I'm Coming Home to the Lights and Buzz

Happy Christmas Eve! I am getting ready to go to CLRG's parents' house for the day. We are having our Christmas celebration today because his sister has to work tomorrow. I packed up some cookies to take along with me. I hope they like them. CLRG should be leaving work relatively soon and then we will get everything we need to take into his car and hit the road. It's sunny here today, so I think we have little concern about wintry weather. Huzzah.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Well, looky here. It is almost Christmas! I can't believe it! I was pretty concerned that Pittsburgh wouldn't have any snow for the holidays but, on Friday, it started snowing and now we have a respectable amount of snow. It's snowing right now, too! Yay!!! Anyway, so Christmas is fast approaching and it is weird because I don't really feel super Christmasy. Sure, the snow helps; yes, getting gifts mailed out to my family helped; maybe the cookies I will bake today will help also. Buuuuuut.... my family is all kinds of scattered right now and it seems mostly wrong to be apart on the holidays. Pookie and Marms will be together with the dog, but Dadders will be alone and I feel really bad. I'll be here, but thankfully I have CLRG and we are going to his parents' house for dinner on Christmas Eve. I found out that I have the 24th-26th off from work and the thought crossed my mind to go see Dadders, but it really is too far for such a short visit, especially when he has so much work he is doing and so little free time. :o( It just sucks. Rawr. I don't even know what more to say about it.

So, back to happier things. Cookies. I am definitely planning to make chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookies. I thought I had sugar cookie mix here, but I do not so I will probably go to the store to get some to make those. I am pretty excited. I bought a handheld mixer yesterday that was on sale and I think I know where the apron Marms gave me for Christmas last year is hiding. Huzzah!

CLRG insisted on giving me my Christmas gift a week ago when it arrived in the mail. I am very pleased that he did. He got me a Kindle and it is glorious. I finished reading Pride and Prejudice and then read Anne of Green Gables. I'm now reading Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte, which has been pretty good so far. :o) He's so thoughtful. What an excellent gift. What an excellent boyfriend!

Okay... I think it's time to prep for the Cookie Baking Extravaganza of 2009.

I Wonder if You're Still Defending

I should be writing my last take-home final right now, but my level of motivation is at an all-time lowwwwww. For real. It's bad. Thankfully, come Thursday, I will be on a break.

I guess there is a big storm somewhere in the Midwest? My dad told me today that it might affect Pookie's holiday travel plans and I really hope that it does not. I was surprised when he said something about it at all because it really doesn't feel like winter here yet. It doesn't really feel Christmas-y and I would be really shocked if any snow came and stayed. You know?

Okay... maybe I should write.

Already Gone

Oh, Thanksgiving. Can't you be every day?

Oh less than a week to turn in the majority of my work. Can I do it? I sure hope so.

Cross your fingers.

Also, I think it tried to snow earlier. I am not very pleased.

These Flights Connect Through Arizona

Oh my word. I'm running out of time in the semester...

Yikes!!

It's You

SPOILER ALERT: Annoying, gushy lovestruck post below. Read at your own risk...

Today is my and CLRG's first anniversary. I can't believe it, really. One year ago, I made Elle walk with me to Panera to meet him and then he and I went to Silky's Pub, the Cage and Fanattics. We ate pizza and had some drinks and he drove me home and that was it. I'm so happy with him. He is so smart and cute and funny and thoughtful and loving. I can't remember not knowing him. Honestly. It's a very good thing. I love him so much. It's a fact. You probably already knew that.

The picture below is from the Halloween party he had at his house on Friday. We went as Peanut Butter & Jelly. This is also one of the few pictures in which he is not closing his eyes or making a ridiculous face (not that I don't love those. I obviously do. I make enough ridiculous faces, too) and I think it is magnificent.

Kilroy Was Here

This past weekend was really excellent. I didn't have to work on Friday, so I did laundry and watched some tv and did homework and straightened my hair. In the evening, I hung out CLRG. Saturday allowed for some sleeping in, some cuddling, eating out, homework and a movie. Sunday, I worked but even that wasn't terrible and I had a good afternoon. I am liking the way things have been going lately. I usually do, though.

The cats are hanging out with me right now, sleeping in a line at the end of CLRG's bed. Super cute. Just sayin'.

Don't Let Your Mind Get Weary

I am wearing my hair down right now. I only used a little bit of mousse on it when I got out of the shower and it seems okay. It is certainly long, though. Ridiculous.

I have no idea why I am updating. No one cares about my hair. Haha.

I'm Balancing on One Fine Wire

So I have decided to try this new app to blog from my iPod. The one I was using before really didn't let me get anywhere and I could never post. Annoying. We'll see if this works...

Last Night I Dreamt That I Grew Wings

I just got a serious pang of homesickness. I wish I had been able to go to AC Homecoming. I wish that it hasn't been over two years since I have seen Twist and A. I wish it were easier to get a hold of Cupcake. I wish I could bring everyone I love that is in a faraway place and deposit them in the Burgh so I didn't have to feel sad. Would that be so difficult? Thank goodness for my people here, though. At least I have them.

Some Things Are Just Meant to Be

Ummm... I love sour Skittles. I just wanted you to know. They are delicious because they are awesomely sour for a few seconds and then they become regular Skittles again and it is really delightful. I am attempting to power-write a midterm right now and it is very difficult. I think I'm almost done, though. Yep.

I recently bought a frame and put a picture from... the late 60s... of my mom, Uncle S, Uncle R and Geegs hanging out at someone's house. I got it printed last year around Christmas time or something but just never framed it. It is super cute and I love that I can see my face in my mom's. I love it. Oooohh... you know, I bet I have it on my computer somewhere. Okay, well... I found it. But it won't let me upload it. Too bad. :o(

There's Too Many Sunsets I Haven't Seen

So I was looking through some of my pictures from the past oh, two years, and I found the ones I took when we went to Sun Valley and Ketchum, Idaho. Ernest Hemingway spent time there and going to the cemetery in which he is buried was a really moving thing.

There is a memorial in a place not near the cemetery that features part of the eulogy he wrote for a friend that applies pretty well to him, too. Here is part of the eulogy that is drawn from for his memorial:

"He loved the hills in the spring when the snows go off and the first flowers come. He loved the warm sun of summer and the high mountain meadows, the trails through the timber and the sudden clear blue of the lakes. He loved the hills in the winter when the snow comes.
Best of all he loved the fall. He told me that the other night while riding home in the car from the pheasant hunting, the fall with the tawny and grey, the leaves yellow on the cottonwoods, leaves floating on the trout streams and above the hills the high blue windless skies. He loved to shoot, he loved to ride and he loved to fish." -Ernest Hemingway, 1939

I just thought it was kind of applicable for the autumnal feelings I'm having right now. Yep.

These Days I Feel Like I'm Talking to No One

Today is undeniably autumnal. There was a thunderstorm this morning, it's been cloudy (with some sun peeking through at times) most of the day, it has been ridiculously windy and pretty cool. Leaves are starting to fall, and I had to dig out some sweaters this morning to wear to the museum. I'm really enjoying it. I think it is perfect weather for an apple feast or something. I am hoping that CLRG and I can do something fun like that on Saturday, when it is the weekend and I have the day off. I'll mention it to him today in case I forget to say something until the end of the week or something. I want to pick apples and make apple sauce and maybe try to make a pie and make dinner and wear sweaters and be cozy. AHHHHH.

I guess I should take the air conditioner out of my window.

Maybe We Don't Want You Tracking Us Down

So, the G20 officially begins tomorrow, but the protestors are getting warmed up today. Greenpeace people hung a huge banner on the West End Bridge (I think) this morning. Someone forwarded me a really delighful version of one of the pictures. Makes me laugh so much. Oh, silly people.

Closing In

Hmm. I have a lot of schoolwork going on right now. One of my professors decided it would be a good idea to give us a new syllabus last week and a schedule of due dates for the research paper due in December with those dates beginning next week. Great. So I have to read four articles and a book, write a midterm, and prepare a paper topic, a thesis statement and a 4-6 source bibliography by next Wednesday. You know, in addition to the reading I have going for my other class, my internship, and my hours at the factory. Such fun. Suuuuuch fun.

Today is the first day of fall, though. That's exciting. I found a tiny acorn on the ground when I was walking home. I would like to go apple picking and on a hayride. I need to make these things happen. CIDER AND DONUTS, PEOPLE!!!!!

We Are Not Fighting Anymore

I haven't written in a shamefully long time. Boo.

Elle and I successfully moved into the new place. It is very nice and I like it a whole lot. I started my school year a few weeks ago. It's going well so far. Lots of reading, per usual. So, in addition to working 30ish hours, I have class and an internship and hundreds of pages of reading to fit in between having something of a life. Thankfully, I can hang out with CLRG and do homework at the same time, so that is nice. He gave me my birthday present last week (yes, late, but we were busy). It is a fancy ipod and I was/am very excited about its existence. He is just the nicest of boys and treats me so well. *sigh* :o)

Weddings and engagement rings are everywhere lately. There have been a lot of women coming to the factory with MASSIVE diamonds on their left ring fingers. I mean, wow. I have to stop myself from staring at their hands. Haha. It's bad. Also, there are many weddings coming up this next year. Possibly Pooks in May (if all works out), LT in September, Bananne in December. YIKES. It's all very exciting, though. I'm so happy for everyone. I can't wait to help celebrate all of these marriages.

So much to do! So little time! I'll try not to be so neglectful in my blogging from now on. Rawr.

The Last Train Is Nearly Due

Pookie and Al are engaged! It's so exciting. She called me on Wednesday afternoon to tell me the news (which I already knew, because that's just how it goes) and then asked me to be her Maid of Honor. I am so pleased and happy for them. *sigh* Oh, weddings.

Elle and I move TOMORROW!!!!!!! I'm almost ready. Almost. :o)

You Better You Bet

It has been so ridiculously hot in the Steel City the past few days. I feel like I am melting. Oh my, oh my. It has been raining this evening, though, which is happy times. Except that it hasn't helped it to cool down. Whatever will I do. Mayhaps sleep at CLRG's tonight, because he has an air conditioner in his bedroom and I have nothing except fans. I have become close friends with the sink and my cup. Mmmm. Agua.

The picture above is from yesterday when I went to Mellon Park to work an event (Bach, Beethoven & Brunch) for work. I poured coffee for a few hours in the heat. Thank goodness for the breeze! The place was nice. I was able to escape before we had to start setting up and take a few pictures. Things like this really solidify my desire for a nicer, fancier camera. Someday, oh someday. We shall seeeeeeee. I especially liked the walled garden and, when I got home, read about plans to revitalize it and turn it into a memorial garden of sorts. It's a nice idea. The place was really nice back in the early days. It felt like the kind of place I could just go and sit and read pretty much immediately upon arrival. I like that feeling.

I should probably continue packing. Not much left now! Yay!

Let's Take a Ride to the Seaside

Well, Oldface and Bananne left today. They were supposed to fly out around 5:30 this evening but were delayed and ended up boarding at like 8:30. Kind of ridiculous, but what can you do? We had an excellent visit. On Wednesday, they arrived and we walked to my new apartment and then to the Factory and then we went out to dinner with KBrew, which was a ton of fun. On Thursday, I had to work so we didn't do too much during the day. I got some packing done while Bananne did schoolwork and then we went to dinner in the evening. On Friiiiiiiday, we went to the Pittsburgh Zoo! It was a grand time. That is where the photograph above was taken. We took many a picture and saw some cute animals. In the evening, we went to dinner with Buddy and Elle and then went to the Cage for some good, old-fashioned libation. We took even more pictures there, mostly silly, and called pretty much everyone we know. Graaaaand times. This morning, I took them to Pamela's to experience the wonder of the strawberry hotcakes and then took them to the airport in the afternoon. I'm so glad they came. I really, really am. I wish that my Wifers had been here, too, but I know I'll see her soon (in Cleveland, mayhaps).

In other news, Elle and I move in one week! Buddy's parents came today and packed all of her stuff into their car(s). Our living room looks strange without furniture. Thankfully, Elle and I have boxes staged down there, in sections. You know, my room stuff, hers, kitchen, living room, storage room. We should be ready come Saturday morning. We'll go get the UHaul and start the process. We have to get the couch from CLRG's place and have to also move his stuff to HatNick's. Should be fun times. I'm hoping that the potential for thunderstorms that Elle read about for Saturday diminishes... I also wish that my parents or grandparents or sister could be here to help me move. I feel kind of sad when everyone's family comes and mine does not. I know it is not logical for them to come, that traveling that far just to do that is silly, but it would be nice to see them.

Elle asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday this evening. I hadn't realized how quickly it is approaching! 10 days from now, I'll be 24. Crazy, right? Right. Yikes.

I'm Dizzy From The Shopping Mall

So, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes back in September and I found this video during some of my blog reading today and it made me laugh so much. What a hilarious show. I'm very pleased that CLRG had me watch it with him.

Anyway, so Bananne and Oldface are coming to the Burgh this week. Wednesday, actually. They are staying until Saturday. I'm excited to see them. If I can get a hold of Cupcake, I think it would be fun to meet up with her but, as always, the chances of her having time to call me back are slim. We might meet up with KBrew and that will be easier because we facebook messaged the other day. She's game. I can't spend a ton of money while they are here, but I'm sure we'd be content to just hang out around my place if we had to. We'll see. :o)

I Just Wanna Be Your Firecracker

How did it get to be August? I think the summer is flying and July went super fast. It's kind of crazy. Soon, I'll be back in school. Soon, I will be living in a new apartment. I'm actually excited for both of those things. I'll probably take back being excited about school by October, but whatever. Haha.

I got my permanent PA driver's license in the mail on Thursday. I am so official.

Last night was pretty good. I went to CLRG's house and he had a couple of friends/coworkers over so we watched a movie and hung out. Later, after the guys left, CLRG and I made fishsticks (mmm delicious) and then were invited to the porch gathering that his downstairs neighbors were having. We didn't stay long, but it was nice to hang out and we got to see how they'd arranged their apartment. Then we watched Arrested Development, because we're going through the series. We're almost done with Season Three, though, which is kind of depressing.

Anyway, today is Saturday and I don't have to work and I am pretty pleased with that. I don't know what I will do though. I should go figure that out.

We Tore The Thicket Down, Vine By Vine

I got a PA driver's license this afternoon. Of course, it is only temporary until the new one comes in the mail, but I am not a PA driver. Weird, right? They punched a hole in my Michigan license. I thought they would take it away. I am glad they did not. I think that the system that Pennsylvania has for dealing with all things car-related is really screwy. You can't go to one place like you can in Michigan. You have to go to one place for this, another for that, and a third for the other thing. I waited in line today for ages. AGES. Thank goodness Buddy came with me. I would have been frazzled. AND! They didn't even make me take the vision test, so I was happy about that. I just handed over my form and my proper forms of ID, had my picture taken and went about my way. The actual process took no more than 10 minutes. For real.

I just wrote out my to-do list. It is kind of annoying. It is all of the big stuff that has to happen before we move: new utility accounts, rent payments, etc. I just want it to all be over! I want to move! I got a free desk and I am super psyched about it. The girl that lives there now didn't want it and it is pretty much exactly what I need and where I wanted to put it, so she's just leaving it there. Nicely done, no? I know that my desire for moving day to come quickly will be lessened when moving day is actually here and I haven't done anything in while. But- I have been trying to make progress on things. I think I'm getting ready. I also am helping CLRG get ready to move. He has way more stuff, though, so I think it will be super fun.

Okay. I just got really sleepy. I hate that! And my blood sugar has been weirded out all afternoon and that is annoying. Rawr.

It's The Time It Takes To Blow Away

Once again, I have to exclaim about a beautiful piece of choreography. This link will hopefully show you the wonders.

And So I'm Sailing Through the Sea

Sometimes, I get the feeling that I'm fading into the background. It doesn't make too much sense and the feeling is unfounded, but it happens. I feel like it's hard to get a word in edgewise and that people aren't communicating with me in the way I am trying to communicate with them. I feel like I'm just invisible and that the only way I am noticed is by interacting with people in places they HAVE to be, not necessarily WANT to be. This feeling applies toward interactions with many different people, in many different situations. It's ridiculous, I know.

I know.

I was so bored last night. I half-wished for schoolwork. Haha. Thank goodness that can't be granted for about another month. Haha.

I am getting some visitors in a couple of weeks: Bananne and Old-Face are hitching a ride on a plane and coming to hang out for a few days. I'm excited to see them. I'm excited for us to do fun things and for them to meet CLRG and for us to go to the zoo and to Pamela's and to the bar. It will be a quality time.

Well, Let The Geek In The Pink Take A Stab At It

Ummmm... so we are all aware of how much I love SYTYCD. Last night, there was a fabulous piece by Travis Wall that just needs to be shared. It was beautiful.

Nothing Can Compare to When You Roll the Dice and Swear Your Love's For Me

This is the most depressing thing I have heard about in a while.

I Held So Many People in My Suitcase Heart

I haven't written in a while because, truthfully, I didn't really know what to write about. I keep thinking about the concept of home. I want to write about that. I wanted to say that Elle went home earlier in the week and I miss that option. In college, it wasn't difficult to get home for a weekend. Nowadays, I'm not sure what home is to me, so I can't determine travel time. Home is, I suppose, many things. Home is when I am with my family as well as with my friends. Home is Pittsburgh, where I am building a life that is my own (which is strange) and where I spent most of my time and where CLRG is. I think, when I say, "I'm home," I mean Pittsburgh. That's not to say, of course, that my hometown (is it my hometown if we don't live there at all anymore?) isn't a home. I know I am welcome there in many homes and many hearts and I love that. Home is just so tricky. I know some people don't really relate to that, but that's okay. For me, places that are home span the country.

And then home brings up the question of what to do for the holidays. I'm worried that my family will be separated at Christmas. I know that I would be welcome at CLRG's family's house and I would be welcome at my grandparents' house, but it's strange to think that I might not see my parents and sister if things don't work out, you know? The parents have to think about coming out for Pookie's graduation in May and they already had me come out last month and it just seems so complicated. So much more than it used to be. Why, oh why?

In happier news, this weekend is the anniversary of Elle and I meeting. We came out to the Burgh about a year ago to find this apartment and struck up a friendship that I know will last forever. I'm so glad I found such a good friend in her. I really don't know what I would do without you, Elle! Thanks for being so awesome.

Paul Said to Peter, You Gotta Rock Yourself a Little Harder

I made shortcakes this evening. I also purchased strawberries (grown in California, even though I prefer those grown in Michigan) and will be putting them together at some point this evening to make one of my favorite desserts. I am very excited. Sometimes I can't get over how delicious strawberries are, you know? I have been known to clean a quart and have them gone (into my stomach, obviously) in a matter of hours. It's true. I'm hoping some will at least make it to the tops of my shortcakes. Haha.

I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird right now. I haven't read it since high school and so far, so good. It's nice to go back to the things that you started from. Know what I mean?

You Are Not Alone; I Am Here With You

I just painted my toenails a color called Times Square Tangerine Creme. It is nice and summery. I don't really have much else to report (it is sad that my nail polish is the only thing I can think of that is exciting).

I'm listening to The Essential Michael Jackson right now and it makes me both happy and sad. It is very sad that he died so young. Very, very sad. I was at the movies with CLRG when I found out for sure and I really hoped that it was a false report. What an icon, you know? And then to also lose Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett as well? Tragic, really.

In other news, CLRG and I are going out tonight to celebrate his friend's birthday at some beer place in the South Side. I'm sure it will be a quality time. I don't have to work tomorrow (amazing!) and we got free tickets to the Pirates/Royals game from his sister, so I think it will be a nice day. Woo!

I'm Picking Up Good Vibrations

Oh holy crap. This is one of the best videos ever. I was scared when I saw it, and then really excited.

Side note: I wish I knew how to embed videos in my blog.

Dynamite with a Laser Beam

Ughhhh. People make me so angry sometimes. Today, I was at work and everything was pretty standard- I was making many sandwiches for a catering order- and then something snapped in me and I got very angry. The new kid had no idea what was going on and that pissed me off. One of the girls left and handed him her slips for kitchen orders and then, when he gave people the wrong food and asked me what had happened, I could do nothing but stifle a scream. And THEN... this woman came up to me when I was coming back from taking an order out or something and informed me that our bathroom was revolting. REVOLTING. Did we have another she could use? I told her that, no, we did not because the women's room has been out of order since the storm and she got mad at me and said that our bathroom was more revolting than those in New York in the summer (is this supposed to mean something to me?) and she shouldn't have to take her children in there. Honestly, what could I do? I said I was sorry, that it was not my job and that I would attempt to look into it. I used that bathroom today. It was not bad. It's an old bathroom. It gets cleaned with some regularity, so I'm sure she was overreacting. However, I am willing to bet that she doesn't use bathrooms in gas stations and other public places and probably hasn't experienced something as gross as a port-a-john or something. Lord. I was annoyed. It made me even more angry when I found out that she had asked someone else about it who then yelled at my friend. RAWR. I wanted to punch the woman in the face, but I did not.

Anyway, I am working all weekend and I am sure that it will be fun times. CLRG and I are going to his parents' house one afternoon, which will be fun. We have to give them the souvenirs we picked up for them on vacation! Definitely.

All the Birds were Humming, the Bees were Buzzing in the Trees

Well, CLRG and I have returned from our vacation. We had a long day of travel yesterday, which was super fun. We left my parents' house at midnight (Mountain Time) and traveled to Salt Lake, arriving at 3:30, to wait until the TSA people were there to do security things before going to the terminal to wait. We had to almost run through the terminal in Detroit to make our connecting flight, which was fun... But then we made it safely home. The gatos were pleased.

The vacay was excellent. We didn't do a ton of stuff, but just enough. We had time to just relax, which was what we both wanted, and to hang out with the family. We went to Yellowstone, to the museum, to the zoo, we hit up the used book store more than once, checked out a local diner, played games and watched movies. It was a quality time.

While in Yellowstone, we met up with some family friends that were vacationing there. We hung out in Mammoth and had our picnic lunches together. Here we are, all together (CLRG took the picture, because he is a nice boy):


I took a lot of other pictures, of course, throughout the trip. Elle asked me if I had taken any couple-on-vacation shots and, indeed, there were a couple. I like this one. Don't tell CLRG it's posted here, please, though. Haha. We are both looking pretty decent. That makes me happy. He actually smiled!

I'm glad to be home, but I wish the fam were closer. I'm glad CLRG and I were able to take this trip. I do feel bad because, at my mom's surprised birthday party the other day, people she knows were interrogating him and there was nothing I could do. He handled it well, as expected, and all is well. Jackers really liked him, too, which was happy times. Haha.

Now, it's back to the grind. I have internship stuff and work and all of those normal things this week. I am soooo excited... Or not. Can I just be on vacation forever?

Remember Singing the Whole Way Home/About an Indian Summer So Long Ago

I feel like it is necessary to pinch myself sometimes. I am living such a lovely life (and, apparently, an alliterative one) here in the Burgh. I have good friends, a marvelous boyfriend, a cute apartment (come August), a job (yes, it sucks, but it's a job) and am generally happy. One of my coworkers came up to me the other day and said that he had been talking with his therapist and they decided he needed to ask me how it was possible for me to be so cheery at work all of the time. It's a good question, and the answer is obvious: I don't really have anything to be down about. I don't think it's necessary to let stupid customers or little annoying, pointless things bother me. For the first time, I really feel like I know what I am doing. I know where I'm going and I have future thoughts and plans. I'm comfortable with the way I'm turning out. It's a big step for me, one that should be acknowledged, because I'm second-guessing myself less and less and am not as concerned what others think of me as I have been in the past. It's a good feeling. :oD

The countdown to Idaho is down to three days. Yesterday, CLRG and I went to the Waterfront to find him some new shoes. We also went to the bookstore to get some reading material for the plane and such. I purchased two books. He did, too. Hip, hip hooray!! Now I just have to pack. Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Hockey tonight. Game 3. GO PENS.

Sugar Cane in the Easy Morning

Ohhhh boy. It is thundering. I am so excited about the prospect of a thunderstorm. Mmm yes. When I left the Warhol today, it was raining big drops (chubby rain, mayhaps?) but by the time I got home, it was no longer raining. Ah, well. I don't actually want the rain so much as I want the thunder and the lightning and the beautiful sleeping weather. Hmmmm.

The Pens won last night. Huzzah! Next stop: Stanley Cup Final! I'm excited. If the Wings win tonight, the finals will start on Saturday, I think, and if they do not, we must wait until next Friday. I can't wait that longgggggg. Rawr.

I'm Awake, Don't Let Me Go Back to Sleep

Well, the weekend is over. I am glad. Friday night was really low-key. Saturday, I worked and watched hockey, Sunday, I went with CLRG to his parents' house for dinner and yesterday, the holiday, I worked. That is all. Everything else was stupid and irrelevant and mostly about a cookie, which is ridiculous.

CLRG and I now have only 10 days until our departure for the West. I'm not as excited to go as I was because my fears of all parties involved getting along have been heightened since yesterday. I can, at this point, pretty much guarantee that I will be spending the entire time fulfilling my role in life (glue. always am trying to be the glue) and worrying if anyone is having fun and if people are being judged preemptively by other people. Of course, all of this is my fault because I'm the one that decided to be honest about something that did not seem that consequential to me and, yet, made everyone flip out. Yeah. Awesome? Not so much. I guess I can only really say that I am glad to be seeing my family and I am glad to be doing something new and exciting with CLRG. I just really hope that the two get along. It would break my heart if they didn't.

So there's that.

I Can't Feel a Thing Without You by My Side

Today was beautiful. And, yes, I know that it isn't over yet and I still think it's beautiful, but whatever. It was one of those days that shouldn't end because it's so good. I went to bed at a reasonable time last night, slept eight hours and got up for my internship. When it was lunch time, the other intern and I were told that it might be an hour before we could get back in because the archivists each had plans for lunch that would take longer than a standard lunch break. I had packed a sandwich and some things in my purse before leaving home, so I took my stuff and ventured down to the Riverfront Trail to sit on a bench near the Allegheny and soak in the sunshine. I read my book and took my time eating. It was sooooo nice. After lunch, I went back to the museum and found the other intern sitting in the lobby. He said they weren't back yet, so we explored the museum a little bit before going back to work. When I got home, I finished reading my book while listening to some quiet, classical music with the windows of my bedroom open and the sun streaming in. Perfect? Maybe so.

I usually try to read a lot during the summer, because I can't afford the time to do pleasure reading during the school year. I'm doing pretty well so far. I finally finished Emma and have since completed two other books. I'm excited. I think I will probably end up going to the library or raiding CLRG's collection of Vonnegut when I've read through the stuff I have on my shelves here in the Burgh. It's a good feeling.

CLRG and I are going to Idaho so soon! 16 days!! Holy crap. I need to figure out what things I am taking. I don't want to take a lot, you know. I also need to plan the things we will do. I think I keep writing about this. Maybe? I don't know. In any case, here are some things we will probably do:

-go to Yellowstone
-go to the MOI
-take Pookie out for a drink
-hang out with the fam
-visit Tautphaus Park Zoo?
-hang out with MOI friends

Nothing spectacular, really. I just want everyone to be happy and have fun. We'll see how it goes.

All the Roads Lead Back to You

So I bought the new Mat Kearney album this afternoon. I've already listened to it twice. I really like it. Here is a video for one of the songs. I hope you like it too.

I am really sleepy. I think I should go to bed.

Every Color Goes Where You Do

I am quite pleased at the moment. I just returned from an outing with Elle. We went to our respective banks and then ventured into the toy store and a few other stores before getting her some sweet potato fries and me a smoothie and some cookies (snickerdoodle and chocolate chunk). It is sunny here, but not suuuuuper hot, and things are good. I'm a little sleepy, but that's pretty normal. Tonight is the first game of the Eastern Conference finals and I am going to go to CLRG's to watch the game in a bit. I am excited. For real. I am.

In other news... I leave for Idaho with CLRG in... 18 days. 18 DAYS! That's kind of soon. I've been trying to think about packing early so that we're not flipping out the night before. I have also been trying to come up with some things we will do while in town. We're going to go with the family to Yellowstone, of course, so I spent some time talking to CLRG about what he might like to see and do there. I think it will be a fun visit no matter what.

Anyway, I have some time to kill before the game. Maybe I will read. Maybe I will sleep. Hmmmmmm. The possibilities are endless.

Steady Feet, Don't Fail Me Now

OMG. The Warhol is going to be an awesome place to intern this summer. My first two days went really well and I saw some sweet, sweet things. I did some reading on the first day (procedural type things) and then helped with some basic tasks and then got to do some numbering. It was sooooo cool. On the second day, I helped one of the archivists open a new box and sort through the things inside. I really loved it. Oh boy.

In other news, today is Saturday. My only day off from everything. CLRG and I had talked about going somewhere- a little road trip. But this morning he was feeling like crap and hadn't slept through the night, so it's the middle of the afternoon and I am at home, waiting to use the shower. I know that it's not his fault that he feels so badly. I know that he needs to take it easy and try to feel better, but I was really looking forward to doing something different and fun and now it's just a regular day. I, at least, finished reading the book I had been reading this week. That was good. I hope he'll be able to do something tonight.

It's Saturday at the Mansion

I start my internship at the Warhol tomorrow. I'm excited, but I'm also sort of nervous. Plus, I don't want to pay $6 to park there and was thinking I could just ride the bus, but the routes from my place to the museum seem really complicated and I'm nervous that I'll do something wrong and end up late or in the wrong place. And how do you work the transfer slips? I don't even know. Maybe I should drive. Maybe? I don't know.

In other news, CLRG's birthday (the big 2-6) was on Saturday. We went to the bar with some of his friends on Friday night and hung out, just the two of us, on Saturday afternoon before going to his friends' house for a dinner party and the hockey game. It was a good time. I think he had a good birthday. I also think that he is feeling weird about turning 26 and feeling sort of old. He's not old, though. What a nerd.

I finally finished reading Emma yesterday. I can't believe it took me so long. Ridiculous!!

I need to put laundry away, tidy my room and read before tonights Pens game. Game 6! :oD

Sweet Silver Angels Over the Sea

CLRG and I are really indecisive as a couple. Oh man. He never wants to decide what we do for dinner, so I always have to and I never can think of anything. Tonight, however, I know exactly what I want. I am going to go to the store and get the things I need to make it and that will be that. I told him he couldn't complain. Haha. Maybe, since it is summer time now, I can do more cooking and feel more inspired. I should probably eat something other than ramen and pizza and perogies. It might be a good plan.

Hang On to Your Hopes, My Friends

YES! I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

One year of grad school down, one year to go.

Some Dance to Remember, Some Dance to Forget

Ughhhh. Look at the time. I have to wake up at like 5:30 to get showered and ready for work (must clock in at 6:30) and I am not done with my paper. I must finish before any sleeping- I mean, napping, really- because I work 6:30 until maybe 4 and then I have class. BLAH...

In happier news, my dad booked tickets for me and CLRG to go visit Idaho in June. I'm really excited. YAY!

Ain't Nobody Gonna Bring Me Down

1. What's the most exciting thing that happened to you today? I bought cookie dough bites at school. That was pretty exciting.

2. What are you wearing right now? Navy blue sweatpants, brown tshirt

3. List 6 of your favourite songs right now: How about my Top 6 in the Top 25 Most Played in itunes?

a) Punchline- Just Say Yes
b) Jason Mraz- Silent Love Song
c) Miley Cyrus- See You Again (this is a surprise to me.)
d) Tristan Prettyman- Madly
e) Britney Spears- Womanizer
f) Punchline-Ghostie

4. What did you have for breakfast? Possibly some freshly sliced ham and cheddar cheese. I was at work.

5. Weirdest habit? Is really needing to put my left shoe and sock on first a weird habit?

6. What was the last present you received? Pookie sent me a Tigers schedule in the mail!

7. What couldn't you live without? My family, my friends, CLRG (truth be told)

8. What time did you go to sleep last night? I believe it was around 2am.

9. What was the last movie you saw? Um... I can't remember. I watched part of whatever it was that Elle was watching this afternoon, but I don't know if that counts.

10. What did you last watch on TV? Some show on National Geographic about a huge prehistoric shark.

11. What are you going to do tomorrow? Go to my internship at the Ketchup and write my paper.

12. When is your birthday? August 19th.

13. Do you have a middle name? Yes, indeed.

14. Which websites do you usually visit online? igoogle/gmail, twitter, facebook, cnn, pandora, ONTD, espn

15. What are your favourite shops? Target, American Eagle, Barnes and Noble

16. Do you like cake? Yes.

17. What was the last book you read? A non-school book? I think I finished The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway in the fall.

18. What can you hear right now? Punchline on Pandora, my computer's fan.

19. Why did you do this meme? I'm supposed to be writing a paper. Procrastination is the name of the game.

20. What are you going to do after posting this meme? Probably write more of my paper...

I've Been Overwhelmed, I've Been Uninspired

Oh my goodness. Every time I look up at my calendar of doom, I have a little bit of a heart attack. In like a week, I'll be done with my first year of grad school. Museum Studies and Reform in America and my internship at the Ketchup will be behind me. I have the summer to look forward to: a very exciting internship, a trip to visit the Gem State, a visit from the g-rents, spending time with CLRG and Elle, eventually moving into our new apartment, etc. I'm really excited about all of those things... but right now I am feeling a little bit stressed about getting everything done. And yet not really stressed at all. My apathy is scaring me.

This is the Joy That's Seldom Spread

Elle's birthday was Friday and we celebrated in a grand fashion. Pie at work, dinner, drinks at the Cage. I think she had a fun day, which makes me smile. Tappity tap tap!!

CLRG, Elle, K and I went to a Punchline concert last night. It was a ton of fun. CLRG, since he is friends with the band, was on the list and I was his plus one. I was pretty jazzed, because that's a pretty cute thing. He and I hung out outside and by the bar for most of the opening acts, talking to all of his friends and former fellow band members and people from that scene. The Punchline show was pretty awesome. They were filming for their DVD, premiering their new video, and playing a new song all in one night. We had a quality time. After the show, CLRG and I took K and Elle home and then got something to eat and went to the South Side to hang with his friends for a little while. I had a Coke and laughed at the drunk people. :oD

In other news, I put off writing my paper and final essay for one of my classes for far too long. I need to get moving on that and make some serious headway today and tomorrow (I don't think I'm working, which is helpful). I know I'll get everything done, I'm just annoyed with myself for being so predictable and putting things off. Oh well.

How Do You Sleep?

Oh man, oh man, oh man. We went to look at that apartment again. When CLRG and I were in a room away from the landlord, he looked at me and said, "Get it."

The landlord is sending a lease soon, we'll move in mid-August. I'm sooooo ridiculously excited.

So Glide Away on Soapy Heels

Oh, baby, is it ever crunch time. I have a million things due next week and neither the time nor the motivation to do the work. It'll happen, of course. It always does. *sigh*

In happier news, Elle and I looked at an apartment on Monday evening and we absolutely fell in love with it. It's adorable. The top two floors of a house. There is a full bathroom, eat-in kitchen, living room and small extra room on the 2nd floor and then two bedrooms and another full bathroom on the 3rd floor. It's relatively affordable for the neighborhood in which we live and compared to the places we've seen ads for online. We're going back to see it this evening when Elle is out of work and CLRG is coming with us (you know, to ask manly questions and be all official and whatnot) and I am going to take my camera. Elle took photos on Monday, but we were so excited, that we were distracted and she only got like 5 or something. Haha. Would it be bad to just jump on this one without really looking elsewhere? I don't want it to slip away. It's basically perfect.

Are Your Breathing Patterns on Time, Did You Wake Up in the Morning Breathing Fire?

Ohhhhhhh boy. I took a nap when I got home from work this afternoon and, upon awakening, I got a charlie horse in my left calf muscle. NOT COOL. It wasn't as bad as one I had while at Albion when I woke up screaming in the middle of the night, but it was painful. Thankfully, I kept my cool and calmly stretched it out. Damn, though. Damn.

Work was ridiculous today. I was alone on the line until 9am, when Little J came in and then Pauls came at 10. Thankfully, Citizen S was able to let the new cook come out and help me. He ran orders out and did other things that didn't require a lot of instruction. Things got busy starting at like 7:30am and were still flying when I left after 1. It was seriously insane. It is times like those that make me want to scream. I don't have time to eat or drink or use the bathroom. I can only take orders and make sandwiches. The BEST part, though, is when customers get pissed when they do not get their orders instantaneously. Guess what, ma'am? You had to stand in a long line to order... it's probably safe to assume you'll have to wait more than 5 minutes for your food. Ugh. One old lady yelled at me and told me to make her sandwich first. I told her to shut up and then I punched her in the face. Just kidding. I told her that we did orders in the order they were taken. She wasn't pleased. Whatevs.

Tonight, I think I am attending a shindig with CLRG. I hope it will be fun. It's at the home of one of his coworkers and sometimes those parties end up being me sitting on the couch with a beer while everyone smokes outside and talks in computer speak. He's good about remembering me, though, and that makes me happy. I like his friends.

FAFSA time! Go Go Gadget Federal Aid!

Lookin for Fun and Feelin Groovy

Oh me, oh my. I haven't written in a week! Oh boy!

I don't really have much to say today. The weather is beautiful here. I have my bedroom windows open and I did some cleaning in my room and felt kind of springy. Yay.

Easter went well. Sunday evening, I went out with CLRG and his sister and her boyfriend and got really, really drunk. Really. Like, lost-my-contacts drunk. Oh boy. Monday was a rough day.

Time is ticking toward the end of the semester. I have so much to do and so little motivation. Awesome? No...

This Time I Really Think I'm in Love

I was scheduled to go to EDMC today. I got the phone call saying that I didn't have to come in about 20 minutes ago. Last week, I was super glad to get the call because I was really sick. Today, I am glad but also a little disappointed because I would have added hours to my paycheck and possibly gotten some good tips. Oh, well. I have time to do laundry and homework and be slow about my activities and that's cool with me. I think I will begin with a nap.

He's a Real Nowhere Man

*sigh* Oh, Easter Break, I have pined for you for ages. I am so pleased you have finally arrived. No class tonight, no class on Tuesday. Huzzah! I am going to convince CLRG to color eggs with me tomorrow or Saturday. He didn't seem opposed when I brought it up the other day. We are going to his parents' house for Easter. I am slightly nervous, since it is the first major holiday I will be spending there, but I like his parents so I think it will be okay. We're staying over on Sunday night. He and his dad will change the oil in my car, I will do homework, we will hang out. Delightful. I am very sad to not be spending Easter with some portion of my family, though. I don't think anyone is going to my grandparents', not even Pooks, not even my aunt and uncle. I'm sad about it- I feel bad. I think they might go to their niece's house at some point, though, so that works out.

Have I mentioned that I am excited for summer? I can not wait to read what I want to read. I can not wait to do an internship for FUN and work (I don't reeeeeeally want to do this, but it is unavoidable. haha.) and to hang out with my friends and CLRG. Oh boy. I'm so ready. It's coming up much faster than I realize. My last final is on the 5th of May and then I'm freeeeeeeeeeee!! Speaking of the internship, though, it was finalized the other day that I will be an intern in the archives at the Warhol. I'm SO jazzed because I'll be working on the time capsule project, looking through Ol' Andy's random boxes of stuff. So awesome, right? Yes, indeed.

Today, I went shopping with K because I was in search of those elusive black pants for work. I found some, finally, at Macy's. I also purchased this purse (I bought the one that is multi colored on that page) because it was really cute and I was excited about it. I also found two shirts on sale (one of which I will probably wear for Easter dinner). Then, we went to Target where I found a few things that I need for around the house as well as this book. I am a bad girl. But I am pleased with myself, so how does that work out?

I Can't Let You Disappear

I was feeling homesick for Da Och this morning. I listened to Cupcake's Ocho mix while I showered. I printed this picture to hang on my wall:

Living in Da Och was sort of like living in a bubble. A bubble within the LBN bubble. Kind of strange, but true. I spent pretty much every moment I had there and it was heavenly. We did crazy things. I miss our board of quotations and our beautifying experiments on A. I miss dancing on chairs, singing into kitchen utensils. I miss our fabulous parties and the campus safety busts. I really do. I mostly just miss living with 9 of my best friends. It was a treat, you know? I haven't seen A or Twist since graduation... almost two years ago. HOLY SHIT. I graduated two years ago. Lord. It's getting hard for me to remember things from college, which makes me feel both very old and very sad. *sigh*

Hold on for one more day.

Did You Get My Message?

I've had a cold for the past few days. I am not excited about it, but I am excited about the fact that I have been doing a decent job in kicking its ass. Oh yes. Of course, I was particularly sick this morning and I was supposed to go in at like 9am but, thankfully, got a call at 7:30am saying I was not needed. I kept sleeping. I spent the day being guiltily lazy. I ate some ramen, watched Emma, slept, etc. It was nice and I feel like I am improved, but I also feel like I should have been doing homework instead. Hmm. It's a slippery slope. I hope to be completely over this by the end of the weekend. We'll see how it goes.

That'll Be the Day

I had some ridiculous dreams last night. At least two, but possibly more that blended together. It's hard to say. Here's what I recall about one of them:

I was at CLRG's house, but it wasn't the same place. There were a LOT of cats there. More than just his, and I had to separate his from the others. I figured out that the cats belonged to the clown that was in the backyard. Awesome, right? The cats had been trained to come into his house via a cat door and had a remote control that they pressed with their paw to open it to get out. I believe that CLRG was in his room during this time, hanging out with someone's mom and I was really pissed about it, especially when he locked his door. I woke up from that one kind of annoyed with him. Oops.

The second dream is even sketchier than that one. I am pretty sure it involved, bicycles, public transportation, BFF4E, Tinkerbell, princesses and Crazy Heroin Lady. I think that BFF4E might have been drunk and it was my duty to get him home somehow while also dealing with all of the things previously mentioned. I think we went to McDonald's, so when I woke up, that's what I was hungry for. I still am, actually. I think I'll try to convince CLRG that we need to go there tonight. Hmmm. Could be an awesome idea.

I really wonder what caused me to have those dreams. I ate kind of late, right before bed, so maybe that's it.

Leavin, But I Don't Know Where

Archives J tagged me in this note on facebook and, since I need a way to procrastinate, I will write my answers. I was resisting those notes about 25 things and such, but whatevs. I'm cool with this stuff today. I don't even know what I am typing.

100ish Things

1. Real name → Erika
2. Nickname(s)→ Kiki, OWS, Rika, Reek a leek
3. Zodiac → Leo
4. Male or female → Female
5. Elementary → Stewart School (a Place to Grow)
6. Middle School → LJHS, formerly known as LMS
7. High School → LHS
8. Hair color → Brownnnnnnnnn
9. Long or short → In the middle
10. Loud or Quiet → Quiet
11. Sweats or Jeans → Jeans, mostly. Sweats are nice to be cozy in around my house, though
12. Phone or Camera → That's a hard choice, one I do not want to make
13. Health freak → Not so much
14. Drink or Smoke? → Drink
15. Do you have a crush on someone → Oh, you know... on my cute boyfriend
16. Eat or Drink → Both
17. Piercings → Ears
18. Tattoos → 1
HAVE YOU EVER?
19. Been in an airplane→ A few times
20. Been in a relationship → Presently! But that's about it
21. Been in a car accident → Thankfully, no
22. Been in a fist fight→ Not seriously
FIRSTS:
23. First piercing → Ears
24. First best friend → Um... I think it was probably J.L.P.
25. First award → Maybe my spelling bee award in 4th grade?
LASTS:
29. Last person you talked to → On the phone, my dad. In person, Elle
30. Last person you texted → CLRG
31. Last person you watched a movie with→ Gully and Petey
32. Last food you ate → Chocolate Matza Crunch!
33. Last movie you watched → Nora Roberts' Midnight Bayou. CLASSIC
34. Last song you listened to → Josh Ritter- Thin Blue Flame
35. Last thing you bought → Ice cream
36. Last person you hugged → Cupcake
FAVES:
37. Food → Lots of things. Perogies? Pizza?
38. Drinks → I'm liking Yuengling these days
39. Clothing → Cardigans. Mmmm.
40. Flower → Daisies are nice
42. Color → Ugh. I really like pink and I don't know how it happened
43. Movie → Of many, I will say... Desk Set
44. Subject → History
IN 2008, I. . .
45. Kissed someone → Yes, indeed
46. Celebrated Halloween → Half-heartedly. There was a drink fountain, though.
47. Had your heart broken → Nope
48. Went over minutes/texts on your cell. → Noooo
49. Someone questioned your sexual orientation. → No
50. Gotten someone pregnant. → No
51. Gotten pregnant. → Nopers
52. Had an abortion → No
53. Done something you've regretted. → I don't know. Maybe not. Things have been good getting to here.
54. Broke a promise. → I hope not
55. Hid a secret. → I'm sure
56. Pretended to be happy. → Definitely
57. Met someone who changed your life. → Yes
58. Pretended to be sick. → Nope
59. Left the country. → No :o(
60. Tried something you normally wouldn't try and liked it. → Yes
61. Cried over the silliest thing. → Alllllll the time
62. Ran a mile. → Who runs anymore?
63. Went to the beach with a good friend. → Yes. With Pooks, in December. Haha.
64. Got into an argument with your friends. → Not that I can recall
65. Hated someone. → Hmm. I try not to hate, but probably
66. Stayed single the whole year. → No!
CURRENTLY:
67. Eating → Nothing
68. Drinking → Water? Just finished my Mountain Dew
69. I'm about to → Figure out what I am wearing tonight
70. Listening to → Josh Ritter- In the Dark: Live at Vicar Street
71. Plans for today → I worked and napped and now I will read and go to a concert later
72. Waiting for → Spring?
YOUR FUTURE:
73. Want kids? → Yes, I think so.
74. Want to get married? → Yessssssss. I have wedding fever sometimes
75. Careers in mind → Uh huh. I just hope I can find the jobs
HAVE YOU EVER:
83. Lost glasses/contacts → No
84. Snuck out of your house → Haha, no
85. Held a gun/knife for self defense → Nooo...
86. Killed somebody → Nope
87. Broken someone's heart → I hope not
88. Been arrested - No
89. Cried when someone died → Yes
DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
90. Yourself → Sometimes
91. Miracles → Yes
92. Love at first sight → Absolutely
93. Heaven → Yes
94. Santa Claus → Sort of
95. Sex on the first date → Not so much
96. Kiss on the first date → Oh, sure
ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
97. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → Yes
98. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life? → Yes
99. Do you believe in God → Yes
100. Post as 100 truths and tag your closest friends.

So I Stopped Looking for Royal Cities in the Air

CLRG and I had a discussion about photographs on Thursday night. He doesn't like his picture taken. I am aware of this. I decided to bring it up, though, while we were making shells & cheese, because I want to be able to take pictures of us. I'm a historian and it is in my nature to want to preserve things to see them again in the future. He agreed that we could take pictures as long as they weren't super posed and as long as I didn't care that he would make a dumb face and as long as I wouldn't put them on facebook. I agreed. Last night at the bar, we took like 30 pictures. It was very exciting. In them, we are mostly drunk, his eyes are closed and I am laughing, but they are pictures. I am very pleased.

Gully is here visiting, with Petey, since last night. We went to Pacific Ring for dinner and then went to the Cage to meet up with Elle, BFF4E and The Librarian. CLRG and I stayed longer than my guests from out of town did. Not much, but a little. It was a fun evening. Tonight, I think we're going to dinner with Cupcake and tomorrow, we are going to the Josh Ritter show at Diesel. I'm pretty jazzed. The downside is that CLRG won't be coming to those events and I will miss him. I always miss him.

It is slowly dawning on me how little time I have until the semester wraps up and my things are due. I am... excited. Well, I am excited about the end of the semester and the beginning of summer, but I am not excited about the work to be done. Boo. That always happens.

I should shower and get going with the homeworkings and such. I should. But will I?

In the Name of Love

Elle shared this video with me yesterday and I thought it was really awesome. Enjoy.

Push Me Till I Have to Fly

So, confession: I don't like sleeping alone. I've been having sleepover and naptimes with CLRG so frequently since we started dating that I can't remember what it's like to sleep by myself. In fact, I am at home now and I want to go to bed, but I am kind of dreading it. This is a problem, right? I don't know. I also don't actually care because it makes me happy and he makes me happy and this is the way I like it.

Anywaaaaaaaaaay... I have an interview for a summer internship in the morning at The Warhol. I am pretty excited about it. Manders did her museum internship there in the fall and had a really good experience. I am psyched to have the opportunity to do it in the summer and then be able to do a different museum internship in the fall. I'm hoping to do it at the Soldiers and Sailors Museum because my interest in the Civil War has been peaked lately. We'll see how it goes. I think that my friend C would also do his there and we could hang. It would be suuuuuper fun. Wish me luck. I hope it works out!!

Maybe I should get into bed with a book and hope that I can sleep. Yes? Maybe so.

If This Was the Cold War, We Could Keep Each Other Warm

Sometimes I feel like I am doing things all wrong, but then I remember that I am happy and I like the way things are going and I am going to be happy in the long run and it's all okay. Does that make sense?

I believe I found this picture on snippet & ink not long ago. I think it's adorable. It makes me smile. Yep, yep, yep.

There's a Song That Will Linger Forever in Our Ears

I have been very bad with the blogging! Goodness. I'm sorry, March, I have not forgotten about you. I've just been busy and occupied with other things. It's true.

Anyway, the end of March is near. I keep forgetting that this coming weekend is the one during which Gully will come visit with some other Albion people to go to a Josh Ritter show with Elle, Buddy and I. This reminds me... I should call or text Cupcake and see if she wants to come as well. Hmmmmm.

Let's see... happenings of late. There are a few things to report, I suppose. Nothing major.

-Yesterday, I helped CLRG take his lip ring out. Does this make him CG now, instead? I can't decide. He'll probably always be CLRG.
-It is finally Spring, but the weather is being mean and cold and I want it to be nice and warm again like it was once that one week and once that other week. Rawr.
-The Punchline concert on the 7th was awesome. So awesome. I had a quality time.
-I went to CLRG's parents' house on Saturday after I got out of work. He and his dad looked at his car and I sat in the house doing homework and talking to his mom and sister. It was fun times.
-I am hoping that he and I will get to go to Idaho in June for a little while. I think it can work out... but we will seeeeee.
-I have become very interested (obsessed?) with ancestry.com. Oh my. So cool.
-Work has been increasingly difficult to go to. I've been trying to apply for other jobs, but haven't heard a word yet. Kind of frustrating

Well, I need to go find something to lunch on and do reading and research and shower and all of that business because I have today off and I don't have class on Mondays and I need to get something done. Ha.

Pookies!! We got milkshakes when she visited. We are super photogenic. :o)

Spin Round, Tell Me What to Say

Oh my word.

I was alerted to this news article yesterday(?) and read it today and now have goosebumps. Sooooooo cool.

We Got Older, But We're Still Young

Oh my word. I am so ridiculously excited for this weekend, it isn't even funny. Tomorrow, we are celebrating Buddy's birthday by going to dinner and Pookie is coming to visit for a few days and there is a Punchline concert and it will be so thrilling.

The weather is beautiful today and, from what I hear, supposed to be even nicer this weekend. YES!!

The lady at the post office mentioned that we are springing forward this weekend. I totally forgot. Is it really true?

Walls Are Caving In

I have to confess something:

I do not like my internship.

I've been trying not to admit this for many, many weeks, but it is becoming increasingly clear that I am not a fan. K and CK have internships that are fun and exciting. Their bosses are cool and talk to them frequently. RM and I are at the same place and having a lot less fun. Our boss person rarely speaks to us. He clearly favors the interns from his alma mater. I literally have to follow him around to get him to talk to me. I have been working on the same project for the entire semester, sitting at a table, all alone. *sigh* It's frustrated, because I wanted to like it. I thought it would be cool, but I always try to think of a reason not to go. I am going to discuss things with RM tomorrow to decide what our course of action should be. Yesterday, we agreed not to mention it to our professor until after the semester is over, but K's boss said we should talk about it sooner rather than later. It's a sticky situation, you see. My favorite...

The Paper Boy's At It Again, But I Can't Get No Sleep

Okay. I was doing really well today. I left my internship at the ketchup early and came home to get going on the seriously neglected reading I have still yet to complete. I waited for Elle at work and read. I went to CLRG's house and read. But then... I came home... and now I am exhausted and the reading has hit a roadblock. I think I pretty much napped for the past hour. Bad, I know. Bad. Now my goal is to have the reading done by 3am. I could do that. Maybe I could then write some of the book review from three until four and then I can sleep until 6:30 and then get up for work. God. This is such a bad idea.

I did get some of those cherry passion tic tacs when I went to the store to get more coke. Ooh, and Chex Mix! The tic tacs are seriously delicious. They will not last through the night. No, indeed.

And, p.s., while we are discussing things that are bad ideas... I got another shift for the weekend. I'm totally cool with that. I want the hours. The only thing is... it's the 6am shift on Saturday. And now my schedule for the rest of the week is: Thursday at 7am, Friday at 6, Saturday at 6, Sunday at 6. Not. That. Awesome. I was looking forward to sleeping in a little bit on Saturday. *sigh* This happened because Elle got a promotion, though, so it's for a good cause. I think she's going to be a fabulous manager. :o)

Annnnnd... I think you should know that my favorite thing in Chex Mix are the delicious, delicious chex. I like the little chip thingers a lot and I think they used to be my favorite, but I definitely love the chex the most now. When I am at the ketchup, I get Chex Mix at lunch and save the chex for last. Mmmm. Deeeelightful.

In The Dark, I Thought I Heard Somebody Call

I am very excited right now. Here are reasons why:

-Elle has Big Stupid Happy Face
-Pooks is planning to come visit during her Spring Break
-Gull and others might come visit at the end of March

Dinner for K's birthday went well. CLRG, Buddy, Elle, and Davers attended. We went to G's and then K and Davers came over for cake at our house. Marble cake with strawberry butter cream frosting. From scratch. Mmm. So delicious. We had a fun time.

I have a lot of work to do this week, as usual, but I really don't want to do it. Surprised?

If You Get Scared, Just Hold My Hand

So Valentine's Day was yesterday. CLRG talked about taking me to a monster truck show for a really long time and I thought that was what might be happening (although I was still suspicious that he might have a trick up his sleeve) until he called and said that I could back out of it if I wanted. I told him I would really rather just hang out with him, so I went over to his house and we took a nap and he made dinner. I gave him a sweatshirt that he had been wanting around Christmas time. I think he liked it, because he was surprised when he saw it and put it on immediately and looked super happy. I also made him a really classy valentine using construction paper, crayons, doilies, glitter and the art skills I acquired in the third grade:

I think it was a successful endeavor. He put it up on a shelf in his living room.

Today is K's birthday. We're going out to dinner at G's. Buddy baked a cake, Elle picked up a gift certificate for her for Dozen, I picked out a funny card. I think it will be the four of us at dinner plus CLRG and possibly a couple of people from school. I think she's excited about it and I am glad.

Elle just reminded me this afternoon of how soon Spring Break will be upon me. CLRG and I talked about doing something, possibly going to Philadelphia, but we haven't talked about it in a while. I should bring it up. I want to get out of here and see something new, even for a weekend. Hmmmmmmm.

How Terribly Strange to be Seventy

Well, there are approximately 11 days until Spring Training games begin for my beloved Tigers. I am so excited for baseball season this year, it is not even funny. Cupcake texted me yesterday to remind me that los Tigres would be in town to play the Pirates this season, in June. I have been anticipating this for months. She also said that she watched a video that gave her the chills. I just watched it, too, and oh boy. Yes. Chills. CHILLS. This is going to be one awesome season. I can just tell. :o)

Say What You Will

Elle and I went to Target today. We both had the day off and we got paid this weekend, so it worked out. I was hoping to find some new shirts, but none struck my fancy. I will have to go back soonish and get a new bathing suit because they have some really cute ones. Instead of shirts or bathing suits, I bought:

-two new bras (bright, happy colors!)
-underwear
-a black cardigan
-a nightgown
-these shoes
-face wash
-nail polish
-super cute owl photo frame

We went to Taco Bell afterward, which was delightful. It was a quality day. I spent more than I really should have, but I'm okay with that. Haha.

Everyone's At It

It must be the weather. It has to be. I am so unfocused and so unmotivated right now. I have a ton of stuff due tomorrow and I am only on thing #1. Awesome. Or not.

I'm going to a Penguins game with CLRG this evening. I am actually pretty excited about it. I am wearing a really old (okay, okay. 1991) Stanley Cup tshirt right now (I am secretly vying to own it, but he's only loaned it to me at this point) and at the game, we will each sport one of his Crosby jerseys. It will be a delightful time.

Starfish and Coffee, Maple Syrup and Jam

The Steelers won the Super Bowl on Sunday night! It was a crazy game. I watched the game at CLRG's house with some of his friends and Elle. I was wearing a Bettis jersey, waving a Terrible Towel, and jumping on the couch. When they won, I could hear fireworks all over the neighborhood. People were screaming, waving Towels from their cars and lighting things on fire in Oakland. Ridiculous. CLRG is still beaming. It makes me really happy when he smiles like that.

In other news, I am so completely psyched to move with Elle to a super cute apartment come August, when this lease is up. We have lots of grand plans are determined to have the cutest apartment ever. I really just want that time to come now. I'm tired of waiting. Haha. Impatient? Oh, probably.

I Wanna Hear You Laugh Like You Really Mean It

Stupid internet. I wrote a post and it disappeared.

Basically, I wanted to post a link to a cute wedding video that I found on Snippet & Ink yesterday. The end.

Swallow Words One by One

There has, obviously, been a lot of Steeler-talk around here since Sunday's victory. Yesterday, CLRG sent me this article and I thought it was very interesting.

Read and enjoy, then get all wild with Black and Gold Fever. It seems appropriate.

Everywhere I Go, Kids Wanna Rock

OMG.

YES!!!!!!!!!!

These Are the Days of Endless Dreaming

The Steelers are going to the Super Bowl! I watched the AFC Championship game with Elle and CLRG and one of his friends last night and it was very exciting. Especially Polamalu's touchdown in the 4th or whatever. I do not yet have the rabid devotion to the Black and Gold that everyone in this city does. I was trying to make myself feel more invested in the game last night by reminding myself that it equated with the ALCS and such. Next: the equivalent of the World Series. It makes more sense to me when I put it in terms of baseball and think about the Tigers. Yep, yep. Elle and I played some Guitar Hero as well last night and that was interesting. We were both playing on medium a couple of times and not doing totally awesome, but okay. I think we'll improve with time. Haha.

Last night, Chuck IMed me for the first time since November. I replied, but heard nothing. Same thing happened this morning and I was getting kind of annoyed. I think I am open for casual IM conversations, but to IM me and then not do anything seemed kind of ridiculous. We're talking right now and it's going okay.

I watched Iron Man this weekend after a dinner at Aladdin's with CLRG. I would say that we watched the movie, but he totally fell asleep. Haha. I really liked it. It seemed to me to be the most realistic superhero movie I've seen. You know? It didn't really strike me as strange or fantastic that Tony Stark would be doing the things he was doing. Everything made sense. It was a quality movie. Maybe someday I will watch it again and CLRG can watch it, too, and stay awake. :oP

I just realized today that Valentine's Day is coming up pretty quickly. I mean, sort of. What do I do for that? Christmas was tricky enough. I had a thought today that involved me making dinner for CLRG and us going to see a movie. I was hoping that there might be an old movie playing at a local theatre and we could go to that. Or we could just watch an old movie here at my house. Or at his. I don't know. We went to a theatre in Regent Square to see a movie from the 70s with his parents a month or so ago and that was nice. Maybe they do that frequently. I will have to research.