Tuesday, December 28, 2010

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!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

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.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

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.

Monday, December 13, 2010

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!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

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!