Archive for May, 2004
Storms blowing through tonight. We went out for dinner and beat a fast retreat to the car as the black clouds rolled in and the heavy rain started to come down. By the time we were home, though, it had quieted down. There’s soft rain outside the window now, and trees down in the park. At least the humidity has abated.
Tired of my body being a worry. My cycle is all out of whack, but I’m trying not to stress it. Mainly I’ve been having trouble with food, and that really sucks. Tonight I spent a good hour curled up in pain. I go to the doctor on Thursday, and I’m going to see about changing my birth control. Neither of us really want to be parents any time soon.
It’s been a nice weekend, storms and pain notwithstanding. Friday night we were finally able to eat at Monkey, which was hella tasty. Someone had their dog with them on the patio, and the dog was definitely lusting after a martini. Picked up coffee at work (I felt bad because I took the weekend off but stopped in anyway), then watched Jungle Emperor Leo, which started out insanely cute but ended up just plain strange. Saturday we slept in, hung out, read on the porch, watched Return of the King (HOTT), then had pizza and played pool at Jupiter’s. I had a lot of fun, even though I’m miserably bad at pool. Might have to go there more often. Watched Scarlet Diva, which was crazy, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, which was adorable. Just lying together on the couch bed was sweet. I will be sad for the weekend to end.
So what’s coming up, now that I’ll be solo for a few weeks? Lots of work, and sleep, and work. BBQ tomorrow night with the kids before Shawn leaves. Jen is coming for the weekend. A bunch of us are going to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on Friday. Amanda might come for a week or two. Sarah and Hannah and I are going to Rockford the following weekend. Missy is on her own with Mark gone, so hopefully we’ll spend time together. My last day at work is Friday – hoofuckingrah.
Right now, though, I’m going to go drink some tea and curl up with my boy. xo-e
May 31st, 2004
It’s like every other day – busy, quiet, busy, quiet, busy. Long hours of nothing, then concentrated craziness. I don’t remember when I blogged last. Two days of doubles, followed by 24 and sleeping in with the boy. Short day, then insane cleaning and cooking for meat night – cranberry-orange chicken, sesame-garlic green beans, cucumber noodles, a salad with tomatoes and avocado, and milano cookies with mango and raspberry sorbet. Some American Idol, then a reluctant but sweet sleepover. I can’t help that I want him there with me every night. Lunch with Sarah at Murphy’s, then customers at half-hour intervals until the last, then screaming children and not-listening customers and a million and a half things to do. Party for Elizabeth Baldridge and Isabel – some familiar faces, mainly strangers. Tasty food though. A free dresser in the alley, and a few minutes of quiet on the couch, then home for the night. He leaves on Tuesday, and I’m doing fine. Or at least better than I expected. Must sleep.
May 27th, 2004
with many thanks to kfan and his mom
1 lb green beans, washed and trimmed
olive oil
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 T sesame seeds
sesame oil
tamari
chopped ginger (optional)
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Boil the beans for about 4 minutes. Transfer beans via slotted spoon to ice water. Drain and dry beans. Heat some olive oil in a large wok or pan. Add the beans and the sesame seeds and some tamari. Stir-fry over high heat, occasionally pressing the beans down with the spatula to char them. Remove from heat and put in a bowl. Heat some sesame oil and saute the garlic (and ginger) with some tamari, until soft. Remove from heat and pour over the beans.
May 26th, 2004
Seen on the sidewalk on my walk home from work:
THE DEVIL
IS UPON US!
MEOW!
I’m not sure if those things were related, but they were in the same square of pavement. Weird town.
A night at work – shit for tips, and the girl I was working with spent 3 hours sitting at a table with her boyfriend making little labels for three perfectly good hand-written signs. I hate being the new person cos I feel like I don’t have any room to question other people’s behavior. Oh well, it’s not like I was really busy – but I would’ve liked a little while to sit down later in the evening.
A nice weekend so far. It’s late, I’m warm, and in a few minutes I’m going to head over to Shawn‘s. Happy Saturday night, kids.
May 23rd, 2004
Not much, really. Trying to spend lots of time with the boy this next week before he leaves for the Academy after next weekend. Trying not to think about how blue I’m going to be when he’s gone. Watching a bunch of movies, blogging on the book club site, reading, eating things that are tasty but don’t necessarily make me happy, trying to stay cool. Working tonight – in half an hour, actually. That’s about it.
May 22nd, 2004
2 pie crusts
1 lb rhubarb – approximately 3 cups
1 pint strawberries, halved
1 1/4 C sugar
5 T flour
1/4 t nutmeg
2 T butter
Combine rhubarb and strawberries. Sprinkle with sugar, flour, and nutmeg. Toss lightly. Put in pie shell. Dot with butter. Put on top crust, flute, and vent. Bake at 350F for 45-60 minutes.
May 14th, 2004
Jim Croce’s List of Things It Would Be Imprudent To Do
New Punctuation Mark Approved for Use
Jakob Nielsen Declares the Letter “C” Unusable
Google Releases Print Edition
Pirate Wisdom
A Little Book of Pirates
Yes, I’m trying to distract myself as well. It’s easier to be here knowing that it won’t be forever – which is what it felt like before – but I’m still drained and emotional. On my lunch break I’m going to get some coffee and pick up my new mp3 player. My pre-employment physical is scheduled for next Wednesday, so I should be able to turn in my notice next Friday. Another week in silence, then two more weeks of work, then I’m done.
May 14th, 2004
It is impossibly gorgeous today. It is hottish, and sunny, and breezy. Apparently yesterday all the perfectly proportioned undergrads turned out to lie around in bikinis on the quad – Shawn said he wasn’t sure if he was at a Big 10 university – or a tanning salon. The extent of this wonderfulness that I get to experience, however, will be limited to the walk from my apartment to work tonight, as I’m working back-to-back shifts. Today’s the first day I’ve had to do that, so we’ll see how I survive. I’m thinking a lot of caffeine will be required.
Yesterday was pretty great too – well, at least once I got off work. Work wasn’t as hideous as it’s been, but my coworker mysteriously disappeared while I was on lunch – no one will tell me why she left, but I’m thinking they sent her home due to her new “extreme” hair color. Shawn came over and we drank our wine cooler margaritas in the park while watching a nebulous game of frisbee. Dinner at Farren’s, then home to watch Gosford Park, which was good, but a lot slower than I would’ve liked. Shawn spent the night, and I kept setting my alarm back this morning so I could spend more time curled up next to him. It’s been great sleeping weather, which may explain my lethargy the last few days. The morning went by pretty quickly – but I have five more hours at the bank, followed by six-and-a-half at the coffeeshop, so no rest in sight for me. *yawn*
May 6th, 2004
Tonight turned out to be a lot better than I expected. Sarah called me after lunch to say that she got called in to work, and did I want her Rent ticket. Sure! So at the end of a long and shitty-shitty day, I joined Hannah and Amity for Thara Thai, then met Shawn for the show. It was really great, and I’m glad I went. I wish Sarah could’ve gone, though – I know the show has special meaning for her.
The weekend ended up pretty nice as well – I worked a hella long shift at Aroma with my boss, which was exhausting but good – left work at 12:30 and walked to Shawn‘s, where he obliged my exhaustion and provided me with snacks and a backrub. We watched Punch-Drunk Love, which was odd and wonderful, then turned in and slept, soundly, until almost noon. Sunday was sleeping in and reading in bed, then more sleeping, and reading, and food from Sonic. We opted not to watch the earthquake monstrosity, and instead watched The Singing Detective, which was pretty terrific in and of itself.
So yeah, just some ups and downs the last couple of days. A bad hangover and lots of emotions, then a good but exhausting shift. A shitty day at work, then a nice night with friends and music and pie. Finding three grey hairs – the first in years – and getting a cute top in the mail. It all evens out in the end.
But right now my heart goes out to Russ’s family on the loss of their beloved sister, Mary. If you pray, think of them.
May 3rd, 2004