Is It 2006 Yet?

How can a short work week drag out sooo long? Well, thank God it's Thursday tomorrow. And hopefully (everyone keep their fingers crossed) I will get to leave work early on Friday. It of course doesn't help that the higher up are not currently in the office. Everyone is walking around looking for a reason to goof off. I don't know...if it is taking this long to get to 5, I can't imagine how long it is going to take to get to Friday afternoon.

I was reminded of what the New Year meant today. It means there is a new year; a new start and all that jazz. That's pretty exciting. I actually always have hope for a good year. Last year was pretty good, I hope the next one can measure up or dare I say it... a little better. I wonder what a year from now will be like, what changes will have happened. I am bad at predictions, or else I would do one. I guess I will just wait the 365 days and see.

I Am Soo Bored...

...with everything. It's all the same. TV, books, blogs, work, my apartment. I hate it all.

I say I hate my apartment, yet I hate leaving it. All I want to do is lay on my couch and stay there and not get up. I am not even looking forward to things I should be looking forward to. At 9:32 am on Tuesday, Dec. 27, I just don't give a shit.

Am I having a mid-life crisis? What's wrong with me?

Stuffed Mushroom Stuffing and I'm Stuffed

My whole family gets together on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas day. My brothers and their kids come and we eat appetizers. This is our tradition. We've been doing it for years, for as long as I can remember. I never really thought about it as our tradition, our family is anything but traditional, but it is something we all count on every year. Thankfully though, this year we are forgoing the meatballs.

A couple of other things we have started doing in the past couple of years is having a holiday drink. Last year it was the Mexican Martini. This year it is the White Russian (apparently our new tradition must be foreign). We have also been having breakfast, this way we can spend all day sitting in our sloth.

One year my mother started taking down the tree on Christmas day. She thinks the tree looks sad without any presents and this might be true, but to take it apart on the day of Christmas.

Anyhoo, I don't know if anyone out there is reading this, but if you are, tell me about your family's Christmas traditions.

Glad These Pants are a Tad Too Big

I feel soooo sick. Today was my company's holiday luncheon. There was fried chicken, au gratin potatoes and bread and meatballs and the largest cookies you will ever see in your life. One vegetable was on the table...corn, which is so starchy I am not sure if it should count as a vegetable.

So yes, what I really need right now is the rest of the afternoon off to either quietly digest the food or to be close to a bathroom that only I use. Or a nap.

I talked to an old friend today and I realized I had a smile on my face the whole time. It was the type of conversation where he said, "How the Hell are you?" and then we had to go over the important stuff in our lives, like getting new jobs and moving. We hadn't talked in over a year. That's pretty incredible when six years ago we didn't go more than a few days without talking and seeing each other.

I was thinking about that the other day. I have made so many wonderful friends, but we've all had to leave and move on. Are these people really my friends anymore when I have no idea what they do or even who they are anymore?

I wonder if any of them feel as sick as I do right now. Can they feel sympathy pains for me?

Even the Best Laid Plans...

Not that I was trying to indulge over the holidays, but it is inevitable. I mean, there are always cookies and candy everywhere and people get together for meals and you think, it is the holidays, I'll just have a little, I'll go to the gym tomorrow.

Or at least that's what I thought I would do.

But then I got sick. I was out for a good five days, the five days right before I was to head out of town for the weekend. So I didn't go to the gym for a week. And unfortunately, my sickness didn't involve loss of appetite. In fact, because I couldn't really taste anything, it made me want greasy, fatty food that I could taste.

So now, Christmas is this coming weekend, I am planning on working out for six days in a row to prepare. This probably won't undo any damage, but perhaps I will feel a little better during my company holiday luncheon tomorrow, or while I am drinking white russians on Christmas Eve ( I suppose I could've picked a lighter holiday drink, but they sound soooo good), or while I am eating beaucoup de hor d'oeuvres, or while stuffed french toast accompanies my mimosas at Christmas breakfast.

How am I going to make it through New Years?

My Memories Are My Own...and these two people's

I had been reminded of a few conversations I have had and thought that they were noteworthy. One of them goes way back. I was talking with my friend Jeannie inside East Hall, where our department was housed. The building was built like a panopticon, except everyone could see everyone else. One could look out over the balcony and see the first floor. I wanted to throw some leftover donuts into a boy’s open backpack below. I am not sure how we got onto the subject of Lost in Translation, but we did. Jeannie made note that the film had very little dialogue. That it was very silent and that Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson had to rely a lot on body movement and facial expressions. It wasn’t until I watched it again last night that I really noticed that Jeannie’s observation was true. Even when there is dialogue, it is for a very short amount of time. It made me like the film even more.

The second, I am really not sure what made me think of this, but after thinking about it, I felt as though I had to write about it. I was at this bar with this a guy about a month ago. He was getting pretty drunk...ok, I was probably getting pretty drunk too. We started talking about Green Day’s American Idiot. I think it is an awesome album. It is still one of my favorites in heavy rotation. He hated it and this is why:

This guy felt as though if Green Day want to sing about problems that they should also sing about solutions. Anyone can sing about people being American Idiots, what made Green Day any different than any other person. Ani DiFranco though, now she really sings some solutions.

The thing is, well, they’re Green Day. Even if they had solutions, would they ever get used? If anyone can sing the words, "American Idiot," than any person can have a solution. Doesn’t make them good.

And besides, I don’t like Ani DiFranco. I am probably the only woman my age to not like her...I just don’t care.

Anyway, I just think that is a weird reason to not like the music.

It’s weird what you all of a sudden remember.

I Picked the Wrong Season to Start This Blog

Guess what I am choosing to talk about today! Yes, the weather. Well, if the weather would stop being so awful, perhaps I wouldn’t want to write so much about it. But really, the snow today... it’s coming fast and furious. Big wet, fat flakes that, although, very, very pretty, also very, very messy. Ahhh....this is going to suck for sure.

It also sucks a big one because I am still a little sick. I am feeling much better, but still a little sick. This morning I remembered, four days into illness, that I had some medicine under the sink that worked amazingly about a year ago. So I found it, but I am one of those people, who to save space, takes the medicine out of the box and throws it into a basket, and then when I need it, cannot remember what the side effects or dosage is and the box is gone. I’ve learned my lesson, all medicine stays in the box.

So upon my return to work, I get two comments. One from my main boss who says that at least I look a little better than I did on Tuesday. And one from my other supervisor who said that he was glad I felt better, but to stay away from him. No problem sir.

Please let the next seven hours go quickly.

A Few Honorable Mentions

A few things that have made me more than happy in the past 24 hours:

1. Bringing my space heater to work. I am a genius. It is obviously warmer and more comfortable and will probably keep me better in the long run.

2. Spaghetti squash. It really could take over for pasta. It tastes delicious with the spaghetti sauce I have with a nice layer of parmesan/romano cheese on top. And I get so excited thinking about how many carbs I am cutting out of my life this way. First mashed cauliflower, now this. Now if there was some way to make bread without using bread.

3. The fact that I am going to Call of the Canyon tonight. I love delicious food and I really hope they have a dessert that I like, because I am refraining from eating the candy in the recpetion area.

4. I shall have The 40-Year Old Virgin in my hands in less than a week. This has to be the funnies movie I have seen in ages and after I have refreshed myself with it, I will be dropping lines of dialogue like you wouldn't believe.

Just to even things out a bit, let me mention some things I could do without:
1. Having the sniffles
2. Having a very dry and red nose
3. Have super dry hands
4. Having five more hours left of work

But other than that, I am ok.

I Wonder If They Dream About Me

You know how I told you yesterday that I had watched Arrested Development all weekend? And you know how when you are sick you have trouble sleeping and have weird dreams? Remember how I told you I wasn’t feeling well?

Do I have to continue?

Well, yes, I did have dreams all night long about Arrested Development. They were weird though. I didn’t really know the Bluth family, it’s like I was watching more episodes. And I would wake up every so often, as if the episode was finished. I hate being sick and dreaming like that...it makes you more tired, even after you are already wiped out from being sick in the first place.

Boo

And back to what I talk about best...the weather. Three to six more inches on Wed. A complete repeat of last week. It’s not even January when it is the snow heavy season. Perhaps it won’t snow as much then since we are getting so much now.

One can only hope.

In a Vicks Vapo Rub Haze

I fear that I am coming down with something. I hope it is not a long-term illness. Perhaps just a few days with the sniffles. But I am prepared. I have had five cups of Echinacia tea. And I have deconestants and nose sprays and Vicks Vapo Rub. Anyway, long story short, I hope this turns into nothing and I will be fine.

I hate when weekends end. Mondays seem so cold. They come too early and last far too long. Especially after a wonderful weekend. I got so much accomplished and had a great time with my friends and had a nice dinner with my parents. And I have been watching Arrested Development all weekend. This show is hysterical. I wish I would've discovered it earlier. And thank God for Netflix. I would never see anything good without it.

I am tired now. The sickness is dragging me down.

Let's Get to Know Me a Little Better

I grew up in Michigan, but went to college in New Mexico and then spent some time in Texas. I lived out west for about 7 years. I forgot what snow was like. When I moved back to the midwest a few years ago, I moved to a small college town to get my Masters degree. The town was small enough, and I was so centrally located that I did not need to drive. I could walk everywhere.

So this year is literally the first year in almost 10 years that I am faced with having to drive in the snow. Having to, meaning, I HAVE to get up every morning and clean off my car and shovel it out and hope that the roads are ok and that I won't die.

I apologize, but I am the asshole who might drive a little too slow in the snow. I am scared and I admit it. But you better believe that if I didn't have to be out driving, I wouldn't be. I would be at home getting plastered, because I realized that snow drives me to drink.

It Seems Like A Nightmare Before Christmas

Oh how the snow is falling and falling. I do believe we will get that 7 inches maximum to be expected. It is so pretty, but tomorrow morning it will be an ugly hassle. Good thing I gave into the Ugg trend...my feet will be warm and dry as I am cleaning my car and shoveling it out.

I attended a body sculpting class last night and then went to kickboxing tonight. My legs are so very sore and I am sure the rest of my body will follow suit tomorrow morning. I like the sore though, it means I have done something worthwhile with my body, so I can spend the rest of the evening watching television and reading. I should be wrapping presents... oh well, I've got like 17 more days.

My Left Hand is Freezing

This blog is on the verge of becoming boring. I can't stop writing about how cold it is. I really can't get over it. I have been wearing thick sweaters to work all week and right now I have a sweater over my legs. And to top it off, we are supposedly getting 3 to 5 inches of snow on Thursday night. I am hoping that information came from the local weatherman whom I suspect is a drunk.

I am going to a new class tonight at the gym. I am so tired of working out, that I decided to try something new. Next week I am going to try to shake up the routine even more. I sometimes think my problem is everyone else. Some people at the gym are sooo annoying. They're just so full of energy and they take three classes in a row and do everything really fast and always jump really high. I want to trip them. And there I am...only there because I know it is good for me and I need to lose weight. I don't like doing jumping jacks. I don't like lunges. I just want to make sure my heartbeat gets up to the number it should by the end.

Nope, nope...I gotta get more positive. This class tonight will be really fun...I won't care about what others do...I will not trip anyone.

You Know It's Going to be a Bad Day...

when the weather bug on your computer says it is 2 degrees outside. It is cold. It seems too early to be this cold. And my office is excuciatingly cold. Sometimes I just want to dump all my papers on the floor and start a fire. Maybe that would get them to move to me another office or at least turn up the heat.

I just heard, yet again, something about there being someone "out there" for everyone and how once people stop looking that someone appears. Well, I think that is bullshit. I think it something people say to single people who are having a bad day... a lonely day. What if someone never finds that seemingly perfect person. Some people do stay alone forever. It sounds harsh, but it is probably closer to the truth than stopping and not thinking about it.

Just once would I like someone to tell a person who is complaining about being alone forever that YES, they may not find their "soul mate." That lonely and alone don't mean the same thing.

Monumental


I just made my first payment towards my student loan. This seems...like an important moment in my life I guess. Will I remember this day forever? I'll probably remember making the last payment better...ten years from now. Oh well, congratulations to me.

Off to the BG tonight. Getting some banana pepper, cheesy fries at Trotters and then after I am sure some sort of hilarity will ensue.

Love/Hate Relationship


I love getting Christmas presents, because I love to think of people's faces when they open them.

But I hate it becaus I have to leave my house and go out into ethe cold to do this. And there is always a chance someone won't like what I get them. And of course, having to deal with people when I go shopping is a pain in the ass. Why is it that humanity is so questionable while shopping during the Christmas season?

It's No Laughing Matter


My hair that is. After my haircut last week I was convinced that I had made a horrible mistake. That people were going to be laughing at my hair. And coming back to work didn't help matters, because I did not get a comment like, "It looks good." I got, "You cut your hair," (wenches back in customer service...damn the printer being back there). I feared I would never learn how to fix it. I bought a hair dryer and started using my Aveda product again. And finally, finally, six days after the cut, I think it looks good. I went as far as to say awesome to my friend Laura earlier, but I take the awesome part back. It just looks good. Tomorrow it could look awesome. Or very, very bad.

A New Mexico State of Mind

Perhaps it is because it is cold and snowing... and will be for months and months to come, but I have been thinking about NM a lot. Shards of memories come to me. Driving with all my windows down. Everyone being outside in the front of their house, rather than the back. How rain was treated as a shower of gold. When it snowed there, everything was shut down and people were warned not to leave their houses.

In this weather, sometimes I can't even get my window down. Everyone's bundled up in their homes. When it rains it creates ice. And when it snows, I still have to go out.