Oops, Sorry

Background Noise: Sweet, Sweet Silence
Last Visited: no clue
Random Thought: Does anyone know what that song at the end of the American Dreamz trailer is?
Mood: gah

Hey. Sorry. I forgot to mention that for the past few months i've pretty much soley been posting to my blog on typepad.

I suck.

So sorry.

So if it's been looking like i haven't posted in forever... that's why. Now, i haven't been posting regularly enough on my other blog, too, but definatly more often than this one.

Come on over to VanityFair.Typepad.com when you get the chance!


Expression:

Bad-Morning-Hair-Pre-Coffee-Just-Got-To-Work Me

Background Noise: Sportscenter
Last Visited: South Park Design Studio and My South Park Anne Album
Random Thought: Christian needs to meet his doppleganger.
Mood: trying to ignore the annoying ones

I must have been sick the day everyone made South Park versions of themselves, because i seriously missed the boat on this one. I always wondered how suddenly everyone's aim pictures were remarkably good South Park type them characters, and, well, now i know. They made them with this cool online game. That being said, meet Coffee Time Me:



Not to be confused with Snarky Me, or the sad reality that is every morning, Bad-Morning-Hair-Pre-Coffee-Just-Got-To-Work Me:



Hee hee.

Expression:

London!

Background Noise: Joy to the World
Last Visited: My London Pictures
Random Thought: an 8 hour time difference is easier to handle than a 5 hour one
Mood: smilin'



So, i forgot my camera's charger and the pictures are out of order, but enjoy my pictures! (More after the 'lag crazies end).

Expression:

Pardon My Dust

Background Noise: brilliant; i showed up at 'bucks when school let out.
Last Visited: Your Mileage May Vary
Random Thought: Cinnamon Dolce Latte... overkill or just right?
Mood: ouch, they didn't put ice in my coffee

Excuse the blip on this blog earlier - the one where all formatting went away and a full year's worth of posts appeared on one page - i was seeding a test blog with my older posts so the template wouldn't look so empty.

Anyhoo, yesterday i talked myself out of buying a $300 kate spade bag and into buying a $300 new bed, well, a new bed topping. As beautiful as the bags are - and i'm sure i will own one in the future - i just couldn't rationalize the money for something so... so... i don't know what. But i still wanted to blow my christmas cash, and after debating staying in the Westin for a night with hopes of sleeping better, i realized that what i should get is a super soft down comfetor, pillows, and a 600 thread count sheet set. It looks - and feels - like i'm sleeping on a cloud and i couldn't be happier.

Well, that's not entirely true: i still need to find a bedskirt that matches and now i have a real excuse to get the orchid canvases from ikea (they're in stock!), but really, those two chores shouldn't be so trying.

I can't wait to sleep again.

... but sleep will have to wait a little bit longer, i'm here at 'bucks to work on my spec and i should really do that in the nearer future.

Like now.

Expression:

Gracie's, 8 Mile, and My Family @ J-Alex

Background Noise: Frank
Last Visited: My Flickr (sounds gross, doesn't it)
Random Thought: People stop and stare, but it doesn't bother me.
Mood: let the time go by, i won't care if i can't be here on the street where you live

Good Night Gracies, Tuesday Night, w/ Heather and Christy. Heather's picture, my camera, edited in Aperture.


The End of 8 Mile, Wednesday Morning. Heather's picture, my camera, edited in Aperture.


Ellen, David, Mom, and Dad, in the Lobby of J. Alexandar's Northville, Wednesday evening. My picture, my camera, edited in Aperture.


I'm just so happy i remembered the camera and was able to catch a few nice pictures for posterity... because not many would believe me otherwise.

Expression:

Well, at least the weather matches my mood for once

Background Noise: the sound and the fury... of 'bucks.
Last Visited: Damn, i hadn't figured in the exchange rate.
Random Thought: i don't want to share my birthday with Donna and Jason.
Mood: jittery and a little sad

Right now i should (and could) be doing an of several things:

I should be verifying what i'm doing for NYE '05, i should be at the bank getting my rent check, i should be at IKEA getting a comforter, i should be at the mall buying some more sweaters (or doing laundry, either or), i should be looking for a computer bag that won't break, or a vaccum cleaner that won't explode, or tracking down "i know i missed christmas but presents anytime are good, right?" presents for the many many people i know who deserve them, i should be reading a book, or taking a nap, or generally relaxing, or driving in the rain because it's fun, or getting my hair cut because it's shaggy, or actually getting work done, or finding out if I actually have work on monday as my friend's contend or don't as my mom contents, i should call Kathy to see if she's back from London, or call Barb to find out if she's heard any more about her apartment, or Heather to find out if she's playing photojournalist for NYE, or John to find out if he got his promotion, or Ben about how the meeting with the financial planner went, or Dave to find out how the crown molding is going, or Helena to find out what her plans for tomorrow night are besides a hurried "movies" and something else i couldn't figure out last night, or seeing one of the many worthy movies that are out now that i haven't seen that aren't the Producers, P&P, or a bound-to-be-slightly-disasppointing holiday comedy, or wondering out loud why every movie that has a scene in San Francisco must have a trolley bell in the background even though the characters are no where near a trolley line, or tracking down maps of London to figure out where i want to stay while i'm there, or actually pining down a date and tracking down people to see if i'm actually going with anyone or by myself, or not looking at the elderly couple calmly contemplating buying a Hummer at the table next to me, or trying to not jump in and help the girls struggling with trig at the table behind me, or finding the rules for uker online so i can actually teach Joe and Sarah how to play, or find a fourth who can be my partner for that matter, or something that stops the train of though in the back of my head that maybe i should look at the book of Destiny since it's the only one that Barnes and Noble by me has, or maybe i should just find a way to end this never ending sentance.

But, aside from the whole ending the last sentance thing, i'm not doing any of the things that i should.

No, i'm trying to keep myself from just jumping on a plane to god-knows-where now.

Yep, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, my jumpy travel feet are back, and boy do i want to get the hell out of dodge. I guess that will have to wait a few weeks, though.

i really should go to the bank; rent day, at least, is one thing i can guarentee will happen this weekend.

Expression:

Coffee: Black with a Stirrer

Background Noise: 'buck chatter
Last Visited: Barb should be a movie critic.
Random Thought: Why are the elves in my phone lying and trying to convince me we lost to Nebraska last night?
Mood: when am i?

Posts you should read before 2006 that helped define 2005:

1. Stop. Fucking. Them. (This is not about abortion.)
2. The only debate on Intelligent Design that is worthy of it's subject.
3. Pride & Pathetic: the rantings of an Austenite who didn't understand the movie she was watching, and instead bought the hideous, revolting, completely out-of-touch-with-the-picture-it-promotes american marketing campaign for it. Oh, and Ms. Fattore? I have a cat and i love Austen, will wonders never cease? Wonder of wonders, it is possible for an anti-romanticist piece to, in fact, be highly realistically romantic. Sorry, the mist comes with the whole on-location package. Deal.
4. Blogpulse 2005: Trendy Statistics - hey, math can be cool, too.



Hey, i'm just psyched that the ipod was constantly more popular than the xBox or PS2, and that NASCAR is the least popular sport umong the techies (shocker). I'm actually even more interested in the fact that Swimming was really popular, and while Hockey is making a comeback, the undisputed American sport is: Football, with Baseball and Soccer gunning it out for second and third.



Um... yeah. Beyond the stuff above this line (which was all written before i stepped into the mind-melt-inducing cross country flight last night), there is plenty i remember wanting to write about that i have promptly forgotten. Maybe that's best for now. I continued my streak of crying at take off after leaving again for California, but i really don't have the energy to have another Oh-wow-i-don't-belong-in-California-and-i'm-getting-sick-and-tired-of-pretending-i-do post. But hey - my apartment is clean (amazing), my car is running and has gas in it, my cat is thrilled i'm home, i have coffee, and the potential for a great new year, i shouldn't complain.

What to do now? Maybe a movie is in order. Or food more substantial than gingerbread. Or a shower. Hey, at least i remembered to go to the bank :) Oh well, i'm sure i'll figure my day out eventually. And if i don't? That's not so bad either.

Expression:

Video On Demand Rocks My World

Background Noise: Beat it, it's the Bulls!
Last Visited: The On Demand Guide;
Random Thought: I'm not as adverse to watching "The Wedding Date" when it's free and i can fast forward through stuff.
Mood: Headlines don't sell papes: Newsies sell papes.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Isn't it amazing that for the first time since 1959 these two holidays fall on the same day of the year. That, combined with the fact that this day just happens to be sunday, assures that beyond anything else you can be certain of one thing: nothing will be open after 8pm.

I hope your respective holidays, be they relgious or simply material, have been everything you wanted and that you are happy and content.

I read an article the other day talking about the downfall of the Gap; how the store built up to being a brand, an icon, the place to shop, but that now it's not much more than a general disappointment. People go expecting to find something they like, but usually end up leaving empty handed. And here I thought that was just me. Every time i've been in the Gap recently i couldn't justify the $40 sweater or the $25 tank top; i still go in from time to time, but generally i only buy when things are on sale. Apparently the Gap has decided to rehabilititate itself; i really hope that goes well.

Ellen got another fabulous Coach bag from Phil for Christmas (among her many presents). I'm now completely jealous of her bag collection: two Coach bags and a kate spade tote. I am in awe. I must have a kate spade bag too; maybe i can justify one once my stock money shows up - friday will truly be a TGIF.

Why is it so hard to find a well made, beautiful, tote that is large enough to fit my laptop, anyways? Note to the luxury handbag makers: Girls have hardware too. We generally also have money to spend and want to have a beautiful bag to carry everything around in. I can't justify a $300 small purse because i'd never use it. But i could justify a $300 tote that could double as a laptop bag in a heartbeat because that's what i carry all day every day - i'd like that bag to be stylish, easy on the eyes, and easier on the shoulder. This bag comes close, well at least in the picture. And i think i can get over the fact that it's technically a baby bag. Ahh, don't you just love the irony?


ETA: Elle tells me that there is actually a kate spade store at Somerset; i'll have to check this out in person and see if it lives up to my expectations.

So, continuing our semi-official Christmas tradition, my silblings, my cousins, and i went to see a movie this evening - this time it was the Producers ("Gentlemen, may i take your hats, your coats, and your schwas-ti-cas?"). It was fun (as usual), but Elle pointed out something that i had missed - or rather, not paid enough attention to - about the Birmingham 8: they don't actually care if you buy a ticket or not. Or, rather, they tear your ticket once you buy it outside the front entrace not inside the theater. But there is a side door from the parking garage that opens into the theater - and there is no one at that door to purchase tickets from, or make sure that you have tickets at all. In fact, the employees seem to not care at all if you just walk in and sit down - the only thing that actually keeps people buying tickets is their sense of ethics and morality. Silly morals, they always get in the way of free stuff, huh.

I love Newsies. Seriously, Video on Demand is making my night - especially considering i'm still on west coast time and wouldn't mind staying that way, so i'm going to be up when there is literally nothing on tv. I'm actually considering throwing "The Wedding Date" on next because i can. I know it was horrible, but i'm not sure i'll mind as much when i'm not paying for it. And hey, worse comes to worse i either fast forward through it or switch to something else. Like Batman Begins; there's a thought: a Christian Bale Christmas. I like the sound of that.

Remind me to opine about the tree in the living room at some point; i would now, but my battery is going again and i should really publish this before i loose this post forever.

Expression:

and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful

Background Noise: something on tv, melting snow
Last Visited: yahoo's tv grid... (this remote requires entering exact numbers. wow. i so have to get my parents a new remote. or a new tv. seriously.)
Random Thought: why can't i stay?
Mood: grandma's dinner: perfect.

Merry Christmas Eve.

Your footprints led the way,
to a hearth where hearts we made surround you,
you're awash in all it's glow,
and i'm still standing in the snow

i stood and watched the lights go out,
While the snowflakes settled all around me,
And though it filled my heart with doubt,
Couldn't move and this is where you found me.

As our footprints disappear,
Snow erasing how I came to be here,
I've got nowhere else to go,
Now you're standing in the snow.

I've never been so happy to spend $700; thank goodness: i'm home.

ETA: i'm feeling very naughty: i'm downstairs on Christmas Eve night - well, Christmas very early morning. I'm trying to remember if i've ever done this before, actually downstairs - and allowed, too! - when Santa's Elves are doing there sprucing up in the other room. I suppose it's ok because the Elves are taking a break this year, but there's still something very odd about being on this floor after midnight. I'm starting to actually believe it's christmas, and i'm home which is heaven, but i'm having issues being downstairs. I suppose it's a family custom that all the kiddies have to be upstairs after a certain time, regardless of whether we were awake or not. And let me tell you, being restricted to one area of the house definatly helps to heighten the suspense of the next morning. Here's my dilema: i'm hungry, but my dad's awake, and the kitchen is attached to the room with the tree, and i have this mental block over actually stumbling in there and seeing... something. Wow this is silly. I suppose in this house i'll always believe in Elves on Christmas Eve who don't want to be disturbed lest they leave coal in my stocking.

And really, what's so bad about believing? Even if it's just in something small. There has to be some wonder magic left in this holiday after all.

Expression:

I look like the Libra Girl... or a Party Mouse

Background Noise: Elf's Lament
Last Visited: ahh, now i remember why i don't visit astrology.com; no, i really don't want to pay for the results of my quiz. sorry.
Random Thought: i scrubbed my bath tub last night; wait, that's more of an action than a thought. Oh! i know! I need to figure out what i'm packing for home.
Mood: this is going to actually work, isn't it.



See? Well, i kinda look like the Libra Girl. I suppose she's basically a chunky cousin of Disney's Cinderella, though i have to say, for a Libra, she's pretty biased. I mean, look at those scales: completely out of balance. Oh, wait, i guess that means i really am like this cartoon. Nifty.

I'm approaching apathy way too quickly this afternoon... maybe i should take a break and get some errands done. I need to get keys made for the wonderful, fabulous people stopping in to watch Puff while i'm gone, I need to either take my boots in to be repaired or pick up some inserts for them, I need to pick up some kitty food and litter, give my apartment a fairly intensive cleaning - carpets, trash, general organization / sprucing, pick up the clothes that are undoubtably all over my closet+ - and, of course, i have to figure out what i want to pack for home and at least send that to the laundry (which either means tracking down quarters or just taking it to the dry cleaners). I need to transfer what files i want on my laptop to my laptop, and while i'm at it i have to make sure to get either the packages or a dvd for Dave's computer. I'm sure there's more... but at the moment that's where the running talley in my head stops.

But Oh! I just got Barb's Christmas card! Yeay snail mail! :) The timing, of course, is perfect. And hilarious, so i quote:

Make your own fun this holiday season!
Fun is all about what you actually want to do! So the Saint of Sanity decrees:

Get ye to a movie!
Get ye Regency Spies and Liars!
Get ye a bottle of wine!
Get ye a kitten*!

aforementioned tactics guarenteed to work under most circumstances. Fun to be had may differ in actuality. SOS cannot be held accountable for lack of fun had due to project bugs, stupid drivers, annoying companions, or the Borders Store In Stock list.

SOS is a trademark of Barb by Proxy © 1998.

That one's going on my corkboard. Speaking of which, hey B, why didn't we steal the url saintofsanity.blogspot.com for your blog? Where was my head? Hey! it's still available! Just saying.

Completely changing the subject, the movie suggestion is fabulous; maybe i'll swing by for the 5ish Pride and Prejudice - it's been too long since i've seen it. Though i really should clean. Ahh, decisions decisions.

Expression:

I don't like pointless practice; sorry, it's just not my style.

Background Noise: All i want for Christmas
Last Visited: Henry VIII performs at the Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon , you say?
Random Thought: i'm leaving work early and i don't care who knows it. (Thank god my bosses don't read this!)
Mood: caffeine... not... working...

Coffee has abandoned me today; it's having the reverse affect it normally does; i literally feel myself slowing down as i drink this.... Maybe i shouldn't do that next bit of work right now, i'm not sure i'm allowed to operate heavy machinery at the moment.

So, um, Happy Solstice.

Oh! i scored at Macy's (yes, Macy's,) yesterday: i found a great coat and a nice cashmere sweater on major sale, getting both for about $100 less than that thing from Land's End was. And once i actually get my money back from that little fiasco i'll feel a lot better about the whole situation. The coat is a cocoa suede city coat (just above the knee in length) with a lovely lavendar lining. It's warm enough to take home and feel bundled up with a sweater, but light enough to actually be of some use in San Francisco over a camisole or something lighter. Which is lovely; yeay multi-purpose clothing! Especially when said coat was only $70 (from $180).

If you're looking for some good online reading, An Old-Fashioned Girl is online, and the British Library has a fantastic collection of original documents available for perusal at Turning the Pages.

Also, Google released their Zeitgeist 2005, which is quite entertaining. For example, no one really cares about Jennifer Anniston, it's all about Brad (and Angelina) online.



In other news... i'm tired. Tired and trying to ignore just how much cleaning, laundry, and packing i have to do before leaving at the crack of dawn Saturday. Hmm, maybe tomorrow will be my last day at work for 2005. Assuming tomorrow is actually thursday, which i think it is. Hmm, i should look that up.

Oh yeah, one more thing (wow, this has actually turned out to be longer than i expected): i got my review for the year. Yes, i know i've mentioned this before, but i didn't post any specifics because i was worried about being vain, or sharing too much information, or generally being obnoxious. But i'm going to post my rating - ie, my grade - for the year, in hopes of reminding myself that i might actually deserve it:

Rating: Exceptional. Consistently outstanding. These individuals contribute significantly to the sucess of Apple by producing the highest caliber or work. They are leaders, innovators, and influencers. They are truly remarkable result-oriented performers and show that in the way they work with others, their job knowledge, skills and work product

Um, yeay me. Here's to hoping i can live up to the hype.

Expression:

Photobooth is the funnest product we've ever made

Background Noise: December, George Winston
Last Visited:flickr
Random Thought: john and steve are much more photogenic than i am... and that's ok :)
Mood: The Producers was awesome!

  

  


Expression:

Imagining Footprints in the Snow

Background Noise: George Winston, December
Last Visited: Travelocity & Land's End. Wow i just spent a crapload of money.
Random Thought: I think i love my new fake-burberry coat
Mood: i can't believe i'm going home in a week...

Yeay! I'm going home for Christmas!

I probably shouldn't be so shocked, or excited, or relieved, but i'm so happy that i'll be home for the holidays. I'm even going to make it for christmas eve dinner at my grandma's house! I have direct flights both ways (thankfully) and even though i'm sad the potential plans of stopping in Chicago didn't pan out, it's ok, because i'll see barb later when she is actually in her new place.

I'm flying out Christmas Eve on Nortwest and arriving in Detroit around 3:49pm, and flying back to San Francisco Wednesday evening around 7:44pm. It's a decent trip - the better part of 4 and a half days depending on how you count - and it will mean that i'll be back in the bay area soon enough to have some down time before getting back to work.

Now i just have to figure out who is watching Puff while i'm gone. Luckily it's only 4ish days, so i don't feel guilty asking people to stop in and watch him.

The other bonus of only going for a few days? I'm pretty sure i'll be able to get away with just carry-on luggage, so i won't have to worry about checking any bags. I hate checking bags. I prefer to walk off the plane and out of the airport and be on my way if at all possible, especially when i'm cutting getting to Milford on time so very close.

:) But at least i'll have my new coat! I hope it's as cute and sophisticated as it looks like in the pictures. And hey, if it doesn't work i'll return it and still have time to find a suitable placeholder.

The only other problem i have is: what to do for presents for my family?

ETA: So i begged and pleaded and made my boss give me my review early, meaning about 45 mins ago. It's good. Great, really. Maybe i'm just drained from the day, but i'm not sure i'm taking it as expected. It's always odd to hear other people talk about me; and it's interesting reading my boss's thoughts about me. All at once i'm not sure i deserve my review and yet i'm disappointed with it in some ways. I was debating posting some of it here, but that would be inappropriate. I'll write again later when i've had more time to digest what it means, and get back to you about how i feel. I just... had to mention something. For posterity, for... well, so i wouldn't forget to think about this seriously.

Expression:

I Read the Red Book

Background Noise: more holiday music? really? ... wait, this is my playlist...
Last Visited: He's Everywhere in Film, and that's ok with me, really
Random Thought: why is it that all of my best friends were born almost at the same time? i guess i wasn't kidding when i said i have accurate tastes...
Mood: my head needs to clear up so i can actually get work done



I'll need a coat for going home, then going to London in the winter, so it needs to be warm, and i'd like it to be able to transition easily from casual to dressier. This coat would look fabulous with both jeans or cream pants. I'll have to order it soon if i want it to get here in time to go home, but it's a bit more than i was planning on spending so i figured i'd fish for thoughts.

So, what do you think? :)

Expression:

You're awash in all it's glow

Background Noise: Footprints, BNL
Last Visited: Fuck Christmas. Or at least figure out what you're actually mad about first.
Random Thought: I love it when Barb gets pissed off. It's always so damn funny.
Mood: chris botti looks like logan from gilmore girls. only older, so thinking he's hot isn't gross.

Um, 2 please? One departing from San Francisco, one from Chicago. Thanks!



In other news, yesterday i managed (completely by accident) to win a lovely $15 Starbucks gift card for being (again, very accidentally) the third most festively dressed person at my team's holiday, er, christmas, party, er, wine tasting. My pink (almost red) sweater had what could be mistaken for a reindeer on it, and my lovely shoes have a few sparklies, therefore i must have been festive.

Talk about scraping the barrel.

Though, i have to say i like having that card burning a hole in my wallet; it's certainly better than not having it, though i'm fairly sure it won't change the amount of coffee i'll drink.

In more news, the Golden Globe Nominations were announced yesterday. I'm not going to discuss the tv portion of the evening since i can't even begin to justify their decision that Desparate Housewives deserved 4 of the 5 slots in the best actress category. But no nominations at all for Gilmore Girls? No Veronica Mars or West Wing or Everwood? Or the finale of Six Feet Under?

On the movie side, things look promising. Though i have to admit that i'm not thrilled that Match Point won't be out until after the awards are given, but whatever. I love that Kiera Knightly has a nomination for Lizzie Bennet; i loved her reaction to the news too. She basically said that she had just planned to make lasagna for her flat mates that night, but apparently now they needed champagne too. How fabulously normal. And now that Sarah Jessica Parker has a nomination for the Family Stone i'm even more curious to see that film than before - though i still contend that she will end up with Luke Wilson in the end - Mr. Mulroney can have Claire Danes.

And in case you're bored and looking for some good old-fashioned blog-reading here are two you shouldn't miss: Waiterrant, and Walking the Streets (he's a parking attendant in london, not a working girl, just in case you're worried about being corrupted). Barb's blog of course, and also fuck christmas while it does cover some ground, is backed by some exquisite research. Ok, maybe "exquisite" takes things a bit too far, but still.

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