet and rest.  So after the doctor, I did some work from home while propped on pillows on my bed, then made two different zucchini soups (well, a lentil soup recipe from Schmillie with bonus zuc) and a chocolate zucchini bread. It was fun and productive but it took all afternoon. At night I was pretty exhuasted, so in lieu of meeting Schmess and her sister for dinner, I watched Mad Men and then went to bed.

Saturday I felt pretty normal so I took advantage of the weather and weeded out our front garden plot. It looks great, and I think my favorite part is trimming hedges. Then I got cleaned up (and trimmed my own hedges, heh) and went over to Schmeather's to meet she and Shmannon for some hanging out/beer/falafel pitas, then we went out to Sunswick (where I had two pumpkin beers that were 9% abv...you know where this is going) and then Mad Donkey (another Astoria bar), and then I decided to head into the city to go to a friend's 40th bday party (my old friend from dodgeball...that i hooked up with years ago) and so I saw some of the old crew there, and we played pool (it was at Amsterdam Billiards) and it was nice. Roomie was there with a friend, but I was mingling so I didn't get over-roomied. I also met this rockabilly-type guy and asked him to be my date for the Avett Bros concert next week -- what? Now I'm not sure if I really want him to, but I have his number and we texted a little that night. Anyway, I left the party and was trying to meet back up with Schmannon and Schmeather, but Schmeath had picked up an Austrian and Schmannon had picked up a guy she hooked up with last week, and then Al texted me and wanted to play pool, so I went to meet Al and play pool. It was fun, but man, guys are disgusting. Not Al, but all other men, really. My cabdriver (who was just nice and not sexual) asked me on a date before dropping me off (I SAID NO) and then the other guys at the dive bar just felt it was OK to make creepy comments to me, so that's awesome. Al kept saying to tell him if someone was causing a problem, but it's not like I actually wanted anyone to fight, I was just getting annoyed at men in general. I know, not fair, but it was a bad run of creepers. Anyway, pool, Al being mushy and in love with me, a bit of bar cuddling/kissing, then he we walked me home and made me have a relationship conversation (it's so weird being on the other end of this) where I said as little as possible but apologized for hurting his feelings. Though now I remember he was also being very sexually complimentary and I won't disturb you with what he said, but lord, I feel weird having my vagina complimented in a bar.  AMIRIGHT?  And then bed at 4 am.


Sunday I was hungover and watched more Mad Men and Kick-Ass in bed and ordered Chinese and that's about it. At least I felt productive up until then, but I no longer wish to deal with hangovers in any other way but total laziness. Schmannon and Schmeather were back out and wanted me to come, but I couldn't imagine. Also I was super sore from weeding, so that's it.
 
And then Monday brought a rainy cold day and another tummy ache, so it was home after work and right into pj's and a Veronica Mars marathon.  Last night I had dodgeball, which was frustrating, as half of my team doesn't try very hard and no one wanted to go out afterwards.  Actually, that part was OK, as I was home and am not hungover today, just sleepy from staying up too late on the phone.  But my team is annoying, except for the three friends (two from kickball), and two of them were out of town and the third, engaged friend's FIANCE was there.  Lameballs.
 
So today my spirits are up but my eyelids are droopy, and so let's hope it goes quickly at work.  Let's also try to figure out what I need to change so that I don't want to run away to a farm somewhere.