What am I doing here???

2002-10-29T14:25:00.000-05:00

Wow....it's only 10 days to the wedding now.....omg omg omg omg lol Today was kinda big, we went and applied for the license at the courthouse. What was so neat though was about 30 minutes before Van picked me up at my office, the rings were delivered via FedEx :) :) :) I was looking for them later this week by USPS priority lol. The company sent the rings each in their own inventory envelope but then included matching red and white boxes to keep them in if you so chose and even sent 2 lollipops with the order....how "sweet"

Of course...one does have to wonder what the company might be saying by sending DumDum Pops with wedding band shipments?!?!?

...mmmm....watermelon.,..
(yes, I have saved every piece of packaging materials for the scrapbook!)

an overly-ecstatic Jenn :)

2002-09-27T16:44:00.000-04:00

I think I'm gonna be sick...

I just told my mom that Van and I are eloping in November. She likes Van and all, but...well....she's really not that fond of marriage in general. Sigh....But there, I told her, Van can stopped reminding me to (Like I'd forget!!!)

cluck cluck said the chicken...

2002-09-26T16:10:00.000-04:00

I need a new umbrella.

Tell me, who is it that wears 3" heels and nylons to work when Isador is sending waves of rain this way. If you said me, you'd be right. Who is it, in said attire and weather, that decides she MUST have that zipper on the off chance she gets an opportunity to finish her theatre-going dress tonight between Friends and ER season premiers? Yup, me again. And who is it, on this errand, that agrees to pick up cheesesteaks for herself and her mother. Rightie-roo! 3 strikes and I'm soaked.

Yes, I took my unbrella with me. Yes, I used it. Yes, I got my @#$@^ zipper....But trying to carry 2 cheesesteaks and their accompaning large beverages, my purse AND the umbrella, well, lets just say the idea could have used more planning. Getting to car with said parcels was no biggie, but getting OUT of the car was another story. Getting INTO my office was yet another:

The wind was rather fierce and couldn't quite make up it's mind which way to go. I managed to get myself and the food out of the car and carefully balance the 2nd drink on top of the 1st (which was sitting in the bag with the sandwiches) and brace it against my body while steadying the umbrella. My purse slips halfway down my arm....no matter, I'll deal with soggy compartments. Keep moving forward. The shade on the big glass window was open and just as I came into view from the inside the wind whipped my umbrella back and forth, effectively killing its usefulness, I manage to get to the door....no one inside offers to help....I get stuck trying to go through by the still-open umbrella and the lid comes off of one of the sodas. Finally, a salesman comes to my rescue attempting to disentangle me from the doorway while those behind the counter laugh their heads off and offer advice.

Total damage: one wet bookkeeper (including purse and squishy shoes). 2 slightly mangled yet entirely edible (and very yummy) cheesesteaks and 2 intact drinks (granted, my shirtfront did wear a portion of my Wild Cherry Cola...sigh...). Oh, and an office full of hilarity: enabled by the fact that the rain paused for a while AFTER I entered the building.

Towel please...

2002-09-24T13:49:00.000-04:00

Lady Emma paid us a visit at work yesterday when her mommy dropped off a job. My goodness but she is getting big!!! She's just 8 months, crawling up a storm and about to stand up on her own. She's pretty tall and otherwise "healthy" lol and the cutest laugh in the world. Big brother Eli was at school so we got to play with her alone for a bit. Sigh....maybe Van's right, that deep down inside I still do want a baby, but wow it's gotta be pretty deep. If I think about it too long I get panicy about loss of freedoms, et al....I'm just not in the right place right now. But let's not put the cart before the horse!

Last night on IM a friend asked if I was getting excited yet (only 45 days to go you know!) and i had to honestly say that I was too busy to be excited. I haven't even picked out what I'm going to wear, etc. although I know I want to make it but heavens, I just can't concentrate on it long enough at a stint.

First things first though, a new dress to wear Saturday night when we go so Barefoot in the Park at TLT. I cut out the pattern and the fabric last night (had just enough! whew!) and will get started sewing on it and the throw rug for J&L tonight after dinner with Van & Jeffrey. I'm hoping the dress will be extremely flattering as it is cut on the bias, and my nightgown that is cut the same way is soooo complimentary compared to my regular clothes, I'm thinking this may be the ticket. One thing I didn't like though was cutting on the bias with filmy rayon fabric....slips and slides everywhere and since I was a good girl and pre-washed the fabric it had NOOOO sizing left in it at all! We shall see what the machine makes of it. Maybe next project I'll actually make a muslin first! wouldn't that be a stretch for me lol

2002-09-17T10:33:00.000-04:00

Deadlines and Hemlines:
The two skirts were finished Thursday night after the next-to-last revival meeting and handed off Friday. I'm not quite sure how the teen liked them as they were not there the following Sunday. Oh well, verdict is still out lol But I'm very please that I got everything done on time and with a minimum of fuss. I still have a 3rd fabric I'd like to make up for her, just need to pre-wash it and stitch it up :)

Later 'gator!
(like from the lubriderm commercials???)

Upon the advice of a fellow web-logger I picked up some Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque last night at the Rx and tried it out. The tube, sporting it's oh so hip as of 20 years ago design work, claims that it will dry up acne, eradicate blackhead and shrink pores....worth a shot! It's green, which reminds me of me favored Mary Kay clay masque which costs 5x as much, and minty....a pleasant scent to be stuck with for a while.

Okay, trial one: it stings going on! You have to wash your face first and maybe I scrubbed the makeup off too hard but sheesh! We were BEYOND tingling here, but I stuck with it....it means its working right??? According to the bottle you let it dry and then leave it on at least 15 minutes....but it says you can leave it overnight in problem areas. I do not see myself doing that.

I refrained from looking in the mirror until it was time to rinse off, and all I could think about was the aforementioned lubriderm commercial: the entire facial coverage was crackled, like the finish I put on picture frames! If I were to sleep with this on I'd be afraid of having little green flakes everywhere....maybe even ingesting some...ew!

Time to rinse! I went ahead and took it off while in the shower, since removal of this stuff is messy anyway, usually getting arms and torso VERY wet in the process I figured I might as well do it on purpose! Here's where things got a little iffy though: one of the lesser ingredients is sulfur....and you'll know it when you go to remove it! P-U! It's not very very strong in the smelly department, but keep in mind it's all around your nose so it's like up close and personal for what odor there is! I used a very floral body wash to rinse the last of the mask particles and smell away.

Now, did it work you might wonder: yup! While, thankfully, my blemish count is low to nil right now, my skin did feel clean and smooth....extroidinarily so, and the pores were in much better shape that before. So for 2.99 + tax I'm happy :-) I think I'll only use it once a week though, it doesn't say how often is safe, but then again its also not for sensitive skin which mine can be sometimes, so I'll play it safe!

2002-09-11T17:00:00.000-04:00

Thank heavens for clouds!
(Okay, that's a bad pun, but seriously...)

My morning commute lately has involved circling the FSU stadium and when one rounds the final curve one is blasted by pure, unadulterated sunlight from which there is no hiding: there is also no visibility--It's absolutely BLINDING...to the point where I can barely see the other cars much less the traffic signal! The past few mornings have been an exercise in faith! This morning was wonderfully different as there was a bit of cloud cover. Whew! Did make me wonder, though, what it was like in pre-flood earth when the planet was sheilded by a heavy layer of water vapor in the atmosphere....Was it really nice or did they miss something they didn't even know about yet?

in other news...
The skirts are started and the Modem is fried!
(extra crispy if you would, please)

Last night, after power was restored due to an internal City error specific to our accout....sigh....I got home from the 4th revival service to find power back on and proceded to try out the new-found internet information. Woops! Hold up there! Modem is no longer recognized??? What the? I'm still not COMPLETELY sure what happened but here's my theory:
See, night before last, even though I didn't have the id/pw combo I needed to log on, I still tried (hoping to get lucky? lol) basically to make sure I had the modem set up correctly, in the right port, etc. It worked, aside from letting me sign on with a bogus id :) SO, last night I go to try again WITH the correct info and the box wouldn't even dial! In fact, it said it didn't exist, even when I turned it off and on a few dozen times....so I reinstall the "Standard 56K modem" driver thing (since I can't obviously log on and find the specific one!), and for good measure put it on both COM ports just in case lol, and it recognized it finally, even when it was turned off, but it wouldn't dial....
Several frustrating attempts later and I have concluded that the power surge that turned the computer BACK on after the outtage must have bumped just enough juice into this poor, abused modem that broke its last transistor.
The good news is, Van has a spare (wohoo!) that'll get me through and, with the abscense of the internet I got the first 2 skirts cut, all edges serged, and seam joined. Now, tonight, all I have to do it press the seams and straight stitch the elastic casing and the hem....and reinforce the back seam where the serging is...I prolly should have futzed with the tension a bit but I was too lazy :) What do you want??? I prewashed the stuff!!! haven't I taken enough precautions for one project? Cause really the serging of the top and bottom hems just means I can get away with only folding it over once....and it looks better, so it's not so much that I was doing it because it was the RIGHT thing to do lol....

2002-09-06T10:54:00.000-04:00

I splurged this week. Yup, I allowed myself to spend an additional .29 per cup of yogurt this week getting the Yoplait Whips (oh my! they are so yummy....especially the cherry chiffon....mmmmm) rather than the superbrand fat-free sugar-free (but with aspartame! joy!) .40 each with Customer Reward Card that I had been getting and getting tired of. My tastebuds have thanked me profusely AND I'm still getting my calcium, etc.

I think part of the whole real-food project is going to be cutting out the multi-syllabic ingredients as much as possible. I mean, really, can plain old sugar be worse than high-fructose-corn syrup??? Without pulling out my library of food references, I'm sticking with the almost-natural sugar ;) Although not much of it of course, but the sweet tooth must be appeased....which explains last night...

Met Van for yummy Chinese trough, complete with a bunch of sushi (mmmmmmm....rice, veggies, imitation crab meat, nori, soy sauce and wasabi!--Van calls it my "raw stuff"), then wandered through the neighboring pet store (insert obvious cat-free neighborhood joke here) looking at fishies and bunnies....and the horny hamsters!!! My word....I'm not old enough to see that sort of thing!!! So we part ways, he to his home to do whatever he does when I'm not there, and me to mine to study, scrapbook, and pre-shrink fabric. Detour by way of Krispy Kreme for a chocolate fix. One cruller for the ride home, one glazed devil's food for the composition and printing of some 50s retro toppers for a swap, and one cream filled with choc.glaze for reading of emails.... yes, I can stop at any time!!! (I just don't want to yet.)

Van's going to cyborg my computer this weekend: putting the old 2.5gig harddrive into the new mega-machine so I don't have to loose files AND I get more storage space....mmm....spaaace.

And now that the fabrics are pre-shrunk I can, maybe, get some quick skirts put together for church. I am having fabric-envy right about now...sigh....one of the prints I purchased Monday is a purple with floral and paisley border and it is very sweet....It'll make a lovely skirt for one of the teens--one they might actually WANT to wear (a big hurdle that it may be....fashion and reverence combined)....but even Van said "wow, that looks like you" rats! I wouldn't have even thought that....wahhh....maybe I can find more in a week when I have some more money....sigh. My world for another 2 yards of printed rayon lol

2002-08-30T22:45:00.000-04:00

okay....that's better.... When I came back to my site the last post said June! June?!?! Had I been THAT much of a slacker??? No, appearantly there was just a publishing error somewheres and that pesky July post never showed....until now muahhahahah lol

But anyways, I have been terribly remiss in my "thought broadcasting" as Van would put it...and to tell ya the truth I think few to no one missed me. Then again, I do this for myself (gee, you think I like to hear myself talk? yup!) so if anyone else reads and finds amusement then I suppose that's just gravy! That said: here's a quick update:

Matt is M.I.A....no, not really, but might as well be. After all, he moved away, what can I do if he doesn't answer emails. I did get included in a forward though this morning, so at least I know he's still alive and has enough money to pay his internet fee :) School has started for me...again....sigh I'm taking web-courses to finish the AA that never dies: this semester it's Intro Oceanography and Concepts of Positive Living (the former of which I am procrastinating, again, transferring the reading to my outlined notes). I am almost back into a scrapbooking mode, thank heavens!!! and have gotten a handle on the sewing bug: of course both will still be used extensively at least through Christmas.

Speaking of moving (love my lack of seque!), yup, I am...again....BIG sigh. But I promise (myself???) that this will be it for a while...unless Van decides to sell this house and buy another (not always in that order as we all know lol) Yup, come November I will be relocating. Of course, being the good girl I am I can't just LIVE with a guy....does not compute! So yup, you guessed it...for those who may be reading this consider yourselves a priveledged few who know: Van and I are getting married Nov.8th, co.courthouse: no frills no fuss....had enough from the last engagement to make me WANT to elope.So I suppose you could guess I'm out of my cautious rut?!?!? Not completely, after all, we haven't even told my Mom yet.....I'm gonna try to do it before going on vacation that day, but...um....I make no promises....sigh....at least Cassie likes this one!!!

Okay, seriously, must get some studying done so I can play this weekend! Long weekend with FSU football on the tube, LSS sale tmw morning, and no work monday and no plans! Cannot let it be garbled by homework! To the books I get!

later...

2002-07-15T11:39:00.000-04:00

WoW! It has been longer than I thought since my last post.....although I'm not surprised with all that had been happening!

First off, the end of an era has come (and gone for that matter). Matt and I are no more (well, we're still friends, but no more than that). He knew, and so did appearantly most people around me, but was kind enough (yes, really) to let me come to the conclusion in my own time, when I was ready. And it's amazing how much it helped me. There was, like, little to no grieving over a lost relationship, over a year based on hope only to come to nothing. But perhaps not nothing, not really. I'm still trying to figure out the specifics, but I know the past year and a bit served a purpose: they all do, after all. Just what I'm not quite clear on.

Well, one thing it has taught me: be more cautious. But it's a lesson I never wanted to learn. I think my impulsiveness is, most times, a good thing! It's not that I do not look before leaping only that I make up my mind quickly and agree to the consequences. Now, however, I find myself in an interesting condition: gun shy....a totally alien feeling, and one I am NOT comfortable with!

Which brings me to my other news....I have met someone else now, and, well, there seems to be some potential there....if only I can break out of this shell or wall or what-have-you that has been erected around my heart? head? soul? The new guy, Van, he's the patient sort, lucky for me, and genuine. At least I believe so. Time will tell and that's all I'll say about that!

2002-06-25T11:20:00.000-04:00

Boy, that last post was telling, huh? Truly how I felt though...sigh....

Matt's been gone a month now....how am I doing? Wellllllll. I'll admit: I'm lonely...and semi-bored at times. But I suppose that's to be expected. After all, the main focus of my daily comings and goings is 2800 miles away! But I am surviving! We talk at least once a week on the phone, email sporadically, I have written a couple of old-fashioned love letters to him ;) and we'll chat when we can find each other online at the same time...which has happened a few times.

Matt's doing very well from what I hear, several things in the pipeline and keeping pretty busy himself. It's good to hear things like that....reinforces the validity of this separation, ya know?

In other news: I am walking now! (not that I was a paraplegic before....but I mean for exercise!) I am on my 3rd week and up to twice a week so far (2.4 miles a piece). (Hey, progress is progress, no matter what the pace) My legs kinda go numb after the first two laps and then the last 2 are a piece of cake....momentum carries me forward. I think Matt told me: just lean forward, you'll either fall or walk....fall enough times and you'll keep walking ;) Sage advice this lol.

Oh! and I got my sewing table setup. Just a 20x48 folding table but it holds my sewing machine and serger along with enough space to spread fabric out a bit, plus I created some storage underneath for threads, needles, pins, and patterns....and promptly scraped my leg against one of the protruding parts.....injury magnet...that's me! Sigh....

Now for the not-so-fun part. I'm in a mental muddle. My intentions and perserverance are being tested a bit, by choice oddly enough, and I think only time will tell the victor....criptic yes, but not worth going into in cyber-ville right now. Just that I'm almost feeling I don't trust myself somedays to do what is right....being a little self-absorbed here. Hopefully this will pass after the novelty wears off and then everyone can be happy, including me....I hope.

2002-06-17T09:59:00.000-04:00

my theme song:

Just What I Do: Trick Pony.

Written by Keith Burns and Ira Dean.
(© Magic Penny Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing/W.B. Music Corps/Banna Bear Music.)
From "Trick Pony", © 2000, Warner Bros.
It's just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
Just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.

Hit it!
One, two, three, four!

Jessie James was an outlaw man,
He was always breakin' the law.
Six guns firing from both his hands:
Fastest you ever saw.
Did he do it for the money?
Or was it for the fame?
Finally, somebody asked him: "Jessie,
"Why you wanna rob them trains?"

And Jessie said:
"It's just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
"Just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
"I'm the meanest hombre you ever saw,
"'Cos lately I ain't gettin' no lovin' at all.
"It's just what I do.
"It's just what I do."

Well Orville Wright set his sights,
High up in the air.
An' him and Wilbur worked day and night;
He didn't seem to care.
Well, the town folk said: "If you were meant to fly,
"God would have given you wings.
"What makes you want to spend all your time,
"Building that flying machine?"

And Orville said:
"It's just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
"Just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
"I'm the first flight boy you ever saw,
"'Cos lately I ain't gettin' no lovin' at all.
"It's just what I do.
"It's just what I do."
Oh yeah!

Instrumental break.

Well Picasso painted them pictures;
There was beauty in every stroke.
When asked about his motivation,
He said: "I think it's 'bout time you should know, yeah:

"It's just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
"Just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.
"I'm the workinest painter that you ever saw,
"'Cos lately I ain't gettin' no lovin' at all.
"It's just what I do.
"It's just what I do.
"It's just what I do."

Here we go.

"It's just what I do when I can't get no lovin'.

2002-06-03T11:24:00.000-04:00

Discalaimer:

To anyone who finds any reference to themselves here please note: all entries in this weblog are meant with humor (except for the obvious ones) at my daily life. If I'm making fun of anyone keep reading, and you will see more self-deprecation than anything else. If there is, by chance, anyone who was hurt or confused by any of my musings please let me know and I will do what I can to rectify the situation (by posting an apology, retraction, or whathaveyou). But I assue you, no posts to this or other sites have ever been made with malice or mal-intent.

Sincerely,
Me

2002-05-31T10:51:00.000-04:00

Well, the kitchen still needs work and I never did make it back to the apartment after Sunday (much to my chagrin) but we are settling in quite well. The dishwasher should be fixed today and the washer/dryer and gas hookup for the stove next week sometime (we hope).

Matt is on his final day of the journey to the other side of the world (might as well be) and I am surviving okay. Today is a bit weird: it's Friday and I'm not packing an overnight bag to go spend time at his place tonight. This weekend will probably be a bit difficult, next one more so, but maybe after that it will get easier. I did get an email from him last night from his aunt's (who I had emailed since I knew he was expected and she could at least pass on a message to me which she did quite well and often :) and he's been making good time, the car must be running well :) As I understand it, once he gets to Pahrump he's got a meeting to go to and will plunge into his new job immediately thereafter. I am so excited and hopeful for him, but a small part still wishes he was here...I miss him, it's to be expected!

In other news I STILL have not returned those shoes...but still need to; went to a fun wine-tasting last night with Cassie and Jason, and have been scrapbooking the last couple of nights. My TV units (to borrow from "Bridget") have decreased considerably (a positive side to not having a TV in the craft room), while my excercise units are down. I definitely count the move as majot aerobic units, but until I start walking next week I expect a dearth of them. Lake E here I come!

until later...

2002-05-27T23:40:00.000-04:00

And I'm moved....I think. Sigh....here's how Saturday went, for those who may be interested:

8am I expect Matt to be at my apartment so we can go pick up the truck and get started. He's not here. No phone so can't call (it was transfered the day before)
9am Jason and Michael (the other movers) were supposed to be here by this time. Nuh uh.
9:30am Jason shows up. We go to get the truck. At the U-Haul place, there is a large crowd...but not a lot of trucks. Rumors abound that they are overbooked. Rumors are true. We finally get to the counter, and guess what...they DON'T have the 14' truck I reserved over a week ago. Hmmm.....calls the manager over to see what they're gonna do. What happened was the location itself was covered but corporate/internet orders jammed up the works leaving them 2 trucks short (not to mention a couple of break-downs and Traffic not sending them the trucks they needed in the crunch). After much deliberation they decided to give me a 26' truck (at no extra charge of course) which I would have back by 3pm...according to plan. The counter guy leaves to go pull the truck around. Jason (the designated driver lol) wanders around and later comes in as the little dude with the keys is coming back around the counter. The scene goes something like this:
"Did you just hear that?"
"What," I say feeling like he's gonna pull my leg or something.
"No, I'm not kidding, your truck just blew up. Pa pow, pow!"
I turn to Jason, who nods his head..."I heard it," he says.
"Well now what ?!?!"

The engine in the big truck had, indeed, blown, and was now unusable. Several phone calls and lots of deliberation in a short amount of time lead us to an understanding that we are now going to drive to Woodville (20 miles away) to pick up a 26' truck for a "one way" trip and they are going to spot us 50 miles no charge. Calling over to the Feed Shack in Woodville the girl on the phone refuses to let the truck go for $20 (even though they are not allowed to rent the truck themselves for some reason). As Matt, the friendly yet perturbed counter person, goes to call a higher up to get this straightened out we see a truck being driven into the lot. Hallelujah! Someone is returning a 26' truck that they then turned over to us.

11am Jason and I return to the apartment with the big-a$$ truck as he calls it, only to find that Michael and Matt have yet to arrive. I use Jason's cell phone to call Michael first, since he's closer. Luckily he's home. The convo goes something like this:
"This is Michael"
"Michael, this is Jennifer, where are you???"
"Hey, I'm home...you called me remember."
"It's Saturday, the 25th...you're supposed to be helping me move today..."
"Oh my gosh...I'm sorry I forgot. I'll be there in 30 minutes....Relax, everything will be fine."
"grrr" click

Next I call Matt. He's groggy when he answers the phone. He had worked himself too hard trying to get everything ready for his own move and had not been getting much sleep. Plus he had to be at the realtor's at noon for an unexpectedly positive note: there was a serious buyer for his house. There's no way I'm recounting that convo but needless to say I was not pleased but considering he was about to move far away for a while I was trying not to make TOO big a deal over it.

11:30am Down 1 mover, Michael on the way. Jason asks are you sure your brothers can't come help? (Andrew was graduating at 4pm and there was a slew of family in town) I resigned myself to throwing my case at my mothers feet and asked for the cell-phone again. Mom asked, Andrew, Jason, and my Aunt Marie all said they would come and help for a while. Desparate in the interim, I sprint down the sidewalk to see if a guy I barely know through Michael is busy and could help us move...he's got "company" so no dice....but I tried. Michael shows up on my return sprint and we high tail it upstairs to get started.

Cassie's furniture is extremely heavy, and requires quite a lot of man-power to get it down the flight of stairs and then up the ramp into the truck. The boys and my aunt arrive and she starts hauling stuff and directing traffic...We have the 26' truck packed with all furniture and a fair amount of boxes in approximately 1 1/2 hours. Then off to the new house.

Our biggest concern was maneuvering the truck through a narrow and twisting driveway (one lane) without crashing some trees (needless to say I got the insurance on this truck lol). It was a miracle but we made it, and were able to back the truck right up to the porch so that the ramp didn't even have to come out halfway to bridge the gap left by the porch roof jutting out at truck-level. It took us 15 MINUTES to divest the truck of its contents (piling stuff on the porch and putting the furniture into the correct rooms). By now it's 1:45pm and the boys and Aunt Marie had to get back home to take showers before graduation (Mom gave them until 2pm lol). Micheal, Jason and I bring things in from the porch then Michael goes back to the apartment with Cassie to put some more items into her car for the trip back (at which point she still doesn't know where her sister is who, incidentally, was watching the 5yo who is also heaven knows where). Jason goes with me to return the truck back.

2:34pm Back at the U-haul place. We're early for them but I'm running late anyway. So what do I do? Go back to the apt, load my tv and computer into the car and then head to the house.

3:11pm Home now, I unload my car and debate whether I have time to take a shower before graduation. I decide its not an if but a must. I make it out of the house at 10 til 4.

4:15pm Having rushed through town and circled the block seeking parking I give up and pay the frat-boys for the use of their parking lot (same as the Civic Center was charging only the Civic Center lot was full to overflowing). Then I get to walk a block to the Civic Center and circle the concourse looking for my family. I go all the way around to the other side from the door I came in from but I actually found them. They were amazed I made it. So was I.

Sunday found me making 1 trip with a car-load-full from Matt's in Crawfordville, then 2 more from the apartment (the rest of my boxes,etc. and some stuff from the kitchen)--my calves were caput from all those stairs so I called it a day and started to unpack. I have all but 3 boxes unpacked at this time, plus the kitchen boxes, and what is still left in the kitchen at the apartment which I said I would help with. Cassie, on the other hand, still has quite a bit to move (her ankle having held her up for most of the move--it's not broken btw, only severly sprained and several lovely shades of blue and purple I might add) between her closet, Bethany's stuff, some of her books, and her portion of the kitchen....but then that's how I imagined it would be. Different styles of moving in play here.

As an afterward Matt got off today (Monday) for Nevada around 11ish. I followed him as far down the truck route as was on my way home and only lost it after he turned his way and I mine :\ He's broken up his trip into safe installments and should get where he's going by Friday. I miss him already but I'm managing okay....just no sappy stuff for me for a while, otherwise all bets are off lol.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! For those who read this far I hope you were amused at my meanderings and maybe grateful that it wasn't you in this situation. Laugh at it, I do; and be grateful it's done, I am!

2002-05-22T11:19:00.000-04:00

This is NOT the time for a sinus infection....

4 days (including today) until I move and now this. Gr. But I will survive...there is no other option hahaha.

In other news: We signed the lease last night, picked up the keys, and then tried to figure out where things would go. I measured....she theorized. It works for us (otherwise known as the female version of the Odd Couple). There is also a new (to us) couch in our future: blue, with a recliner on each end and a fold-down table in the middle. All that remains is for us to find someone with a big truck and strong arms to get it for us...sigh...

It is also 6 days until Matthew leaves for Nevada. I'm kinda numb by now: I think as a combination of SOOO much going on and the whole extended-goodbye period I've just shut as much emotion as possible off. Matt's happy about this no doubt (he hates to see me emotional on his behalf)...though I am concerned: it's just not like me. But I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.

The day we move is also the day my middle brother graduates high school....so won't Saturday be a fun day!!! It will be nice to see family, as some are making the trek in. My Aunt, who lives in New Jersey, will be coming in Friday morning, and leaving out Monday night; we haven't seen her in years--not since a Thanksgiving when I was still married (so it's been more than 4 years!). Then I have Monday off for the holiday and Tuesday I've taken off to unpack/veg/crop whatever needs doing. Long, but busy, weekend.

Oh, and the shoes? Would you believe the strap on one broke Friday! I was so disappointed. Back they will go....as soon as I get a chance (maybe Tuesday???).

2002-05-15T12:40:00.000-04:00

My Roommate is Delusional

It's as simple as that. We move in precisely 10 days. On the morning of the 25th I will pick up the UHaul Truck and all furniture and everything boxed up will be moved. Memorial Day weekend (the beginning thereof)--what a day to remember.

To explain her delusion. It's an advanced case I'm afraid, but she seems happy enough so while I gently remind her of reality, she sticks to her guns. "It's 3 weekends," she repeats. It is her mantra. Granted, technically she is correct; there ARE 3 weekends until the lease on her current appartment expires. We have this coming weekend--which she is spending at Wild Adventures, so the weekend is effectively shot--and the weekend where I will actually have the U-Haul--but that is a time to move and unpack, at least in my mind--and then the final weekend of the lease by which time everything owned by myself, she or her daughter needs to be removed. 3 weekends.

So I have this unofficial bet with myself going that I will have most if not all of my belongings packed and ready to move in the truck, thus absolving myself of the need to ferry miscellanea back and forth in my car, allowing me time to unpack while (and here's where the bet comes in) my roommate will have little to nothing packed up when our friends come to help us carry everything we own down a flight of stairs into the truck and she spends the remaining time of the lease in her car bringing items piece-meal to the new homestead. I will keep you updated.

The home itself is truly a find! It really looks like less that nothing from the outside--a gray double wide mobile home. But the inside; the inside is spacious with high ceilings and open structuring of the common rooms. It is easily twice the size of our current apartment, maybe even more than that. Only 4 years old it retains the feeling of being mint-condition-new, the tile floors unblemished, the deep blue carpet unworn, the factory-direct window dressings still in place. There are 4 bedrooms, which means I get to have both a bedroom and a craft/sewing area...which will help so much. And the separate family room from the living room will be a wonderful entertaining area with plenty of room for crops. It is a gem, and we were very lucky to find it.

In other events I had a decidedly Carrie Bradshaw moment last night at my favorite outlet store when I happened upon these funky, tan, wedge platform sandals which look like a size 2 but are really 8 1/2. While trying it on a lady in the store walked by and nodded, saying "Yeah, those are really cute." While I'd had my suspicions, once I heard a stranger's concensus I was definitely ready for the check-out ailse. I am wearing them today (of course) and having so much fun in their chunky yet mincing qualities. This morning in the car, although, I was reminded of Alicia Silverstone's line in Clueless: "You try driving in platforms."

2002-05-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

On the Move.

Well, my roommate is truly trying to kill me :) This is the second month in a row that we have theorized moving, and the second month in a row that she has found the "perfect" place 2 weeks before the end of the month. Last month the puff piece of choice was ruthlessly snatched from our grasps' just as we found it. This month, however, the tables are turned as the landlord-to-be prefers us over the current compentition so I shall go see the gem this evening after work and then tell the nice lady if we'll take it or not.

Sigh....boxes boxes everywhere, and not the will to pack!

2002-05-13T10:28:00.000-04:00

Lessons from Mother's Day.

First off, you should know, that my Mother is no ordinary mother. She is not the tyrant looking for me to get married before my ovaries dry up, nor is she the "let's be sisters" kinda mom. She doesn't get too heavily into sentiment, and would rather make fun of things that take 'em seriously (with certain exceptions).

Last year for Mother's Day I began planning her gift several months in advance: namely pre-Thanksgiving. I took black and white pictures of my brothers, myself, Mom, the cats, and different combinations of the above. Later I purchased a fold-out picture screen which I then painted myself with little tulips everywhere and mounted the photos in their respective spots. This was well recieved and still sits on the floor of her bedroom.

This year, in contrast, Mother's Day came upon me quite unawares. I had NO CLUE of what I was going to do until last Thursday when I recalled, rather late at night, that Mom had mentioned she almost bought a poseable Spider Man doll for herself in Target. Oddly enough, Mom is quite taken with ol' Spidey, and has been going on and on about the movie for weeks. So Friday at lunch I swung by Target, picked up the doll she mentioned, and then wrapped it (bag with tissue paper) in the car on my way back to the office and gave it to her early....

She was ecstatic! She loved it! She tore him out of the box and immediately started finding out all the ways he moved and grooved....I was impressed. More to the point, I was congratulated on such a perfect present. After a few minutes she finally got around the opening the humorous card and actually looking at the box and so forth, but Spidey got played with for the rest of the afternoon.

Sunday, Matt and I and my brothers all took Mom to go SEE Spiderman...we were all pleased (except for Andrew who was mostly bored), and I think Toby McGuire makes a very plausible Spiderman.

How is that 5 minutes inspiration and 30 minutes of a lunch break over the span of 2 days pays off so much more than 7 months of planning, several trip sto Eckerds for photo reprints due to their errors, paint fumes and trying to keep falling pollen off of newly painted panels? They say Keep It Simple...I suppose I now know why.

2002-05-07T10:44:00.000-04:00

Isn't technology amazing?

I mean, I can get one DROP of Dr.Pepper onto my keyboard at work and it fizzles out and needs replacing, but drop an entire glass of ice water behind my desk at home, some of which splashes onto the power strip, and nothing, nada, zilch.

I was concerned though, so I called up my boyfriend and he told me if something was gonna happen it would have happened already. So I didn't worry (although I DID actually shut down the computer when I left this morning---I'm notorious for leaving it on for days!) and kept on going....refilled my glass...but made sure I had a *bit* more space on the desk for my glass this time around.

And we always knew soda was bad for us...

2002-05-06T14:38:00.000-04:00

T-22 days until Matt leaves. I'm holding on like a vice....er, vise.

In 3 weeks my dear fiance will be moving approximately 3000 miles away...for at least 6 months, maybe longer...we don't quite know. And he cannot understand how my tears over his leaving are a good thing...well, at least not a bad thing.

To me, a show of emotion connotates importance...and gentle tears leaking from my eyes at the thought of so much physical distance being put between us...perfectly natural. To him, any tears on his behalf worry him and make him feel horrible that he has caused me some emotional injury (which is not the case). This situation is so very different from having a broken heart, finding a broken promise, or even a broken nose....all would call for tears, but not all from the same well.

No matter how much I try to tell him this, I don't think it gets through. To that end I do try and contain as much as I can (although I do have difficulty) to sheild him, as I know he would like to sheild me, but when a fissure allows a trickle of salty emotion to escape...I do my best to reassure him, again. In time I see us both benefiting from this separation, hopefully clarifying us to each other, making the breif time we have left now, and any chances in the near future, all the more dear and with no regrets.

In the mean time I just picked up my new WebCam, the USB port for which will be installed well before his Mustang heads due West...teleconferencing will hopefull narrow the gap.

2002-05-03T10:39:00.000-04:00

My mother, the Luddite ;)

My middle brother graduates high school this month, and Mom is trying to send out the announcements only, in true contemporary fashion, she's missing a few of the more non-communicative family members' addresses. For two days I've been telling her what I THINK is my Aunt Marie's address is (it was either 13 or 15 for the street number...I figured either way it would get there)...today she asks me, "did you find Marie's address?" Huh???

Mom, it's either this or that and everything else we know....either the postal carrier will catch it or the neighbor will walk it next door...send it on... "But I don't have her zip code." Sigh...

Try the postal service website and clip "Find Zip Code". You can do that? Yeah. Then I offer to do it for her. A few moments later, thanks to google and switchboard.com, I managed to confirm the street number, the zip code, find her email address and work address. Isn't the internet wonderful?!? After thanking me, she asks me to find Aunt Anita's info while I'm at it. No problemo. After all, Anita is divorced, still living in our hometown, a small town at that, so her's was a cinch. Now my cousin Denise was another matter...she's in Texas, married, and I wasn't quite sure if she was still in Plano or not. Well, the only 2 people with her last name are her and her husband (who goes by his middle name so thank goodness Denise has her own listing too!) in Plano.... another triumph.

So once more I find myself being grateful that I came into work today...if only to track down a few sorta lost relatives for my brother's graduation announcements. We technophiles (of which I'm still earning my micro-wings) have to help the luddites when we can...especially the ones who gave birth to us.

2002-05-02T16:19:00.000-04:00

The Big Sting

"Owie Owie OWIE!!!" said I as I limped into the apartment after work last night. On the steps I had had a rather unfortunate encounter with what I believe to be a hornet. It looked like a wasp, but was not black: instead it was a golden yellow/tan color...so my guess is a hornet. Whatever it was, it got in 2 solid hits to my inner right ankle before I managed to disengage the stinger from my flesh...now I know why they call it a stinger.

Strange as it may seem to some, I have never been stung by a bee, wasp, dragonfly, hornet, etc. in my natural life...until yesterday. I could have easily withstood another 26 years without this particular life experience. It itched, it swelled, turned red around the white sting sites, it sent pains through to the center of my ankle, even to my knee, it caused me to limp around the house for hours! The first thing I did was take a benedryl, since I figured I'd have SOME sort of reaction to the sting (I was just praying I wouldn't be pitched into anaphalactic shock).

Eventually the hurt subsided bit by bit, the redness went down. This morning it's still sore to the touch and a bit stiff at the site, but otherwise okay. You know, had I been my normal creature-of-habit self I would have used the front stairs instead of the back...and would not have entered the hornets airspace on this particular day. All the more reason not to deviate my normal activities.

And then there is also plenty of reason to be thankful he was content with my ankle...and didn't fly up my skirt...

2002-05-01T10:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday for me :)

Well, yesterday had a rather inauspicious start: no flowers, no big deal--I miss the time when birthday's meant a free pass all day, where everyone knows its your birthday and treats you like a queen....but oh well....maybe I'll be able to treat others this way and eventually it'll get back to me lol. But anyway....I digress...

The day, blessedly, FLEW by at work....kept busy doing whatever, and Matt even stopped by for a bit (to use the phone and get and send a fax) and that's when it started: John said he won't be home til 7. Grrr. The reservations are for 7:30, Matt lives 20 miles from town....yeah...this is gonna work. Well, extremely bummed that I was going to have to drive myself to my own birthday dinner (yeah, I'm whining...you're point is?), I told him to call and leave word if John was later making him later...and resigned myself to the inevitable.

Time comes and a get home to start my preparations: no one's there. I don't even have my roommate there to get all girly-excited with....Oh well...I get dolled up and dressed and, luckily, manage to find somewhere to prop the digital camera so I can get at least one pic of myself in The Dress. THen I walk out the door in full sunlight and immediately feel self-conscious...this outfit is a dusk/nighttime outfit...not a full daylight...I briefly consider going in to change but know it will take too much time. Gr. I was right....traffic was horrid due to construction and I was almost late.

Then things started to look up. I get to the restaurant and actually manage to find a parking spot near the door! Everyone else is already inside except for Matt who was just crossing the street from another parking section as I pulled in :) Oh happy day! From there things went MUCH better.

Dinner was a drawn-out delight! The oysters with bacon and biscuits were just as wonderful as I'd remembered, the pistachio crusted lamb chops--while different--were very tender and delicious, and the flourless chocolate cake (with a candle no less lol) was pure decadent sin and a bit of heaven rolled in to one. Jason, my youngest brother, actually ate quail! Everyone had a good time. All told it took 2 1/2 hours for dinner and the conversation never lulled--always a good thing :) We won't even go into the final bill for 7 people, 5 of which had both apps and desserts in addition to entrees lol.

Satisfied at last that it was a memorable 26th birthday, I headed home to check my email and digest :)

2002-04-30T13:51:00.000-04:00

Eyebrows, Wax, and Peanut Butter
(or What Price Fashion part 3)

Really, the name says it all...but I suppose I shall elaborate a bit as is my wont.

Last night, while accomplishing various and sundry things, I remembered I needed to wax my eyebrows, etc. as they were getting a bit more full than preferred. No biggie, just a matter of heating and tending the wax to the desired temp and then carefully applying only to the areas that were to be hair-free. I repeat...ONLY to the areas that were to be hair free (do you get the feeling that I kinda missed that one?!?).

Well, I took care of the small strays above the lip (come on, most women in their late 20s have to do it, let's be real here!) first and the eyebrow sections were pulled last and once the top areas were wrenched off my forehead I quickly realized that I had thinned more than intended. Thankfully I wasn't left with gaping holes or anything that would force me to completely remove all brows and then draw them in like some 20s starlet...but they thinned a bit more that I planned. Upon inspection I realized I was in serious danger of repeating my mistake (with grave consequences) on the lower edge of the brows. Uh oh.

Does anyone remember trying to remove bubblegum from their hair before having to ask Mom to do it for you (and hoping she wouldn't have to cut it out)? Do you remember the stickiness of futility, the stregth of the hairs will to stay bonded with the chewy concoction? Unfortunately this was a little worse: a much smaller area and a material designed NOT to let go once applied. Sigh. I tried several methods: manual dexterity, soap, plain water--nothing was working. So I reached for the bubblegum nemesis: Peanut butter.

I know now how or why this works, I also care not. All I know is that rubbing the Publix-brand creamy peanut butter upon my remaining brows managed to dissolve the wax left behind in my folly...allowing it to be rinsed down the vortex of victory!

I shaped what was left (an adequate amount I must add) the old-fashioned way...pluck by pluck with sensible tweezers. And in no way do I see myself craving Reese's cups any time too soon.

2002-04-29T10:11:00.000-04:00

What price fashion...the epilogue.

The dress is finished! Ta-Da! Despite any misgivings I may have had in-process the dress has turned out quite lovely, and even manages to be flattering. It's plum fabric is form-fitting but not binding, the vemillion zipper is enclosed...almost invisible...quite an accomplishment I assure. And I have found my new favorite technique: french seams!

Ah French Seams...foreign and a novelty, but oh so discreet! They begin backwards...inside out, and then in a flourish become demurely hidden from view. The slits of the skirt are no longer marred by unfinished edges so common to home-made apparell. And one feels much more comfort in knowing the seams are reinforced and not as likely to pull so easily. Yes, french seams will appear, no doubt, on many a project in the future.

Now the question: What shoes to wear with? And shall I make a wrap and/or purse to accompany it...since I did buy what was left of the bolt... just in case...

2002-04-26T10:38:00.000-04:00

What price Fashion?
About $25 less if you make it yourself than buy it in the store.

Next week is my birthday and we (family and friends) are meeting for dinner at a nice restaurant. It is my one chance in a rare while with carte blanche to dress as up or down as I want and anyone else's preferences be damned! In a quest for the perfect dress, I remember my boyfriend's offhand comment that a woman dressed to the nines in a mandarin-style (what i refer to as china-doll) dress is just very sexy...instant inspiration :)

Off to the store I go, armed with only the knowledge of what I want and nothing else will do and, eventually, I find it. Problem 1: it's really from Japan so it's high priced (about $52). Problem 2: After converting using the handy size chart, they don't have my size. And a minor irk was that the colors weren't really my preference. So much for that idea. I mean, it's Wednesday, dinner is next Tuesday, I don't have time to make myself one. Or do I???

Thursday at lunch I find myself in the fabric store, just to see if they have something I like, when I find an oriental print plum blossom color satiny material for 7.99 a yard and 40% off. Grab it and head to the pattern books to TRY and find a pattern for what I want. Yes! The pattern is 75% off (awesome since patterns are extremely expensive...we're talking about 13.00 a pop!) Grab the necessary notions and $30 later I'm out the door on my way back to work.

This morning I left my room with a loving glance at my masterpiece (as yet unfinished). The front, back, and collar are all attached and finished, all that is left is hemming the bottom and side slits, the armhole binding, and the decorative frog closures along the bodice band.

That will wait for Monday night since tonight I will spend with said boyfriend, wearing a little black dress with white collar and cuffs that I found on clearance Wednesday as a consolation prize ;)

2002-04-24T08:44:00.000-04:00

Baked Whitefish with Ratatouie and Israeli CousCous

Any fresh or frozen whitefish will do. I used frozen pollock fillets, and they worked quite well.

Preheat oven to 300 F and place fillets in an oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with salt, fresh ground black pepper and garlic powder. Place in the oven and after 5 minutes reduce heat to 250 F. As the fish cooks begin ratatouie and couscous. Check the fish periodically and, when done (flesh is firm and opaque, flakes easily, and is slightly brown on top in places) turn off the oven but do not remove the fish until ready to serve.

for the ratatuoie:
olive oil
2 small yellow onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 med/lg eggplant, large dice
4 portabella mushroom caps, diced
1 jar roasted red pepper in oil, diced
1 large can diced tomatoes, juice reserved
1 small can tomato paste
salt, pepper, oregano to taste

In a large dutch oven, stockpot, saucepan what have you, place 2 tablespoons olive oil and heat. Add the above ingredients in order they are listed, stirring frequently, and allowing time for the onions to soften before adding garlic, the eggplant to brown a bit before adding the mushrooms, and the mushrooms to cook down a bit before adding the tomotoes and paste. Once the tomatoes are in, add as much of the reserved liquid as you like for consistency. Allow to cook until the flavors have melded and the diced tomatoes have cooked down.

Follow the package directions on the israeli couscous (regular couscous would generally be lost in this dish and not as rich) as the ratatouie finishes.

Place a heaping spoonfull of the couscous across the plate, lean one fillet (mine were 2 1/3 oz each, so a serving was 2 fillets) against the couscous, spoon ratatouie along and mostly covering it, and add the 2nd fillet along side it. A squeeze of fresh lemon is nice, but not necessary.

Enjoy!

2002-04-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

Update on my Aunt: there isn't one. Appearantly she's doing fine since we have not heard anything to the contrary. Score one for Aunt Bea (no, there's no Opie).

As for the super flu (is anyone else reminded of the stand?) Lee survived, Karen didn't have it, but Paf appearantly does, and has been out this week so far. Still on alert I suppose, but it is by no means the forefront of concern. Whew.

After skipping for a week and a half, I went back to kickboxing last night. Whew! I don't know that I will EVER become flexible enough to excute a proper squat-kick for any length of time, and the bouncy jumping jacks have GOT to go. Gallup's a good sport though, trying to motivate us as well as you can a room of sweaty, red-faced, panting women, all there by choice yet bemoaning their fate at the same time. I did get to work on the bag though last night...and that was somewhat satisfying if not jarring. I am happy to report there is not the recurrence of major suffering (i.e. muscle tightness) that there was when I started earlier this month. I still ate my banana just in case.

After burning what I hope was a bazillion calories I then went--red face, wet hair and all--grocery shopping, fueled with the idea that I was going to buy healthy foods. Foods that would inspire me to cook. Foods that would nourish and satisfy me without any superfluous calories or fat! $91.60 later the grocery packaging technician (i.e. bag boy) pushed my cart out of Publix (he insisted based on the order coming behind me) and loaded my prizes into my backseat (the trunk, as usual, being full of all manner of not quite useless odds and ends) I try and mentally discern whether I've bounced a check or not. I'm still not sure.

Oh, and I bought some sushi from the sushi display to eat on the way home. It takes real talent to manage the soy sauce, wasabi paste, and salmon rolls while navigating T-town's traffic at 8pm. I have gotten quite adept at it this last week or so. It served it's purpose (nutrition before h.t.--hunger tremens--set in) and was very good, and gave me the necessary strength to haul my purchases up the stairs.

In all of this I am left with 2 questions:
1. Why is it so much more expensive to eat healthily (used to be $20 a week for groceries....no skimping on portions either) ?

and

2. Why has it taken me so long to discover Edy's Whole Fruit Mango sorbet? Eating right has its rewards.

--j

2002-04-17T10:23:00.000-04:00

Observations of a Young Day:
It's not even 11am yet, but here I sit with a lot on my plate.

First off, my Aunt has suffered 2 strokes. She seems to be doing well, has some paralysis of her right eye and arm, and is not able to talk out of the right side of her mouth. I guess she's all left then. As soon as the remaining swelling goes down they expect her to show more improvement. Still no word on the cause yet.

Work is....well, work. Not extremely heavy today, but come tomorrow and Friday there will be a deluge of invoicing leading up to Friday's Sales Tax deadline. I'm a bookkeeper, I live by monthly deadlines...same ones every month, on difference is what day they fall on.

And the flu scare. Tallahassee is appearantly experiencing a wave of the flu bug that is particularly virulent in its effect on the stomach and the sinuses. This rumor has become fact with one of our own here having come down with it, and having come to work yesterday with a high fever, likely infecting several. Now everyone is on a "fever watch" at which time anyone with will be summarily sent home via the doctor's office. This current infected is now on 4 prescriptions and we've already sent one other girl to the doctor to have herself checked after displaying some symptoms herself.

And it's still not 11 o'clock yet.