Archive for November, 2008

Vegas, Baby….

{ November 20, 2008 @ 5:53 am } · { travel }
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So next week B and I are going to Vegas.  Yay!

Well, actually, next week B and I are going to Vegas with my mom, step-dad, and sister.  So not exactly a romantic getaway, but still I’m really looking forward to it.  The whole week, no work.  Aaahhhhhhh. 

Anyway, B booked our flights months ago.  He had some miles leftover from when he used to travel frequently for work, so he booked both of our flights.  I was happy, because it meant I didn’t have to pay for it.  But last week he decided he wanted to see if he could change our flights around.  Wanted to arrive in Vegas earlier and leave earlier. 

Fine.  I don’t really care.  Except he told me that he might change our 6:00 p.m. flight out of Vegas to 6:00 a.m..  Whoa…..slow down there, dude.  I am NOT a morning person.  Not even a little.  B well knows this.  So I started whining, bitching, pissing and moaning.  At length.  But then I ended it by telling him, well, I would NEVER do that on my own, but you paid for the flight, so do whatever you need to do.

CLEARLY I didn’t mean it.

Anyway, he went ahead and booked the 6:00 a.m. flight.  Ugh.  It pissed me off, not just because I’m too lazy to get my ass out of bed to be at the airport by 4:00 a.m., but because he totally disregarded what I said.  We discussed it together, I said how much I HATED the idea, and he totally ignored me and did his own thing.  I told him I was unhappy about it (several times) and he told me “oh, you’ll be fine.” 

The next day I was still stewing about it at work, so I sent him an email.  Told him I really was mad about it because I felt that he didn’t listen to me.  If he doesn’t want my opinion, then he shouldn’t ask for it.  I have to deal with that crap all day long at work, I don’t need it in my personal life.  B is not my boss. 

So he called me after work and said he was sorry that I was upset about it.  He didn’t mean to ignore me, he just wanted us to get back early (as opposed to our other flight that was to get in at midnight) so that we would have time to go the next day to get a Christmas tree together.  We had already figured out that that was the only day we would have to do that together.  He thought it would be something fun for us to do together, and wanted us to have enough time to get it, put it up, and decorate it.

Oh.

Then he went on to say that he just wanted to concentrate on the vacation.  He has been to Vegas a number of times, but always for work, and he is really looking forward to being there with me, and showing me around, and just spending all that time together in general.

Oh.

Well, there went all my good arguments out the window.  But for sure I will be a total bitch the morning of the early flight. 

Anyway, I’m definitely looking forward to it.  I am always happy to get away and I have never been to Vegas, so it should a good time.  Any suggestions?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….

{ November 12, 2008 @ 4:47 am } · { food, gym, sucky products }
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Best:  I finally finished the economy-sized packages of the Cottonelle Aloe & E toilet paper (see here).  Don’t judge my level of happiness if you haven’t tried this toilet paper, people.  I’m quite pleased with the Quilted Northern I am now using.

Worst:  I ate no less than four (4) 100 calorie packs when I got home from work.  One right after another, in some kind of nasty shame spiral.  So I had to go to the gym tonight, cause I want my pants to still fit tomorrow.  And you know what they were giving away free at the gym??  100 CALORIE PACKS.  Fuck.  I’ve never been one to pass up free stuff.  But I managed not to eat it tonight.  Go me.

My face is still red…..

{ November 6, 2008 @ 6:14 pm } · { cleanliness, shame }
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So I had to go to court this morning.  No unusual, given my line of work.  But I decided today, as I frequently do, that instead of schlepping my laptop to court with me, I would go to court and then swing by home on my way back to pick up my laptop before heading into the office.

As luck would have it, I pulled up just as a group of fireman were entering the vestibule of my apartment building.  I walked in front of them and into my apartment.  We recently had a new alarm system installed in our building that links up directly with the fire department, and they were coming to test it. 

So I was in my apartment minding my own business when I heard at knock at the door.  When I went to the door, one of the firemen asked if I wouldn’t mind going into the far reaches of my apartment (which, incidentally, is not far at all given its size) and listen while they set off the alarm and report to them whether or not I could hear it.  I did so and reported back that I could hear it, but it wasn’t loud.  I wouldn’t hear it if I were sleeping or even had the tv on.

Then they asked if one of the firemen could come into my apartment and listen to it.  I turned red-faced and said, uh, sure, as long as he doesn’t mind the mess.  And they just laughed and said, oh, he doesn’t care, and I said, oh, I don’t know, it is pretty bad……

Yeah.  I’m somewhat of a slob, ok people?  Not dirty, but messy.  In some cases (like today), REALLY messy.  I was so embarrassed to have this dude come into my place.  So we both went into my bedroom and he small talked with me about how I like living there (I don’t), both of us pretending not to notice the pile of dirty underwear laying on the floor about 6 inches away from his feet (I had to dump the laundry basket out last night to wash the darks, ok, so don’t judge!).   I seriously wanted to floor to swallow me up. 

So I know what I’ll be doing tonight.  I often let the place go because nobody ever really comes over to my house.  And I know cleanliness is supposed to be its own reward, people, but well, its just not, ok?  I usually manage to keep the kitchen clean because I hate a dirty kitchen/dirty dishes, etc., but as far as picking up my clothes around and sorting the mail?  Yeah, I don’t do that as regularly as I should.   

In my defense, I have far outgrown my apartment.  I’ve been there for 8 years, and I’ve accumulated a lot of stuff.  I’m forever moving stuff around, trying out new ways of organizing stuff, but even when I get everything clean, I still have a lot of stuff that has no place.  Like the big pile of shoes in the middle of my room.  Or a bunch of kitchen stuff.  And too many books for my bookshelves.  I seriously need to unload.  And move. 

Incidentally, we (me and the long-suffering fireman) couldn’t hear the alarm.  He told me, huh, that’s weird, it is REALLY LOUD everywhere else.  I told him, oh, that’s nothing new.  Me and my apartment are like the red-headed stepchild of the complex.  It is kind of odd though, considering that the ENTIRE SYSTEM is hooked up through my apartment.  Perhaps the installers should have done something in those big holes they drilled in my kitchen wall??

Anyway, folks, the moral of the story here is to keep your house/apartment decently clean.  Nobody wants to have to stand around in a pile of your dirty underwear.

Politics and Religion

{ November 5, 2008 @ 9:07 pm } · { 2669146, babies }
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I never want to discuss politics and religion on here.  In fact, rarely do I ever want to discuss politics and religion at all.  But I was bothered by something I read today and just felt like writing about it.  At the risk of turning around and offending someone here.  I apologize in advance if that turns out to be the case.

So there’s this girl I know.  Went to my high school.  Wasn’t really friends with her at the time, but have become friends with her because she is good friends with one of my girlfriends.  So she ended up being around at different parties and events and now we are friends. 

She has 4 kids.  She and her husband are great parents (in my opinion) and have wonderful children.  They are very also religious. 

She and her husband were very strong fans of McCain, so they were disappointed when McCain lost.  And this morning on Facebook she wrote posted a story about a conversation that she had with her seven year old son.  Essentially, she had a conversation with her kids this morning about the election.  They were disappointed that Obama won, because of course they knew their parents were voting for McCain.   

My friend was touched that her young son, who is apparently very thoughtful and sensitive, started tearing up and asking “what about the babies?  What about the babies that Obama feels it is right to kill?”

Now.  I am bothered by this on a number of levels, but my view on the pro-life/pro-choice debate is not what is important.  But to burden a young child with this idea of killing babies?  I don’t like it.  Let alone to stick Obama with this label as someone who is in favor of killing babies?  I’m sorry, pro-lifers, but I feel like this is going too far.

And already I can tell I’m crossing over the line I didn’t want to cross, discussing my political/religious beliefs here, inviting debate on a subject that I don’t really want to debate because it is a very sensitive issue and one in which agreement is not possible, regardless of how persuasive my argument.  So really, let’s not debate it. 

But anyway, my main beef with the pro-life movement is not the beliefs/ideology.  Mostly just the expression of some of those beliefs.   I don’t like how pro-choicers are referred to as “pro-abortion”.  I am not pro abortion.  I would not myself have one.  But I do believe in choice.  And being pro-choice does not mean I’m a baby killer.  I couple of years ago I went to a fundraiser dinner for a Christian pregnancy crisis center with my best friend, who is very strongly pro-life.  I wasn’t offended by the presentation or ideas or anything.  I too have a heart.  I too can weep for life lost.  I too feel sick to my stomach at the pictures of aborted fetal tissue.  I too am saddened by horrific stories of abortions gone wrong, and the mother or fetus suffering in some way.

But that was when I first realized that the pro-lifers refer to pro-choicers as pro-abortion.  I’m sorry, I don’t like it.  That is grouping the whole lot of us under a heading that doesn’t fit.  To me it is akin to calling pro-lifers “pro-I-like-babies-to-be-born-into-abusive-homes” or “pro-teenage-pregnancy”.  Silly, I know. 

But that’s how it feels when you assume I (or Obama, or anyone else who is pro-choice) like abortions and/or killing babies. 

Anyway, I don’t know.  Should young children really be included in conversations about such topics?

A little catch-up

{ November 4, 2008 @ 4:05 am } · { dating, family, friends, life, love }
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Hey!

I briefly considered doing NaPoBloMo (or however you say that – I find the name seriously annoying), but then I thought, “Seriously, [J]?”  I consider myself lucky if I can dream up enough to say once every two weeks.  I’ve never quite found a way to turn the mundane into something entertaining.  Is it wrong that the only reason I ever really wish for a more exciting life is because it would give me something to write about?

After my last post, Jess asked me how I’ve been doing (due in no small part, I’m sure, to the fact that I’ve barely been writing).  

I’ve been fine.  Same old, same old, you know?  Same job, same house, same boy.

I participated in a couple of breast cancer events during October.  Of course, I do it because it is a good cause, but also, it gives me an opportunity to hang out with the women in life.  I did a walk with some friends (one a survivor) and another with my family (grandma is a two time survivor).  And don’t get me wrong, I love the men in my life beyond measure, but there is just something different and wonderful about spending good time with the ladies.  More giggly, more open, no shame. 

Plus I love pink stuff.

What else……

The last few days here have been GORGEOUS.  Sunny, warm, beautiful fall colors.  But man, it is HOT at work.  Ugh.  Ridiculous hot up in there.  I have a window in my office, so it is a little better.  But my poor clerk out in the front office sweats his ass off, and then it starts to smell like a boy’s dorm in there.  Not great.

B and I had an argument this weekend.  More specifically, I was mad at him.  We very rarely argue, mostly because he makes it SO HARD.  He does not engage in an argument.  And then I end up wondering if I’m nuts, being an irrational female.  

Truthfully, though, I know that isn’t the case.  I very rarely get mad at him.  Annoyed, yes.  Mad, no. 

Anyway, like I said, it is really hard to argue with him.  I think he doesn’t engage in it because he has absolutely no clue what to do/say when I get mad.  I have never seen a more deer-in-the-headlights look.   It is totally classic.  So he goes silent, and then a minute later will try to say something funny, hoping, I think, that I’ll forget and move on.  Sometimes I do. 

Yesterday I didn’t.  I kept at it.  Told him I was mad and why.  Then he left to go get some stuff we needed to cook breakfast.  He came back and tried to make regular small talk.  I let him know again that I was mad.  While we were cooking, I went on a very slight rampage during which he just stared at me with the look discussed above.  Didn’t say anything.  We sat down for breakfast and he was chit-chatting away.  I told him, “what you did hurt my feelings”.  I got a very begrudging apology (finally at least that).  This continued and he realized I wasn’t going to just drop it. 

I told him that his apology was one of the more pathetic ones I had heard lately.  Then he told me that he felt attacked and that I was overreacting.  I, of course, turned on the waterworks (which always pisses me off), and left the room for a little while. 

But usually when we argue I just end up feeling sorry for him because he just has no idea what to do/say.  Eventually I got over it and told him if he thought that was an overreaction, he had a few things to learn about women.  And my favorite part was how happy/relieved he was that I wasn’t mad anymore.  We had a nice make-up, and then when I wasn’t coming at him in anger, he gave me a real apology.  We rarely ever argue, so I think it scares him when I get mad. 

If/when we ever move in together, I think it is going to be a steep learning curve for him.  It is easy to keep things nice and not get mad often when we only see each other during the weekend and don’t share any responsibilities.  That’s the main thing I worry about with out relationship.  If what we have now will translate nicely into a relationship that is full-time and with shared space and responsibilities.  But that is a transition that every couple has to make at some point, and when the time comes, I think we’ll be ok.