The Great American Livejournal

Happy Friday, Y'All.

2008-08-29T19:30:51Z

And now, somehow it's already Friday. Where the hell did my week go? So I'm excited for this weekend. No particular reason, other than it's a weekend and I'll be happy not to be at the office. All but one person is gone from the office today. Unfortunately, I haven't accrued enough time to take today (or my birthday, which is on Tuesday) off. So here I am. Making phone calls to verify that we have correct contact information. All day.

Other than that and the fact that the air conditioning in this office is up so high that it's freezing, I'm doing pretty well today. Friday has such a nice ambiance to it. When you're so close to embracing the weekend...it's a little intoxicating. Wait, that might just be my brain turning to goo because of all the phone calls. I'm feeling a little slap-happy.

Note to lemurkitten: felipemcguire was really excited yesterday because he found Eventide's mini. Sadly, it slowly dawned on him that she's no longer in the game and his proud face morphed into a disappointed face.

Time for Shoes!

2008-08-15T18:01:58Z

This is not a post for the weak at heart.

My work out shoes are over a year old. I stopped wearing them to walk a few weeks ago after my ankles hurt, following a low impact walk. Also, I can't get away with sneakers at my new job. And here I must pause because I know all of you are very sad that I will no longer be able to sport my business casual with a twist look (my fashionable sneakers with printed t's and pinstriped pants look). Well my friends! There is a price to pay in corporate America!

So my lunch is going to be spent purchasing two pairs of shoes--one for work and one for walking and running. Since I don't wear them all the time, my work out shoes are likely to last awhile. What I'm trying to decide before I go to lunch is whether I should just bite the bullet and go to Walking Co for my work shoes. They're kind of pricey, but I've heard they last a long time and I'd like to be comfortable at work and not have the back problems I'm starting to get with my cheap loafers.

I know what you're thinking. How can I possibly buy two pairs of shoes, eat lunch and get back to the office in 45 minutes? It won't be easy. But I think I'll be okay. I DO work in the shopping district, you know.

Wow. This is the girliest post I've written in awhile. I think it's amusing that we often find the mundane details of our lives so interesting and then we go to tell our friends and we're surprised when they aren't as impressed with what we ate for lunch that day or how many marshmallows we can fit into our mouth while saying "chubby bunny"...or that we are buying shoes.

Okay, now I'm just babbling. I'm done now.

Yes, I am one of them.

2008-08-13T16:00:32Z

A few weeks ago felipemcguire and I got cable for two reasons (okay, two reasons for him--I actually like watching TV sometimes). The Olympics this summer and the elections in November--specifically on Comedy Central and The Daily Show.

I gotta tell you though. The Olympics are kicking my ass. I've been staying up late to watch them and have been sucked into Michael Phelps mania...and I've never been one to find swimming all that interesting to watch (unless it's in a cartoon about a singing little mermaid). And then there's gymnastics, which is like crack to me. Watching the Chinese "battle" the USA. I've been flipping back and forth between a Canadian station (CBC) and NBC. It's really interesting. Overall, the Canadian coverage is good, but lacks the dramatic narration that the U.S. has. On the other hand, American coverage tends to be alot harsher on its athletes than the Canadians do ("...they did their best, eh? It's just an honor that they could be here to perform...").

What I always find the strangest about watching television after a long hiatus is that I have to readjust to the commercials. Commercials are like little living creatures who seem to put a magic spell over you so you can't look away. And I'm usually left wondering if I really saw what I thought I just saw because it's kind of a surreal experience.

Monday Ramblings

2008-07-21T17:47:37Z

One week left. And it seems I'm running extremely far behind in my work. Okay, not really my "work" as much as getting the packet together and ready for the new girl or boy who usurps me.

I'm not going to have any time off before I start my new job, so felipemcguire and I are taking this weekend for our vacation. We're renting a car and driving up to a cabin by a lake. I like having something to look forward to. I'm sure it will help me get through this week.

Waking up this morning was hard. It would have been so nice to lounge around in bed. But I DID find a seat on the bus today, which is always a plus!

choaticcavalier's birthday party on Saturday was alot of fun. I spent a good portion of the evening doing my friends' hair. I did R's hair three times because he has long hair, enjoyed the attention and it became a challenge to find increasingly girlier hairdos for him. Towards the end of the evening, shieldmaidenmgb brought out her box of hair accessories and I went to town. I'm sure there's a picture of it somewhere.

It was also wonderful to see and chat with devinam a bit at the party, who was radiant and, yes my friends, glowing!

luriddreamscape @ 2008-07-18T09:45:00

2008-07-18T17:13:04Z

Today was rather chilly this morning. I looked at the weather report online and supposedly it's going to get warmer this afternoon. So I had a dilemma. Do I wear my hoody and hope for the sun? Or do I put on my coat and wait for the clouds? I went for my hoody, but I'm sitting here a little cold in the office, wondering if I may have made the wrong decision.

My sister M is trying on LA for size. She moved there a couple of weeks ago. She plans to stay for a month and see how it fits. She'll either move back to Seattle after that or stay there. Since she's moved there, she's been an extra in Desperate Housewives and Eli Stone. I don't think the pay is wonderful, but she seems to really enjoy the work.

There's a part of me that kind of hopes she'll stay over there. I want her to do things that will make her happy. And watching her move through various occupations, performing is the only thing that I've ever seen that she loves to do. Also, the two of us tend to get along best when we don't live too close to each other. Funny how that is. When we're living across the country...or, you know, in a different country...we get along great. Better than great. So, I don't know. It's weird how families are. I'm really excited for her being an extra though. If this career of hers keeps up, I may have to start watching shows for M sightings.

Well, I HAVE been told I'm a little creepy before...

2008-06-19T16:36:03Z

Galadriel
Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Galadriel is a character in the Middle-Earth universe. You can read more about her at the Galadriel Worshippers Army.

The funny thing about this quiz is that I took it because "Princess Leia" was displayed in the picture and I assumed that when they said "What character are you?" my answer would then, of course, be a Star Wars character. Obviously I was wrong. The test was Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You? But whatever. I'm satisfied.

Personality Type

2008-05-21T23:04:11Z

Your Personality is Very Rare (INTJ)

Your personality type is logical, uncompromising, independent, and nonconformist.

Only about 3% of all people have your personality, including 2% of all women and 4% of all men.

You are Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

I took this test in middle school and then again seven years ago...and today I took it yet again, just in case. Of course, AGAIN I got this as my personality type. I guess you can grow and change, but certain things always remain the same about you.

http://typelogic.com/intj.html

A surprise you don't expect...or...You know your litter needs a changin' when...

2008-03-04T17:55:51Z

I came home last night to find, well, Knate's sweatshirt on the floor. This is not unusual, though I hadn't remembered him leaving it in that exact spot. I don't know what drew me to the sweatshirt. Something out of the corner of my eye. A single cat poo. Odd, thought I. But not THAT odd. Sometimes Zoe doesn't wipe well enough and will carry things on her thick fir for awhile before gravity takes its course and leaves it in a random place in the apartment. This was not to be the case.

When I lifted up the sweatshirt so that I could pick up my cat's feces, I discovered that what I had at first thought was a single cat poo was, in fact, many cat poos. My theory? Our litter had become unacceptable to Clark (I had been scooping, yes, but hadn't completely changed the litter in awhile) and he found an amiable way to relieve his bowels and then politely covered up his handiwork, so as not to bother us. It was very considerate of him, really. I don't believe it was Zoe. I doubt she would have felt any shame at leaving her present out in the open for all to see.

This Phone Call proceeded:
"Hey Baby, I'm calling to let you know I may not be here when you get home. I'm heading to the store to pick up some new litter. Oh, and DON'T put on your grey sweatshirt when you get home! ...I'll explain later."

A special message from your friendly Summer Do-Not-Read list.

2007-05-30T23:07:58Z

My sister recommended a book she felt certain I would LOVE. Yes, I like reading about vampires. They're sexy. What she neglected to tell me was that I would have to find it in the Juvenile fiction shelf of the bookstore and that it was about a teenage vampire romance so incredibly cheesy and sterile that I wonder about its claims on the 'Best Seller List' status.

My friends, do not read Twilight. The cover and title are all you'll enjoy (two black and white hands holding a red apple). The rest--from the one-voice characters, the contrived plot and her misunderstanding of Washington state in general (she vocally feels that it is inferior to Phoenix, Arizona) will leave you wanting more...but not from this book. So don't read it.

Well, hello there.

2007-05-25T23:54:59Z

I guess I haven't written in awhile because, on some level, I'm worried that I'm not as interesting as I used to be...that I have less to say than I did before, or that it's less important.

The other reason is that I'm lazy and good at justifying my lack of inertia. And I keep wanting to 'make a come-back' with a clever post that will thrill my audience and make them hungry for more. But all that has accomplished me is silence on my end and numerous days or evenings when I've opened up this page and stared at the screen.

So this post will be short. Mostly it's just to post this and get it out of the way because I'm a little afraid of writing these days and I have to start somewhere.

So there. I'm finished for today. Thanks for reading.

well, at least it's Friday

2006-12-01T17:27:21Z

I predict a very long day ahead. For one, last night I took my sister to opening night of White Christmas at The 5th. To say she loved it is an understatement. Sometimes it's nice to take a non-theatre person to a happy show with dance numbers. She was so excited at the whole prospect and she was ecstatic that it snowed on stage and in the audience.

But I stayed up too late last night. I'd like to sleep. And I'm already hungry. Unfortunately, the area where I work downtown doesn't have any little breakfast nooks to get anything besides a pastry at Starbucks. Today I'm craving protein. And I forgot my left-overs for lunch from last night...which sound extremely good to me even though it's only 9:30am.

Oooh. Sexy!

2006-11-24T22:18:50Z

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Hey, maybe I'm not as cynical as I thought ;-)
...no, I'm here at work and I'd rather be at home...and am very cynical about it! Umm, Liz, that's not the right use of the word. DON'T YOU JUDGE ME!!!

A very special moment between co-workers.

2006-11-13T19:35:53Z

My conversation with my co-worker this morning as a One Act play:

Curtains rise to reveal a small kitchen. Two women stand, fixing themselves coffee.

Me: I've had Private Dancer stuck in my head for the past hour and a half.
CW: And now it will be in my head too.

Blackout.
...AND SCENE!

Ahh, nothin' better than the gift of endless love and Tina Turner.

No end to the madness!

2006-11-03T17:32:33Z

Why are ring tones so obnoxiously luring? I found a website and now all of a sudden, I want ten of them. Do I even use my ring tones? Not really. I have to have my phone on vibrate at work, where nobody can be impressed by Journey's Don't Stop Believing, Funeral March of a Marionette (The Alfred Hitchcock theme) or my new mutilated Atari sounding version of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Honestly, it's VERY addictive. But Madness, I tell you. MADNESS!!!

What's with this weird need to express myself through my ring tones? How is that going to prove that I'm more of an individual? I can't answer that question, but I know it's worked on me. DAMN THEM!!!

luriddreamscape @ 2006-11-01T13:49:00

2006-11-01T21:49:33Z

I just wanted to let everybody know that I'm adjusting well to Seattle. It feels like home here. And though I'm a bit strapped for cash, I'm making ends meet and overall, enjoying myself.

I do miss Chicago though. Chicago and I had just become friends (it took us awhile to get to know each other...first impressions and differences in opinions came between us)...now I miss some of the little things there that enriched my life. Sometimes I feel lonely here in a way I never felt lonely there. I don't know what that means.

But I'm happy to be alive in Seattle. The rain is like an old friend, welcoming me back. It's suddenly gotten rather chilly here, but I'm not complaining. I don't think I can complain about the cold again after the Chicago winters.

I'm keeping busy, but not up to much important. I still plan to take the belly dancing classes I talked about before, but I need to save up some money first. I'm also getting little inkling desires that I want to write again and that is definitely a plus!

Seriously...again?!!

2006-10-31T18:39:56Z

I was opening up a package this morning and guess what I did. Stabbed myself with scissors...again...in the same finger; only this time further up so it sort of interferes with the ease of my typing.

Gahhh!

Hi-Ya!

2006-09-14T03:00:20Z

Just a quick hello from me. I started temping a job and am currently working in a pension department of a metal company. Driving makes me nervous. Very nervous. I haven't driven in four years and now I am driving to and from work nervous. I've gotten lost several times. Today I took a wrong turn, got stuck in traffic and ended up at work half-hour late. It's nice to be able to use the "I just moved her a month ago" excuse. The work is monotanous, but passes the time and they're really big on taking the two 15 minute breaks each day (and that's not counting lunches).

I've been reading Stephen King's Bag of Bones during these breaks and on my lunches. shiva_diva recommended it to me after realizing I was a huge fan of Rebecca (he alludes to it several times...well, so far...I'm almost half-way through the story.

Sorry to those of you I haven't kept up on. I shall endeavor to be better about this in the future. I'm just not quite yet into the swing of things and feel a little out of sorts...which my body responds to by telling me it wants to sleep.

My sister's wedding is this Saturday. Thank you SOO much to everybody for sending me recipes. Umm...that's it for now.

*leaves abruptly, then thinks better of it and sticks head around corner*
"Bye!"

I need recipes!

2006-08-25T20:52:34Z

So next Saturday, which is my birthday, is also my sister's bridal shower. Guess what I have to bring? I mean, besides a gift, which I haven't gotten yet...I didn't even think about that until today.

Two recipes.

Here's the thing. I'm not good with the recipe shares. I don't really have anything you would constitute as a recipe, unless you wanna count Betty Crocker and a few other assorted cook books. Most of the 'special' recipes I use are family recipes anyway.

So, my friends. Take pity on a girl who's having her birthday hijacked.

Recipes would SOOO be appreciated!

Land, Ho!...What did you call me?

2006-08-03T18:14:41Z

Hey Everybody! felipemcguire and I made it safely to Seattle yesterday afternoon with minimal drama, thankfully. Clark and Zoe were absolutely WONDERFUL to drive with...well, wonderful for cats--tolerating the trip with excellence I thought beyond their capacity.

We took a detour and saw Mt Rushmore. It was a quiet morning and not too hot. Ideal for seeing four giant heads on a rock. Several people I've talked to say it's a waste of time, but I definitely recommend it. There's something very other worldly about it. Like in a thousand years, when people have all but forgotten the American empire...there will be these four faces and people will wonder why.

We're currently staying with simpleton_prime and shiva_diva and moving in to our apartment (right next door to theirs, as it were) tomorrow afternoon.

I'm visiting my mom in the hospital today. I'll write about that later. Hope all is well with everybody.

luriddreamscape @ 2006-07-28T08:31:00

2006-07-28T13:47:09Z

It's late morning. I leave for Seattle on Sunday. Yesterday was my last day at work. There wasn't a whole lot for me to do, but it seemed strangely, like any other day. I went out with a few co-workers that have become good friends to The Pepper Canister after work. It's one of our favorite haunts...mostly since it's basically right next door. It was just like any other time we had hung out, only two of us would be leaving. One by one the chapters end. It's strange.

I'll be spending today packing the rest of the odds and ends of this apartment, doing my laundry and hopefully getting some cleaning done. I'm not pleased that it's already unbearably humid, though it's only 77 degrees out.

Then tomorrow we'll be taking a bus or train to the location where the truck is, coming back and loading it up and finishing up the cleaning while simultaneously juggling baby seals...or try to spend quality time with a few more friends.

But for now? I think a shower is in order.

Hmm...

2006-07-15T00:20:37Z

Become a God or Goddess. by zerogirl
Name:
God/Goddess of	Children
Element:	Water
Animal Companion:	Dragon
Weak against	Magic
Weapon:	Sword

Quiz created with MemeGen!

taken from quetz...and I said 'yoink' too!

I'm a tad confused about the dragon being an animal companion...wouldn't that be rather a step down for the dragon? Maybe they meant cohort.

Belly Dancing

2006-07-12T22:01:07Z

So when I move back to Seattle, I want to take a beginning belly dancing class. Beginning classes...for people like me, who don't know what they're doing. I'm not sure when the notion came into my brain. No, this is NOT because of Shakira.

It started with the desire to take a dance class. I was gravitating toward jazz for awhile because I like learning routines to upbeat songs. But where I am right now emotionally, and as far as the jazz dance classes I've taken in the past, I don't feel up to it. I feel uncomfortable with myself, my dancing, clumsy in my movement...I don't feel as connected with my body. What drew me to belly dancing was the spiritual element to it and the environment...and okay, yes, I want to gyrate like that too.

I read an interesting article on the internet that sort of sums up what I'm attracted to in belly dancing. So when I get settled, I want to start taking lessons. My Seattle friends, let me know if anybody's interested in coming along with me.

I Am Ghetto Fabulous!

2006-07-11T22:05:06Z

Today at work my underwear ripped at the top corner near my right hip...a little ironic too, if you consider the time it took me to figure out exactly which pair I'd wear with these low-rise slacks. The decision was a process, and the choice I made? The wrong one, apparently. They are now pinned together with a small, gold--that's right, folks, it's gold--safety pin. I'll attend to the damage later. I think they may have to be tossed, though I really want to try and repair them. They fit so comfortably, you see. More's the pity.

I had the evening to myself last night (as my fella was at a theatre company meeting) and made the mistake of renting the anime Grave of the Fireflies. The short of it is that I cried and cried. It takes place in Japan, during WWII and stars two children, a boy around the age of twelve or thirteen and his little sister, who's about four. It was a simple movie, yet profound and beautiful...but so heart-wrenchingly sad. And maybe my own experiences might have contributed to the way I saw the characters, the familial relationship between the brother and his little sister. I don't know. I do know that I cried though. A whole lot.

I HAD rented a cheesy romantic comedy to watch afterward, because I heard that it was sad (and by it I mean the anime, not the romantic comedy) but I didn't end up putting the first movie in until late...and suffered the consequences. Good movie, Grave of the Fireflies...but so very sad.

felipemcguire came home around 11:00, to find me in this delightful state and offered to stay up and watch Buffy with me. Unfortunately, the next episode is Passions (coming near the end of Season 2), which wouldn't have helped much...or at all, really.

But it was very sweet of him to offer and today I'm feeling quite fine, albeit ghetto trashy chic, particularly with the sauce I spilled on my pants while I was eating lunch. Fabulous? I do think I am!

Monday, Monday...

2006-07-10T22:47:18Z

My first day back at work wasn't as terrible as I thought it would be. In fact, it barely registered that I had been gone for a week at all. Other than a couple of, "how was your week off?"s, it was pretty much same-ole, same-ole. It's strange to think that in a few short weeks, I'll be leaving that place...FOREVER!

Yesterday I had a marvelous evening with langs_place and her husband, P. It was interesting to see somebody besides felipemcguire play a game with such a competitive edge (I'm referring to P here, not langs_place). Not to be stereotypical or anything, but there did seem to be a healthy amount of male agression. I've never been all that competative myself. I prefered when I was younger to play games where you didn't keep score, or everybody won or games that if you DID have winners, there was no possible way you could gloat. The only game I've ever really enjoyed playing cut-throat is UNO, and that's only because it's not a REAL competition to me (it's just fun to say things like, "take FOUR, you whore!")

I need to call my sister. I'm a bridesmaid in her wedding this September and she's just narrowed down the dress to two (one being a cranberry color, the other a plum...both different styles). I'm not sure what size I am anymore. I think I might be a medium--that's what I was last summer...but there's a possibility I could be a large now because of my breasts. I have no idea what sizes I run anymore. I know what pant size I am, but that's a little different. Alas, things were simpler when I was a small, because I'm short...but life moves on and so do dress sizes.

Not up to much tonight. Thinking of walking to Blockbuster and renting a movie since I'm gonna be here by myself...but I'm not positive yet. Just trying to keep myself from going crazy with too much thinking about the move and all of the things I still need to accomplish.

Is it Friday already?

2006-07-07T18:35:34Z

I've just dyed my hair a "coffee brown" (dark brown without going completely black) and am waiting til it's time to wash it out. I'm also looking at apartments in Seattle on Craigslist and...I know there was something else I was doing...but I guess the dye fumes have erased that from my memory.

My vacation from work is almost over. It all went by so fast. I'm not all that sure I got alot accomplished, but I DID get some well-needed rest, and that's always a good thing.

I'm starting to re-watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm on Season #2. This would be the 3rd time I've watched them all the way through. futzyj, felipemcguire and I were talking the other day about how after awhile we just get into this mood where we need to watch Buffy and I think the reason was best summed up by felipemcguire: It's because we start missing our friends.

Hope everybody is having a happy Friday!

Ooh! Time for me to rinse out my hair!