The Freckled Diaries, Part II

Older, Wiser, Blonder
 

3/13/08 02:29 pm - Moved!

It's official, folks! I've moved to TypePad. You can now find me at:

http://freckleddiaries.typepad.com

See you there!
 

9/14/07 11:30 am - Sleep

So anyone who has known me for more than a few days knows that I'm not what could be described as a "morning person". In fact, if I had my way I would never, ever experience daylight before noon. Contrary to popular stereotyping of non-morning people, this does NOT make me lazy or depressed or a layabout etc. I'm up and active for just as many hours as you morning folk...just different ones.

I am CONVINCED I was born this way. I actually kind of was. I did my parents a wonderful favor in August 1981, when I was three months old. I slept through the night, predictably and consistently. The whole "baby thing" started to seem kind of easy. But for one small detail....I would never go to sleep before midnight or wake up before 10am. I'm just like this. A report card from 1st grade reports that "Catherine is highly intelligent but never seems to speak before 11am". I don't know why, people. I just am.

My father is similar (but he doesn't need much sleep so he's up until 3am and awake by 8 or 9, but those are fairly late times for working adults). I have several relatives with similar tendencies (in fact, when I was in high school and willingly woke up at 5:30 to go to physical conditioning one of my uncles commented that he never thought a Moran would do any such thing).

Which leads me to this. I found a group on Facebook (through a girl who lives in DC named Katie Moran who I found because we have basically the same exact sense of humor and it became evident through our choices of books and movies--funny thing? All considered "dark" humor, which the Irish are famous for). Anyway....the group is called Morans Make the World Go 'Round. Facebook lists "related groups"--the list of groups seen most frequently in the profiles of members of the Morans Make the World Go 'Round group. The fast majority of people in the group have the last name Moran. The rest I'd bet are Morans through their mothers. Anyway, the related groups are as follow:

* The Moran Clan
Common Interest - Families
* It's Moran, Not Moron, You Idiot
Common Interest - Languages
* Moran family
Common Interest - Families
* Moran
Common Interest - Families
* I LOVE TO SLEEP!!
Common Interest - Health & Wellness


See? Genetics, folks! We are a fair skinned, stocky, sleepy people with morbid senses of humor!
 

9/7/07 11:11 am - Scotland

The more I think about it, the more I think that I belong in Edinburgh.  Seriously.  Just for starters, it's a small city (fewer than half a million people), and I've come more and more to realize that I actually hate city life--but it's necessary at this point in my life so small, manageable, "neighborhoody" (not metropolitan/"urban" in our modern understandings of those terms) cities are the way to go.

It also has more or less exactly the type of "look" I admire the most--old, stone, charmingly cluttered, a little dark, but pretty.

It's on the water, and has all that maritime stuff I appreciate.

Old Town was actually modeled after Edinburgh--and I like it here enough (but for the heat, and other nuisances).

It doesn't get hot.  Ever, as far as I can tell.  Average July and August high temperatures are in the mid-60s.  Bliss. 

I don't mind the rain and overcast skies, in fact, I quite like them.  They have a pleasing atheistic that the murderous sun just doesn't.

Rugby and bagpipes.  'Nough said.


Also, you get to live near lovely places like this:





Finally, it turns out that I find the Scots (and Irish) enormously attractive and I just don't know why.  But hey, may as well go with it.


So, I'm moving.  One day.  But I'm going to do it. 
 

8/21/07 10:04 pm - I'm getting married in the morning...

Just to show you all I'm so not kidding about The Bachelor. Here is the last paragraph from the minutes from the last Ballyshaner's meeting:

President’s Report (redux):

* President Tiddy iterated the ad hoc soft drink committee will meet following the regular meeting.
* Catherine Moran reported on costs of a storage unit. It was agreed that we did not have that much to store, and that someone could keep it at their house.
* Discussed sales of T-shirts, Ballyshaner shirts and caps.
* Parking passes will be distributed Saturday AM.
* Bring your friends and neighbors to the festival.
* President Tiddy then turned to Treasurer Sims for a most important announcement.
* DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!
* Against all odds, Danny Boy Sheehan, the world’s apparently most confirmed bachelor, is, yes, engaged to the lovely Jen!! Whoopeeeeeee. Marriage to take place Labor Day Weekend of 2008!! Fantastic!!
* Danny commented that all of Pat Troy’s haranguing finally paid off!!
* Anything that would have happened after that would have been superfluous, so the meeting was ended.


Your Humble Sectary, J.J. Kelly




Another, last minute, meeting tomorrow. Will report back! Hope it's good news!
 

8/16/07 10:40 am - Pretty or Ugly--pre-Fall edition

Hello. It's been a while since I debated wardrobe decisions on here.  So here goes (briefly as there aren't many Fall dresses out yet).

First off, I'm not sure if I ever posted this dress, as it was an impulse buy that I wasn't even sure I liked.  I now love it and have to be forcibly removed from it.  I usually wear it with my red purse and my big ol' red heels when I can get away with them (which, sadly, isn't often).  I do have new red flats, though....  So here it is.  Favorite summer dress (even more favorite than the perfection that is the paisley dress!):



Oh, and also, I must reiterate how much I love this model and want to be her.  A blonde her ;)

And these are my new shoes, which I think are awesome:


( And now, the pre-Fall stuff.... )
 

8/15/07 03:28 pm - I made this, and I find it amusing

Erica (sorry! I typed "Erin" out of habit before!) over at Librarian Avengers got the idea to start an LolHistory macro, not unlike the LolCats (which I love).  This inspired me to make this:





More to come, when I have time to think more.



 

8/14/07 11:42 am

Ok, I'll fess up.

I've been on Facebook, which has commandeered the vast majority of my narcissistic internet time. I know I keep saying I'll get better, but I do mean it. I'm at work now and will be having a VERY busy week in and out of work. But I haven't forgotten! And we have to Pretty or Ugly the fall dresses! And I have to tell you all about my discovery of Flickr! And the Jane Austen Ball! And the new Grand Master Plan! Etc!

Lots of catching up to do.

~C
 

8/1/07 11:52 pm - When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married...

Yes, it's true!

The Bachelor of Alexandria is officially engaged! I truthfully never, ever, thought it would happen. A 41 year old bachelor (with a live-out girlfriend of 10 years) who flirts for sport and who generally exists in a state of perpetual "college kid" (perpetual adolescence is an unkind term, and isn't correct). I was stunned, to say the least, and the whole thing was cause for much mirth and heavy handed but kind hearted teasing tonight at the Ballyshaner's meeting.

Congratulations to Danny, the married man!

______________
BENEDICK
That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she
brought me up, I likewise give her most humble
thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my
forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick,
all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do
them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the
right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which
I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor.

DON PEDRO
I shall see thee, ere I die, look pale with love.

BENEDICK
With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord,
not with love: prove that ever I lose more blood
with love than I will get again with drinking, pick
out mine eyes with a ballad-maker's pen and hang me
up at the door of a brothel-house for the sign of
blind Cupid.

DON PEDRO
Well, if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou
wilt prove a notable argument.

BENEDICK
If I do, hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot
at me; and he that hits me, let him be clapped on
the shoulder, and called Adam.

DON PEDRO
Well, as time shall try: 'In time the savage bull
doth bear the yoke.'

BENEDICK
The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible
Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set
them in my forehead: and let me be vilely painted,
and in such great letters as they write 'Here is
good horse to hire,' let them signify under my sign
'Here you may see Benedick the married man.'










________________

BENEDICK
I may chance have some
odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me,
because I have railed so long against marriage: but
doth not the appetite alter? a man loves the meat
in his youth that he cannot endure in his age.
Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of
the brain awe a man from the career of his humour?
No, the world must be peopled. When I said I would
die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I
were married.
 

8/1/07 11:21 am

Pour Cassandre

Mignonne, Allons voir si la rose
Qui ce matin avait éclose
Sa robe de pourpre au Soleil,
N'a point perdu cette vesprée,
Les plis de sa robe pourprée,
Et son teint au vostre pareil.

Las ! voyez comme en peu d'espace,
Mignonne, elle a dessus la place
Las! Las! ses beautés laissé cheoir !
O vraiment marastre Nature,
Puisqu'une telle fleur ne dure
Que du matin jusques au soir

Donc, si vous me croyez, mignonne,
Tandis que votre âge fleuronne
En sa plus verte nouveauté,
Cueillez, cueillez votre jeunesse :
Comme a cette fleur la vieillesse
Fera ternir votre beauté


RONSARD
 

7/24/07 03:55 pm - Computer still broken, Harry Potter

Facebook (and the fact that my computer is broken) is really taking time away from the GJ. Eli and I fixed the computer last night and I plan on making a full return soon.

For now all I have to say is that "smarter than thou" non-Harry Potter readers can bite me (and honestly, this is directed toward no one in particular, just the general phenomenon, especially as seen on the internet). Your smug self-satisfaction with your supposed intellectual superiority just makes you look insecure, closed-minded, and like a total joy-kill. Go sit in a corner and read your German surrealism, buck authority and refuse to participate in or enjoy anything that isn't "indie" (or that any other person ever to have existed has enjoyed at any point in the present or past or may possibly consider enjoying in the future) or whatever it is that makes you feel better and smarter than everyone else. I'm going to have fun with the rest of the English speaking world and read this enjoyable, engaging and sweet series. I've still probably read more than you anyway.


And for the Harry Potter readers/fans: :) Exactly how it should have gone. Very satisfied. Sad it's over, but satisfied. Will write more at a later date, under a cut.
 

7/17/07 01:46 pm

First of all, my cable and internet at home broke. That goes into the story that's coming. Second of all, my computer itself then broke. Next, I got sick. Add the broken air conditioner, my car's check engine light coming on for no obvious reason, and my 5th friend in 10 months to announce he's moving out of the area (out of the country actually), and I've had one no-fun week.

I've decided to fix the friends moving away problem by becoming a snob.  No newbies (at all) and no one who is originally from anywhere other than the Northeast Corridor.  In my experience, those are the folks who are the most likely to up and leave--the newbies and those from "The Rest" (of the country).  Tongue firmly planted in cheek, folks.  But still,  grrr. 

But really, it's tiresome.  5 friends gone in 11 months.  And there is still time for another to go before September, which is when this whole madness began last year.  What to do, though?  Not having friends is only an option for the less....normal members of society/ those whose husbands/boyfriends/whatever are their Whole Entire World.  Not me.  But I'm sick of this mess!  I keep building a nice little life and then it keeps getting torn down, over and over and over.  Like trying to build a sand castle in the surf.  Not that my life is gone now, not by any means....it's just that now without  Danielle (in particular as she was my only Old Town friend), it is very altered, just as it was with everyone else in the past year who moved.  I don't like it when things get altered, least of all my own life.  And plus, I'm sometimes just not in the mood to make new friends.  Sometimes (most of the times), the old ones are better.  It's easy enough to meet people and all of that, but the effort of getting to know people, and them getting to know you with telling the same old stories, avoiding the same sensitive topics until you figure out the other person's point of view, constantly being "on", never being able to just have a bad day....it's like dating!  But worse because it's with everyone in your life, not just the practical stranger taking you out out to dinner.

Sigh.  So what to do?  I keep saying there's no point in moving because my career is here and plus all my friends are here, but the friends part is becoming less and less true, as is the career part.  I am possibly at the beginning of a major career change.  I just need to figure things out.  That's the new Master Plan mentioned last time.  I'll get to explaining it eventually.  So yeah.  I guess I could just up and leave.  I probably won't though.  Or at least, not just yet.  I'll get to the new Master Plan eventually.

For now: building gossip.

I came home from work on Friday to see this on the 2nd floor landing:




That is a suitcase, a box and a bag.  Look closely at what's on the box.  Here's a closeup.






Something tells me that someone kicked someone else out.  These people are nuts.  And it gets nuttier!  Remember how I suspected that they were stealing cable?  They were.  You know how I know?  My cable and internet went out.  I called Comcast.  They came out two days later, looked at the box outside and said that someone had unplugged my cable from the main line into the house.  But that oddly, an apartment that wasn't supposed to have any service had a cable plugged in.  Which means that someone in the building was stealing cable, probably wanted to stop stealing it (perhaps because they're moving?) and unplugged the wrong cable--mine.  Oops.  Or they did it on purpose, which is an option I don't think is likely but that occurred to me nonetheless.

Please, please, please if you know anyone who wants a really nice one bedroom apartment in the DC area, and if they are (a) not certifiably insane (b) cool (c) single and nerdy-in-a-cute-way please please please send them my way.  I need non-crazy, non-hermit neighbors. Come to think of it, send him my way if he's looking for an apartment or not ;)


Back to work with me.
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7/10/07 11:00 am

I know I've been bad. But I have excuses! And a new Master Plan (I haven't yet decided if I will actually DO the Master Plan, but it's good that there is one!)

Highlights from my extended absence were--the 4th of July week. Lots of hanging out at Chris and Eli's place, then there was going to Gwen's for BBQ and sparklers (photos to come, eventually, one day), followed by a failed attempt to see fireworks, followed by lots of beers at O'Connell's with lots of people. Then a day of sweet, sweet sleep.

Then Suzanne and Chelsea (sister, and "other sister") came to visit and there was a garden party at Eli and Chris's. Photos to come, eventually, one day.


Mainly it's been a whirlwind, made whirlwindier by Crazy Neighbors. Last time I updated it was July 2nd or thereabouts. On that night, my neighbor went crazy. Remember Ms. #2 aka Melanie aka the lady who is subletting to singularly unfriendly folks with a yippie dog (and are possibly, as I have recently begun to suspect, stealing cable)? Well, I met the woman on the staircase a few weeks ago. She was weird. I told her who I was and where I lived and she only introduced herself as "Mrs. Soandso" and said some vague thing about how she was glad to meet me because she wants a friend. Odd, but harmless, right? Well then on July 2, things got really odd.

My buzzer rang at 10:30. I ignored it, not having been expecting anyone or any delivery. It rang again, this time it was being held down. Annoyed, I made my way down the stairs to the front door. On the way, I noticed that the door to #2 was wide open. My first instinct was to call the police, but I didn't. I went to the door, peered out the window on the side and saw "Mrs. #2". I opened the door and let her in. She looked really strange, with bizarre smudges on her face and clothing, as if she'd fallen face first in the dirt or something. I asked if she'd been locked out (obviously she had been, I was just making polite conversation) and she immediately went into a babbling rant about how she doesn't have a key, her husband has the key and so on and so forth. Then she took her shirt off. Yep. Off. Then she yelled out the front door and a dog, THE dog came inside.

There isn't really an appropriate verb in the English language to describe exactly how the dog entered the building. "Bounding", perhaps, but that suggests a modicum of control. "Tearing" doesn't quite work because that suggests a straight and deliberate line. "Bouncing" downplays the speed with which the dog was moving. Do yo know those little rubber balls? The ones the size of large marbles that are often clear? That are so bouncy that you're pretty sure it could clear the house if you just got the right angle? That move at such a speed that one really ought to wear protective gear while playing with them? Yeah. Imagine taking one of those and throwing it with all your might in a relatively small, enclosed space. Then put it in yippie canine form, and you've got the beast that came into my house.

This dog was insane. Running around like crazy, jumping all over me, jumping in general like it had springs on its feet or something. Nuts. Totally nuts. Mrs. #2 was still babbling, not attempting to control the dog--she was just making a choking motion with one hand around her neck and worrying that she didn't have a key to her apartment. I informed her that the door was open, but she was dubious about that. I told her that we should go up and check (I'd also interjected a few "are you ok"s in there, even though it was obvious to me that she (1) wasn't because (1a) she was seriously messed up on some kind of drugs). I really wanted to call the police.

We went upstairs, and more insanities came out of her mouth--about dust, the "other one" with a general motion towards the upstairs (I later learned she was referring to Ms. #3), and the fact that she and her husband are here to find out what's really going on in the community, not only this apartment building but Alexandria in general especially with teenagers and drugs and stuff. The whole time the dog was bounding/tearing/bouncing throughout the building while yipping up a storm. I took that last statement as my cue to leave. She called the dog into her apartment, the dog ignored her, so she closed the door. The psycho dog was now abandoned, loose in the apartment building. It followed me upstairs to my landing where it discovered my shoes (I kept my shoes on my landing--I'm the only one ever to go above the 3rd floor so it was fine), and promptly stole one of them. I was going to chase it to get my shoe back but things on the 2nd floor had reached a new level of crazy. The apartment door was open again and there was a second woman's voice now and they were yelling (in Lebanese it turns out). I was not getting re-involved for love or money (or footwear).

I instead sat on my landing and protected the rest of my shoes from the dog, who kept bounding/tearing/bouncing up to visit, bark crazily, and running away again. I was listening to the scene downstairs and was planning on calling the police as soon as the argument took a turn for the physical. Eventually the noise died down, and the dog was brought under control so I took my shoes inside to call it a night. No sooner had I done that, than the argument started again (coming from outside now) and the dog was at my door barking its head off. My cats must have thought The End was neigh.

This continued until 1am, when my buzzer rang again. I'd had it. I was good and freaked out, and angry. I switched off my lights so as to indicate to the person ringing my buzzer that I wanted nothing to do with them, and went to bed. There were voices and banging, and the dog, then it was quiet and I went to sleep.


Wow, right? That's not half of it. Turns out that this whole thing had started in the afternoon, with dog and craziness, and Ms. #3 called the police who came, asked some (odd) questions and left. I don't know what happened in the intervening hours. I DO know that the 1am buzzer ring was the police needing to be let in (I don't know who called them). The police came, called the paramedics, who took Mrs. #2 to the hospital, the police took the dog. Oh, also turns out that these people aren't actually married. The landlords are not pleased. Melanie has 30 days to vacate the premises, which means that these people have 30 days to vacate as well. I can't say I'm sorry. I am glad, though, that I'm not the one who got them evicted. I have good apartment karma and I don't want to mess with it.


Nuts, huh?


More about the new Master Plan later. This entry has been long enough.
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7/2/07 12:39 pm - Oops, I've been MIA again

Long time, no update. No time at the moment--on a tight deadline at work today. Tonight is dinner with Mom and my Aunts, then semi-stressful Hill stuff.

Long story short, last weekend's visit from wee baby sister Suzanne was great! Will post some photos. Pool party at Rebecca's was met with resounding success (the last of the guests left once we realized the sun was coming up). We spent Saturday in Old Town--saw the new Stephen King movie--1408--which I highly recommend and then went to Pat Troy's for what really turned out to be just about the best night I've ever spent there, which is saying a lot! The singer was just really "on", and the place was packed--in the good way, not the "can't move two inches like at Murphy's way", and everyone was just really in to being there and singing and having fun. Pat did his famous/infamous Unicorn Song/Wild Rover/God Bless America/Pledge of Allegiance spiel. The man is nuts, in the cute, non-threatening way.

Sunday was recovery day. Suzanne and I watched Lifetime Movie Network and the Army Wives marathon. Sweet :)

Last week itself--nothing happened. I was tired and I worked and there was a slow Ballyshaner meeting. This weekend I stayed in and did housework--Mom and the Aunts came yesterday and we had dinner and the ghost tour. A nice change of pace--my previous schedule was starting to get to me...

Back to work with me!
 

6/19/07 06:26 pm - Weekend!

Friday--

Got home from work and checked my mail. It was 96.4% unsolicited mail (I calculated) so I walked it across the street to the public trash can to be rid of it (We really don't have room in ours--I'd bet that among the four apartments we could fill at least half a trash can with our unwanted mail. I don't know where our paper recycling is. Yep, that makes me a bad person.). While out and about I saw my up-the-street neighbor Deena. I called out to her and she came over and we started chatting. Shortly thereafter we were joined by her husband Jim and their dog.

Deena and Jim moved to our little corner of Old Town about a year ago (from the wilds of Queen Street) and I've gotten to know them a bit from around town--through chance encounters on the street, but mainly through dance class at Gadsby's Tavern. They are about my parents' age give or take a few years in either direction. They invited me on a walk and I agreed. We stopped off at our local jeweler--a woman named Mary who owns that cute shop on the other side of the Apothecary on Fairfax (I can't recall the name). We picked up Mary's dog who was also in need of a walk and set out. It was cool walking around the neighborhood with them--we chatted, got to know each other some more, and got to hear new fun things about the neighborhood (as well as a healthy dose of real estate gossip, as always seems to be the case with neighbors). We returned to Mary, and collected her (and the necklace she was just finishing for Deena's birthday) and went back to Deena and Jim's for some tea. Their house is absolutely gorgeous, I could describe it in detail but really don't have the time. It's a three-floor typical Old Town house, kitchen and formal living/dining room on the ground floor, family room and second full bath on the second floor, and bedroom (bedrooms?) and master bath on top floor. Didn't go to the top floor. It's decorated in a perfect balance of period-formal (to fit the house) and living-cozy (so you don't feel like you're in a museum). We had tea, listened to some music, watched Mary finish the necklace and talked dress patterns for the Jane Austen Ball. Deena has some really good leads on that front!

Mary, by the way, owns the entire house that her shop is in, plus a small carriage house in the back. Her shop is on the ground floor, she lives on the second, and rents out the third floor and the carriage house. At fantastic prices. They are occupied at the moment but believe me, I'm keeping my ears open on this one! The carriage house is smaller than my current space (which is bigger than I need to begin with), and is only a studio, but it's loft studio--on two floors. For about 70% of what I pay now (utilities aren't included though)--and it's even closer to the center of town than I currently am (which, is quite a feat, to be sure).

I left them at about 10:30 to meet up with Danielle and company at O'Connell's. It's official, Danielle is moving next month. I'm happy for her, but retain the right to be grumpy about the situation. I'm hemorrhaging friends here, folks! 4th one since September (that's one every three months for the math challenged) and I still have the entire summer for another one of y'all to pick up and go! We had a nice time barhopping with her friends, until the end when one of them needed to be taken home to be taken care of in his overindulgence. All in all, a good time!

Saturday, Rebecca came over to go to Gabe and Mariah's housewarming party in Del Ray. Eli and Chris were also in attendance, as was just about everyone I've ever met through that particular group of people. Their new (and first) house is so perfect! It's a rowhouse in Del Ray with a good sized living room, a seperate dining room (and a lovely archway dividing the two), two nice sized bedrooms upstairs, a full bath and a finished basement. Oh, and a front and back yard in which real trees grow. None of these skinny fake baby trees. Proper trees that you could put a tire swing on. Oh, and a deck, too. These guys are just a year or two (I think two?) older than me. And they are homeowners. Not apartment renters, or even condo owners--real homeowners. Very impressive! The party was all kinds of great. We got there at 5, and didn't leave until slightly before or after 2, and the time just flew by. There was a huge variety of food to be grilled--burgers, dogs, shrimp, brats and a never-empty bucket o' cans of beer. Met a bunch of new people, re-met some "hey, I met you at a show once" people, saw some now-former law school slaves (happy graduation to David and Betsy!) who I hadn't seen in ages (due largely in part to law school), as well as some folks I see with regularity. Lots of talking, mingling and generally had a great time was had by all.

Sunday, I met up with Eli at the Arlington Blues Festival (Columbia Pike and Walter Reed--right by the Cinema and Drafthouse). We then proceeded to meet up with Gabe, Mariah and Kip. I had ribs, red beans and collard greens, and we all split two funnel cakes, and listened to the last of the bands play. It was a quick trip--we'd gotten there late. On the way out we noticed that the Cinema and Drafthouse was playing Hot Fuzz (same writers and cast as Shaun of the Dead, but it's a cop movie), which most of us had wanted to see but managed to miss. Monday night is $1 movie night at the Drafthouse, and Blades of Glory was playing right after Hot Fuzz so we made plans to do a Monday night double feature and went our own ways. Eli and I went back to his house to figure out something to do. Somehow we wasted a lot of time before deciding to make a feast. We went to the grocery store at 9:30 and got fixins for that night's dinner, and a baked pasta dish he wanted to make for later in the week. We eventually had dinner at midnight, and hung out talking until after 2. (2am, by the way, seems to be my new bedtime).


Monday I had work, to which I was amazingly prompt, given the lateness of the night before. Work was fine, as always. Monday night was the double feature at the Drafthouse. Hot Fuzz was great! Just a really excellent movie. Not quite Shaun of the Dead great, but I think that's only because it's not a novelty like Shaun was. Blades of Glory was exactly how it looks. Lots of crotch jokes. It was $1, and we had fun and I did find it amusing, so it was a dollar well spent. Eli and Chris's sink had self destructed earlier in the evening so they didn't make it but Gabe, Mariah, Chris and I enjoyed ourselves. Mariah and I solidified plans to go to the midnight Harry Potter party at Olsson's in Old Town. Can't wait!




This summer is so much fun. It hasn't even (officially) begun, and already it's one of the best of my life. It is oddly reminiscent of the summer I was 17 (except my job's not as cool--I was a swimming teacher that summer). Just the feeling of fun and freedom and like anything is possible. I think this job was a good idea for the summer. A "good job", that pays well and looks good on a resume but is easily left behind at the end of the day. As long as I continue to show up in the morning and do my eight hours, and do the job right, that's it. Nothing more and nothing less. It's very freeing. I will surely be tired of this by the fall, but for now....the ability to capture that feeling, that teenager feeling, again is worth it. But it's even better this time around. This time I'm more responsible, and less anxious and angsty, and I have more money and my own place--I answer only to my cats (though I will admit, half the fun of being that young was "getting away it it", whatever "it" may have been. Don't have that this time.). I don't need or want to BE a teenager again or behave like one again---just the feeling of a wide open, go anywhere, do anything, minimal responsibilities, joie de vivre associated with that age. It's just great.



Tonight: Dinner and swimming at Rebecca's.
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6/19/07 05:40 pm

Also want:





That's it.  I'm done with my consumerism for today.  But that is one cool poster, no?
 

6/19/07 04:15 pm

Want:



Smells soooo yummy.  Limited edition.  Why do I always love the limited editions?  Oh, speaking of that though, turns out that BOTH my Marc Jacobs and Forever and Ever Dior were excellent purchases last summer.  Every time I wear either of them folks notice AND they truly are no longer available.  Especially not the Dior one.  Gone...a Sephora search doesn't even turn it up.


So here.  A little homage to my current favorite scent (it smells like Croatia to me, because I bought it in the duty free shop in Vienna and wore it the whole trip.  It's a summer scent though so shortly after Croatia I stopped wearing it and now it's back!  Yay!)



This is generally what last summer smells like to me (not Croatia though):



That particular one IS still available.  "Cotton" and "Grass" aren't.  And I have the lot of them.  I'm considering selling "Cotton" because it's a bit heavy for me and I haven't worn it once in the year I had it (I kind of bought all on impulse last year).  Apparently they fetch a pretty penny on Ebay.  Maybe I could replace it with this year's "Cucumber"--I generally like cucumber scent.

Does this go with anything I actually wear?  It's super cute!




Also, real quick:





If it looks like a paper sack on the model, whose entire existence is about making clothing look good, AND the model looks miserable, when part of her entire existence is to look like she loves the clothes.....perhaps it's a bad dress?
 

6/13/07 05:53 pm

Just to demonstrate what I'm up against--- See entry from 5/28--the most recent edition of "Pretty or Ugly". I didn't buy the dress, no money and it really it didn't strike me as a must-have. It was brand new on the site that day. It's been 17 days and the only sizes left are the smallest and the largest, and I'd bet not many of them.  I'm kind of regretting not buying it.  It IS cute.  But I just don't like the color or pattern.  The cut of the dress is what I'm after.  Those kids of colors, I'm afraid, would make me look sick.  My perfect dress (from an entry in late April/ early May) that gets me literally stopped on the street? Gone completely and has been for quite some time.

When will designers figure out that there is an actual market for quality, non-ugly full figured women's clothing? They must know. I doubt they really care--but they do seem to be starting to care....  Apparently Calvin Klien, King of the Waif Look and size 6s that are actually 2s, makes some "W" sizes. Take a look if you don't believe me (I certainly would have needed to see it to believe it):  Calvin Plus.


PS--what do we think?

 

(skirt especially if the tulle was ripped out...).  PS that skirt is $28.  I really want Perfect Dress part 2.  This pink thing is a close approximation...



And for those who don't know--no.  I do not buy everything posted on here.  I don't even buy half of it.  I just kind of like clothes a whole lot and it's only been fairly recently since they started making non-ugly stuff in my size range, and since the great Return of the Dress.  Hence, obsession.

Also, yes, that particular model is in a LOT of the dress photos I post here.  She is amazing-looking, no?  And yes, folks, she is a plus-size model!
Tags:
 

6/10/07 05:17 pm

I'm back. Things got better. Or, rather, I got better. It's a long story of what all was wrong. Just career, friends, romance etc, etc all blowing up in my face at the same time (and car trouble, too). Two perfect job opportunities slipped through my fingers, two of my friends are moving/have moved out of DC (one moved without telling anyone), my romantic life (or the lack thereof?--debatable point I suppose) is just a mess etc. All in all, a bunch of manure and I was soooo tired.

The week before the one just past I was out very, very late just about every single night. Fun but tiring. Highlights of the week included going to see Second String and the B Team (Eli's band) at the Asylum in Adams Morgan on Wednesday night, going to lunch at Mei Thai with Hamish on Friday, and going to the Mikado at Wolf Trap with Rebecca and Margarita on Friday evening (getting stuck on the Dulles-only highway TWICE notwithstanding). I also got my hair done and I think it looks very pretty.

I went to my family's house last weekend for Suzanne's graduation. It was a nice ceremony, if a little hot. We're all very proud of our girl--it's so great to see the young woman she's becoming and it's a lot of fun getting to know her all over again as adults (we were children together for a while then the age difference made interactions more parent-child type sisters than friends sisters for a while, but now we're both (almost) adults together. It's very cool). She's going to have a great summer going back and forth from the shore and coming down here to visit. It should be great.

I got home to Alexandria very, very late on Sunday night (aka 2am Monday morning). I overslept and consequently had to drive into work. I'm rather stubborn about paying $15/day for parking more than once per week (when I HAVE to drive in) so I parked at a meter and fed it throughout the day (which you're not supposed to do). My parking karma has been broken. I knew I should never have called the parking cops a few weeks ago. It's all my fault. So, you're not supposed to feed meters. You can only park at a meter for the alloted time--usually two hours. Long story involving a sprained ankle from two years ago and basically I had 4 really old parking tickets so I got a boot.

I'd already had a pretty bad day (found out about the two jobs that day) so I was already very upset. I called Eli who came to Dupont to hang out while I waited for the people to take the boot off. We went to
Kramerbooks for a beer. We then went back to his place and had spaghetti and a 5 hour conversation about everything and nothing. It was fun--but it meant another very late night for me (I got home at 2:30). I don't remember much about work on Tuesday--I was just sleepy, but my daily average was up so yay!

Wednesday is when Grace announced that she'd moved 100 miles away and has no plans of returning. That was my breaking point. I am SO SICK of making friends, only to have them move away on a moment's notice. It happens all the time and it's so frustrating and yes I know it's the nature of the area but I don't have to accept it. I can decide that I vehemently dislike the nature of the area. I have been lukewarm at best about the area as a whole ever since I moved here anyway. I can see your smiles from here--yes "lukewarm at best" is an extremely kind and optimistic way of describing my feelings toward this area during my first year here. I used the term "cesspool" and "backwards" and "godforsaken" a whole lot. Since then, lukewarm it has been to the area-at-large and love love for certain parts of it (and obviously for my friends and family here). But still, area-at-large is an "eh", and the transient nature is starting to drive me a little bananas. I spent much of the evening on the Craigslists for Seattle, Portland, Boise, Salt Lake City and Boulder. I felt like going West. Escape fantasies, very common in times of anxiety or sadness.

Friday, I got home late--about 8 or so. 8pm on Friday in Old Town. When half the streets around my house are ripped up for "undergrounding" or somesuch nonsense. Not a parking space for blocks. And at least 50% no Old Town parking sticker cars, 50% of which were from DC or Maryland. I was about to go Towanda on them. I went to the nearby Burke and Herbert Bank and Trust and checked out their parking lot for the first time ever. I don't know why I'd never gone in there before--there's plenty of parking! There were several open spots, and the others were taken by my neighbors (all had Old Town parking stickers, and I recognized most of the cars). I decided that parking there for an hour or so would be fine. The Burkes like me--I figured that I could get away with it (Burke and Herbert Bank and Trust as in Governor and Mrs. Burke, as in Burke Insurance, the occupants of the ground floor of my building).

Anyway, the sign said parking for bank customers 9am to 7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-Noon Sat all other times lot is locked (it wasn't), parking enforced 24-7. That worried me a bit. But really, why would they care if anyone parks there when the bank is closed? Especially their neighbors? I'd planned on moving it shortly anyway. I got out, locked the door, closed the door and looked at my hand. The car key had popped off the key ring and was on the passenger seat. Oops. 10 years of driving and the first time I lock myself out of my car I've got to do it in an illegal parking spot, huh?

So I called Eli (see entry from May 12 or 13--he's no stranger to keys being locked in cars). He came right over and called AAA (he has it, not me), and then we went back to the parking lot to wait for them. We were going to huddle under his umbrella and listen to his iPod on my iHome but we didn't need to. The AAA folks got there right at the same time as we did! Amazing. He MUST have been in the neighborhood. In less than a minute, the car was open and Eli and I were on the hunt for a legal parking space. We then met Rebecca at O'Connell's to gaze at Rhys the Bartender but Evil Preppy types had taken the place over and I was getting indigestion just being around them. I didn't know that those types came to Old Town. Will make note to avoid O'Connell's on weekends. (Case in point: Jackass yelling into his cell phone in front of the doors to the bar, not moving even though there were three of us waiting to go in. He finally moves (for better reception, not because he notices/cares about us) and we go in. His friends are blocking the walking space so we're stuck just inside the door. Jackass is finished with his phone call, comes inside, PUSHES ME out of the way and says "excuse me" in the way that means "you were in my way, fatass" not "I'm sorry". All with J Crew plaid or seersucker shorts and pastel polos with popped collars. Barf).

We had drinks and a little food at 100 King, then went to Dupont where we stayed until 3am (the type of place in Dupont where we weren't in any danger of running into Evil Preppy types--few and far between, yes). Eli dropped me off back at home and I slept soundly. Saturday is a longer story and this has been long enough. I won't go weeks without updating again!
 

6/2/07 12:35 am

I feel...

A. Tired
B. Sick
C. Miserable
D. Overwhelmed
E. All Of The Above


E.



I have had a hell of a week. Actually a hell of a past two weeks. This is one of 2 nights in two weeks that I'm home before 2am. The Curse has finally chosen to grace me with its presence, after a long and PMS riddled two weeks of waiting for it (I was beginning to believe in actual, physical Immaculate Conception). Everything, basically, has gone to shit and I just don't have the energy to start shoveling yet.

So I've been hiding. I'll be back eventually.


(I somehow have to manage to keep my temper in check for the next 48 hours, but I will be in the exact physical place and state of mind where this has proven to the the most difficult. This could wind up being catastrophic.)
Current Mood: pissed off
 

5/28/07 12:44 am

Time for our favorite game--"Pretty or Ugly"?




I'm leaning towards "ugly" myself.  I love the cut, and the color combo isn't terrible (but it's not my favorite), but the print is kind of scary.  But then I think of the vintage type look and suddenly it looks good.  Odd. 
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