Archive for May, 2003
We’re making a second offer on this house tomorrow. My stomach is all in knots, afraid that they’ll sell it to the couple that’s looking at it today. We so want this house.
Today has been excruciatingly boring. I really thought I was going to fall asleep at my desk. I have 7 minutes left – it’s still a possibility.
Sometimes I wish I could write consistently themed or consistently clever entries. I wish my entries were more coherent and not just about anything and everything. But maybe that’s why people read here.
May 29th, 2003
You can’t really tell from the photo – but my hair is kind of a crazy red brown blonde color – a bit of all three, actually. I think it could use another round of dye – but given the dye nightmare this weekend, I can wait. I bought two boxes of Feria at the grocery – got ready for Michelle to come do it – and then opened the box to discover that one had no dye! So I went to the store again, bought more dye (checked for it this time) – and when Michelle went to mix it, someone had switched the bottles! So we went out and bought a FOURTH box of dye. Ridiculous. And it always happens that I find a color I like – and then it’s discontinued. Hopefully not this time.
May 27th, 2003
“time flies when it’s wrapped in plastic.” – Moby
My husband came up with some very bizarre Marry/Shag/Cliff suggestions:
Betty Boop
Olive Oyl
Strawberry Shortcake
We were having a terrific time with it last night. I think some of my responses surprised him. I’d post them here – but some of them are just too strange for words.
It’s potluck at work today – and a v slow and boooooooooooring day. Not a good combination. It’s a nap under the desk sort of day. Trying to find things to do and ways to keep my eyes open. Am thinking about kicking my computer just for something to do.
So tired of looking at houses. I suspect we’ll never find anything. Just got an email from Landlord Mark, who said they looked for over a year before they found their house. I don’t want to hear that!!! At least we’re not in a hurry for any legitimate or unavoidable reason.
Still pondering my plans for the weekend. I want to go out and do stuff but from looking at the budget, I don’t know if that’s possible. I don’t think I even have the gas money to drive to Champaign. Is there anyone who would like to come over and play Trivial Pursuit? Yes, that’s right. I’m advertising for weekend plans on the Interweb. Sad but true.
May 21st, 2003
When I run the shadow government, my electric bill will be due two days AFTER pay day, not before it.
When I run the shadow government and have to work 10 hour days, I’d better have a damned cool office, especially if it’s only two of us working there.
When I run the shadow government, I will hire a minion to do my filing. Then I will be able to put potluck food through the shredder just to see what happens.
May 21st, 2003
1. What drinking water do you prefer — tap, bottle, purifier, etc.?
I prefer bottled water – unless the tap water is really, really good. We’ve been buying purified water at the grocery – that’s my favorite right now.
2. What are your favourite flavor of chips?
Salt & vinegar. Gross but true. :)
3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most?
I love my tomato bisque and Grandma’s mashed potatoes.
4. How do you have your eggs?
Sunny side up!
5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out?
Tuesday I made chicken tikka masala. It was terrific.
May 16th, 2003
Public Service Announcement #5 (courtesy of Newman):
There is no such thing as a “skrimp.” The word is SHRIMP (or, for those from Down Under, PRAWN. Thank you.
The weather today reminds me of Paris the last time I was there. We went for Easter when I was in London – a long weekend – took the Eurostar, stayed at Three Ducks, did our own thing. Friday we saw the Pendulum at The Pantheon, went to the Musee D’Orsay, cooked for the first time in months, and got really drunk in the garden, among other things. Saturday it poured. The heavens just opened up and dumped on us. Newman and Steph-a-nee did their own thing – I think they went to the Louvre – but I braved the rain and went to le cimitiere Montparnasse and visited Baudelaire – then walked down the Boulevard Raspail and soaked it up – the city, the sights and smells, the store at the corner of Raspail and Montparnasse where I bought my blue journal. I walked from Montparnasse to the Ile de la Cite where water was standing in the streets – taking brief respite at the Sainte Chapelle – then walking to Notre Dame. My clothes were soaked. My sandals were soaked. The laminated map I was using as an umbrella was soaked – but I was having a brilliant time. I don’t think I would’ve been any happier had it been sunny. Today’s rain holds none of that magic – only the memory.
In case you’re concerned that the entire weekend was a wash, so to speak, you’re wrong. The rain continued through Sunday morning, then lifted just as Steph-a-Nee and I left the Centre Pompidou. We walked for a long time, then took the Metro to Montmatre and walked the steps to Sacre Coeur, where we were presented with a brilliant view of the entire city. I didn’t want to leave. But I did and three years passed and here I am.
May 14th, 2003
Public Service Announcements #3 and 4:
The word is YOUR, not “yo’.”
The word is CHECKING, not “checkin’.”
As in “I need your checking account number.”
Day one of new hours has been marvelous. I went home on my lunch break, warmed up meal #3 from Saturday’s dinner, and ate on the porch while reading my book. It was soooooo nice. One bad thing is that I can’t take my 15 minutes paid and my hour unpaid at the same time – but that also means I get a smaller break during the day – which isn’t so bad.
We went to Erich & Amy’s on Sunday to look at the house. They’re really eager to sell to us – unfortunately we’re not going to go for it. :( The house is really nice – they’ve done even more work since the last time we were there – but it’s not what we want and we just can’t afford a $110,000.00 favor. In the interim, however, I talked to a few people and might have a friend-of-a-friend who is interested. I figure that if we can’t help them out by buying the house ourselves, we might as well pimp it out to other friends who are looking! It’s a great house and I know they’ll sell it quickly – I just hope they can do so and still make enough off of it to pay their bills and get a good start in Indianapolis. We’re going to miss them.
Kate’s site is back up – hooray! And Newman got a kitten and Sarah and Hannah got a house. And Missy is graduating and Eva is getting married. Lots of big things going on. It makes my head hurt! Right now I’m concentrating on one more hour of work, then dinner with N, Eva, Cath, and Jen. Then nap. Maybe.
May 13th, 2003
Public Service Announcement #2:
The word is ASK, not “axe.” As in “I need to ask you a question.”
I’m feeling a little bit better – still blue. I’m definitely getting new hours at work, thought not exactly what I hoped for. At least I get an hour lunch.
Day One of conscientious eating went pretty well. I had a bad lunch – well, it tasted good, but not good for me – but it’s meal #2 from dinner on Saturday, so I think it’s OK. Tomorrow I’ll have meal #3 from dinner – and then I’ll be done. Hoo-rah for leftovers.
May 12th, 2003
soooooooooo bored. Why doesn’t anyone update on Saturdays? Oh yeah, cos I’m the only one stuck at work.
Game night was a bust. No one showed. We cleaned the house and made all this soup – and no one showed. I didn’t expect a huge turn out – lots of people had other plans – but no one? Ugh. And by the time it was apparent that no one was coming, it was really too late to go do anything. Tonight should be better, though. I’m going out with Eva for her bachelorette party – which isn’t so much of a party as it is a date for the two of us. We’re going to dinner at Basil Cafe, then to see Chicago. With any luck.
This summer I’ve got to make a real commitment to losing weight. I’m not one of those girls who constantly obsesses about her weight – but I’m self conscious and want to be able to wear better clothes and not feel so icky. The problem is that I’m lazy – and I like good food. Doesn’t bode well. I felt and looked so great last summer. Weight was melting off of me (well, not THAT much) – but then I had the giant crush of wedding stress to help out. I think I need to set small and realistic goals – and find some non-food rewards for when I meet them. Please, someone, keep me accountable!?!
Erich wants us to buy his house. I don’t know how I feel. On the one hand, it is v nice – 3 bedrooms, 2 baths (one with a giant tub!), a really nice finished basement, central AC, etc. On the other hand, they smoked in the house for years, it’s our friend’s house, it’s in Machesney Park, and it’s sooo close to N’s parents and sooo far away from my work, my friends, and everything I like to do. Oh yeah, and it’s also out of our price range. I don’t want to spend obscene amounts of money on a house we’re not in love with. Hell, I’m reluctant to spend moderate amounts of money on things we ARE in love with. I’m not being unreasonable, am I?
May 10th, 2003
Thank you all for your concern over my temporary disappearance. I’m still here – my settings were just wonky. Hopefully that’s taken care of now.
Last night was card night and we had so much fun! My scanner is DOA at the moment – I might try to scan the cards tonight though. Each card used a new technique – we all really outdid ourselves. Rachel taught us how to make marbled-looking paper using shaving cream and liquid ink – and embossing too! Mom showed us how to use chalks and the watermark pad. Mary A taught us about cutting – she makes these incredibly intricate paper cuttings that are just amazing and WAY out of my league. I’m glad she could come! I played with white ink and with my sealing wax; Eva brought some gorgeous papers and we all found different ways to line our cards. I feel so creative and stimulated – and can’t wait for next month!
I really want my office to be like this:
I saw the sweetest thing at work today. Inside the cupboard with the teacups, there’s a little spreadsheet taped up with all the employees names down one side. Across the columns it says TEA, COFFEE, MILK, SUGAR. And there’s ticks and crosses to indicate everyone’s preferences. They spend all day making each other cuppas and I always wondered how they all knew what everyone liked. It’s bloody adorable.
May 8th, 2003
Previous Posts