Winter Weekends Friday, February 27, 2009

So far, 2009 has shown itself to be full of relaxed weekends - a turn of events for which I am incredibly grateful. Here is my wish for your weekend:

May you wake up with an adorable pup in your face, ready to greet the day. 

(or in my case, ready to stand on your chest until you wake up and feed him breakfast)

Yes, I have polka dotted sheets. What of it? THEY'RE FLANNEL.

May you plan an exciting outing that actually turns out to be exciting. 

Unlike the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

May you not grow so bored that feel you must wrap your pajama pants around someone else's head for entertainment.

May you have the time to relax with friends. And cocktails.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

[Insert Expletive Here]

This clip came my way courtesy of my friend Jennifer, who (entertainingly enough) got it from her father. When I saw it, I knew you all HAD to see it too. Warning: Contains NSFW/NSFkids audio that you absolutely must hear.



It's so true, isn't it? This is the primary reason behind my hesitation in getting a Blackberry, or Tivo. Sure it's cool, then a new one comes out that is twice as powerful and twice as obnoxious and suddenly what I had doesn't seem so cool anymore. And then I'm just like every other d-bag out there that can't stop blathering on about their [inset name of battery-operated/wireless gadget here] and how it's completely changed their life. But, as demonstrated in the clip above, these advances can also be categorically annoying.

I'm not interested in chasing my own technological tail - I think advances in technology can certainly make one's life easier, but at what cost? I was on the ride, but NOW I WANT OFF.

Cool Runnings Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Lately I've been trying to exercise more, and often find myself on the treadmill. Which is weird, because I hate running. Running is boring. But I need to work on my cardio - so I culled some of the fastest, most upbeat songs from my iTunes and put them on a running-specific playlist. I just throw my iPod into shuffle mode and get moving - which is ironic because when I "run," I mostly just shuffle. Maybe someday I'll be a speedy gazelle just like Prefontaine himself. Ahem.

Until then, here it is, in all its bizarre glory.

Jamie's Running Playlist

Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Hi - Psapp
I Wanna - The All-American Rejects
Keep Hope Alive - The Crystal Method
Digitalism in Cairo - Digitalism
Looking for You - Kirk Franklin
I'm Taking the Wheel - SheDaisy
Make Me Sweat - Basement Jaxx
Easy Love - MSTRKRFT
Move Your Ass! - Scooter
Kinda New (Dirty South 2007 Club Mix) - Spektrum
Give It To Me - Kylie Minogue
Stomp to My Beat - JS-16
Intergalactic - Beastie Boys
Universal Mind Control - Common
Hit the Floor - Twista & Pitbull
Bring 'em Out - T.I.
Let's Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez
Mindfields - Prodigy
Womanizer - Britney Spears
River Deep, Mountain High - Celine Dion
Damaged - Danity Kane
No Lookin' Back - Kenny Loggins
Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode
Something Kinda Ooooh - Girls Aloud
Stranger - Hillary Duff
My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
I Need a Hero - Laura Branigan
Jam - Michael Jackson
Don't Stop the Music - Rihanna
Black & Gold - Sam Sparro
Hip to Be Square - Huey Lewis & the News
Move on up - Destination
She's a Bad Mama Jama - Carl Carlton
Forever - Chris Brown
Cool Jerk - The Capitols
Voulez-Vous - ABBA
Heat of the Moment - Asia
Surrender - Cheap Trick
Strangelove - Depeche Mode
Electric Barbarella - Duran Duran
How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20
All American Girl - Melissa Etheridge
Let My Love Open the Door - Pete Townshend
Hammer to Fall - Queen
Atomic - Blondie
City of Blinding Lights - U2
I'm Free - Kenny Loggins
I'm a Believer - Counting Crows
Baby Now I - The Cutting Edge Soundtrack
One Night Only (Disco Version) - Dreamgirls Soundtrack
Don't Stop me Now - Queen
Perfect Day - Hoku
Goodbye to You - Scandal
Here We Go - Chemical Brothers
Point of No Return - Expose
Push It - Salt 'n Pepa
Sandstorm - Darude
Welcome to Atlanta (Remix) - Jermaine Dupri

Feel free to chime in (via the comment board) if you feel there's something missing.

That is, unless you're going to mention the total lack of AC/DC, to which point I would say, YES you are right! I need to remember to borrow Sean's CDs so I can get some tracks into my computer, but until then, there won't be any AC/DC on my playlist. Because the band refuses to put their music on iTunes, choosing instead to sell out exclusive distribution rights to Wal*Mart and the like. So I am forced to run without Thunderstruck, my favorite AC/DC song. Which would be PERFECT for running.

NOT THAT I HAVE AN OPINION ON THE SUBJECT OR ANYTHING.

Reading Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Immersed in cookery, I found that deeply sunk childhood memories had begun to bubble up to the surface. Recollections of the pleasant-but-basic cooking of our hired cooks in Pasadena came back to me - the big hams or gray roast beef served with buttery mashed potatoes. But then, unexpectedly, so did yet deeper memories of more elegant meals prepared in a grand manner by accomplished cooks when I was just a girl - such as wonderfully delicate and sauced fish. As a child I had barely noticed these real cooks, but now their faces and their food suddenly came back to me in vivid detail. Funny how memory works.

I wouldn't *exactly* call this a page-turner, but if you can devote some time and concentration to it, it will reward you. It took me at least three sections before I stopped hearing her duck voice narrating the story. 

17 Reasons to Look Forward to 2009 Monday, February 23, 2009

If 2009 continues as it has begun, I will be one happy fan.

You know, I get a lot of flack from people about being a Kenseth fan. And I don't really let it bother me because I know my favorite driver is consistently successful, and doesn't d**k around like the other ego jockeys out there. He's there to work, to win, and I respect that. Plus, he's from Wisconsin, so that's an added bonus.

Every time he wins a race, I do a victory dance (complete with guns and pointing, OF COURSE) and inside my head, I'm telling everyone who teases me to STICK IT.

Photo credit: www.mattkenseth.com

Best of YouTube - Saturday Edition Saturday, February 21, 2009

I want pie! I want beef jerky!



SO funny.

Breaking News Bulletin Thursday, February 19, 2009

FINALLY I can talk about this! Please hop over to my sister's site to say congrats on her big news.

Laid Up Monday, February 16, 2009

The minute we walked into the vet's office earlier tonight, I could tell that Doc was just about to poop all over the linoleum lobby. And in rushing him out the door, he caught his back paw on the edge of the swinging door frame, let out a shriek and proceeded to limp. Thank goodness we were at the vet, right? PROVIDENCE, INDEED. What ensued was a tense visit, a bright blue bandage, and the most hilarious ride home I've ever experienced - complete with a 15' plastic cone!


On the Mend from Jamie on Vimeo.

Not awesome, but I'm doing my best to keep from feeling like the worst pet owner in the entire world.

Random Thoughts for Monday

- I find myself missing a lot of old television shows these days - no idea why. I especially miss Gimme A Break because say what you will about the corny plot/set-up, Nell Carter was hilarious.


- As with past Mondays, I woke up with a song in my head and had trouble getting back to sleep. Today it was "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. I'm guessing the reason I had trouble getting back to sleep was because I was too busy suppressing the urge to stab myself in the eardrums. I'm just sayin'.

- I asked for a Costco membership for Valentine's-Day-Slash-Our-Sixth-Dating-Anniversary, and got it! So I spent a couple hours on Sunday randomly wandering the only Costco in town with no list, no makeup, and with my unwashed hair plastered back in a ponytail. I left the store with less than 10 items, having run into the parents of one of my closest childhood friends. Score 1 for financial self-discpline, and 0 for grooming.

- The dog is getting really territorial when Sean is around, and it makes me very nervous. I grew up with a dog that snapped at anyone and everyone, and I'd prefer my children don't suffer the same fate. Does anyone have Cesar Milan's phone number handy?

- I haven't had coffee in at least 3-4 weeks. I've had an assload of Diet Coke, but still - the whole coffee thing is weird. Hmm.

Punch Drunk - No, Really Thursday, February 12, 2009

Just when you think the world has completely gone down the crapper, somebody goes and makes it all better.

Did you know I love sweet tea? I would drink it more often but it would render me big as a house. THIS, on the other hand, is right up my alley.

Disappointed Tuesday, February 10, 2009

So I've been working out more than normal for the past few weeks, and while I've shed some water weight, the pounds just have not been coming off as they have in the past. Some of this can be attributed to my increased age (compared to the last time I tried to gradually lose weight), but the rest is going to be a puzzle.

So I'm majorly watching my calories (courtesy of my existing Weight Watchers knowledge) and working out. I've accumulated a plethora of dvds, tapes, and so on. And now I'm putting them to good use. But I have to put this out there - INADVERTANT PRODUCT REVIEW COMING! ! ! - tonight, I did the NYCB Workout 2 for the first time in a loooong time. The breakdown on the DVD is this - awesome, AWESOME abs section that justifies the purchase price all by its lonesome, and some great stuff for glutes. Other than that, meh. (shrugs) Whatever. I can't decide if I hated it because I was sucking at it, or whether it just isn't very good. Not only was it completely depressing how weak I've allowed my core and back to get, but it was frustrating that I really struggled with the ballet combo at the end. The things that used to come so easily to me are now a very real struggle - with a healthy side dish of shame.

I know getting healthy can be an uphill battle, but this DVD was a serious downer. I think I'll hold off on the ballet at home for the foreseeable future.

I've been saying for that past month or so that I wouldn't set foot inside a studio until I got back into shape - even partially. Now I know that I was RIGHT. I need some serious work. I don't know if I'm hard on myself b/c dancers can be notoriously difficult on themselves when it comes to performance - or if I'm just ashamed of how far down I've permitted myself to slide. Either way, I'm going to fix it. I AM GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER, so help me God (or Jillian Michaels, whichever).

Oh, Boo Hoo - Somebody Call the Wah-mbulance Monday, February 09, 2009

When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure, felt all the weight of the world on top of me to perform and perform at a high level every day.

Yawn.

Late to The Party...Yet Again Sunday, February 08, 2009

So I fear this may make me sound as if I've been locked in a closet for the past 5 years, but here I go...

I am in love with CVS. It is the best drugstore in the entire world, and that is saying a LOT because I used to say that the apocalypse would be a minor geographical blip as long as there was a Walgreens still open nearby.


I cannot get enough of CVS. A new one just opened up in my neighborhood, and I went over there this morning JUST TO WANDER THE AISLES. Plus, I had coupons and Extra bucks, so I stocked up on boring stuff like on-sale fabric softener (Downy Lavender-Vanilla, represent!).

I'm guessing this either makes me a pathetic, single white lady who goes to the drugstore on Sunday mornings, OR it makes me a happy person who likes perusing drugstore cosmetics and office supplies. Either way, it makes me a loser but I DON'T CARE.

That is all. Enjoy the remainder of your weekends.

There Must Be SOME Parents Who Read this Blog Thursday, February 05, 2009

Tomorrow, I'm off to the great white North (well not *quite* all the way to Wisconsin) to watch my niece and nephew for the night. Since I don't have children yet, I think of this task with equal parts trepidation and confidence. I'm great with kids, I have an even-keeled (if a bit strict) approach to children, and I'm not afraid to dress up in something stupid to make my family laugh. That said, I've never spent a whole afternoon/evening AND the next morning with the munchkins.


They're cute munchkins, no? But don't let those cute faces fool you. They can get really screamy, really quickly.

You know where this is going, right? This means it's time for me to up the ante. The maternal side of me says, "shut up, weirdo, they can pretty much entertain themselves," and the practical side of me says, "if you don't plan for every possibility, they'll mutiny and take you prisoner in that enormous plastic castle in the basement."

So I've got a craft ready, as well as plans for a movie night (Mary Poppins, anyone?) but other than that, I'm at a loss. I'd like to have another special something planned, TSMICOMOTTWHF (to save me in case of mutiny or temper tantrums, whichever happens first). Aforementioned ankle biters are aged 5.5 and 3.3 years old. I'll take whatever ideas ya got.

Note to Universe: SCREW YOU Wednesday, February 04, 2009

As part of Operation Dump the Frump, I am wearing a super cute, charcoal grey, sweater dress to work today - complete with long, beaded necklace, black tights, and heels. Heels! Even my hair looks okay! Is miracle!

Yeah...it was all fine and dandy until my neck started writhing and itching under this turtleneck. I must be allergic to something in the dress - maybe a little angora, or merino? Either way, I'm scratching like crazy and hoping the fabric covers my now very red, semi-welty neck. So much for looking cute today.

I Sure Hope They Recycle Monday, February 02, 2009

I live in an area of town that has MANY transient residents - students, specifically. Within a mile of my condo, there are 6 universities and/or colleges, so needless to say, I see a lot of students every day. Did you know they *literally* wear their pajamas pants outside? I always joke about having done that in college, but it's more for emphasis than reality - I always managed to at least pull on a pair of wrinkly jeans. And my classes were across the street from my house! Sheesh.

That said, I am noticing that college kids drink an inordinate amount of Arizona Iced Tea. I have yet to be in the checkout line at my local 7-11 and NOT seen some skinny jean'ed, backpack-wearing, too much eyeliner'ed student buying a HUGE can or bottle of Arizona Iced Tea. What is in that stuff, anyhow? Crack?! I had some once, and vaguely recall thinking it wasn't all that great.