Hi again. I don't mean to update once a month, but so much has been going on. I guess first and foremost, I am moving. To Long Island. To live with Todd.

I know!

It's a little crazy... but the more we think about it, the better an idea it is. I'll be paying less out there, even with the commute. Plus, it's Todd. So, I'm advertising my room on Craigslist and hopefully soon, someone will take it. This weekend, we're going to look at places out there. It's very exciting. I hope to be out of here by August 15. So hey, if you know anyone who's looking for a place in NYC, let me know.

Other than that, it's mostly been work and other Todd related stuff that's kept me busy. I also went to IL for Tory's bridal shower, and Todd and I are going to IL at the end of August for a week for Tory's wedding and to visit with his family. So I imagine that August will fly by. I'll try to update a little sooner than a month from now, though.

My recommendation for everyone - go see 500 Days of Summer. It is so good.

It's been a while since I last updated. Whoops. Time has just been flying by - bringing with it a mix of good and bad. The best part of the "good" is, hands down, Todd. If you had told me six years ago that we would be this happy now, I would have sworn you were doing the drugs. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Things are so good, and considering what clusterfucks other aspects of my life have become, it's nice to have something so incredibly good.

I got my new desktop, and it's pretty awesome. It's also REALLY cool to use Photoshop with it, so I've started back up with some icons (hence the new ones) - I'm sure as I get used to using it again, I'll become more active. It's a nice way to relax.

Not sure how many of my dear friends are following the post-election shenanigans going on in Iran right now. By "shenanigans," I mean "complete and total clusterfuck" (clusterfuck being my new favorite word. Thanks to Jon Stewart for that). It's a horrid situation... but at the same time, there's something about watching the citizens of a country fight an oppressive power. This op-ed from the NY Times is pretty good: A Supreme Leader Loses His Aura as Iranians Flock to the Streets

And on that note, I think I'm off to watch some season 2 of The Office (all the Jim/Pam angst is still great, even though they're together and happy now). I hope everyone is well!

"I'm happy every day. Maybe not all day every day, but every day."

That seems to have become my default position. I can now manage to be happy for at least part of each day. It's much easier now, and I'll give you one guess why... ;-) So yeah, Todd and I are going well. It's now been about a month and a half, but it seems like much longer - in a good way. The road trip to Iowa was a lot of fun and it was nice to meet some of the people from his life there. And... I don't know, it's nice to be making plans with someone.

I don't know, other than that, life is life. Work is still work, for better or worse, but I suppose I'm glad I still have a job in this economy. I've begun studying for the LSAT - the goal is still law school next year. If I don't get in, I'll probably still go back to school, for an MPA.

I bought a new computer, a desktop. One of the new Lenovo all-in-ones (the A600). I will hopefully get it by the end of the month. It's my birthday present to myself. It's black and shiny and has many fun features. Maybe it'll spark some creativity in me and I'll start playing around in Photoshop again.

Saw Adele in concert earlier this week - she is amazing. Has really bad fashion sense, yes, but with her voice, who cares? (Also, tall people were standing in front of me, so I couldn't really see the stage anyways.)

My parents moved to Jersey, if I didn't mention. They're 30-40 minutes away by car (about an hour by public transportation, I think). Todd and I stopped and visited briefly on our way back from Iowa (then promptly got lost in Jersey suburban hell). The dogs are good and seem to be adjusting pretty well.

So yeah, life is moving along.

It's a gorgeous day out. I went down to the east village with one of my roommates to get bubble tea. It was delicious.

Also - I'm sick of my icons. I need new ones. First, I suppose I need to get motivated to make new ones. :-P

On Wednesday evening, Todd and I are starting our drive out to Iowa so we can drop off his rental car and pick up his own car. We're leaving Wednesday night because I have a dentist appt at 3:20pm to get a multitude of things done. Which means my mouth might still be numb by the time I meet up with Todd (I'm taking the train out to the outskirts of Queens so he doesn't have to drive into the city), which should entertain him (and me). I'm actually excited about almost 40 hours in a car. It won't be all at once and I'll have good company.

That's what's going on in my life. I hope everyone else is doing well.

And on that note, I think I'm off to take a nap.

Just watched Wall-E. It was many different kinds of cute.

Didn't mean to neglect the journal. It's just that the only thing going on right now in my life is work. And I don't want to come home and blog about work - I'd much rather just forget about work for the few precious hours I have before I have to go back.

Eh, it's not as bad as I make it out to be. At least I have a job, and a pretty good one at that. So sometimes it gives me homicidal thoughts... I think that's pretty common.

Also, my job has introduced me to a boy. A Very Cute boy. Nothing will ever come of it because he's a coworker, but he helps the days go by, kind of like how sugar helps the medicine go down.

I'm at my parents' house until Jan 6th. My dogs are cute, as usual. I can't wait to see Tory, Bev, and Pat this week, too. I kind of miss my usual daily routine of waking up, cursing the time, going to work and hoping I see the Very Cute Boy (who, in actuality, is 5 years older than me), coming home, and chilling before bed. But Brownie just came over and sat down next to me, so I can hardly complain.

I hope everyone had a happy holiday and enjoys the last week of 2008. Here's hoping that 2009 brings good things.

Was in Vegas last week for work (I won $115 playing slots!), so I missed all my shows. So far, I've only caught up with The Office and Pushing Daisies. Grey's is downloaded and ready to go, Private Practice (which I am trying REALLY hard not to resent right now for reasons that will be revealed) will be watched via ABC's streaming media, Gossip Girl's last two episodes will be watched the same way, and True Blood's last two need to be downloaded and watched. In case anyone cared.

Oof. Last week's Pushing Daisies knocked my socks off. The whole episode was great, as usual, but the last scene just blew it all away. Olive and Lily and Chuck, and Chuck and Ned in the car... *sigh*. And the cemetary path in Coeur d'Coeurs is in the shape of a heart! This show has not had a bad episode yet, and it's already cancelled. Someone, somewhere, is messing with me.

How in the world are there only 7 more delicious episodes of Pushing Daisies left? (IF we get all remaining 7...) This show is one of the most creative on tv, not to mention the most beautiful visually. The writing is fantastic and the chemistry between all the actors is pitch perfect. Not to mention Jim Dale the Narrator. I don't know anyone who has seen it and not liked it. I mean, the writers can come up with a line like "where's that rat's ass I could give." Come on!

Instead, ABC chose to order a full season of Private Practice. Now, I like Private Practice. I like the actors and I like Shonda Rhimes. I don't think it's as bad as everyone says. But it is nowhere near the perfect pitch of Pushing Daisies. Not even close. Pushing Daisies knocks it out of the ballpark - there's no other show like it (except maybe Wonderfalls, which was quirkier and got cancelled after like 4 episodes by Fox).

Bryan Fuller is talking to DC Comics to do a comic to tie up all the loose ends. I don't read comics, but I will run out and buy this one the day it comes out. And there's hope for a movie (which I think would be perfect, it has all the appeal of a Tim Burton film - actually, I wonder if he would be interested? I bet just having Tim Burton interested in it will guarantee it be made).

I mean, thinking about the show made me go out and buy a bouquet of daisies.

People are mean.

The citizens of the US just did something completely amazing. Forget the fact that I've been a firm supporter of Obama for two years - it's a beautiful moment from a historical perspective and I'm really glad that it happened now, while a lot of people who took part in the Civil Rights Movement are able to enjoy what they helped create.

Barack Obama will be our 44th President. Just... wow. I'm kind of speechless.

I waited in line for an hour and a half this morning to vote, by the way. And then the people at my polling place directed me to the wrong election district and then of course they couldn't find my name in the registration books, so I had to fill out an affadavit vote.

Whatever. This is so worth it.

I just bought these gloves, in pink. How cute are they?

Anyway, last night, I had a weird dream. I don't completely remember everything that went on, but the gist of it was - it was some sort of anniversary for me and Todd (!). As far as I understood it, we had broken up (like in real life) and then gotten back together and we were celebrating 10 months (this could be wrong, but I remember it being 10 something - which is ridiculous, because who makes a huge deal out of 10 month anniversaries?). He made me two little glass bowls (I know, wtf?), but for some reason I was still upset. As it turned out, he had some other very large gift for me that made me cry. A bunch of other stuff that barely made sense also happened but I don't really remember anymore. Mostly, I remember being really, really happy.

How weird is that? Maybe that's what happens when I fall asleep with "Take a Chance on Me" stuck in my head (because I watched Mamma Mia last night).

Life has continued on with it's monotony, otherwise. Weezer was a really good time. And I also saw Matt Nathanson, who was brilliant as usual. I'm going to see him again next weekend with Kate in Atlanta. My company is cutting back on costs, like so many other companies, and one way they're doing it? Cancel all departmental/holiday parties. No holiday cheer for employees.

... So I thought I'd say hi and update you on what's going on in my life. I know you're excited.

The past couple of weeks have been filled with something we'll just refer to as The Unpleasantness. It has complicated my life, but I'm dealing with it and trying to move forward. There's not really anything that can be done that won't make it worse.

I went to the Celine Dion concert at MSG last week. Ohhhh my goodness, it was a good time. She's a great performer - even if I think some of the outfits she wore were ridiculous. She played all the old favorites - My Heart Will Go On, Because You Loved Me, To Love You More (with that gorgeous violin), All By Myself, and, my personal favorite, It's All Coming Back To Me Now. She did a cover of Heart's Alone that was great and a Queen medley that was not so great. We sang along and had a generally fantastic time.

Tomorrow night is Weezer, as long as nothing goes wrong.

Yesterday, the dresser I ordered from Ikea finally arrived. It took me all evening to build it (6 drawers), but it's finished and my clothes are in there. And it's really nice to look over and not have my closet so cluttered. I also ordered some little things to decorate my room from Urban Outfitters - I love their "apartment" stuff. It took a good deal of restraint to not buy more things.

I bought tickets to go to Atlanta next month to visit with Kate. I cannot wait! I rarely ever go anywhere that's not Chicagoland to visit my family. Actually - I won't be going back there until Christmastime. I miss my little dogs. My mom sends photos of them from her iPhone. She sent one recently of Brownie lying on a chair with his head hanging off the seat.

The first presidential debate is this Friday. I'm excited.

Even more exciting? The Office and Grey's Anatomy on Thursday! I need my Jim/Pam (also Michael Scott ridiculousness) fix, as well as my Meredith/Derek fix (and I think it's cute that Lexie has a crush on George).

I also think that it may be time for me to stop being such a bitch and rejecting guys automatically. Or, at least, stop rejecting guys automatically. I can't help the bitch part. I keep being told that the right guy is out there for me. Somewhere. I don't want to scare him away, do I? (Then again, do I want a guy who is easily scared away?)

Has it really been a month since I last posted? Whoops. I guess I just haven't had too much to say. I've been working, then working some more. My mom has been visiting the last two weeks and she goes home tomorrow. Oh, and Thursday night on the bus, I almost fainted (everything literally went black, but I was holding on to a pole for dear life because EWW, touching the floor of a NYC bus?).

I've also been following the election goings-on like a hawk (I have been since last year). It's really interesting - and to think, it's really officially getting started now that both conventions have taken place. I've also become a big fan of the Daily Show. I watched it once in a while in the past, but now I watch it every night. It's just all so entertaining.

There are two blogs that I read on a daily basis - Marbury and Marc Ambinder. Marbury is my favorite - it's written by an American living in London, and is named for Lord John Marbury from The West Wing. It's really funny to compare this election with Santos vs Vinick in season 7 (especially since Santos was based on Barack Obama back in the day).

Marbury, from yesterday: target="_blank">dropping the p-bomb

How interesting it would be if Colin Powell does endorse Obama. Of all the Republicans, especially those who work(ed) for President Bush, I have the most respect for Powell. This would be a huge bonus for Obama, as Powell has come out as the voice of reason about the Iraq war.

Alright, I'm actually in the middle of working (yes, on a Saturday - I'm also going to have to work tomorrow), so I'm going to get back to that. I hope everyone is doing well!

I've been busy again... well, maybe not THAT busy, but I went to Seattle (where it didn't rain one drop the whole time I was there), had a fanfriggintastic time with Tory and Kate, and then came home horribly sick. I'm still recovering. I had full blown ear infections in both ears, plus a really sore throat. For 3 or 4 days straight, I had a fever of over 100 degrees. And during that time, I had to fly back to NY and then move. I'm still coughing and it still hurts to swallow and my right ear still keeps popping inexplicably, but my head finally feels clear.

I'm in my new apt and I LOVE IT. I knew I hated my old place, but I didn't realize how much until I went back yesterday to pick up some stuff. I'm so glad that chapter of my life is over.

Also - I finally finally finally got hired permanently. And with the salary I was asking! However, now I really feel like I have to buckle down and work. And damn, work I have done. My boss is going to Brazil in a few weeks and I just finished working out his travel details, except for the Visa process, which will get done tomorrow. It's crazy the amount of things required to obtain a Visa for Brazil. I also had a big brain fart while making a graph in excel - I had to look up how to do what I did and it turned out, I just needed to do one little thing.

Errrr, I was going to do laundry today (yay! My building has laundry facilities! No more crazy Russian lady shrinking my clothes and using strong smelling detergent and no softener!) but I am pooped. Wednesday, I am going to go see Joshua Radin (he's so dreamy...), and Friday, I might be going to see Sara Bareilles (eee! I'm so excited!), Maroon 5 (woot!), and Counting Crows (meh) over on Long Island.

Okay... that's it for now. I'll try to update in less than one month.

I'm at my parents' house. Have to work a lot (boss is spazzing because I'm not there), but it's been productive. I'd been working on a bubble chart for the last few weeks and finally finished it today. I think it broke my brain.

Tory's engagement party was last weekend and it was a BLAST. This weekend, we're going to Seattle for Kate's wedding shower. I'm so excited - this is my first time in Seattle.

I've been rewatching the Anne of Green Gables movies (the one with Megan Follows) - they don't really follow the books (I've been rereading them too), but they're wonderful in their own way. I want to live on Prince Edward Island during that time period... uh, and marry Gilbert Blythe.

Alright, my brain is broken, so you all get a music meme. It's fun! I put it on facebook, but I thought I'd do it again here.

The Rules:
1) Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2) Put it on shuffle
3) Press play
4) For every question, type the song that's playing
5) When you go to a new question, press the next button

( fun times! )

Hello everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates - I've been working my tailbone off and, y'know, having a life. Lets see... I won a free open bar (and got hit on by a cute sailor), went to a Priscilla Ahn concert (she's got such a pretty voice), went to an Ingrid Michaelson concert (first time I saw her with full band and she was a rock star), saw Joshua Radin TWICE in one week (at both concerts), went to the Tonys (no joke!), and went to a Coldplay concert (tonight). Not in that order. Phew! I also paid security on my new apt and I have a move in date established and everything. AND I go back to IL on Saturday for 3 weeks.

Sooooo... the Tonys! I wish I had photos, but the security people would have confiscated the camera anyway. I got a dress from BCBG that I LOVE. I can't even list all the celebs I saw (a guy a few seats down my row won a Tony), but my highlights (other than most of the original cast of Rent) were Kristin Chenoweth, Lily Tomlin, and BRADLEY WHITFORD. Mr Josh Lyman walked past me multiple times during the show. Then on my way out, I saw him with his family - he was holding a very cute little girl who was sleepy. He was instantly noticed by me due to his hairline. Heh.

The Coldplay concert was tonight and it was free. And spectacular. I had never seen them before. I wish they had done an encore, but ya know... the show was free. No complaints. They played Lovers in Japan (my favorite track, along with Reign of Love - which they didn't play and that made me sad - and Viva La Vida) last and it was really cool.

Yeah. So my life has been busy. My boss was the biggest pain in the ass for the last month, and he apologized for it today. Then said that he wanted me to take on even more responsibility. Woooo. And no, I'm not a permanent employee yet. Sigh. At the same time, all the work and stress is worth being able to do things like go to the Tonys, the Coldplay concert, and Vegas in November.

Also, I realized I'm doing a lot of traveling this year! Other than the trip to IL to visit family and friends, I'm spending a weekend in Seattle for my long-time friend Kate's bridal shower (and I'm traveling with Tory, which is exciting because I haven't had a travel buddy in so long!). Then in October is Kate's wedding, in which I am a bridesmaid. Then November is Vegas. Also... there's a miniscule chance I will get to go to Vienna in September. I am renewing my passport but not holding my breath. But wouldn't that be the greatest?

Alright, it's a quarter to 1AM and there's work in the morning. Also an eggwhite omelette with peppers and cheese and spinach. I've been craving it all day.

Got really stressed at work today. Nothing new. But my boss wasn't even there! I just was trying to do 10 things at once and then my brain started hurting. Plus, it is mother hot here - we've had an excessive heat warning every day since Saturday! Today felt like 110 degrees, apparently. Tomorrow is supposed to be excessively hot again, then it will slowly cool down (I'm actually excited about it being 86 on Wednesday).

So anyways, I came home from work at a decent time (6:30) so I could pick up my laundry. Then I showered and worked for another hour. Ugh. I also worked 5 hours yesterday. Tomorrow's another busy day (my boss is gonna be in the office, so we'll see how much I actually can get done - he likes to interrupt me). Then on Wednesday, we have an event, and I'll be out of the office for half the day. So that'll be cool. Next week, I probably have to go out to company headquarters out on Long Island (like a 2 hour commute). Great.

Is it time to go back to the 'Ville yet? I know I'll have a good time there and in Seattle (I can't wait!), but I'm afraid of what it'll be like at work when I get back. It's not even like I'll be not working - I'll have to work pretty much 8 hours a day - but things seem to erupt while I'm gone. Sigh. I'll just have to deal with it.

By the way - is it really necessary to use a quarter of dish soap every time you wash one dish? I mean, is the concept of putting the dish soap on the sponge such a foreign concept?

Good thing I signed the lease on the new apartment today. I finally got it. On Friday, I have to write a check or two for security. One and a half more months!! I'm probably going to start packing this weekend, my winter clothes at least (because clearly I don't need any of it anymore) - I want to be packed before I leave for the 'Ville. This means I'm probably going to pack up all my dishes and stuff - my roommate will have to deal.

Alright, it's time to relax with some wine and ice cream. Hope everyone is well!

Work has been really busy lately. Still no word on the permanent employment thing - but I think it should happen soon. I think we're waiting for approval from the big boss. My boss told me that I should start acting more like his head of operations - so hey man, I think that deserves more money than I'm currently getting.

Anyways, I got my hands on the new Coldplay album, Viva La Vida, or Death and All His Friends. Despite the ridiculously long title, it is REALLY good. Good enough to inspire me to do a review. And I never do album reviews (though I'm think that maybe I should start?). ( Coldplay - Viva La Vida review )

I do want to chat about season finales, because they were good. Grey's Anatomy and Lost and House especially. But in another post (hopefully not one in a week and a half! It was really that long since I last posted?).

( political rambling - not about Obama this time )

Now it's time to wait for my pasta to arrive. Then it's some more West Wing (I'm rewatching season 3) with past and some wine. $7 White Zinfindel. That took me half an hour to open last night because I forgot that I don't have a corkscrew. I'm proud of myself, though, because I got the synthetic cork out by sticking a paring knife in it and twisting it slowly out. Was all that worth the $7 wine? Probably not.

Still not gonna say a word on the whole job situation. I feel like if I write about it, it will be jinxed.

David Cook won American Idol tonight. HAHA to the AI producers, who were definitely pushing Archuleta on us all season.

Tomorrow is the 2 hr season finale of GA. I'll be eating pasta and drinking wine with a friend or two. I like having 2 hrs of GA on my birthday. (Two years ago, the last episode ever of Alias was on my b-day.)

Also on my birthday? In 1990, Microsoft released Windows 3.0. And North and South Yemen unified to become the Republic of Yemen.

I share my birthday with Mary Cassatt, Richard Wagner (a German composer), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber), Naomi Campbell (Tyra's nemesis, mwaha), Sean Gunn (Kirk from Gilmore Girls!!), Ginnifer Goodwin, Apolo Anton Ohno (hey, he won Dancing With the Stars. And he's a 5 time Olympic medalist. And he's in the Asian Hall of Fame. And he's only 1 yr older than me. I suddenly feel very unaccomplished), and CariDee who won ANTM that one year.

Constantine (the Roman emperor) died on my birthday. So did Victor Hugo and Langston Hughes.

It is also World Biodiversity Day, National Maritime Day, and Corpus Christi in Poland. Saint Rita of Cascia, who is a patron saint of lost causes along with Saint Jude, has her feast on my birthday too.

I love Wikipedia.

Apartment search is over!

Last week, I went and looked at two bedrooms in a 4 bedroom/2 bath apt. One of the rooms was really big, the other one smaller but not as small as some other rooms I've seen (where the people also wanted more money, may I add). However, it lacks a door (heavy curtains do the trick though). I was more interested in the larger room and I fell in love with it. It has a large window, a large closet (double doors and comes with built in shelving, I think). The building was designed by I.M. Pei, has elevators, a doorman, concierge, laundry in the basement (I can do my own laundry again!), a private garden/courtyard, and dry cleaning that will deliver to your door. The one girl who I met is for sure staying (I met two others and one of them might be staying) and is really nice. The only catch is that there is no living room (the massive living room was converted into the two bedrooms), but that's fine with me. The kitchen is decent for a Manhattan apt and has plenty of cabinet space.

It's $175 more than I'm paying now, but lets compare... my current apt has no living room, no closets at all, it's a walk up, no doorman (or really even any lobby - it takes some skillful maneuvering to open the front door then the other door, plus when you check your mail, you have to hope that someone doesn't open the front door because it'll hit you and, trust me, that hurts), no laundry, and dogs and homeless people like to pee on the front door. So I think it's worth an extra $175 a month, don't you?

Just cross your fingers that everything goes according to plan.

There's also minor drama about getting hired permanently at my company, but after one day of pure panic, I am going to let it play out before saying anything more. If it doesn't go how I want it to go, you can bet I'll be saying more on the subject. ;-)

The annual hunt has begun.

I've been perusing craigslist for apartments. This time, I'm going the "rooms/shared" route. I've replied to 6 ads and have gotten 3 responses. I really liked one of the apartments but it's expensive and I highly doubt I would be able to prove that I make 40x that amount. Sigh. I'm going to look at another apt on Sunday. Cross your fingers.

Really, the whole process makes me want to smash my hand through a wall, like Andy did on The Office (looove that scene where Jim and Pam assess the damage and Pam says, "I think we broke his brain").

I've been entertained by Fandom Wank wiki. What I've learned? It's quite the freakish fanworld out there.

( fandom musings because I'm bored )