Thursday, September 30, 2004

Its the little things...

That get me every time.

About a week ago we got a free newspaper delivered to our condo. Instead of delivering it on our front porch, they just dropped it off in the back right in front of our garage. Every day for the last week I've run over it about 4 times a day, leaving for work, coming home from work, leaving to hang out, coming home to sleep, and even though it is annoying, I don't bend, pick it up and throw it away in the dumpster that is literally 4 feet away from it. I don't know why, I just don't. Maybe somewhere in my mind I hope that Amy (my roommate) will pick it up and throw it away. She probably thinks the same thing.

Another thing: I've lived in Colorado for almost a year and a half now and I still have yet to get my Colorado drivers license. I know exactly where to go, and if I strategically plan my timing, it really wouldn't take more that 20 minutes to just go get my photo taken and become a responsible citizen of the state. But, alas, I don't do it.

As a final testament to my inability to handle the minutiae of my life, my fouton is still being held together with a screwdriver. I lost the little metal dowel that was supposed to hold it upright, and, having no other material just laying around, I grabbed my roommate's Phillips screwdriver and rammed it into place. It works like a dream, and is actually really handy because now we always know where the screwdriver is. The only thing is, it looks really strange just sitting there, protruding from the back of my furniture.

I don't know why I don't just take an hour between standing at the fridge and realizing I have nothing to eat besides year old mayonnaise and half a jar of marichino cherries and that all important rerun episode of Friends to go out and do these things, but I don't. I am an enigma.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Mad scientist with one googly eye

I am the oldest cousin on my mom's side. Tyler, my cousin who is slightly younger, and I were the best of pals, confidants, and more often than not, conspirators in dastardly plots. We perfected the manipulation of the younger siblings and cousins. We were the brains behind many activities that generated parental and grand parental frustration: hanging from the stairs upside down in the basement, tearing the sofas apart to make mazes and play gerbals, using paper towels and plaster of pairs to make masks that ripped eyebrows off in their removal, ect.

Every summer we would all congregate at my grandparents house for a week of pre-adolescent capers. We would usually spend all day at a sports camp, hosted by BYU, or some other kind of summer camp designed to give parents who are accustomed to a whole kid-free day a break from the constant requirement of child entertainment.

The most memorable summer was when Tyler and I were enrolled in a science camp.

(I know you are thinking, "this girl is the biggest nerd ever" but I don't care. It's true, I am a nerd, I've embraced it and am learning to love it)

Anyway, the name of the camp was "beef heart, sheep eye and cow tongue." Within a week we were planning on dissecting all of these things. In retrospect, I think that is really gross, but at the time I was so excited I could barely contain myself.

On the first day of class we showed up and were given a white box. On the top of the box there was a black and white label with a cartoon of a cow looking very happy (clearly he no one told him that we would be cutting out his tongue and very carefully filleting it) and our names written in black Sharpie marker. The box was a foot and a half square and about 8 inches deep. I opened it and was thrilled by its contents: rubber gloves, test tubes, tongs, goggles, a lab coat, a rack to hold out test tubes and a spiral bound book filled with experiments we could do at home.

I'm sure the class was really interesting, and I even remember bringing home the lens of a sheep's eye to show my grandma, but the best thing Tyler and I got out of that class was the box of scientific treasures.

The best experiment we ever did, was on my sister. We made her eat a whole sleeve of saltine crackers, and then pee into a cup. We then did experiments on it to determine what she had eaten. I guess it was a redundant experiment because we knew in advance what she'd eaten.

Anyway, the love of doing experiments has stuck with me.

My latest experiment is more in the social arena than in the scientific.

I've decided that I am going out to dinner with a different person once a week. I'm starting with the girls in my social circle that I don't really know all that well. I think it is really important to make really connections with people instead of just hanging out in a group. I want them to know that I care about them and I am there if they have a problem. Its always fun to do things as a big group, but it is only one-on-one that you really get to know someone and really become friends.

Anyway, last night I went out with Em. She is such an interesting girl, and surprisingly a lot like me. She went to BYU and understands the importance of working hard and doing things well. I was a little apprehensive because she dated the mail man (from about two months ago) and almost married the kid before I hung out with him. I didn't know what she thought about the whole thing. Anyway, I was dumb to think that she'd care at all about that stuff. It was a really fun night and it prompted me to make an addendum to my experiment.

I am going to try to open up to these people; let them see my weaknesses as well as my strengths. I have a really hard time admitting that things don't always go as planned for me. I hate admitting that I get lonely.

So that is my latest experiment. I have no idea what the goal is, and no way to measure the findings, but at least it is in action. It should be interesting, even though there is no dissection involved.

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Changing of the Guard

I like musicals. Growing up my mom, my sister and I would routinely curl up under two inch thick blankets, turn on a great Rogers and Hammerstein classic and get lost in a world where people break into song and choreographed dancing at the drop of a hat. My dad would retire to the basement and watch a football game and (I'm sure) wonder how he was going to make it through life surrounded by so much estrogen.

Anyway, I have practically every song from the more popular musicals memorized. I always thought they were entertaining because they were a break from reality.

Bad news, I am a character in a musical.

Alright, so I don't burst into song about how the butter ran out or have a mental breakdown when someone leaves time on the mircowave (wait a minute), but I do have certain "tendencies."

Have you ever seen South Pacific? At one point in the show the main character gets her heart broken and there is a shower scene where she is shampooing her hair and singing, "gotta get that man right outta my hair."

Well, last night was my final rinse of all the crappy stuff I've been going through.

I bailed out on FHE (I know I shouldn't have, but I didn't really want to see anybody), and went to Wal-Mart. Now, usually I hate Wal-Mart, but they have cheap fabric and for my "shampooing" I needed lots of fabric.

I bought tons of fabric to really decorate my room.

I moved into my new place last May and haven't gotten around to really making it my personal space. I've never been able to stand white walls, but they wouldn't let me paint at this new place. Out of laziness and frustration I just decided to put up with it.

Also, I felt to busy to really dedicate time to doing it. I always felt like I needed to be out hanging out with people to fill my time. You know how it is; when you break up with someone all the sudden you have tons of time and you don't know what to do with it all. You're used to spending all that time with someone else, so it is hard to just be on your own again. I've been struggling with this since May, but last night I washed that all out.

I turned off my phone and spent the whole night by myself re-doing my room. Actually, I didn't re-do it so much as do it, since I hadn't really done more that unpack my boxes since May.

Anyway, now my room looks great and feels like a place I want to just hang out.

I'm glad I finally "washed that man right outta my hair."

Friday, September 24, 2004

An ode to Norah

No other Thursday
could be half so grand
as yesterday's was,
throughout all the land.

After leaving work early
I chanced to walk
Down Pearl Street in Boulder
past bums, street performers, and artistic renderings in chalk.

I went to my store,
Common Era, its name,
But found no good deals,
A crying shame.

The day was so nice
the weather so fair
I kept my spirits up;
Felt the breeze in my hair.

I went to another place,
Abercrombie by name
And found some shirts to die for
Playing the capitalist, consumer game.

As I left the store
with a feeling of triumph,
I noticed a girl:
Covered in tattoos and piercings, looking definant

She noticed my bag,
then my Norstrom pants and Jcrew sweater
I'm sure she thought
that her choice in life was better.

Hopped in my car,
Raced home like a jet
I was going to have
the best night of my week yet.

My friend Derek and I
had great plans ahead
I grew giddy as I realized
what would happen before I returned to my bed.

We drove out to Red Rocks
the best venue ever
We sat in anticipation
He tried to be clever

The show started up
Norah looked like a dream
When she sang "Don't miss you at all"
I thought my heart would scream

The night was cold,
Freezing in fact,
But she still did an encore
She's a complete class act.

As we drove home from the show
I took a moment to think
Of all the great people I've known, loved, and learned from
And my fears started to shrink

My life is great,
I've got great friends who care
Norah Jones will never know
Of what her concert made me aware.

Thursday, September 23, 2004

Gettin the Digits

Last night my new friend Brittany and I went out for dinner.

Brittany is a beautiful girl,

And a sorority girl in the most popular house on campus,

And a CU cheerleader (or was up until this year).

Anyway, we went to dinner and had a great conversation.

After we'd paid for dinner, we were getting all our stuff together to leave, and our waiter stopped us.

For a moment I was afraid that we hadn't paid enough or something, but then he says to Britt,"I never do this, but you just have a really great smile." And hands her his number written on a coaster.

I was floored, and so was she.

It was right out of a movie. Who does that in real life? Who does that ever really happen to?

After dinner I went to institute. Just before class I noticed this kid that I've talked to maybe twice. He's new to Boulder, and seems kind of quiet, but really really nice. Anyway, emboldened by our experience at the restaurant, I just walked right up to him and asked him for his number. I figured that he might want to hang out and meet some new people some time. Anyway, when I asked him he was really pretty shocked. He asked me if I was actually going to use it, and I said of course I was. Then I asked him if that was okay (fearing that I may have been slightly forward or something). He said sure.

It was a really great class, and afterward the teacher (Bro. Peterson) asked me to come up and talk to him. I guess his wife knows a girl who needs a friend (not in a pathetic, "I'm a loser and no one likes me" way, but more in a "I'm new to the area and want to get to know people way"). Anyway, I was so flattered that he thought of me. He said that I was always really friendly and know how to make people feel cared for. That made me feel all good inside.

After class Sarah and I stood out in the drizzle in the parking lot and talked for a while. She is the best friend a girl could have and knows just how to make me feel better. She's the best.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Miss Spontaneous

So this morning I checked the flights, and I found a ticket for $180 to Spokane this weekend, so I bought it.

I am so stoked to be going home this weekend!?!? Maybe I'll go out to Greenbluff and pick some apples or just sit home on Saturday night and watch a chick flick with my mom. It's going to be great. I love going home.

Plus, I get to see my bff Kathy and her wicked cool husband Matt.

I haven't seen them in AGES!

So....Gilmore Girls.

Can I just say that I really don't like what Rory did. That is bad. Plus, I think Lindsay is just such a cute girl and I was beaming when she made the roast beef well. Rory is a bad girl. Plus, Dean really isn't that cute anymore. They need a new hot character on the show for Rory so she can get her mind off that loser. Its too bad Triston has his own show now because he is dreamy and if he came back and acted nicer that'd be pretty good. Previews for next week look really good, but I really feel bad for Lindsay because she obviously has no idea what is going on and still really loves Dean.

I was planning on watching the episode with my friend Jocelyn at her house, but she got tied up in Denver, so I had to watch it at Eric's house. I just laid there curled up on the couch and enjoyed. Eric was really cold and mean to me, but what's new. That kid is all over the place. I just wish things were different. He feels that it is totally alright to just treat me like crap because he knows I'll forgive him. He'd never treat anyone else like that...Just me. I'm such a lucky girl.

My aunt sent my photos of Alta and Snowbird and they are getting DUMPED on! Hooray for skiing!


Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Another Deflated Crush

So I thought I had a crush on this guy that I work with.

I was wrong.

We went out to lunch today, and I just wasn't really feeling the right vibe. He's a really cool guy, and will be a great friend to ski and longboard and play guitar with, but I don't really see any kind of romantic thing happening there. Too bad, it was nice thinking there was potential somewhere.

Anyway, I wore my new white James Perse shirt today (dressing to impress) and I totally spilled a gobber of salsa on my right boob. Stupid and really kind of annoying. Luckily this shirt is double layered. I just turned it inside out and now it looks like one of those cool shirts that is trying to be edgy by putting the stitching on the outside. I'm so resourceful.

The cool thing about today is that it is raining.

Beautiful rain down here means it is snowing up in the mountains creating a nice base for skiing soon. I am SO excited.

I got an Eldora pass. Eldora isn't the biggest or steepest of resorts, but it is only 30-45 minutes from Boulder, which means I can ski in the morning during the week and still get to work, kind of like Sundance for Provo.

Tonight is the season premiere of Gilmore Girls! I have to admit that I am completely addicted to that show. It is the only hour of TV that I really look forward to watching (and usually the only hour that I actually do watch). I'm skipping Enrichment to watch it, but I think that is alright since all they are doing is painting a pot and planting a flower; both of which I already know how to do fairly well.


Monday, September 20, 2004

Advice needed

So here is the sitch:

I have a really close group of friends. There are about 10 of us. One of them is my ex-boyfriend, Eric. We've been through all the weird post-dating stuff, and now we're back to being friends. I consider him one of my best friends here in Colorado.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I met this girl. She is perfect for him. I steered them together for an initial converstaion.

Things totally clicked for them and now they are in the preliminary stages of being "together."

She is such a great girl and I am really hoping that it works out for them.

Anyway, he hasn't told her that we ever dated.

When we hang out in a big group I find myself wanting to tell stories or say things that betray how Eric and I dated, but I don't think it's my place to just tell her like that.

If I were in her position (starting to date a guy and hanging out all the time with a bunch of his really close friends all the time) I'd totally want to know if one of those people were his ex-girlfriend.

Last night I asked Eric if he was going to tell her about it and he pretty much told me that he wasn't.

Now I kind of feel like I'm an accomplice in hiding this information from her.

I'd totally be fine with it if I didn't really like the girl. I wouldn't want to be the last one in the group to know that about some kid I'd been dating, so I assume she wouldn't either.

What should I do?

Friday, September 17, 2004

Freakin Hilarious

So my mom emailed this to me this morning, and it made me laugh out loud. I don't know if you'll get it unless you've had a real job, but maybe you will.

honest boss

Thursday, September 16, 2004

What to do...What to do

Here's a situation most of my co-workers can't relate to:

This guy I work with constantly refers to me as his angel. I don't really like it, but I don't really know how to tell him to knock it off because he's a pretty good friend. Plus, he's been doing it since last November when we worked on a different program together. I didn't really mind it in the beginning because I thought it was kind of funny, since I would hardly catagorize myself as angelic. Now it kind of irritates me, but I let it go on so long that he thinks its alright. Do I just suck it up and let some 40 yr old guy call me his angel? Sometimes I hate being a girl in a male dominated field.

Things that annoy me

I can't think of anything remotely interesting going on in my life to write about today, so I thought I'd compile this list. Maybe getting them written down will help, or just be funny.

1. No Styrofoam cups. Today I went to get my morning cup of hot chocolate and there were no cups to be found. This is particularly annoying because I have really been meaning to bring my own mug in, but keep forgetting. I think I didn't get a cup today because I went to get my drink of choice at 10. As someone who doesn't drink coffee, and therefore doesn't get their cup right when they get into work, I feel oppressed. Just because I can wait a couple hours does not mean that I should have to go without because there aren't any cups left. Life is unfair.

2. People who cook a nasty smelling lunch at work. Can't these people tell that their strange concoction in the microwave infects the air for all us poor fools subjected to the air circulation system on the same floor? Have they no shame?

3. People who leave time left on the microwave. Is it really that hard to push the cancel button after you prematurely removed your food? Honestly. Do you realize that I am really annoyed when I glance over at the clock to determine how long it is until the new Gilmore Girls episode comes on and all I see is :29 blinking back at me? Ugh!

4. Roommates that automatically move my clothes from the washer to the dryer. Alright, this is a SERIOUS problem. I am tall and most of my clothes can't be dried. Also, I am one of those people who read the label in every shirt and follow the instructions. If it says "wash cold lay flat to dry" my clothes are cold and damp on the floor of my bedroom. Just because all they wear are Cotton/poly blend, oversived T-shirts that can basically be washed in any temp, with anything else, and dried in a furnace does not mean that everyone does.

5. People who talk to me while I'm reading. Hello? Can't they see I'm busy and don't want to be disturbed? I never thought that someone would actually think it is okay to run in and jump on my bed and strike up a conversation while I am obviously engrossed in a book, but it happened with my current roommate. Dumb as a brick, that one.

6. Changing the channel on the TV when I get up to go to the bathroom. Duh, like I'm not going to notice what you just did?!?!

7. Dropping in at a friend house because I figure they probably don't have anything to do either and being shocked to find all my friends there, hanging out, without me. They don't even think to call me if I'm not there. Tres annoying.

8. Making plans with someone and instead of them calling to tell you they can't make it, they just let it slide by without admitting that they bailed on you. This makes me feel like I wasn't important enough to make the effort to call and cancel on.

I'm sure there are more, but I'm off to lunch.

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Free stuff = my dream come true

Well, last night I joined the ranks of poor saps who gave up 2 hours of their life in order to get something for free.

I went to a time share presentation.

Granted, it wasn't your standard "buy a week every year at the same condo for the rest of your life" set up, but it was still a timeshare.

First of all, I'm only 23, so I had to bring someone with me who was over 25. I ended up taking my friend Kirsten with me. We had to claim to be "partners." (lie #1: I'm lesbian)

We sat and waited for 20 minutes while watching old performances of Bill Cosby projected on a big white screen that reminded me of film strips in high school.

After the main guy gave his little talk and we watched a 10 minute video about how great it is to "own" your vacations instead of "renting" them, we were ushered out to talk to a representative.

First thing he asked us was how we knew each other. We looked at each other and said in unison "roommates" (lie #2: I live with my girlfriend)

We listened to his whole talk, and I pretended I was really interested. (lie #3: I take vacations all the time and would be interested in a time-share)

At the end he asked if we could afford the 10% down payment and I said sure. (lie #4: I have $1,000 to just throw into the wind at the drop of a hat)

I ended up saying that I just couldn't do it. We picked up our free $20 dinner, plane tickets to Orlando and a 2 night stay in a hotel and left.

All in all I claimed to be a lesbian living in sin with my girlfriend who travels all over the world and has $1,000 on hand to spend at will.

All that for free plane tickets.

My soul is as black as a woodburning stove.

Eh, I'd probably have done it for the $20 to Red Lobster.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

She's my pal, I don't begrudge her a boyfriend

So last night I found out that over the weekend while I was gone two of my friends decided they were going to date.

Amy W and Brett.

They dated over a year ago, but Amy ended things and Brett has patiently waited for that whole time in the hopes that she'd come around and realize how much she cares for him.

Well, for once, life worked out like the movies.

Amy had a complete change of heart and asked for him back and he readily agreed.

Now they are together and so happy.

I'm thrilled for them both because Brett is crazy about her and Amy, I guess, is equally into him again.

The only kind of crappy thing for me is that now everyone I know is dating someone.

I really don't want to be selfish and think of myself so much, but I'm human, so that's just what happens.

Every Sunday my group of friends makes dinner together. We've been doing this for almost a year now. I use it to gage what's going on in everyone's lives. Its kind of like our "Central Perk." Boyfriends and Girlfriends come in and out, but the core group remains the same. Anyway, the best I can describe the situation is by using friends. Ross is with Rachel, Chandler is with Monica, and Pheobe has some guy who wasn't part of the group, but has now become a critical part of the group. Joey has his flavor of the month, and I'm that character that's missing. I'm like a 7th friend who is there, but who isn't. What a pain.

Even my 5 year old niece has a boyfriend at school. She was telling me about him this weekend while I was in Seattle and then she asked me why I didn't have one. UGH! Even 5 year olds agree that I should be able to find someone worth actually spending time with and getting to know.

Have I become some kind of strange hybrid of girl. You know, the girl who makes more than 50K, drives a brand new car she bought for herself, likes to watch football, can cook a mean apple pie and who has only a slight problem with commitment?!?!

Monday, September 13, 2004

Go BUFFS!

This weekend was AWESOME!

I headed up to Seattle Friday morning to watch the CU/WSU game. Friday my parents and I went shopping in Downtown Seattle. We went for lunch with my brother and my best friend from highschool, Brooke. It was SO good to see her again and catch up. She's dating an Italian who only wears Gorgio Armani (a perfect match for her). She just makes me laugh. We are so different, but different in a good way. She isn't the least bit interested in what she calls "typical American men" and only goes for Foreign guys. I really like American guys and sometimes find it hard to relate to people who didn't grow up in middle class sub-divisions like I did. I really like being around her because she makes my little shopping fetish seem mild. Compared to my friends here I'm a fanatic, but compared to her I hardly ever endulge. Its nice to get some perspective, especailly since I was feeling like I was out of control.

Anyway, that night Brooke, my mom and I went to the 5th Avenue Theater and saw Hairspray. It was SO good. I was floored. It totally reminded me of playing my violin in the pit for shows. I miss that. It would be a fun thing to do again for a couple of years.

Saturday was the big game. I wore my CU shirt and was the only person doing so in my area. We had WSU Cougar club seats, so I was in the minority for sure. At one point we picked an interception and ran it into the endzone. I was jumping up and down yelling at the field until I looked around and saw that I was getting the death stare from everyone around. I turned bright red and quickly sat down in my seat. Its a good thing I'm a cute girl becuase otherwise I'm sure I would have been at the recieving end of some pretty upset fan's emotional purging.

I have to admit that I really missed Eric. As I screamed loudly for the opposite team from everyone around me I thought about how nice it would have been for him to be there with me. He would have loved it.

After the game we went down to the state fair. It was glorious! Just in case you didn't know, I have a serious problem with self control when it comes to food. I'll just eat and eat and eat until I explode. Add to this the fact that I LOVE fair food. Add to this the fact that I was with my dad who'll foot the bill for overpriced food, and you can imagine my predicatment. I had all of the following:
  • BBQ Beef sandwitch
  • World famous Puyallup fair scone
  • elephant ear
  • curly fries
  • carmel apple
  • corn on the cob
  • sample of penuche fudge
  • Pepsi (AKA nectar of the Gods)

Pretty impressive huh?

Sunday morning we went ot IHOP for breakfast. After stretching out my stomach the night before, I was painfully hungry.

My flight back to Colorado was pretty interesting. I sat next to this guy who didn't take his sunglasses off the whole 2 hr and 45 minute flight. I didn't understand. It wasn't bright in the plane. Maybe he was a vampire or something. Maybe he was worried about the light reflecting of the multitude of sliver chains hanging around his neck. It will remain an unsloved mystery.

Maggie's Theory

So my wise little sister has a theory about love.

There are lots of ways to demonstrate that you really love someone, but, according to my sister, this is the one test that will prove it above all others.

Holding hands in winter.

Yep, that's right, I said holding hands in winter.

You have to truly love someone to remove your hands from the warm and inviting auspices of your coat pocket and change obtaining frostbite on your fingers.

Well, someone is one step ahead of you, Mags. Check this out!

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Unoriginal but easy

So nothing really happened to me yesterday, so I'm using this from someone else's blog.

I'm sure that there have been plenty of "get to know me" -style questionnaires in the history of mankind, but the earliest famous one that I know of is the "Proust Questionnaire", of which there are two versions. Neither of them were written by Proust, but rather were made well-known because his answers somehow were saved and later published.The first one he answered at a party at age 13...It is depressing to think what the average 13-year-old now would come up with if faced with this "party game".

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? being totally alone

Where would you like to live? Somewhere not too hot, or too cold, but where I'm surrounded by people I love and who love me back

What is your idea of earthly happiness? To understand where I'm going and why I'm here. To have direction. Life without a goal isn't worth anything.

To what faults do you feel most indulgent? Gluttony (I overeat like nobody's business) and spending too much money (the opposite of thriftiness)

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction? Harry Potter, Sydney Carton (from Tale of Two Cities)

Who are your favorite characters in history? Mark Twain, George Washington

Who are your favorite heroines in real life? My mom

Who are your favorite heroines of fiction? Twanda

Your favorite painter? Georgia O'Keefe, Boticelli

Your favorite musician? Too many to mention

The quality you most admire in a man? Productivity, ambition

The quality you most admire in a woman? Productivity, ambition

Your favorite virtues? Thoughtfulness, fairness, honesty

Your favorite occupation? Doctors and nurses. I admire them, but would never want to be one. They sacrifice so much to do what they do.

Who would you have liked to be? Dumb question, I like being me.

The second set of questions was put before him at another social function, this time when he was about 20 years old:

Your most marked characteristic? physically...My hair, character...Driven

The quality you most like in a man? patience

The quality you most like in a woman? sincerity

What do you most value in your friends? thougfulness and sincerity (a lot of these are redundant)

What is your principle defect? taking things too personally

What is your favorite occupation? redundancy gives me a headache, look above

What is your dream of happiness? knowing where I'm going and having someone to go there with

What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes? wasting time in this life that should be used for a greater purpose

What would you like to be? a liger...Its pretty much my favorite animal

In what country would you like to live? The grand ole United States of America is pretty great to me.

What is your favorite color? green...It looks great on red heads!

What is your favorite flower? stargazer lily or Japanese iris in arrangements....Tulips in the garden

What is your favorite bird? flamingos, I think they look so funny standing there on one toothpick leg while they sleep. Plus, they're HOT PINK!

Who are your favorite prose writers? Charles Dickens, Madeline L'Engle, JK Rowling

Who are your favorite poets? Shel Silverstien...Real poetry is "too deep" for me.

Who are your favorite composers? Bizet, Tchovsky, Elton John (that's a family joke)

Who are your favorite painters? see above

What are your favorite names? I like the names of my favorite people: Margaret, Denise, Sarah, Amy, Brooke, Colin, Derek, Spencer, Michele, Kathryn, Alexa, the list goes on and on.

What is it you most dislike? people leaving time left on the microwave (how hard is it to push the cancel button?), loosing touch with people I really loved, pretending I'm not hurt when I am

What historical figures do you most despise? I think despise is too harsh a word to use for someone I don't know....Probably only Hitler and Stalin and people like that who are responsibly for the needless slaughter of innocent people fall into that category

What event in military history do you most admire? George Washington crossing the Delaware on Christmas Eve. It was smart, effective, and really really cold.

What reform do you most admire? Equal rights, giving women the vote, pretty standard stuff.

What natural gift would you most like to possess? a green thumb

How would you like to die? surrounded by people I love with the knowledge that whatever comes next will be better.

What is your present state of mind? excited because I'm going to Seattle tomorrow morning and I get to spend the whole weekend with my parents! TheyROCK!

What is your motto? Forgive and forget. Its nice to be important, but its more important to be nice. You can never have too many friends. Find a goal in life and work to that.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

For Kim.....And my mom

So I know it has been a REALLY long time with no post, but at first there was nothing to write about. Then, after labor day weekend, there was too much to write about. The task was too daunting, so I just didn't do it.

Alright, so I have a confession to make.

Before moving to Colorado I would have bet the farm that I would NEVER in my life do what I am about to do, much less confess to it.

I'm buying a longboard.

Yep, that's right, friends. Little miss Nordstrom herself is walking into a skate shop and actually purchasing something from the long haired, volcom shirt wearing sales associate.

I know you're asking yourself, "why is the world spinning out of control" and "what happened to everything that was just and right in the universe"

My new fascination started Monday night. My friends threw a great BBQ for labor day and after we'd all eaten enough to make ourselves a little ill, we decided to go sit on the curb and watch people take turns riding the scooter. That was fun. Then, three people brought out their longboards. They tied ropes to the back of the scooter, and all three were towed at once. This was really fun to watch. Anyway, Sarah and I hopped on the scooter and we towed Amy W around the block. The scooter was WAY fun! Colin is trying to talk Sarah into selling her car and buying two scooters. I fully support this idea and am excited to go down and help pick out the color. Anyway, a longboard was just sitting there next to me and I decided to give it a try.

My experience with skateboards is limited to the three months we had one in our apartment senior year that I used to unload the dishwasher. I'd stand on it and roll from the dishwasher to the cupboard and back. Much less easier.

I tentatively stood on the board. I decided to stand with my left foot forward and push with my right foot. I was off. It really wasn't as hard as I'd always thought it would be. (This is a pretty typical discovery for me). Anyway, by the end of the night I was cruising pretty decently and didn't feel like I was going to eat it every time I took my foot off to push.

So now I'm getting one of my own. It'd be nice to have one because I could go ride at 3 in the morning and think instead of tossing and turning like I've been lately.

Other highlights from the weekend:
  • Friday at bingo I got in trouble for talking too loud during the game. At intermission the caller came up to me specifically and told me to be quite. Why do I get this EVERYWHERE I GO?!?!
  • Saturday Sarah, Amy E and I went to see Vanity Fair, which I didn't like at all. It was too long and the plot made me mad.
  • Saturday night we went to this BBQ that was totally lame. The guy throwing it told me that I was limited to only bringing one friend becuase they didn't want it to get out of control. When I showed up there were only 4 people there. Lame.
  • Sunday I went to dinner with my roommate (Amy G) at her grandparent's house in Greeley. I love her family. They are so funny and reminds me of my grandparents who I miss terribly.
  • Sunday night was Amy's first bridal shower. It was pretty tame becuase it was all parents and grandparents. The one I throw her in December will be ragin in comparison.
  • Monday morning the girls (Sarah, Amy W, Jocelyn and I) went to breakfast at Lucille's. It was DE-licious! I suggested that we make it a weekly ritual and they all agreed. It is SO good to have a solid group of girlfriends. I haven't had that in a really long time.
  • Monday afternoon was spent making nanimo bars and sitting by the pool.
  • Monday night was the BBQ.

Friday, September 03, 2004

Bring on the Humble Pie

So turns out I don't know what I'm doing. This morning I sat in front of my boss and realized that I don't remember the basic physics required to be a good engineer. The really frustrating thing is that I remember totally understanding all of this stuff and really liking it. What the heck happened? Somewhere inbetween graduating and today I've forgotten about 75% of everything I learned in school. Not only was I really embarrassed and frustrated because I couldn't sum the moments to be zero correctly, but it made me worried about grad school. I'm going to be surrounded by all these kids that just graduated and have all this info fresh in their minds. I'll be the slow kid in the class asking all the annoying questions which the the professor just answered. Yikes. I haven't been nervous about going back to school at all until today.

I went over and borrowed a physics book from my friend. Like an idiot I used mine for a sled 2 winters ago. Never thought I'd need it again and the bookstore wouldn't buy it back.

Anyway, I think tonight we're going to go play bingo with old people. I'm stoked. Old people can be really funny. plus, there's always the chance I'll win the jackpot of $1,000. I'd be better for me to win it than anyone else because I'll be alive long enough to really enjoy it. I think I'd buy a brand spankin new set up of ski gear. That'd be dreamy. Only 3 more months until the resorts open. Ah.......

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Rollin in it

So my manager just gave me a $75 reward for all my hard work on my last program. I thought that was pretty cool. I mean, not only did I get paid a pretty substantial salary to do the work, but because I did well I got a little present. Score!

Also, I got a part back that I designed for a different mechanism team. It was used for a bonding test and I asked if I could have it after the test was done and they said sure. I thought there was no way that anyone would remember that I asked for it, but they did so now I have a really cool little thing to put on my desk.

Last night I went to institute and afterward this guy asked if I would come to a party he's having on Saturday. He seems like a nice guy so I said sure. I'm not attracted to him at all, but I figure that I should really give everyone a chance because they might surprise me with their inner coolness. Plus, he has lots of friends down in Denver that are going to be at the party. It will be nice to be surrounded by a bunch of people I don't know. I can tell all of my good stand-by stories because no one will have heard them. Nice.

So after work today Kirsten (the mailman's sister) and I are going to go play tennis. Now, I am not really great at tennis and will probably end up lobbing it over the back fence most of the time, but it will be nice to get out and do something physical. After that I'm going to Sarah's to do laundry. I love laundry day at Sarah's because it feels like I'm living with a roommate that I really like. Not that I don't really like my roommates now, but one of them is just driving me nuts and it creates a bad vibe in the house. Luckily, she is moving out at the end of October. I just have to keep telling myself that it's almost over.

What do you think of this? A million years ago I bought a plane ticket for Eric so we could take a trip together. He broke up with me before we could go on the trip, so I just had this ticket sitting around. Instead of just flushing all that money down the toilet, I called the airline to see what I could do about it. Turns out that if I fax them a statement signed by Eric that says he releases the credit to me, along with a copy of his drivers license that I could use the credit for myself. Score. Anyway, I kind of forgot about it until recently when I realized that I'm flying up to Seattle next weekend and would love to get a $80 discount on the ticket. Anyway, yesterday I called Eric and asked him if there was 10 minutes somewhere in his day that he could lend me his license so I could get my money back. He didn't call me back all day. I was really torqued because if the situation was reversed I for sure could have stopped by his house at some time for that small of a favor. I mean, who is so busy that they can't do that for a friend? Especially a friend they used to be in love with? Then, this morning he called me and told me that if I wanted, I could come get his license from him sometime today and do it, but he has class from 9-12 then work from 12-2 then working out from 2-3:30. Am I overreacting to be annoyed at the fact that he is expecting me to work around his schedule? That he is unwilling to go out of his way the tiniest bit to help me out? Lame.