April 15, 2008

Flightiness

Last night I accidentally set a toaster oven on fire.

This morning I put in fresh contacts, but my vision was still blurry. Took out the contacts, then removed the old ones that I forgot to take out last night.

November 29, 2007

Birthday Surprise

Here's to growing older and wiser, and maybe, just maybe, less of a wiseass.

November 21, 2007

New Haircut

It's been about a week now. I've been bored for a while, and that is dangerous when it comes to hair. So far, so good.

November 12, 2007

Remembering to breathe

I'm hoping not to overextend myself as we head towards the end of the year. Despite this worthy goal, within the past week I have had plans every day since Wednesday, which included movies (Blade Runner, Darjeeling Limited), a craft show hosted in someone's home, dinners with friends, and a birthday party for a one-year-old.

Today I have a reprieve, then over the next few days I have book group, a book group discussion featuring my writing teacher's books, and a haircut which unfortunately is going to clash with this month's blogger gathering. Another free evening, then Saturday we'll see some friends who are passing through on their way to spend Thanksgiving with family. (T-day is next week, already???) And while they're only going to have a peek at our place, I've been in a bit of a panic about my lack of progress with unpacking and getting rid of things. So that's been going on as well.

And now I have two dates marked for holiday parties, with at least one more to be added.

November 10, 2007

Peeved

What will I be doing for my birthday? According to the condo association, I'll be spending the evening at our annual meeting. Rude rude rude.

March 15, 2007

Spring is near

It's been so temperate here that I slept with the windows open last night. And by temperate, I mean that it was nearly 80 degrees in the condo, which for me is closer to being unpleasantly warm.

January 28, 2007

A little too ironic

Tuesday the 16th was only slightly out of the ordinary for me. I had a long overdue doctor's appointment, the kind that involves wearing a paper gown and sticking one's heels into stirrups. With that obligatory unpleasantness out of the way, I drove back home and took the train into work.

That weekend I received a message from Stylefeeder that I had won their daily random drawing for Tuesday, the 16th. Stylefeed allows you to build your own wishlist as you browse the web and come across items that strike your fancy. I noticed Paul's Stylefeed on his blog, and decided to try it out. So thanks to Stylefeeder and ultimately to Paul, I am now the happy owner of a brass handcuff lariat necklace, designed by Erica Weiner.

Getting home from work Friday night, there's a letter from the city police department, telling me that I was ticketed for turning on a red light. There are pictures of the car, turning while the light has been red for .77 seconds, completing the turn in under two seconds. I check the date and time in my calendar, and realize it was Tuesday the 16th, when I'd gone in for my appointment. In my rush to get home to park the car to get on the train to go to work, I turned just after the left turn arrow had disappeared and now I have my first ticket. Arrgh.

So in one day I have been ticketed and won a necklace featuring tiny handcuffs.

January 11, 2007

Dipping in (as opposed to diving)

Life has settled down a bit. We were able to close on our home at the end of November, and we moved into the condo straight away. There was a lot of packing. Now there is a lot of unpacking, but we'll get there.

The living room has been painted a blue (Cosmos) and the office has been painted green (Sea of Grass). There's more painting in the works, but right now it's time for touchups and for getting some bookshelves from Ikea. We still have our storage unit, so the sooner we can get the shelves the sooner we can get rid of the unit. Maybe this weekend, since I'll have Monday off for the MLK holiday - hurrah!

I've been reading a bit, catching up on shows like Entourage, Extras and season 3 of Battlestar Galactica (yessss!). Thank goodness for rerun marathons. Our fourth Tivo has been working - so far. Keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

As for blogging, the break was nice, but it's nicer to be back.

October 19, 2006

Irresistible Force, Meet Immovable Object

Boo Hiss the First: The closing, set for the end of October, has now been extended to December 30, due to construction delays. There was the hope that we'd be able to close and move into our new place at the end of November, but it's not happening. This wouldn't be a problem, except for...

Boo Hiss the Second: Our landlord, who doesn't want to be in town during the holidays to get the place ready for new tenants. So we will be officially homeless as of December 1.

And a big "You suck" goes out to: One of my sisters, who's renting a four-bedroom house but can't help us out for a month. (The rest of my family is allergic, so living with my parents and other sister isn't an option.) Granted, one of the bedrooms is reserved for the owner, who's letting someone store their stuff there. And she has her dog, who will not deal well with cats. My thought was to keep the cats closed off, but I'd need two rooms or spaces that can be closed off. And I was even willing to pitch in for rent. But no, my sister's gotta have a guest room available, while I need to find a temporary living situation for us and two cats.

We're looking into short-term housing. Also, we have already received offers of a place to stay or stash our stuff, including the most generous Mr. and Mrs. Minch, who have their own modest place, their own cat and yet are willing to take all of us in. (I'm not sure everyone who's offered realizes we need to account for our cats.) So it's not all bleak. It's just incredibly @$#%! aggravating.

October 18, 2006

A good phone call

One of my sisters called me at work this morning to say she's gotten engaged. She's still on vacation in Florida with her boyfriend fiance. He's a good guy. I was surprised to realize they'd been dating for some six years. This is the good sister, the one who still lives at home instead of living in sin with her boyfriend fiance.

Our mother, who was quite upset that one of her 30-year-old unmarried daughters was going away with her longtime boyfriend for a week, is now quite happy that she will come back home with a more respectable status.

As for me, I'm hoping the wedding is in a year so I have time to shed some weight. I don't want to be singled out as the fat older sister.

October 09, 2006

How it goes

Work has been busy. So much so that sometimes I am head in hands. Or walking down the hall and forgetting why I was doing so.

But life has not been all work. In the last few weeks I have been to a bead show and a bead shop with Mrs. Minch, and we made necklaces. Or rather, I contributed my vision and Mrs. Minch put the necklaces together for me, having the tools and know-how. We also celebrated Mr. Minch's birthday with slabs and sides at Fat Matt's Rib Shack, followed by pool at the Independent.

Yesterday Mark and I went to a members' preview of the Louvre exhibit at the High. We got our picture taken with the King and Queen, or rather people dressed up like French royalty. There were some really wonderful pieces. It's hard though, going through a crowded exhibit. I hate feeling rushed through the exhibit and dizzy from navigating the crowds. I think I may become a member of the museum so I can go when I feel like it.

Just learned that the closing on the condo is postponed again. Hopefully we'll be closing next month, but it could be end of December, which doesn't make me happy. But I'd rather the place be in good shape than slapped together.

Just finished reading The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. I liked it, but it feels a bit slight. Hopefully I can think of something more comprehensive to say in book group tomorrow night.

Racing through season two of Battlestar Galactica. The new season is being Tivo'd so I'll be able to keep up. Same with Veronica Mars.

Went to a baby shower over the weekend. I was one of two women to include detergent as part of the gift - the mother-to-be was really appreciative of the funny yet practical present.

Saw The Illusionist as well. Everyone did a good job, most especially Paul Giamatti. Looking forward to The Prestige when that comes out.

This weekend we'll be in Tampa to join friends and family for a tribute/memorial for Mike Simanoff. Friday would have been his birthday.

October 05, 2006

Sightings

While having dinner with friends at the Flying Biscuit in Midtown, we spotted a man walking his pig. Not one of those wee pot-bellied pigs but a pig-sized pig, cute wiggly tail and all.

September 22, 2006

Let there not be a real evacuation today.

Yesterday was the annual evacuation drill for my building. For those of us who were willing to do so, we could walk the emergency stairs all the way down. Those of us not inclined could take the elevators. I chose to walk from 55 all the way down to ground level - which is more than 55 flights of stairs, incidentally.

Today I'm shuffling around like an old man. I feel like I'm in that Brady Bunch episode where Mike and Carol trade parenting jobs and find that at the end of the day, they are equally exhausted and having to hold onto each other just to stay upright.

For many reasons I hope I don't ever have to evacuate for real. Without many people in the stairwell I can get down to ground level in approximately 22 minutes. But with the whole building population taking the stairs, it would take much, much longer.

At present, I especially, most fervently hope there isn't an actual evacuation, because today I would be one of those slow people I was stuck behind yesterday on the stairs.

September 19, 2006

Ebb and Flow

I've been troubleshooting the DSL connection at home. It's very frustrating when things don't work and you don't really know why. Actually, the DSL is working now, but it's restoring the network that is now the issue. Working on this stuff - and being unable to fix it - makes me sorely vexed. I just want things to work, dammit - is that so much to ask?

Lately I've been of two minds about blogging. Granted, there's never really been much focus here, but I've been floundering of late. I need to rethink what I'd like to do in this space.

September 10, 2006

Where I've Been

Laying low, mostly. Finished Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Me Talk Pretty One Day. Currently reading Magical Thinking. Getting caught up on season two of Veronica Mars. Currently watching the semifinals and finals of the U.S. Open on the Tivo. I already know who's won the tournament but it'll still be good to watch the matches.

Was in Philly for part of Labor Day weekend while Mr. Arkadin was at a conference. Had a cheesesteak at Pat's King of Steaks. Went to the Rodin Museum, which was wonderful. Great art reminds me that there is still beauty and humanity in this world. Which was good, because getting through airport security these days turns me into a misanthrope. Forgot to pack my cosmetics in my checked luggage. I wish that the confiscation of my mascara really did contribute to national security, but it's just a stupid, pointless exercise.

Work's been busy. It seems that certain attorneys consider me their particular librarian, and they've all been calling me for help. It's flattering, but at the same time alarming. It's like, holy crap, they trust me to find what they need? Thank goodness for my colleagues, who let me run my ideas by them.

Went thrift store shopping yesterday with Mrs. Minch. The economy must be slowing down, as there were slim pickings for anything decent at the Junior League shop.

Stopped by to have a look at our condo that's supposed to be ready in two months. So far not much seems to be in place except for the gleaming bathtub. Not too worried yet. I should go check out paint samples in the meantime.

August 10, 2006

Just lucky I guess

I was getting ready this morning, walking about the apartment when I heard bits from the radio. London. Heathrow. Transatlantic flights. The news didn't really sink in at first. Then I felt relief that things had been stopped in the nick of time.

I'd been disappointed that I didn't have a few more days in London after my tour, but I'm grateful that I kept such a tight schedule. The inconveniences I experienced are nowhere near what people are going through now. I'm concerned about friends who are still traveling and caught up in the delays, so I hope to hear from them soon.

In my toiletry kit I carry a hair cream product called Secret Weapon. Somehow I don't think that would have been too amusing to security officials.

August 08, 2006

There and back again

It was pretty hectic in the weeks leading up to my trip, and then I was on the go from day to day, with little access to the outside world. Will definitely fill in the details, but just wanted to say that I'm here.

And how are you?

July 25, 2006

Mad, and soon for England

That's "mad" in the dotty, zany sense. I'm in much better spirits now that last week is finally over, and that tomorrow I get on a plane and leave for the mother country.

I still have packing to do. But thanks to Mrs. Minch, I have a hanging toiletry kit as well as a second opinion on what clothes to bring. So I'm practically there. A little more laundry and I should be set.

I shall have a day in London where I shall meet up with friends and check out the new Tom Stoppard play Rock 'n' Roll. v.v. excited about that. I hope I can pick up a copy of the play at the performance.

Better finish packing, or else I won't get any sleep

July 20, 2006

You know I love you, don't you?

Late last night or early this morning I dreamt that I was in a big music store, maybe a Tower Records. A friendly, blond middle-aged man in a red vest sidled up, wanting to see if I needed any help. It was Howard Jones.

I went off and found a copy of Howard's latest release, bought it, and came back to him for an autograph.

I have no idea what this means, but while the past few days have not been as strained as Tuesday, I am so ready to be done with this week. Tonight I shall have a large, potent cocktail that will knock me out. Perhaps Howard's career will have made a major comeback in my next dream.

July 04, 2006

4th of July

Mr. Arkadin ran the Peachtree today. Considering he had knee surgery earlier this year, that's quite an accomplishment. I cheered him in spirit; after dropping him off at the Marta station, I went back to bed.

Tonight we might go see the fireworks in downtown Decatur.

Life is good. Generally it's been quiet, although it's certainly been momentous for the past couple of weeks. We've reviewed different mortgage programs and we're in the process of applying for one. I have booked my ticket to England and have started putting together supplies for the trip. It's been a bit hectic at work; I find that I can really focus and buckle down when I have to - yesterday was my last day before vacation. I'll be home for a few days, then we head to Myrtle Beach to take a splash in the ocean and see my in-laws.

Things have been on an even keel. I work on enjoying life in the moment, on being self-aware and living in a way that makes me feel good about being in my own skin. I try to be more patient and accepting, which means that I don't get as worked up as I used to about things that are beyond my control. However, I'm more choosy about how I spend my time and with whom I spend it. I'm grateful to be surrounded by good friends and family, near and far.

Perhaps the most significant event is that my therapist and I have called it a day. Because of my progress, it's a subject we'd discussed for sometime. So it was a thoughtful, mutual decision to conclude our sessions. Overall it was a good, positive experience, made possible by awesome health insurance. (Another plus to my already good job.)

On this Independence Day I am thinking of independence in a more personal way, but I am also glad to be in a country where personal freedom is still an important value. I hope it remains an enduring one.

June 28, 2006

Backstory: Finding Our Home

Click here for the larger image.

It's been a bit of whirlwind lately for Lady Crumpet. Just days after signing the contract for our condo, I learned that I'll be going to England in a month for a Jane Austen pilgrimage. (Chatsworth, Lyme Park and Chawton House, here I come!). More on that later.

Our condo is situated in a converted apartment complex. Basically the buildings are being gutted and completely renovated. We picked a 2-bedroom top-floor unit (see illustration). We were pretty bowled over by the model - (see living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom). Hardwood floors in the main areas, tile in the bathroom, carpet in the bedrooms. I am very, very excited about the kitchen. I will have room to work and places to put things!

Our closing date is set for late September, provided all goes according to schedule. This is what my building looks like at the moment.

In the past week or so we've been shopping around for a mortgage. We've decided which one to apply for, so now we have to fill out the application and gather financial papers together.

My realtor has so far been really wonderful. He served us ice cream when we first met with him - the same day that we went out and found the place that we wanted. He was with us when we went to sign the contract. He sent us a note of congratulations - and to my great surprise, yesterday I received a delivery of flowers from him! So if anybody is looking for a real estate agent in Atlanta, I have someone I can recommend.

June 27, 2006

Small creatures 3, Ulysses 0

We rented a cat trap from the county for about a week. On the first day that the trap was set, Ulysses got caught. We freed him and he was smart enough to avoid the trap for the duration. If Tabitha came around, she was too smart to make the same mistake.

Ulysses hasn't brought us any "gifts" but I've seen him hunt. The first time, a foul black bird came into the house through the chimney. We managed to shoo the bird into the kitchen, planning to open the back door to let it out. But the bird flew too low and Ulysses managed to nab him. He ran around the house with the bird in his jaws. There was an eerie, low moan coming from the bird. We shooed Ulysses out of the house. He ran about for a bit, but then he paused and slackened his jaw. The bird managed to fly off, which was a relief.

The second time, I came around to the back yard. Something brown skittered across the grass - a chipmunk. Ulysses was right there and pounced. I tried distracting him, flailing my arms and clapping my hands. I called to him, yelling "Hey! Let it go!" He put it down, intending to bat it around a bit, but the chipmunk ran around the corner and got away.

Today, as we got out of the car and walked towards the house, Ulysses dashed towards us with something in his mouth. Some kind of bird. The agitated chittering of other birds filled the air. I ran at him, yelling and clapping. "Buddy! Let go! Let go!" He dropped the bird - a robin, who sat on the grass, stunned. It regained its senses quickly enough and flew off. I don't know how injured it was. Hopefully the bird is ok.

The score is arbitrary, of course. It's probable that Ulysses has caught critters when we haven't been around to try and stop him.

June 16, 2006

The Quick and the Dirty

We met our realtor on Wednesday, having only spoken before by phone and email. That day he showed us four properties and we reserved a condo that we really liked. We saw one more yesterday and drove past a few others, but it became clear that the first place we saw was first choice. It means we can walk to public transit, walk to shops and restaurants, walk to the library, the post office, and jury duty if need be.

Tomorrow we go to contract! As first-time homeowners!

June 09, 2006

Stupid cat still at large

I haven't seen Tabitha in days and I'm worried. Lately I've seen a small raccoon come and eat the food on the back porch, when it isn't the gray cat Ulysses. We keep trying to point Ulysses to the bowl of food on the front porch but if he's out back he doesn't see why he shouldn't eat the food on the back porch.

I finally made some calls. Apparently I can rent a trap from my county animal control for $20 for 7 days. They have to deliver the trap and set it up, and I have to contact them if something is caught. I guess I should try it but I'm worried that everything except Tabitha will get caught. I don't want Ulysses to get caught 'cause he might get taken away by Animal Control. My county is fairly notorious for putting animals down really quickly.

Stupid, ungrateful one-toothed old cat who ought to know better and come home. Maybe I'm the stupid one for being the softie.

May 24, 2006

Curses!

Tabitha continues to elude us. We catch glimpses of her, but she runs away whenever we try to get close. Last night, she was lounging on the front porch railing. I got out of the car and sauntered towards her, but she knew what was up.

I wonder if it would be possible to catch her with one of those traps the humane society uses to catch feral cats. Would she be gullible enough to walk into one if I put in an open can of cat food? Or would one of the other strays walk into it?

It's only been a week now. Trying not to worry. Mainly I'm just aggravated that she foils us again and again. For a fat aging cat with one tooth, she is pretty spry.

May 16, 2006

Something Isn't Quite Right

We came home and found Sheba walking in the grass, then saw that the back door to our apartment was wide open. Someone had jimmied the lock.

Sheba came when I called, dear sweet cat. I picked her up and brought her into the house. I called for Ginger but she didn't answer. Eventually I found her huddled behind the futon in our office.

Tabitha is somewhere in the back yard again. Hopefully when she's hungry enough she'll come around and we can catch her. Our neighbors know to look out for her.

The dvd player is gone. But the Tivo was intact, as were our computers, and basically everything else. The person(s) pulled out drawers and tossed their contents onto the floor. Nothing of any real value was taken, possibly because the apartment is in such disarray that it's hard to look for stuff that's easy to steal, easy to fence.

We called 911 and then our landlord. An officer came and we showed him around. He was frustrated because there weren't any good surfaces that could be fingerprinted. We pointed out the smashed window in the other half of the duplex - our landlord's apartment when he's in town. Doesn't look like anything was stolen from over there.

So we have case numbers. There will be repairs. Tabitha will come home, if she knows what's good for her. I think I'm still a little too surprised to be rattled, but I guess for a sucky experience it could have been much worse.

May 04, 2006

Wax 'n Facts Fostering Kittens

Read here about the kittens that were found in a bricked-up crevice between Wax 'n Facts and The Vortex in Little Five Points. It appears that someone may have abandoned them by dumping the kittens - determined to be about 4 weeks old - into the crevice! Apparently there's enough interest in finding homes for the cats but if anyone wants to chip in money for their vet care, a PayPal link has been set up.

April 10, 2006

Miscellany

I loved Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It's been a while since I laughed til it hurt. It's wonderful, although I wonder if adults will enjoy it more than kids. You must watch the credits - look for the bunny pairs that rub noses! Mrs. Minch and I went gaga every time we spotted them.

Robert is a very large rabbit. That thing looks bigger than my cats. In fact, it looks like the General rabbit out of Watership Down. Which is kind of frightening.

In the past few weeks, I have received postcards from Paris, India, Madrid and St. Moritz (Switzerland). Thank you to my friends who think enough of me to send a postcard.

I'm co-admin of a Flickr group. You're invited to participate. That said, perhaps I ought to contribute something myself.

I went to a high-octane beer tasting party in East Atlanta over the weekend. I like Chimay, a Belgian brew. There were twice-fried frites and grilled brats - never was a girl so happy. Thank you to our lovely hosts and to Mr. & Mrs. Minch who were wonderful company.

Went to the Dogwood Festival. My favorite part? The exhibition featuring dogs catching frisbees. Those border collies are sharp, even the ones who couldn't quite catch the discs (whom Mrs. Minch dubbed Butterfangs).

Last week my sister took me to see Cirque du Soleil. It was sweet, especially being in a company suite.

I have houseguests this coming weekend. Which means the frenzy of housecleaning has begun.

I had a brief annual review. I'm getting reference work under my belt, and a raise. Yay! Of course after taxes it won't be much, and it will be going straight to the DCCB (Damned Credit Card Balance). But more is good.

March 22, 2006

Small changes

I just finished reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. One of its ideas is that a small change can make a great impact. For instance, the Broken Windows theory asserts that if you take care of problems like lighting, litter, and graffiti, you can reduce crime in a neighborhood - even in a big city. (Gladwell discusses the revitalization of New York City as his example.)

So I'm trying out a few things:

Making the bed. - Not profound, is it? I made my bed as a kid, because I had to. Now I'm doing it because it feels good to turn in for the night and have a pocket of serenity waiting for me in the form of my nicely made bed. I've made it really easy for myself too. There's no flat sheet, just a duvet to shake out, spread out, and tuck in. I've even figured out how to make the bed around the cats. Tabitha wants to be there to "help" while Ginger is perturbed by the disturbance to her repose. I just get them to move to another part of the bed, adjust the duvet and pillows, and then let the cats settle back to their chosen spots. I think they like a fresh-made bed too.

Shining my sink. - I learned about a site called FlyLady that helps those of us without a clue establish a housekeeping routine. Daily reminders, "missions" and testimonials are sent by email. I haven't kept up very well to date but it's not about pressuring yourself, it's about just taking small steps in order to make life easier for yourself. So for the present, I scrub and rinse dishes and set them in the dishwasher so I have a fresh sink, ready for the next use. I use a dishcloth to dry up the sink after I'm done using it. At night, before going to bed, I spritz some glass cleaner and wipe down the surface so it's nice and shiny. The idea behind this act is that by maintaining one small area, you'll be inspired to tackle other areas...eventually establishing a routine so that the household runs more smoothly and your time is freed up to pursue other activities. At the same time, it's not about being perfect - it's about just taking a step, and then another step, and so on.

I feel dragged down by having my home space in disarray. It's hard to relax, being surrounded by papers to file, books or cds to put away, and running out of room for things. (That's a whole other can of worms right there.) I'm too embarrassed to have anybody over for a visit. So for now, I'm just going to do these two little things and see where it takes me.

At work - In my department, there's a little trash can in the printer/copier area, as well as a huge paper recycling bin. Whenever we print to the network printer, there's a cover sheet to identify the owner of the print job. It seems so wasteful, but it is useful when we're all sending print jobs and trying to find our documents.

Now and again I've found my colleagues trashing their cover sheets in instead of recycling them. I don't understand this - the bin is right next to the copier. It's not hard to use the right disposal bin. So far I've just plucked sheets out of the trash can and tossed them into the bin, thinking that would be a subtle clue. I could say something, but I don't want to be annoying to my colleagues - who are all senior to me.

So I just moved the trash can under the small table by the copier. It's still available, just less obvious. And so far the move seems to have worked. I'm now seeing discarded cover sheets in the recycling bin. And it wasn't much work. It just took a little thought and a little action to solve a small problem.

March 20, 2006

Tomorrow is another day

First thing this morning, my neurotic cat Ginger peed - AGAIN - in the laundry basket that was - AGAIN - full of clean clothes. The day hasn't really gotten any better, especially having found out that tonight's Magic Numbers/Elected show has been canceled.

But I did have a great weekend, full of fun & friends.

Friday: We had Mex with Marco, then swanned over to the private party celebrating the opening of Inman Perk, the new coffee shop over on Elizabeth St. in - you guessed it - Inman Park. It's a cool loft-like space, free wi-fi, tasty drinks and yummy desserts. I am already a fan of the raspberry mocha. And Marco is the first artist to show his work there. His show opens next Saturday - so come check it out!

Saturday: Mellow day. Brunch at Sun in My Belly. Grocery shopping. A long afternoon nap. Dinner at Savage Pizza. A quick dash into Criminal Records for a Snow Patrol ep, but they were out of stock, so I picked up a Magic Numbers cd instead. (It came with a free ticket to tonight's show, which has now been canceled. Oh well.) Then a late late night with Mr. & Mrs. Minch, playing Uno and watching Eddie Izzard on BBC America.

Sunday: Slept in, brunch at the Biscuit. A stop at Full Moon Records, where the clerk gave me a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah poster that he had saved for me. Found some David Bowie and Rufus Wainwright cds. Laundry (some of which must be redone now). Another long nap. Then to Buckhead Diner for dinner with Daniella, who was briefly in town for a presentation. Poor Mr. Arkadin had to sit with a table of instant girlfriends. Holly let me taste some of her crab cakes, and she had a bit of my (shhh) veal & mushroom meatloaf. And then Mr. Arkadin and I split a chocolate cake sundae. I am more plump today than yesterday.

March 10, 2006

Weekend!

This week is finally over and I am very happy for that. My brain feels like stretched-out Play-Doh.

Tonight: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at Variety Playhouse

Saturday: Going up to Athens with Marco & Wayne to pick up their new pug, Miss Joy, who has not only gained new owners, but an adoring aunt? dogmother? Anyway, that would be me. I am SO excited. The next best thing to having a pug of my own is to have friends who have a pug of their own that I can come visit.

Sunday: Flying Biscuit. Also attending a gathering of people who all share our last name. Distant, far-flung relatives perhaps? I suppose I can always disown them if they turn out to be as "colorful" as the relatives I know about.

March 03, 2006

On raiding the Valentine's candy leftovers

One of our vendors gave my department a little bucket of Valentine's candy. Along with the candy there were trinkets. So now I have small purple and pink rubber balls to throw around and a squishy bubble-gum pink rubber T-rex - to squish, I suppose. He's very pink and feels fleshy and clammy. How that spells romance, I do not know.

February 28, 2006

Staying Busy

Mr. Arkadin is having a arthroscopic surgery today (on his knee). I left work at noon and we drove up to the facility. He checked in, and almost immediately the nurse was there to get him prepped.

We decided it would be best for me to go back to work instead of spending hours in the waiting room. So I have work to keep me busy instead of worrying (too much). Things should be fine, but surgery is still surgery.

February 12, 2006

Late night out

Lenny's. Total dive bar. A benefit for some biker co-op (as in ten-speed, not Harley). The draw for us - Hope for Agoldensummer. The band was last in the lineup, so it was a bit of a wait. I smell like a carton of cigarettes. A good show, although I could do without stupid little hipster girls yipping and yapping during the music.

I learned a joke tonight. Want to hear it?

Q: How many indie rockers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: [sneering] What, you don't know?

February 07, 2006

Wishes sometimes come true

I brought healthy things to eat today. Turkey sandwich, yogurt, an apple, Sun Chips, and a fruit and grain bar. Lunch and some snacks if I felt like it. I longed wistfully for something sweet, something unhealthy.

One of the receptionists just walked past my door, eating a cookie. She alerted me to a whole giant tray of cookies and brownies just sitting out on the library's main counter.

I'm off for some coffee to go with my brownies. (Note the plural.)

January 29, 2006

Making the Weekend Last

Sunday nights are bittersweet. After playing the night owl since Friday, I pay for it come Monday when the alarm rings.

It's been a typical weekend, perhaps more restful than others.

Saturday: Brunch at the Thumbs Up Diner. Took three pairs of pants in for hemming, which will expand my wardrobe options tremendously. Never did get around to taking in the dry cleaning. A quick, productive jaunt at a used bookstore. Laundry. Read Zadie Smith. Met up for Indian food with Herr und Dame Minch and a friend of theirs, followed by a marathon round of Trivial Pursuit, which came to a conclusion around 1 a.m. I suck at the sports questions, but I won a pie piece for naming Gary Cooper in answer to "Who was the pride of the Yankees?"

Sunday: Happy Lunar New Year! Slept in until 9. Brunch at the Flying Biscuit. Picked up and dropped off prescriptions. (Hurrah for meds!) Grocery shopping. Laundry. Filled recycling bin. More Zadie Smith. Burgers at Fuddrucker's. Found some bargain dvds (Donkey Skin, Before Sunset) at Movie Trading Co. More laundry. Made arrangements with a woman about a bit of furniture (another Craigslist transaction). Laundry and Zadie Smith. Stopped over at my friend Marco's for some setup for his forthcoming website. Coffee, semi-watched The Ninth Gate, checked email and blogs, and now putting myself to sleep with this post, as I'm sure you must be, Reader, if you're still with me.

Off to Bedfordshire.

January 19, 2006

For Immediate Release

We would like to announce that after a number of years together Scott and I have decided to formally separate...our Netflix queue.

For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any of the speculation reported by the tabloid media. This decision is the result of much thoughtful consideration.

We happily remain committed and caring friends with great love and admiration for one another. We ask in advance for your kindness and sensitivity in the coming months.

January 11, 2006

Civic Duty, &c.

What kind of person would be happy to get a jury summons?

Oh well. It's not until next month, and I can call the day before to find out if the court needs me to show up.

January 01, 2006

Last Day/First Night

Spent New Year's Eve Eve eating a fine beef stew, watching Emma (the Gwyneth Paltrow version) and splitting a bottle of a Portugese douro with Mrs. Minch.

Slept in, due to the douro. Brunch at Sun in My Belly, and then a long afternoon nap.

Dressed up, made it on time to a dinner party. Champagne cocktails and potent egg nog. Antipasto, rare roast beef, twice-baked potatoes, zucchini sauteed in olive oil.

At a quarter to midnight, we made our goodbyes and zoomed over to the house of good friends A&S. Were briefly lost, due to the street names in the neighborhood being all disturbingly similar, but we found the house and arrived at the door just at the stroke of midnight. Our hostess came out with glasses of champagne and we were there for the balloon drop from the upper balcony down into the living room.

Afterwards there were sparklers and bottle rockets!

December 27, 2005

This year's booty

Presents for my family:
Chocolate for dad
Dallas seasons 1 & 2 for mom
Kate Spade organizer inserts for sisters
Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. cd for sisters, plus pins that say "This Sh*t is Bananas"
Golf in the Kingdom for Scott's dad
Sudoku and Kakoru puzzle books for Scott's stepmom
The Historian and Brazilian coffee for Scott's mom
Al Franken book and sudoku book for Scott's grandmother
Mixed nuts for Scott's other grandmother and aunt
March of the Penguins for brother-in-law and his family
Tepper Isn't Going out and chocolate for brother-inlaw
Casserole cookbook for sister-in-law
Dinosaur pop-up book for nephew 1
Eric Carle picture book for nephew 2

On the receiving end:
Surprise! - An Idiot Girl's Christmas by Laurie Nataro from Paul F.
B&N giftcard from boss
Godiva truffles from coworker
Xmas dish towels from coworker
Mixed nuts from coworker
Silpats and wooden utensils,plus company cookbook; down throw from sister
Pen & business card holder, Bodum teapot, Field Guide to Stains, cookbook, Zagat guide from other sister (some of these she meant to give me last year)
Senseo coffeemaker from my parents.
Organic tea (earl grey, raspberry) and lavender body butter from Scott's dad and stepmom
Pullover for Scott from his dad and stepmom
England calendar for me from Scott's mom
Chicago and Jazz calendars for Scott from his mom
Coffee and white chocolate truffles from Scott's mom
The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer from Scott's mom
Pocket money from Scott's grandmothers

Going to Chicago next week, so some of these presents haven't been given yet, and I imagine we'll get some from Scott's brother and his family.

I do like presents, but I would be fine if we all just gave each other little things, or even just one thing. As it was, on Christmas night I was a bit anxious, wondering how the time with my family would go. But everyone was in a good mood, we had a wonderful dinner, my sister's bulldog posed for many pictures with his new dog toys and costumes. We visited with each other and it was a pleasant evening. The most inspired gift was giving my mom the Dallas dvds, as she's always loved that show.

Otherwise, a nice long weekend. Got to see King Kong, which was loads of fun. Raced through disc 1 of season 1 of Veronica Mars. Went for a walk with my friend Mark, took a trip to the farmer's market, had brunch at the Flying Biscuit. And lots of sleeping in, surrounded by small furry bodies.

December 25, 2005

May Your Heart Be Light

I finally saw "Meet Me in St. Louis" a few years ago, and I look forward to catching it on television this time every year. It's a musical, so things end well. But in the interim, there are some tough moments. I had no idea that "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" could be such a heartbreaking song.

I'm not sure why there seems to be so much hypersensitivity about the holidays this year. Whatever you celebrate, whether it's for your religion or for the time you spend with loved ones, I wish you my best for peace and love and joy.

December 21, 2005

Solstice

I finally have DSL and can load up pictures more regularly. For instance: my recent trip to the aquarium.

Tonight is dinner with family, more cards to write.

November 29, 2005

Must! save! room! for! dessert!

And you may ask yourself What is that beautiful house? And you may ask yourself Where does that highway go? And you may ask yourself Am I right?...Am I wrong? And you may tell yourself MY GOD!...WHAT HAVE I DONE? -Talking Heads, "Once in a Lifetime"

Time seems so formless; we have to create structure in order to make the best of our days. But structure doesn't imply rigidity. It's about making time work for you, so that you spend it well, so that you don't look back and wonder where the time went. It's an issue I struggle with regularly - to spend time in the here and now, with the people and on the things that matter, instead of being held down by the past or worrying about the future.

It's said that to make each day memorable, so that time doesn't just rush by in a blur, you should do one thing to make the day stand out for you. It doesn't have to be anything extraordinary or grand, just something that you do for yourself, whether that's calling a friend, going to yoga, or sitting down for a cup of coffee or tea.

So tonight, I'm going out to dinner for my birthday.

October 31, 2005

Halloween Weekend

Got up early on Saturday to help some dear friends move in together. Unlike me, they didn't have boxes and boxes of books and they were incredibly organized and got other people to help as well. They have the cutest little house and I will be visiting regularly for their company and high-speed internet. ;)

In the afternoon, we hit Little Five Points for some costume ideas. In the end, I didn't find anything. I did have a backup idea, which I ripped off from reading in a gossip column: The Light at the End of the Tunnel. I would dress in black and tape a big white circle to my torso. Scott picked up a black robe for his costume as Harriet Miers, which ended up just being Next Supreme Court Nominee since he didn't find a gray wig and some brown paint for his nose. I came away with a Jane Austen action figure and the Avenue Q soundtrack.

Later, I went out with the Mingaling who had a spare ticket for the Death Cab for Cutie concert at the Tabernacle. Many thanks to Lori for inviting me and to her sister for giving Lori the tickets for her birthday. By the time we got there, Stars had already started their set. Apparently the Tabernacle is all about shows beginning on the dot, which in this case was 8 o'clock. Great, great show, so awesome. Both bands were more about playing the music than interacting with the crowd. The crowd, which sat during the Stars set in the balconies, stood up once Death Cab took the stage. We stood in the uppermost balcony and leaned against the rails - much better than tiptoeing for a glimpse behind people's heads. People were definitely into the show, but it was all intensity. People clustered together, leaning towards the stage. Some head-bobbing, singing along, with eruptions of applause at the end of each song. Much less startling than when I once saw Tori Amos and the young women would scream "I love you Tori" hysterically.

The evening didn't end there. Lori and I met up with Scott and then we walked over to the biggest, craziest Halloween party I've ever been to (which hasn't been many). People went all out with their costumes. Dogs were roaming, including a giant rottweiler named Samuel that sported devil horns - he was very friendly, but his size made him daunting.

There was a live band, kegs of beer and a full complement of liquor, as well as all the stuff in the fridge. I sampled a sugar-free Red Bull, which was ok. I was more of an observer in all the revelry. Out back in the enormous back yard there was a bonfire. People were playing bongos and costumed women were dancing to the primal rhythms. At several points a woman would trot out a flaming hula hoop and spin the hoop around her waist, around her neck, kneeling back at an angle, and even lying down and twirling the hoop about her wrists. Ran into Hollismb as well as Scott and Lisa, who came as King Kong and Fay Wray (excellent!).

We left around three a.m., just as a cop showed up to investigate. Later we heard from our landlord that he saw somebody passed out in the yard later in the morning, with a bottle of something clutched in his hand. Good times.

October 13, 2005

Today

I got a ten-minute chair massage. It was a treat provided by the office, except I hadn't scheduled an appointment. I kept stopping by the conference room to find other people waiting. But I did get one eventually, and the very nice man, a chiropractor, worked the tension out of my upper back and lower back. Ahhh.

The building is removing equipment from the roof. Being directly underneath, we have been subjected to mechanical sledgehammer-like sounds ALL DAY. It's supposed to go on for THE NEXT TEN DAYS. I think I may go postal.

In the meantime, my long weekend begins now. Off to visit old friends for a few days. I've got friends looking in on the cats, including that gray bastard who scratched up my right arm yet again and also sunk his teeth in, breaking the skin.

October 06, 2005

Dead and nearly dead things, and thoughts about dying

Leaving work yesterday, I found a small bird that lay dead on the sidewalk, its tiny feathers fluttering in the breeze.

At the train station, just before I passed through the turnstiles, there was a dragonfly flattened on the pavement.

In the night I woke up, hearing some noise from the kitchen. Figured it was the new cat exploring and making a ruckus and so I went back to sleep. While feeding Ulysses this morning, I saw a bird, coal-black, flying around the kitchen in desperation. Ulysses, in hunt mode, jumped up on the stove, trying to get close. Before we could react, the bird had fallen down the side of the washing machine, and Ulysses leapt down and came out with the bird in his mouth. There was a low, terrible moaning sound.

Ulysses dashed around with his prey, then hid under the bed. Scott grabbed a broom to get him out, and we managed to shoo him out the back door.

After a while, watching through the window, I saw the cat open his mouth to check out his catch. The bird suddenly sprang and flew off. Ulysses ran close behind. I hope it got away.

Tonight I'm going to stop by our friend's mom's house. I will clean litter boxes, fill up the food and water bowls for the cats, see if there's anything else I can do to make things a little easier for her. I will pretend to be cheerful. I will try not to be distressed that there's only so much I can do. I help not because it makes me feel good, but because to not help, even a little, makes me feel bad. I grit my teeth and try not to think about questions that have nothing to do with me.

I don't think I've ever been afraid of death. It's the dying part that scares me. How you live your life can have an awful lot to do with the way you'll leave this world. Sometimes, anyway.

October 04, 2005

Cats in Need of Good Homes

I'm helping a friend whose mom has been seriously ill. She's a cat lady and would help find homes for cats and kittens. Now there are too many of her own cats to care for. There are about 7 adult cats of various ages. We're also looking into no-kill shelters. I've put up photos on Flickr and will update as soon as I can manage to get pictures of the other camera-shy cats. If you're interested, feel free to get in touch.

September 28, 2005

The last few days

Sunday: We've taken in another cat. Her name is Sheba. She's black and white and when she makes utterances she sounds a bit like a duck. Very sweet and affectionate, though not a lap cat. Playful too. She's in her own room for now.

Not sure if Ulysses is going to fit in with us but I'll keep an eye on him. I think he wants to be in a one-cat family.

So now I'm really a scary cat lady - 3.5 cats! No more. Really.

Last night: Serenity preview screening. A friend of mine gave me a pass. I haven't finished watching Firefly but I really liked the movie.

Tonight: I'm going with one of my sisters to see Coldplay and Rilo Kiley.

Thursday: Empty out head with therapist.

Friday: No plans as yet. How lame am I? ;)

Saturday: Bad Movie Night, courtesy of Weird Babe.

September 22, 2005

Donations Needed for Animal Rescue Volunteers

My friend Kambri Crews and her friend Keith Fernbach are going to be in Lousiana October 6 through October 12, where they will volunteer at local shelters that have taken in animals rescued from Katrina. You can read more from Kambri here; she has a PayPal link set up. Beyond donations they are paying for everything else out of their own pockets.

I wish I could take a week and join them myself, but at least I can give them a little something to help with their work. Kambri is a tough, sassy gal with a good heart, and I'm proud of her for finding her own way to help in the wake of Katrina.

September 21, 2005

He Thinks We're Ok

This morning Ulysses (the big gray cat) left a dead mouse on our porch before coming in for breakfast. I didn't have to see or dispose of the gift, but I appreciate the sentiment.

September 19, 2005

Wastrel Weekend

-I succumbed, briefly, to a cold. I have to admit, it was really, really nice to sleep into the afternoon. Hopefully I did not share my germs with the people I ran into this weekend.

-I did not win the $250m lottery. Oh well.

-I love breakfast. I celebrate this on the weekends when we can go to the Flying Biscuit or to another place, with such charming names as Sun in My Belly. I ran into a professional colleague that I've met at various functions. It was really nice to see a friendly face so unexpectedly. We're close in age, and she seems so cool and so interesting that I hope to be friends, not just people who say hi at the latest luncheon.

March of the Penguins. I've wanted to see this documentary all summer and finally made plans with the Ethers and the Weird Babes for an outing. I expected fun, silly moments, an onslaught of cuteness, and even peril as brought on by Mother Nature. I really liked it. I didn't expect, however, to come out feeling kind of depressed about it. The penguins go through so much for the sake of perpetuating their species. They cross great distances across the ice to find their mates, take turns to protect their precious eggs in brutal, polar conditions, cross back to the water to gorge on enough food for themselves and the future chick, back and forth, back and forth until the chick can fend for itself. Every step along the way is fraught with peril. The elements, predators, timing - everything and anything could go wrong. If the penguins were humans, I think they'd be characters out of a Solzhenitsyn novel.

The ability of the penguins to survive, despite such incredible conditions, is amazing. I should envy them - by instinct, they know their purpose in this world, in this life. Things are less complicated when life is a matter of endurance, of sur