Suddenly I Can't Stop Yawning Tuesday, April 28, 2009

I used to have a summer job for which I was required to be "on" and "present" nearly 100% of the time. Yawning was strictly verboten. I understood why then, but this is a nice visual, in case there was any doubt as to the importance of appearances when your job is being visually perceived and documented.

Inappropriate Yawns - The Daily Beast


Plus, you have to admit. A good, frozen-in-time-at-its-peak yawn looks pretty hilarious.

photo credit: The Daily Beast

Weekend: A Synopsis Sunday, April 26, 2009

Good:
I got to sleep in this morning.

Better:
I ran a personal best 5K time at a charity fun run this weekend, despite cold, windy, rainy conditions.

Best:
I just discovered Edy's Maxx Java Mash-Up Ice Cream.

Argh Thursday, April 23, 2009

Dude. I've been working out more in the past 2 months than I have since my freshman year of college, and yet - YET - my body has not received the memo.

Currently, I'm eating at least 1 salad a day (with lo-cal dressing), a fiber bar for breakfast, and cutting back on booze. This week, I'll have run a total of 10 miles...not much for some, but a HUGE improvement over my past activity.

I can tell my cardio is slowly improving. I can see my calf muscles slowly becoming more defined. I am working mentally and physically to prepare for this half-marathon.

So I guess you could say I got angry - surprised, maybe? - when the lining of my pants split/tore/ripped audibly as I sat down at my desk this morning.

*%$(Q)$*#($#(!!!!!!!!

Reading Tuesday, April 21, 2009

I actually began playing the game in 1990, but it still reminds me of the 1980s. For the sake of this Oregon Trail's influence, you have to ignore the date discrepancy. There's always a bit of cultural bleed between decades, and the segue from the '80s to the '90s is infamously fluid. Especially if you were still a child in the early '90s and the formative pop cultural markers of your life were four or five years down the road. It's the same reason Sunday morning movies can seem unquestionably from the '80s, but upon closer examination with a digital remote, were made in, like, 1992. Think of slouch socks, of Roxette, of Jennifer Connelly and Elizabeth Shue with full faces. You're thinking of the '90s. Much like the Macintosh Classic itself, the '90s took a while to power up. I find anything culturally significant that happned before '93 I associate with the decade before it. In fact, Oregon Trail is one of a handful of signposts that middle school existed at all.

Amen, sister. Amen.

Observations from the Airport Monday, April 20, 2009

Yesterday, I had the surprise opportunity to spend multiple hours in the Raleigh-Durham airport. Exciting, no? OH YEAH. So you know what THAT means. People watching, of course.

This is my brain on a 4-hour delay:

- Hmm. Bruegger's bagels are not what they used to be. (sniff)

- Is that insanely old lady really going to eat her takeaway soup standing up? SOMEONE GET SOUP LADY A CHAIR FOR GOD'S SAKE BEFORE WE ALL GET COATED IN CHOWDER.

- I really wish these pretentious a-holes next to me would stop discussing the sociocultural ramifications of Khaled Hosseini's novels on women's rights in the Middle East.

- My ass hurts in this chair.

- Grown women who wear clothing from Hollister *really* bother me.

- Oh, wait, Mr. Gate Agent - did you just seat Old Soup Lady in the exit row of my flight? I, for one, would like you to ask her to deadlift 70 pounds right here and now. Unless she's Popeye and that was spinach soup, then I won't be so worried about her abilities in a worst case scenario.

- This is a really nice airport. Maybe one of the nicest I've ever been stuck in.

- Gee, the pretentious couple are a lot more endearing when they stop discussing fundamentalist Islam and call their sons to ask how their trip to the zoo with Grandpa went.

- Are we there yet?

Fabulous Friday: Breaking News! Friday, April 17, 2009

Delush is Back! Woohoo!

Peripatetic, Poetic, and Chic Thursday, April 16, 2009

I agree somewhat with this review of A Chorus Line, but mostly I couldn't get over how boring the second half turned out to be. At one point, I literally nodded off - and it wasn't the result of my pre-show Pinot Gris. What can I say? After a slam-bang start, and Cassie's phenomenal jazz solo (danced by a talented, slightly shrieky, Robyn Hurder), the second half dragged like the poor dog tied to the bumper of the Griswold's station wagon. Maybe I just didn't "get it." Who knows.

Overall? Loved all the phenomenal work by Bob Avian and Gabrielle Ruiz as Diana Morales. Everything else was just okay.

Now You Knock, and Someone's There! Wednesday, April 15, 2009

I was fortunate to have scored an extra ticket to see "A Chorus Line" with my parents tonight - I am thrilled! It is, without a doubt, my favorite musical and I can't wait to see this recent interpretation!

Now I'm going to geek out on you all and present clips of my favorite parts:

Groovy Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Every now and then, I wonder if God and the Universe at large will bless/punish me with a child exactly like me.

Turns out, God decided to give that child to someone else:



(snort) I particularly like the claw section, done in the extreme foreground. Niiiice.

Found via Tyler.

Redefining the Phrase "Quite Understandably" Sunday, April 12, 2009

Oh, yes. Mistaking a photographer for a zombie is totally normal. Just your average, everyday zombie mixup. Ho hum.

Moving along, nothing of interest to see here.

Things I am Loving Right Now Thursday, April 09, 2009

Mini notebooks monogrammed with a "J" - on clearance!

These earrings


Making a long "to-do" list for this weekend.

A possible new beginning for my friend Kate.

The reappearance of my calf muscles.

Vertical Horizon's "Everything You Want" album



Getting Good Friday off of work.

My new burnt-orange hobo handbag (Happy early birthday to me! Thanks, mom & dad)

The sun shining outside, where the weather is temperate and tolerable.

A reason to thrift around for new jeans, and an affordable, not-ugly coffee table with storage within.

I'm Tan! (sort of) Monday, April 06, 2009

Well, not really. But it sure got your attention, huh?

The reality of the situation is this: I'm leaving Florida midday tomorrow and returning to the distant, chilly wilds of a far-off place called CHI-CAAAAA-GOH. Otherwise known as home. Apparently while I was off sunning (inadvertantly - you should see the line on my...ahem...chest), it was snowing and raining up north.

SUCKAZZZZZZZZZZZZ.

That said, tomorrow will be a very busy and uninteresting day. Airport, luggage, flight, luggage, car, dog, drive, home, park. So until something more exciting comes along, I'll leave it at that.

Here's hoping that no one ultra-smelly or loud is near me on the flight. (fingers crossed) See you on the flip side!

Running Update: 04/03/09 Friday, April 03, 2009

I've been at it for a month now - this half marathon training business. The biggest surprise so far? I'M NOT DEAD YET.

The next biggest surprise? Some of the music I thought would be *perfect* has turned out not to be.

Songs That, Surprisingly, Don't Work for Running
"Generator" - Foo Fighters
"Living on a Prayer" - Bon Jovi
"Disturbia" - Rihanna

Songs That, Surprisingly, DO Work for Running
"Philadelphia Freedom" - Elton John
"Balla Baby" - Chingy
"How Long" - Eagles

I am so weird.

Something to Ponder Wednesday, April 01, 2009

I'm a stuff person - not nearly as bad as this author (and her many collections), of course, so naturally this article spoke to me. What a breath of fresh air.

(click to enlarge)