And thus concludes a perfect Thursday night when the boyfriend is with the guys and you won't hear from him for hours yet. A Thursday night when you fore go the gym in favor of your exercise ball, floor mat, and the first new Grey's Anatomy episode in eons.
While I am on my own path away from the "dark and twisty" I find solitude in reading Julie and Julia, the story of the bedraggled 29 year old who vows to cook every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook over the course of a year. While I'm no connoisseur of French food-I've never even been attempted to try it, save for that one meal of fois gras and potato/leek soup with the fancy name-I do enjoy my time in the kitchen and I have been looking for a way out of this funk that has been my life as of late.
My resolve is to lose the 20 some odd pounds that have attached themselves to my belly and ass over the last twelve months. I was given a little boost today when a friend whom I haven't seen in a mere three weeks said that it looked like I had lost alot of weight since he had last seen me.
Renewed, I manage to get in a great workout-ish, catch up on the lives of my favorite interns-turned-residents, and reacquaint myself with my local BBB. And I'm not talking about an unnamed government agency, Julie Powell.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Erasermate Pens = Noncommittal Lifestyles?
Things seem easier when you don't define it. It's like the definition automatically allows the other person inside the fortress you've built up around you. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I like my little world without letting in a Trojan horse. Once in, it seems like the warriors start coming out of the woodworks. Why is that? Is it because you let your guard down?
I expect to be hurt. I expect things to turn sour. I expect him to not call. I put on a facade that I don't care one way or the other if he does or doesn't show up...and I'm surely not waiting around for him to. It generally takes me somewhere between 6 and 8 months of dating someone before I'll allow any type of conversation (DTR--defining the relationship) and usually even then I give my standard "I'm not good with labels" brush-off. Usually as the one year mark comes around I loosen up. I told someone that I determine that I usually only realize that I'm welcome to the idea of being called someone's girlfriend when we've been hanging out long enough that one of his friends uses the term and I don't go all Exorcist on him. Not exactly the makings for the most healthy situations, eh?
I expect to be hurt. I expect things to turn sour. I expect him to not call. I put on a facade that I don't care one way or the other if he does or doesn't show up...and I'm surely not waiting around for him to. It generally takes me somewhere between 6 and 8 months of dating someone before I'll allow any type of conversation (DTR--defining the relationship) and usually even then I give my standard "I'm not good with labels" brush-off. Usually as the one year mark comes around I loosen up. I told someone that I determine that I usually only realize that I'm welcome to the idea of being called someone's girlfriend when we've been hanging out long enough that one of his friends uses the term and I don't go all Exorcist on him. Not exactly the makings for the most healthy situations, eh?
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I <3 April Fools Day. NOT!
Everyone knows I detest Valentine's Day, but let's talk about #364 on my list of favorite days. I am no fan of the day when, during each year of my childhood, my father would wake me up at 6am, screaming into my bedroom--"It's SNOWING!" And my 6-7-or-8-year-old self would spring from the covers and rush to the door, where, le sigh, the sun was shining!
FYI, it was a balmy 82 degrees Fahrenheit today.
FYI, it was a balmy 82 degrees Fahrenheit today.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Just Posin'
I just returned from Interiors08, the ASID Conference on Design, held right in my backyard of New Orleans, LA. As a board member of the host chapter, we were encouraged to attend and help portray the sense of hospitality that is Southern Louisiana. That was all fine and well with the one exception of the Second Line Parade. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_line) With no explanation offered to the attendees from all over the U.S., the members of our chapter who so wholeheartedly participated in this display of culture looked merely like a bunch of lushes who cannot handle their alcohol...in a city and at a convention where the liquor was free flowing!
That's not my point, just merely an aside.
As a twentysomething interior designer I am allowed a few liberties. As a member of the art culture I am allowed even more. I chose to exercise these within my wardrobe. At gatherings of designers you can see every range of the spectrum, from the frumpy--how do they get clients--to the extravagant--I'm talking Swarovski crystalled eyewear... In a world where bubble dresses and black tights may be considered wayyyy tooooo out there for a normal Saturday night, in the land of Designers, I was complimented on my outfit before I was fully out of my car! Dress the part, I say. Each day a new dress, pair of tights, and scrunchy boots. Only this time I left my eyewear at home: http://eyeglasses.go-optic.com/enlarge.asp?id=18758&cat=DFRAMES
I think the conference photographer may have had a crush on me. Seemingly everywhere I was, he was there, snapping away. Or maybe it was to document the outfit! We'll see which one's make the conference brochure for next year!
That's not my point, just merely an aside.
As a twentysomething interior designer I am allowed a few liberties. As a member of the art culture I am allowed even more. I chose to exercise these within my wardrobe. At gatherings of designers you can see every range of the spectrum, from the frumpy--how do they get clients--to the extravagant--I'm talking Swarovski crystalled eyewear... In a world where bubble dresses and black tights may be considered wayyyy tooooo out there for a normal Saturday night, in the land of Designers, I was complimented on my outfit before I was fully out of my car! Dress the part, I say. Each day a new dress, pair of tights, and scrunchy boots. Only this time I left my eyewear at home: http://eyeglasses.go-optic.com/enlarge.asp?id=18758&cat=DFRAMES
I think the conference photographer may have had a crush on me. Seemingly everywhere I was, he was there, snapping away. Or maybe it was to document the outfit! We'll see which one's make the conference brochure for next year!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Starting WWIII
You 'd think the terrorists had landed in my backyard yesterday. I finally had enough free time during decent weather to tackle yard maintenance in my backyard. I had pruned the crepe myrtles a couple of weeks ago and was letting the branches dry out so that I could snap them into the 4' sections that is required by our garbage pickup service. Since I had help in the form of the male member of the species, I quickly cleared out the branches and put him to task with the weed eater (which I WILL NOT operate...scary), while I started with mowing the lawn. By the time that was completed, I was on a roll, so I started working on two trees that are on the property line. One is in my neighbor's yard and huge, but there are three or four branches that come over into my yard and after getting poked in the eye yet again while mowing, i decided to trim back the branches on my side before the leaves grew in and it got out of hand. Quick work, then I start on a honeysuckle-type bush near the front of the property line. The tree is rooted on my side of the fence, hell it's trunk is on my side of the fence, and I know by having to duck under the canopy of the tree--and at 5' tall, that's absurd that I have to duck under anything--but anyway, the canopy is on my side of the fence. After who knows how many years, the bush/tree is intertwined in the fence, with dead vines trellising along a few feet of the fence itself. So I clean it up. Pull out the roots and everything. My friend and I looked at it while cutting in down and made the comment that it looked like it was a sister tree at some point, with one base on my side of the fence and another on the neighbor's side-which looked to have been long dead. That's in the yard to dry out to be cut, on to the next area.
A few hours later I am sitting in my living room eating frozen grapes-yummy-when there is a knock at my front door. It's crazy miniature doberman owning-ex-stripper looking neighbor lady, who, up until today has always been pleasant during the three years I've owned my house. Well, as pleasant as you can be when every time I walk out of my door her dog is yapping from behind her glass door. Or the time that the dog nearly got away from her during a potty break and ran straight for my sister, yapping away. She thought that dog was about to attack her-and my sister already isn't a big fan of any dog, especially that beast. Anyway-she greets me at MY door with "excuse me, but who gave you permission to cut down my tree? that was uncalled for." My response, in no raised voice or bitchiness, "I apologize if it offends you, but everything that I cut down was on my side of the fence line, roots and trunk." I was barely able to get that out, amid interjections of "that was uncalled for" and "those were my flowers." I tried to tell her that everything that I cut down was on my side of the property line, and being that the roots and trunk were on my side, it was my understanding that the previous owners had planted it." Still, I was interrupted the entire time and I can guarantee she didn't hear a word.
Be the duck. Be the duck. Let it roll off your back. She has nothing better to do that make a big hoopla over a bush. A bush, that she never sees! It is in the far corner of the property, where if she was intent on sitting and admiring the blooms, then she would have to take a lawn chair and set down in front of it, because there is no vantage point of that bush from her house, patio, or the like. Be the duck.
A couple more hours later I am bringing my friend's dog back to him--we had let her run around in my backyard for the day, since she doesn't really get that at home. I notice as I am getting my car ready to put the Labrador sized dog in my front seat that Crazy Neighbor Lady is in her front yard talking to someone, and they both glance back at me as I walk back into my house. I get Leela all leashed up and ready to go, we walk outside, and immediately she starts yanking on my arm to go exploring at the same time that Crazy Neighbor Lady's shrill voice comes across the lawn--"did you think that that was YOUR fence?" Ok, when did this become about the fence. I have perfected the I think you are an idiot look, so I was giving it to her the whole time that she was shrieking "I have been here forever, and I was the one who put up that fence, so that is MY fence." Ok lady, then if its your fence, then you should have known good and well to put the fence around the tree/bush to include it in your property, if it really and truly is YOUR flowers.
Be the duck. Be the duck. I'm planting my garden today. I'll be outside most of the afternoon. I'm sure the verbal assault is far from over.
A few hours later I am sitting in my living room eating frozen grapes-yummy-when there is a knock at my front door. It's crazy miniature doberman owning-ex-stripper looking neighbor lady, who, up until today has always been pleasant during the three years I've owned my house. Well, as pleasant as you can be when every time I walk out of my door her dog is yapping from behind her glass door. Or the time that the dog nearly got away from her during a potty break and ran straight for my sister, yapping away. She thought that dog was about to attack her-and my sister already isn't a big fan of any dog, especially that beast. Anyway-she greets me at MY door with "excuse me, but who gave you permission to cut down my tree? that was uncalled for." My response, in no raised voice or bitchiness, "I apologize if it offends you, but everything that I cut down was on my side of the fence line, roots and trunk." I was barely able to get that out, amid interjections of "that was uncalled for" and "those were my flowers." I tried to tell her that everything that I cut down was on my side of the property line, and being that the roots and trunk were on my side, it was my understanding that the previous owners had planted it." Still, I was interrupted the entire time and I can guarantee she didn't hear a word.
Be the duck. Be the duck. Let it roll off your back. She has nothing better to do that make a big hoopla over a bush. A bush, that she never sees! It is in the far corner of the property, where if she was intent on sitting and admiring the blooms, then she would have to take a lawn chair and set down in front of it, because there is no vantage point of that bush from her house, patio, or the like. Be the duck.
A couple more hours later I am bringing my friend's dog back to him--we had let her run around in my backyard for the day, since she doesn't really get that at home. I notice as I am getting my car ready to put the Labrador sized dog in my front seat that Crazy Neighbor Lady is in her front yard talking to someone, and they both glance back at me as I walk back into my house. I get Leela all leashed up and ready to go, we walk outside, and immediately she starts yanking on my arm to go exploring at the same time that Crazy Neighbor Lady's shrill voice comes across the lawn--"did you think that that was YOUR fence?" Ok, when did this become about the fence. I have perfected the I think you are an idiot look, so I was giving it to her the whole time that she was shrieking "I have been here forever, and I was the one who put up that fence, so that is MY fence." Ok lady, then if its your fence, then you should have known good and well to put the fence around the tree/bush to include it in your property, if it really and truly is YOUR flowers.
Be the duck. Be the duck. I'm planting my garden today. I'll be outside most of the afternoon. I'm sure the verbal assault is far from over.
Monday, February 25, 2008
I knew there was a reason!
My mom tells me sometimes that I need to take bitch lessons from her. Not necessarily that she is a mean, horrible person, but she speaks her mind and doesn't take any bullshit. My sister is the same way. I'm more like my dad--a teddy bear disguised behind a gruff exterior. People have told me that their first impression of me was that I was mean, but once they got to know me realized that I wouldn't hurt a fly. Good trait to have, right? Sometimes.
I get walked over. Often. From not asking my sister to take out the trash all the way to telling that client that they've lost their mind thinking that I would ever suggest a 2" bevel on a framed mirror????!!! My response to that one...Sir, the fact that you just said a 2" bevel sets off a red flag in my mind because I know that those words have never come from my mouth because I've never even SEEN a 2" bevel, but I'll check my notes and get back with you. Diplomatic right?
So what happens when my old company gets paid for two spec houses that I did...and then the company closes...and the houses go pre-sold...with VERY demanding homeowners who want to change nearly every selection? I work for free, basically. I bite my tongue and go over and beyond helping these clients, including a pregnant woman who cannot remember what is said from one meeting to the next--bear in mind that I'm having to recreate their changes because when the company closed, I lost all my files! And when the construction company wants to save money and repeat 2 houses that I just turned in...the original houses' selections are discontinued, so I have to reselect...and then they are turned into Parade Houses, so they get upgraded...but the two duplicates are to stay with the ORIGINAL selections... I printed out new folders for the two duplications, complete with the new addresses, for myself and the construction company to keep on file so not to get completely confused... And when the paint store mixes the wrong color paint and the painter doesn't notice this until he has sprayed the ceilings in the ENTIRE house--I get a sample of this incorrect color and make adjustments to the wall color and flooring selections to avoid having to repaint the whole house. For free.
Not to mention the fact that I've sold about 8 houses for them in the last two years by presenting the selections to prospective homebuyers. AND they tell me MACK OUT the house I am currently working on, after I have already selected half of the finishes and fixtures, so I have to go back to all the vendors and reselect. And then a week later they call me and say that we have a prospective buyer who wants to meet in 4 hours and view all the selections--so I run around like a madwoman gathering samples, typing schedules to prepare for the meeting...then I get a phone call an hour before the meeting is scheduled because it has been postponed until the following week when I can meet with them because they REALLY want me to present the house. OKAY... THEN...they call me on MONDAY (when I cannot meet) and tell me that the meeting is at 4pm that afternoon. So I rearrange my life and clear my schedule to be there...you guessed it, they called back and said it was postponed again.
So today I was pleasantly surprised when the contractor called me to say that there was a check waiting for me at his office to thank me for all the extra effort that I have been putting in for their company. Tomorrow I am going to the office to pick up this check. Oh, and I have a meeting with a homebuyer. I am going to sell a house for them.
I get walked over. Often. From not asking my sister to take out the trash all the way to telling that client that they've lost their mind thinking that I would ever suggest a 2" bevel on a framed mirror????!!! My response to that one...Sir, the fact that you just said a 2" bevel sets off a red flag in my mind because I know that those words have never come from my mouth because I've never even SEEN a 2" bevel, but I'll check my notes and get back with you. Diplomatic right?
So what happens when my old company gets paid for two spec houses that I did...and then the company closes...and the houses go pre-sold...with VERY demanding homeowners who want to change nearly every selection? I work for free, basically. I bite my tongue and go over and beyond helping these clients, including a pregnant woman who cannot remember what is said from one meeting to the next--bear in mind that I'm having to recreate their changes because when the company closed, I lost all my files! And when the construction company wants to save money and repeat 2 houses that I just turned in...the original houses' selections are discontinued, so I have to reselect...and then they are turned into Parade Houses, so they get upgraded...but the two duplicates are to stay with the ORIGINAL selections... I printed out new folders for the two duplications, complete with the new addresses, for myself and the construction company to keep on file so not to get completely confused... And when the paint store mixes the wrong color paint and the painter doesn't notice this until he has sprayed the ceilings in the ENTIRE house--I get a sample of this incorrect color and make adjustments to the wall color and flooring selections to avoid having to repaint the whole house. For free.
Not to mention the fact that I've sold about 8 houses for them in the last two years by presenting the selections to prospective homebuyers. AND they tell me MACK OUT the house I am currently working on, after I have already selected half of the finishes and fixtures, so I have to go back to all the vendors and reselect. And then a week later they call me and say that we have a prospective buyer who wants to meet in 4 hours and view all the selections--so I run around like a madwoman gathering samples, typing schedules to prepare for the meeting...then I get a phone call an hour before the meeting is scheduled because it has been postponed until the following week when I can meet with them because they REALLY want me to present the house. OKAY... THEN...they call me on MONDAY (when I cannot meet) and tell me that the meeting is at 4pm that afternoon. So I rearrange my life and clear my schedule to be there...you guessed it, they called back and said it was postponed again.
So today I was pleasantly surprised when the contractor called me to say that there was a check waiting for me at his office to thank me for all the extra effort that I have been putting in for their company. Tomorrow I am going to the office to pick up this check. Oh, and I have a meeting with a homebuyer. I am going to sell a house for them.
Friday, February 22, 2008
For Shits and Giggles
Leo February 22, 2008
Much to your surprise, your finances seem to be slowly falling into place. This is good news, although it does not mean that you should go back to your old ways of shopping and (not) tracking your costs. Now that you have gotten everything under control, don't give up! You've gotten used to life with a tighter belt, and there is still a lot you can learn about how to trim the fat. Keep going, and you will be very proud of what you can save in just a few months.
Wa-hoo!! Like I've said before, horoscopes are for shits and giggles only. If you try to make them apply, then they do. The above, for instance...New Year's goal: resolve 40% of credit card debt in 2008. I'm on the fast track, paying down 50% of Card #3 by April 1st! (With the rebate coming in May...Card #3's balance will be gone by the time I hit the beach in June.) And no outstanding debt on any "store" card. AND...I'm physically down 5lbs. That beach trip is looking better every day! Baby steps.
Much to your surprise, your finances seem to be slowly falling into place. This is good news, although it does not mean that you should go back to your old ways of shopping and (not) tracking your costs. Now that you have gotten everything under control, don't give up! You've gotten used to life with a tighter belt, and there is still a lot you can learn about how to trim the fat. Keep going, and you will be very proud of what you can save in just a few months.
Wa-hoo!! Like I've said before, horoscopes are for shits and giggles only. If you try to make them apply, then they do. The above, for instance...New Year's goal: resolve 40% of credit card debt in 2008. I'm on the fast track, paying down 50% of Card #3 by April 1st! (With the rebate coming in May...Card #3's balance will be gone by the time I hit the beach in June.) And no outstanding debt on any "store" card. AND...I'm physically down 5lbs. That beach trip is looking better every day! Baby steps.
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