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Friday, 28 April 2006

Ah sweet Friday afternoon, the end of another week, the dawning of the weekend.  What crazy and exciting plans do I have? Well, none, to be honest, but that's okay too, I need to veg after the past couple of weekends made me more tired than refreshed.  (Can I just pause and ask how some people still don't know the difference between then and than.  Then - sequence of events.  Than - comparisons.  Not that hard peoples!)

So the plan for tonight: a whole lot of nothing. YAY! I'll be your typical single gal at home, drinking merlot, watching "ShopGirl," and maybe when I've had enough to drink the hamster and I will sing Heart and hop around in our underwear.  Wooo!

Surprisingly enough: I work my ass off on Fridays.  I think my effort goes on a sliding scale, wherein I need to get back into the grove of work as opposed to most people who than dive right in and then slow down over the course of the week.   In reality, this is a good thing because most people don't really do all that much on Fridays, besides figure out how to sneak out of the office early.  (Quoth friend "Friday is like part of the weekend but you come to work").  Me?  I'm already thinking I'll have to stay late to finish everything I want to finish.  Plus when I have nothing to do, it's not like I'm in a hurry to rush home.  Also, it's possible I get this rush from knowing I'm only a few hours away from escaping work for a few days.

I'm trying to go to Europe in October.  Italy.  What do you think?  It'll definitely help me fulfill my 23 goals of the year. 
by: DJGroovySlug at April 28, 2006 15:43 | link | comments (4) random thoughts

Wednesday, 26 April 2006

Boo-yah, you detractors. 
by: DJGroovySlug at April 26, 2006 17:09 | link | comments (1) random thoughts

Wednesday, 26 April 2006

Pounding headache.  Miserable.  Two more hours.
by: DJGroovySlug at April 26, 2006 15:41 | link | comments (1)

Monday, 24 April 2006

My Life in Bullet Points

It's another one of those Nothing-to-Do-at-Work Days.  

  • I've been instructed to make myself useful by looking up cheap places to get beer.  I may have nothing to do today besides search the web, but I'm too lazy to look for places where I can be more lazy.  That's like, the definition of lazy.  I lazy.

  • Funner is a word. Why?  Traditionally used as a noun, the word fun has more or less morphed into an adjective.  In the informal sense, fun now takes on the comparative and superlative conjugations: funner and funnest.  Maybe it wasn't a word 50 years ago, but neither was "transvestite." Also, language is an organic entity that grows and evolves with the passage of time.  Oh, and BECAUSE I SAID SO AND I'M ALWAYS RIGHT.

  • There is nothing good to see in theaters anymore.  Let's face it.  Quality has been sacrificed for the all mighty power of Celebrity, Money and Consumption.  That being said, I'm actually kinda excited about that DaVinci Code movie, despite having zero interest in the book. 

  • We were on our way to breakfast/lunch yesterday when the boy stopped to sort through the mail and found a coupon for a free burrito at California Tortilla.  He just about pooped his pants from excitement.  As we were walking away, I made the mistake of suggesting that he stalk people while they get their mail in order to steal more coupons.  The look on his face was priceless.  Suddenly I found myself back at the mailboxes while he was sifting through the recycling bin.  Sure enough, he pulled out at least 15 more free burrito coupons that were obviously dumped as Junk Mail.  He went back to share his booty with the roommates.  Normally I would say that's something only boys would do, but given the right eating establishment, I would probably do the same thing.  There are few things in life worth digging through the trash for, and a free California Tortilla burrito is one of them.

  • I've decided I want to be a grandmother and I'm now in the process of convincing everyone I know to get a male hamster to mate with my little female hamster.  Of course, there's always the excellent point of what I plan on doing with the babies. 

  • In the raunchiness factor of the week, here's a Japanese blogger posting pictures of some annual Shinto festival celebrating, well, the penis.  The pictures themselves are gold, but the blogger's tagline: "Japanese culture report by MasaManiA with fucking photo & poor English you never seen at boring CNN, Time or major sophisticated jurnalism."  Pure platinum. He's going on the blogroll.
  •  A Starbucks finally opened up a block away.  It may be hard to believe, but I'm quite positive I'm one of the few people in the city that does not hit a coffee shop, Starbucks or otherwise, on my walk from the Metro to my office building. This is what  I've been waiting for.  I don't even like Starbucks, but sometimes the free coffee here at work is utterly unbearable.

  • I had to pick up a prescription over the weekend, and $92 for three months!!!!! Seriously, something needs to be done about this.  If I didn't have insurance I wouldn't be able to afford this.  I just got lazy and didn't have the information on me so I had to pay full price (that's full price for generic brand, mind you).  If there's no other reason to prove how important it is to reshape the health insurance system in America $92 for three months of generic brand prescription is enough to make even the president take a second look.  NINETY-TWO DOLLARS!!!

  • I've finally gotten back into pilates and it's amazing how much better I feel after just one class.  I really missed it but couldn't find convenient class times for me.  I also love the teacher, who actually tries to make things difficult, rather than the last two I had, who focused so much on warming up and breathing I almost fell asleep.  I need a mat to bring to class because I get skeeved out with the thought of sharing with so many other people.  And let me tell you, what a joke.  $20 for a mat.  Argh. 

Okay back to "work." 
by: DJGroovySlug at April 24, 2006 11:34 | link | comments (3) random thoughts

Friday, 21 April 2006

A really boring post

Maybe it's the gloomy weather but I had a really rough time getting up this morning.  Waking up in general isn't usually a really hard process for me, all I need is six hours and I'm good.  It's getting started that takes forever, and if it's a lazy weekend, I can lie around in bed for two hours. 

I went to bed at midnight, so I got seven hours of sleep.  But I felt miserable when the alarm clock went off and I could've easily slept another 2 hours. 

Then in a sudden twist of fate, my roommate actually woke up before 9am to get ready for work and was in the shower when I had to leave.  That also meant I had to leave my contacts behind in order for me to catch the shuttle.  I don't have any eyeglasses right now so I'm just walking around half-blind. 

And my nail broke while I was putting away files.  Bleh.

Despite that, I'm surprised at how quickly the day is moving. The trip out of town has been canceled so it should be a really relaxing weekend. Let's hope.

by: DJGroovySlug at April 21, 2006 12:35 | link | comments

Thursday, 20 April 2006

I hate talking about work on here, but...

I'm angry because, yes, fine, I'm jealous that other people have the type of jobs that where they are allowed to (or at least, can get away with) behavior that would be unacceptable where I work. 

I don't have a problem with the type of work I do, the people I work with, the policies of my workplace or really anything other than the fact that, well, in a nutshell, I don't have anyone to eat lunch with.

What does that have to do with behavior?  I work in a high stress, fast paced environment that also happens to be very small so we are regularly monitored.  While I "technically" am allowed a one hour lunch, the percentage of people who take one here regularly is limited to about 10%.  It's gotten to the point where if I spend longer than 30 minutes away from my desk, I feel guilty.  It's the same for everyone else.  If you take the full lunch period, the chances of your boss having 20 million new things for you to do when you get back is really high.  It's a perpetual cycle of guilt, but not because of actual rules or even implied rules, but rules perceived by the employees here. 

Not to say that other places aren't high stress, but again, we're small.  Less people means less blurred lines of responsibility. So when my friend contacted me earlier this week  and mentioned that a group of coworkers took a long lunch and had a few drinks while sitting at a nearby restaurant patio for a couple of hours, I was totally green with envy, as they say.  The chances of that happening here...lessee....there are about 260 workdays in a year, and maybe one of those days I could do that, which equals about a .003% chance where another coworker and I could take a long lunch and sit outside without a care in the world.

Now the boy sends me a text message that says "Hey I'm going to the Orioles game now, haha" at noon on a Thursday and I seriously just want to cry, not because I really want to go to a game during work hours, but because I can't figure out how I ended up in a job where I feel guilty when I leave the building for lunch.  (You have to admit, the "haha" at the end was a bit too much.  It makes me want to kick him but I'm going out of town this weekend so I'll just fume here.  Good thing you don't read my blog, turd.) 

Maybe it's just me and no one really cares about these things here and in reality I'm just a really good, really professional employee.  Maybe it's all in my head.  Except I really don't think I could ever conceivably leave the office midday and go to a baseball game (the boy isn't the only person who's done this, see above friends who drink during their lunch break.) Do you want to know how bad it is?  My boss has left for a meeting across town, will be gone for at least 2 hours and yet I still cannot make myself get up and take advantage of this opportunity.  If he comes back and I haven't done anything, what would I say?  There was a Sunshine Emergency and I had to be outside?

In spite of all my complaints, I'm much luckier than the other two young people here.  They are great to talk to and on occasion we do lunch.  But neither of them can ever really take an hour lunch.  They work 9-10 hour days and they cannot take an hour lunch.  It is utterly inconceivable to both them and their bosses.  And that's that.

So thanks for having lunch with me, internet.  You're my best friend here at work.  Any good movie recommendations that I should get from Netflix? I feel better already, getting that off my chest.
by: DJGroovySlug at April 20, 2006 13:48 | link | comments (3)

Tuesday, 18 April 2006

For the 2 people who will appreciate this

The Bob Loblaw Law Blog

I'm having trouble deciding if someone is just using that name or if there is really some legal person out there posting their favorite appellate decisions on a blog.  I did a martindale attorney search and couldn't find a Robert Loblaw so I guess we can just assume that people in the legal field do have a sense of humor.  Or humour, if you will.

"You, sir, are a mouthful!
by: DJGroovySlug at April 18, 2006 09:29 | link | comments (1) random thoughts

Monday, 17 April 2006

Rarrrrrr!!!!!

by: DJGroovySlug at April 17, 2006 16:06 | link | comments

Monday, 17 April 2006

Let the conspicuous consumption begin!!! Man, if only stores were open yesterday, I would've been shopping up a storm.

My roommate claims that the whole thing is shot to hell anyway since I purchased a bouquet of flowers two weeks ago at Whole Foods market.  Flowers were not part of the original agreement.  But Whole Foods has the best grocery store flowers anywhere, how could I resist?  Besides, I was replacing the dead daisies that had been sitting in our flower vase for the past 2 months.  For two girls living together, we certainly live like boys.

Aside from a few things, giving up shopping for Lent wasn't as hard as I expected.  First of all, I dislike shopping.  Immensely.  I'm so bored by it.  I should clarify that I'm talking about the process of shopping.  I love - LOVE - to buy things.  But I hate shopping.  Hate the mall.  I had to get new pants for work a while back with my mother and it was all I could do to run in and out of there.  So irritating.  I've perfected a shopping process that has me in and out of the mall within an hour, and I can still get everything I need and hit at least 5 stores and try things on. The only reason I try things on?  So I don't have to go back to return ill-fitting items.

But it was hard to suddenly stop buying books.  When I'm bored I pop into the local bookstore and pick up a book or two.  Maybe magazines if I feel less interested in investing time into something.  One bad habit that I'm glad I grew out of during Lent: randomly buying DVDs.  Any of those that I own are generally the worst investments ever.  I so rarely sit around and re-watch my movies.  And now that I have a netflix account, I don't have time to watch the new movies I receive let alone the old movies I own.

That being said, WOOOOHOOOO SHOPPING!!! I've compiled a list of items I am really excited about being able to get now:

1. Trivial Pursuit Pop Culture Edition.  (I've already bid on it on eBay.  I was going to order from Target but then I realized this game was going to be obselete in 6 months so I might as well just pay $15 used on eBay instead of $30 brand new).

2. In the Mood for Love soundtrack.  It's a chinese movie and it's fantastic.  The soundtrack is fantastic.  Fantastic. 

3. I need some sort of organizer for my makeup, jewelry and extensive collection of pills (I have all three kinds of pain killers - aspirin, ibuprofin and acetaminophen - in addition to every other over-the-counter pill available.  All three of these things - jewelry, makeup and pill bottles - are shoved into my dresser with no plan or organization.  It's a mess and time to clean up.)

4. New shoes.  We're talking like 4 pairs.  (I was explaining over the weekend that despite my hatred for shopping, I could shop for shoes for hours.  Shose and handbags.  My achiles heel.)

5. Tanks from Target.  They're like $6 and I love them.  I'm getting 20.

Not a long list!! See, I'm not obsessed with useless things!!! Except for the soundtrack, all of those items have some sort of useful value. Plus I've learned that there's this thing called a library.  And it's right near my office!! I'm going exploring down there during lunch today.  I'm so proud of my newfound cheapness.

by: DJGroovySlug at April 17, 2006 12:26 | link | comments random thoughts

Friday, 14 April 2006

Sometimes I have to sit and do nothing, that is literally my job.  Normally I manage to fill the Nothing Time by blogging, reading blogs, chatting it up with other people at work and other fun fun things one can do that involves a computer and high speed internet connection.  You would think I take these opportunites to be come well-informed in matters of national concern, such as that whole "immigration issue" everyone keeps talking about it.  While that's not exactly the case, suffice it to say that I know what's what in matters of celebrity gossp, well-guarded secrets regarding new Apple products, the lives of other people with whom there is a mutual lack of actual personal knowledge (knowledge in this case being used in the conocer sense instead of the saber sense), and women's fashion accessories, particularly ones I cannot afford.   Sometimes, however, I make the mistake of keeping track of these things when it is Work Time and then when Nothing Time comes along, I literally have Nothing to do. 

What usually happens is I begin to make arbitrary life goals, I fill out memes, and (most obnoxiously) pepper everyone I can contact with useless comments and stories and other ramblings.  Here, I shall do ALL THREE AND I SHALL BE BUSY UNTIL 5PM.  Isn't the internet wonderful???

 

#1: RAMBLINGS

So I received this in the mail a few days ago:

ARE YOU AN ACTIVIST?

ABC's Primetime Television Show is looking to cast a FAMILY with firm beliefs or views on any topic! We're casting 'nationwide' and the family who'll be chosen will recieve $20,000 for your one-time participation.

Families will be asked to do a Home Video Submission which will be sent to our office in New York City. Mailing fee will be paid by us! Your family must have a Mom, Dad, Kids between the ages of 5-17 who live at home.

If this is you- e-mail us at claire.rodriguez@rdfusa.com. Include your name, phone number and a short background of why we should pick you! If this is not you but know someone, nominate them and get $1,000 finders fee if they are chosen.

Goodluck!

This is it!!! This is my chance!  This is going to be so awesome. Now all I need is a husband and 2-3 children.  I'm now holding auditions for the aforementioned roles and we need to do this so as to be the most likely family to be picked. I'm thinking a story line that involves strong veganism, a penchant for funneling money into obscure charitable organizations, and, most importantly, gaucho pants.  Heavy tempers and the occasional slip of epithets are a definite bonus.

 

#2. MEME POWER

Appetizer
What movie soundtracks do you own?

Lord, tons.  I recall very vividly when I read somewhere that soundtracks were mediocre tracks from mediocre artists that would normally sell nowhere else but as a compilation. Boo on that, I say.  Here are some favorites:

1. The Virgin Suicides Soundtrack.  I have repeatedly referred to this as my "1970s Folk Rock Meloncholy Suicide Mix."  Fantastic collection of Air, Heart and Todd Rundgren, to get you in that "The whole world is a black hole and I'm merely a speck falling into it" sort of frame of mind.

2. The Garden State Soundtrack.  Actually, these are really great songs.  Rumor has it that Zach Graff actually listened to all these   The entire soundtrack is under the "Reflection" playlist on my iPod.  Go Shins, Iron and Wine and Nick Drake.

3. The Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack.  Literally the soundtrack of my 13th year (with a little Notorious B.I.G and No Doubt thrown in there). 

4. Other notables: Kill Bill, O Brother Where Art Thou, Shine, The Aviator, and right now waiting for Easter to come so I can finally purchase the soundtrack to In the Mood for Love.  (There are more but since my computer and iPod are both kinda broken right now, I can't recall what else is on there.)



Soup
How much cash do you usually carry with you?

Huge issue of contention with probably everyone I know: zero.  It's really rare for me to carry cash.  This is because of several reasons:

1. It is much easier for me to see where my money goes when it's on my credit card. Seeing $100 out from the ATM on the bank card tells me nothing. 

2. I bank with a credit union and I refuse to pay fees.  REFUSE.

3. I have no money anyway.



Salad
Are you more comfortable around men or women? Why?

I have to admit, men.  I find girls to be rather dull.  I have very limited interest in shopping, beauty, and fashion, and very low tolerances for discussing those popular topics.  I love to read celebrity gossip but lord knows I cannot sit around and go "DID YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM CRUISE!?!" That being said, I am not one of those "cool girls" who is still really girly and cute but plays pool and drinks beer and religiously follows sports.  Basically that whole "Best of Both Worlds" thing going on that is a phenomenon of our generation.  I do those things, but I don't love them the way males do. I love being a girl. I just think boys are funnier/funner.



Main Course
What is the most mischievous thing you remember doing as a child?

My parents' favorite thing to tell me was that "I was such a good kid when I was younger....what happened?"  I wish I was joking.  As a baby I was dull as a brick, and I don't remember ever getting into trouble.  Instead, I was a horrific teenager.  I think if your kid is a terror growing up, they get that all of their system so when the time came for me to be older, I just needed to be BAD. Bad to the bone. So....I got expelled from catholic high school.  Maybe I'll tell you about it someday.



Dessert
Who is the funniest member of your family?

I don't keep up with the family very much.  I can't say I ever thought of us as "funny" or even "amusing."  I guess the winner would be my cousin Rico, who is definitely the most fun, with the added bonus that my grandmother had the most classic reaction when we told her he was gay.  Does the fact that I love to scandalize older people mean I'm a bad person?

 

#3 ARBITRARY LIFE DECISIONS/STUPID IDEAS THAT "SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME"

This one isn't coming to me as easily. What am I talking about?! I'm always looking for fun, new stuff to do.   Besides my list of 23 accomplishments (update coming shortly) I've added a few other things I'm considering to the list:

1. make a quilt.  Why the heck not? Of course, it might be easier if I had a sewing machine.

2.  take tennis lessons.  I need to sign up by next Tuesday

3. take photography lessons

4....and Photoshop lessons.

5. Throw a dinner party

 

There! And it's now.....ONLY THREE IN THE AFTERNOON? AHHHHHHHHH!

by: DJGroovySlug at April 14, 2006 14:58 | link | comments