Needed to come up with a quick list so I can hone in the job search a bit more. So here goes my pro / con list of DC vs. Boston, feel free to chime in.
Boston:
Pro-parentals are here, Samson is here and might not last long if I leave, I like the weather, technically I guess you can throw in my brother, though truthfully I see him as much here as I did when I lived in DC so he kinda cancels himself out, no sales tax on necessities, free rent for the time being
Cons-the "friends" i thought I had up here seemed to have disappeared (perhaps into a fair weather friend netherland), my field is not predominant up here, public transportation leaves something to be desired, starting to feel like a moocher
DC:
Pros- Field is up and coming and DC is where its at, plenty of people at GW that would be willing to give me a job while I continued the search, the friends I left in DC are for the most part still there (and still talk to me), Kellay is down there (at least for the time being), Jon/Angie are in bmore, Metro system rocks, three airports to choose from, NO Big Dig to worry about, GW work contacts are in the area, tons of cultural and educational things to do (i.e no boredom possible)
Cons- No blood family down there, high cost of living, no puppy, no sports teams worth caring about (ravens pssh, they aren't really from bmore, nationals blech no history, redskins? puh lease give me a break), requires the purchase of a plane ticket for October festivities (though i suppose i could make the drive), summer weather blows big chunks
Did I forget anything?
Monday, July 24, 2006
As you wish
As anyone who knows me can say, I am a bit of a sci-fi/superhero geek. Most would assume that Star Wars ranks as my all time favorite movie....and while it definitely exists in my top 10 (there are 6 to choose from after all), I'd have to say my all time favorite movie is The Princess Bride. So much cheese, so many guest stars, so many rhymes. HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE THIS MOVIE? I'm currently involved in a quoting battle with my GW friend Kiki via facebook. Having watched this movie again this weekend I have to add another name to my list o names for when I eventually get my own pets. Add Fezak to Bauer, Bristow, and Chewie. I also watched Eight Below so I have a current urge to have enough dogs that I could have my own sled team. I'm not that sappy of a gal, but animal movies always bring a tear to my eye, especially when not all of the stars make it through to the end. Definitely got choked up during that movie, but it was worth it.
I was gonna write about grudges and apologies and other assorted annoying things but I think it all comes back to Karma, which i've written about previously and this blog isn't old enough for me to be repeating myself so soon. Here's the gist: if someone does you wrong its not a grudge to remember it if said person doesn't apologize for their behavior. However, if you keep being mad after an apology has been issued then you are holding a grudge and tempting fate. And let's be real...you don't want to be tempting the wheel of fate. I remember writing something about the wheel of fate in high school and how it was bad mojo to try its patience. Two quick examples, one tragic and one kinda eerie. First for the tragic one: now let's discuss the horrific tragedy of the multiple ton piece of ceiling concrete tile falling and killing a passenger in a car on the Pike tunnel. As AWash pointed out, this woman must have had some kind of bad mojo to have the ceiling tile fall directly on her, her fellow passenger escaping with minor cuts. That tile fell squarely on her section of the car, kinda freaky no? Second example? Massachusetts has been having some bad (torrential rain) weather all summer. I couldn't help but notice a news story the other day about a freak lightning storm in Worcester. This resulted in a direct strike on a church....ON A CHURCH. I mean talk about your bad karma when you get struck down with lightning in a place of worship.
No real weekend roundup to speak of. First the weather blew, then I am beginning to suffer from my unemployment meaning even less to do. I'm currently debating going back to being blonde but i may need to wait for employment so that I could maintain it. My temp agency seems to excel in leading me astray. First they had an assignment for me, then nothing then another one that I was supposed to start this week, but since the corporate office is in CA, nothing has been confirmed. Add to that the fact that my recruiter has once again been led astray in what the company actually does and you can see why I anxiously await full time employ with someone. SUpposedly this next assignment would involve dealing with expert witnesses. This would be cool and relatively close in scope to what I studied, or at the very least something I studied. Alas, a quick examination at the website and you would learn this company is all about helping companies find solutions to their technical woes. I guess we'll see. I did get an email from the Urban Institute in DC about my application. They picked someone else, but I thought it was classy that they let me know...they are one of the few who have shown that courtesy.
No more rhyming and I mean it
Anybody want a peanut?
I was gonna write about grudges and apologies and other assorted annoying things but I think it all comes back to Karma, which i've written about previously and this blog isn't old enough for me to be repeating myself so soon. Here's the gist: if someone does you wrong its not a grudge to remember it if said person doesn't apologize for their behavior. However, if you keep being mad after an apology has been issued then you are holding a grudge and tempting fate. And let's be real...you don't want to be tempting the wheel of fate. I remember writing something about the wheel of fate in high school and how it was bad mojo to try its patience. Two quick examples, one tragic and one kinda eerie. First for the tragic one: now let's discuss the horrific tragedy of the multiple ton piece of ceiling concrete tile falling and killing a passenger in a car on the Pike tunnel. As AWash pointed out, this woman must have had some kind of bad mojo to have the ceiling tile fall directly on her, her fellow passenger escaping with minor cuts. That tile fell squarely on her section of the car, kinda freaky no? Second example? Massachusetts has been having some bad (torrential rain) weather all summer. I couldn't help but notice a news story the other day about a freak lightning storm in Worcester. This resulted in a direct strike on a church....ON A CHURCH. I mean talk about your bad karma when you get struck down with lightning in a place of worship.
No real weekend roundup to speak of. First the weather blew, then I am beginning to suffer from my unemployment meaning even less to do. I'm currently debating going back to being blonde but i may need to wait for employment so that I could maintain it. My temp agency seems to excel in leading me astray. First they had an assignment for me, then nothing then another one that I was supposed to start this week, but since the corporate office is in CA, nothing has been confirmed. Add to that the fact that my recruiter has once again been led astray in what the company actually does and you can see why I anxiously await full time employ with someone. SUpposedly this next assignment would involve dealing with expert witnesses. This would be cool and relatively close in scope to what I studied, or at the very least something I studied. Alas, a quick examination at the website and you would learn this company is all about helping companies find solutions to their technical woes. I guess we'll see. I did get an email from the Urban Institute in DC about my application. They picked someone else, but I thought it was classy that they let me know...they are one of the few who have shown that courtesy.
No more rhyming and I mean it
Anybody want a peanut?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
My Bad
First things first. Kevin Smith rocks! Granted I haven't enjoyed all of his movies. But anyone that can stage a debate about the moral implications behind the Death Star destruction gets a hearty kudos from me. His latest movie, Clerks II is coming out and was apparently recently pre-screened for reviewers. Check out K Smith's diatribe against a patron exemplifying rudeness...http://silentbobspeaks.com/?p=263
Second, the whole reason I titled my post "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" yesterday was because I intended to inform the public as to my latest reading endeavor but then i got so caught up recounting vomit boy that I forgot my purpose. Anywho, if you find yourself with some free time and you're looking for a book to occupy it, I highly suggest Chuck Klosterman's book with the aforementioned title. I'm about half way through it and find it highly enjoyable. Quite possibly the only book in existence that purports to discuss the social importance of such varied topics as Soccer (the one chapter my bro and sis-in-law should skip over), The Sims, Rock Stars, and Saved By the Bell. An early chapter refers to the Mick Jagger effect which I found utterly fascinating. I don't want to ruin this book, because i'm feeling that it should be read by all, but consider this. Mick Jagger is, one could argue, a sexual rock god. I don't see it myself but whatever, there are sufficient offspring to support this notion. But does he have this effect because of his looks? For example, would women still swoon and send panties if his profession was....let's say a pizza delivery man? methinks not. In fact, most rock stars have a following because of their profession. Picture any of them in a "normal" job and they lose their appeal, cause let's face it....they ain't usually pretty. BUT, they do have this charisma that draws people to them on stage and that is what is called the Mick Jagger effect.
Shoot, you know what? I think i'm confusing too books. Klosterman's is great and just wrote about how you can compare all divisions in the country (be them religious, racial, or anything else) to whether you were a fan of the Lakers or Celtics during the eighties. That Mick Jagger effect was something I read in a Chick Lit book right before I began my exploration into Pop Culture Philosophy.
Today is Wednesday, meaning its time to hit up the Washington Post's Help Wanted Section. T-Dawg Out!
Second, the whole reason I titled my post "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" yesterday was because I intended to inform the public as to my latest reading endeavor but then i got so caught up recounting vomit boy that I forgot my purpose. Anywho, if you find yourself with some free time and you're looking for a book to occupy it, I highly suggest Chuck Klosterman's book with the aforementioned title. I'm about half way through it and find it highly enjoyable. Quite possibly the only book in existence that purports to discuss the social importance of such varied topics as Soccer (the one chapter my bro and sis-in-law should skip over), The Sims, Rock Stars, and Saved By the Bell. An early chapter refers to the Mick Jagger effect which I found utterly fascinating. I don't want to ruin this book, because i'm feeling that it should be read by all, but consider this. Mick Jagger is, one could argue, a sexual rock god. I don't see it myself but whatever, there are sufficient offspring to support this notion. But does he have this effect because of his looks? For example, would women still swoon and send panties if his profession was....let's say a pizza delivery man? methinks not. In fact, most rock stars have a following because of their profession. Picture any of them in a "normal" job and they lose their appeal, cause let's face it....they ain't usually pretty. BUT, they do have this charisma that draws people to them on stage and that is what is called the Mick Jagger effect.
Shoot, you know what? I think i'm confusing too books. Klosterman's is great and just wrote about how you can compare all divisions in the country (be them religious, racial, or anything else) to whether you were a fan of the Lakers or Celtics during the eighties. That Mick Jagger effect was something I read in a Chick Lit book right before I began my exploration into Pop Culture Philosophy.
Today is Wednesday, meaning its time to hit up the Washington Post's Help Wanted Section. T-Dawg Out!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
Hello faithful blog watchers (I'm talking to you AWash and Kellay, my only two loyal followers)!!! Right now, I'm sweating my arse off because the Dirty Nat is experiencing the first "heat wave" of the year. Don't get me wrong, we do have A/C but for some reason it doesn't seem to function in my room. Something that me and Sammy lament nightly. Poor puppy can't even get comfortable in his own bed, because it is located in my room. Interestingly enough, directly underneath the vent that is letting us down. I quoted heat wave, because up here in the North, it only takes three consecutive days of 90+ weather to qualify. That seems a bit hasty to me, I mean three days isn't really that long but who am I to criticize?
Weekend roundup (don't read while eating):
Friday: I get a call from mama saying that she is planning on leaving work at 1 and I could meet up with her if I so desired at the mall. I agreed to meet her after errands and then received a call from Mama Karp inviting me to her pool since it was so ghastly out. As I have mentioned before, the Karps are like family to me, so I find it as normal to hang with Mrs. Karp as I do with my own mom. Apparently people outside the circle don't see it that way. Upon my arrival the other guests seem to find it odd that i have come sans parentals. WHatever, haters will always find something to hate on I guess. Anywho, after meeting up with mom and hitting the mall we go to eat at Ruby Tuesdays. NOw this isn't the best or fanciest establishment but it is the one place where Papa W actually eats salad!!! So we go there somewhat frequently to encourage this eating habit. Sadly our meal was interupted by a fellow patron who took ill and couldn't manage to make it to the restroom prior to displaying his meal on the floor for all to see. GROSS. Worse? Our table that evening happened to be located right by the bathroom so we got the full view. Even worse? I kept this opinion to myself, but my brief glimpse of the regurgitated meal had an eerie resemblance to my dad's plate when he comes back from the salad bar.
Saturday: ANother ghastly day, another invite to the pool. My parents went to go hang on a boat, but I don't do so good on boats normally and this one wasn't leaving the harbor so I vetoed that idea. This time, lil Jared was there. I like lil Jared, but he's always been real quiet around me. I've never been offended by this, but did have the feeling he didn't dig Jude's Auntie. That changed on Sat when he warmed up to his new pool buddy. We played an odd game with his rules that he somehow kept losing. Then he discovered how fun it is to use people as a jungle gym in the pool. Good times, like hanging with the little folk, but it does make me miss my nephew, esp since I usually only get to see him in the winter.
Sunday: Went to go get my new bag. I don't usually dig shopping or purses or shoes. But I fell for a new Kenneth Cole bag. First time in my life I can recall having this reaction to a material object that wasn't electronic or a sneaker. I even walked around the store with it, because I didn't have the available cash to be tossing out for a bag when I have a perfectly functioning one. My parents were so shocked by my reaction that they actually fronted the cash for me to go purchase it. Thanks Daddy!!! Went back to the pool and enjoyed some QT time with the folks. I may have also picked up a wedding present for an upcoming event.
Been keeping busy by applying to jobs. Mondays and Tuesdays I focus on staying in state, while Wednesdays and Thursdays I spend looking back in the District. Made a new high total for resumes sent out of 12 last week. I usually aim for 5-7/week but i was inspired by my former student's employment with a company I was interested in, and subsequently applied to every RA position they had available....including one in Palo Alto, CA.
That's it for now, more errands and vet appts to keep today. And an attempt not to melt into the pavement. Yesterday I felt like I was burning in the short span between car and store. Can't imagine what today will feel like, but it seems that they old shorts will be busted out for a limited time appearance.
Weekend roundup (don't read while eating):
Friday: I get a call from mama saying that she is planning on leaving work at 1 and I could meet up with her if I so desired at the mall. I agreed to meet her after errands and then received a call from Mama Karp inviting me to her pool since it was so ghastly out. As I have mentioned before, the Karps are like family to me, so I find it as normal to hang with Mrs. Karp as I do with my own mom. Apparently people outside the circle don't see it that way. Upon my arrival the other guests seem to find it odd that i have come sans parentals. WHatever, haters will always find something to hate on I guess. Anywho, after meeting up with mom and hitting the mall we go to eat at Ruby Tuesdays. NOw this isn't the best or fanciest establishment but it is the one place where Papa W actually eats salad!!! So we go there somewhat frequently to encourage this eating habit. Sadly our meal was interupted by a fellow patron who took ill and couldn't manage to make it to the restroom prior to displaying his meal on the floor for all to see. GROSS. Worse? Our table that evening happened to be located right by the bathroom so we got the full view. Even worse? I kept this opinion to myself, but my brief glimpse of the regurgitated meal had an eerie resemblance to my dad's plate when he comes back from the salad bar.
Saturday: ANother ghastly day, another invite to the pool. My parents went to go hang on a boat, but I don't do so good on boats normally and this one wasn't leaving the harbor so I vetoed that idea. This time, lil Jared was there. I like lil Jared, but he's always been real quiet around me. I've never been offended by this, but did have the feeling he didn't dig Jude's Auntie. That changed on Sat when he warmed up to his new pool buddy. We played an odd game with his rules that he somehow kept losing. Then he discovered how fun it is to use people as a jungle gym in the pool. Good times, like hanging with the little folk, but it does make me miss my nephew, esp since I usually only get to see him in the winter.
Sunday: Went to go get my new bag. I don't usually dig shopping or purses or shoes. But I fell for a new Kenneth Cole bag. First time in my life I can recall having this reaction to a material object that wasn't electronic or a sneaker. I even walked around the store with it, because I didn't have the available cash to be tossing out for a bag when I have a perfectly functioning one. My parents were so shocked by my reaction that they actually fronted the cash for me to go purchase it. Thanks Daddy!!! Went back to the pool and enjoyed some QT time with the folks. I may have also picked up a wedding present for an upcoming event.
Been keeping busy by applying to jobs. Mondays and Tuesdays I focus on staying in state, while Wednesdays and Thursdays I spend looking back in the District. Made a new high total for resumes sent out of 12 last week. I usually aim for 5-7/week but i was inspired by my former student's employment with a company I was interested in, and subsequently applied to every RA position they had available....including one in Palo Alto, CA.
That's it for now, more errands and vet appts to keep today. And an attempt not to melt into the pavement. Yesterday I felt like I was burning in the short span between car and store. Can't imagine what today will feel like, but it seems that they old shorts will be busted out for a limited time appearance.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
shipoopi
Rain, rain, rain.....this week, like most of the "summer" here in New England, has made me question my location. Am I really in Massachusetts? Cause this kind of weather is what I associate with Seattle. Granted, I've actually never been to Seattle, but isn't that city notorious for rain? However, I cannot complain too loudly because this storm has actually helped me out. See, we have about 20 pine trees lining the front of our property whose branches hang over the street. The same street where I park my car. This inevitably leads to my car becoming the literal dumping ground for birdies living in the pine trees. Leading my car to nomer of Craptastic Mobile. If I clean off one spot, three more show up. When I get my car washed, there is usually a short window where it remains a sparkling beauty before it is spoiled again. So, paying for the car wash is not something I enjoy doing because it seems to be a lost cause. Imagine my joy yesterday when I exited Target and saw the comings of a downpour. Probably the only one with a giant smile on my face. I quickly ran to the car and just sat in the rain while I watched all birdie residue be washed away by nature. What nature giveth, nature can taketh away.
Of course I knew this was too good to be true. I returned home during a lull in the storm and tried to take sammy out so he could provide his own watering services. Not five steps from the door did I hear "WHOOSH" and cue downpour once again. I had a rain coat and umbrella but sammy didn't fare so well. Hasn't been that wet since his last bath, but he does enjoy the drying off game so it wasn't so bad. Later in the day I received some irritating news. I perused my facebook account. What's facebook? If you don't know, you haven't been in the education realm the last three years and don't need to know. I looked at one of my former student's profiles cause it was updated (she's one of my facebook friends) and noticed that she is working at a company that I applied to and never heard back from. Say wha?!?!?! This is a research company, I taught her research methods. Ergo, I gave her the tools to secure the job and I can't have one too? Incensed, I applied to all research assistant positions available because if they hired her, they should hire me too. Now that i think about it, I may have accidentally applied to a job in Palo Alto, CA....cross that bridge later.
Last thing to note. I had a successful manual labor experience. I bought a three shelf unit with a door from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. i've built several of this furniture type and each and everytime I have managed to put one piece on backward so that the grainy wood side is exposed. You could almost call it my trademark. Anywho, busted out the trusty tool bag that is filled with all kinds of tool goodness and proceeded to put together the entire unit with samson's guidance. Even better? It was done correctly!!!!! I think I may be redeeming myself in this realm.
And for my brother. JW, when it is said that three words in the english language and three alone that begin with dw, you cannot name two derivatives of the same word. Tsk tsk tsk, i expected more out of a lawyer.
Of course I knew this was too good to be true. I returned home during a lull in the storm and tried to take sammy out so he could provide his own watering services. Not five steps from the door did I hear "WHOOSH" and cue downpour once again. I had a rain coat and umbrella but sammy didn't fare so well. Hasn't been that wet since his last bath, but he does enjoy the drying off game so it wasn't so bad. Later in the day I received some irritating news. I perused my facebook account. What's facebook? If you don't know, you haven't been in the education realm the last three years and don't need to know. I looked at one of my former student's profiles cause it was updated (she's one of my facebook friends) and noticed that she is working at a company that I applied to and never heard back from. Say wha?!?!?! This is a research company, I taught her research methods. Ergo, I gave her the tools to secure the job and I can't have one too? Incensed, I applied to all research assistant positions available because if they hired her, they should hire me too. Now that i think about it, I may have accidentally applied to a job in Palo Alto, CA....cross that bridge later.
Last thing to note. I had a successful manual labor experience. I bought a three shelf unit with a door from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. i've built several of this furniture type and each and everytime I have managed to put one piece on backward so that the grainy wood side is exposed. You could almost call it my trademark. Anywho, busted out the trusty tool bag that is filled with all kinds of tool goodness and proceeded to put together the entire unit with samson's guidance. Even better? It was done correctly!!!!! I think I may be redeeming myself in this realm.
And for my brother. JW, when it is said that three words in the english language and three alone that begin with dw, you cannot name two derivatives of the same word. Tsk tsk tsk, i expected more out of a lawyer.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Things that make you go hmmmmm.
My undgraduate education was in psychology and sociology. Because of this, I have been trained to observe people and their interactions with the environment. I feel like this power of observation of occurrences is one of my strengths. Today's entry is a smorgsabord of observations that I've been making lately.
1)Karma really exists: I do enjoy Jason Lee in My Name is Earl and I thought the premise was amusing...trying to right karma. But when you think about it, Karma does seem to exist. You can call it "what goes around comes around" or "you reap what you sew" but no matter what you call it something seems to cosmically keep the balance of the world in check. Here are two examples. One, (and I gotta right about the Samson) the pooch has this annoying habit lately of pretending to be unable to get out of the car so that he can get an extended ride. Friday, I took him with me to measure my current walking route and got home and he pulled his schtick again. Only this time his obstinance backfired. He lay down in a way that had his weight shifted towards the front of the car. In my mind, i knew it was only a matter of time before he fell, but what could I do? Sure enough Karma kicked his arse and he became wedged between the front and back seats. Again, what could I do? The best solution I could come up with was to shove my seat all the way forward to give him enough room to try to flip over and out of the car. Luckily he is more agile than a turtle flipped on its back and made it out okay.
2) i was explaining to mom about my pet peeves involving shopping carts and the inability to use the cart corral. Mostly cause we were at Target and that parking lot is the most frequent offender. Sure enough when we exited the Christmas Tree Shop there was a shopping cart parked directly behind my craptastic car. Say wha!!!! Now, why is this is ironic or karmic or any of that jazz? Because I parked, quite possibly the furthest I could from any visible car. There was no one around me and I still got carted!
3) The reason that I prefer Tarjay: I went to Walmart to burn a cd of my Karp Wedding pics and pick up a new album. I take lots of pics and I am now on my 14th or 15th 300 picture album. I had forgotten that Tarjay had a picture area so i went to walmart. There were three people in front of me at the picture kiosk. no worries, I went to go find my album and got the last one there was! Sweet I thought. But i got back to line and the two elder women were having some issues. Issues that involved breaking the damn machine, meaning it had to get rebooted and then they had to start over. Eventually they figured it out. Then the guy in front of me went (he'd been waiting an hour) and his camera card wasn't working. Cue rolling eyes. Luckily he had a cd to work with too. Then he, cause he was wicked nice, asked if i was just making a cd, when this was confirmed he let me cut in front of him while he tried to coax his card into working. Finished the cd. Had to flag down someone for envelope for the cd. Got into line at the front of the store. uh oh! Apparently Wal-Mart has some issues with price stickers....like they can't ring up bar codes if the sticker isn't on the product. So Mr. "Something isn't quite right" cashier went to the floor register manager who came up with the notion that it was my responbility to get the price sticker. Customer service? what customer service? The cashier said he could ring up my album and I increduously asked why they couldn't find out the price. No answer. At this point, I'm realizing I could have easily walked out with the cd with no problem but that damn honesty thing I got going always ruins me. As I grab my stuff out of his arms to go back to the film center and I mutter something about, "this being the reason people go to Target instead"
4) The newly discovered scam: Bridal stores. Anyone ever notice that bridal stores have some kind of bizzaro measurement method to their dresses? And that they are always constructed in a way that means you have to go two sizes up because you can never let them out? For my brother's upcoming wedding I will be wearing a beautiful brown dress and I loved it on the hanger. that is until I had to go to this boutique to get measured and had one of the worst experiences with clothing in my life. Now I would define myself as pleasantly plump and certainly won't be winning any beauty pageants but this woman made me feel like I was some hideous monster and resulted in my fleeing the premises crying. My second visit was slightly better but needless to say this place has scarred me. flash forward three months and I go to pick up my sister in law's dress for the wedding. They made her get a dress that was at least 3 sizes larger than she typically wears! I was shocked! Course, it also made me feel slightly better about my experience cause at least it wasn't just me. Course, it also works out well cause now she has room for the new bambino to grow and still fit in the dress. But my point is this...these boutiques scam you into thinking you need a larger size and then conveniently have a connection with a seamstress who'll fix the dress (and probably donate a cut back to the boutique). But like I said, it is a beautiful dress and I look forward to wearing it, even if it means I must succomb to this scam.
5) I end this posting with two quiz questions and an opinion question. First, what is the only fruit that has all of its seeds on the outside? Second, there are three words and three words only in the English language that begin with the letters 'dw', name them. If you think someone has a problem with you, what do you do? Do you wait it out and hope it goes away, risking the issue festering into something bigger, or do you confront the situation immediately risking making life awkward?
1)Karma really exists: I do enjoy Jason Lee in My Name is Earl and I thought the premise was amusing...trying to right karma. But when you think about it, Karma does seem to exist. You can call it "what goes around comes around" or "you reap what you sew" but no matter what you call it something seems to cosmically keep the balance of the world in check. Here are two examples. One, (and I gotta right about the Samson) the pooch has this annoying habit lately of pretending to be unable to get out of the car so that he can get an extended ride. Friday, I took him with me to measure my current walking route and got home and he pulled his schtick again. Only this time his obstinance backfired. He lay down in a way that had his weight shifted towards the front of the car. In my mind, i knew it was only a matter of time before he fell, but what could I do? Sure enough Karma kicked his arse and he became wedged between the front and back seats. Again, what could I do? The best solution I could come up with was to shove my seat all the way forward to give him enough room to try to flip over and out of the car. Luckily he is more agile than a turtle flipped on its back and made it out okay.
2) i was explaining to mom about my pet peeves involving shopping carts and the inability to use the cart corral. Mostly cause we were at Target and that parking lot is the most frequent offender. Sure enough when we exited the Christmas Tree Shop there was a shopping cart parked directly behind my craptastic car. Say wha!!!! Now, why is this is ironic or karmic or any of that jazz? Because I parked, quite possibly the furthest I could from any visible car. There was no one around me and I still got carted!
3) The reason that I prefer Tarjay: I went to Walmart to burn a cd of my Karp Wedding pics and pick up a new album. I take lots of pics and I am now on my 14th or 15th 300 picture album. I had forgotten that Tarjay had a picture area so i went to walmart. There were three people in front of me at the picture kiosk. no worries, I went to go find my album and got the last one there was! Sweet I thought. But i got back to line and the two elder women were having some issues. Issues that involved breaking the damn machine, meaning it had to get rebooted and then they had to start over. Eventually they figured it out. Then the guy in front of me went (he'd been waiting an hour) and his camera card wasn't working. Cue rolling eyes. Luckily he had a cd to work with too. Then he, cause he was wicked nice, asked if i was just making a cd, when this was confirmed he let me cut in front of him while he tried to coax his card into working. Finished the cd. Had to flag down someone for envelope for the cd. Got into line at the front of the store. uh oh! Apparently Wal-Mart has some issues with price stickers....like they can't ring up bar codes if the sticker isn't on the product. So Mr. "Something isn't quite right" cashier went to the floor register manager who came up with the notion that it was my responbility to get the price sticker. Customer service? what customer service? The cashier said he could ring up my album and I increduously asked why they couldn't find out the price. No answer. At this point, I'm realizing I could have easily walked out with the cd with no problem but that damn honesty thing I got going always ruins me. As I grab my stuff out of his arms to go back to the film center and I mutter something about, "this being the reason people go to Target instead"
4) The newly discovered scam: Bridal stores. Anyone ever notice that bridal stores have some kind of bizzaro measurement method to their dresses? And that they are always constructed in a way that means you have to go two sizes up because you can never let them out? For my brother's upcoming wedding I will be wearing a beautiful brown dress and I loved it on the hanger. that is until I had to go to this boutique to get measured and had one of the worst experiences with clothing in my life. Now I would define myself as pleasantly plump and certainly won't be winning any beauty pageants but this woman made me feel like I was some hideous monster and resulted in my fleeing the premises crying. My second visit was slightly better but needless to say this place has scarred me. flash forward three months and I go to pick up my sister in law's dress for the wedding. They made her get a dress that was at least 3 sizes larger than she typically wears! I was shocked! Course, it also made me feel slightly better about my experience cause at least it wasn't just me. Course, it also works out well cause now she has room for the new bambino to grow and still fit in the dress. But my point is this...these boutiques scam you into thinking you need a larger size and then conveniently have a connection with a seamstress who'll fix the dress (and probably donate a cut back to the boutique). But like I said, it is a beautiful dress and I look forward to wearing it, even if it means I must succomb to this scam.
5) I end this posting with two quiz questions and an opinion question. First, what is the only fruit that has all of its seeds on the outside? Second, there are three words and three words only in the English language that begin with the letters 'dw', name them. If you think someone has a problem with you, what do you do? Do you wait it out and hope it goes away, risking the issue festering into something bigger, or do you confront the situation immediately risking making life awkward?
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Clowns to the left, jokers to the right
A couple more highlight reels from the wedding:
1) I must concur with Wash that the open bar was a stroke of genius. Contrary to Mr. Karp the elder's belief, I do in fact enjoy beverages from time to time. As I had my ID on me, there was no fear of rejection from the barkeeps. Lovely wine and alcohol selections though I have discovered that gin and tonic is not my drink.
2)Beautiful location/weather. After living through a variety of monsoons the last few weeks and getting negative weather reports from Kellay in Towson, I was fearful for what we would face. However, I was able to straighten my hair and keep it straight! Meaning? no humidity, comfortable temperature and slight breeze to keep all comfortable during the short ceremony.
3)When I was applying to colleges there was this part where you had to submit an essay. Since I applied to GW, they had cheesey topics about what monument you would build or which president you'd want to meet, blah blah blah, or you could send an original essay as part of a general app. I chose to write mine on FAMILY and what it means to me. This wedding reaffirmed it because I don't think blood determines family. I have plenty of blood relatives that couldn't pick me out of a line up let alone know my birthday, my age or what i'm doing with my life. However, I think of the Karps and Movitzs as being my family. They are the ones I see at holidays, they are the ones that can recall what they were doing when I was born. They are the ones that have come to graduations, athletic events and life events. They even know how old I am (good call Mo). So my point is that this wedding was special because it gave me more time to spend with my family, which doesn't happen as much anymore.
Lowlights?
1)that bus driver. Damn was she a piece of work. She didn't really know where she was going and I feared for my life when i saw her mapquest directions fly off the console. My nephew was very disturbed at the lack of seatbelts. All this and she was a bit rude when people requested some desperately needed AC.
2)the "limo" to and from the airport. FIrst the guy gets lost picking up the last person, by the time we get to this house the person cancels (literally as we pull in the driveway). We leave about 20-25 minutes later than intended. Coming back? We had to call for a pick up after being delayed. This involved an additional 20-25 minute wait further compounded by a required stop to transfer someone off the van. Lastly, the van driver seemed to think that we were leading him down a dead end and wasn't interested in listening to directions.
As you can see the lowlights really had nothing to do with the wedding itself which is why I consider it tops.
It ain't easy being me. There are three kids in the fambino which is an awkward number. Can't really pair off cause someone gets left out. Since I'm the only girl, I tend to be the one on the outside. Both of them have found wives which would seem to even the odds in my favor. But they also seem to get along better with each other than with me. Not a huge deal, but needless to say that three is not my favorite number. Sometimes the only way to remain relevant is to be peacekeeper so that is my place in the family. And this conludes my Debbie Downer segment
1) I must concur with Wash that the open bar was a stroke of genius. Contrary to Mr. Karp the elder's belief, I do in fact enjoy beverages from time to time. As I had my ID on me, there was no fear of rejection from the barkeeps. Lovely wine and alcohol selections though I have discovered that gin and tonic is not my drink.
2)Beautiful location/weather. After living through a variety of monsoons the last few weeks and getting negative weather reports from Kellay in Towson, I was fearful for what we would face. However, I was able to straighten my hair and keep it straight! Meaning? no humidity, comfortable temperature and slight breeze to keep all comfortable during the short ceremony.
3)When I was applying to colleges there was this part where you had to submit an essay. Since I applied to GW, they had cheesey topics about what monument you would build or which president you'd want to meet, blah blah blah, or you could send an original essay as part of a general app. I chose to write mine on FAMILY and what it means to me. This wedding reaffirmed it because I don't think blood determines family. I have plenty of blood relatives that couldn't pick me out of a line up let alone know my birthday, my age or what i'm doing with my life. However, I think of the Karps and Movitzs as being my family. They are the ones I see at holidays, they are the ones that can recall what they were doing when I was born. They are the ones that have come to graduations, athletic events and life events. They even know how old I am (good call Mo). So my point is that this wedding was special because it gave me more time to spend with my family, which doesn't happen as much anymore.
Lowlights?
1)that bus driver. Damn was she a piece of work. She didn't really know where she was going and I feared for my life when i saw her mapquest directions fly off the console. My nephew was very disturbed at the lack of seatbelts. All this and she was a bit rude when people requested some desperately needed AC.
2)the "limo" to and from the airport. FIrst the guy gets lost picking up the last person, by the time we get to this house the person cancels (literally as we pull in the driveway). We leave about 20-25 minutes later than intended. Coming back? We had to call for a pick up after being delayed. This involved an additional 20-25 minute wait further compounded by a required stop to transfer someone off the van. Lastly, the van driver seemed to think that we were leading him down a dead end and wasn't interested in listening to directions.
As you can see the lowlights really had nothing to do with the wedding itself which is why I consider it tops.
It ain't easy being me. There are three kids in the fambino which is an awkward number. Can't really pair off cause someone gets left out. Since I'm the only girl, I tend to be the one on the outside. Both of them have found wives which would seem to even the odds in my favor. But they also seem to get along better with each other than with me. Not a huge deal, but needless to say that three is not my favorite number. Sometimes the only way to remain relevant is to be peacekeeper so that is my place in the family. And this conludes my Debbie Downer segment
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Karp
So first off, a Happy 4th of July to all. This is the first year I won't be seeing fireworks which makes me sad, but the expansion of the local mall has removed the only feasible location for Dirty Nat fireworks and as I live here and not the District anymore, that means no public displays of fireyworks for this girl. Sad. Secondly, let's all have a "Hallelujah" moment to celebrate Sammy's rescue from Fat Camp. This time he was given a cheeseburger in order to encourage him to take his pills, haven't checked over the bill myself, but I hope this cheeseburger isn't like one of those $500 government toilet seat covers. Also, I am happy to report that his vet agrees with my assessment that his stomach infection has finally cleared up. While most of you don't care, I'd like to point out that this problem develped in November at Thanksgiving and it is the 4th of JULY. That's one heck of an infection.
Now onto a weekend recap which will actually have exciting things.
Friday: Dropped samson off at the vet and completely overpacked for a weekend trip down to bmore to see my good friend angie and jon get married. The funny thing about this wedding, is I've actually known Angie for longer than anyone else involved with any of my "brothers". She came with Jon for my high school graduation party and I knew then that she was a fabulous lady. Flew down with the parentals, brother and fiancee. Ate dinner in the hotel and proceeded to earn the ire of the housekeeping staff by rearranging the lobby to accomodate the Karp guests that trickled in as the night went on and the drinks came out of the bar.
Saturday: Woke up wicked early, ate some brunch and put on the swimsuit. Kellay came down from Towson and hung at the pool where I proved that I am in fact a natural dark beauty with occasional red streaky zones. Very chill day. Then it came time to g
et ready to boogie. Got all gussied up and went downstairs and left for the wedding. I must agree with JK that Angie looked absolutely beautiful in both of her dresses. And while I couldn't hear the officiant, it felt like a beautiful ceremony. Sat at my table with alex, stacey, jude, jamaican peter and three Karp cousins. One of whom apparently did not feel comfortable there and despite my attempts at small talk abruptly left the table to sit with his mom. Lots of pictures were tken because I don't usually get to see all of these people more than two-three days a year at thanksgiving. I've realized that I am sick of being the one to take the pictures cause then I'm never in any which is a bummer. Apparently the point and shoot camera I have is beyond comprehension. I tried to get in a pic with Wash but my dad couldn't see the buttons so I asked Skip. Skip who scored over 1500 on the SAT and is pretty darned smart tried and tried but could not take a picture and tried to say the camera was broken. Above is the picture taken when Wash proved that it was fully functional. Then during the group father-daughter dance, family friend was kind enough to pics of my brothers and mom as well as Adam and his mom which came out nice, but his attempt to capture me and Dr. Mikey ended up with a prominent view of his thumb instead of us. After the wedding, I provided an assist to get my nephew up to bed and received a call to go the bar to join my parents and their friends. I obliged and joined for a drink. Then the new Mr. and Mrs. Karp arrived and I had to stay for some more drinks. We closed the bar, it seems the party was to continue in the best man's room but i chose to retire. As I got off at my floor and bid the party people adieu I was given some of the loudest booing I have ever heard. Very flattering that these people wanted some more of my time. My parents actually asked what that loud noise was when i came in the room (they had obviously stayed awake for my arrival). I give this wedding a full four star rating.
Sunday: Received the news that my eldest brother sold me out and chose not to call me up to a room while my sister in law took an important test. Am I peeved? You betcha. At brunch I found out that the speculation had been right and that I'm gonna be an auntie again!!!! Congrats to Wash and Yan Yan.
That's it for now, gotta organize the pics while i come up with more highlights.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Incredi-who?
Hmmmmm, JW seems to be losing his mind. After years and years of wishing me to worship the ground upon which he walks, he now seems to mind when I finally do act similarly. Case in point #1? My initial blog set up happened to be the same background as his. Mistake...big mistake. calls me out in a comment page for hogging his style. I swear on my first blog there were only three options, and I can't stand white backgrounds. Whatev, switched that up right quick. Case in point #2? Now he has gotten offended by my name: lil wash, "Enough with this "l'il wash" nonsense. ...There is no "l'il wash". The wash name is taken. You have to be something else. Come on man, you can't bite my name like that. You're like Incredi-boy from the Incredibles. Fly home l'il wash, I WORK ALONE!!!!!!!!! " I shall grant him that he is the original Wash. Alas I happen to be the youngest of the bunch hence the lil. But since he's being a baby and calling me out on comment boards I must, once again, change my format to prevent further hissy fits. I have reverted to my ghetto GW name that Andy and Joe bestowed upon me in high school and which Andy made sure stayed alive throughout college by telling people that my name was T-Dog. got a hat, got a poster and a jersey with that name on it. Shoot I've got two football jerseys with that name on it so I guess it sticks.
******Warning:
the following should not be read while consuming food (got it Kellay?)****
So this am, papa w was returning from the west coast on a red eye. Sammy LOVES car rides and he's old and arthritic now so he's not really allowed to go so often which makes him depressed. Since he's going to fat camp for a few days I took pity on him. Plus how could I possibly reject this face.... Anywho, so big papa calls to announce that he is awaiting pick up at the bus station. I tell sammy he has to go to the potty if he wants to get in the car which immediately gets him revved. Then momma comes out and swears he's done his business for the day. So i let him in. BIG mistake #3. Sure enough he managed to leave a lil something something in my car again when we got home. I can't blame him because when I came in the house to retrieve my handy dandy rubber gloves again my mom then tells me that maybe she pulled him inside before he was done. Really? Ya think?? Perhaps the fact that he pulled me straight to the backyard after exiting the car to finish off his business might have been the first hint to me. Alas, the sheet is being washed because I have to put him in tomorrow to take him to fat camp. On the positive side, I do believe that his vet induced skin infection has finally cleared....eight months later.
******Warning:
the following should not be read while consuming food (got it Kellay?)****So this am, papa w was returning from the west coast on a red eye. Sammy LOVES car rides and he's old and arthritic now so he's not really allowed to go so often which makes him depressed. Since he's going to fat camp for a few days I took pity on him. Plus how could I possibly reject this face.... Anywho, so big papa calls to announce that he is awaiting pick up at the bus station. I tell sammy he has to go to the potty if he wants to get in the car which immediately gets him revved. Then momma comes out and swears he's done his business for the day. So i let him in. BIG mistake #3. Sure enough he managed to leave a lil something something in my car again when we got home. I can't blame him because when I came in the house to retrieve my handy dandy rubber gloves again my mom then tells me that maybe she pulled him inside before he was done. Really? Ya think?? Perhaps the fact that he pulled me straight to the backyard after exiting the car to finish off his business might have been the first hint to me. Alas, the sheet is being washed because I have to put him in tomorrow to take him to fat camp. On the positive side, I do believe that his vet induced skin infection has finally cleared....eight months later.
Monday, June 26, 2006
April showers bring more showers?
All I have to say is what the f? I'm so tired of rain, not only for the dampering of the spirits and the inability to enjoy the outdoors but also cause it makes the ole knee swell up making clothing myself a difficult prospect. One can only wear sweats for so many days before people start thinking, "My she's really let herself go hasn't she? What a shame". Skirts are an option but I prefer covered legs during rain. Who knows why, its a personal preference. Checked on a job status that biggest bro is helping me with and I have tentatively passed the initial qualification! Course, I'm pretty sure that just means I filled out the app correctly online, but hey its something.
Now for a weekend recap. Nothing too exciting I must admit because financials are still not in a happy place. Friday rented some movies. Saturday, went to the mall with my mom again. We are a renowned tag team. People actually ask where the other is if we're not together.....that is a tad on the sad side but I digress. The Asian Hair Cart ladies were excited to see us again because we pretty much keep them in business, but their stuff is so good how could we refuse? Saturday night went to Wildwood with the folks and the Karps. Never been there before, despite what my family says I was left out of the engagement celebratory dinner. Quite tasty steak and conversation. However, I was unable to get a drink because i left my ID at home. Waitress with oddly pitches sing song voice rejected me despite the fact that my parents were there because I didn't have a pesky card. BUMMER.
Sunday? Well Sunday brought about the start of Wedding Bonanza which meant it was my second official bridal shower, well third if you count one from college. But that one was actually held in the study room of a dorm so I don't. The picture to the left? Was it some wacky shower game to torture the future hubby? Stay tuned. I was immediately caught off guard when leaving my house because my mom got in the passenger side of her own car. Wha? Apparently I was voted to drive to Saugus. Made it there with mom and mama Karp in time for the shower. It was pretty cool. No cheesey shower games which was A-OK by me. Did feel a little badly for Mo though cause he was the only dude there. But he's a cool dude so he can hang. Course he was put to work...hence the picture to the left. That apartment got pretty toasty with the oven, the humidity and the rain preventing window openage. Former bball player Mo, got to rediscover his skill by balancing on a chair on an ottoman to turn on the fan. Lots of work, but definitely made a difference. The only weird thing about the shower is that I swear I could smell a certain wacky tobaccy odor seeping in from somewhere during the gift opening.To finish up the night I gave Sammy his three pill nightly cocktail which he took with no problem so I felt co
mpelled to give him his cheese. Having completed my duties, I set up getting ready for bed. I hadn't even gotten to floss my teeth before I hear an awful sound...the sound of retching. Sure enough I exist the bathroom and there is Sammy looking guilty and dangerously close to the couch and sure enough when I round the chair I see a lovely pile of vomit highlighted by undigested cheese. Oh trusty rubber gloves!!! Cleaned up the mess and went to bed. Took sammy with me to drop off the movie today and don't get fair before he gets an odd look of ecstasy on his face. Definitely means trouble. Just a matter of seconds before the odor-rific scent of doody fills the car. Too far to make it worthwhile to turn around but by the time I get back, he has also sat in it. Luckily he didn't play like he wouldn't get out of the car. Had to wipe him off and then fix the car with a lovely combo of rubber gloves, febreeze, resolve, and windex. Why windex? Oh somehow he managed to get it on the door too. Sometimes I really do feel like a glorified pooper scooper.T-minus 4 days til boozin in the hotel time. Bought my gift today so hopefully it'll arrive before the big day.
Friday, June 23, 2006
News from the underground
Lots of random thoughts to get down here today....one of which I keep meaning to tell people about but I keep forgetting to do it. Perhaps because my mind is trying to block this experience from being remembered.
As I am still unemployed (new application sent in and prospects on the horizon), I have fair amounts of free time. So I meandered to the ole town mall where all the happening shopping occurs. Truthfully, it is pretty nice and with the new addition that they are building it'll be even better. Not sure what i was looking for...perhaps a father's day gift or one of many wedding/shower presents that are just waiting to be selected for a variety of big days. Naturally, I am drawn to stores that I like to shop in like Vicky S. Why do I like it so much? I have a sort of male mentality when it comes to laundry so I like to stock up on the essentials to push back the length of time I can take between laundry days. Kinda gross, but it is what it is. Anywho, as I peruse the store and make my way out I notice these two huge women. Like 6'5" which is incredibly tall. I've been around tall ladies before and they don't freak me out at all, but there was something about these two that just didn't fly. As I walk by them I hear them speak and I immediately know why my alarm bell went off. Ladies are dudes in drag!!! Now I lived in DC for 6 years so I got nothing against Drag Queens and have watched "Drag Races" in Dupont. It's cool, got no problems with their lifestyle. That being said...I didn't know they existed my lil suburban town and it was a lil weird to see them in a woman's underthings store.
If you'll recall from the Girlie Girl entry, me and power tools may not go together like rama lama dingy dong. I try I really do. The lawn needs a mowin and I'm available. So I put on my shorts, roll my sleeves ghetto style, get the glasses and the poo shoes. Poo shoes? Well if you have a dog you know about the need for non-textured soles in the event of an accidental step. Push the mower out of the garage, prime it, rip the cord a few times and off I go. The anal personality in me usually quarters the yard off and completing a section before moving on. Yesterday, I tried to just do a simple circle of the whole yard. I get around 2.5 times and then....mower dies. Try to start again. No go. Check the gas...still visible amounts and the gas can is empty so there's nothing i can do there. Prime again, won't start. Damn, the twisting motion of starting the mower is not doing wonders for the knee. I was foiled by lawn equipment again. Worse, you can barely tell i did anything because of my circling method.
Getting psyched for the trip to bmore. Pseudo brother is getting married to a very fun lady. Should be good times, good drink, and good food. And I'll finally leave the rain infested noreast.
As I am still unemployed (new application sent in and prospects on the horizon), I have fair amounts of free time. So I meandered to the ole town mall where all the happening shopping occurs. Truthfully, it is pretty nice and with the new addition that they are building it'll be even better. Not sure what i was looking for...perhaps a father's day gift or one of many wedding/shower presents that are just waiting to be selected for a variety of big days. Naturally, I am drawn to stores that I like to shop in like Vicky S. Why do I like it so much? I have a sort of male mentality when it comes to laundry so I like to stock up on the essentials to push back the length of time I can take between laundry days. Kinda gross, but it is what it is. Anywho, as I peruse the store and make my way out I notice these two huge women. Like 6'5" which is incredibly tall. I've been around tall ladies before and they don't freak me out at all, but there was something about these two that just didn't fly. As I walk by them I hear them speak and I immediately know why my alarm bell went off. Ladies are dudes in drag!!! Now I lived in DC for 6 years so I got nothing against Drag Queens and have watched "Drag Races" in Dupont. It's cool, got no problems with their lifestyle. That being said...I didn't know they existed my lil suburban town and it was a lil weird to see them in a woman's underthings store.
If you'll recall from the Girlie Girl entry, me and power tools may not go together like rama lama dingy dong. I try I really do. The lawn needs a mowin and I'm available. So I put on my shorts, roll my sleeves ghetto style, get the glasses and the poo shoes. Poo shoes? Well if you have a dog you know about the need for non-textured soles in the event of an accidental step. Push the mower out of the garage, prime it, rip the cord a few times and off I go. The anal personality in me usually quarters the yard off and completing a section before moving on. Yesterday, I tried to just do a simple circle of the whole yard. I get around 2.5 times and then....mower dies. Try to start again. No go. Check the gas...still visible amounts and the gas can is empty so there's nothing i can do there. Prime again, won't start. Damn, the twisting motion of starting the mower is not doing wonders for the knee. I was foiled by lawn equipment again. Worse, you can barely tell i did anything because of my circling method.
Getting psyched for the trip to bmore. Pseudo brother is getting married to a very fun lady. Should be good times, good drink, and good food. And I'll finally leave the rain infested noreast.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
The Interview
While I contemplate the appropriate gracious letter to my interviewers, i thought I'd take the time to give a brief recap. Before that I just got news that US lost to Ghana in the World Cup so I know my sister-in-law must be happy cause she has this thing with rooting for the underdog. Ah well, no biggie cause I'm not so much into the futbol, its okay live but I'm not gung ho about it by any means. Though being in such close proximity to little Brazil in the neighboring town means that I am well aware of how Brazil is fairing in the World Cup.
Now for the interview. This is only the second interview I've actually engaged in since I got my college job. I went to a religiously affiliated non-profit organization. This job was totally not my gig but i figured I needed to expand my horizons and try new things anyway. There is a new organization to support cultural arts and they were looking for an office assistant. The initial woman was nice enough and asked all about me. She had a kid at GW, so right off the bat I knew she had a certain picture of my financial situation in mind. Let's be real, GW students are a world onto themselves. You probably have more kids from Long Island with extremely wealthy parents and the children of diplomats than at any other university. Accordingly, the image of the GW student as a whole is one of extreme wealth. Sorry folks, I don't fit the bill, i went there on a scholarship not cause mommy and daddy own some company or have a building named after them on campus. Anywho, after a spiel on the organization and the direction, the woman informed me that the greatest focus would be on seeking donations. Then the question....."what do your parents do"? Say what!? What exactly does my parents' employment have to do with my job potential? If my mom was a law firm partner instead of a paralegal does that mean i get the job? Hmmmmmm, sounded quite shady to me and made my desire for the job to take a stiff dive to the hell no range. Then I go out and meet two other women from the job to ask further questions. guess its a tight knit place so its key that everyone gets along. Talk some more about myself...truthfully just repeat what I'd already said. then I get asked about my religion. Again I say , "errr?" Now keep in mind I was wearing a religious relic around my neck that clearly defined what religion I observe. I kept my nasty comment in and answered. I left well aware that I didn't want the job even if I got an offer. Next day i talked to my agency and told them what happened. They were in shock. Such shock they called me back after the initial call to apologize. Course, i told them not to worry. Frankly, I think there are other things they could be apologizing for, not the questions of an interview that they weren't involved in. Sheesh.
Sunday marks the beginning of Wedding bonanza 2006, too bad its gonna start off with a rain storm. Lucky it's a bridal shower and not a wedding so the fact that nature is providing a shower during the shower seems somewhat appropriate.
Now for the interview. This is only the second interview I've actually engaged in since I got my college job. I went to a religiously affiliated non-profit organization. This job was totally not my gig but i figured I needed to expand my horizons and try new things anyway. There is a new organization to support cultural arts and they were looking for an office assistant. The initial woman was nice enough and asked all about me. She had a kid at GW, so right off the bat I knew she had a certain picture of my financial situation in mind. Let's be real, GW students are a world onto themselves. You probably have more kids from Long Island with extremely wealthy parents and the children of diplomats than at any other university. Accordingly, the image of the GW student as a whole is one of extreme wealth. Sorry folks, I don't fit the bill, i went there on a scholarship not cause mommy and daddy own some company or have a building named after them on campus. Anywho, after a spiel on the organization and the direction, the woman informed me that the greatest focus would be on seeking donations. Then the question....."what do your parents do"? Say what!? What exactly does my parents' employment have to do with my job potential? If my mom was a law firm partner instead of a paralegal does that mean i get the job? Hmmmmmm, sounded quite shady to me and made my desire for the job to take a stiff dive to the hell no range. Then I go out and meet two other women from the job to ask further questions. guess its a tight knit place so its key that everyone gets along. Talk some more about myself...truthfully just repeat what I'd already said. then I get asked about my religion. Again I say , "errr?" Now keep in mind I was wearing a religious relic around my neck that clearly defined what religion I observe. I kept my nasty comment in and answered. I left well aware that I didn't want the job even if I got an offer. Next day i talked to my agency and told them what happened. They were in shock. Such shock they called me back after the initial call to apologize. Course, i told them not to worry. Frankly, I think there are other things they could be apologizing for, not the questions of an interview that they weren't involved in. Sheesh.
Sunday marks the beginning of Wedding bonanza 2006, too bad its gonna start off with a rain storm. Lucky it's a bridal shower and not a wedding so the fact that nature is providing a shower during the shower seems somewhat appropriate.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Life, or something like it....
Yesterday was father's day. So first a happy dia del padres to all the papas that I know out there. Typically we bug my dad to do something on the weekends in order to get him out of the house. He doesn't seem to have a lot of hobbies and is perfectly content to spend the weekend in the house or becoming a very dark skinned man in the backyard. however, it was his day, so me and my moms left him alone. We went to our appointment in the AM and to brunch aftewards and then let him open presents. Then it was off to the backyard with the pooch. However, since it hit a blistering 92 in the Nay Nay yesterday it was not ideal conditions for the doggie. He's a stubborn one though (no longer prone to using child body parts as chew toys either Mr. JK) and refused to go inside. So eventually I had to go inside in order for him to get out of the heat. Very low key day, but that's how my dad likes to roll.
New Profession ideas from the parental front. Seems our kitchen sink, unbeknownst to us, had quite the leak going on. This vital bit of information was discovered last night. The plumber came in and we found that nowadays plumbers charge their time, from the moment they are dispatched to the moment they are done as well as a parts charge and a labor wage. Quite the payroll. Mom suggested I look into that. But methinks i've proved that I should not use tools in a regular fashion. Shoot, if it plugs in, I need a warranty. How many people can say that they have actually cashed in on a warranty for a cordless phone? Ding Ding Ding, that's right party people yours truly has actually purchased a warranty for a cordless phone and had to use it. Plus Grampa was a plumber and if he wants one thing its that no family members do better than he was able to do. The other employment brainstorm of the day is that I should get into physical therapy. Two knee surgeries prior to the age of 24 and about 18 months of physical therapy did spark an interest for me but i just never thought of getting an education in it. If this current tract doesn't work out for me I may just look into getting a degree for PT, cause that'd be nifty and helpful. Btw, I do have an interview today, but my agency didn't provide me with much info so i'll have to wing it.
New Profession ideas from the parental front. Seems our kitchen sink, unbeknownst to us, had quite the leak going on. This vital bit of information was discovered last night. The plumber came in and we found that nowadays plumbers charge their time, from the moment they are dispatched to the moment they are done as well as a parts charge and a labor wage. Quite the payroll. Mom suggested I look into that. But methinks i've proved that I should not use tools in a regular fashion. Shoot, if it plugs in, I need a warranty. How many people can say that they have actually cashed in on a warranty for a cordless phone? Ding Ding Ding, that's right party people yours truly has actually purchased a warranty for a cordless phone and had to use it. Plus Grampa was a plumber and if he wants one thing its that no family members do better than he was able to do. The other employment brainstorm of the day is that I should get into physical therapy. Two knee surgeries prior to the age of 24 and about 18 months of physical therapy did spark an interest for me but i just never thought of getting an education in it. If this current tract doesn't work out for me I may just look into getting a degree for PT, cause that'd be nifty and helpful. Btw, I do have an interview today, but my agency didn't provide me with much info so i'll have to wing it.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Girlie Girl?
First, i wanted to post a picture of the original furry ninja for your viewing pleasure.
Well, like i've mentioned I'm the youngest of three, both older siblings are guys. Wash's two bf's are like brothers to me and a lot of my friends growing up were of the male persuasion. Because of this, I tend to not consider myself very girlie. Especially growing up, I would've classified myself as a tomboy. You can ask my mom cause she was none too pleased about it. I mean obviously they wanted a girl or they wouldn't have stopped having kids until they got me :) but i wasn't exactly the girl that my mom had hoped for. She forced me to take dance classes. I hated them, I would've rathered been enrolled in a sport. Hated shopping until I was in college. Didn't touch makeup til highschool.... you get the point. Big sports fanatic. know a lot about them and enjoy playing them. Even played some flag football in college/grad school until my team was finally able to win the Co-Rec Championship and I got the tshirt I'd so desired.
However, sometimes i find myself being a girlie girl and I don't know where its coming from. I like shopping (well for the most part) and I am unwilling to camp cause i can't handle bugs. though if asked, I may just respond that due to my surgical knee repair I prefer to lay upon cushioned surfaces so as to not reaggravate the problem and require a third surgery before i even turn 30. Alas, I tried to be helpful last weekend and do some lawn care. AWash refers to this as "man's work" a term that I find a bit on the obnoxious side. But he might be on to something. I managed to trim two of our hedges without a problem, but somehow during the third hedge trimming, I was able to get the power cord around the vibrating blade and cut almost clean through it. While the extension cord didn't not survive this impromtu surgery, I came through with flying colors and not an ounce of electrical shock. But maybe there's something to my brother's mantra about power tools not being for girls.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Scammers
Add another entry on the old pet peeve list: scammers. Now I'm not one to name names normally, but when you cost me money all bets are off. Course this is most likely related to the unemployed bum status I hold so every penny matters. Let's start with my young friend "LC". She's a very sweet young girl, I've known her since she was 14 since she worked for GW. When I realized I was moving home and she was beginning college, I realized that perhaps we could work out a deal whereby i would make money and she would save money on college supplies by purchasing things out of my apartment. I should have known better because this girl was all talk. She would say that she would do things that would never happen, which i attributed to youth. She even claimed that she would help me move which would have been most helpful, but alas she bailed on the move and instead had someone else come collect her stuff and I still almost a year later have yet to see my $50. Now that's not a lot of money this particular scammer makes the list on principle.
The Next scammer is particularly bad because it is an awkward situation. Thanks to JW, I am a football fan and probably have more knowledge than your typical lady. In fact several people at my old job would underestimate my knowledge only to have to eat their words after a sunday game. hehehehe. anywho, i digress. I've played in a fantasty football league with work related people for a few years....according to Yahoo i'm practically a pro. This year, the fee was $20 a person with half of the winnings going to the regular season winner and half going to the league winner. $100 apiece. I lost the season by a half game but kicked some serious bootay to win the league title. Again where is my payment? Worse yet, this perpetrator happens to be the brother of a very good friend of mine who does not wish to intervene on my behalf because he is not his brother's keeper. Both of these people have gotten emails from me and reminders on my address for where they can send their money. Alas to no avail. Much harder to pursue these scammers since they are in the DC area and I'm back in Nay Nay. Lucky for me, I happen to have a very important event to attend to in Bmore in a few weeks which is in the neighborhood of these scammers, so maybe i'll come back from the wedding with a heavier pocket.
And one last scammer to that comes to mind is everyone's favorite convenient store Cee Vee Ess. They have their own card that they scan in order to track your purchases and, ideally, provide coupons on your favorite products. But if you look at these coupons they have a short valid time. If you just bought a large bottle of conditioner what are the odds you'll need to replensih within three to four weeks? Same with pain medicine. If I just bought a bottle of Advil why do I need a coupon for pain medicine that only lasts til the end of the month? I mean if you're going through a bottle of Aspirin/Advil/Tylenol/Aleve within that short period of time you may just want to consult your doctor about what's buggin you....cause that ain't healthy.
The Next scammer is particularly bad because it is an awkward situation. Thanks to JW, I am a football fan and probably have more knowledge than your typical lady. In fact several people at my old job would underestimate my knowledge only to have to eat their words after a sunday game. hehehehe. anywho, i digress. I've played in a fantasty football league with work related people for a few years....according to Yahoo i'm practically a pro. This year, the fee was $20 a person with half of the winnings going to the regular season winner and half going to the league winner. $100 apiece. I lost the season by a half game but kicked some serious bootay to win the league title. Again where is my payment? Worse yet, this perpetrator happens to be the brother of a very good friend of mine who does not wish to intervene on my behalf because he is not his brother's keeper. Both of these people have gotten emails from me and reminders on my address for where they can send their money. Alas to no avail. Much harder to pursue these scammers since they are in the DC area and I'm back in Nay Nay. Lucky for me, I happen to have a very important event to attend to in Bmore in a few weeks which is in the neighborhood of these scammers, so maybe i'll come back from the wedding with a heavier pocket.
And one last scammer to that comes to mind is everyone's favorite convenient store Cee Vee Ess. They have their own card that they scan in order to track your purchases and, ideally, provide coupons on your favorite products. But if you look at these coupons they have a short valid time. If you just bought a large bottle of conditioner what are the odds you'll need to replensih within three to four weeks? Same with pain medicine. If I just bought a bottle of Advil why do I need a coupon for pain medicine that only lasts til the end of the month? I mean if you're going through a bottle of Aspirin/Advil/Tylenol/Aleve within that short period of time you may just want to consult your doctor about what's buggin you....cause that ain't healthy.
Monday, June 12, 2006
The Capital Life
So I have finally done it...I have begun the job search back in the DC area. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy DC for the 6 years I was there. I mean I lost weight because of the walking necessary in the city and it was nice weather with the exception of three months in the summertime when it is hot as Hades and definitely not TW-Fro hair compatible. Truthfully, the one time I did stay into the summer months I frequently looked as though I had stuck my finger in an electrical socket as part of getting ready for the day operations. And while electrical shocks are cool to some folks, that's just not how i roll.
If you think about DC is probably a cool place for me to be. I still have a bunch of friends in the area from the GW days. My pseudo big brother jk and his soon to be wife angie are minutes away in bmore as well as nay nay's finest in kelmic, throw in the fact that ms. kimmy will be moving down shortly and the fact that biggest bro has a tendency to frequent the city on "business" and you've got all the makings of a perfect locale. Close enough that i can visit home whenever i so choose, yet far enough away that I can feel as though i'm living on my own. Cause that's what MA is coming down to, in addition to the employment issues, i'm starting to wonder if its possible for me to be truly independent being in such close proximity to the parentals. I felt like an adult in DC on my own, with my own apartment and my own bills but in MA I seem to be more dependent and "youngest" mentality. Don't like it, don't really know how to get out of it. I know its doable cause i got plenty of friends who stayed in MA and are on their own, but I'm not sure that they come from as close-knit of a family as mine. Surely, people that know me and the jw would not on the surface believe we are close because we have a tendency to push each other's buttons. But you can only really be annoyed by those you love, right? Otherwise you wouldn't care what the other person did.
Of course, while I'm applying to jobs in DC, I've also come up with a brilliant plan to hire on with a doggy day care place, cause that could be a fun interim position, what's better than playing with puppies all day? That or a postal position, but i fear for my own sanity and safety in the postal world.
Thirteen days til the beginning of the Summer of Wedding Festivities begins, and the 49 cent dress is back from the tailor's and ready to be worn...
If you think about DC is probably a cool place for me to be. I still have a bunch of friends in the area from the GW days. My pseudo big brother jk and his soon to be wife angie are minutes away in bmore as well as nay nay's finest in kelmic, throw in the fact that ms. kimmy will be moving down shortly and the fact that biggest bro has a tendency to frequent the city on "business" and you've got all the makings of a perfect locale. Close enough that i can visit home whenever i so choose, yet far enough away that I can feel as though i'm living on my own. Cause that's what MA is coming down to, in addition to the employment issues, i'm starting to wonder if its possible for me to be truly independent being in such close proximity to the parentals. I felt like an adult in DC on my own, with my own apartment and my own bills but in MA I seem to be more dependent and "youngest" mentality. Don't like it, don't really know how to get out of it. I know its doable cause i got plenty of friends who stayed in MA and are on their own, but I'm not sure that they come from as close-knit of a family as mine. Surely, people that know me and the jw would not on the surface believe we are close because we have a tendency to push each other's buttons. But you can only really be annoyed by those you love, right? Otherwise you wouldn't care what the other person did.
Of course, while I'm applying to jobs in DC, I've also come up with a brilliant plan to hire on with a doggy day care place, cause that could be a fun interim position, what's better than playing with puppies all day? That or a postal position, but i fear for my own sanity and safety in the postal world.
Thirteen days til the beginning of the Summer of Wedding Festivities begins, and the 49 cent dress is back from the tailor's and ready to be worn...
Friday, June 09, 2006
Confessions of an Unemployed Bum
I admit it, I am leading the life of a bum/mooch. I graduated May 2005 (technically August but whatever I have a diploma) from a good university with an advanced degree. I stayed in DC to live out my lease and then moved home with the parentals while I searched for a job. Well, it June 9 2006 and i'm still at home and still looking for a job. Don't get me wrong my parents are pretty cool tenants and let's be honest $0 monthly rent is significantly better than the monetary rape I suffered for the two years of Foggy Bottom, DC living. But being unemployed blows big chunks. Part of the reason I decided to move back was for my friends and family and well, i don't have the funding to afford to go out with my employed friends cause they're in the fancy Boston Bar stage of life, a stage that I have never and probably will never be in. So besides Thanksgiving I haven't seen any of my friends. Shoot, I don't even get calls from them anymore, which is cool i guess, I mean how many times do people want to hear that someone can't go out? Plus it'll make it easier to leave if I get a job outside of the state.
Then there are the well meaning friends who have managed to get jobs. They don't get why its so hard, and I suppose I wouldn't either if I were them. But there isn't a single one of my friends, except maybe Kellay, who has a job that I would want and therein lies the problem. I want in on Criminal Justice, a tricky field to get into. No one wants an educated but underexperienced employee. How does one get experience if no one is willing to give it out? on top of that frustration, I can't even get a regular boring retail job. I'm too educated and too much of a flight risk for them to give me a shot.
All I know is someone better bite on the resume and at least give me a chance to interview soon cause I got three weddings, two showers and a bachelorette party that's gonna cost a minimum of more than a c-note from now til October so I either 1)need a job 2)need to rob a bank or 3) win the lottery. Personally I vote for #3 cause i got big plans for a lottery windfall, I won't forget either wash or the old homestead, and I'd get to really hold out for something I like to do.
Then there are the well meaning friends who have managed to get jobs. They don't get why its so hard, and I suppose I wouldn't either if I were them. But there isn't a single one of my friends, except maybe Kellay, who has a job that I would want and therein lies the problem. I want in on Criminal Justice, a tricky field to get into. No one wants an educated but underexperienced employee. How does one get experience if no one is willing to give it out? on top of that frustration, I can't even get a regular boring retail job. I'm too educated and too much of a flight risk for them to give me a shot.
All I know is someone better bite on the resume and at least give me a chance to interview soon cause I got three weddings, two showers and a bachelorette party that's gonna cost a minimum of more than a c-note from now til October so I either 1)need a job 2)need to rob a bank or 3) win the lottery. Personally I vote for #3 cause i got big plans for a lottery windfall, I won't forget either wash or the old homestead, and I'd get to really hold out for something I like to do.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
where the money's at
Over the last six months, I've realized that I made a huge mistake in my educational pursuits. I attained a BA in Sociology with a minor in psychology and then went on to get a Masters in Criminal Justice before the age of 24. Pretty sweet right? But is that where the money's at? Heck no! I've just returned from yet another visit with our darling vet and realized that the true money is in Animal medicine. Let's be real. People who have animals but not kids treat their animals like kids....meaning that they are willing to pour endless amounts of money into the well being of the animal.
Take Samson for example. He's at the ripe age of 10 years old now, graying fur and all. For the first nine years he was was the picture of health. Sure he had the occasional issue but what living being doesn't eventually have some kind of health problem? He was "fixed" because 1)it was the right thing to do and 2) there was a hypothesis that it would cut down on some of his more aggressive tendencies. Not so much on that one but whatever, at least we don't have to worry about a knock on the door and being yelled at cause Samson tried to spread his seed. However, the last year of his life has resulted in a ghastly amount of medical bills. When I returned in July from DC, I couldn't help but notice that samson was biting himself rather regularly and was whining. After a few weeks I took him in. They gave me an antibiotic. That didn't work, we tried a second, that appeared to work a lil. Then we left him at the kennel because my brother, nephew and sister-in-law were coming into town. When I picked him up the skin infection had blown up and was now on both sides of his abdomen. It occurs to me now that they never really knew what was going on, just experimenting. They did a biopsy and gave medication that they thought would work but it didn't. In the human world the word malpractice comes to mind. It is now June and he is still battling the infection he got while under their care. The same infection that they claim he must have had and gotten a cut and that's why it surfaced while being kenneled. I think that's bulls&*t to a royal degree, but what proof do I have? I don't regularly photograph his abdomen so it's our word against their's. Even better, because of his size (150) all medications cost an exhorbitant amount of money.
To top it all off, despite being on an antibiotic for six months, he somehow has managed to get a yeast infection in his ear and now an infection (immune to his current antibiotic obvi) in his....arse. He's also getting arthritic so we've had to put him on a vitamin supplement to prevent further damage and an arthritis medicine to improve the quality of his last years. Fourteen pills a day! There is a daily bag made of his pills as well as a color coded chart near his picture so that the parentals can give him the appropriate pills at the appropriate time even if i'm not home. Forget the fact that I don't even like the vet we go to but can't switch because the cost of running new tests at a different place is mind numbing. Since July, we've probably paid enough to cover the cost of college for the vet's kids. Why? Cause there was no such thing as pet health insurance 10 years ago and everything is out of pocket. Poor Sammy, the indignities of old age.....
Take Samson for example. He's at the ripe age of 10 years old now, graying fur and all. For the first nine years he was was the picture of health. Sure he had the occasional issue but what living being doesn't eventually have some kind of health problem? He was "fixed" because 1)it was the right thing to do and 2) there was a hypothesis that it would cut down on some of his more aggressive tendencies. Not so much on that one but whatever, at least we don't have to worry about a knock on the door and being yelled at cause Samson tried to spread his seed. However, the last year of his life has resulted in a ghastly amount of medical bills. When I returned in July from DC, I couldn't help but notice that samson was biting himself rather regularly and was whining. After a few weeks I took him in. They gave me an antibiotic. That didn't work, we tried a second, that appeared to work a lil. Then we left him at the kennel because my brother, nephew and sister-in-law were coming into town. When I picked him up the skin infection had blown up and was now on both sides of his abdomen. It occurs to me now that they never really knew what was going on, just experimenting. They did a biopsy and gave medication that they thought would work but it didn't. In the human world the word malpractice comes to mind. It is now June and he is still battling the infection he got while under their care. The same infection that they claim he must have had and gotten a cut and that's why it surfaced while being kenneled. I think that's bulls&*t to a royal degree, but what proof do I have? I don't regularly photograph his abdomen so it's our word against their's. Even better, because of his size (150) all medications cost an exhorbitant amount of money.
To top it all off, despite being on an antibiotic for six months, he somehow has managed to get a yeast infection in his ear and now an infection (immune to his current antibiotic obvi) in his....arse. He's also getting arthritic so we've had to put him on a vitamin supplement to prevent further damage and an arthritis medicine to improve the quality of his last years. Fourteen pills a day! There is a daily bag made of his pills as well as a color coded chart near his picture so that the parentals can give him the appropriate pills at the appropriate time even if i'm not home. Forget the fact that I don't even like the vet we go to but can't switch because the cost of running new tests at a different place is mind numbing. Since July, we've probably paid enough to cover the cost of college for the vet's kids. Why? Cause there was no such thing as pet health insurance 10 years ago and everything is out of pocket. Poor Sammy, the indignities of old age.....
Monday, June 05, 2006
On the other hand
So while entering my, as Jessica Simpson put so eloquently, "mid twenties" was kinda lame, I realize that I neglected to mention the things that went well. Kinda a bad habit of mine, more of a half empty girl though trying to change the outlook. Got some cards from Kellay from the Dirty Nat and phone calls from the nephew, Blair and Andy. Also got a couple of email shout outs including some folks I hadn't talked to in a year so that's always nice to remembered. Facebook allowed my favorite current college bball player Mr. Ricky Lucas to contact me and wish me a happy day. And since this is the boy that has sung Ashlee Simpson to me (don't ask) anything from him brings an instant smile to my face. Just thought it was important to not make it sound like everything was bad.
As for the weekend? Well it seems as though New England won't be suffering from drought problems any time soon. Yet again it was a wash out. Now rain is cool, I don't mind rain in the summer because its nice and refreshing not like the winter rain that is so bitter cold that you can't do anything but wish that it would just turn to snow. However, by the lovely age of 24 I had already had not one but two surgical procedures on my knee. The first experience is worthy of a blog entry on its own, the second was more to fix boo boos done by the first doctor as well as correct an injury incurred during physical therapy. Anywho, the second surgery was a success for the most part.....the only problem is that when it is very humid (i.e. raining) my knee throbs with the same intensity prior to surgical repair. In addition to the throbbing pain, it swells up usually preventing the wearability of anything except sweats or bottoms that aren't fitted around the knee. So Friday, with the pain I decided to rent some movies. Saturday was shopping with mom, which has lost its luster since we go to the same places every weekend and I can no longer afford to spend money until i get a job. Sunday meant taking Dad to the bus for his business trip. But the bright point was bringing a smile to the puppy's face. See Sammy loves himself a car ride, in fact the mere mention of either of those words and he gets giddy and whiny unless you make movement towards putting him in the car. Usually, he got to go every saturday on a route from the bank to the dump and back to the house. But lately his arthritis has gotten the better of him and he has some difficulty getting out of the car. He has even had enough trouble that its taken hours and some aspirin before he could be extricated. This latest development has meant that sammy has not gone for a non doctor's appointment ride in quite a while which makes him sad......very visibly sad and depressed which in turn makes me sad and depressed. At the very least he deserves to enjoy the end of his days. So I made a deal with him, as I develop a new method to take him in my dad's car (i'm good at doggie inventions for examples view doggie seat cover made by me for $5) I will take him with me to return movies as long as he will get out of the car. Call me a dog whisperer or a freak but I feel confident that this particular animal can understand human speech. So i took a risk and took him with me to Blockbluster and then the "long way" home. He got out of the car without issue! We'll see how it goes tomorrow when we have to go back to the vet for a followup. This dog's health issues are also worthy of an entry on their own and depending on what they tell me tomorrow you may hear about it soon.
As for the weekend? Well it seems as though New England won't be suffering from drought problems any time soon. Yet again it was a wash out. Now rain is cool, I don't mind rain in the summer because its nice and refreshing not like the winter rain that is so bitter cold that you can't do anything but wish that it would just turn to snow. However, by the lovely age of 24 I had already had not one but two surgical procedures on my knee. The first experience is worthy of a blog entry on its own, the second was more to fix boo boos done by the first doctor as well as correct an injury incurred during physical therapy. Anywho, the second surgery was a success for the most part.....the only problem is that when it is very humid (i.e. raining) my knee throbs with the same intensity prior to surgical repair. In addition to the throbbing pain, it swells up usually preventing the wearability of anything except sweats or bottoms that aren't fitted around the knee. So Friday, with the pain I decided to rent some movies. Saturday was shopping with mom, which has lost its luster since we go to the same places every weekend and I can no longer afford to spend money until i get a job. Sunday meant taking Dad to the bus for his business trip. But the bright point was bringing a smile to the puppy's face. See Sammy loves himself a car ride, in fact the mere mention of either of those words and he gets giddy and whiny unless you make movement towards putting him in the car. Usually, he got to go every saturday on a route from the bank to the dump and back to the house. But lately his arthritis has gotten the better of him and he has some difficulty getting out of the car. He has even had enough trouble that its taken hours and some aspirin before he could be extricated. This latest development has meant that sammy has not gone for a non doctor's appointment ride in quite a while which makes him sad......very visibly sad and depressed which in turn makes me sad and depressed. At the very least he deserves to enjoy the end of his days. So I made a deal with him, as I develop a new method to take him in my dad's car (i'm good at doggie inventions for examples view doggie seat cover made by me for $5) I will take him with me to return movies as long as he will get out of the car. Call me a dog whisperer or a freak but I feel confident that this particular animal can understand human speech. So i took a risk and took him with me to Blockbluster and then the "long way" home. He got out of the car without issue! We'll see how it goes tomorrow when we have to go back to the vet for a followup. This dog's health issues are also worthy of an entry on their own and depending on what they tell me tomorrow you may hear about it soon.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Birthday Blues
This is a few days late, but what the heck. I've always been wicked big on birthdays. Why? Not so sure, perhaps a result of youngest child syndrome when both brothers pretty much cover the bases in excelling in all fields of life thus leaving the day of my birth as the one thing that was totally mine. Who knows? I'm feeling all of those psychology classes coming back to me now about the pitfalls of every birth order position. Anywho, for someone who enjoys birthdays so much I feel like i haven't had the best of luck when it comes to them. My family has surely tried, I even remember my brothers putting on magic shows at my early birthdays. And wilingly entertaining my friends during my 'tween' years. Year 13 wasn't so bad, but that's probably due to the extravaganza that only a Bat Mitzvah can bring. Sweet sixteen? Well my mom and best friend made a valiant effort. But unfortunately I did not and still do not surround myself with people who are very good secret agents. Thus resulting in the Surprise! factor not really existing. It started when i went to get a drink out of my friend's fridge and noticed my mom's work number on a stickie. Very odd, i didn't have her mom's work number on my fridge. A decent attempt at a cover up and i was still fairly unaware. Then a few days later another non secret agent started asking what cd's she should bring to.....and then faded out as she realized I was standing there. DING DING DING I think we have a party. Further evidence? My dad actually wanted to take me shopping on the day of the party because he needed help picking something out for mom. Dad wants to shop? Needless to say there was little surprise to this party.
While I was in college i became friendly with a guy who had a birthday they day after mine. Our sophomore year I desperately tried to plan something for his birthday and tried to get some help from mutual friends. I became increasingly angry as my calls and emails were ignored but they had no problem talking to my roommate about it. I got so angry about the whole thing that I ultimately forced her to reveal to me that i wasn't being ignored but that everyone had decided to try and plan something for the both of us and wanted it to be a surprise. Whoops! I was always torn in college where to spend bday time since it was that awkward time of year when my friends were pretty evenly divided between being at school and being in the dirty nat.
Senior year...year 22 rocked. It was the festival of Taryn. A seven day long party that started with a impromptu wine and oreo party with the roomies and a few guests. It extended into dinner at a mexican place and continued and corresponded with graduation activities. ALso the baddest ass party ever thrown in my honor. Seriously there were people I hadn't seen since Freshmen year and they showed up. It was rad. My bud Vivek and I were the only sober ones in thurston 3 years earlier and we knocked back some drinks remembering the day. Then the fam bam including brothers came to town which involved more partaying. My brother's best bud Jon and his always fun fiancee Angie came down to enjoy as well. So much fun was had that were doubts I'd show up to my school ceremony the next day. Alas, I made the brothers proud by not only showing up, but showed up lacking any signs of a hangover. Then the black tie celebration for gw. Totally awesome....totally unfortunate cause it meant that nothing would ever live up to it.
The next year was kinda lame. Chose a restuarant based on ease of access not taste of food. Some people didn't come cause they didn't like other people. And a drunk ass popped a balloon of mine with his ciggie on my walk home. Almost resulting in an altercation with my roomie who took issue with that (rightfully so) then I got a royally bad sun burn setting up commencement resulting in a bout of sun poisioning ruining the actual birthday night festivities. Though some very nice friends came over anyway so i wouldn't be alone. Bust
Year 24 will go down as the most disappointing. I invited tons of my nearest and dearest and I was done with finals, but apparently I was the only one. Only my grad school buddies, Jordan and Vdez showed up to the club for dancing and drinks. Maggie happened to be in town and made an appearance but I was kinda bummed with the turnout. Don't get me wrong the TA's were fun and Jordan always gives a good time and Vdez? Shoot can't do much better than that but I was still sad. Then I got the bright idea to say hi to one of my athlete friends on the way home. Little did I know he had previously gotten in a bar fight and wasn't in a good mood. He and another of my friends got into some bizzaro macho bullshit and I wound up getting shoved pretty hard out of the way while they postured against each other. I fled home in tears at this turn of events.
this year? Well let's see, it happened to be raining which no pun intended rained on my parade. It was like the 2nd straight week of this rain something I thought I left behind when I left dc. Couldn't get appointments for my day of beauty because all of the people i currently see have decided that they don't do Fridays anymore (or saturdays for that matter). Got a mani/pedi but i hated the way my hands came out. Couldn't go where i wanted for dinner because of the weather so my parents took me where mi madre wanted to go. Big bro wasn't around because his fiancee's sis was getting married the next day. Other big bro was in sunny cali. Next day had an engagement party to attend where many people who every Thanksgiving like to tell me how they remember the day i was born couldn't really remember the actual date. Which was a little sad for me. Lucky Cheryl was there, can't be down when Cheryl is around. Oh and to top it off the aunt and grandparents forgot. As of June 1, still no card. SInce this was the last milestone birthday for another 5 years I guess I'll have plenty of time to stop caring so much about one day a year.
While I was in college i became friendly with a guy who had a birthday they day after mine. Our sophomore year I desperately tried to plan something for his birthday and tried to get some help from mutual friends. I became increasingly angry as my calls and emails were ignored but they had no problem talking to my roommate about it. I got so angry about the whole thing that I ultimately forced her to reveal to me that i wasn't being ignored but that everyone had decided to try and plan something for the both of us and wanted it to be a surprise. Whoops! I was always torn in college where to spend bday time since it was that awkward time of year when my friends were pretty evenly divided between being at school and being in the dirty nat.
Senior year...year 22 rocked. It was the festival of Taryn. A seven day long party that started with a impromptu wine and oreo party with the roomies and a few guests. It extended into dinner at a mexican place and continued and corresponded with graduation activities. ALso the baddest ass party ever thrown in my honor. Seriously there were people I hadn't seen since Freshmen year and they showed up. It was rad. My bud Vivek and I were the only sober ones in thurston 3 years earlier and we knocked back some drinks remembering the day. Then the fam bam including brothers came to town which involved more partaying. My brother's best bud Jon and his always fun fiancee Angie came down to enjoy as well. So much fun was had that were doubts I'd show up to my school ceremony the next day. Alas, I made the brothers proud by not only showing up, but showed up lacking any signs of a hangover. Then the black tie celebration for gw. Totally awesome....totally unfortunate cause it meant that nothing would ever live up to it.
The next year was kinda lame. Chose a restuarant based on ease of access not taste of food. Some people didn't come cause they didn't like other people. And a drunk ass popped a balloon of mine with his ciggie on my walk home. Almost resulting in an altercation with my roomie who took issue with that (rightfully so) then I got a royally bad sun burn setting up commencement resulting in a bout of sun poisioning ruining the actual birthday night festivities. Though some very nice friends came over anyway so i wouldn't be alone. Bust
Year 24 will go down as the most disappointing. I invited tons of my nearest and dearest and I was done with finals, but apparently I was the only one. Only my grad school buddies, Jordan and Vdez showed up to the club for dancing and drinks. Maggie happened to be in town and made an appearance but I was kinda bummed with the turnout. Don't get me wrong the TA's were fun and Jordan always gives a good time and Vdez? Shoot can't do much better than that but I was still sad. Then I got the bright idea to say hi to one of my athlete friends on the way home. Little did I know he had previously gotten in a bar fight and wasn't in a good mood. He and another of my friends got into some bizzaro macho bullshit and I wound up getting shoved pretty hard out of the way while they postured against each other. I fled home in tears at this turn of events.
this year? Well let's see, it happened to be raining which no pun intended rained on my parade. It was like the 2nd straight week of this rain something I thought I left behind when I left dc. Couldn't get appointments for my day of beauty because all of the people i currently see have decided that they don't do Fridays anymore (or saturdays for that matter). Got a mani/pedi but i hated the way my hands came out. Couldn't go where i wanted for dinner because of the weather so my parents took me where mi madre wanted to go. Big bro wasn't around because his fiancee's sis was getting married the next day. Other big bro was in sunny cali. Next day had an engagement party to attend where many people who every Thanksgiving like to tell me how they remember the day i was born couldn't really remember the actual date. Which was a little sad for me. Lucky Cheryl was there, can't be down when Cheryl is around. Oh and to top it off the aunt and grandparents forgot. As of June 1, still no card. SInce this was the last milestone birthday for another 5 years I guess I'll have plenty of time to stop caring so much about one day a year.
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