I think my alarm clock doesn't like my radio station

My clock radio has been tuned to a top forty/greatest hits of the 80's, 90's, and 00's station since I got it a few months ago. It has a really funny morning program, and it plays lots of music I like and very little music that makes me want to throw it against the wall when it goes off. It has been getting a little static-y lately, slowly but surely. Plus it tends to become just static if I get too far away from it or stand up near it (who knows with the magical airwaves). Then a few days ago, it cleared itself right up. Which was awesome, but it also was on a different station. This time it is an alternative radio station (so still playing music I like but a little bit harder then my pop usual choice). Admittedly it is a very mainstream alternative music station, so it is essentially the greatest hits of the alt rock genre in the last decade and a pinch. I guess it was just sick of playing pop music.

It is getting really cold here. Both my face and my legs were stinging cold after the walk to work, and I took a bus home--which didn't really lessen my walking all that much but it did allow for me to walk down streets that had a lot less wind blowing in my face. Plus I rented the Spike Lee Katrina documentary at my Blockbuster (where it let me off).

Hero of the week: my mailman for bringing me the Sims 2, so that I can play it. I may or may not have been so silly as to make myself a sim-Henry Rollins who is married to a sim-me and given sim-me and sim-Henry two kids, a teenage boy and a cute little girl. I may or may not have been that silly.

"Please release unspecial Ando"

Or, "I will be in charge of who I am in love with if you don't mind." Those were the key quotes from my evening of tv watching last night. I heart Hiro and Masi Oka, and there was a double feature of him last night (even if he only had about 30 seconds of him in Studio 60) I am liking studio 60 more and more the less they show me the actual sketches. I am more ready to believe a fruit of the loom sketch is funny just by watching the actors struggle in their costumes back stage because my imagination will assign it more potential then the actual sketch may prove to have.

I love Heroes even in lame episodes, and Masi Oka is responsible for a lot of it. "I am special!" was hilarious. He cracks my shit up, and he has a wonderful partner in Ando.

I should be on freaking design on a dime

We redid my friends Angie and Sara's apartment this weekend, without buying or painting anything. There living room is now officially very cozy and cute. All of their other rooms have been all rearranged too. We really ought to have done before and after pictures, the results were so dramatic.

Well timed buses

I have finally cracked the magic code that is the owl Belmont bus that stops near Jon, Angie, and Sara's house because it took me a little less then a half hour to get home last night including 3/4 of a mile of walking. Awesome. In sadder news, Jon has headed back to Idaho for a stint at the Boise Shakespeare Festival. I will miss him, but as I told him yesterday that I am only letting him go because he is coming back with more people I like (that means you Daigle and Chris Plummer). I have decided people may temporarily move as long as they come back in multiples.

My sinuses seem to be unwilling to fully drain lately, even when I take my loratadine all regular like, but then when I do that I feel really dehydrated unless I drink so much water I pee every five minutes. That balance is a hard thing to strike.

Plus I am very excited because it looks like I may be able to get really cheap tickets to get to go see Paco de Lucia play flamenco guitar at the Chicago Symphony. It will be awesome. He is world famous genius of new flamenco. I cannot wait.

I have been watching a lot of the Wire and some Ken Burns documentaries lately. The Wire is a really fascinating complex little show. I kind of love it becuase the characters are so human and fallible in a believable sort of way. You don't always feel like you have to like them to stay with the show, but they are normal enough that you are at least a little involved in the stories. It is way good. The documentaries are me being the world's biggest nerd and liking stories about the wild west. Hmm, well. Later I am going to go watch movies with Sara and Angie.

Funny and thanks to Jenny

How to make a

Ingredients: 5 parts competetiveness 5 parts crazyiness 5 parts ego

Method: Stir together in a glass tumbler with a salted rim. Add lovability to taste! Do not overindulge!

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Yesterday

I was watching CNN before work yesterday morning, and I caught the weather report. It was the one they have in the mornings that highlights which portion of the country will be experiencing "America's Worst Weather." Yesterday it was here in Chicago. Now I knew it was going to be cold, so I was all layered up for the day with cuddle duds and two sweaters, so I was prepared for the fierce cold that earned my portion of the Midwest that dubious honor. However, outside was a whole different thing. It was definitely cold, but it was a beautiful day otherwise. The sun was shining so brightly and the sky was clear, and it was fairly still--wind-wise--for Chicago It was as nice a day as it could be with a high of 24 degrees. So, of course I ran all kinds of errands and trudged around in it for probably two and a half miles, maybe three miles of walking in one day.

The Wii is Waay fun

I was over at Kristy and Mike's hanging out, eating banana cake, and playing Warioware Smooth Moves on the Wii. Quite frankly, it was way more fun then any weird Japanese things should ever be. I could play it all the time forever. Who knew I was such a monster at throwing imaginary ninja stars? And you watch it because I could saw you in half in like half a second. However, me and imaginary driving is not really perhaps a good idea. Overcompensation seems to be the rule. Anyway, Donald and Margaret and whoever else has a wii out there, get this game. It is great. And than you Kristy and Mike for letting me come over and play.

I almost forgot. I made a mii on the wii, and it wears a blue dress and has curly hair and glasses.

American Idol, sigh

I kind of cannot handle the sheer delusional ridiculousness of the audition episodes. The people in it hurt me. Presumably, they watch the show, so they should know what they are putting themselves up for in an audition. Why then are the shocked when they aren't sent on? I can understand being shocked to get sent to Hollywood since so many people don't get through. Like Randy says, they are looking for the best, not just anybody with a nice voice or a serviceable church choir voice. Although, it did get Renee the quote of the night, "I love it when white boys sing! Especially soul."

Hanging out

I spent the day with my friend Johnny B today. He is getting ready to leave us Chicago types for a stint back in Idaho, acting up a storm with the Idaho Shakespearience. Yeah, they are clever down there in Boise (in case you are wondering the Shakespearience is a traveling cutting of a Shakespeare play for junior high and high school kids because that wasn't obvious without an explanation).

We just sat around and talked for a while, and then we went to the airport to pick up one of his best friends from home who is here to visit and drive cross country with him. It is interesting to see someone you know well interact with someone you know not at all but that they know well and that they have known well far longer then they have known you (have fun with that parade of pronouns). You learn lots of things that way; bits of how they got to be who they are, bits of parts of them that you never see, and just more of them. Plus it often involves laughing very hard. John's friend Tyson is great and just the kind of old friend of his from Boise I would imagine. It was fun, plus I got to see some more Angie and Sara Jo too.

Sometimes you can miss something that you have always had

I work with a great friend of mine named Kristy, but since we are sort of the rocks of the associate team, we don't actually get to work together a lot. Often we are both working on only three days a week, and lately since hours have been trimmed, we may not even be at work during the same hours. Anyway, we haven't seen each other much. Today, we hung something like 12 rugs up on our rug displayer--a job that meant that I am covered in jute and woolen bits and so are my nasal passages. It is a two person job with one person lifting from the floor and the other clipping it to sliding panels, and it is actually a pretty sucky and strenuous job, but today it was the most fun ever. We just were wacky and laughed a lot, the way you do with good friends you enjoy. This makes Kristy my hero of the week. She moves to San Diego in a few months, and I will miss her; I will miss her very much. I am also thrilled to go over to her house on Thursday and hang out after work.

I made an online quiz

It was kind of fun, and so far my current roommate has done the best on it. It makes me laugh to read the questions and see the answers that people give on questions that I thought were easy or conversely that they would have no idea about.

If you would like to take it, you can go here:http://www.testriffic.com/friendtest/1789318

There is a reader board of the leaders on my my space page, but whatever.

I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping through the night lately. I keep waking up around three or four AM no matter when I go to sleep. I went to bed super late and woke up a few hours later then, but I also went to bed normally and woke then. I just don't know. Maybe it is because of my dreams. I kind of remember having bad dreams. Not nightmares, not that kind of bad, mostly just unpleasant in a slightly realistic sort of way. I guess. I don't know.

YESSSS!!!

So I love being reattached to the internet. I love it. My new computer is way the fuck faster then my old one. I guess that is what comes of being a dual processor, or having one or something--I do not speak this form of nerd. However, the buttons on the 'mouse' are in just a different enough place to confuse me, and it is weird that the keys aren't all worn smooth on all the home row letters and common letters. But it is shiny and bright and I can burn CDs and DVDs and I am wirelessly connected to the internet which means I can IMDB from right in front of the TV!!!!! Although I have been warned that using the computer while watching TV will get me in trouble with the roomies. Although really, I mostly watch complete and utter crap on the TV, so if they want to watch something else they could just say. Unless it is a new episode of one of my shows, but some of my shows are also their shows, so they are watching it anyway, or it is House which had to be given up for Gilmore Girls way earlier this season (which is fine since I am already committed to buying it on DVD anyway. Plus I can watch almost all of everything on the internet now, so it really is no never mind. They should realize this. I do like to hold the remote control, but it is fine to tell me it is their turn with the TV.

New Computer

I did it. I sucked it up and bought a brand new laptop that may be some kind of wonderful. I don't get to play on it until after work (ensuring it gets a full charge before I go full boar).

I also got a rerouted Christmas Card from Ken and Mandy, so they get added to that list. And I was/am charmed by all the affection in the comments during my brief technologically enforced hiatus.

RIP my computer

Okay, so its time of death has not officially been called, but it won't go past start up without freezing and making bad noises. So, I am not using it, thus the lack of posting and commenting. Umm, am in the market for a new laptop since I will be getting a stupendous refund this year, and will be using the portion that was to go to a trip to Florida on a new computer and some of the portion that was to go to paying down debt on it too. Oh well. Anyway, trying not to rush into buying a new one, but I might have a bead on a good one today on clearance at best buy. We shall see. I am sure I will post very soon if I get me a brand spanking new laptop.

Postscript

I just cut my own hair, again. This DIY attitude toward my hair is really kind of working for me. I am not sure exactly what this one will look/be like once it is dry, but it feels healthier--the first thing I did was trim it about one inch all over. My last self haircut was last June, and it looked really good and people loved it (although eight inches was a pretty drastic change). This one isn't quite so drastic, although there is more of a sweep of bangs,except not really bangs so much as a shorter bit that can be swept aside or linger across the face. Hopefully it will look nice. I will post some pictures later this week after I can dry it some.

pigs and candles

My roommate Janna is engaged. . .to a candle. They made their love official last night in the kitchen as we laughed and talked and got just a little tipsy. It was pretty funny, but I could see why she fell. He is a good-looking candle. I will post a picture later this week

Also, we were all going through and sharing old photos, and I came across one from my FFA hog showing days. It is pretty hilarious, but he was a beautiful hog from the summer after my sophomore year in high school. We decided it needed to be added to the mess of coupons and cartoons and crazy magnets on the refrigerator, so we put it right up there in the middle, next to the fah-q, and the fah-golf (thanks Carlin, we'll always have the memories).

Guitar Serenade

On the way home tonight, I was serenaded by two early 20's aged guys. They were standing outside their apartment in the light mist playing a guitar, and as I came closer they began to sing about me. It went something like this, "Hey miss lady, walking down the street. We're playing guitar outside." It was very sweet and one of the reasons I love living in the city.

My roommates were watching the very end of "The Wedding Singer" and I sang some really terrible Billy Idol karaoke in my living room. It was tons of fun.

Something to ponder

If young men are said to 'sow their wild oats' does that mean that young women 'gather their wild oats' or 'collect their wild oats?' And isn't that kind of a weird and perhaps a little disgusting as far as metaphors go?

Think about it.

Also, I think I like to have something fairly pointless to worry over in my head as I go about my life. Like I was a dog with a chew toy or something. I just like to have something their to rattle around, and if I don't have something there I kind of seek something out. So recent circumstances that have given me something to chew on (brain-wise) may be a good thing. They have little to no real consequences as things stand right now, but give me lots to think about and rehash. Keeps me busy. Off to bed.

PS I am not really a stalker and I have proof

I was cleaning out my email account and ran across a folder that I made a long time ago but almost never use. In it are a few emails that were all saved for sentimental reasons--a few from Patrick, a great inspirational one from my friend Yellow Heather, etc--including a copy of an email I wrote to someone else but blind cc'd a copy of it to myself. It was the email where I may or may not have professed my love (but was like 80% sure I didn't). I totally didn't. It was a perfectly harmless email. I hinted at someone taking me out, but that is all, and I did it in a totally joking way, and if you don't believe me I still have the email proof.

It is however true that even if this means I am not a stalker, it probably means that I am some sort of sad pathetic weirdo.

History is just one fucking thing after another

Or so says one of the boys in the movie "The History Boys" which was quite good, though a bit draggy near the end. Then it was a little bit of a deus ex machina whoa at the very end. I liked it, but if I tried to say more I would majorly ruin your film experience when you go to watch it (which you should--based on a tony winning stage play).

It also has the best portrayals of teachers ever. They are real people who do real things like smoke and curse and fuck up and get their kids scholarships and teach them good life lessons.

That is all for today.

Perhaps 2007=trouble

Maybe, probably not though, but I spent the morning of New Year's Eve in full panic mode. Also, boy was I ever drunk when I posted that last post. I didn't realize how drunk I was until I read that entry just now. It is startling how drunk I was, but I had a good time.

This is the entry where I catch up on what boy trouble I caught from Jessica--although upon reflection it really isn't trouble at all, just surprising at how quickly I can stir things up. I was going to really go into detail here, but that's not going to happen, I am too tired. Anyway, I spent two hours on the phone with an old friend with whom I have a history (or unfinished business--as he calls it). This may or may not get me into trouble in the future, but as he lives thousands of miles away from me, I have decided to not worry about it. Fortunately this time he doesn't have a girlfriend to accuse me of sleeping with him (which I never did). So we shall see, but I have the feeling that 2007 will be the year I have a lot of fun and get at least a little stupid. Here we go!!!

Also, hero of this current week, my boss for letting up the teeniest bit on the dress code today. I am grateful.

Welcome to new years super drunk edition

I got too drunk to party on new years, and I got just drunk enough to be stupid on new year's eve eve. more on that later, like Tuesday.

Belated hero of the week for last week, my roommates. They just rule. That is all I have for tonight. Really all.

But some people I called o new year's suck, but none of them read this blog. Also Jessica Smith is in trouble for her boy trouble contagion (see above where I say there will be more later like on Tuesday).

Happy 2007! I feel I will definitely cause myself a lot more trouble there. Trust me on this one.