Jessica for Prime Minister

It's raining feathers . . .

2010-05-26T20:45:00.003-05:00

One of the stranger things in my life just happened to me. I was outside with Matlock and I heard a thud. So me, thinking the abandoned house behind me is getting broken into, starts peeking thru the bushes to take a look when it started to rain feathers. I'm talking like dream sequence in a movie rain feathers. I looked all over for a bird and couldn't find one. Matlock couldn't either.

How bizarre.

Life is busy, school and work and the veggie garden of course. We went extreme with the garden this year. Here is a list of what we are growing:

1 Eggplant
10 Green Bell Peppers
1 Big Bertha Green Bell Pepper
8 Big Boy Tomatoes
2 Red Bell peppers
1 Poblano Chile
2 Yellow Straight Neck Squash
4 Jalapeno
2 peppercini
2 Beefsteak Tomato
3 Roma Tomato
2 Yellow Bell Pepper
2 Zucchini
8 Italian Plum tomatos
6 Cherry Tomatoes
1 Brandywine Tomato
1 Yummy Mix Pepper
1 Cayenne
1 Hot Banana Pepper
2 Anaheim Pepper
4 Cucumber
3 Raspberries
1 Blackberry
6 Pole Green Bean vines
4 Super Sugar Snap Pea vines
and some odd and end Strawberries. Plus the usual herbs of Basil, Cilantro and Flat Leaf Parsley.

It really looks like I lot when I list it all out. And to be honest it is a lot. But last year we made salsa and canned crushed tomatoes and made pickles. It was rather Oregon Trail of us if I may say so. I really like to garden though, there is something so peaceful about it. And the fact that I can go out and pick from my yard and then cook with it is amazing. Oh, we also have Arugula, Romaine and Head Lettuce. If you don't garden out, i would suggest starting with a patio tomato plant. You will be amazed at how easy it is, how much better it tastes and how much money you will save.

An open letter to airport bathroom designers

2010-02-08T10:05:00.000-06:00

Dear sir/ madam

I understand in today's world we like to be as efficient as possible. I am also aware the efficiency from a bathroom perspective would be getting people in and out as quickly as possible. This translates to the most stalls the space will allow.. I would like to suggest though reconsidering this notion and perhaps thinking about today's traveler. The traveler of today most likely carries on at least 1 bag. With baggage fees ever increasing it seems that this one bag would be a small roller board bag. The amount of time and effort it takes to fit both myself, my coat, my roller bag plus my one personal item into the overly compact bathroom stall you have designed by far last longer than the wait I would have if there were fewer but larger stalls that fit these items nicely. And while I enjoy the Tetris like game I have to play when maneuver previously mentions items in the shoebox stall, I feel that I could get past the loss of such game if it meant a pleasant bathroom experience

Again, just suggestion

2009-12-30T11:57:00.000-06:00

Dear 2010,

Please be better than 2009. I beg of you.

Thanks,
Jess

2009-12-25T11:05:00.002-06:00

I really like watching Animal Planet but those commercials with all the sad animals that need to be rescued just breaks my heart. I'm pretty sure that's why they made them and put them on that channel, to evoke the feelings that I am having towards them. But honestly, it's just made me cut back on my AP watching. If only I had a fenced in yard, Matlock would totally have a brother already.

Merry Christmas!

Why Hello

2009-07-05T19:54:00.003-05:00

Wow. Time has slipped for sure. Some updates for you

A) I'm alive

B) I got a dog back in May, her name is Matlock. See picture below:

I love her. She was a rescue dog so she has been a work in progress, but how far she has come in the 2 months I've had her is incredible. It's so sad to discover what she freaks out at, those are indicators of abuse in the past. She doesn't do feet/legs at all. I found this out by stretching my legs in her general direction and she went nuts. The rescue group found her starving at 5 months of age in February. They went to a high kill shelter to rescue some Golden Retrievers and she followed them out. She isn't a golden at all, but they felt bad and took her. I had been looking for a dog for a while and my room mate was insisting that all the dogs I liked looked mean. So I went to loveagolden.com just to see what was out there (even though I didn't really want a Golden) and I found her. Zac approved and we went to get her a week later. I've just gotten around to bringing her into work because of how shy she has been. But she is doing so great. I'm so lucky to have her.

C) I have a very nice size veggie garden in my back yard. I cost me about 50 for all the plants total, but I've already recouped that back in green peppers alone. In the garden you will find, tomatoes, jalapeños, banana peppers, green bell peppers, red bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, broccoli, 2 types of lettuce, potatoes, onions and good good measure corn. I am pretty sure the corn wont produce anything since I don't have enough planted for it to pollinate properly, but what's a garden without corn? The original goal was to make my own salsa, but I've got so many tomato plants, that now I'm going to be making my own pasta sauce too. Look for it on a shelf near you soon!

D) I just chopped 12 inches of hair off and turned into even more of a blond. It's a nice change. I hate going out for the first few times when people haven't seen a new hair do. I like that people think it's cute but I hate attention in the way of how I look. I'd rather you notice me for what I'm saying, or what I', doing. It's just a little thing of mine.

E) My first masters class is underway and it's interesting. The teacher thinks he is the all mighty OZ of Marketing. So lame, but I'm plowing thru it.

My pizza just arrived, so I'm gonna go eat and watch Top Chef Masters. I haven't watched any yet and there are 3 on my DVR just a calling my name

2009-04-28T23:01:00.002-05:00

Hi world. I live. Im busy. Im thinking about getting a dog. You can see her here

http://www.loveagolden.com/Shasta.htm

She's pretty, and I'm going to try to get her to respond to the name Comet. Yup, just like Full House.

The name of the game

2009-03-23T21:04:00.002-05:00

I live in a large house. I would live here alone but I seem to keep taking in lodgers. My family calls my house, 'Jessica's Home for the Wayward Boys.' Clever they are. Tim has been my steady lodger since August, with randoms coming in and out as they break up with girlfriends or find new places to stay. April 18th I get a new lodger, one that will be here for a few months, maybe more. This lodger is th infamous Fred from previous posts. Weird thing happened tonight. Fred dropped off some of his stuff and then hung out, like we have so many times before, but it was different. There was this weird tension in the air. I didn't like it. I still don't. It mad me tear up a little after he left cause I wonder if our entire friendship dynamic is now ruined cause he is gonna be living with me. I'm so confused.

I'm going back to school to get my MBA starting in June. It was kind of a all in one day decision, but here I go. Wish me luck.

I gave in

2009-03-08T22:30:00.003-05:00

I caved to my first ever Facebook note chain things. I don't know why, I normally hate those, but I like the idea of 25 things. So here is what I wrote. I hope you enjoy

1 - Seeing the moon during daylight kind of freaks me out.

2 - My biggest pet peeve is inappropriate windshield wiper speeds.

3 - I think my iPod can read my mind. I like to put it on random when I have a problem and let the songs it picks to play help clear my thoughts.

4 - I only wear skirts or dresses from about mid-April till mid-September.

5 - I try to think what my life would be like if my dad was still alive, but I can't. I just know it would be completely different. Or maybe it wouldn't.

6 - Marissa is my crystal ball. I believe all that she says and I have no idea why.

7 - I love how guys can meet someone first the first time and its like they have known each other forever. It's the trait I admire most in men.

8 - I know how to fix a lot of stuff but I wish others would do it for me

9 - I can watch the History or Weather channel for hours.

10 - I miss living in London. A lot.

11 - I'm honest. It's my best, and some think, worse trait.

12 - I got kicked out of a volunteer choir and still have the reject letter.

13 - I love making mix cds for people.

14 - My favorite movie is Come September released in 1961. It's just so great.

15 - My dream job is to work for OPI and name nail polish colors.

16 - I will never be able to go on a road trip with my friend Michelle because we have a completely different taste in music. We remind each other of this fact all the time.

17 - For better or worse something always seems to be happening in my life. It's rare that I do something and it goes smoothly. It's cool, I just laugh. Nothing else you can do about it.

18 - I have a freakishly good memory, but I'm terrible with names.

19 - I only like chocolate if its covering a strawberry. It just doesn't do it for me otherwise.

20 - Wine means you're fine, you can go out and dine. (I made this up sitting at the best restaurant in the whole of London with my 2 best gals.)

21 - I love trip planning. I'd rather it be me going, but even if its not I will spend hours researching and making itineraries.

22 - When I get all grown up and start to have a family I need a big one because I love my big family. I would be so lost without them.

23 - I like having friends in different states/countries because I have a free place to stay when I travel. But it makes me sad that I can't play with them whenever I want.

24 - I make weird sounds. Not like creepy sounds, just random ones.

25 - I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up and I am totally fine with it.

Breakfast after 10

2009-03-08T22:24:00.000-05:00

I wish I could be that girl from Out of This World and could just put my hands together and stop time.

My cousin who has been battle Leukemia lost her fight Monday. She was 26. Talk about things that suck. At the after party from the memorial mass there was a wall of pictures of her. I sat and stared at them for what seemed like hours. Its weird cause i had forgotten all about this side of Rachel. I mean I grew up with her, i knew this side, but often when people are sick for so long you forget that they did live outside their illness. It sucks that those good memories all wash away because all you have been hearing about lately is how not well she is doing.

So, thus far 2009 has brought me tonsil removal, a nasty broken toe/ruptured nail bed and a 26 year old cousin dying way too young from a terrible illness. I'm not liking this year. So I did my usual act in times when i can control nothing in my life and I dyed my hair. I'm a blonde again. I have no idea why this is my answer when life tosses crap my way. But it's what I do.

The toe story is kind of amusing. I was working an event in Chicago and one of the nights was a formal dinner with optional dancing. If you've met me you know that dancing is never an option, especially when its the cheesy wedding type. We all joked and called it prom. We even had a prom preparty. Needless to say after dinner i didn't leave the dance floor and by the end of the night we were all so tired from working all day/dancing for the past 4 hours and perhaps we were intoxicated as well. We got kicked out of the ballroom and were waiting in the hall to debate on what to do next when one of my favorite people crawled onto a table to lay down. I tried to help her get off the table as to not embarrass herself (funny that I was trying to be responsible) when the table toppled from the weight getting redistributed in all the wrong places. Also in the wrong place was my foot. Thankfully it only smashed the toe, but it did a rather bang up job of smashing it. I woke up the next morning with my foot propped up, blood everywhere(toes are bleeders) I was covered in pretzels. I had a DJ microphone in one hand, there was a wheelchair with an empty bottle of champagne on it next to me and since it was Sunday, there was some religious mass on TV and the remote was no where to be found. AHHH life . . . I had to get wheeled around Midway Airport which meant me and the 90 year olds talking about how unattractive the guy pushing my cart was. I did get a shorter security line (BONUS!) The following weekend I went to Atlanta with my friend Phil and once again I got wheeled around that airport. It's rather embarrassing to get wheeled around the airport, but its better than crying in pain from my toe. I also was in that lovely city to witness the record breaking 2 inches of snow that shut down the entire freaking city. I'm talking they closed the U of Georgia. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! You didn't even need plows to get thru it. So ridiculous Georgia. I'm thinking about writing the state a letter telling them to grow a pair.

My stubbornness paid off Friday when out of the blue I got my apology. I have this very victorious feeling right now. I shouldn't act this juvenile but I totally deserved this and I will be sleeping well. Man how I have missed Fred.

Currently getting addicted to Rollarcoaster Tycoon. Am I 12? Maybe.

I worry for the rest of 09. Seriously, I'm thinking at this rate Ill have a peg leg by my birthday in August.

Still this?

2009-02-16T14:43:00.001-06:00

Something happened last Saturday and made me leave a friends house in the middle of the night pissed off. Its not horrible but its something that angered me enough to leave. All I needed was an apology from said friend to smooth things over. Instead what I've gotten are the most juvenile actions and in return a simple I'm sorry is no longer going to cut it.

We will call this person Fred. He's been a pretty good friend of mine for about a year and we've gotten really close since say October. He's rather lazy but helped me move back into Berkeley house which took 12 hours. He also was the only person to check on me everyday when I was sick and even better he stayed with me for a week during my tonsil recovery. I was currently helping him redo his resume and finding jobs for him to apply for. He was basically a talk to everyday friend.

But last Saturday Fred got drunk and did something really stupid. So I left. Sunday I expected and apology but I got none. Monday and Tuesday past, still nothing. A friend of mine asked me Wednesday what Fred had done and said Fred was racking his brain trying to figure it out. I told him my story and how all I needed was him to say I'm sorry and life could resume. So this friend told Fred and Fred did nothing. Friend even told Fred he was being a jackass and Fred still did nothing. By the weekend Fred had taken to telling my good friends, who aren't in his circle, that I was mad at him for a reason he didn't understand and that I wasn't talking to him. One friend ask if he had tried calling me and Fred replied, 'nah I'm gonna let it run its course without me getting involved.' Awesome

What I'm getting at here is that I don't think a simple apology is gonna cut it anymore. I went from having a really good friend who had just mention how much he needed me in his life and how much he valued our friendship, to an arse who can't mumble 2 words. Pride now comes into play. Ohhh pride how you are a silly bastard. I have too much pride to contact him and say wtf. He has too much pride to admit to me and his friends he was in the wrong although he knows it. I hate giving up on friendships. Especially ones that I thought were pure and long lasting. He's such an awesome friend but I'm too damn proud to contact him and be the bigger man. I shouldn't have to and I won't.

You should know that Fred likes to randomly date this girl who I do not like. She cheated on him once, that he knows of, and that too me is end all. It seems when Fred is with this girl I don't exist. I get this a lot with my guy friends and since I have more guy friends than girl ones I get this often. Most aren't as bad as Fred. I know that Fred has been talking to to this girl and wonder if this is just part of the cycle. So the new question is do I answer the call in 2 months when she dicks him over? Normally I would and I'd gloat as Fred told me how I was right and so forth. But this time something is different. I don't want to answer it. But at the same time I keep checking my phone waiting for his call. But he isn't going to call.

I guess I'm just going to have to let this one play out and if/when the call comes see how I'm feeling then and go with it. I'm getting too old for this crap.

I need to move . . .

2009-02-02T16:05:00.002-06:00

I'd give my big toe to see London covered in snow. It would be amazing.

I miss you London

Boo Wallpaper

2009-02-02T15:59:00.000-06:00

I got my tonsils out 1/22. I've never had surgery so I have nothing to compare it to, but it went well if you ask me. The pre and post op care I was given was awesome. Thank you Progress West.

I've lost 18lbs since the surgery due to the liquid diet I'm on. I put on a pair of jeans i haven't worn since London days. It's pretty nice, just hope I use this as a jump start and don't let starving myself for the past 2 weeks go to waste.

I usually get addicted to a song and listen to it on repeat, but lately its been just a line. The song is Dustland Fairytail, by the Killers. The line:

Now Cinderella don't you go to sleep, it's such a bitter form of refuge.
Why don't you know the kingdoms under siege and everyone needs you

Don't ask why I love it, I just do.

I saw them in Chicago right before I went under the knife and they were amazing. Such a good show. Worth the 7 am train ride.

If you haven't seen the movie, Slumdog Millionaire, you need to watch it. It's amazing. So good. I love it, I love it. Gran Torinio wasn't bad either. But Slumdog is a masterpice.

The pain meds that I am on for my throat is giving me some very realistic dreams. When this whole thing started in December the doctors put me on Vicodin. That gave me bad dreams. I did not like it at all. This new stuff though, it makes my dreams so realistic that I am not sure what's real or fake when i wake up in the mornings. I spend a chunk of my mornings trying to remember what actually is happening in my life. It's for real crazy.

I can actually move about this week unlike last week which saw me move from the couch to my bed and back again. I'll return to work next week. I should enjoy this time, but I'm bored. Oh so bored. I'm redoing a bathroom but stubborn wallpaper is not making it a pleasant experience. I will hurt the person who invented wallpaper. That or my mother who littered this house with it.

I can't wait to eat solid food again. It's going to be glorious.

Rockin the Tonsils

2009-01-09T11:07:00.002-06:00

I am slowly going crazy, 1 2 3 4 5 6 . . . .

Something very ridiculous happened to me the day after Christmas. I got sick. I'm not just talking sinus infection sick, which I get often, I'm talking, take me to the hospital sick. Weird, right? I thought so. I got some crazy tonsil issues going on. At one point they turned black and swelled so large I couldn’t swallow or really breathe. That is the point I got rushed to the hospital. The entire left side of my face was HUGE! Its' still a bit swollen, but at least you can see some type of jaw line. Well, what jaw line did I really have before?

Moving on. . .

The tonsils are still swollen making sleeping hard since I wake myself up at all hours with swallowing/breathing issues. Awesome! And it looks like a creature has popped out of the left one. Its not just swollen, it a creature. I have an appointment with a specialist Monday in hopes of beggin him to remove them. If that's the case I am out of work for 3-4 weeks. Apparently as an adult is more of a major deal than if you get them yanked as a kid. Damn parents being cheap on me and not taking care of these things when I was younger.

Anyhoo, so the slowly going crazy stems from the fact I haven't been doing much lately and as an usually active person, this is driving me bananas. I had to take a week off work right at the beginning, and now I basically go to work and go home and crash. If I have to stay in my house for 3-4 weeks if I get these bad boys yanked you can be sure that I will be sufficiently stir crazy. I also will probably be all drugged up on some liquid pain killers and try to reorganize things in a way that wont make sense after I get off the drugs. That should be fun.

My brother got laid off work, not cool, so he promised to come and keep me company and play the Shaun White game for the Wii. Which I do HIGHLY recommend. But get it only if you have Wii Fit and can use the board. It's amazing! I might have become really good at it due to not being able to go out.

Let's see, other news . . .

I think I'm going to Atlanta to with a friend to hang with his mom. I've never been and he rarely sees his mom cause he gets bored down there, so it’s a perfect match. I also think I'm headed to Key West in April. I have a friend who has lots of Southwest free tickets to use up and she thought of me. I think im gonna pee myself going over the bridges though. I have this fear of open air heights and driving on a 10 mile long bridge (I have no idea how long they really are) and seeing nothing but water is gonna be freaky.

I saw the movie Benjamin Button. I thought it was good, my fellow movie watcher did not. And I've heard from others that they were not impressed with it. But I liked it, so that's all that matters.

That might be all I have for you kids.

I'll work on getting better, and you work on staying cool.

In this City

2008-12-21T13:26:00.001-06:00

Life has been weird lately. I don't get people and have officially given up to trying to figure things out. Your words and actions should both say the same thing, but strangely enough i seem to spend time with people where its just the opposite. lovely.

Im really into baking bread. I got banned from my Dad's side of the family's Thanksgiving celebration due to a very sick cousin and me have a very bad cold. This is my favorite side of the family, so this was hard new to take. Also my Close Grandma (whose name comes from the fact she lives next door) makes the most amazing rolls. And missing the rolls is a sad story. My mom decided to have just our immediate family over for Thanksgiving. This result in me trying to make rolls that rival my Close Grandma's. And guess what folks. I did it. I actually beat her recipe. See, she gave me some rolls to take to my Thanksgiving and I had a blind taste test with my siblings and i sure did take that cake. So this is where the whole, I'm really into baking bread thing started. I'm fascinated with yeast. Its so cool. A few days after Thanksgiving I cooked a 23 lbs bird for my friends and made these rolls again. And what do you know, they were a hit. They also make biscuits and gravy 10,000 times better than if you used Grands rolls.

Can you believe its 2009? I know I'm a bit early, but with my posting rate lately, we will just call this the end of 2008. I got back into the travel game this year, which was awesome. I thought I was over it for awhile, but it turns out I need it now more than I ever did. Nothing beats exploring a new place and seeing things that you've only read about. I mean, I freaking stayed in a hotel made of ice! I'm nuts and I love it.

I've met a lot of people this year and made some really good friends. As you grow up its harder to make good friends. School is such a friend forcer. The real world, not so much. I mean work would be a place, and I've made some awesome work friends, but they are all married and some have kids. So its not the lets go on an adventure friend. Which thankfully I've found a few of those. I wonder who will come into my life next year?

I've had a lot of major life experiences this year, which were bound to happen and I'm glad they did. Wish some would have gone down a little differently, but no regrets. It's not worth it. I don't have a time machine, I can't change things.

You should all go get the new Killer album and listen to it on repeat. It might not sound good the first time, but trust me, it's addicting. I can't wait to see them in January. I'm also going to see Girl Talk again. YEAH! Last time I saw him, someone got naked and tasered by cops. Wonder what will happen this time? So the new year will start out good, at least musically.

I'm also working on a project that I'm hoping will go live next year. I'd like it by March, but when people are working for free, its hard to push them. It's going to be, at least in theory, an awesome site that will be helpful for the traveller and city dweller alike. Let's hope this works. Stay tuned for more to come on that front. It might be the second most life changing event in my life. Or it might fizzle and I'll go to plan B. Which is getting my masters and moving into marketing at my current employer.

Hope you had a good 2008. See you in the '09.

What do you do with leftover Jesus?

2008-12-03T12:43:00.000-06:00

Growing up Catholic I was given a lot of religious memorabilia. There were several religious services that I took place in such as reconciliation, first communion, and confirmation to name a few. Also, the fact that I went to a Catholic school seemed to make it ok to give me a rosary or Jesus statue for a birthday or Christmas gift. Just what every little girl dreams of getting for Christmas, Jesus half naked and nailed to a cross. I wouldn’t say that I'm not religious anymore. I'd call myself a Chri-easter. I go to mass on Christmas and Easter and occasionally the day my dad died. So the need for multiple crucifixes and other religious figurines is not really needed in my life.

Since moving back to the B-town house, I've been digging around in the basement trying to clean that bad boy out so one day we can sell the house. I stumbled upon what I'd like to call my youth in a box. This started my dilemma. The Y in a B is filled with random items dating back to 1st grade, and is full of random crosses, rosaries and other random religious figurines. What do I do with it? I can't throw it away. That is a one way ticket to hell if I've ever heard of one. I don’t want to donate it, I have a feeling that a Jesus status holding the Eucharist is not high priority for Good Will shoppers. Is there a place to take your old religious figurines? I know that with old American Flags you can just take them to any American Legion post and they will get rid of them the patriotic way. Is there some convent that will take in my Mother Mary plaque and get rid of it the holy way?

For now the box is going to go back into the corner of the basement cause I just don’t have the heart to kick Jesus to the curb.

who knew?

2008-10-02T17:08:00.000-05:00

The following is an actual life event. I could not make this up if I tried

Date: Tuesday
Time: 11 pm
Place: My Kitchen

Tim: Wouldn't it be cool if we had enough money to just randomly buy people crazy gifts. Like hey, here's a giraffe.
ME: That would be awesome.
Time: (does riding motion like on a horse)
ME: What are you doing?
Tim: I'm riding the giraffe I just gave you
ME: How are you riding that?
Tim: On a special saddle
ME: You don't ride a giraffe on a saddle, you just wrap your arms around its neck and get going.
Tim: You can't do that, their necks are too big, your arms would never make it around.
ME: How big do you think they are?
Tim: I don't know.
ME: I'm going to Google it

Action: Googling circumference of a giraffe's neck for 2 hours

ME: I can't believe there is NOTHING on the internet about this. NOTHING.
TIM: Let me try

Action: Time searching internet. He find nothing

ME: That's it. I'm calling the Zoo tomorrow. Someone has to know this

Date: Wednesday
Time: 9:10 am
Place: Work

ME: (leaving a message with the animal education department at the Saint Louis Zoo) Hi, my name is Jessica and I was hoping that you would be able to tell me the average circumference of a a Giraffe's neck. I searched all over the internet and couldn't find anything so I'm hoping that you can help me. Thanks

Date: Wednesday
Time: 11:15 am
Place: Work

Action: I return to my office and see that I have a new voicemail. I listen

Voicemail: Hi Jessica this is Lisa from the Saint Louis Zoo and I was calling you back about your question on the average circumference of a giraffe's neck. We checked with our curator who has over 20 years experience working with giraffes and she was useless. We cross referenced every animal book we can find, and again they were useless. No one has ever thought to measure a giraffe's neck before. You must be a genius. Thanks for stumping us!

(Ok, so the last bit about the voicemail is a little exaggerated, but you get the point. Some how, i stumped the zoo by asking what I thought was a basic question. Obviously not.)

Vatsug

2008-09-01T14:43:00.001-05:00

Last Monday my house got broken into. That sucked. They took a TV, no biggie, but they also took a watch of my dad's. That's a biggie. You don't mess with Dad stuff. I'm not too terribly bothered by this. It seems I have friends who are more upset than I am about the break in. I'm not sure why its not really effecting me but its not. I just cant conjure up any real feels for this event. All I keep saying is 'it happens.' Creepy thing is how the person lined up all the pairs of earrings in my house across the bedroom floor and sorted out all the pictures they could find by who was in the picture. That's a bit odd.

I think i am going to have to Murphy some people. Murphy is when you conscientiously end a friendship with someone. Its not my fav thing to do, but it needs to be done.

I was swam with dolphins Friday, that was awesome. I had such a great vacation. I love a good vacation. I hate coming home though. On vacation you are in such a la la world. Reality does, in fact, bite my friends.

blast from the past but also a shot into the future

2008-07-07T23:17:00.002-05:00

I know what I want the next 10 years of my life to be like, but I don't know exactly how to go about getting it to turn out that way. If it was just something that I would solely do that would be one thing. But in my current vision of the future I need a few other people to co-operate. How do I make this work? But life would be just so grand if it turned out as it is in my head. Such a shame really. It could be perfect.

I decided to move back into my old house. My mom just had a house built and moved in May. Her old house was the temp home of my sister and brother in law but they just closed on a house last Monday. So now there is this huge house sitting in the middle of a semi shady neighborhood all alone. And I wanted to move anyway and this way I can save $$$ since I will just be paying utilities. I just worry I will be lonely. And that being by myself in this big house will be scary. I mean honestly, to this day, i still am scared of the basement over there. I just hope I am making the right move.

Where is that crystal ball when I need it . . .

2008-07-03T19:08:00.003-05:00

Flying into Islip Airport on Long Island yesterday I noticed that every house had a pool. It didnt matter if the neighborhood was rich or poor looking. There must have been a mad special on pools. It's insane.

I am going to see the famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest tomorrow. I am pumped. I probably wont be able to sleep tonight. I'm a dork, but that is why we love me.

2008-06-15T15:35:00.004-05:00

I miss you pops. I could really go for a hug right about now, my funk soul brother.

waiting

2008-06-10T21:54:00.003-05:00

I change for softball at work and I can't bare to tell the people I work with what the name on my jersey means. Its just stuff not meant for them.

Anger really makes me hit the ball hard. Maybe I should do stupid things every weekend that I regret and soon I can be recruited to some all star co-ed slow pitch league. That would be nice

it might make you go blind

2008-06-02T22:58:00.004-05:00

I feel like I have something to say but I can't really figure out what it is. Kind of annoying.

I am kind of getting dicked over at work. They are ignoring everything that I ever told them about where I want to end up in the company and moving me around for 'my own good.' Maybe they are right, but I doubt it. They are just pulling a CYA move and I am the one they are bringing in to fix it. Which is good cause that means they trust me and value me, but at the same time they are taking away all that I love. Stupid.

I feel like some high school drama is about to make an appearance in my life despite all my efforts. I hate high school drama. But as a neutral party people tend to come to me with their vents and then others ask if people are talking about them and its just not good. I can't help it people like to tell me things. I am a vault, few know my combination, which is good. But still, i just really kind of like where I am with these people and am not trying to screw that up. Maybe a vacation is in order. Where to?

PS - For those who get the St. Louis Post-Dispatch delivered to them, please be on the look out for my picture to be making a special appearance. The Post does this section called 'Bringing it all home" or something like that, and you basically wear something Saint Louis when you travel and take your picture and send it to the Post. Janet and I did this when we were at the Ice Hotel and it's finally getting published! I am so pumped! It's going to be in the June 22 paper.

balls to the wall

2008-05-13T23:09:00.002-05:00

The scroll ball on my mouse no longer goes up. So, now I can only scroll to the bottom of a page and have to move my mouse to the arrows to make it go up. This annoys me. Damn scroll ball ruining my goal of navigating the computer without moving the mouse!

Speaking of balls at a softball game the other night I got rocked in the face with a ball that bounced after hitting a pile of rubble on the field. Then, the very next day, I was at the baseball game and a foul ball got rocked in my direction and thankfully the guy in front of my caught it to save me. I think Wilson has it out for me.

C'mon Garcon

2008-05-03T09:17:00.003-05:00

So here's the deal . . .

I want to move. Take that back, need to. When Me and current roommate came to the executive decision to move out after college I started to look for places to live in Soulard and Tower Grove. She came to me a few weeks into the search saying that her parents knew a guy who was rehabbing some condos in the loop and would give them a good deal if they bought one. So with her parents help, roommate bought a place in the loop and I was to move in. This bothered me at first since a) I never wanted to live in the Loop and b) I didn't really like the place all that much. But in my wanting to get out of my parents house, I agreed. Enter present day. I still a) don't like the loop all that much, gotten to like it a little better, but not love it and b) don't like the place all that much. Now lets factor in gas prices and the fact that my rent here jumped by quite a bit due to property tax increases. I know that my Mini is a rather fuel efficient car, but I work downtown and do a lot of things downtown, so I make that commute a lot. Which means filling up my little guy once a week at 50 bucks a pop. Basically it comes down to finding a cheaper place, closer to work, with more closets.

This is my issue. Cheaper, closer and closets means a lot to me, but how do I tell my roommate who I really like and have grown really close to that I am moving out on her. I have no lease agreement with her, I could technically stay as long as she lives here and I think it's going to come as a very large shock to her when I tell her. I don't want to end our friendship, but I think she is going to be really hurt by this. It's just business. I wish she would understand that.

I hate being a grown up.

Well sometimes. Cause if I wasn't a grown up I wouldn't have been able to got to the horse track last night and bet on some pretty ponies. And tell me why in the middle of a race the ambulance that was on the track in case of injury CAUGHT FIRE! It never exploded, which I thought would have been cool, but it sure was on fire. WTF? So random. Both times that I won were cause I accidentally put money on the wrong horse. The # of the horses and the names were off a bit on the print out and I wouldn't follow the lines right.

Crazy world. I love it.

2008-04-20T03:28:00.004-05:00

There was an earthquake in St. Louis Friday. I went to the baseball game Friday night and a national fast food chain was offering buy one get one free deals on shakes because of the fact that we had an earthquake and went to the baseball game.

What an interesting world.

loose the feeling that's been sinking

2008-04-15T21:14:00.003-05:00

In prepping for my mom's big move we stumbled upon the wine that my dad and his brothers use to make. We found Elderberry, Dandelion, Rhubarb and a deep red color varieties. There is quite a bit of sediment in the bottles, but nothing a cheese cloth can't take care of. I need to find a really special occasion to drink them on. There is a label on the Elderberry that says 1977. Another one of the bottles had written on it Father's Day 1977. Apparently 1977 was a good wine making year in Saint Louis.

Also, when we were cleaning up we found the pully that we used to string a zip line across the yard when we were young. I am not sure how I survived childhood now that I think about it.

The song Think Twice from Groove Armada is on repeat right now. Just thought you would want to know that.

Oh and if you wanted to know what elderberry is, here is an article. Just mildly poisonous, well done dad.

Hello Sun, Nice to see you again

2008-04-06T09:52:00.002-05:00

It's so beautiful outside! I am not going to come in till the sun goes down! (obviously starting after I post this)

I love it!

2008-03-22T21:31:00.003-05:00

I hate being stubborn. I know that you must be thinking that since I have acknowledge my stubbornness I can surely change it, but I can't. I give in only so much and then you have to take it the rest of the way.

Damn me for standing my ground. Damn me

2008-03-17T22:22:00.003-05:00

I can't wait to go to bed.

I love to sleep.

I love the rain.

I love when it rains and I hear it as I'm falling asleep.

Perfection.

time tables

2008-03-13T23:49:00.004-05:00

I found this post that I wrote almost 2 years ago (2 years in April) and I decided to paste it and write my new answers next to it. Not sure why really, but it sounds like a good idea. The first set of answers are the ones from 2 years ago. Thought I would toss that out there in case you couldn't figure it out.

Mood: Baking, cupcakes anyone?/ hoping for a thunderstorm

Music: Al Green's Greatest Hits/ The Killers ~ Tranquilize

Weeks till I graduate: 5/ not really applicable

Last DVD purchased: Newsies/ The Namesake, Gone Baby Gone and Breakfast at Tiffany's

Best idea ever: Page locater for TV remotes/ Pagers for TV remotes is still a good one, but I am going to have to say my crockpot idea

Fun times: Finding old cd mixes and listening to them/ My new cell phone

If I could be anywhere right now I would be: In London celebrating Dahlia's b-day with the inner circle gang./ On a beach in Thailand with 2 or 3 really good people sitting around a fire, tossing a few back and looking at the stars

Activity I should do more of: Exercise/ i guess this still applies

Activity I should do less of: Watching 'Deadliest Catch' on Discovery Channel/ making fun of the new girl at work. But to my defense its not just me, the entire department and parts of other departments are doing the same thing. It doesn't make it right, but still. She is crazy!

Most Anticipated Season Finale: Grey's Anatomy/ America's Best Dance Crew

Snacking on: Gummy Worms/ Nothing but gummy worms sound lovely

Phrase of the weekend: "I put the Unk in Drunk"/ It was -5 degrees

Surprise of this Week: Winning a lot of prizes at last weeks Charity event/ How quickly my phone came

Accomplishment of this week: Raising $15,000 for a bad thing that happened to good people./ Organizing all the MD files that were dumped on me 4 weeks ago

Most anticipated moment of next week: It's a tie, hearing from Martin Williams and hearing from the people I interviewed with last week./ having Friday off and the place to myself for the weekend. So it's still a tie

Saddest moment of next week: Visiting my Dad's grave to give him a graduation announcement./ Seeing my 25 year old cousin who just got diagnosed with leukemia and recently lost all her hair.

Random Dad story that is making me chuckle: Telling me that I would survive the Oregon Trail and my Mom and Sister Em that they wouldn't./ Having us kids race to see who could get him a beer the quickest and rewarding whoever did with the first drink.

Celebrity I will be hangin with next week: Hal Sparks/ My mom?

What I would do if you handed me $100,000 right now: $50,000 for investments, 10,000 for trip to Caribbean with a few friends, $25,000 new car either Mini Cooper or New Mustang, $5,000 to my Brother and my Sister Em (my other sister makes too much money, she doesn't need it), and $5,000 for me get and furnish new APT./ Pay off my car, pay off my Europe trip, save a chunk, shop, give some to my family members and take classes at Kitchen Conservatory

Culinary challenge of the moment: Recreating the best sandwich ever; grilled chicken, bacon and avocado on Ciabatta bread./ Making my first corned beef and cabbage

Where I would like to be in 6 weeks: A beach with friends/ playing softball with friends

Where I would like to be in 6 months: Working a job that I like and am not a slave to, living with my good friends Julie and Angie, having a good time and enjoy the most of my 20's while still saving money for the future./ a vaca with BL

Where I would like to be in 6 years: Married, living an old house, working for myself or my brother's company./ Married, living in an old house, maybe not living in STL, but if so at a higher position in my same company or having a bakery

Where I would like to be in 60 years: Retired traveling the world./ Same

Lovely shade of Star Trek Blue

2008-02-23T10:19:00.003-06:00

Here are a few randoms. Enjoy kids

~ Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. You must go.

~ The Sweds like to have babies. Be careful where you step, you might crush one.

~ The crazy Brit in my hostel in Amsterdam is getting married at the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas. She is having her dress made so it mirrors one of the ladies from ST, (I don't recall who) But I do know that the dress won't be red. She doesn't fancy red. The dress will be a lovely shade of Star Trek Blue.

~The question mark is hard to find on a Swedish keyboard.

~ Ikea in Sweden has WAY cooler stuff than in the States. Sad but true story.

~ There are over 25,000 people on a waiting list to get an apartment in Stockholm.

~ Amsterdam has really good street fries and you get a choice of over 21 different sauces! Oh My!

~Lastly I would like you all to do some sacrificing to the heavens cause it is predicted to rain all the days I am in Roma and that blows. Get out your goats.

honestly . . .

2008-02-13T19:55:00.003-06:00

There is a new girl at work who seems a bit off. The other day at a team lunch we were all talking about the weather. It was one of those weeks in the Lou where it went from 15 degrees and snowing to 50 and sunny in 3 days. So we all were pumped about the weather warming for the weekend and about how spring is just around the corner when NG (new girl) says, "I hate when it gets warm out, it reminds me of global warming."

WHAT! I am sorry? Are you really saying that having seasons, I vital part of of our cycle of life, makes you sad because you think the world is ending? Excuse me? Then NG mentions something about polar bears dying. I thought my fellow coworker was going to choke on his water. He is not a massive believer in the global warming and her ludicrous comment about
the seasons making her sad was a bit to much for him.

Then the icing on the cake came today when I was sitting in the parking lot with another co-worker talking and we see Miss Save the Planet walk out to her car and get into a SUV!

WHAT!?!

And it wasn't one of those better-ish SUVs like the Vue, it was a Pathfinder. A 12 miles per gallon on the highway monster.

People like that make me want to punch them. You tout your views on the world and how we are all killing the planet by shopping at mass retailers yet you drive a freaking gas guzzling emissions beast. Give me a freaking break. If you heard her talk she sounds like she is one of those people who grow their own corn just to make their own ethanol so they can provide fuel for their home made car (which is made of corn stalks).

I really feel like putting a stuffed polar bear on her window and attaching a note that says, 'thanks for killing us.'

bring it

2008-02-11T20:51:00.000-06:00

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

The Discovery Channel just aired a special on the Ice Hotel and I can not contain myself. See, I have been having this horrid dream these past couple of nights where I am running around at the last minute trying to pack and people are yelling at me to leave. To say the least, I have not been waking up a very happy person.

But tonight my traveling partner in crime texted me and told me about the special and now I am so happy. This is going to be the most insane thing ever!

One more week!

PS - Hi Matt!

2008-01-01T13:48:00.000-06:00

I currently live for the following things:
White Wine Chicken Soup
Paradise Tropical Tea
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on thick wheat bread with Deluxe American cheese slices.

It's good when life is simple.

2 steps forward, one step back

2007-12-12T23:26:00.001-06:00

I want to move cities. But I love my job. That could be an issue.

Today I was a 2008 planning meeting and the room got really cold and I got all happy cause it made me think about the ice hotel!

I had a rather deep and invested conversation with my roommate tonight and am not sure how I feel about it. I am a fan of the not talking about things and just letting them roll off. Rarely have I had a bottleneck where all those 'things' have exploded into an all out war of words. So talking about shit in a rational manner was new. It was interesting. I still like rolling things off, what's the point in talking when you know you can't do anything about it?

I met Chuck Berry tonight. I am pretty sure everyone and their mom has met him, but it was my first time. Be kind, I am slow.

I need to figure out the proper way to hang things on plaster walls. My technique now is hang lightweight photo frames using push pins. But I got this new duvet cover and once I put it on my bed I KNEW I needed to hang my Jack poster.

It's this one

I long to be the girl in the red dress. . .

The strangest things happen to me . . .

2007-12-03T18:06:00.000-06:00

Today I had to go to the dentist. I parked my car along side Forest Park Parkway, right in front of the dentist office. My dentist in notorious for his lot being too small and always full, so finding a street spot in front was golden. I ran inside for a short visit.

Me - Hi I need my new trays.
Lady at front desk - Ok. Here you go
Me - Thanks

Since I went on my lunch break I decided to grab some Bread Co to bring back to work. So I walk to the Bread Co and order. This was also a short visit.

Me - I would like a You Pick 2 with the Garden Veggie soup and the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich (I do not recommend, it did nothing for me. In fact I might be over Bread Co.)
Man who needs to shave - Would you like a drink with that?
Me - Yes, ice tea
Man who needs to shave - Is that for here or to go
Me - To go.
Man who still needs to shave - Ok that will be $8.52
(I hand him my debit card)
***Swipe***
Man who needs to shave badly - OK here is your card and your order # is 12
Me - Thanks, have a good one

I pick up my order, give the bag a quick once over and head out the door. I get to my car, open the door and am immediately hit with the smell of cigarette smoke. This is strange since I don't smoke and I don't let people smoke in my car. (Ok, I did that one time, but Angie was screaming in pain over her ankle and highway 40 isn't the smoothest ride so it was more for her to shut up.) I immediately take a step back wondering if I am not in my car. But I am in my car.

As it turns out readers, someone got in my car whilst I was at the dentist office/getting lunch, smoked from what the ashes tell me are about 2 cigarettes, took all my change from my change cup and then stole my reading glasses. Reading glasses? Yes, my reading glasses. I had about 15 cents in the change cup. I had just taken the last shiny silver thing out of it to pay the meter. They also rifled in the plastic Wal-Mart bag I had in the backseat that is filled with Daubers and a My Little Pony which I use as my good luck charm in Bingo. I would like to point out that they did take the time to pick out all the bobbie pins that call the change jar home. That was kind of them. Although, the pins are probably worth more than the change itself. Sorry bum, but you would have gotten more from me had you asked me when I passed you on the street. I hope you can use my glasses to read the newspaper you are wiping your ass with. . .

i just really want a dress

2007-11-26T19:47:00.000-06:00

I like to put my iPod on shuffle songs mode when I am at work. This way it's a surprise what comes on (I like surprises). Some days it's like my iPod can read my mind and it gives me exactly what I need to hear. I love those days. Today, was not one. Today, my shuffle sucked. I have no idea what I did to it, but it was not my friend. This made work way more complicated than it needed to be. I kept having to skip over the crap that shuffle was producing, disrupting my work flow. Then it got so bad that I had to pick songs. Can you believe that? I actually hate to flip around and find what I wanted to hear, and the thing was I didn't know what I wanted to hear. I just wanted to hear something that made me go, ohh yes, this is the one. And then I would get into this ultra work mode and kick ass.

But that didn’t happen. I fumbled with the iPod and was unsatisfied with the songs I was given. It's not like I have crap on it, but sometimes you just need to hear something and nothing else will do.

Pink Starburst are like gold in my office right now. I swear I could do some mad bartering with the 3 I have. People would be doing my math homework for weeks.

It's Project Runway season again. HOORAY! Although, I am not a fan of how commercial Tim Gunn has become. I didn't think he was a sell out, but it's kind of looking that way. But that's ok, for now, I still love the show and him. And I about died when Heidi said that the model looked like she was poohing fabric. Classic.

In addition to my Euro Adventure, in late March I will be headed to Vegas for my cousins 21st b-day bash. Moral of the story, 2008 is starting out to be a very broke time. A good time, but a broke time.

I would like to conclude with my search for a dress. I have no real event to wear a dress to, so I don't really need one, but something inside is whispering, 'go find it, find a dress.' So I have begun the search. It wasn't too good tonight. But, thankfully I am headed to Chicago this weekend for some shopping and a dress will be found. You can't force these things, but you can play a killer game of hide-and-go-seek.

honk if you love loin cloths

2007-11-01T18:02:00.001-05:00

I think the only personality type in the world that I can't get along with is one of the condescending people. Seriously, I get along with pretty much everyone, except condescending shitheads. I am pretty sure I may have ranted about this before but that doesn't matter. These people need to know that they aren't making themselves look good to anyone that they are trying to impress by putting others down. Don't act like you are smarter than me because I know your Uncle got you this job! (personal reference, sorry) I would like to know what these people are thinking. What, in your little messed up mind, is telling you that you are better than everyone and that you need to make sure people know you are so freaking great!

GET OVER YOURSELF!

Worst part of this is there might be a person that I am thinking of when it comes to the above rant and I can't do anything about avoiding such person since heavy contact with them is part of my job.(that was a long sentence, i might have needed a comma.) This is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I hate being the bigger man sometimes. It blows. And I know that I am not going to get recognized for the great idea i had today. This person will steal it and claim it as their own.

On another annoying note is that I am almost 100% that my mom is buying a new house. Some who know where my mother lives will say great, she needs to get out. But here is the deal, the house that she currently occupies and the only home I have ever known (we never moved when I was a kid) is the house that my dad made his own. The house was a 2 story when me father bought it from his grandpa. But the second floor had no walls, it was one giant empty room. So my dad built a staircase and all the rooms upstairs. But being my father he obviously didn't want to buy all the supplies so he would take trips to auctions and salvage yards and what not to get the things needed. For instance, all the spindles going up the stairs and around the stair case are from some riverboat that went bankrupt and was selling everything. All the ceilings are hand painted, with this really odd design that I still try to figure out, by this old man who lived at the bottom of the street. There is so much in that house I am rather heart broken to think that I will never see it again. To loose all that history and love and move to a sterile new place with no character breaks me. I know that I am not moving into the gross nasty new house, but still. It's the last piece of my dad dying. And it hurts just almost as bad as the loosing first piece.

But my one happy note, and not to down play it cause it is really freaking awesome, is that I booked the most insane trip that I have been on to date. I am going to Europe in February. That isn't the insane part. The insane part is that I am going to Sweden, to the part of the country above the Arctic Circle, to stay at a hotel that isn't even built yet. You know why it's not built? That's cause it's made of ICE!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes to those of you who have watched the Travel Channel special, I am going to the Ice Hotel. I am staying in a cold room which means I will sleep on a bed made of ICE in extremely cold temperatures. I am also going to take an ice sculpting class as well as ride a reindeer and go in hunt of the Northern Lights. Maybe do a little dog sled riding, i don't know if we will have time. This is going to be one of those things that changes me. I just know that life won't be the same after the ice hotel. I might lose a finger to the cold, or I might just, I don't know. But I know that this is a truly once in a life time thing and I am going to rock it hard core. It's that simple.

The trip isn't just to Sweden. Here is how it is going down. Try to keep up -

Saint Louis to Houston

Houston to Amsterdam

Amsterdam to surrounding Nether regions

Amsterdam to Stockholm

Stockholm to Kiruna (home of Ice Hotel and the Yellow House)

Kiruna to Rome - via Stockholm and Milan

Rome to Newark

Newark to Saint Louis

Party on Wayne. Party on Garth (or in this case Janet)

2007-10-14T21:57:00.001-05:00

when do I get to the good part again . . .

music will save us all

2007-10-14T21:49:00.001-05:00

I am tired of guns, bombs, and missiles. If people want to fight lets go back to some hand to hand combat. Maybe if people actually looked their enemy in the eye they would realize how similar they both are. Seriously I have had enough of cowards. If you believe so strongly in what you are fighting for, or trying to steal, or whatever the reason is you have turned to violence, then get out there and work for it. Don't just rig an iPod to blow up. That is lazy.

On a happy note I made my first beer float tonight and it was amazing. Blue Bunny has brought back their Cinnamon ice cream for the fall and 2 scoops of that with some Strongbow and I am one happy experimenter. Next will be my Pumpkin Beer and Cinnamon ice cream float. I have a feeling that will be a winner as well.

My finger really hurts. Stupid assholes charging home plate. It's a coed fall ball, not the majors. Settle it down.

___ it Out

2007-09-08T14:34:00.000-05:00

Who knew? Oh, you did, well thanks for sharing.

My new phrase is Shop It Out. Many out there are familiar with the term Retail Therapy (if not I highly suggest it). Well now it has a catch phrase, Shop it Out. This works better on weeks you get paid, but that is what credit is for.

I left the blond side and went back to my dark ways. I do love a good deep chocolate brown hair color. It was time for a change.

I play bingo on Monday nights. It might be the best thing that I have ever done. It's so fun and intense and awesome. I would recommend it to anyone. And in case you can't afford to Shop it Out you can always Daub it Out at Bingo.

Someone sang the song To Be With You by Mr. Big the other night when I was at a bar. Man that song is good times. I think I am going to work on bringing it back. I will let you know how it goes and feel free to help me spread the Mr. Big love.

Flight of the Conchords is over. Now I must Dance it Out. If you never caught an episode I would highly recommend looking up them on YouTube. I would start with the song Ladies of the World. Then go to Business Time followed by Tape of Love. Genius, they are truly genius. I have already decided that I need to see them live. New life goal. I am pumped.

David Guetta is rocking my world these days. Start with Love is Gone and work your way from there. I love me some French DJ. Speaking of Euroness, who is up for some high quality Euro time? I could go for a trip back to the motherland. Maybe I will just watch Hott Fuzz to hold me over. . .

It's Business Time

2007-07-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

I really didn't realize how long it had been, sorry about that kids. Time is a slippin these days. I seem to keep stumbling upon good music and a lot of my time is spent in the pointless room with my roommate rocking out. That or playing guitar hero. Or watching Flight of the Conchords, which is the best show ever! (Massive crush on Jermaine.) There is also the softball 3 nights a week which is always a good time. Oh, and the Harry Potter book came out and I had to read that. I went to Omaha to visit my sister for a weekend and then my long lost friend Dahlia came to visit me. I hadn't seen her in 2 years! It's been since my Euro Tour of 05. So that has also taken up me time. Driving my little Nigel around is also time consuming and a good time except when people don't realize where their lane is and I practically end up in a brick wall. That was a fun morning. Oh and then I had reunion week when I called or emailed people I hadn't talked to in a while and we got together. That was a fun week. It felt good to reconnect. I have missed people. I guess my job takes up a bulk of my time, although I seem to forget that I have a job some nights and manage to stay out way past bedtime. But that is OK, work serves amazing egg sandwiches and it's almost an excuse to wake up late and get breakfast at work. Perfect. I think that pretty much sums up the past month. It was good to me, nothing major to complain about. (except the near end of Nigel and the shitty way Harry Potter ended)

I turn 23 on August 14. Once again I am bracing for a crappy b-day. Recall last years spa fiasco? That was not cool. Then there was the time that NBS got married on my 21st b-day. Then the time the fam forgot about the b-day, we the couple times they have forgotten. Seriously I think every year I decided to avoid acknowledgment of the day, but every year I think it is going to be different. We shall see how this one shall go. It's more of a curiosity think now. A what else can possible happen thing. Knowing me, many things can and will happen. Oh JOY! I can't wait! Actually I can.

2007-06-24T22:07:00.000-05:00

Field trip anyone?

http://www.sziget.hu/festival_english/programs#h93314

http://www.pukkelpop.be/

Hugs for you if you were born in the 80's

2007-06-21T23:55:00.001-05:00

We should all live and love Calvin Harris. You need to check him out. The song 'The Girls' is addicting. I warned you.

I went to the circus tonight, Circus Flora to be exact. It was nice. Different than what I thought. I was imagining clowns, lions and ugly people. This was nice and fun. Their slogan was Intimate and Astonishing, which really fit the bill. I was in awe at some of the things. Also I was in awe at how people discover they have a flair for standing on top of horses as they gallop around a circle? How do you write, 'I was the hula hoop girl in a circus. I can hula 10 hoops at 1 time on a resume? These are the things that I wonder about . . .

The DDP was a very shocking good time. I was in awe at the amount of people there, maybe 200. Some came in from as far as Canada for it. This was way better than the wake when people just pointed at me, recognizing me as the youngest. This time people got to talk to me and they were quite impressed with what little Jessie had been up to. I guess I don't realize what I've done cause I always look at what I still don't have. I think I need to appreciate what is in front of me more. Just a thought. It always seems to be what's right in front of you that you are missing. Damn farsightedness . . .

It's Gettin' Hectic, Its getting Crazy . . .

2007-06-13T20:24:00.000-05:00

Monday might be the most awkward day of my life. My mom is having a 5 year anniversary party in remembrance of my dad. Let me tell you that I was not for the dead dad party, which is what I am calling it. I know that my mom is trying to do something nice, but lets be real, is there more of a way to guilt trip people into coming to an event? I didn't think so.

What's worse are my fears that no one will show. Also my fears that my mom is just going to be in a corner crying all night which is clearly going to move us back on the grieving scale. Maybe I am worried that I will be the one in the corner. The 1-2 punch of Fathers Day and Dead Dad day (which are side by side this year) and the fact that is has been 5 years, is making this year a lot harder than 4 or 3. I think it's because 5 years doing anything is such a milestone. I think if I stay at my job for 5 years i get a plaque.

5 years is so official. More official than watching them wheel him out of my house in a body bag. Was that too much for you? Sorry about that, didn't mean to frighten you. And truth be told, I couldn't watch them wheel him out of the house, it was too hard. Is this my body bag? Is this the point where it really hits me? Who knows. I am normally ok when it comes to dead dad things. I can talk about it with out getting all misty eyed (most of the time) and I can clearly make jokes about it (but that never faded, we are a joking family) But for some reason this year is harder than the rest. Maybe there is more I wish my dad were here for. It would have been nice if he was there to help me buy my new car, although I would have never gotten the Mini. It would have been great if he helped me moved, or saw me graduate college or get a good job. I know there is that line about he is always with you and blah blah, but with me physically and in spirit are totally different when you really want a hug from him.

Oh well, I'll survive. I just wish Monday would hurry up and pass. I hate being the girl with issues. But at least they are real issues and not just ones about hating my short toes. Always a positive . . .

Glory Be . . .

2007-06-02T15:27:00.001-05:00

I did it.

I bought an 07 Mini Cooper. It's name is Nigel and it is Lightening Blue with black racing strips. I can not believe that it is mine. I have had it since Thursday and already put about 200 miles on it. It just feels right driving this car. I love it. It has mood lighting!

Its so freaking awesome!

In the still of the night

2007-05-30T22:26:00.000-05:00

I went to Maine over Mem Day Weekend. It was fantastic, I want to move to Portland. You should all check it out. I ate a whole lobster and had no idea it was served to you looking like it was fresh from the sea. This frightened me. So I named it Barnaby and explained the cycle of life, and began the eating and cracking and dipping of it. It was yummy. Thank heavens for the cycle of life.

I might have bought a car tonight. A few more things need to be clarified but if all goes well I should be a new car owner by Saturday. This doesn't scare me as much as it should and I was not the most level headed person when it came to buying this car. More details to come, but note that I knew what I wanted and went for it. At least I tried and that is all that matters. If this does work out, well holy hell I will be in shock and pretty freaking happy. Amazing what material things can do for you.

I really did love Maine, honestly, it was great. I can't believe it had been almost 2 years since I last saw Liz. Things were good, which made me happy. I always worry. I don't know why, but I do enjoy a worry. Someone has to, right?

I got this kicken blue summer dress on right now and I really don't want to take it off. I need someone to take me out to not a very nice dinner, but a good dinner so I can wear it again.

Night G -

Sunday in the city . . .

2007-05-20T14:10:00.001-05:00

My dreams are being taken over by dancing lobsters and an all whale band, is something telling me that I am going to Maine soon?

I just spent the morning traveling to various rehabs around STL acting like I am going to drop $300,000+ because it was once a factory. That was a fun way to start a Sunday. I am a perpetual house looker. It's something that we did a lot of growing up. It seemed like every Sunday we would grab the folio and hop in the car. I always enjoyed those times and it seems now that I am on my own I can't shake the habit. The places we went to were amazing, but there is just something about having my own yard, my own little fence, my own garden that I cherish. Condos are ok if your not into the outdoors, but I, despite allergies, am a huge outdoor fan. Nothing beats a good night around the fire pit with friends.

Softball is going well. Thanks for asking. Same with work.

Some new people moved in to the building behind us. I was walking up the back escape last night and I looked at the new neighbors window. It was really creepy because it looked like there was a woman in the window staring at me. Then I noticed it was on the curtain. So now my mind is thinking that this is one of those whole seeing-the-Virgin-Mary-in-a-piece-of-toast things and that I should call the news to have them investigate. But it turns out they just have this really creepy curtain with a faint image of a woman on it. Odd people those new neighbors are . . .

I think when I visit my sister in July I am going to make her go to Wyoming with me. I tell people this and they ask what's in Wyoming that I want to see. I always answer the same thing, what's not in Wyoming. It's just like any place else. It have towns and landscape and museums. Why not go visit it? Plus as much as I do love my little Omaha, I am getting tired of it. You can only do so much. Plus it was Wyoming or going to Chimney Rock and sadly for me, the CR National Park is the biggest joke of a National Park. They didn't even have pictures on their website. Boo to that. I love pictures. Obviously.

PS - I really want to buy a Digital SLR so let me know if you have any tips for me. I am thinking a Nikon D40. Wired Magazine gave it a great review and I trust those guys over the store guys any day. Also not to spoil what may be to come, but I did purchase the cutest bunt pan ever in the shape of a bee hive and once I make it I will be posting images of the masterpiece. I am even going to be making little bees to go on it. So cute!

What a day for a daydream . . .

2007-04-28T16:51:00.000-05:00

Nothing gets me going in the morning like a good Charity walk. I do love those things. Right now is the beginning of Charity Walk Season so it's good times. It also seems to be the start of softball season and I find myself on 2 teams. This makes me happy because it a) gets me out meeting more of the fellow Saint Louisians b) gets me out the house so I don't get as annoyed with my roommate c) helps me to sort of get a tan d) I guess I should mention the good feeling of being active here.

After the walk I went to City Creperie and I do recommend that place. I love crepes. Such a versatile food that is often overlooked if I may say so.

I start taking the metrolink to work again in May. This means I need to leave my place by 7:15 or so to catch the 7:33 train which gets me to the Stadium stop at 7:50 something. From there it is about a 10 or so min walk to the office. I can not wait! The weather is getting better and I will overall feel better about myself. I loved walking to work everyday in England. It was annoying at first but I have never felt better about myself. More energy, overall happier, slept better. The only bad thing is that I know in the back of my mind my car is always there. I wish I could hid it so I wouldn't be as tempted. I guess my will power will also be improving starting in May.

Have I mentioned how much I like my new job? Cause I do, I really do.

I went to the Ballet last night. Do I go to the ballet? Not really, but it was offered and I took it up. Why not? I come to find out it was more modern dance than ballet. I did not see a tutu. I wanted a tutu. I did see some trippy things that lead me to conclude choreographers must smoke/take something that helps then create these pieces. Some of it was scary, not joke. I was frightened. I may scare easier than most, but still. At this one point the music changed to this slow steady beat and a man speaking in a deep whisper was saying, in French mind you, 'Where are my socks?' I am not sure I have the exact translation, but I am pretty sure I am correct. Then this girl was silent screaming and rolling on the floor laughing. Again, more modern dance. That was just the first act. The second act was very robot like. It was better than the first. Cuter costumes. Then came the third act which is where my drug to create suspicions got confirmed. It was all these optical illusions using black lights and body suits that were half white, half black. Very cool. but if you would have been there an experienced it with the music and the screen displays, you would have been with me on the drug wagon. But I will say those people were extremely talented and while modern dance may not be something I ever see again, i am happy I went.

I love my Mac. Just thought I would toss that one out there.

The movie Hott Fuzz makes me want to move back to England. I must look into that.

I always waited for you . . .

2007-04-11T18:45:00.000-05:00

It's just been going so well. I am not sure what to do. I couldn't have asked for a better week and a half of work so far. I feel like my old job was an abusive relationship and now that I am in this job i realize that. We could make it into a Lifetime movie I am sure. "Getting Out Alive the Jessica Son To The Imer story." It would be a mega hit. Everyone who has ever felt abused at a job would flock to it. Those close to me can see a difference in the everyday me. I like to go to work now. I wake up extra early so i can go in earlier. It's so weird. I am not sure when it will end, or if it will, but for now, i am going to take advantage of it. The people are just so awesome. It feels like I have known them forever. I wasn't really nervous or freaking out on my first day. In fact I wasn't nervous when I went into the interviews for this job. It's almost like part of me knew this is what I was supposed to do.

Then my good friend from high school came back to town and it has just been great having her around. I am very content with my circle of friends these days. It is just so weird how it all seems to be coming together. (just letting you know I am knocking on wood right now)

I am also on a softball team that plays in Forest Park on Sunday nights. Have I ever mentioned that since I was like 15 I have always wanted to play on a softball team in Forest Park? Well i have, it just seemed like it would be the ultimate Saint Louis thing, and now I get to do that. Granted I suck, but it is the experience that I am there for and because it sounds cool to say.

Can someone tell me why Madonna and Perez Hilton were in my dream last night? Yeah, neither can I. . .

2007-04-02T21:46:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when really good things happen I can't full enjoy them because in the back of my mind I am waiting for the bad times to come. I am always aware of the good and how it can turn terribly wrong. I am going to blame this on the fact that for years I was carefree and happy and then my dad got sick and life took this turn that I could never have imagined. It really sucks because sometimes, like right now, I just want to bask in all the good stuff that is happening.

Boo to my head for always trying to protect my heart.

Cakes and people, but mainly cakes.

2007-03-25T19:25:00.000-05:00

Me and Joe welcoming ourselves to Lemay

The cutest Things ever
The Cookie Monster Cake

The Rose cake
The Clown Cake
The British Solider Amputee cake

Beth and I

PS - I did make all those cakes. I got SKILLS!

There is a sale at the Kitchen Store

2007-03-14T14:49:00.000-05:00

My nephew is absolutely killing me. And not in the funny way, but in the break my heart way. It start on March 8, which was my dad's birthday. Mel, my sister in law, must have mentioned to Dominic that is was Pa Pa Tom's birthday and Dom said, "I really wish he would just come down here and celebrate with us." (Tear)

Then yesterday Dom was in the shed and got a bunch of my dads tools out and brought them home. Today the Rottler man came over and the convo went something like this:

Rottler: Those are some nice tools you go there. Are they your dad's?
Dom: No they are my Pa Pa Tom's
Rottler: That sure was nice of him to give you those.
Dom: Actually, he is in heaven so I don't think he knows I have them.

The words of the 4 year old. I swear i never know what is coming out of that ones mouth.

So I have some good news to report of. Yes finally, something good to say. So I kind of got this new job working for Nestle. I am scared out of my mind and all the reasons I hate corporate are popping back into my head, but I honestly think this is the best thing that I can do for myself right now. I gave my 2 weeks yesterday and my boss is not happy to say the least. I think there was a storm out of the office actually. I am going to give her some credit and say that it has been a bad week for her, but still, it was so time to leave this place.

My roomie is extra sweet, she got me flowers to celebrate. That was pretty nice since I kind of felt like shit for taking the job. It's amazing how much I can care for people who don't care for me at all.

I did book a trip to Maine. For some reason I really have always wanted to go to Maine. Me and BL (Boston Liz. My roomie is also named Liz so I have started to call my usual Liz BL as to not confuse people. Are you confused?) were trying to plan a trip in May to some tropical dream place but that got ruined with a friend of her beau's couldn't go. So now I am heading up East and we are going to MAINE! I booked us at this quality place that boosted because it has a remote to go with the color tv. This is going to be like the Ozarks of Maine! I can't wait.

I am on this float kick. I am trying to create the best booze/ice cream combo. Here are my match ups so far:

Cinnamon Ice Cream and Strongbow
Strawberry Ice Cream and Champagne
Vanilla Bean and Red Wine
Vanilla Bean and Sunset Wheat (a beer that taste like Fruit Loops)
Malibu and Orange Sherbet.
Vanilla Bean and Smithwicks
Vanilla Bean and Rum and Coke

That is all I have so far. I am assembling a float committee to help me with this task so I will let you know how it goes. Any combos you want me to try let me know. I am on it.

So that is my life, how's yours?

One smart cookie

2007-03-05T16:00:00.000-06:00

So either I am getting smarter or Jepardy is getting dumber. I pretty much knew all the answers on today's show. And it wasnt even teen week.

Where do I get this?

2007-02-20T10:59:00.000-06:00

I am on a spring/summer softball league . I am pretty curious to see how it goes since it has been years since I have played last. One of the girls from work is organizing it. She asked me today for a name and here is what I came up with, The Flying Battresses. Get it? I am mocking the term Flying Buttress. Just so you know, I have tears streaming, no pouring down my face right now from laughing so hard at it. Then I find out the team is full of architects. How freaking perfect. What makes it better is that I found this image of a group of students putting themselves into a Flying Buttress formation. It's hilarious and it might be going on our team shirt.

Flying Battresses, you can't beat that.

Just an FYI for you non nerds, here is a tidbit about the flying buttress. A flying buttress is a projecting masonry structure built on the outside of a cathedral to receive the gravitational thrust of the roof. Buttresses were used to support church walls externally, creating a space inside for impressive atriums filled with shimmering stained glass windows.Instead of using big bulky stone blocks to support the ceiling of a church, these flying buttresses support the church from the outside.
- Thank you Yahoo answers for this explanation.

Ode to the death of me

2007-02-19T14:58:00.000-06:00

DVR is the death of my free time. Now you might be thinking that DVR should be giving me more free time, but it's not. Let me explain. When I like a TV show I usually try to avoid actives that will conflict with me watching it. But most of the time social interaction wins out over sitting in front of the TV. But now what is happening is that I am DVRing all this freaking shows that I have always wanted to watch and now can. So I am still going out doing my thing, but then I come home to watch TV when I should be doing dishes, cleaning, sleeping or bathing. So all my down time is now TV time.

Here are the following shows that my DVR is set to record:

Heros
Studio 60
Dance Life
Jericho
Top Design
Ugly Betty
Grey's Anatomy
Men in Trees
Property Ladder
Flip that House
Desperate Housewives
Brothers and Sisters

Do you see that? It's insane. I don't need to be watching all this TV, but the damn DVR makes me. Arghhhhhhhh.

PS - Jericho is quite amazing. All the episodes are on YouTube if you want to check it out. Who knows, you might really like it.

I am planning a housewarming party for March 3rd, all are welcomed. Since roomie and I want people to bring us gifts we feel it only fair for us to provide basic food and beverage. Food part is pretty easy; party pizzas, bourbon meatballs, bruschetta, spin dip, crab rangoon and cupcakes. The booze part I am having issues with. We want to have a variety but not break the bank. I am thinking about some sort of spiked punch then have some beers, wine and N/A products. I have never made a Jungle Juice or Summer Beer before, but these 2 recipes are coming highly recommended. If anyone has any great ideas I am all ears. I hope it's a good party. It would blow if it sucked mainly because I live there and can't really leave. Blah to that.

You don't make another guys girlfriend your number 5

2007-02-15T23:24:00.000-06:00

I know that things happen, and I am ok with them happening. It just seems that the weird things that you usually only hear about happening to a friend of a friend, happen to me. Take today, there I am happily driving along when my window suddenly crashes into my door. Obviously it breaks and I'm left with no window and a negative wind chill. Made for a great ride home. See that is one of those stories that you are told on some summer night when your window wont roll up. In your case it's summer and a little water got in the door so once it dries it will be fine. In mine, it's sub zero temps and it costs $1300 to fix. See the difference.

This is one of only many examples of how things happen to most people and the spin fate puts on it when those same acts happen to me. Granted there are worse things that can happen and don't think that I wasn't laughing whilst driving home in the Arctic air (ps - the tears froze and it was painful), but sometimes I would just like to sit out on the stories. I would not like to have an example made of me. Sometimes I just want an uneventful day.

But then again, I hate being bored.

Now comes the choice of coughing up the $1300, which is about what my car is valued at or become very poor and very in debt and buying a new car. I would love a new car, but I am not a fan of buying some half-ass car just to get me buy. I have been saving for a while and hoped to save a bit longer so I could get something that I really wanted and was ok with spending the next 6 years with. Then again, I also really want to have extra cash so I can continue my trek around the world. Maybe I just need a higher paying job. Oh wait, tried that, no luck. Screw the Saint Louis Ad scene. I should have moved to NYC when I had the chance.

PS - I am thinking about starting a reality TV show and posting it on YouTube. I will let you know how that goes. I think it would be a good time, but let me test a few episodes and see what the world thinks.

Also I am going to be very sad if they kill off Grey. It's her freaking show. But it was nice seeing bomb guy again. I also may have watched the entire first half of Jericho while at work this past week. We are slow can you tell? It's a pretty freaking good show and a scary idea when you think too much about it. I am also letting you know about the Nu Wave Oven. If this is for real, the world of cooking will forever change. Google it.

I love spying on my new neighbors and thinking up stories about what they could be like. Soon I will make muffins and introduce myself, but I am going to wait till it warms up a bit.

Last thing, the Secret Lover commercial is the best thing to happen to TV.

2007-02-09T14:53:00.000-06:00

I am a cake decorating master.

Do The States some good - go here

Oh my Darlin'

2007-02-05T11:08:00.001-06:00

I am mad that I can't buy music from the iTunes UK site. So to retaliate I have been getting the free song of the week from the iTunes Latino site, which I am able to buy music from. I really think that I should be able to buy music from whatever iTunes site I want to. Don't they want the money?

Moving is going slowly. I am all moved in but still have quite the mess at my mom's house. Who knew I owned so much stuff? We get Directv on Wednesday so that will help with the quietness of the place. I don't think my roommate is use to old places since she is constantly wondering why it is so cold. You just gotta love old homes and their no insulation. I am use to it, but she is not happy. I almost think she is going through some buyers remorse. It's interesting.

My poor, sweet Larry (my car) is in the shop today. I needed to get the oil changed and I usually do it myself but with his old age I felt it was better to take it to the dealer to see if they can find anything wrong with it. They did, of course, but it was things like needing new rear brakes and getting the transmission flushed. Which I expected out of the service. I told them to put the new brakes on but was advised from a mechanic friend of mine not to flush the trans. Apparently after going so long without flushing the trans, I have never done it and the car is hitting 100,000 miles, it could actually damage the car if I do so now. So basically the gunk that is in the hoses of my car might be holding it together. Not surprising. What was a shock is how much they wanted to fix the shifter. I can't recall if I mentioned that the button one pushes to shift their car fell out of my car and I was now using the button/pencil to shift the car. They wanted $300 for that. My pencil is free and doing fine. Plus it gives my car that extra bit of quirk.

Can't a girl catch a break?

2007-01-20T18:30:00.000-06:00

I am so freaking cursed.

My amazing dresser got destroyed in delivery. Of course it was a one of a kind, so no luck in replacing it. This means I had to find cheap last min replacement. Boo.

I sat and waited for my mattresses for 4 hours today and it turns out they never had me in the system. I even called this morning to confirm.

Plus there are so many other things going crazy that I don't even know where to begin.

I need a long, hat bath and nice ($5) bottle of red wine.

Moving will be the death of me.

2007-01-15T09:06:00.000-06:00

It's offical. I am a big girl. I got the keys to the new place on Saturday and am now beginning the process of moving 22 years of my life. Should be a good time. I dont expect to be fully in till Feb 1. That is the day me and Roomie agreed on.

On a shopping note, I purchased a 20in iMac. I couldnt resist any longer, it had to be mine. It's glorious!

Stay tuned for pictures and of course, details on the House Warming party, which should be an event to remember. Obviously, you all are invited.

Cheers!

Lighten up - It's just fashion

2007-01-05T11:12:00.000-06:00

So I was looking at all the clearance Christmas stuff at Target and the entire area was pretty much cleared out. ( I was a little late this year) BUT! I did see them putting out the new stuff and guess what it looked like?

GLOBAL BAZAAR!

GB is my favorite thing ever. I mean you never knew that what you were truly missing in your life is an African Tribal vase. That is the beauty of the Bazaar. I wish one year they would set it up more like a bazaar and have native people from the featured lands in tents selling the goods. That would be way fun.

I may make a suggestion. . .

Bed in a Bag?

2006-12-29T09:36:00.000-06:00

I think the instead of reporting Box Office totals the movie industry should report number of tickets sold. Here is my reasoning:

~ Costs of tickets vary by theater and state. In LA you pay something like $13.50 for a movie. In Omaha the film cost $6.50. So clearly the figures cannot be that accurate.

~ Plus, at $9 bucks a ticket (what I just paid) $36 million is not that impressive.

Just a thought Hollywood.

The movie that I just saw was The Good Shepard. It was good. It left you with this almost confused feeling, but then again the movie was about the CIA. It's not that parts were left out, everything was explained, it was just a 'huh' feeling.

I met up with a girl I went to high school with last night. I have seen her maybe once during college and then we talked a few times as well. It was pretty freaking hilarious. We were so loud, we didn't mean to be, but you know how reminiscing goes. It was awesome. Thank heavens for Facebook and keeping people in touch.

2006-12-26T15:45:00.000-06:00

What a shock, my sister Sarah was able to bring down the Christmas spirit with one of her comments. Really, I am shocked. Or not.

2006-12-22T16:46:00.000-06:00

The background noise in the Justin Timberlake song 'My Love' sounds like Quagmeyer from 'Family Guy' going "Giggidy giggidy giggidy"

Does anyone else hear this?

An Ode to Southwest

2006-12-20T09:19:00.001-06:00

I love Southwest Airlines. Here's why:

- They don't charge you to change tickets even if you do it several times in 1 day.
- They refund your money or credit your account no questions asked if you cancel.
- They have cheap fares and fly non-stop into cities that my siblings live in. If i took American to Omaha I would have to stop in Chicago and then go to Omaha. So my 1 hour flight would take about 3 or so hours at least.
- When you call their 1-800- number you don't have to listen to any automated person prompting you to press a button or say why your calling. You get HUMANS!!! (the number is 1-800 I Fly SWA)
- They send you 12 free drink coupons when you earn your free ticket.

There are more reasons but I think you get my point. Southwest has a place in my heart. Ding

On another note, last night I was able to attend the Missouri vs. Illinois Bragging Rights game. I got a call from a friend at the last min telling me she had gotten tickets. We ha no idea that the tickets, which her grandma had given her, were sitting row G right by Whitey Herzog and the new Missouri Senator Clair. (we are on a first name basis now.) The game was great despite the loss. And you couldn't beat the seats. I felt like I was one of the Entourage guys. They are always going to Lakers games and sitting really close surrounded by celebs. It was awesome.

You know what else was awesome, New York. I haven't mentioned my trip yet. The short version is that it was great. I am in love with Le Crossant Shop at 34th and 6th. The Tree tops London's tree 2 fold. The Daily Show taping was awesome!!! We saw Tarzan and sat in row D! And of course, the shopping at Zara. What more could you ask for?

I am also pretty happy because both my sisters drive in today for Christmas. I love it when my family gets together. I love my big family. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

RU - FI - OOOOOOOO

2006-12-05T16:09:00.000-06:00

I hate how sometimes a camera can't capture what I am seeing. I have seen some beautiful sights these past couple of days with all this snow and ice, and I am so angered that I can't keep them forever in a photo. I managed to be the only one in my neighborhood with power, not sure how that happened but it did. I am actually kind of afraid the neighbors are going to turn on us because of it. So anyhoo, last night I am taking the trash out and I look around to see the brightest moon ever reflecting off the white snow. It was so awesome. I have never known a moon to be so bright. I am sure its a combo of no lights for miles and the snow that made it seem brighter than normal, but nonetheless, it was awesome. The other really cool thing was driving right as the sun was rising and seeing that first hint of light reflect off all the ice in the trees. Again, I only wish my camera could have caught the true beauty of that moment.

I have been thinking for a while now that a bum lives in my car at night. I will come out to my car and find the strangest things in it. Things I have found in the past include: various food wrappers of things I do not eat, shopping baskets, hats, books including text books, and so on. It seriously puzzles me. The only logical explanation that I can think of is a bum. It's kind of bad when you have to blame things on bums, but I am. Now I fear the bum has moved into my house since I am missing things by the dozens. If only the bum would let me know what he needs, I could get it for it. I don't mind it in my car, in fact it sometimes becomes a game where friends will call me up and ask what I have found in my car lately.

Crazy world.

2006-11-30T11:50:00.000-06:00

Go here for something that might surprise you. I had no idea, and I am enthralled by this stuff.

It's almost a little scary. But I guess it has been happening like this for millions of years. So we shall survive.

Now the question is will I survive the ride home? Thank god for Metrolink taking me most of the way. I would hate to drive in this.

Be safe kids and if we get 6 or more inches of snow I am organizing an Art Hill sledding adventure. Yay!

2006-11-28T16:46:00.000-06:00

I WANT TO BE ON THE AMAZING RACE!!!!

The new application just came out.
Who wants to be my travel buddy!?!?!?
I am a good time, very knowledgeable, and am a smooth talker. I would be a great partner!

Let me know if you want to.
I AM DEAD SERIOUS!
I know tons of angles we can work to get on the show. It will be great!

The only talyor I know is a Hansen

2006-11-28T14:56:00.001-06:00

Let it be known that I am growing up. On January 12th, I am closing on a Condo. It's a long story involving some Ukrainians and granite counter tops, but the bottom line is I am moving.

I will be sharing this lovely place with a friend from college. It is located in what the youngsters call "The Loop."

It should be interesting to say the least.

On more fab news, I got my email confirmation for The Daily Show tickets! So what this means is if I stand in line early enough I will be able to see the show. LIVE!

I think I am going to start a line standing business. Whenever something cool is going on and a line is forming, I am going to stand in line for people who want the item/good seat, but don't want to stand in line. I think my business will really do well in New York or LA where there are TV shows and Game Shows that people stand in line for. I am such a genius.

I kind of got into Heros, you know that show on NBC? It isn't too shabby. I also join Blockbusters version of NetFlix's. I think it has a one up on NetFlix's because of the in store exchange. I am a fan so far, I will give you an update in a month or so.

I am sad the cold weather is coming. It is going to slow my Metrolink usage, which sucks. Yes, I could just bundle, but I doubt that will work on all the 30 degree days. I love the Metrolink and I will ride it as long as I can. I can even ride it from my new home, even though it is an 8 min drive and probably a 25 min Metrolink experience (walking waiting for train, walking some more.) But I will do it, because I love it.

Hold on to that feeling

2006-11-20T09:24:00.000-06:00

I need a job where I can travel. I don't have to be gone all the time, but few good trips a year should suffice. I also want a job with an actual career path. I am not going anywhere anytime soon with my current position. Even though my job is great, and a lot of fun, I am ready for the real world. My job doesnt qualify as a real job. Granted I show up everyday between 8:30 - 5:00 but that is the only real thing about it.

It's been fun, job. But I am afraid I need to leave you. Onward and upward.

I had this true North County experience Saturday night. I was at this bar a friend of mine works at and even though the bar was in St. Chucks, all the people there were from NoCo. Well anyhoo, as the night drew to a close, I was talking to the owner and I asked about changing the music. He said, "What about Journey's Greatest Hits" and I said "Please play Don't Stop!" and so he did. And the entire bar joined together for a lovely sing-a-long. I love the No Co. I really do.

Where Does the Good Go?

2006-11-14T21:52:00.000-06:00

Hi - I'm Jessica, you might have forgotten me since its been awhile. Not sure why it has been so long. Nothing fantastic is going on in my life. Maybe that is the reason . . .

So life, ya, well it's been life. I am loving the Metrolink and its expansion. I take the sad excuse for public transit everyday to work. It's awesome, no more road rage, no more traffic, no more hoping my car makes it another day. Well ok, I still am hoping that my car makes it another day. But only puttin 5 miles on it a day is keeping the dream that is my car, alive.

I kind of started looking for new jobs. I really like where I am when it comes to atmosphere and the core of what I do, but lately with my boss thinking I am her personal slave, it is not the best. I am not hard-core looking, just gandering, if you will. I like the 3 weeks of vaca, the fact that I can get my allergy shot every other week without being looked down upon and the fact that I have a good 2 hours everyday where I do nothing but check my checking account and dream of this http://www.zgallerie.com/shop/viewsrch.asp?sku=010006540

I mean, life is pretty good. But I am young, aren't I supposed to be working 70 hours a week, slaving for the man who gives me nothing in return and then have a mid-life crisis when I am 35? Who knows. But we will see what happens. Right now the door is open for change to come in. And it doesn't even have to be by appointment only.

I am trying to learn all the countries of the world and their capitals. It's quite a task but I feel it is my pre-Presidental duty to know this. I also might have purchased AP World History Flash cards just to see what I know. I am such dork. I know about as much as I thought I would know, which is not a whole lot. But I am learning. That has to count for something.

I saw the movie Stranger Than Fiction last night. I recommend it. I was tired of Will Ferrel playing the same role. This was refreshing. Very refreshing. I laughed, I almost cried and then I laughed and cried at the same time. I loved it. Seriously, go see it. You wont regret it. If you hated it let me know and I will refund you the cost of the ticket. Please retain stub as proof of purchase.

I booked a trip to NYC Dec 10-12. I really, really want to see The Tree this year. I might have mentioned my All About Christmas thing I got going on this year. BUT - whilst I may be all about Christmas this does not mean that I am showing any of that cheer till AFTER Thanksgiving. I hate how T-Day is so forgotten. It's sad really. DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT!!!! When i walked into the mall last weekend the Santa display was already up. What? Why people why? I know 'The Man' is trying to increase holiday spending by extending the season, but come on. People know that Christmas is coming. Decorations are going to do nothing but annoy people and add more stress. Damn. I wish I ruled the world.

Anyhoo, I am going to bed now. I am trying to save money after a few weeks of going out every night acting like I can turn old cds into 50 dollar bills. It was good fun, but the bank account is in ICU. It happens.

Money comes and goes. Memories last forever.

Have a good night children. Hope life is being nice to you.

Remember if a bird poos on you, it's good luck!

Holy Mother of ME!

2006-10-24T16:07:00.000-05:00

I AM GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES TONIGHT!!!!!!!

GAME 3 BITCHES!!!!!

Cunning use of Flags

2006-10-19T15:03:00.000-05:00

It really sucks when you can clearly see that someone is making a mistake and you can’t do anything about it. You try to, but to them, it seems perfectly logical for them to put their hand in the blender. I wish I could help more, but what can I do if they don’t listen or even want to listen. Its sad really.

What’s not sad is my awesome new hangout. I have been declared a regular at the Scottish Arms after 1 visit. Amazing, I know. So now on most Mondays you can find me there. I’ve never been a regular before so I am not sure if I have to go every week, or like once every other week. I will ask the bartender next time I am there, so I can make sure not to mess this up. That place can really cheer a person up, it worked for me. Friends also help, as well as men in kilts.

Also, I am not too happy with the outcome of Project Runway. I think they might have felt bad for Jeffery and let him win, especially since Uli was already getting asked about. I liked Jeffery, dont get me wrong, but in all honestly, it should have been Uli who won.

I love ads

2006-10-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

This ones for all of you Snapalope fans out there

Enjoy!

New Age Girl by Dead Eyed Dick

2006-09-28T10:45:00.000-05:00

Today feels like Paris. For some reason this morning when I woke up, before I opened my eyes, for a split second I thought I was in Paris. I loved that split second. Why did it have to disappear. . . .

Life has been interesting these days. Nothing fantastic happening. I have been to the Cardinals baseball game 3 times in the past 2 weeks and all 3 times I haven't paid a dime for tickets, food or drinks. Sometimes working in advertising pays off, you get free tickets, which are really good tickets, and then your boss supplies the food and booze. Another kind of interesting point about my work is that when I came in half way drunk due to a really late night out after one of the baseball games, my boss handed me a beer so I wouldn't get hungover. Crazy.

I also managed to lose my shoes on that really late night out. I was walking out of the stadium and suddenly I had no shoes. I had them when we were leaving the stadium because I recall noticing a scuff on them when we were exiting. My life is crazy, where are my shoes.

Moving on from my ridiculousness . . .

This year I have decided to be all about Christmas. I am going to spread Christmas cheer throughout all the lands. So because of this I feel that I need to see The Tree (the one in Rockefeller Center) and ice skate in front of it. Only issue is finding someone willing to go. Apparently those I know don't have vacation days or can't afford it. Which blows by the way. It also makes me realize my situation isn't as bad as once thought. I guess I am pretty fortunate to have both a boss who likes to travel so gives me a lot of vacation days and the means to travel. If anyone out there wants to go with me let me know. I want to go Dec 10-13. I also applied for tickets to the Daily Show, which is a dream of mine. I hope I get them. I also hope I find someone to go with me.

I have begun a search for a new car. Sadly, Larry could go shortly and I need to be prepared. I have done some test driving and I have some more to do, but I think that I am leaning towards one car in particular. I randomly ended up driving a new Saturn Vue and really liked it. Plus, even though it is an SUV, it got 30 miles to the gallon highway. AWESOME! I don't think that I will get one till after the new year, but I am really enjoying test driving for now. I am going to test out a Mini Cooper next week. If I get the Cooper I am going to name it Nigel. How adorable is that. It's adorable.

I am heading to Louisville, KY this weekend to meet some really awesome people. My mom organizes a reunion of paratroopers who landed on D-Day. My grandpa was one of them so we do have a connection to these guys. I am kind of a history lover, so this is a pretty big deal to me. Plus, I get to go to the place that was featured on the Food Network during 'Throwdown with Bobby Flay'!

Ok, I must depart for now. But don't worry children, I will return.

What am I bringing back?

2006-09-07T11:45:00.000-05:00

I would just like to say that I picked 4 of the 5 top 5 on Project Runway. I has Robert instead of Jeffery in the top 5. I am SOOO happy that Vincent and his creepy sexual references is gone. It's about freaking time.

I went to the Lake this past weekend and attempted water skiing for the first time in my natural life. Let me tell you folk that haven't tried this activity, it looks so much easier than it is. I swallowed a healthy dose of lake water in my quest for getting up, and still I never got up. I got close to it, but then fate ripped that sweet standing position from me. It's a cruel world.

My sister comes home Saturday and I am pumped! I haven't seen her in a couple months. It also means that I get to eat Indian food! I introduced her to Chicken Tika and she has been hooked. I love it. This trip I am introducing her to sushi, we will see how that goes. Not to sure what she will think of it.

It's been 4 days on the Metrolink and I can already tell you that I love it. Not only do I get to pass attractive, young, newly doctors on my way to work, but it also makes my life so stress free. No more traffic, YA!!!!

The house I was staying in at the Lake had the most amazing cookbook in it. It's called "Classic Everyday Cooking" and I would suggest everyone pick it up. Fantastic. I am trying to make a recipe a week from the book. My goal by the end of the year is to create a signature breakfast dish. I want to create an amazing breakfast feast and be known for it. I eventually will get around to having a signature every meal including appetizers, salads and desserts.

I love cooking!

My stomach just sounded like thunder, I think I am going to get some cheese. Yummy cheese.

It's nice to know that you are a girl whose not afraid to switch chairs.

2006-08-31T23:10:00.000-05:00

Today I was doing a little video production work and I noticed something interesting. When you play a tape back at normal speed, it sounds like the people are speaking German/Hungarian/Russian. It's kind of funny. But this made me wonder, if you play back a tape where people are speaking German/Hungarian/Russian will it sound like that are speaking English? Think about it.

I also noticed today whilst making a spinach pie that I tend to commentate when I cook. I act as if there are cameras around and I have my own show on the Food Network.

Have I mentioned my small crush on Bobby Flay? I have been obsessed with his show 'Throw Down.' Not really sure why, but I love it. You should really watch it. I might even invest in Sir Flay's cookbook. I was going to buy it the other day but Barefoot Contessa swept me off my feet.

I love cooking.

I hope my dear readers have a good and safe holiday weekend. I am escaping this city and fleeing to the Lake. 3 days of doing nothing but floating in a raft I attach to the dock so i don't float away. Glorious!

Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones shines down to let us know they are with us.

2006-08-20T00:47:00.000-05:00

I was watching the end credits of a movie tonight and I saw the title 'best boy'. Kind of a funny title, especially since it's so non descriptive. Other titles are pretty self explanatory, producer, grip #4, whore on street #3, but best boy doesn't really say much about the guy. What is he best at? Is it always a he? I guess I could just google it but that would take all the fun out of pondering about it. So for now . . . I ponder.

I had second birthday dinner tonight with my second family. For some reason I have been fictionally adopted into my friend Julie's family. It's nice there. I enjoy my other family. They took me to J.Bucks. The place has the most AMAZING sweet potato's. They are maple and crack infused. OK, maybe no crack. I tried to make the maple sweet potato's after my last visit there and was unsuccessful. I guess I should have figured that their maple infusion was not adding Mrs. Butterworths to sweet potato's but I was trying to take the easy way out, hoping to be right. Just to let you know, I was wrong, very wrong, never try that.

Another kind of funny story about my life is as follows:

I was at the duty free shop in a Rome airport back in 2003. I found the most amazing perfume. It was just glorious. It became my special occasion perfume. I got so many compliments on it, aseptically from men. I noticed that I was running low the other day so I went to the Internet to find more. Here is where the story gets funny, I promise. As it turns out, Versace Dreamer, my perfume, is actually a men's cologne. Yup, that's right. For years on special occasions I have been splashing some men's cologne on me. It would explain the compliments from men. What might be even funnier is that knowing it's a man's cologne might not stop me from buying another bottle. I mean, I have gotten away with it for this long. It doesn't seem manly to me.

I'm a disaster kids. Honestly, a disaster.

I also am currently torn over a situation. A good friend's mom is dying of cancer. It's not pretty,. I feel like I should be offering her these amazing words of wisdom to help her. But all I can think about is how much it sucked with my dad was dying, and how bad I feel that she is experiencing that. I want to give her comforting words but the truth is there is nothing you can say. Believe it or not Hallmark card writers, nothing can comfort or easy the pain that is about to be inflicted onto that person. Sorry writers. The best I can come up with is, it happens. A terrible thing to say but it's the reality of the situation. Maybe I am just cold to it all, but what else can I do. I remember sitting in a class towards the end of my senior year of high school. (my dad died 10 days after i graduated high school, so at this point in my senior year he was pretty much a shell.) A guy, Zach Johnson was giving his farewell speech and in it he said, 'life happens, people die, you move on.' (Zach had lost both his mom and his dad at a younger age, maybe 12 or so.) Upon hearing this I immediately began to cry shouting, 'why did he have to say people die!?' I didn't realize it then because it was pre-death, but that s what happens. People die, you move on. What a sick fucked up world we live in.

La Femme d'Argent

2006-08-18T12:35:00.000-05:00

Al Gore would be so proud of me. I bought a Metro pass and come September first I am hanging up my car keys. Well, I still have to drive to the Metrolink lot, but that is a 3 min drive compared to my almost 35 min drive when you add in traffic. I hate the idea of sitting in an office all day so this gives me a 13 block walk to and from work. Plus with rising gas prices and my increasingly short temper in traffic, I figured this was a good idea.

Did anyone get a chance to read the article in Time about the Lady who created the POM Wonderful juice? It was a really good article. Quite the entrepreneur that one. Maybe the article was in Newsweek?

I'm kind of a competitive person. I didn't think that I was, but as time goes on, i discover how competitive I really am.

I recently discovered the most amazing bread known to man. I am a self proclaimed breadhead, so this is an area that I have some background in. The place is called Great Harvest Bread. Some of you people might be thinking, duh Jess, but just relax. I am a little slow at times. I first discovered this in Omaha. I went there at the end of July to see my sister and we went down to the farmer's market where this place had a booth. I recommend the Cinnamon Chip and use it to make French Toast. Yummy!

Birthday dinner turned out to be good. We went to the Drunken Fish. They had this drink called Mr. Miyagi, how was I not supposed to get that? Mike and I split the 'bowl' size drink. I really wanted it to come in a fish bowl, but I took the giant bowl it came in. Ohh so good. I would also recommend the deep fried Philly roll and the Spiderman roll. Amazing.

I have been taking random screen shots on my computer all day at work. I had to do it for a project and now I can't quit. Crazy, I know.

I got my first big kid paycheck the other day. It was very nice to see that much in my bank account. I have big plans for the signing bonus I got. I am putting some into my IRA and the rest saving. Man I am so cool with my budget.

I like the word fortuitous. We should all use it today. We should also watch the show Entourage as it is a very lovely show.

Into the ocean

2006-08-14T16:40:00.000-05:00

I always knew I was cursed, especially when it came to my birthday. But I always thought that it was because I was expecting others to make my birthday awesome and they never came through. But this year I was taking a different approach, I was going to make it awesome. I took off work, booked a morning of pampering at the spa and arranged a nice evening with some friends. It seemed to be working out great for me. My massage went lovely. I was feeling great. Then the curse came and knocked the power out at the spa and the rest of my day was canceled. I couldn't really believe it at first. I mean it was sunny out, I was taking the initiative of making a great day, why would the power be going out? But it did. As I was sitting on the couch at the spa waiting to see if we had lights I could do nothing but laugh. I called my sister and told her and she was in disbelief and then we laughed together. I thought I was going to pass out from laughing. Seriously, this only happens to me.

Fate or destiny or whatever is doing this to my life better appreciate the fact that I have a sense of humor. Honestly, they better.

I could have been like the crazy women next to me and screamed at the place but what was the point? They didn't cut the wires. They had no control over the situation. I could tell they felt bad, especially since they all knew it was my birthday. But I assured them it was completely OK.

Tonight I am supposed to be eating sushi with some friends. If the curse keeps up I will most likely contract some rare disease from the food and loose an appendage.

It's tricky to rock around

2006-08-05T22:29:00.000-05:00

The battle of good and evil, well, lets say being an adult and not, is raging within me.

On one side is a girl who just wants to move to a new city and start fresh. It doesn't matter if I have a job, it doesn't matter if I have the money. I just want to be in that live or die situation again.

The other side (and you can decide which is which) knows that debt is not something that I need right now. This side knows that while I may not like my job currently, it's still a job and it pays. It also knows that saving money now is key to surviving later.

I have pretty much picked option 2, but daily I talk myself out of packing my car and taking off.

Random Question Time!

I am known for asking the most random questions so let this post be no exception.

OK, here is goes:

My ceiling fan has 4 lights hanging from it. Each light bulb is 40 watts. Does this mean the fan/light unit is omitting 40 or 160 watts?

I personally think it's 160 but others think only 40. Let me know what you think.

Man of Constant Sorrow

2006-07-24T10:13:00.000-05:00

What an insane couple of days I have been having. Can I get a break in here?

Where to start . . .Ahh Ok I know.

The weather has been crazy! 2 major storms in less than 48 hours have left much of Saint Louis in chaos. I am the only one in my family with power still. The storms struck Wednesday night and Friday morning-ish, so they have been without power for a while. I am not talking family as in my brother and sisters. I am talking family as in the 9 aunts and uncles, 5 cousins and 2 grandparents all of whom don't have power. I was caught in Wednesday night storm, which was the worst. I was trying to get to a friends house when what looked like the Dust Bowl of the 1930's began. Following the dust were winds up to 90 mph and from there disaster. Now, I am a natural disaster lover. This is no secret, but when a huge tree fell feet in front of my car as I tried to take cover, that is when I decided that some things are best left watching and not experiencing. I managed to turn around from where I was and make it to the Mall where I hid in the parking garage. But I also managed to spend 100 bucks waiting for the storm to end so I could make it home for Project Runway.

Thankfully I didn't lose power at my house because if I would have missed that Project Runway I would have been sad. I can't believe Malan got the boot. Never saw that coming. I really love that show. . .

I also love the Ben and Jerry's ice cream that the office keeps buying us.Yummy Peanut Butter Cup. Nothing like ice cream to cool off.

I am not able to go to Belgium. Work was not too happy with my request and I was not too happy with their offer of what it would take for me to take off those days. Boo I say to you. Boo.

I went to see Les Miserables on the opening night of its final run. My friend RL is interning at KMOX right now and got 2 tickets to opening night sitting Orchestra K. Do you know how close that is? I think I got some sweat on me from the actors on stage. The man who plays Jean Valjean has a spectacular voice. I mean, it was so incredible. I was almost in tears after he got done with some of his songs. Holy shit this man could sing. It was such a great night. Really good free tickets, an awesome dinner at the Fox before hand and being in good company. Ohh, the good nights, how I do love you.

Tuesday was also the day that I was finally able to sleep well because it was the first time I heard from Dahlia in over a week. I had last talked to her when she got back to Beirut after evacuating her southern village where 3 people were killed. On Monday she was going to stay in Beirut till the airport reopened. When I woke the following morning and heard that they bombed the airport again I was really concerned. And then to not hear from her for over a week was horrible. I was so worried about her. Thankfully Tuesday she emailed me from a hotel in Damascus. She is flying to London today and hopefully will call me soon so I can hear about her adventure. I am not sure how she got to Syria, but thankfully she did. I can't wait till she starts at Georgetown in the fall. It will be the 1st time in our 3 years of knowing each other that we will be on the same continent for more than 6 months. Yippy!

I get to go visit my sister this weekend. I am pretty pumped. Omaha is always a good time. It's such a clean and spacious city too.

I want a vacation. A real one, maybe to Fiji or Croatia.

Make it work Jess

2006-07-12T22:44:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I find out if I will be able to get off work to go to the music fest in Belgium that I had posted. (See previous post. Maybe it's the second one.)

I really really want to go. I have someone to go with. (Thank you Janet for being as crazy as I) I have the money. All I need is the go ahead from my boss. One of them agreed, which makes me happy. I am kind of scared to ask her. I think I am not going to tell them what I will be doing for the 3 days i need off. I might just say it's personal and look all serious. That should work, right?

The festival is a camping thing and since I have never camped before it should be interesting. I will bring lots of bug spray. I don't want any crazy Euro bugs infecting me with anything.

If anyone happens to have the hook up with any airline and cane score some cheap tickets to Brussels I would love you forever. Currently it's looking like we are going to drive to Chicago. It might save us up to 300 bucks.

I really hope this works out.

Ohh, p.s. who saw the new season of Project Runway? I am not making my mind up yet, but I think it will be good. I will miss my Tim Gunn impressions, but it happens. Also what is this scandal they keep mentioning? I am just baffled.

later G's

The higher the better. Boom goes the firework. Man that finale was breath taking.

2006-07-04T23:33:00.000-05:00

I hope that we are all watching the World Cup. I have been glued to the TV since it began. I feel so man like when I talk about it, but honestly, it's amazing. Did we catch the game today? Way to stick it to the Germans Italy. Holy shit that was amazing. I can't wait till tomorrows game. I am facing an internal conflict of who to vote for. I love players on both teams. I really love the Portuguese goalie after the England game. Man he was awesome. But then again can I really turn my back on the French and their national team made up of mostly Arsenal players? I heart Arsenal.

What's a gal to do?

The 2010 World Cup is going to be in South Africa. That would be cool to attend but the 2014 games are looking to go to Brazil or another South American nation. Possibly US if South America can't get it's act together. I have made it a life goal to attend a World Cup so I am thinking I should hold out for the 2014 games. South Africa would be awesome to go to, but not with that many people. Plus, that is a really long plane ride.

P.S kids, the new season of Project Runway begins next week. KICK ASS! Everyone needs to watch it. Not sure how it will stack to seasons one and two, but I guess we shall see. I can't wait to hear Hedi say, "Some of you will be in. And one of you will be out." Yea!

I must go and be one with the Euros

2006-07-03T15:27:00.000-05:00

http://www.pukkelpop.be/

No song or dance. Just jump right in

2006-06-29T22:16:00.000-05:00

Hi Blog. How are you? I hope all is well.

Life has been pretty odd lately. My TV blew up. No joke, it made the pop sounds and there was this noise and the smell was awful. Seriously, whose TV blows up? No ones, so why mine did, I don't know. It was ripped from a movie how it happened. There I was casually watching the telly when suddenly the screen goes black and boom! No more TV. I have yet to replace it, so in the mean time I have a 12 inch tv sitting in a 32 inch hole. Sad fact is how I have satellite and I have to squint to read the programs the font is so small.

Another example. I, at times, am a creature of habit. When I find something I like, I try to keep it. So when i discovered the Peking Duck Pizza at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) over 5 years ago, I never really ventured much from that whilst there. The other day I am craving some Peking Duck so me and my sister go only to discover they have taken it off the menu. Why would they do a silly thing like that? Well, apparently, according to the waiter, only old Asian women were ordering the dish. Honestly, I think he is full of shit. I was so heart broken that I got up and left CPK without eating. I also did not eat the rest of the day, for I was in mourning and honoring my fallen pizza. I just wanted to be able to say good bye to it. If I could have been warned I would have planned a lovely farewell dinner. But no, it's stripped away from me without a word. What a harsh world.

I got a phone call from my older sister Sarah explaining that she sliced off the top of her finger today. That was an unusual call. Not quite sure exactly how it happened or how disfigured it is, but the doc said he couldn't reattach it, so now I have a freak finger sister.

I created a new anti-theft devise for cars. See, my car Larry is a bit on the ghetto side we can say, and the button that you need to push in to shift gears happened to fall out. So I have started to keep it with me when I leave the car. Well, using this to my advantage, I have come up with the idea of having removable shifters to prevent thieves from stealing cars. I mean the shifter could have a special chip in it that has to match in order to get out of park. I for one, think it's an amazing idea.

The job hunt is still going no where. I thought that people were supposed to fall all over me after doing so well in the competition. Clearly, it's myth. But after a few long chats tonight it was pointed out to me that I shouldn't work in an agency. I need to do PR or Promotions. Something where I am out interacting with the people. I tossed out that I should be White House Press Sec, and casually my infamous bull shitting skills were mentioned. Seriously, I would be an awesome Press Sec. That would be great.

This is the most awkward time in a persons life. We collectively decided that tonight. You're no longer are a student, yet you still act/think like one. Yet your not an adult, so you can't quite jump on that wagon. You just kind of hang there. After some disheartening talk I stood up and said, "The Sun will rise and so shall I." I felt it was some of my finer inspirational moments. And it's pretty true. Tomorrow the sun will rise and so will I. That is unless I go on a ride at Disney World.

Ohhh cheap shot at the mouse. And for those of you who are not sure what I am talking about, watch/read the news.

Ok, that should do it for now. I am off to figure out exactly what I want to do in my life. Because it was also mentioned that saying I want a job that lets me travel and wear several hats doesn't exactly help the job hunt. Being a little more specific might help me in my never ending quest for greatness. Ohh and I shall be great one day kids. You just wait. One day my name will be mentioned on the news or in a magazine and you will think to yourself, "Holy shit, she was right."

2006-06-21T01:43:00.000-05:00

Chinatown Gates
Lunch with Rachel

HOLY SHIT IT'S BOBBIE COX!!!!!!!

Brad and I at crooked street

2006-06-21T01:41:00.000-05:00

The Full House house!!!! Casually hangin off the cable car
Scary ass hill that I thought I was going to die on whilst riding the cable cars.
Crooked Street.

2006-06-21T01:38:00.000-05:00

Kick ass hat
My captian of the sea friend
Angie and I casually conversing by the waters edge

The second place glass structure and me

2006-06-21T01:35:00.000-05:00

Redwood

G2 bridge Inside " The Rock"
Outside "The Rock" - do you see Sean or Nick trying to bust in?

Seattle

2006-06-21T01:33:00.000-05:00

The Gardens

2006-06-21T01:31:00.000-05:00

2006-06-21T01:28:00.000-05:00

The seaplane

Taking off

In the air The inside. Yes, you can see right into the cockpit.

2006-06-21T01:26:00.000-05:00

Vancouver is doing this decorate a bear project and this was Darth Bear. It's cute

At the Top of Grouse Moutain

More top views

The scary way down

The Stunning Pacific Northwest

2006-06-21T01:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Vancouver, a Nuclear Free Zone

2006-06-21T01:12:00.000-05:00

Seriously, I have been away from a computer for 2 weeks and it feels strange having a mouse in my hand. Odd.

So, ya, I have returned. I know it's been awhile and I apologize. I had the NSAC competition in San Fran then I did a little west coast sight seeing. It was nice, well parts of it.

From the top here we go:

San Fran - It was a good time is you disregard the drama that stupid people make and the fact that we were robbed. We got 2nd at the National Competition. Which I guess isn't bad for being out of 215 schools, but when you have the client telling you that they liked your campaign better than the first place teams, it's a bit rough to take. You might be wondering how they can like us better and we get second, easy, it was a competition with 5 judges. The Postal Vault people only counted for 2 of them. The salt in my opened wound would be the small margin that we lost by. But, sore loser aside, we did amazing and if you would have told me when we began this adventure in August that I would be second in the nation I would have told you that your pants were on fire. Plus I did get to meet Bobbie Cox which was AWESOME!!!!!!

My mom met me the day after the competition and we took a trip up to the redwood forest. Seriously, these things are massive. It has always been a goal of mine to see them and they were just as cool and amazing as I thought they would be.

There are WAY to many homeless people in San Fran. They have a huge problem and it was bad enough that I doubt I will return to the city. Not to mention the 4 point something earthquake that hit whilst I was there. I watch way to many National Geographic and Discovery Channel specials to move to earthquake zone. Yes I know that Missouri has a massive fault, but lets not think about it till the Discovery channel does a special on it. And if one exist don't tell me.

Seattle - Our next stop was Seattle. Obviously. Seattle is very hilly and no one seems to mention that. So be warned, there are lots of hills. Seattle was cool. Way too many Starbucks, but they were created there. Didn't really do anything big in Seattle but eat some awesome seafood. I was sad that I didn't eat more seafood. The Space Needle is fun. I am not sure what the obsession people have with going to the tops of tall objects and looking out is all about. If a building is over 50 stories or is cool shaped then people feel the need to go to the top. Strange.

Random thought: Who discovered that fish make good glue?

Victoria, Canada - We took an early morning ferry for 3 hours to get to Victoria, a small island off the coast of British Columbia. I was hoping to spot some whales, but alas, none were to be found. There isn't really much to do on Victoria but see some really beautiful gardens about 30 min outside the city. I do enjoy me some gardens though, so I didn't mind. The city was so clean and our tour guide had the driest humor so that was entertaining. I noticed that if you left the tap water running for over a min it would start to smell fishy. Not good when you are brushing your teeth. Plus a seagull almost got into our hotel room. So that always makes like better. We only stayed on Vic Island for a day before heading off to mainland Canada.

Vancouver - We took a seaplane or float plane and i hear they are called to get here. Has anyone ever been on one of these? It's kind of cool while being completely scary at the same time. It was definitely worth trying once. And most likely only once. Vancouver is a ridiculous city. Everywhere you look high rise condominiums are going up. I am talking everywhere. It's kind of creepy. I guess I never think of Canada as much of a cosmopolitan place, but Vancouver proves me wrong. The freakin Canadians are so nice. I would be reaching in my purse to find a map and before I was done opening it up someone would be asking me if they could help me. Kind of creepy nice in a way. Maybe I just a jaded American, but I really wanted to punch a Canadian just to see what they would do. Would they still be nice? Probably. Vancouver is also gorgeous. Amazing weather, mountains to one side ocean to the other sides. It was just spectacular. We took the Amtrak back to Seattle via the cascade route. I recommend this route to everyone. It is so scenic and awesome. It makes me almost want to move to a small town right on the US/Canada border so that I can be fortunate enough to see those sights everyday.

I could go into more detail about the trip like how I became a squatter on a Gray Line tour or how I made nice with a front desk clerk who might get me a job in New York, but I'd rather not.

Being at home reminds me of everything that I need to do. It also reminds me that my dad died 4 years ago Sunday. Which was fathers day. Yippie. I hadn't really forgot about it, you can never actually forget, but I was focusing on my travels and the new sights and not on that fact. But now, being at home it surrounds me. And once again saddens me. Grrr

I hope you have a great day.

Remember to be like the Canadians and be nice. Also say eh and where lots of denim.

There's always money in the banana stand

2006-06-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

Nationals for NSAC is this weekend. I feel so exhausted just thinking about what the next few days/weeks are going to be like. I have the AAF conference and competition till Tuesday. Then I am going traveling up the west coast and into Canada till the 20th. It should be fun, but whenever I think about it all I just get sleepy.

I really hate packing. Have I ever mentioned that? It's odd since when I was younger Ioved it. My sister and I would start packing weeks before our trips and we would keep repacking till the day we left. It's funny how time changes things.

We played a good team in volleyball tonight which made us play good. Problem is we normally just casually play, so playing hard means that I am going to feel it on my 4 1/2 hour flight to San Fran.

I really want to see the Full House house whilst there. I also want to have a picnic in the park like they do in the shows intro. Maybe I will also sit in the back of a red convertible and drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. No matter which happens I can guarantee you that I will be singing the theme song the entire time.

Somehow the font size on my computer got changed to blind and it's freaking me out. I haven't figured out how to change it back yet. Oh well, that will be for another day.

Right, on with packing

Catch you on the flip side kids.

Yea for TV!

2006-06-04T21:46:00.000-05:00

If I could witness one historical act, I would pick the first Continental Congress. Granted it lasted about 2 months and I am sure some of the days were a boring, but on days where people were fired up, it would be a beautiful sight.

I hope that we are all watching 'Revolution' on the History Channel. It's going to be pretty awesome.

It makes me want to pursue my dream of being a docu-drama actress. That would be the sweetest job out there.

2006-06-01T22:46:00.000-05:00