I'm really starting to hate the smell of paint. Alice and Rory + 1 came over to help me out with the painting buiness. We were very productive finishing both the upstairs bedrooms, the family room and downstairs hallway. It took longer than I expected but I am very happy with how it turned out. I have a few spots to touch up in the spare bedroom but other than that it looks pretty good.
And I now have a put it back together goal of 1 month. I will get pictures up at some point. Right now I'm working on painting some pictures for above my bed. I'm going to have to let the base coat dry overnight.
I'm not very happy that vacation is over, it went by way to quickly. Sometimes work feels like this never ending cycle and I just get kinda bored with the concept that I will have to do it for another 42 or so years before I can retire.
At least I have something to look forward to this weekend. Alice and I are taking a bus to miller park to see the cubs game (or as Alice would say the Brewers game). I do belive I will limit myself to one drink at the stadium as I have hard core quit smoking.
I've been meaning to swear off it completely again...and the stress of school kinda put me into a fairly bad habit. To increase our chances Alice and I are quitting together. We both had our last cigarretts on sunday night (Technically Monday morning). I'm fine when I'm at work but this sitting at home on the computer thing and in the car is proving to be more difficult. All and all I think I'm doing pretty good.
Today was a good day. I'm virtually stress free. I worked a day today and spend my evening window shopping and feeling up a mac at best buy. I wasn't going to buy one...it wasn't my intention. Lets face it though I've wanted one for the past 3yrs and its time. My little dell barely has any keys left which is significantly affecting my typing speed. After once again seeing the beloved aluminum macbook, it was all I could do to contain myself and prevent an embarrassing public display of affection and love. A short car ride home and handing over virtual wads of cash to apple to give me a product to hold all my virtual stuff.
I've completely abandoned the vacation idea. I'm vacationing in wonderful Rochester, MN in a house (my house) that has been long neglected by too much studying. I measured all the shelving in my closet and browsed the ikea site to pick the perfect boxes for each room then calculated how many boxes would fit on each shelf (I even made diagrams of each closet on note cards) its an illness I know. I'm so excited for a week long of spring cleaning and hopefully once I haul all the crap out of my house I can actually enjoy the nice stuff I've purchased since having a real job. I can't wait to splurge on a label maker!
I imagine many a rendezvous trip to goodwill and the dump. Oh and I'm officially old because I'm pretty convinced I will be picking up price stickers and organizing things in boxes to put in the garage for a summer garage sale.
I talked to jsp, I made plans with Rory to have a double date for brunch on Sunday while I'm in the cities so we can meet each other's beaus. I talked with Alice who gave me a play by play of the tumultuous preparations of some Asian noodles that ended up horrible. Oh and I crocheted.
So my day may not have been glamorous, hipster-esc, or by any stretch of the imagination exciting, but to me it was the perfect day.
New years is my favorite holiday. I always have new toys to play with and with the family get togethers over I am in a good mood in my own house. Since being 21 I can't remember a bad new years...its a friend holiday where I surrounded by the people who are closest to me. The people who will hold my hair if I puke without a lecture and with whom I will point out shady allyway corners perfect for pit stops. Yep its all very glamorous.
For many year's we would ring in the new year in Green Bay which is as far as I'm concerned the liquor capital of the world, but when Heff and Hairnet moved to Nebraska Alice and I were left to improvise our fun.
Two years ago Alice, Rory and I went to lacrosse. Alice spent a couple hours talking cops throwing some guy out in the street she knew into detox....she then drove him home (he didn't live in town) The I think Rory lost her walet. I probably wore bad shoes because I do belive I was alone for a long time. We went home before bar close.
Then last year we attended Cobie's bash at his apartment. We cooked, we drank, I met new people. I talked with them until 5am about utopian health care. I think we drove everyone else crazy.
Although my last two new years were good they lacked that reckless quality which I think is a must-have once a year. No one threw up in a car, no one picked a fight (ahem Alice), no one went missing for hours only to be found trashed at the bar next door. Okay none of that happened last night either but still it was closer.
Alice, George, Bag and I set out for B&K's house. I always forget where they live. It really isn't that complicated I usually get to within a couple blocks of it. There is really no excuse I've probably been to their house 20 times. Sigh. I give up my wandering and call them. No answer. So I call K&E, after being informed to look for a van with ribs written across the side...(true story) I leave the car and begin wandering the street looking in windows.
Upon out arrival we were welcomed with pomegranate martinis, dice and whiskey shots, vodka + fresca (the ORIGINAL citrus beverage), plum wine and mountains of food. The was talking in a cold smoky garage. Shocking stories, work stories, gossip, laughter, snorting and several trips to the bathroom. We played rock band, we snowboarded, counted down the last second of 08'...it was good.
I started the new year right...I woke up with a stomach ache, headache, coal-miner's lung and generally smelly. Just how it should be.
So awhile ago Rory was talking about writing a book. Over a lunch which lasted 3hrs due to horridly poor service we passed back and forth story lines and character names. It was good fun. She also started a blog specifically for little fiction tidbits shes playing around with... view Rory's Writing Blog here.
Anyways my bottom line was I miss it. My blog has been getting me back into writing and quite frankly I love it. I've always liked writing but those dreams died the moment I choose science for my major. Granted I don't regret my decision but still there is that itch.
I want to write a book. If I imagined myself writing a book it would be sarcastic little snip its much like this blog but that's not the story line that came to mind. It's total chick-lit. I don't have time to start this project and quite frankly I have no idea where to begin but I have a story line and about a dozen loosely thrown together chapter ideas.
The premise: 30yr old Pella moves to the city (Chicago of course) to get her life back on track and live the life she wants to. She's a total single girl who has given up the whole knight and shinning armor thing. She has a french bulldog and is saving up to adopt a child. She works as a laboratory auditor at CAP. Pella has fun with her two bffs best gay, and married gal pal. She meets mister perfect (Max) while on a Saturday run on the lake shore. Insert whirl whin romance here. Funny meeting with the parents, proposal etc. I don't want to ruin it by giving away the twists and surprise ending . Basically its a quest by an independent girl who finds the love of her life that she never knew she needed.
I just read it and it sounds horrible without all the stuff I don't want to give away, but trust me I've spent the last two nights thinking up scenes and its a decent idea.
Rory, Tiff, and some girl who's blog I read (dategirldiaries.com) are all headed down "happily ever lane" thanks to a small financial investment in match.com. I haven't wanted to date lately, for nearly a year. Of course I did end up in that ill fated relationship with Smiley which only reinforced my desire to avoid all things dating wise. However after a couple months of pure singletomI'm starting to reconsider.
I could potentially be moving as soon as next summer...however with my job, tuitionreimbursement, bills, housing market and everything else outside of my control that rules such major life transitions it will be more likely to be the summer of 2010. So do I really want to sit here on my hands until I'm 29?
Lets look at some worst case scenarios?
No one messages me: my ego takes a hit and I loose some money giving it a try....eh I can cancel after a couple months if nothing happens.
I only have really crappy dates: well ladies and gentleman that is the blog content you've been waiting for isn't it?
I fall blissfully in love with some guy who is chained to Rochester. This one would suck, but I don't completely hate Rochester and its something that would have to play itself out.
I get my little heart broken: I really think I've toughened up on this one and my little heart is finally decently armored.
So I am presenting to you my very first poll...oh this is exciting think of it like a quiz but allot shorter. Anyways the poll will be open until Sunday at midnight (7-27-08). Vote so I feel loved.
So I received a bottle of wine from Rory's mom for my b-day. Her mom is cute like that. The wine came with explicit instructions...
break all wine rules while drinking
serve chilled over ice in a tumbler
add a fresh squeezed lime (which she thoughtfully included)
Ive become just a little bit of a wine snob and asking me to break wine rules is like asking me cheat on my taxes. Somewhat tempting but I was afraid the wrath of god might come down upon me for doing so.
Seeing as it was a gift though I had no choice by to comply with the wishes. OH MY GOD was it good! It tastes like a cocktail but with that hint of wine plus the acidity from the lime...perfect absolutely perfect. I might have to go buy a case of this stuff or better yet try other wines in this manner.
I will have to send her a thank you card...all though I'm quite lazy so I give it 50/50 for a thank you card...60/40 for a thank you phone call. And because I was feeling artsy I took a picture, partially because I like how limes look and also because I wanted to show off my new glasses I got at linen's and things for 60% off. Cheers!
Message from Alice: I got and invitation Keystone's wedding....do you want to go with me?
Keystone is an odd memory at best. I knew him though Alice and the three of use were the Keystone Light drinking crew of summer a summer long ago and far away. At the time when my relationship with Ed was going from bad to ended and I was in my depressed not-at-all Ava stage. (Which fortunately Alice has since forgiven me for). Anyways its a long story that is not worth going into. Anyways time has past and Keystone has met his "one"...I guess. They got pregnant and had a baby this winter and it seems this august the wedding bells will chime. Me cynical? Okay maybe.
Similar to Alice I got a wedding invitation of my own in the mail...I mean this a little too literally. My lesbian work friends are getting married and I gifted them my blank invitation since they will do more good with them than sitting in my closet. I didn't pay any attention to the envelope but then I opened it and saw the red outer pocket..chili red to be exact with eggshell paper inlay and gold corner adornments.
I plucked out the RSVP card with out much thought and added Alice to my name on the card.
Ava: Sure I'll go to Keystone's wedding with you, your still going to lesbian work friend's with me right?
Alice: Yeah
Ava: It's kinda sad isn't it?
Alice: I suppose...Seems you have to be a lesbian or get knocked up to get married around here.
The funny thing is I'm not sad. Normally I would feel pathetic or lonely...but the only feeling I could muster is thinking this is kinda a sad state of affairs. As if the little camera crew that lives inside my duct work looked in spying on me and would shake their heads at the pathetic lump adding a best friend "date" to not one...but two weddings.
Sometimes its odd for me to not feel bad about something. Two weddings, two good friends finding people they will someday (probably soon) marry. And when I think of it all I do is shrug. This is not to say I don't have occasional twinges of jealously...but that is too strong of a word its more of an anticipation for my time one day. I'm less concerned about the time table which is very not-at-all Ava like but in a good way this time.
I have not abandoned my blog I’ve just been busy and to prevent a 20-page entry I’m going to throw out some topics I hope to include in the future so stay tuned:
1-Book Reviews 2-Jessica Simpson Moment (hopefully to become a recurring feature) 3-The magic of the spacebag 4-Vacation in Mexico 5-Gradschool 6-I want a used baby
Today’s topic however is admittedly somber. Rory unexpectedly lost her father last week.Alice and I went to the visitation yesterday.As far as these types of things go it wasn’t bad.I got to see Rory’s mom and meet her new boyfriend whom is admittedly perfect.They really did a nice job of bringing in old pictures and having typed up stories all around the room.
You would think I would be better at these things. Far too many of my close friend’s fathers have died.They have all been rather sudden and I find it horrifying that one day hopefully later than sooner I will one day get that phone call.I have never had anyone close to me die.My grandmother passed away.I was of course sad but really I only saw her every couple years.So when I’m put in these situations I quite frankly can’t even BEGIN to understand.Also I’m a nervous smile-er and laugh-er which I don’t think is received well by people in mourning.I’m glad Alice is about as good at this type of thing as I am at least we weren’t alone while sitting there not knowing what to say.
Oh pooh.Smiley just called and wants me to go to a party tonight.I much rather sit in front of my TV and catch up with my DVR.
No I don't have anything interesting to say so don't get too excited. I bought a new teeth whiting kit. I occasionally do this, it usually happens after sitting in a meeting for an excessively long amount of time and staring at peoples teeth. I got a kit from Rembrandt, you put the little molds in hot water and they actually shape to fit your teeth so that's cool. Also white teeth will be a major bonus to the who not smoking thing.
Speaking of not smoking it has been pretty easy to keep with it since the most contact I get with smokers is passing them in the street. The real test happened this weekend. Rory came and visited. Shes an old school smoker, even gave me my first puff of a cigarette at a house party. She has cute back since then but there still were the smoke breaks, but I held firm. I must admit even though it smelled bad, and I know its awful for me the temptation was there. Sigh its pathetic though. I know if I have just one Ill be right back to where I started. So yeah be proud of me.
On the job front I'm getting more and more excited about my new job. I have my official transfer date of April 16th. I have heard nothing but good things about the area and about my new supervisor. She has been very nice and seems excited to have me. The only lingering issue I have is the dying people thing. The team serves the intensive care patients....intensive care patients usually means things aren't going there way. Of course many people get better but odds say I'm going to have to deal with knowing and probably seeing someone die at some point. I'm such a cry baby. But supposedly empathy is a gift so maybe I can give it away.
So I have been working on this abstract which was due today. Fortunately they extended the deadline so I had time to throw some crap together to send in. I am not so good with the written word.Especially when things like spelling and grammar play a role.So I do what any other lazy friend does ship it over to their English major friend Rory. She did give me a real version of it nice and dry like us scientists like it but here creative flair version was just too good to not share.
The Little Polysaccharides Coupled to Luminex Microsphers.
A Tale of Woe and Woe Not
Authors: The Dorkiest Girl Alive and her friend Ava
A) Rationale: Once upon a time in a land far far away all prepared Pn batches were currently unavailable.They had plans.They had missions in far off tropical islands. They ate ice cream in their pyjammas.Until one day, The laboratory and all of it’s elves worked very diligently to develop a system for comparing previous batches with newly coupled batches. A game show this was not. It was all done in the name of unrequited hunger for more icecream and fudge brownies! In order to determine if the Pn coupling of each polysaccharide performed consistently every one had to spin the wheel of undeterminable misfortunes.I told you this wasn’t a game show. Ensuring a stable assay performance wasn’t always easy butit was imperative for clinicians wishing to compare pre- and post-vaccination specimens.Those poor unadulterated specimens didn’t know what was coming.
B) Methods: 15 test sera samples were sequestered, bonded and run up the river on plastic faux logs. On the previously approved batch the Sera Samples sang songs about dreams and hopes for the utopia of CV and commercially produced PN batches. Oh the hope those little Sera Samples felt that day was unbelievable.The small newly coupled test batch had a much harder time on it’s way to the testing facility.They had no daylight, no river, not even one faux plastic anything. Serum samples were compared by Spearman’s rhos and he was an evil sinister old bat.. The consistency of results that maintained a value above or below the threshold of 5(UNITS), and CV. The Sera Samples jumped with joy and then broke out into the electric slide.Acceptability for standard curve values was the rhythm in their steps and controls were determined by CV only. CV = Happiness. Unacceptable polysaccharides were re-coupled until they were comparable to the previous batch they didn’t even get to eat the cookies. They just had to watch – so not fair. Especially since some where PMS’ing pretty hard core. Using the aforementioned criterion on the planet Luminex the unacceptable polysaccharids fell to there deathbefore being added to the final batch and put into feather production.
My buddy Rory had come to visit me this weekend on Friday afternoon around 5pm she rolled into the driveway and I was so hungry I half contemplated eating her. After the mandatory 20minutes of I don't care where do you want to go we decided on TGI Fridays for dinner (since it was Friday we felt the restaurant choice more than appropriate).
We were seated promptly and it was early enough that the restaurant really wasn't that busy yet.Our waitress came over and K ordered some veggie pasta thing and added a side salad.I ordered the Cobb salad no meat or olives and some mozzarella sticks for us to share.Things look good right?
Time passes someone comes over with an appetizer….not out appetizer we send them away.Rory's salad came she finishes and we are still waiting on those mozz stick.Annoyance is starting to set in.Then our meal comes (ok at this point I couldn't give to shits about the mozz sticks I was just staving and wanted to eat them right away). She says oh you never got your appetizer Ill get that right away.I look at my salad meat laden as it is I stop her as she is running off.I kindly tell her that my salad is not supposed to have meat on it.She looks at me like I have three eyes and grabs it and runs off.
Okay I remember this scenario from when I was a vegetarian before.Why is it so difficult to not put meat on something that typically has meat?First of all I am paying for this meat that usually a restaurant would charge 3+ dollars to add and all I ask for that 3+ dollar overpayment is them to not put it on my salad.Am I being unreasonable?Le sigh I have learned to accept it though and it doesn't really bother me when I have to send it back.
A little to quickly for my taste she returns with the salad and mozz sticks she says she will send a manager over and wisks away again can she not ask if everything is ok?My salad is looking tosseled and angry.There is no visible meat but the waitress is off before I can inspect.First bite I take a piece of chicken is stuck to my lettuce ARGH!
Ok this is the end of my acceptableness.You do not take food back into a kitchen scrape of the meat and return it to someone.People who order something without meat aren't doing so because they don't really like it, they are doing it because they f'ing don't eat meat.Not to mention the fact that if picking it off was okay with me doing you think I would have just done it myself? Do you think you are going to get one by me?And for Christ sakes it's a salad it probably would take less time to make a new one than to pick out the meat.
Waitress did not return for at least 10minutes and then it was to ask if we wanted dessert and dropped of the bill.
No manager ever came.
I was without water for most of the meal.
I begrudgingly paid full price and I left no tip.I will not be returning to Fridays any time soon.
Well I have decided to resurect my blog..which technically wasnt a blog when I had the idea five years ago..before it was "trendy." It is currently a very rainy very boring saturday afternoon. I can not take the dog to the park so he is snoozing on my bed on top of my robe. This is the best possible position for him to ensure that his fur is woven into the fabric thus causing me to be covered with fur the instant I get out of the shower. Because clean wet skin is a magnet for pet hair. Well I know what you are thinking move the damn robe and stop bitching but well we all know thats just not my way.
My computer has a virus this is also pissing me off since I dont know diddle squat about computers. Allthough I suppose I do know that I should have some sort of virus software before downloading a bunch of crap off the internet but as Rory would say "highnsight is 20/20" (side note I should put that on a list of pharses that annoy me perhaps next post) So the moral of the story is that I can get into itunes and morpheus but not really do much allthough the internet is working fine...go figure. If I click on any of my shortcuts to any other programs I get this dr.watson postmortem debbuger faliure and everything freezes up. I thought this virus stuff would get old. The people who make this shit really must not have much of a life. I mean I dont have a whole lot to do most of the time but you dont go and see me causing a ruckus. perhaps next time I am bored I should go spraypaint some kittens or tell some new mother her baby is ugly. Just a thought
