I'm Getting Too Old for this Sh*t

Interlovers!  Hello!  How are we on this sunny Monday?  I hear it's gorgeous outside...and it seems that way from my window.  (I don't go outside, especially since I'm re-quitting smoking after a short relapse.)

Well, this was a weekend.  I mostly love sharing a social life with Hike, as we get to do all sorts of fun things and we're integrating our lives pretty well, but lately it's been very busy with his side of plans and I need a rest.  Yes, I like resting more than the average 29-year-old, but so what, who cares?  Anyway, here's what happened.

Friday I had a lady-doc appointment at 1 pm in Astoria, so after waiting for 90 minutes and then waiting another 30 for a blood test (I figured it was time to get tested for HIV.  So fun, right?  I have no reason to worry, but I don't remember the last time I was checked.  I like to be sure of these things.), I went home and immediately started in on the three large loads of laundry that had been waiting around for washing (all the sheets and towels from the parental visit plus my stuff), and then fixed the broken medicine cabinet (which had collapsed on Hike when he was peeing at 4 am last Wednesday, poor thing), did a half-manicure on myself, then got showered and dressed up to head into the city at 7:30 for Hike's brother's 30th birthday party.  We had a big crew of the boys' high school friends (many of whom I'd met before), and then after our butter-soaked dinner, we went to Hudson Terrace.  And guess what?  His sister-in-law had decided to commit to bottle service, since that's the only way they'd give us a reservation -- but she didn't tell any of the party guests.  Whatever, we made the most of it and drank a lot alot ALOT of vodka.  And shouted at each other since we could barely hear anything.  And Hike and I danced a bit, which was very fun.  It ended up being really enjoyable (especially dancing with the open-roof, so under the night sky!) but I don't remember getting home very well.  And Saturday was a day of puking and napping, of course.  I was so dead. 

So Saturday night I manage to get dressed again without falling over (barely) and we go to Hike's mom's and then out to dinner in Huntington with the whole crew (Franny, mom, bf, bro, sis-in-law, us) and the restaurant was LOVELY.  I felt better after eating something, too.  After dinner, we put in our appearance at his best friend's girlfriend's suprise birthday party at that restaurant's bar.  We nursed one drink each (it was an open bar that we sadly could not take advantage of) and then said our goodbye's, got some Ralph's Italian Ices, sat on a bench to eat them, and then headed back to his house to play some more of our video game and crash.

Sunday was up with an alarm so we could be all cleaned up in time to go back out to LI for a fancy brunch buffet with his bro and sis-in-law again and his father and stepmother and the sis-in-law's parents.  It was to celebrate the boys' birthdays, as both were recently, and we went back for plate after plate (raw bar! omelette station! cream puffs!)  Then it was back to Dad & step-mom's house for chatting and presents.  We got back to Astoria around 7 pm, worn out and sleepy.  (Plus I was half-teary all day as I'd started my period.) 

Anyway, lots of good family time, of course, but lots of diamond-ring comparing on Sunday and wedding-picture looking and talk of MONEY and man, I feel poor around these people, but I also feel pressure.  Like, I'm mostly fine that I want my whole wedding situation to be more affordable (so we can buy a house someday, of course), but these ladies make me feel pretty intimidated.  It's going to be tough, I think, to make everyone happy, but I shouldn't be worrying about that now.  Still, a day like that is psychically challenging.  Otherwise it was a nice weekend, and I had lots of silly fun with Hike throughout, but I'm looking forward to some more alone time and down time next weekend (before a wedding trip the following one.)

Tomorrow we're going to see Bridesmaids, too, and I can't wait!  Then Wednesday is softball (and it's supposed to be HOTTT) and Thursday he'll probably just come over for dinner, then phew, it's Friday again.

And tonight.  I finally have a chance to get a pedicure and wax and stuff, so it's time for that.  Of course I keep putting on weight from all this social eating, but when will I exercise?  No idea.  I have to figure out a better plan.

Wellll thanks for listening, pals.  Until next time.

The Stevie Centennial

This is my 100th post!  Yes, that's exactly why I waited so long to put one up.  I was building anticipation!

I will try to catch you up briefly on where in the world I've been this summer...I think we'll go back to our old friend, the bulleted list.

• Last week I was away on vacation, and spent some time in Traverse City, MI (home of my Grandma) and also in Toledo, OH, my hometown.  It was very relaxing and outdoorsy.  In TC, we spent lots of time at the bay, throwing a tennis ball around in the water or lying on the beach.  We lazily tubed down the Platte River.  We ate well and often.  To combat some of that, my dad and I took a 25-mile bike ride through vineyards on the peninsula (between Traverse's East and West Bays of Lake Michigan), with the vineyard at the highest point as our goal (and then back home).  Check it out--there was a gorgeous view, and I tasted some sweet cherry wine.  We'd borrowed the bikes from my Gram's neighbor, and the downside was that mine wouldn't change gears for the uphill part of the ride (until I figured out how to kick the chain over myself)...so by the end, I had a very strained tendon on my right knee, but I healed in 24 hours.  I also fell off into the bushes at the side of the road once, but it's because I'm short (not because of the Cherry Wine!  Shut up, Dad!) -- I was stopping the bike and it tipped downhill (to my right) and my toes couldn't touch the ground on that side, so whoops.  I think that's where I got what appears to be a Poison Oak scratch on my leg... 
• Once back in Toledo, I spent lots of time with some of my best friends from high school and their adorable 2-year-old, who began calling me Princess (as well as Stephanie.)  I'm not sure what started it, but I encouraged it by calling him Princess as well, so it provided me with lots of amusement.  We took him to the pool one day, and he was terrified of the water (despite the turtle water wings I'd brought him), but he eventually made it in.  He also learned the hard way not to run by the pool, as he fell on the concrete and scraped himself a little.  Luckily Aunt Stephanie was the nearest to him, so I scooped him up and made it better, and got extra cuddle time as a reward.  (As long as I can give him back when it's cranky pre-nap time, I love pretending to be a parent.)  I spent time with the family at home, too, getting my nails did with my mom, going out to dinner, and finally making use of my parents' fire pit on my last night there.  Gorgeous.
• All in all, it was a great break and I really needed all that nature time.  Still, with so much downtime, I found myself back in some very painful thought cycles about the whole Mex breakup/cheating/lying/being a bastard thing.  It's really just rage and pain at this point, but I'm upset that I'm still mired in it.  I'm sure seeing him after his return to town (as he was away for a month in Minnesota, which was lovely for me) didn't help, but it wasn't like we made up or anything.  I guess I'm nice in person because I'm not used to being a combative bitch (are you surprised?) but I'd rather he just not exist, so that's been wearing on me. 
• I'm sure the other reason for that is because I was lacking some male distraction on vacation, which sucks because ideally I wouldn't need one to be OK, but clearly that's not the case. 
• So back to town and back to my male distractions, whee!  While I never heard from Montana, I still think of him fondly and wonder if someday, when/if he moves back to town, we will reconnect.  I know he's not perfect but he was so lovely for a brief time, so whatever happens, I'm very thankful to have met him and rebounded with him.  (I should write cards for Hallmark.)  Blackbeard is back to being pretty darn charming (after a bout with walking pneumonia which made him very quiet and withdrawn.)  My OTHER work boyfriend is also in play.  Have I talked about him yet?  He's the one I talk to more, and who makes mooney eyes at me a lot, and clearly finds me thrilling, but I'm not quite as physically attracted to him.  That said, he was diagnosed with diabetes last spring and has had to make some big lifestyle changes (so it'll go away) and he's getting much cuter.  (I know, I know, I'm terrible, but it's not that serious!  He's almost cured!)  So really, I think I'm getting in on the ground floor here, and things will only be improving.  We've started Blackberry Messaging (BBMing) occasionally, and we just blush at each other a lot in the office.  When everybody eats lunch in the conference room, I always look up to find him staring at me.  He actually has told me he loves me, but more in a work context, which sounds weird.  We were complaining about a few bad receptionists here in the past, and he said something like, "...except you.  I love you."  Blushy blush...even if he's just talking about my mad phone-answering skillz.  And I have a story about yesterday, too, but let's start a new bullet point:
• I was annoyed because the new receptionist that I'm training isn't quite as detail-oriented as I am, and she'd failed to finish one part of a project that was needed by a certain time and now I was having to rush to help finish it.  I get cranky about these things.  I briefly told him what was going on (or vented, fine) and he said "Well, not everybody can be like you..." and I THOUGHT HE WAS MOCKING ME.  I have been around my family too much lately, as they like to tease me about being perfect and they call me The Queen sarcastically.  I mean, most of you know me, right?  It's not off-base that I'm a bit controlling or whatever, and I usually think I'm right.  Fine, so what, who cares.  But so when he said that, I said "Oh no, do I come off like that?!  I don't mean to!" and he was all confused and I said "Oh, you're being serious?  I thought you meant I was acting like a know-it-all!" and he said "No!" and oops, awkward laughing, walking away.  So when I was heading home, I stopped in his office to say goodnight (like I sometimes do, shut up), and I just said "I apologize for not taking the compliment well...I've been around my family too much lately, so I thought you were teasing me."  And he said "What?! No.  I was laughing about that afterwards -- you're the last person who would act holier-than-thou."  And I said "Tell that to my brother," and yadda yadda it was fine, and I thanked him for the compliment and couldn't make eye contact and got all red.  So I like him a little, and I think we have a thing going on, but it may never materialize as you know, it's a tiny office.  Still, it's refreshing because he's seen me act like an idiot, or be stressed out, or be on top of things, or hungover, and he still looks at me like I'm just amazing and it's disarming.  So it's nice to have some flirtation during the day, not to mention two eligible bachelors to enjoy. 
• What should we call him?  So far I can only think of mean names, like The Other One.  Or Diabetes.  That's terrible.  Hmm...TBD.
• Otherwise, the summer has been fun and busy with softball, kickball, etc.  I'm eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies from my CSA, and recently discovered the joys of Sugar Plums.  They're real!  Not just in a Christmas song! (Though now I can't find them on the internets, so maybe my CSA made up that name...) 
• I also have to drop the 4 pounds I gained on vacation, but I think my diet will mostly take care of that, like it usually does.  I have NOT been exercising, at the gym at least, because this heat makes me want to do nothing.  After having two extracurricular games a week and sweating for hours, my free nights are usually spent catching up on DVR in front of the AC.  This is naughty, I know, but I am not beating myself up too much.  I will want to do more when the temperature is more reasonable again (see: 25-mile bike ride in Northern Michigan, where it's in the 70/80s and not humid.) 
• Schmauren moved to Boston.  Mex is a monster who should move away/die.  Britch has been MIA in Laos for six weeks.  While these things made me a bit lonely, I am happy to say that I've extended my social circle a bit and also gotten to spend more time with my best friends outside of my borough.  I'm spent more social time with both Schmess and Schmannon, who I met through Schmauren.  Schmess and I are on the same kickball team and even hit the town a few Saturdays ago.  We did quite well on the man-meeting front, though she has a boyfriend so was just my wing, until I hit my wall and decided I suddenly hated the guy I had been talking to for an hour.  Hello, Irish Goodbye.  Schmannon was very generous and took me with her to a Cheap Trick concert a few weeks ago!  We got tipsy on vodka-iced tea-lemonade things and yummy Southern food first, and then laughed along with middle-aged Long Islanders at Cheap Trick, and then left early once Squeeze started playing.  (Who? Exactly.)  We must make a pool date soon, YOU HEAR ME?
• Annndddd, I've been traveling to Brooklyn to spend time with my favorite sapphic ladies, Schmillie and the lovely Schmobly.  (Haaa.)  We went to a Brooklyn Cyclones game on July 4th (with Schmannon) and then Schmannon and I rode the Cyclone TWICE while the gays rode their gay ferris wheel, and another weekend we took public transportation to the beach (indeed!), and yet another time we had a lovely bison burger BBQ hosted by the magnanimous Schmevor.  I love nothing more in the summer than sitting around someone's patio, drinking and bullshitting and watching it grow dark.

That seems to cover most of it, and besides, I'll need to save some material for my upcoming MORE REGULAR posts, I promise.  I've missed you, and I hope you haven't given up on me.  Happy 100th Birthday, b-word!

Once More Into the Breach

Oh dear, it's been over a week.  I apologize, little ones.  So busy!  So tired!  Let's see...last weekend I went out on Friday night with Schmauren and Lillie to Crocodile for free pizza and beer, then we headed over to support Lillie's girlfriend Erin's comedy night at Comixxxxx, the Comedy Club for Bedbugs.  It was strange but very entertaining.  (Sort of kidding about the bugs, but our hostess for the evening's routine included a bit about having them, which CREEPED ME OUT.)  Home late, then slept in on Saturday and lolled about until it was time to head to Brooklyn to see the Boston friends' band play again at Pete's Candy Store.  The Drummer was quite affectionate with me, hugging and scratching my back and arm-arounding and stuff, but yet, no kissing, except once on the cheek.  Granted, there wasn't really any private-time opportunity for that, but it was not quite what I was expecting, though it was lovely.  I felt sort of smooshy, you know?  It was a great time with Schmauren and Co., and after the set a smaller group of us went to Barcade, ate some strangers' birthday cake and played strange retro arcade games.  It was thrilling.  Then cab home for more lolling about (and tons of movies) on Sunday.

Monday night I was potentially going out with the Firefighter, but after texting me on Saturday to ask if we could decide at the last minute on Monday since he was "so busy," he never called on Monday.  So I'll stop trying to convince myself we'd have anything in common and let that one go.  Instead I ran errands and relaxed at home, as Tuesday night I had a softball game and then Wednesday night we had our first kickball game of the season, which was followed by pitchers of Bud Light and then flip cup ANDDDDD Stevie finally breaking her two-year Mex-only sex streak. 

Yeah, I said it.  I made a new friend at kickball, ok?  He used to live in this area but has lived in Montana the past four years, and was visiting his sister in Queens, though he's moving back here (to New York) at the end of summer.  I'd co-opted him to play on our kickball team since we were low on players, and then we talked a lot at the bar.  (I mean, he has a reddish brown beard and is from Montana.  What could I do?)  And then he got my number.  And then he said he wanted to kiss me.  And then I found out his middle name is Ashley, he is in a band, and he'll sing me silly songs in the middle of making out, and he also seems to kind of blurt out whatever he's thinking, which is endearing.  (Or he has Asperger's...)  Basically it was so hott, so sweet, so affectionate, so complimenty, and a complete 180 from what I'd experienced recently.  I'm really very happy with that decision, I have to say.  I had terribly cheesy happy songs in my head all day yesterday, and in theory (we'll see what happens) I'm supposed to see him again next week (since I can't bring him home with bro sleeping on the couch...)



I guess we can call him Ashley, for b-word purposes.  Or the Leprechaun?  Schmauren met him, too, so she can vouch for his attractiveness (I hope.)

Anyway, so I didn't sleep much on Wednesday night and then my brother arrived yesterday from Ohio for a visit.  I was exhausted so we had a mellow night -- I made dinner and then we took a walk in the 'hood and got some groceries and then bed time!  Today I've left him to wander midtown armed with a cell phone and a map, and we're meeting for lunch and then obviously after work.  I want to take him somewhere fun for dinner, and then we'll see where the night takes us.  (Can it take me to bed early again?  I still feel out of it.)

Work has been busy but good, though yesterday the server went down at 2:30 pm, so while I had time to write to you, I didn't have the resources.  My legs seem constantly sore -- my thighs from catching at softball (on Wednesday and Thursday) and my shins from kickball (yesterday and today) and my knee from scraping it while sliding at softball and I'm sure some of it's from some acrobatics with the Leprechaun.  So what, who cares?

Annnnd I ate Chipotle for lunch yesterday, and a cinammon rasin bagel with low-fat cream cheese for breakfast today.  It's going to be an eating weekend, so I'm not going to get into the food stuff, but I missed talking at you!

Ch-ch-ch-changes and What I Ate

Oh friends, this week is pretty crazy.  I will give you the bullet points, since I can't take time to write very much.

• Monday morning I spoke to Mex's dad, since I think the situation needed some intervention and I can't be the only sane person who knows what's going on.  It was a good decision -- apparently his dad came down yesterday.
• BUT after texting to learn that on Monday night with Mex, I didn't talk to him yesterday or today so far.  And I won't.  It's been a little while since we've gone a day without talking (even when the talking was fighting), so it's good but hard to be back on the wagon.  And obviously necessary and right.  I just feel like know I can leave it in someone else's hands, and that's good.
• SOOO enough of that crap.  Yesterday our firm's Office Manager/Book keeper was ARRESTED for embezzling!  It was a very exciting/sad day.  The police detectives came to get him at the office and everything.  He's like an old funny uncle type, in his 60s, and had been here for 10 years.  Crazy.
• BUT that means my promotion has been accelerated...to today.  They talked to me yesterday about my role and my raise goes into effect today!  I'm going to do billing/accounting stuff, plus office managing and some paralegal work.  They're already interviewing replacement receptionists.  THIS IS GREAT.
• Two more reasons we all love Blackbeard:  He owns all of the Arrested Development seasons on DVD (like I do) AND he just started home brewing beer recently!  His first batch is an American Pale Ale, and I name dropped "carboy" like nobody's business.  It was amazing.  So how do we get him to love me?!  I feel like I'm still in the "letting him get comfortable with me" phase.  He's on the quiet side, as I've said.
• Tonight I have a double-header softball game and it is STEAMING outside.  I am going to die.  I hate being hot plus I brought black pants, which will definitely be rolled up for maximum air circulation.
• Tomorrow night I'm having drinks with an old NY friend who I haven't seen recently.  He wrote a book and wants to pick my brain.  I want him to buy me drinks.  Perfect!
• This weekend a friend (and her family -- she's a married mom) are coming from Toledo to visit, and I think I'm meeting up with them on Saturday for some Natural History Museum.  Two birds with one stone?  Yes.  Plus, making awkward conversation with 10- and 12-year old boys.
• Yesterday (after a long absense) I saw my hot chef neighbor leaving his apartment in the morning.  We sort of talked as we walked in different directions, but then when I got to work I saw that I had a missed call from him?  I texted back but then he didn't respond, BUT this reminds me that I may need to make him my lover.
• This morning I awoke to a text from an old friend in Ohio (who is possibly in love with me) that wished me a good day.  Very sweet.
• Clearly I need to start dating.

Food:
B - honey bunches, coffee, milk - 4
L - sammy, yogurt with blueberries - 6
D - leftover chicken tikka masala - 6?
S - grapes, string cheese, granny bar, soup? - tbd
Total - around 20, I think
WEIGHT, as of yesterday morning - 138!

Slacking Off and What I Ate

Oops, I seem to have gone most of this week with only one legitimate post.  Well, I'm here to rectify the situation, never fear.

Let's see...Tuesday night I Skyped with Britch again for a bit, and caught up on a little DVR (though I'm still very behind), and then Wednesday I had a softball game after work.  Unfortunately it was our first loss of the season, BUT there were so many girls there that I didn't start, and only ended up playing one inning (as the ref called the game early so the 7:00 game could start).  Therefore, I don't take much blame for the loss, though I did mess up the one grounder to me.  I tried to trap it in my glove but it took a strange hop and jammed my finger instead.  Yay, my one shining moment of glory!  It was still a fun night, as I hung around for awhile afterwards, talking to the guys.  One of my friends is sort of going through his own tough relationship spot, though he's on the opposite end of a problem like mine, but it's good to talk about it.  And to have friends, right?  I have lovely friends.  Who put up with me very patiently.

Tonight I'm meeting Lillie's gf Erin for coffee after work.  (Shh, don't tell!  Juuuust kidding.)  We're going to discuss a project she's working on, and then I'm heading home and going to try to go another night without knowing what's going on with the Mex/keeping-the-baby situation, which is supposedly at a critical point this week.  I told myself I'm not initiating any contact now, as preparation for ceasing contact altogether, but it's REALLY HARD to not know what's going on.  At least, most of the time, when I don't distract myself.  I didn't respond to a text from him yesterday and now I'm starting to get an itchy trigger finger, but I'll hold on as long as I can.

Yikes, can't even talk about it.  Let's change the subject.  Blackbeard's getting friendlier, though I don't really feel the romance blossoming yet.  Though he does catch my eye a lot when we all eat lunch in the conference room...we're often thinking the same thing.  And this is ridiculous, but also a sign that we're soulmates:  Last week one of the partners at my firm was home sick, and sent an e-mail to let us know, mentioning that "those of you who saw my antics yesterday will understand."  I hadn't seen the antics, so I asked Blackbeard what was up with that, and he explained that the partner's nose was so dry from his cold that at one point he sneezed and blew blood all over the front of his shirt, and didn't have another to change into.  Ha!  And gross!  So this week, when the partner re-emerged at work, I said that I'd been filled in and I hoped he was feeling better.  Also, I carry a Tide To-Go pen with me at all times, if he should ever need to wash out blood again.  He said, "Yeah, so does [Blackbeard], but he wouldn't let me use it, since he didn't want to infect it with blood!"  In conclusion, both Blackbeard and I carry Tide To-Go pens, and thus we are meant to be.

I didn't get much exercise this week, I'll admit, but I did walk a bit yesterday with the softball travel, and frankly, I'm just trying to make it through each day.  BUT I'm still controlling my eating so my weight is fine.  Can I be one of those people who only exercises only 2-3 (ok, 1?) times a week but eats healthy and is therefore in shape, please?  Let's see.

Well, I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Thursday.  Till tomorrow!

Food.
B - Special K Red Berries, milk, coffee - 4
L - turkey & swiss, yogurt with berries - 6
D - pasta with scallops and artichokes and sauce - 6ish?
S - string cheese, soup, grapes - 3
Total - 19

Early Bird and What I Ate

I'm quite proud of myself for posting this BEFORE LUNCH.  Thankfully work is quiet today (I just jinxed myself) so I can catch up on corresponding, blogging, and some freelance proposal editing project.  And it's sunny outside, finally!  Today is much brighter in all senses of the word. 

Can someone explain to me how playing softball makes my thighs sore, especially the inner thighs?  I must be doing deep lunges when I run the bases or something.  I'm not exactly complaining, because in my mind, slightly sore = good muscle working, but I just don't understand which movements are causing it. 

Last night I met up with Shmammi for an early dinner at a cute Turkish place on 57th, and we got nice and caught up.  Then I was home by 7 to watch Glee on DVR, then some Top Model while I packed for the weekend trip (more on that below).  I have to say, once I learned who the final two contestants were, I stopped caring.  I didn't really like any of them this season.  Then I met Mex at Dunkin Donuts to exchange a book I read about coping with all this (called After the Affair, so serious and self-helpy) that he wants to read with movies he'd borrowed from me.  He also had a thank-you note from his sister to me for the gift I gave their baby.  (Ohh, reading about how the baby sleeps with the stuffed bunny every night just killed me.)  We talked for awhile, and it was very sad, but also somehow therapeutic for me.  Yes, shake your head at me if you'd like, but he said some things that I'd been wanting to hear, sort of some acknowledgement of what this has done to me. The focus has been on the baby scare for so long and he's not a great communicator of feelings, but he was better last night.  It's important to me that he knows what he messed up.  That might be wrong or sad, but that's what it is.  Anyway, it's not like I'm going to see him often if at all, but today I feel like it was a beneficial step.

Enough of that.  Tonight I'm happily heading to Schmillie's for a Muncher gathering, and she's going to feed us very well from the sound of things, with roast chicken, risotto, veggies, etc.  It'll be great to get us all together again -- I think for the first time since Meatballin'.  Then tomorrow after work I'm taking the Hampton Jitney (like they do on the Real Housewives!) to Montauk, NY, on the tip of Long Island.  I wanted to take myself away on a trip to clear my head, and this is where I landed.  I'll sit on the beach, hike, read, explore, etc., and hopefully get to a better place mentally.  Lately I feel like while I'm making some improvements, I'm stuck in a mental loop, going back to the same terrible thoughts.  I need some forward momentum, so that's the plan.  And some spoiling myself time, too.  I was going to stay at a cute little inn, but they were all booked, so I splurged on this place.  I'm staying at the "Beach," the outlying building that's nearer to the, ahem, beach, but I'll have access to the main resort and the pool and hammocks and stuff.  It's supposed to be sunny and in the 60s each day, so I'm not sure how much swimming I'll get in, but that may be warm enough for a heated pool.  What do you think?

So that's the weekend plan, and I am very excited.  Maybe I'll meet a surfer and stay out there and open a fish shack.  That doesn't sound too bad, does it?

Food stuff:
B - honey o's, coffee, cereal - 4
L - half of a doner kebab gyro - ?
D - Munching - ?
S - soup, string cheese - 2
Total - Plenty and some extra.

Boys, Bands, Beer, Burritos, Ballin'

I swear I'm still alive.  It's just getting more difficult to find time to post, as I'm so busy and important at work now!  But, gd it, I'm making time.  There is so much to tell.  (Oh, and I'm kidding about being important.  BUT there is more talk of that promotion, so that's good news.)

So I'll try to abbreviate the past few days.  STARTING with last Thursday (yikes.)  After walking home from work with Schmauren, we decided to get Mexican and margaritas for a late Cinco celebration.  (Margs are only $3 during happy hour at a neighborhood place.  Ohhh yeah.)  Then we hit up a friend of a friend (of a friend?)'s birthday party at Break on Broadway in Astoria, which is a great big pool hall.  It was a party full of park rangers, but I immediately jumped onto the pool table, as I have missed it so.  I managed to pick up an older lesbian park ranger (is there any other type) with my mad skillz, but then Schmauren and I ran away before things got too weird.  (And Schmauren was tired of pretending to be my girlfriend to help me block my pursuer.)  Also, I was afraid of getting stuck with the entire pool tab for everyone who'd played...so yeah, not my classiest moment, but what can I say.  Those margaritas were strong.  So home, pass out, get up for work and on the train I actually nearly pass out for real.  A very nice gentleman gave me his seat and a barf bag when I tapped his shoulder, swaying and mumbling something incoherent.  I made it off the train to sit on a bench on the Grand Central platform, then finally up to my desk.  I attempted to "work" (read: sit at my desk and stare) for an hour but then with the encouragement of a co-worker (and a few "you don't look so good"'s) I went home sick.  And then to bed.  I swear, tequila is my salvation and damnation, all in one.

So Friday was a bust, as I just laid around, napping and watching things.  And I did finally cook some Trader Joe's Masala Simmer Sauce (with chicken, onion and peppers) for dinner, plus basmati rice.  It is pretty yummy, but didn't quite fill my craving for some sweet, sweet Chicken Tikka Masala.  It's not creamy enough, but next time I'll mix it with milk instead of water.  It is healthier, however!

Saturday I felt normal again (well, relatively), and was up for some nice coffee-and-tv-with-roomie time in the morning, then off to the library, the bread store (Arnold's Sandwich Thins were 3 for $4 at the Entemann's outlet!), and then the nail salon for a mani/pedi, and I splurged on a 10-minute massage.  It was all very lovely and relaxing.  Home for a healthy lunch and quick rest, then off to Schmauren's to help her decorate some cupcakes to look like they had bagels, lox, cream cheese and scallions on top.  (It was all candy and sweets, I swear.)

We packed them up, grabbed a slice on the way to the train, then headed to Brooklyn in the windstorm to Pete's Candy Store.  Schmauren's been friends with a band, The Cassevettes, since college, and now I've met them many times so I think I'm friends with them, too.  They were playing and it was the drummer's birthday, so we went to hang out, heckle them while onstage, and stuff them with cupcakes.  It was very fun, and even Schmillie and her lover showed up for awhile.  I may have also made some sort of flirtation connection with said drummer, who was very complimentary (telling me how great I look, etc.) and got my phone number for when he comes back from Boston next.  We shall see, but it was a fun show.  Then the gang (the band and Shmauren and I, the not-really groupies) all piled into the band van to go to a loft party nearby.  (Yes, I sat on drummer's lap, and there was only some chaste arm on back rubbing/hand holding stuff.  Very adorable.)  The party was fine if a little odd (in the Brooklyn tries very hard sometimes kind of way), but when we went back to the van after like 30 minutes, it had been busted into and the bass and drum kick pedals had been stolen.  And when the cops showed up (one was Michelle Rodriguez, I swear), they were less than sympathetic, asking why anyone would park there with valuables in the car.  Yes, OK, point taken, but that doesn't mean you can't be nice about it. 

So Schmauren and I left them to head home (after I put garbage cardboard into the broken window hole...I was trying to help!  But it was weird, I admit.)  Midway home, we texted a friend in Manhattan (and Schmauren's once-upon-a-time lover) and decided to reroute to meet up with him and his friend.  More beers, more inappropriate stories, and some birds singing and sun rising later, I took a cab home to sleep away half of Sunday.  Then it was more movies, tv, maxin' and relaxin'.  And nice texting with drummer. 

Monday night I played softball for Hachette's team, as they needed a third lady (who doesn't?), and it was on Roosevelt Island so I walked from home and back, and it was quite pretty to play next to the river.  Plus they were all very nice and some were a bit cute.  Last night was my normal team's game, and we WON, 14-3 I think.  It was fantastic, and I scored twice (it's been awhile...literally and euphemistically), and I got three people out (two catches, one tag), and whee!  I did manage to skin/bruise my knee, but it's not as bad as some years.  Though it's only the second game.  Then home IN TIME FOR LOST, miracle of miracles!  Which was weird and I missed our regular cast friends, but this is already too long to get into that.

I weighed myself yesterday morning and it was about 139, so not much change but I feel good with that.  I've behaved with food well this week, and the weekend wasn't too terrible, just some Mexican on Thursday night and Sunday.  And all that beer.  Tonight I'm having an early summer with a friend at a Turkish restaurant, but I am going to go lighter if I can, too.  But that means I don't know my points really, but I may as well stick to the habit of...

Food.

B - Honey O's, milk, coffee - 4

L - turkey sandwich, yogurt with berries - 6

D - Turkish sandwich (haha) - TBD

S - string cheese, soup? orange? - 3ish

Total - Enough.

Two-fer-Thursday and What I Ate

Sadly I had so much work to do again yesterday that I didn't get to post, so this is a BOGO for you.  Work's going very well, though, and I've been told I'm getting promoted in the near future.  I believe some of the exact words were "We want to keep you here and keep you happy, so we'll do what it takes."  Yay, one aspect of my life is actually improving! 

Otherwise yesterday was pretty uneventful.  Oh, let's go back earlier.  I didn't have to pitch at my softball game on Tuesday because they had another girl ringer who pitches in another league already and is awesome, so thankfully I was back on 2nd base, where I feel at home.  (Oh, and the rain cleared up by 7 pm.)  It was actually a lot of fun and good to see the guys again, so I'm now back on the horse and looking forward to games.  OH RIGHT, and we won.  And we have new matchy team t-shirts!  But then I got home too late for Lost and I STILL haven't watched it online.  Maybe tonight!  I am in suspense!

Then yesterday was, like I said, busy at work then mellow at home.  I was supposed to be there at 6 pm to let in some architect permit guy for my landlord, but I waited until 6:45 and texted the landlord to ask what was the deal, and he said "Oh, they don't need to get in.  I just found out."  Yeah right.  But I guess it was nice to have a couch night and catch up on DVR.  Glee!  Chopped!  Oh, then I talked to Mex again, because the Tuesday night convo was frustrating (he's "tired all the time" and sometimes talking is like pulling teeth and then I get angry because why the eff am I dealing with this again?) but so he wanted to think about some of what I'd said and talk last night.  So it was better, and now we're going to talk less again, especially since there is apparently a heartbeat and a real baby (I still find this so hard to believe with all the reasons there wouldn't be, but...) and I only get upset when I talk to him and think about it, so I'd rather escape, thanks.

Oh, I also e-mailed the make-out boy from last weekend, yesterday afternoon.  It's very fun to feel that old familiar excitement, wondering if he'll respond, does he like me, blah blah blah.  Don't worry, I'm not too invested in this, but it's just a good distraction.  It's like training wheels a bit, in a safe zone.  Oh, and I clearly know it's not the best situation, but I'm just seeing if he'll respond to my e-mail right now.  Calm down, people.

So tonight I may Skype with Britch if her gd internet gets fixed, and I'm considering walking home though it might be indecent with my short dress, so maybe I'll hit the gym.  I also need a manicure and pedicure BAD, so maybe tonight or tomorrow I'll do that if no plans materialize.  Oh shoot, and I have overdue library books. 

Food mood:
B - Honey B's, milk, coffee - 4
L - sandwich, yogurt with strawberries - 6
D - TJ's Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Sausage, salad - 6
S - orange, soup?, string cheese - 4
Total - 20
Weight, Tuesday morning - 139 lbs.  (The scale moved depending on which way I shifted my feet, so I'm going with the medium answer -- 130s BABY!)

True Confessions and What I Ate

Hello, darlings.  I apologize for my absence yesterday, but I actually had work to do and the day got away from me.  How were our weekends?  Mine was lovely.

Friday night I celebrated the spring weather by hitting the new beer garden with some girlfriends, including Schmauren and her friend, Thigh Sighs, who felt like my long-lost cousin or something.  It was a great time, with good bratwurst, beer, and indecent storytelling.  We then tried to hit up Sunswick for some possible second wind action, but we all had hit a really big wall and scuttled home to our beds after one beer.  I have to say, there's nothing like a great night out and still being home around midnight (I think).  Of course, then I woke up at 9 am and couldn't sleep in, so that part wasn't so great.  I met up with Schmauren on Saturday morning for a classy Dunkin' Donuts "brunch," then we hit up the discount clothing store across the street on Broadway in Astoria.  Where I bought city shorts, yes I did.  We'll see how they go...  I also bought cute new black strappy flat sandals, so bring it on, summer.  Then we headed back to mine to get picked up by Schmate and we all headed to the Queenz Trader Joe's for major stocking up.  (Like it was 1941, to borrow Schmate's joke, making fun of me.)  Once all unpacked and home, I placed my new begonia in my bedroom windowsill (life! beauty! exists!) and stretched out for a nap.

After napping and making myself a delicious and nutritious dinner of whole wheat penna with basil tomato sauce, seared scallops and artichoke hearts, I met back up with Schmauren to hit the town proper.  We headed to the West Village, and started out with a beer at Wilfie & Nell, which is owned by the same people who own my favorite Astoria jam, Sweet Afton.  It was a bit crowded, loud and sweaty in there, so we headed back down West 4th to a more reasonably roomy bar we'd passed (and I've liked before,) The Slaughtered Lamb (or the Slaughterhouse, as Lillie liked to call it.)  We had stools and a table and plenty of Shocktop.  And then Lillie came to meet us from a previous party, and began really man-hunting for us.  Her method of choice was to point at someone and yell, "Come over here!"  It was very effective.  We eventually made friends with a group of five guys were were having a sort of mini-college reunion and doing a bar crawl in the Village. 

There was one who I immediately focused on, and we had a very amazing vibe going.  He is bearded and dark-haired and blue-eyed and shorter than I'm used to but still taller than me.  And then he tells me that he hopes he's not out of line, but I should know that he has a girlfriend, and he was telling me because he thought we had something going there.  I said we did, you're right, but I'm glad you mentioned it.  Then he asked me to make out with him down the street a bit.  I hesitated!  I really did!  I even gave him a skeptical look.  Then I didn't care.  And, dear reader, it was that heady, high school, sneaking around at parties feeling all night, and it was so great.  We made out on side streets, in bathroom stalls, in an empty karaoke room.  Obviously my rational, moral mind knows it's not the best idea to be the other woman, but frankly, I don't care right now.  I had one night of NOT thinking about the ridiculous Jerry Springer show that somehow intruded on my life, and I loved it.  Plus he was affectionate and flirtatious (things I'm not entirely used to) and we talked a lot, too (about how he's on a short leash and she's pressuring him to get married, and my whole dramz, too.)  So daydream fodder, for sure.  But he wants me to e-mail him, and I want to.  And that's it for now.  I confess.

Yes, and Schmauren hung out like a rock star, and I am in her debt.  We took a cab home at 6 am, people.  The sun was coming up.  So Sunday was about sleeping, enchiladas, movies, and sweating.  That's really it. 

Tonight I'm supposed to have another softball game, though the forecast says maybe there's a thunderstorm coming--but the sky is blue now.  I may as well bite the bullet and play a game, right?  I think I'll be more into it once I really start playing, as opposed to dreading it.  I'm also supposed to talk to Mex because after not talking over the weekend, we spoke yesterday (as she had a doc appt and I wanted news) but of course, they  moved her doc appt to Wednesday (because it's a FAKE BABY, OBVIOUSLY), but whatever, I'm angry and he was tired and asked if we could talk today.  So maybe I will, but I'm still just angry and I hate it.  I mean, I guess it's better than sad, but I am full of rage and can't do anything about it.  Other than make out with other people's boyfriends, yes? :)  Just kidding, I know that's terrible.

Anyway!  Oh, my boss complimented me this morning, asking if I've lost weight and saying I look great.  And also, there are plans in the works to get me off of receptionist duty at work and move me up the ladder.  So things in my career world are looking good!  And I guess health world, other than the smoking that's back.  I need to weigh myself, but forgot this morning, so hopefully tomorrow.

Food.

B - honey bunches with PEACHES, coffee, milk - 4

L - herbed turkey & light swiss sammy, yogurt with peaches and strawberries - 6

D - artichoke ravioli with tomato sauce, salad - 8

S - orange, soup, granny bar? - 4

Total - 22 (hopefully will get some activity points with softball...if not, I won't eat as many snacks)

I Loved David the Gnome and What I Ate

Well, it's supposedly the first softball game of the season at 7:00 pm tonight.  It's been really rainy the past few days, however, so of course I'm hoping the fields are too wet to play. :)  I'm scared to pitch!  At least it sounds like we'll have some practice time on the field before the game starts, so they can see if I'm worthy.  Unfortunately, the sun just came out a little bit ago, so that might mean game on.

Last night I hit the gym and rode 9 miles/45 minutes on the bike.  It felt like a good workout, helped along by the steamy heat inside my gym -- I sweat like I was exercising in a sauna, and I am not usually a heavy sweater. (Ha.)  Then it was home for dinner making, tv, reading, a quick chat with Mex, etc.  All in all, an uneventful but decent evening.

Ready for the gnome story?  This comes courtesy of my mother's church friend, and is about her co-worker and the co-worker's son.  Got it?  So this co-worker woman has a young teenaged son who is home during the day and is also autistic.  He obviously can be by himself, but isn't always the quickest on processing life situations.  One day he calls his mother at work four times in a row, upset.  Once she gets a chance to call him back, she's concerned, asking him if there is an emergency.  He says, "Mom, there's a gnome in the house!  A gnome!"  The mom can't get anymore information out of him, so she finally asks her boss if she can leave early to head home and figure out what's going on.

She arrives at he her house only to discover that a census taker had apparently come to their door -- a midget census taker.  The son had never seen a midget before, but knew gnomes from his stories.  He proceeded to pick up the "gnome" and shove him into the hallway closet, then lock him in safely.  The gnome, fortunately, realized that this boy didn't quite have all of his mental faculties, so was trying to talk calmly to him through the door.  "Please let me out.  If you keep me in here for long, I'll get hungry.  And then if I don't eat, I'll get sick!"  So what was our enterprising young hero to do?  Simple -- he found the gnome-friendly jelly beans in his Easter basket and began to slip them under the crack in the closet door, one by one.  And this is the scene that his mother walked in on.  It really happened.  Too bad the local news couldn't pick it up, as the family was concerned about publicizing the information that their vulnerable son would be at home alone during the day.  Who knows what garden creature would stop by next?

Well, in other joyous news, I just found out that my softball game has been cancelled!  I'm sure the fields were too wet to play on, and I am excited.  I think I'll walk home OR do the Jillian Michaels' shred -- to be determined.

I finally was able to connect with Britch, at least over G-chat just now, and I feel loads better.  (Ew, that's kind of a gross expression...)  And I appreciate your commented apology, lady.  Anyway, I am much more settled in my head now, and instead of panicking about whatever happens tomorrow, I'm pretty sure I'll deal with it either way.  My other mental escape at the moment is considering a trip to Florida to visit an old lover -- it might be nice to get in some beach, some margaritas, and some potential making out, right?  What better healing step could I possibly take? :)  Anyway, it's under consideration.

Well, foooood.
B - Honey Bunches with Strawberries, milk, coffee, string cheese - 5
L - chicken & cheese sammy, yogurt with peach slices - 6
D - artichoke lasagne, salad - 6
S - soup, orange - 3
Total - 20
Activity - walking home or shredding

OH OH OH and official weight this morning - 140 lbs.  NEARLY 130s.  I think my lowest of my adult life is 136...so we're getting closer.

Keep On Keepin' On and What I Ate

Rain remix!  I actually didn't mind a rainy Sunday, and don't hate a rainy Monday, either.  It fits the mood and enables me to further curl up into myself, you know?  We had a lovely Saturday here, though, so don't worry, I did get out in the sun.  My back is still burned!

From the top:  Friday I just went home, happy that I had some beers and good company the night before, so I kept it low-key.  I caught up on DVR, I ordered very healthy Chinese food (I am an ascetic now, apparently) -- steamed shrimp dumplings and sauteed vegetables with brown rice.  I ate half of each, saving the other half for later in the weekend.  Then I took a long bath and started reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which everyone in the world is also apparently reading.  Based on the premise, I thought it might be a little hokey for me, but I really got into it.  It has three different narrators, and I liked one of them especially (Skeeter, if you've read it), but all were enjoyable.  It also helped to read so much at once, as I ended up burning through about 200 pages on Friday tucked up in bed after my bath.  Finally bed, without the aid of a sleeping pill.

Saturday I woke too early for my taste, but watched some TV and made Low-Fat Nutrigrain Eggos and bummed around, then went to the Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria with Mex.  We sat on a beachtowel, ate a very basic picnic, tried to read but mostly got distracted by all the playing puppies.  I also sunned myself while he tried to keep his half of the towel in the shade.  Don't worry, we didn't touch or anything.  But for real, I've seen him once a week now since the nuclear bomb, and it's what I want to do.  I miss his companionship and it's nice to be able to talk about what I'm feeling with someone who understands more than anyone else, even if he caused it.  This may all go away after Wednesday, aka No-Baby Day (Cross Your Fingers), but I'm taking each third of my waking hours as they come.  Anyway, after the park I went back home to shower and get ready to meet up with Scmillie and her lady for Hot Tub Time Machine.  Obviously it's a screwball comedy, but I'd heard it was hilarious and it seemed like just the right tone for the weekend.  Sadly, I found it really uneven -- parts were very funny but then other parts were kind of boring.  Oh well, it was a good distraction and it was nice to get out and hang with friends!  After the movie, Ax met us up and we ate at Republic.  Then it was back to Astoria around 10:30 pm, and Ax and I debated getting a beer before recognizing that we were both very tired and should do it another time.  So I climbed back in my cozy bed and finished The Help by about 1:30 am.  Oh, I'd found out my softball scrimmage in the morning (which was originally why we picked such sedate evening plans) had been cancelled due to forecasted rain.  So I stayed up late.

Sunday I slept "in" till nearly 10:00 (I've lost this power, apparently), then lazed around in the gloomy day, watching my Netflix movies and being sad for awhile.  It didn't help that the movies were so boring -- Snow Falling on Cedars was too arty and pretty and there was not enough dialogue, and The Other Boleyn Girl was also boring and better covered in The Tudors, plus there was an incest scene that freaked me out.  Fail.  Anyway, then Britch stood me up for our afternoon Skype date, then I went grocery shopping (to a store near me that I don't frequent as often, though apparently I should, as it was full of cute hipster boys!)  Then I cleaned my room and talked to my mom, which actually cheered me up considerably (and I was surprised at that.)  She relayed a story about a gnome that I will tell you at a later date, too.  Then I settled in to watch Mystic Pizza on TV while also starting a new historical novel (which will be a guilty pleasure, I can tell) and have a quick phone chat with Mex.

It was a good weekend, well-rounded and well-behaved.  The pounds are coming off quite quickly recently with my monkish lifestyle, though I'm sure I'll go up and down a bit depending on my social activities.  Still, I should be nearing the 130s now, just in time for swimsuit wearing.

Today is another sleepy one, but tomorrow night is our first real softball game of the season and I'm excited and nervous.  I should try to make it to the gym when I get home tonight, though we shall see how my motivation holds up.  Mex is also going to give me the nine beers that have been sitting in his fridge for a week (as he's stopped drinking, and hopefully it sticks), so they don't go to waste, and I think that handoff is tonight.  Not that I'll be crushing the Buds, but we have to arrange the custody change.  And I'm sort of alternately really optimistic and really angry about circumstances, but after Wednesday I'll at least have a better idea of what's to come.  Then I can figure out what I'm going to do to move on.

Well FOOD:
B - Strawberry Yogurt O's, milk, coffee - 5
L - chicken & muenster sammy, yogurt with strawberries - 6
D - creamy artichoke lasagna, salad - 6
S - string cheese, soup, orange - 3
Total - 20
 

Coffee Coffee Coffee and What I Ate

So I've been drinking more coffee in the mornings because I've been cold in my office and because we have a new pot in the kitchen so it's convenient and because it staves off hunger, but now I am feeling preeeettty wired.  It's like the Halloween Garfield episode where he becomes a candy addict and just says CANDY CANDY CANDY over and over.  I would post a video, but I forgot my earphones so I can't vet the Youtube results before sharing.  I wouldn't want to put up something too scary.  Or...let's try this.  IS IT THE ONE?



So today is gloomy, eh?  It seems hard to believe that it's not going to rain, but that's what the weatherman says.  I would pretty much prefer the rain so that I didn't have to practice softball and I could go home and make Creamy Ricotta-Artichoke Lasagna (the recipe I found last week) (speaking of Garfield), now that I grocery-shopped for it last night.  And then Mex could come over for a cozy dinner, and my roomie would be gone for the whole evening, and...sigh.  Instead, it's supposed to clear up and we'll practice for three hours.  I'm sure it'll be fun once I get out there (?) but it's not sounding so good.

I just finished writing another book proposal for my freelance pimp.  I love being done and hopefully not having another on my plate for a few days...though he's already talking to me about his editing his graphic novel.  We shall see.  At least I've decided to raise my rates for the next project, so that'll be some nice extra shopping money.

Walking home last night was just lovely, and I didn't suffer any loss of motivation, which is rare, especially for a Monday.  Then I had a moderately successful grocery shopping trip, though my stupid local store manager thought it was strange that I would want to buy pine nuts.  So I went to the slightly pricier but nicer store up the street, thanks.  Then home for dinner, How I Met Your Mother, a phone call from Mex, then fairly early to bed, though I didn't sleep right away despite being leg-tired from my walking.  Oh well, my active mind is a curse.

Last night I dreamt about that friend who maybe is in love with me.  This was the second dream I'd had about him being in love with me, and it developed to where we were kissing, but I was cheating on Mex in the dream and very conflicted.  Also, friend was drunk, as he was in the first dream.  What does it all mean?  Do I only think drunk men love me?  (That would be sad.)  Obviously I'm slightly intrigued at the possibilities of him loving me, but it's just so vivid in the dreams, and I sort of feel guilt today, even if it's all imaginary.  So strange.

Today's eating.
B - Special K, milk, coffee - 4
L - turkey & swiss sammy, yogurt with strawberries - 6
D - TBD, may be out after softball
S - string cheese, soup, granny bar - 4
Total - 14 plus dinner
Activity - either softball or cooking lasagna

Why Should I Worry and What I Ate

This morning's a pretty quiet one at the office, so I'm catching up on my internet reading and music listening, specifically on this site:  The New York Nobody Sings.  It's kind of a smorgasbord, but it only features songs about NYC, and I'm enjoying exploring it.  (Note: They didn't feature this video, but my brain traveled this path all on its own.)  It was also a lovely sunny morning again, so that always gives me a mood boost on my way to work, though it's supposed to rain this afternoon.

I made a date to Skype with Britch tonight after work, and luckily I think I'm going to be able to combine that with the cooking preparation I need to do for dinner.  Mex is coming over later for some of that Best-Ever Chicken Meatloaf, sweet potato fries with rosemary and thyme, and I think sauteed spinach with garlic.  So while I chop and mush and season, I can finally catch up with Britch.  We haven't spoken in so long that it's depressing, and as she's my de facto therapist, I'm probably mucking up all sorts of things that I haven't realized yet. 

You may notice that I've added "ads" to this blog...we're going to see how it works.  Apparently I *could* make money this way, which benefits us all (because then I can tell you how I spend it!), but if they're too annoying or unwieldy, I'll get rid of them.  In other blog news, we hit a milestone this week -- on Tuesday, March 23, we had our highest number of visitors yet!  Thanks for hitting me up, world.

So I believe I already discussed how I was asked to pitch for my softball team this year, and my mixed feelings about this.  Well, now they want to schedule a practice for this Saturday in Rockland County...which is a good drive north of the city.  The practice would be from 10 am - 12 noon, but in order to get there, I'd have to leave my house around 8:30 am to get a subway into the city, probably East Harlem-ish, then meet my ride for the 30-45 minute drive to the fields.  And then do it all in reverse after practice.  I'm sorry, but that's not how I want to spend a Saturday morning/early afternoon on a spring weekend, and I don't think I can be faulted for that.  (Well, maybe I can...)  I also have some plans to hang out with Schmate in the afternoon, and that's been a long time coming, too, so I don't want this softball thing to crowd into my social life.  But now I feel like a poor team member for bailing so early on.  I'm also considering how much lower my intensity level is about this team than some of the leaders' are, and wondering if I should just offer to step aside if they'd rather find another girl pitcher.  I don't want to "give up," but I also don't want to put in as much time as it appears they want me to.  What is the answer, friends?  Is it reasonable to expect a teammate to put in about five hours on a Saturday for the cause?

Well, time to look productive.  It is nearly lunchtime, right? 

Food today:
B - Honey B, coffee, milk - 4
L - turkey & swiss, apple - 5
D - chicken meatloaf, sauteed spinach, sweet potato fries - 7/8
S - yogurt, granny bar, maybe string cheese - 3/4
Total - 19/21
Activity - walking at lunch, mushing up ground chicken with my bare hands

Wellies and What I Ate

Well, the long, wet weekend slog has begun.  Stupid New York weather that wastes all of our sunny days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays!  I'm happy it's Friday, but I'm sad that I stayed awake until 1:00 am and so my eyes are tired.  At least I'm not hungover, right?  It's the small blessings.  Oh, and I walked about 5 miles last night, so I have nice, tired legs today, too.

STILL, only 5.5 hours to go until the weekend, and happy hour drinks with my lovely Schmauren!  I love Astoria drinks, because when they're over, you're so close to home.  We haven't decided where we're going yet, but with this rain, I doubt we'll be too adventurous.

I may have softball practice in the form of a team batting cage visit on Saturday, but it is NOT cheap at Chelsea Piers.  It's $2.50 for ten pitches, or $85/cage/hour.  That seems crazy to me, though I guess I don't know what's normal for batting cages.  Perhaps I won't go...though it's a bad sign that my team spirit is so low already.  So the weekend plans are Astoria Schmauren HH tonight, maybe softball tomorrow, date night with Mex tomorrow night, and maxing and relaxing on Sunday.  I like it.  And I need to do laundry.  But it should be nice & low-key, which suits my mood in this weather.

I'm having this problem today where I keep saying things that don't make sense to colleagues.  It's probably just because I'm tired, but there are some misfiring synapses between the brain and my tongue.  I hope no one else notices, or that they're at least used to me being weird.  (I'm probably being oversensitive here, let's be honest.)

Because it's Friday and because I love you, here is some entertainment.  First up, bacon.  Who doesn't like bacon, and songs about bacon, and silly Brits?



And...because we all like hot dudes, and surprise endings, and Good Will Hunting:



Happy Friday!

Foodstuffs.
B - Special K Berries, coffee, milk - 4
L - chicken & cheese sammy, apple - 5
D - TBD, but probably restaurant food
S - yogurt, soup later?
Activity - holding up my umbrella

60 Degrees and What I Ate

I know it's all any of us can talk about, but it's 61 degrees right now!  So uplifting, so sunshiney.  I walked through Bryant Park at lunch, and though it was packed with people, it was still lovely.  I even sat for awhile to watch the kids on the merry-go-round and pondered life.  I also discovered that there are two free ping pong tables for public use, and a new area called the "porch" with comfy outdoor chairs and even porch swings and a fire pit!  I want to go to there right now.

Oy, I'm sleepy this afternoon.  The Oscars went too long for my poor old-person body, but they were fun.  I won more picks than Mex, so I get a back rub at the time of my choosing.  We also made Pioneer Woman wings, in order to properly celebrate such a classy event. 

Prior to that, Friday night was a quiet one, home alone, which was a welcome thing.  I watched some DVR and cooked some dinners ahead (to freeze) and drank some wine and watched "The L Word," season 6, disk 1.  (Don't rest in peace, Jenny Schecter.)  Saturday I did some freelance work, then took a very nice 2-hour walk around Astoria, stopping in all major parks and exploring.  Then home for a quick change and met up with Mex in the afternoon to watch some basketball (boo) and play trivia (yay).  Oh, and have lunch.  That turned into a big neighborhood night out, with lots of pool and then a nightcap on the way home at the bar where we met.  It was really fun and romantic, even.  Then Sunday he had some work to do at home, so I started to watch Coco Before Chanel but then took a nap.  Then Oscars!

I hope that this week is going to be a recovery one after all the big meals last week.  I just feel a bit weighed down, so I'm looking forward to eating more home cooking and getting some exercise.  It's almost that time of year when I can walk home from work, but I don't think quite yet -- it may still get dark too early.  But I can't wait!

Last week I was recruited by my former softball team (from my former employers) to be their new pitcher on their new rogue team.  I agreed to try it, but I'm scared of being terrible.  It's so much pressure.  I even dreamt last night that I was at a game (with my college friends?) and had forgotten my glove and it was a major crisis.

My boots arrived today, too -- those purple ones.  I'm 80% sure I like them, but I have to bring them home and really check out the mirror.  They may be too snug on the calves for tucking in pants, but they seem to be able to be slouched or not, so maybe I'll just slouch them more with pants and it'll work out.  Anyway, exciting!

Food for today.
B - Honey Bunches, coffee, skim - 4
L - Smart Ones Roasted Turkey & Mashed Potatoes, apple - 5
D - Sassy Salsa Pumpkin Soup* with reduced-fat sour cream and cheese, salad with feta - 8
S - yogurt, granola bar - 3
Total - 20
Activity - bike
*Schmauren passed on this recipe and I made it on Friday night, but haven't tasted it yet.  It smells quite spicy but I'll cool it off with the sour cream, and will report back.  I mean, who doesn't love pumpkin in EVERYTHING?