And So It Goes

O-H-I love Jon Stewart-O

2006-10-30T18:32:00.000-05:00

Everyone watch The Daily Show this week as they broadcast from Columbus, Ohio.

In a sketch tonight where Samantha Bee thinks she grew up in Columbus and is touring her "house she grew up in", Bridget Kahle is the homeowner and she's my legal drafting professor. Very cool.

I'm back - sort of

2006-10-17T16:37:00.000-04:00

Well I've decided that when I have time I'll throw up a post every now and then. I'm ridiculously busy with school, my upper level writing class, and a 20 hour work week, but I'm never too busy for my thoughts.

I haven't told anyone I plan on blogging again, so the only purpose this blog serves anymore is an outlet for my thoughts and perhaps some reading for the random person who stumbles upon this blog.

What's that Gilda Radner quote? The one about how much she thrives in not knowing what comes next? Something about "delicious ambiguity?" I don't view it the same way. While it can be exciting jumping into the unknown, there are apsects of my life where I just want some certainty. Jobs and my love life are two examples. I'm not all gloom and doom about either of those scenarios. I have no doubt that everything will work out just fine for me. But instead of thriving in the unknown, I'm having small bouts of anxiety.

There's so much I want to change about myself. But I'm not sure we can change who we are at the core. The things that drive me crazy about my mother I see in myself. I want to resist those traits and not display them. But I fear it's impossible. We are who we are. Genes are genes. As much as I want to deny it, I am going to be just like my mother. I guess there could be worse things in life.

Buckeye Faithful

2006-10-07T18:57:00.000-04:00

I came home to Cincinnati this weekend to spend time with my lovely family. To my horror and dismay, this morning it was discovered that Cincinnati cable was not carrying the Ohio State game, but that a Dayton channel was carrying it. My Dad and I weighed our options but didn't really feel like spending 3+ hours at a sports bar. We discovered that using the antenna on our small TVs in the bedrooms brought in the Dayton channel we needed. The best place we got reception? Outside on the deck. The quality of the picture? Not so great. So my Dad and I spent 3 hours outside on the deck, on patio furniture, watching a 20 inch TV with a fuzzy picture. Go Bucks!

The wind of change is blowing wild and free

2006-03-29T21:49:00.000-05:00

I am starting a new chapter in my life and it doesn't include this blog. Farewell.

I'm a loser

2006-03-22T10:39:00.000-05:00

I'm serious. I'm a real loser. Tim Horton's has been carrying on this Roll up the Rim to Win contest. The premise is simple. You purchase a hot beverage of any size and then you roll up the rim to see if you have won a prize. They are giving away SUVs, barbecues, plasma TVs, cash, and free food or drink from Tim Horton's.

This contest has been going on since February 27th. Since then I have bought coffee from Tim Horton's every weekday. So I have bought approximately 20 coffees since the commencement of this contest. On the cup, it says odds of winning a coffee or donut are 1 in 9. So, theoretically and based on odds, I should have two free coffees under my belt. But this is not the case. I have won zero prizes. Every time I roll up the rim to win, the same message taunts me, "Please Play Again." My co-worker, who does not frequent Tim Horton's nearly as much as I do, has won a free coffee. I am officially a loser. My only hope is that the contest continues through May, so there is still time. And since I keep losing, when I finally do win I think it's going to be a TV.

Something interesting, and which I totally do not understand, is that on the cup it says in Canada to redeem your prize, a skill-testing question is required. What? So, I downloaded the rules and regulations, and it says the following:

In USA: U.S. participants are not required to answer a skill-testing question. Upon verification, of the Rim Tab, a food prize will be awarded.

In Canada: If you are eligible to win a coffee or donut, complete a contest prize claim form. Canadian participants ONLY must sign the declaration and answer the skill-testing question (below on the contest prize claim form) and, together with their eligible "winning" Rim Tab, present it to participating Tim Horton's stores. Before being declared a Canadian winner, your Rim Tab and answer to the skill-testing question must be verified.

And the skill-test question is: Multiply 5X11
Subtract 3
Add 8

What? In Canada, to win a free Donut or coffee (which cost no more than $2), you have to be able to do basic math and actually fill out and sign a form? This makes no sense to me. All you have to do in the U.S. is hand the person behind the counter your rim. I wonder why the difference? Strange, but oddly funny, is that apparently the only way you're worthy of a free donut or coffee in Canada is if you can come up with an answer of 60. It must be tough to be Canadian.

Bday Recap

2006-03-20T12:52:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful birthday. My schedule was favorable to festivities, so I had what my friends and I referred to as a birthday trifecta.

Wednesday: Some friends and I went to Coaches for some beers and pool. It was "Old School" night and I drank Natural Light...in a bottle. This was something new for me. Also something new to my friends: I cannot break in pool.

Thursday: A super laid back night as some friends and I chilled at the Pointe Tavern. Beers and big screens with basketball. It was early to bed that night due to the raucous events of the next day.

Friday (St. Patrick's Day and my birthday): Woke up at 6:30 am to go to Flannagan's, who claim they have the Biggest St. Patrick's Day party in Ohio. And to be honest, I don't doubt it. When we left around noon, I couldn't believe how crowded it was. We went early to celebrate the day with the local radio station's morning show, The Morning Zoo. My friends and I love the Morning Zoo - they're hysterical. I received a birthday shoutout from Jimmy Jam, which people heard because I was soon receiving telephone calls about said shoutout. Making the day even better, Derek, braving his sickness and dislike for waking up early and crowded, drunk-frat-guy-filled bars, surprised me by showing up at Flannagan's at 7:30 am. That trickster told me he had to work. At 10am Saving Jane went on and we all sang along loudly to their hit "Girl Next Door." We stayed until around noon and after five hours of drinking beer, it was time to sleep/pass out. But what fun it was. I will probably go back next year.

On Saturday, although post-birthday trifecta, I had a nice day with Derek where we saw V for Vendetta and he taught me some stick shift driving. It's all about learning the mechanics. Then, he took me for a lovely birthday dinner at M. Dinner was amazing as was my company and it rounded out an outstanding birthday weekend.

Thank you to all my friends and family.

Now it's Spring Break 06 and I am spending it here in Columbus, working full time, with reports of an impending ice storm. Wild and crazy.

I Heart TV

2006-03-15T20:24:00.000-05:00

It's time for the 15 on 15 and this month it is TV shows. Now, I blame my sister for a lot of the shows on this list. She had quite an eclectic taste in what she considered good television and when you're plopped on the couch after school, you're subject to the whims of the person in charge of the remote (which was always Meghan).

15. You Can't Do that On Television - This show was classic. My sisters and I would create our own talking out of the lockers scene with closet doors. My parents were not such a big fan of that one. The slime scenes would be reenacted in the swimming pool (along with the requisite Little Mermaid scene).

14. Days of Our Lives - This is the only soap opera I ever got hooked on. My mom was always an All My Children and One Life to Live watcher, but somehow over the summers off from school my sisters and I got hooked on this one. We started watching when Vivian buried Carly alive. That was awesome. And then Marlena was possessed by the devil. And Stefano would NOT die! And Hope was actually alive, but she had amnesia and thought she was Gina. And Carrie got acid thrown on her face and we referred to her as "Patches" and then she rode off into the sunset with Mike, but now she's back! And Roman died, but he really didn't. My goodness soap operas are amazing.

13. Trading Spaces - Have you ever turned this on in the middle of a marathon? Don't. Because you will be hooked. This show is like crack. Two years ago on Christmas Day they had a marathon and my sisters, mom, and I could barely tear ourselves away from the TV to see what Santa had brought. I love Verne and sometimes Genevieve. Paige Davis? Has got to go - she bugs.

12. Breaker High - This was a show on UPN that came on after school after episodes of Sweet Valley High. Does anyone else remember this show besides me? It only ran for one season. These students lived and went to class on a boat. And of course there was quirkyness, and romances, and a hot guy. And a young Ryan Gosling. This was where Meghan first fell in love with him. She always reminds me that she saw him first. (She then proceeded to follow him to his turn as Young Hercules - I was not a fan of this show, however.)

11. Wonder Years - The summer before my sophomore year in high school, I worked at a pizza call center where I would work until 10 o'clock on Sunday nights. When I got off work, I always had the same routine. Before logging off I would place an order for breadsticks with cheese, get in my car, pick up my food, go home, sit on the couch with my breadsticks and a Diet Coke and watch The Wonder Years on Nick at Nite. Those were good Sundays.

10. I Love Lucy - I don't remember where I saw these episodes, but my mom loved them. And nothing beats classic Lucy - she was hysterical. Vitameatavegamine? Breaking the chocolate conveyor belt? Fantastic.

9. Dawson's Creek - This show defined my high school years. I shopped at American Eagle so I could dress like Joey Potter. I watched it every week and would talk about it with my friends at school. It was such a cool show and my high school crush bore a striking resemblance to Pacey. Now the reruns are on weekday mornings on TBS. The college years got lame but the old school, Pacey sleeping with a teacher episodes are classic.

8. Animaniacs - Bologna in our slacks. Hahaha. I think this show would be so much more funny if I watched it now that I know a little more. This show was on right after school when I was in the 5th and 6th grade and I rarely missed it. Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Slappy the Squirrel. They were great. On an hour long drive to a basketball tournament, I terrorized my friend Jennifer by making her sing "Pinky and the Brain" in a round with me. NARF!

7. Saved By the Bell - I don't think much more can be said about this show other than every person our age has seen it and knows every episode by heart. What an impact this show had on our generation.

6. Sex and the City - I did not catch a single episode of this show when it was new. I didn't get HBO, so I only heard of this show by word of mouth and my mom bought me Season One as a gift because she had also heard good things about it. Now I own every single season on DVD, watch the reruns on TBS, and wish for the glamorous lives these women lived.

5. The Price is Right - My sister and I would watch this show constantly. When she was little and didn't actually know what it was called, she referred to it as "Come on Down." Good enough guess as any, I guess. Now when I have a day off, I usually try to catch this show. Plinko, I'm down. Lucky 7s? Hell yes. This show is old as the hills but still has its appeal.

4. Gilmore Girls - As I have said in a previous post, this show is excellent. I adore every part of it: the writing, the cultural references, the fast-paced dialogue, the meta, the sleepy little town where the show takes place. I don't know why, but I just love it...I would love to be Lorelai Gilmore (minus the having a baby out-of-wedlock at age 16).

3. Law and Order - I don't know what I would do without TNT playing these reruns. Watching this show gets my adrenaline pumping and I think how cool it would be to be an ADA in New York City. Even the cast changes haven't hurt the show any.

2. American Idol - I know some people (Derek) think it's crazy that this show is on my list and so high. However, I have watched every single episode of every single season and even voted many many times. I get so involved and invested in the outcome of this show. There was even a little wager between friends and I in Season 2 between Ruben and Clay. This show made me a Kelly Clarkson fan, which I am today. This show bonds me and my parents who watch. After the show, we'll always call each other and discuss who was good, who was bad, and who we love. No other show has had this kind of effect.

1. Beverly Hills, 90210 - I remember where I was the day after the episode aired where Donna finally lost her virginity. I was in junior high, we were at lunch, and my friends and I were talking about the episode while I ate Cheetos and a chocolate malt (this is crazy weird that I remember this. I know.) I loved this show and have watched it on reruns so much. I am waiting for the day Aaron Spelling releases all 10 seasons on DVD because I will race to the store to buy all of them. Drama, high school, love, intrigue, and death - it had it all.

Dearest Emily

2006-03-10T12:05:00.000-05:00

Here is new reading material for you while you're in Evidence.

My lack of posting is mostly due to the fact that nothing of note has happened in my life. All my weekend activities are usually posted somewhere on Derek's website, work and school have been typical, and the most exciting thing I've done recently is eat applesauce with a fork.

My birthday is next week, and while I'm excited to go to Flannagans with the local radio's morning show and possibly be on the air, I just can't be excited about being one year older. Another year....whoopee.

Spring Break is also coming up and I'm not going anywhere. Instead, I'll be working full-time like a real grown up. I'm looking forward to starting my new job in May.

God. I'm boring. I apologize.

The Olympics here at Lex Park

2006-02-21T22:29:00.000-05:00

My roommate and I haven't been hooked on the Olympics, but tonight we really got behind Team USA during women's figure skating. After Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes have skated and are in 1st and 3rd respectively, Ashley and I watching everyone else and hoping USA maintains the lead. In short, tossing insults at all the other skaters.

While watching the Swiss figure skater:
Me: I hope she doesn't land this jump.
Roommate: Shit! She just landed it. [Pause] Slut. Figure skating slut.

During a shot of the commentators:
Roommate: Is that Scott Hamilton?
Me: Yup, one ball.
Roommate: The one ball wonder.

While watching Irina Slutskya:
[During the warmups]
Both of us: Heh...Slutskya.
Me: Nice pantsuit. Who wears a pantsuit?
Roommate: Dyke.
[During her short program]
Roommate: Ohhh...cautious. Balls out biatch.
Roommate: Maybe she'll feed off of our negative energy. Emily Hughes did it better than you!
Me: We shall call her "Slutsky."

[During the Japanese skater who ended up overtaking Kimmie Meissner.]
Me: She's boring me - flip over to The Parent Trap.

[At one point during the Ukraine skater, Scott Hamilton said she would have to "Fly like a bird."]
Both: [singing Nelly Furtado] I'm like a bird, I only fly away. I don't know where my soul is.

[During Sasha Cohen]
Me: She's so pretty.
Roommate: I'm so nervous.
Both of us multiple times throughout: Wow. Wow. Wow.

[After she received her marks]
High-fiving and cheering as if we had just won a gold medal.

Go USA.

15 on 15 Songs

2006-02-15T22:07:00.000-05:00

Here is a list of my favorite 15 songs. I am so busy right now that I am just throwing up a list with no explanations and in no particular order. Watch this space for I will probably add explanations once the weekend comes.

1. Meet Virginia, Train
2. I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues, Elton John
3. Me, Paula Cole
4. Return of the Mack, Mark Morrison
5. Toxic, Britney Spears
6. Ain't Too Proud To Beg, The Temptations
7. Angel of Harlem, U2
8. Cowboy Take Me Away, Dixie Chicks
9. Iris, Goo Goo Dolls
10. All You Need is Love, The Beatles
11. All By Myself, Sheryl Crow
12. What a Beautiful Day, Chris Cagle
13. Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell
14. Collide, Howie Day
15. Yesterday, The Beatles

A V-Day Tale

2006-02-14T20:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. This year's Valentine's Day was not nearly as eventful as last years, so I will tell of last years V-Day fun.

At school I received a dozen carnations (yuck) from a "Secret Admirer." The tags on each had a personalized loving message, such as "You are so slutty." It made me laugh and was a nice gesture from a friend, but alas - no carnations this year.

Then, Ter and I went to Chinese Buffet for dinner. We were dressed in hooded sweatshirts and ponytails, but we had a hankering for some General Tso's chicken. As we walk in they handed out little rose and baby's breath pins to everyone who was eating there. Ter and I felt like this was a special little Valentine. So we're enjoying the buffet and all of the sudden I am floored by the appearance of three people. My first ex-boyfriend and his parents. Now he and I had been broken up for about 3 years at this point so we are casual acquaintances who meet every now and then for coffee/ice cream/dinner and talk on IM occasionally. His parents, however, I have not seen for, you guessed it, 3 years. I feel like I have to say something - I can't ignore all of them. So I give a friendly wave. The ex comes over and I introduce him to Ter and have a little chat. Then, his mom comes over and starts talking to me about law school and how I've been, etc. This lasted awkwardly for about 5 minutes but felt like 5 hours. It was this surreal experience. After they had left the table, Ter looks at me and says "I knew you said he was dorky, but I didn't expect that." Thanks Ter. Laughing at this I realize that I just ran into my ex at a Chinese buffet on Valentine's day when I look like I just rolled out of bed and I am with a friend from school. I begin thinking, "God, he's the one who broke up with me and left me shattered and now this. Can't I ever win any battles?" But then, I realize that he was at Chinese buffet on Valentine's Day with his parents - so I win.

So on Valentine's Day I received the ugliest flower ever from a Secret Admirer and won a personal victory over an ex boyfriend while enjoying Chinese Buffet with one of my closest friends. That was a good day.

My morning at work

2006-02-01T14:51:00.000-05:00

For everyone's enjoyment, I decided to log my 2 hours of work in the morning. Upon reading it, I realized that I don't do anything at my job. I get paid to do nothing - which has its ups and downs. Upside: plenty of free time to read the internet (I haven't gotten up the courage to do homework at the office). Downside: nothing to do and running out of things to search on the internet makes the time....go....so....slowly. I think this lack of work will change once I switch from government employment to the private litigation firm in May, so I might as well enjoy it now.

7:40 am - I am about 25 minutes late for work. Standard being late reasons: didn't want to get out of bed, already running late and then had to scrape ice off my windows, hit every red light in town. Good thing that no one in this office cares what time I do get here. Otherwise I might have to look for alternative employment at Circuit City or something. That's a nice thing about being a student intern.

7:45 am - Attempt to work on a project assigned to me. No huge rush since there are three of us working on it, it's 3/4 of the way done, and it's not due until the end of February. Realize I need access to the filing cabinet and the woman with the key doesn't come in to work until 8:30.

7:46 am - Enjoy my Tim Hortons French Vanilla Cappuccino as I read The Columbus Dispatch, CNN.com and Yahoo.com. Realize that I prefer Yahoo news much more than CNN. CNN is lazy in updating - sometime stories in their headlines section are over 24 hours old. Yahoo updates seriously every 5 minutes. I'll be scrolling through and the page will automatically refresh. Thank you Yahoo news for providing people like me, who have nothing else to do at work but read what's going on in the world, with timely updates.

8:01 am - Bored...surfing the internet.

8:03 am - Excited to learn that Grey's Anatomy Season 1 comes out on DVD on February 14th. Which happens to be Valentine's Day (hint hint).

8:04 am - Still bored...still surfing. I love my celebrity gossip updates that I receive regularly from the blog Pink. Who needs US Weekly? Ok, I still need US Weekly and WNCI Morning Zoo's Celebrity Sleaze.

8:08 am - My boss and I have a conversation about my pants. We're both intrigued by this color I'm wearing which the lady at Banana Republic informed me was called "charcoal brown." I had to ask her what color they were because on the rack they looked brown, but when I tried them on in the dressing room they looked gray, or charcoal I guess. She told me that the pants would look whatever color I wanted depending on what color top I wore with them. She assured me that "these pants are great because you can wear them with anything." Today I have on brown boots and a cream colored sweater, so I sure as hell hope they look brown.

8:16 am - Bored. I need something to chew on. Guess it's time to break into my candy stash. Oh Hershey's Kisses with Almonds, I do love you.

8:17 am - Listen to my co-workers' "water cooler" American Idol conversation. I agree with Ray who states "the people who go on that show and think they can sing are complete dumbasses."

8:20 am - Check email for the 100th time. Received a newsletter update about all of my Kappa Delta sisters. Lots of engagements and even a pregnancy. All employed or in grad school. Hard to believe it was just 3 years ago that I was hiding alcohol in Room 9 of the sorority house and going to frat parties with all of these ladies. We're so grown up now.

8:22 am - Discuss my dreams with a fellow intern. Not my lifelong dreams, but my actual dreams. Lately, I've been having dreams that include people I don't know. I only know them through photos, but I have never met them nor had a conversation with them. It's so strange because since I know what they look like physically, I recognize them. And if I know their names, I usually refer to them by name. But they speak in my dreams, and since I've never spoken with any of them, I'm obviously making up what their voices sound like. This is odd to me and it's been happening quite frequently. Why am I dreaming about people I don't know and have never met? I wonder if this means anything. I should ask my friend Justin who's a psychology major.

8:33 am - Alicyn arrives and I retrieve the key to the file cabinets. I spend 20 minutes sprawled on the ground going through files. I get a paper cut, of course.

8:56 am - I finally find out that FOP stands for "Fraternal Order of Police" which is the police officers' union, not "Friend of Police." I always thought the FOP stickers meant you gave money to the police officers and the sticker told police this so they wouldn't write you a ticket. Nope, the FOP sticker means you're in the union, which means you're a police officer, which is why this sticker means you won't get pulled over. I guess no such "get out of jail free" sticker exists for non-law enforcement people.

9:01 am - See that I have a voicemail on my phone. I rarely receive phone calls, so it's no surprise that when I go to check the voicemail I don't remember my password. I guess I'll have to ask IT what to do about this.

9:06 am - Sit in on a termination review. Interesting cases included: the mental health patient who jumped out of his 3rd floor window, blacked out, and walked to his brother's house, but was logged in by the TPW's as being in his bed all night. Also, the prison guard who allowed an injured bird found on prison grounds to be kept by an inmate as a pet in a coffee can. Good work state employees!

9:26 am - Look up stuff for me and Derek to do this weekend. Free admission to the art museum on Sunday is looking like an ideal option.

9:29 am - Realize with horror that selecting "Pop Valentine" as my music station from Yahoo! means listening to artists like the Spice Girls.

9:31 am - More internet surfing - now I'm rechecking pages hoping for an update (ahem...derekwalden.com)

9:37 am - Turn off my computer, telling myself I'll work more on the project when I come back to work this afternoon.

9:38 am - Stretch.

9:39 am - Put on coat and apply chapstick.

9:40 am - So long, "work!"

Am I the only one...

2006-01-24T08:02:00.000-05:00

...who is too lazy/annoyed to go to the Post Office and buy 2 cent stamps? Thus, when I mail my bills I stick two 37 cent stamps on the envelope and end up overpaying postage by 35 cents. No? That's just me? Well, ok then.

Ghostwriter

2006-01-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, Derek and I saw the movie Capote. The movie was great and like a good biopic should, it sparked my curiosity about the title character.

This afternoon during a break between classes, I did some research on Truman Capote. It seems as though the movie did a good job of establishing the main points of his personality and life. Much of the stuff I found on the internet had been touched upon in the film. But something struck me in an odd way.

Apparently, Truman Capote frequently implied that he had written a considerable portion of his old friend Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Furthermore, an editor believes he ghosted the entire thing. She believes his assertion based on the fact that Harper Lee has never written another novel since TKAM. I knew that Harper Lee and Truman Capote were childhood friends and the character of Dill in TKAM was based upon him, but I had never heard rumors that she had not actually written the novel.

I was unaware that such a thing called "ghosting" took place. I don't understand why you would not want to take credit for something you had a part in. Especially if you actually wrote the entire novel. TKAM won a Pulitzer Prize and has received numerous accolades and awards - should Harper Lee be the only one who receives the credit for this should the implication be true? I was sad to hear this about a novel that I ranked as one of my favorite books just a few days ago. I'm afraid I will never be able to read it in the same way again.

Orthopedic shoes, here I come

2006-01-23T08:47:00.000-05:00

I am a young girl who attempts to be somewhat fashionable. High heels and pointed toes are the way to go for shoes, and I have happily obliged. My shoe wearing has never been a problem, but since last summer I dress up for work everyday and wear these high heels 5 days a week, on average. As of late, my feet cannot tolerate the walking to and from the parking lot, walking around the office, and running to the State Board. There's a part on the arch of my foot and an area around my toes that hurts until it becomes practically numb by the end of the day. Maybe it's a pinched nerve of some sort? It feels much better when I take them off or wear gym shoes, but by the end of the week, the thought of enduring such pain makes me dig into my closet for these horrible black loafers that I bought 4 years ago. I am very envious of men in times like these. And also very admirable of the woman I saw walking around Target in the tallest, stilleto heels I have ever seen - I can't imagine. When I go out on the weekends, I look for outfits that will look fine with gym shoes. That Target woman is made of steel.

Any suggestions on how to alleviate this pain? I know that flats are also in and there are very cute flats, but this becomes a problem because when I wear flats the bottom of my pants drag on the ground and I don't want to ruin my nice slacks. I'm only 23 and will be wearing nice clothes with high heels for roughly the next 40 years! I can't be having foot problems already. Looks like I will just have to suck it up since I'm too young to be buying "mom shoes." Yikes...beauty is pain.

Just one of those days I guess

2006-01-18T07:54:00.000-05:00

I have been awake for approximately 2 hours and already I have an injury, I embarrassed myself in front of a neighbor, almost had a panic attack, and called off work.

Today started like any other normal day - I woke up, took a shower, got dressed and left my apartment to get to work on time at 7:30 am. I go outside to my snow-covered car and think to myself that I better book it on the ice scraping if I want to make it to work on time. But what's this? My door is frozen shut. This is no problem, I thought. I'll just try another door. Door #2? Frozen. Door #3 and #4? Also frozen. Uh-oh. I then pull on my gloves like a prize-fighter and prepare to pound the living daylights out of my door and then pull as hard as I can on the handle (Mind you, this has worked before). I pound for a bit and then pull - still stuck. This goes on for about 5 minutes before I announce to my empty parking lot, "I'm fucked."

So what do I do in times of crisis? I call my Dad! Dad to the rescue! His newest advice to me is to kick the door frame as hard as I can (note: I love that he added "without falling down") or go up to my apartment and get some hot water to pour in the door frame - with the caveat that if this doesn't work, it might just freeze more. Well the hot water is not something I want to do since I would have to scale my icy death-steps to get back to my apartment and there was no way in hell I wanted my door to freeze more. So it looks like my kick-line days in high school are going to come in handy.

Now, I'm dressed for work. I have on black slacks and high-heeled black boots. This does not deter me. I kick as hard as I can and then pull on the handle as hard as I can. The result? The door doesn't budge. Now I am frustrated. So I'm kicking and pounding and while doing this I'm doing the frustrated yell. Maybe yelling will help? Blow enough hot air to unfreeze my door? Nope - all of my attempts have failed. I then get the bright idea that maybe my gloves are keeping the full force of my blows from cracking the ice. So I take off my gloves and begin pounding. So now I am kicking, pounding, screaming in frustration, and I am covered in snow. In between my high flying karate kicks to the door and the glove-less pounding, I hurt my finger somehow. But alas, the door finally comes open! After only 25 minutes!

So now I turn on my car and get ready for ice scraping and my hands are frozen since the snow all over them has melted and now the gloves are just wet rags, more or less. I begin scraping and I see a neighbor walking towards me. I act calm and am really glad he was not out here earlier to witness my door opening skills. I say good morning and he replies "Is your door stuck?" Innocently I respond "No." Then I notice the jug of water in his hand. He then explains to me that he lives in the apartment right by where my car is parked and he heard the pounding and cries of frustration and that hot water should help. Now I'm sheepish (Baaaa) and embarrassed. I profusely thank him but tell him it is all under control since I've finally been able to unfreeze the door. He then kindly hands me the water and tells me to pour it over my windshield so that I won't have to scrape it. Still completely mortified that he heard my commotion (with the realization that I was probably as loud as a Mack truck) I take the water and pour it over my car. I thank him and apologize for the commotion and he walks away. Mental note to self: park on the other side of the building from now on.

So I finish scraping and get into my car and finally drive away. However, right before I leave my parking lot I think that I left my computer bag and books on the ground so I turn around to get them. At this point my roommate is in the parking lot working on her car and she goes "What's going on?" So I tell her I think I left my bags on the ground. I get out and can't find them. She looks too and cannot find them. I start to have a mild panic attack. She asks me if they're in my car and I say no. She asks if they're in my trunk but I tell her that the trunk was iced shut and I couldn't get it open. She then asks if I want her to ask the neighbor who came out if he has seen them or maybe grabbed them. I respond yes - thinking that "helpful" neighbor stole my stuff! Still mildly panicking I tell myself maybe I should check the trunk (glad to see that even in panic mode, I still had some semblance of a rational self). It is still icy and I had to tug on it to open it, but alas it opens and there is my stuff. I start screaming at Roommate that I found them and she comes back and with relief she tells me that helpful neighbor who really was trying to help hadn't answered his door yet. I can't believe I didn't remember putting my bags in my trunk. I'm a moron.

Finally, I head off to work - running an hour behind. Since I have class at 10, I realize I will only be at work for about an hour so I call work and tell them I will not be in this morning. Now I'm at school, nursing my wound.

I can't believe the morning I have had. Hopefully the day will get better (really, how could it not?) starting with the Smashin' Wild Berry Hi-C juice box I brought for breakfast.

Just to let everyone know...

2006-01-17T16:43:00.000-05:00

Umbrellas from Big Lots are never a good idea.

15 on 15 - Books

2006-01-13T12:39:00.000-05:00

It's the 15th again. Time for my 15 favorite books. I know everyone is excited.

1. London - Edward Rutherford
I received this book as a Christmas present after I went to London for two weeks. I thought my Mom ran out of things to give me for Christmas, but I read this book and loved every bit of it. It's historical fiction and the story is very compelling as it follows a couple of family lines through the development of London from the times of Caesar to present day. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or London.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Classic. I read this book once a year. And no matter how many times I read it, it is still amazing.

3. Westing Game Ellen Raskin
I read this in the 6th grade and thought it was the greatest book of all time. The clues throughout the book, the mysterious Sam Westing, how all the tenants came together. What a great read.

4. Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg
The end of this book still give me chills.

5. DaVinci Code - Dan Brown
I'm pretty sure I read this book in one sitting. Dan Brown created the ultimate "page-turner" with this one. Every time I finished a chapter, I had to find out what happened next. I remember reading this in the car by flashlight. Phenomenal.

6. Diary of Anne Frank
Nothing is more moving and inspiring as a young girl who, while on the run from the Nazis, maintained her faith in humankind.

7. Remember Me - Mary Higgins Clark
One of her classic who-dun-its that make me want to vacation up on the Cape. This book was made all the more wonderful when I caught the TV movie on Lifetime.

8. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
Charlotte is my favorite Bronte as I enjoyed this story much more than Wuthering Heights. Terrific.

9. Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
I read this on recommendation of my roommate and there were times when I just could not stop crying. I hope I have the same outlook on life when my final days arrive.

10. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling
I thought about putting the entire series here, and while the series is high on my list of books, this stands out as my all-time favorite in the Harry Potter series. I could not even begin to predict what would happen and I was just blown away by the Marauder's Map and Animagi twists.

11. The Face on the Milk Carton - Caroline B. Cooney
I read this in grade school and remember that I was on the library waiting list just so I could read it. This was the first "novel-type" book I remember reading.

12. Lolita - Vladmir Nabakov
My upper level writing course at OSU had the theme of "Banned Books in America." We read some fascinating stuff, but I never thought I would enjoy this book as much as I did. While always a little skeeved out at parts, Nabakov really is a literary genius.

13. Nancy Drew Series - Carolyn Keene
The first Nancy Drew book I read was one of my Mom's. After I became hooked, my Mom and I would go to the bookstore before our family vacations and I would stock up on Nancy Drew books to read at the beach. I used to read these while eating a Hershey bar. It was one of those times where I had a routine. Chocolate bars and Nancy Drew books will always be etched together in my memory.

14. Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk
Empowering book about women. I wasn't sure I would like this book, but after trudging through and getting through the first couple of chapters, I fell in love with it.

15. Chicken Soup for the Soul - Various
I'm a sucker for these books. I love the way they are split into chapters based on emotion, so there is an easy reference guide depending on my mood. On my current wish list: Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul.

Honorable Mention: Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak); Babysitter's Club (Ann M. Martin); Sweet Valley (Francine Pascal); L.A. Confidential (James Ellroy); About a Boy (Nick Hornby); Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger)

We can hardly stand the wait, please Christmas don't be late

2005-12-23T13:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays! I hope Santa brings me everything I asked for and more...I think I've been a good girl this year.

Silence is golden

2005-12-21T11:26:00.000-05:00

I'm getting old. I'm becoming an old person. I am becoming less and less tolerant of other people's inappropriate behavior. One of my biggest pet peeves is how people act at a movie. This past weekend Derek and I had a movie extravaganza and I began to vent to him about people's lack of movie etiquette. So I have decided to share with you dear readers my frustrations as well.

First, I understand that when there is the whole row still available with seats open all throughout the movie theater, it is not socially acceptable to sit in the seat right next to a person. Thus, you leave a seat between you and the next party and usually place your coats and purse on this empty seat. This is fine...in a theater with plenty of available seats. Derek and I saw The Family Stone (which I surprisingly hated), and it was in a smaller theater, on opening night, at 10 in the evening. Therefore, the theater began to fill up rather steadily and I would surmise that the show was virtually a sell-out. The woman two seats over from us would not move her coat off of the seat next to her. Therefore, most people looking for two empty seats overlooked that area because they thought the seat was being saved. It wasn't until Derek communicated to two young girls that the seats were open, as they were searching in vain, that the lady finally moved her stuff. This frustrates me because it is common courtesy to move your stuff when people are searching for two open seats and they clearly exist next to you. Also, in the same type of thing, if you arrive at the opening credits from the movie and see that the theater is more or less full, do not walk up and down the rows searching in the good seat area - it's distracting, odds are there are no seats, and if you cannot get there early enough to get a good seat, you don't deserve one. Settle for the front row pal.

Second, cell phones. Ever since AMC has put in those funny clips about not letting a phone ruin the movie, ringing cell phones have not been a problem. Usually at the end of the clip, most get out their cell phones and switch them off or put them in silent mode. However, I've noticed a trend where people pull out their cell phones to see who called them in the middle of the movie. You're clearly not going to answer in the middle of the movie, or call them back in the theater, so why pull out the phone? The display light is distracting. No joke, the girl next to Derek wrote a text message during the movie. Don't come to a movie if you have somewhere else to be.

Finally, and what bothers me more than anything else - people who talk during movies. I'm not talking about people having conversations with friends during the movie, I'm talking about those who decide to provide the audience with running commentary. I DO NOT CARE WHAT YOU THINK OR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE MOVIE. If something cringe-worthy happens, don't yell to your friend "Why would she do that!?" If a ring would fall off of someone's finger don't announce to the theater "[Gasp] The ring just fell off!" WE KNOW! WE'RE WATCHING THE SAME MOVIE. Or when the part from the previews occurs and the person says the line before the character on screen. This makes me want to scream. Now, I will admit there are times I have a comment during a movie that I have to share with my viewing partner, but I usually wait for some type of scene transition, where not much is happening, and lean over and whisper it to him. The only person I am inconveniencing is him and he can deal with that as we have some type of personal relationship. I would never crack a comment during a movie to a complete stranger, so why say it loudly for all to hear? Who raises people this way and why do people think it is OK to act like this? That it's OK to talk at a normal noise level to the person next to you while a movie is playing?

This past weekend it was so bad and bothered me so much Derek was afraid I was going to punch someone. So stop it. If you're one of these people stop providing your "witty" commentary and "play by play" analysis of the film to the entire theater - knock it off. NOW. Wait until after the show to discuss the movie with your friends or whisper it to them so no one else can hear. Maybe this bothers only me, but seriously stop it. It stresses/bothers/frustrates me so much, I think I might be at the point where I stick with renting from Blockbuster.

I'm back...with my top 15 on 15

2005-12-20T09:03:00.000-05:00

Finals are over and it wasn't until about 48 hours after completion that I was able to forget about them and relax. Now I'm on break, working full-time, and FINALLY getting to read for my own pleasure and leisure. I also need to get started/finished with my Christmas shopping. And I love having a job at the holidays - free catered office lunch, lots of candy and cookies, and gift certificates to Target and Bob Evans make it a happy holiday indeed.

So yesterday at work, I took on Derek's challenge and for two hours compiled a list of my 15 greatest movies with complete explanations. Then, Blogger decided to blow up on me and when I tried to recover my post it only gave me through Movie 2. So, I'm retyping it, but my explanations will be much shorter. Now, be forewarned 1) I am NOT a movie snob - a movie doesn't have to win a best writing/director award for me to enjoy and love it; 2) I am a girl so a lot of the movies on my list are what are known as "chick flicks." I do not believe, however, that just because these movies cater to a particular gender, it makes them less of a movie. So, I give you my 15 movies on 20 (Better late than never, right?)

1. Father of the Bride - My dad has three daughters. He spoils all three of us. He adores us completely and the feeling is mutual. This movie hits close to home and nothing I love more than watching it curled up in blankets with a bowl of ice cream.

2. Love Actually - This movie boasts an all-star cast (Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, and many more). When I first went to see this movie it was not what I expected, it was better. It exceeded my expectations and I was in awe of the overlap of the characters' lives with the overarching theme of love. When I left the theater, I looked at my sister and said "I can't wait to buy it when it comes out on DVD."

3. Gone With the Wind - I think I inherited my love for this movie. Not only is it historical (I am a history major), but my Mom is obsessed with it. We're talking collectible plates and figurines. When my parents were thinking of names for me and my twin sister, my Mom suggested "Ashley and Tara" but my Dad thought it was too GWTW.

4. Girls Just Want to Have Fun - Hello 80s dance movie. This classic that I first saw when I was probably 6 years old is timeless to me. My sisters and I would rent it so much that my Mom finally had to tell us we weren't allowed to rent it anymore. Starring a young Sarah Jessica Parker, Helen Hunt, and Shannen Doherty, it was a happy day when I found this movie on DVD at Target for $8.

5. 10 Things I Hate About You - How many times did I see this in the theater? 8. I saw this movie in the theater 8 times because when I was in high school I worked at a retirement home and the people who owned the home also owned the cheap movie theater (Dan and Barry named the theater the Danbarry). Thus, employees got into the movies for free with their badges - and I saw this 8 times. I loved it and still do.

6. The Lion King - Great music and up there as my favorite Disney movie - also, the stage production is phenomenal.

7. Little Women - Meghan used to force me and my older sister to watch this over and over again. It has become a family classic and we find it very quotable and funny. "I could never love anyone as I love my sisters."

8. L.A. Confidential - Awesome. I loved this upon first viewing and it inspired me to read the book. It also introduced me to the fabulous Russell Crowe.

9. A League of Their Own - Brought to the screen a little-known story and Tom Hanks delivered another fine performance. The supporting cast as the other Peaches was entertaining and Jon Lovitz is very funny as the recruiter ("Hey cow girls, see the grass? Don't eat it.") A fave amongst me, my sister, and our long-time friend Jennifer.

10. My Best Friend's Wedding - I think I like this movie so much because the ending is very realistic. What are the odds that he would dump his fiancee to marry his friend on the day before the wedding? Slim. The ending was appropriate, Rupert Everett is hysterical, and it is so easy to watch multiple times.

11. Life is Beautiful - In high school I took a Film as Literature class. I am glad it did because it introduced me to fantastic films that I would not normally view. I am not much for foreign films, but this movie is about love and hope, all amidst the tragedy and horror of the Nazi concentration camps. This is a must-see but it should be the Italian version with subtitles.

12. Steel Magnolias - My Mom taped this off of TV once when we were younger and my sisters and I could not get enough of it growing up. My sister's favorite quote? "Drum just love pork and beans - he eats 'em with everything." Great story.

13. Braveheart - I love English history and this movie is just so well done.

14. Dumb and Dumber - Juvenile and stupid? Yes. But does it make me laugh like no other movie? You betcha.

15. Sliding Doors - I've always wondered "what if?" Here, we get to see what would have happened in her life had she missed the train and what would have happened if she had caught the train. Amazing to realize that one small thing can change your life. Excellent.

And in keeping with the movie theme...stay tuned for my upcoming post about movie etiquette.

Finals = no time for anything but school

2005-12-06T22:46:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, but it's law school finals time. This means two weeks of living at the coffee shop and library. December 15th at 5 pm I will be free and the posts will be forthcoming.

Also, a dozen roses certainly do brighten an otherwise gloomy, stressful time. Thank you.

I'm home for the holidays

2005-11-22T21:58:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Law

2005-11-21T13:00:00.000-05:00

In Constitutional law we are discussing gender discrimination. In upholding a law that discriminated against women, a Justice wrote that "a woman's divine mission is as wife and mother and it is the law of the Creator."

My Con Law professor replied "and we must, of course, defer to precedent." Heh.

My night of magic

2005-11-18T13:21:00.000-05:00

Last night I saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Ter decided to jump on the H-Pot train at the last minute and she, Ash, and I all set out and arrived at the Lennox at 11:00. One hour until show time. It was a zoo. Ter grabbed her ticket from the automated box office and we waited in quite a line to get our tickets ripped. It was when the ripping finally occurred that we realized it wasn't a general admission type thing, but rather they had actually assigned people to theaters. So now, in order to get Ter's theater changed we had to stand in another line. And then another line to get some popcorn and Skittles. We were in theater 3 which is one of the smaller ones at the Lennox, which made me happy - I'm a fan of the smaller theaters because the distractions are minimal (like not hearing the next line after a funny line because of loud laughter, etc.) Due to our early arrival and Ash saving seats as Ter and I waited in all sorts of lines, our seats were great. The crowd around us was really excited and some were wearing costumes, which I found awesome. The only flaw of the experience was the woman in the front row who would film parts of the movie with her cell phone. How trashy and rude to boot. In the lobby before the film, because this is Columbus and the OSU/Michigan game is this weekend, a chant of "O-H!" and "I-O!" began. Then, amusingly, this was interrupted by a cheer of "Harry!" with the response of "Potter!" Heh.

The film was excellent. I obviously saw it without any preconceived notions other than the trailer clips I had viewed. As a huge fan of the books, I've generally found the movies to be very true to the books, and this was no exception. I had read an article that at one point the director was thinking of making two films for this one book (the book after all is huge). I'm glad that they didn't, but at the same time, there was stuff taken out that I found I missed. Rita Skeeter, who plays an important villain-type to Harry in the book, was mostly a marginal character. They also don't elaborate very much as to why Harry's parents came out of You-Know-Who's wand. Also, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine don't interact together very much. And, as I was watching I didn't hear the familiar John Williams theme music - turns out he did not do the music for this film, which is too bad. Must be the fact that I'm dating a John Williams fan that I missed his music. After reading reviews, I can see the points of the movie critics that there seemed to be three major plot points that didn't mesh together very well. This is hard to do when apparently the first 200 pages of the book are knocked out in the first eight minutes. It was a valiant, and I thought, successful effort, and I loved every second of the viewing. As a reader of the books, I was curious as to how they would visually depict certain aspects of the book and was quite pleased with all the effects. When I read the book, I actually cried. The film was just as sad, at points, as I thought it would be. I couldn't wait to see what Voldemort would look like when he came back. I'm very tired today, but the film was worth it. Very much so.

The movie has stayed with me for the past 12 hours since I saw it. In fact, I had a dream that Harry Potter and I were on The Amazing Race together and got an early flight to Egypt. It was great, and I'm sure I will see it again in the theaters. Probably more than once as it might be the family Thanksgiving flick and Derek would like to see it this weekend.

In totally unrelated news, I have decided to volunteer my time to help with Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro's bid for the gubernatorial candidacy. He spoke today at my law school and completely won me over with his credentials and ideas. I can always get behind a candidate who campaigns on a platform of ideas. Petro/Heimlich 2006!

And of course. GO BUCKS! BEAT M*CH*G*N!

Sorry for the delay

2005-11-15T22:17:00.000-05:00

What Ruvym says is true. Blogging worlds did collide in NYC about a month ago. This is them at Son Cubano. My boyfriend is on the left and my "blogging boyfriend" is on the right. Woo hotties!

H-Pot

2005-11-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

It's official. Ash and I are going to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire at 12:01 am, Friday, November 18th at the Lennox.

Lots of good things in the next couple of weeks

2005-11-10T18:30:00.000-05:00

November 13: My Dad's birthday
November 18: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
November 23: Rent
November 24: Turkey Day!
November 25: My family's annual shopping extravaganza

I love the holidays.

Future living

2005-11-09T22:35:00.000-05:00

I've been considering moving out of the state when I graduate. Just for a while - I'm still young and carefree and this would be the best time to venture out somewhere new. I don't have a destination in mind, but I'm thinking somewhere different. North Carolina? NYC? Arizona? Texas? Texas is tempting because I have an aunt and uncle down there so I will not be a complete stranger in my new environment.

The only drawback is my future profession. There's this tiny little hiccup in my plan called the state bar exam. I am in the process of registering to take the Ohio bar. This makes sense since I currently live here and my family is here so I assume that if I leave I will eventually return to raise a family. Applying for state bar exams is expensive and exhausting - I don't know where I want to go when I graduate so I do not know where to apply for the bar. I should further investigate reciprocity, but I think there's a five-year requirement. And in any event, I'm not sure Ohio shares reciprocity with say Texas.

So it will probably be a year delay once I decide where I want to move. In that time period I will apply to take the bar exam, sit for the bar, and then apply for jobs. However, this will require motivation and I will (hopefully) have a job lined up here in Ohio upon graduation. Working a job and studying for another bar, etc. could be draining. So then I might slip into routine and complacency and not want to bother with taking another bar and up and moving to a strange and new place.

So friends, if in a year I am still talking about going somewhere else, keep me inspired. I don't want this all to boil down to wishful thinking.

Lunch bunch

2005-11-08T14:19:00.000-05:00

Lunchtime here at school is never short of entertainment. Eight of us squeeze ourselves around one table and we usually make jokes, comment on current events & weekend sporting events, and bitch and gossip about school and fellow classmates. Today, one of the best conversations took place. The exchange went something like this:

Background: Adam HATES onions. He won't touch them. Everyone at the lunch table is aware of this fact. Adam is dating Emily.

Ryan [takes onions off of his sandwich and jokingly hands them over the table to Adam]: Hey Adam, would you like these onions for your salad?
Adam: Only if you want me to vomit all over your lunch.
Ryan: Eating onions makes you vomit? Every time?
Emily: Yeah - it's true. Onions make him vomit. He hates onions. But I love them.
Ryan: So Em, have you ever eaten onions and then kissed Adam and then he threw up in your mouth?

Bad omen?

2005-11-08T11:26:00.000-05:00

My bar application gave me a paper cut. Bastard.

Froggie Huey

2005-11-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

Here is Huey on Halloween dressed as a frog. He didn't like the hood so much and would shake it off and then bite on the eyeballs. Cutest thing ever? I think so.

Home sweet home

2005-11-02T18:14:00.000-05:00

Caribou Coffee - my second home twice a year. This is where I counter my final exam stress with soothing Turtle Mochas and Irish Breakfast teas. I love Starbucks, but the Caribou has a bigger seating area and is not surrounded by windows so it is cozier. Also, Caribou coffee is generally about 50 cents cheaper than Starbucks, which adds up during finals time where I average about 4 large caffeinated drinks a day.

This week, I've gone there the past couple of days to finish some routine homework and realized that I really enjoy doing schoolwork there. In fact, I would do schoolwork there every day if my bank account allowed (and the manager there wasn't so "hey I'm Paul and I'm crazy, wacky, zany and totally your friend.") When it comes to customer service, there is being friendly and there is being obnoxious and he is somewhere in the middle thus being obnoxiously-friendly at least. However, he is edging precariously close to obnoxious.

I have my table. It's the table that is around the corner from the coffee station, thus shielding me from the loud noises of the blenders, coffee grinders, and Paul. But it is not so hidden that I cannot see what is going on in the rest of the sitting area. Sometimes when I need a break from the casebooks, I enjoy people watching and a coffeehouse is always a fun place to do that. It's like a social experiment in that place. This table gives me a nice angle to observe all the people sitting and I can also see the front door.

Caribou has a nice music selection. It's generally mountainy, "reminds me of my parents" tunes mixed in with some old school favorites. Today I heard a version of "It Had to Be You." However, this coffeehouse is the closest one to Upper Arlington High School, so many times I am bombarded with youngsters screaming about the upcoming football games, what Michelle's hair looked like that day, and the funny thing that Bryan did in the parking lot. In times like these, I just turn on my i-Pod and Ashlee Simpson (don't judge) sings me through my homework.

The coffeehouse makes me chuckle and my times there usually end up being enjoyable - even with all the schoolwork. There was the time Ter ripped her underwear when we were at Caribou. I have to chuckle at myself for succumbing to the "Caribou special" where if you bought a $25 Caribou card, the drink you purchased was free. And in a funny revelation this afternoon, I realized I was the only person at 3 pm at the coffeehouse that didn't have my books covered. I don't know about the rest of you, but I find coffee is an acquired taste and I did not acquire this taste well into college when I needed something to legally keep me awake until 4 in the morning typing out papers. Now I love it and face some type of addiction. But these high school kids also seem to love it. Or maybe Caribou is like "The Max" to them. (Gilmore Girls shoutout [paraphrased] - Rory: It was the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to me. Lorelai: I wouldn't say that. You once told me Saved By the Bell was your favorite show - nothing is more humiliating than that).

Caribou is my second home as of late and what a wonderful second home it is.

*For those of you who have never had Caribou coffee, I urge you to go sample it. It tastes just as good as Starbucks, for cheaper, and the environment is kitschy, hiking, mountain man. The Caribou experience is excellent.

Nostalgia

2005-10-31T21:44:00.000-05:00

There are some days where I lament getting older. I wish for those days 15 years ago where I was still a kid with minimal responsibility. Where the only thing that was required of me was to run the vacuum every Saturday. Today was one of those days.

Today is Halloween. It came and it went with the only reminder being the Starburst candy passed around in my BA class (oh and the kid who came to school dressed as a cow). Halloween has lost its magic. Sure, my friends have costume parties and I still have an excuse to dress up, but it just isn't the same.

I remember Halloweens as a child pretty vividly. My sisters and I would dress up with the random little girl costumes - princesses, cheerleaders, Cabbage Patch Kids, witches. I remember the Halloween where it snowed and my Mom made all three of us wear winter coats over our costumes. Of course we adamantly objected but she said to tell everyone that we were Eskimos for Halloween. We would go trick or treating together with out pillow cases and shout out with glee when we received a piece of candy particularly to our liking. The prize house was at the end of the route, where this family passed out cans of Pepsi. But my favorite memories were when we would get home from trick or treating. My parents always laid out Halloween rules. Mom and Dad always made us wait to go out until after dinner and we had to be back in by 9. Furthermore, we were not to go to houses without lights on, we were to stick together, and we were not to leave the neighborhood. At 9, we would return home and every year my sisters and I would sit on the floor of the family room and dump out every piece of candy onto the floor. Mom always surveyed and made us throw out candy that was unwrapped. Then, we would count. It was a competition - who got more candy? My dad would always chuckle at this because since we were supposed to stay together, we should have gone to the same number of houses, and thus have the same amount of candy. But somehow, someone always had more than the others. After proclaiming candy bulk victory, my sisters and I would engage in candy-trading. I usually swapped out my Sweet-Tarts and Smarties for something chocolate in nature. Then, my Mom would go to the cupboard and get out three bowls for us to put our candy in to eat throughout the next couple weeks (because of course, we could not combine and share candy - the candy in our bags was rightfully "ours" and had to be in separate bowls.) That candy always lasted a couple weeks until there was so little left that there were no arguments when my Dad would combine all the candy into one bowl. Halloween was over and we were already thinking about what our costumes would be next year.

I hope the magic returns someday.

Wonderful week

2005-10-27T08:25:00.000-04:00

I'm having one of those weeks where I feel like I have a four leaf clover in my back pocket. It has been a wonderful week.

Monday I took a midterm. I was really nervous and didn't feel all that prepared. BA is not a subject that comes easily to me. Partnerships and agency relationships? No thank you. Turns out, I rocked it. I only missed one question and the one I missed I was considering changing when she announced time was up. It's a nice confidence boost heading into finals.

I received a call that morning that Derek had a vacation day that he had forgot about. So he came up to Columbus and we spent the day together. We watched some Star Trek: The Next Generation and then I made him see Must Love Dogs with me. It was a cute movie, but I find it hard to believe that someone like Diane Lane would have trouble finding a guy to date. We then had a nice dinner and ended the evening relaxing and watching TV. It was a nice extension to the weekend.

Tuesday started out like a normal day - dragging myself out of my warm bed, being tired at work, drinking three coffees before noon, having to hold my head up during Tax Class. Then I received the call. I was offered a summer associate position with a firm I had interviewed with for OCI. I am so excited. I really wanted this position, but my 2nd interview was at least a month ago, so I'd given up hope and resigned myself to the status quo. This is a great opportunity for me. I am a little bit sad about leaving my job at the State, but this is the time where I can try out all avenues and pick my route when I finish school in a year. If I hate private practice, I can always apply for Government jobs once I finish with the Bar. I accept the law firm position tomorrow. I am so very happy and excited.

And for the past two days I have spent my evenings in the company of my greatest friends and it has finally stopped raining and is going to get near 60 degrees in the next week.

I would say this week has been close to perfection. I bet I get hit by a bus.

Woo!

2005-10-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday Ter! She turns the big 24 today and we are going to celebrate tonight in spite of the nasty weather here in central Ohio. Anyone who is reading this is welcome to join us tonight at The Lodge Bar for her "Birthday Happy Hour" from 7-9. I think 25 cent drafts, $1 wells, $2 martinis, and free pizza can get rid of rainy day blues. Happy Birthday!

Lingerie Letdown

2005-10-21T15:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I had a nice evening at Easton Mall with my old roommate and my current roommate. We had a nice dinner and then became really jazzed to see the new Victoria's Secret store, which is supposedly a prototype for all Vickie's across the country. My roommate told us that a girl at her work told her there was a "private, adult" room that contained super sexy lingerie, etc. So we truck across Easton Mall in the pouring rain to satisfy our curiosity. Well the new Vickie's is nice (although I'm still not sure why Easton has two Victoria's Secret that contain all of the Vickie's products (lingerie, standard underwear, pajamas, and beauty)).

We walk around, browsing, and search for this "room." We cannot find it - we've wandered all around and into the dressing room and nothing. Then, a sales clerk caught me peeking behind a curtain where I noticed a door. She asked if she could help me and I replied that I thought there was a room back there. She said "Well, that's the window display. Nothing is hidden here." So I let her in on the rumor that there was a secret room and she said, "Oh. Yeah, it's that over there." She led me to a room (that's not hidden - just surrounded by a drawn curtain) that was the size of an elevator. I don't know if we were expecting The Lion's Den, but we were disappointed. It contained lingerie with feathers, silky restraints, massage oils, strip poker sets, and paddles, but nothing too "adult" or secret. What measured up most were the nipple tassels and pasties with fake diamonds.

In any event, I still love Victoria's Secret and the new store is very nice. The mannequins are the bodies of their models (Tyra Banks, Gisele Bundchen, etc.) and right now they are displaying lingerie seen in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Apparently a model wore a bra and panty set worth 5 million dollars. And of course my favorite lingerie was from a special collection by a French designer that is way over my price range. Oh well. C'est la vie.

Man, I feel like a woman

2005-10-18T21:18:00.000-04:00

I don't know what it is, but there is nothing I love more than wearing a man's clothes. Whenever I break up with a boyfriend, I notice that when I gather up all their stuff to return to them the bulk of it consists of their clothes. Mostly T-shirts, long sleeve T-shirts, and sweatshirts.

I think part of it is that I love oversized shirts. I love getting lost in my clothes and being comfortable. I love being wrapped in material - hence my love for blankets. I love when the sleeves on a sweatshirt cover my hands and the bottom of the sweatshirt comes down to my knees. But my desire to steal my boyfriends' clothes is more than my love for comfy, oversized shirts.

There's something about the smell. No matter how many times I wear or wash the clothes, it smells like him. The smell that makes them is always there - whether it be cologne, detergent, the outdoors, or just that masculine scent that men have. Every time I put on the clothing, the scent reminds me that this person in my life exists and causes a smile to cross my face. It gives me a closeness and every deep breath reminds me that someone cares about me enough to let me "borrow" their clothing.

And it might seem strange, but I feel more like a woman in a man's clothes. The large nature makes me feel small and feminine, but at the same time I feel safe inside the shirt, like it's my armor or my shield. It's as if the man's strong, physical sense is embodied in the fabric. And usually the shirt has been given to me as a kind gesture - either I was cold and a sweatshirt was offered, or I needed something comfortable to change into so a T-shirt was gained. The clothing in my possession is usually the result of casual chivalry, which is a reminder that I am the softer gender.

Yet I always give the clothes back. But I eagerly anticipate meeting the next man who will let me be safe in his clothing.

Holiday Fun

2005-10-18T17:29:00.000-04:00

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that from November 15th through New Year's Day, downtown Columbus will help people enjoy the holidays by offering an outdoor skating rink and a 75-foot Ferris wheel. The city will be closing the westbound lanes of E. State Street between the Statehouse and City Center to make room for these holiday treats. The Dispatch reports that the rink will be 40 by 120 feet and is the first ice skating rink downtown in two decades. There will also be music, hot chocolate, and the Statehouse will be aglow in lights to embrace visitors with a holiday feel. This seasonal event was even likened to New York's famous Rockefeller Center. I don't know if I'd go that far, but neat. I'll totally be doing both this holiday season.

I heart Autumn

2005-10-17T13:09:00.000-04:00

This weekend was wonderful in so many ways.

Weather: I love this time of year. Cold at night and comfortable during the day. I like to call it perfect sleeping weather. I sleep with the window wide open and wake up with the sun shining, and my room freezing, but I am so warm underneath my blankets that I don't want to get out of bed. This type of weather smells so inviting and the leaves are beginning to fall off the trees and turn bright orange, red, and gold. It's time to pull out the jackets, fluffy sweaters, and oversized hooded sweatshirts.

MVB: Derek wins the "Most Valuable Boyfriend" award amongst my friends. He came through in a big way for Sweetest Day (I, on the other hand, am a terrible "lady friend" as I forgot about this "holiday.") Most of my friends' boyfriends either forgot about this holiday or gave them a fun size candy bar that had been given to them by someone else. I got beautiful pink roses (that are the envy of my roommate) and double chocolate chip ice cream from Graeter's. Looks like I'm pretty lucky.

B. Hamptons: It has been a LONG time since my friends from law school and I have gone drinking together. Friday night we decided we were going out. And when we go to happy hour, we really mean it. We got to the bar at 4:30 (mostly we get there that early to get a table) and stayed past 9 p.m. (when happy hour is over). Our early arrival meant they hadn't put the spouts on the well liquor yet, so my rum and Diet was made with Captain and Kris and Jessica's G&Ts were made with Tangaray. Most of our friends from law school showed up and after a couple of rum and diets, some vodka and Red Bulls, and a Buttery Nipple shot with Emily, I was having a good time. I do love happy hour.

OSU Football: Came through with a win...thank God.

Haunted Corn Maize and Other Fun Fall Games: I get scared very easily. So I found the maze to be a tad scary. I think the wind blowing through the corn as it's pitch black is scary in itself. Pumpkins, hay, and a campfire set the scene. My friends rode on a "cow train" which was a bunch of metal cows pulled by a guy driving an ATV. Derek claimed that guy was drunk. We then took part in a "Hay Jump" which was essentially dirty mattresses surrounded by bales of hay. Derek wrestled me and Ter on a mountain of sand (he kicked my butt but Ter gave him a fight). There was a donkey and goats and it was a nice country, autumn evening.

Looking forward to the next couple of weeks cuddled in my blankets and eating Edy's Pumpkin Ice Cream. I am so lucky to be this happy.

Financial Ruin

2005-10-13T10:17:00.000-04:00

I have been willfully ignorant of my rising debt. And now, to make matters worse, the holiday season is approaching. This means seasonal coffee flavors from Starbucks.

Currently Starbucks is offering their Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is so delicious and as I drive and walk past a store at least three times a day, it is very hard to resist the temptation to purchase. Even the nagging voice in my head (that sounds like my parents) telling me "If you don't have any money why are you buying overpriced coffee?" does not deter me. I am weak.

Even more, my absolute favorite coffee from Starbucks is their holiday Peppermint Mocha. This will be making an appearance soon. And around finals. Which means I will spend my days studying in the coffeehouse sucking down $15 of coffee a day. I guess I will have to make sacrifices, such as no food. I will eat PB&J and water until next summer or until my parents decide they feel bad for me and pay off my credit card debt or pay my rent so I can do it myself. It's so frustrating not being able to work full-time. Stupid school is getting in the way of my money making.

And Starbucks will also cause me to go bankrupt because I will have to buy new clothes. Example: this morning as I'm drinking my coffee I had a major malfunction and proceeded to spill coffee all over my cream colored shirt. Now I'm the girl with the coffee stains. Great.

So when I ask to further defer my school loan payments, do you think lack of financial resources because of coffee obsession will be an adequate excuse?

I'm sorry

2005-10-12T12:06:00.000-04:00

I keep doing your Sudoku puzzles.

Scalia is the best writer on the Supreme Court

2005-10-11T18:30:00.000-04:00

I'm serious. And this has nothing to do with politics. He keeps me engaged when reading his opinions, I find I actually laugh out loud, and no one can deliver as scathing a dissent as he can. Plus, since he is so good the embarrassment of the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas, never has to write an opinion of his own because he just joins Scalia's.

"If forbidding peaceful, nonthreatening, but uninvited speech from a distance closer than eight feet is a "narrowly tailored" means of preventing the obstruction of entrance to medical facilities, narrow tailoring must refer not to the standards of Versace, but to those of Omar the tentmaker." 120 S.Ct. 2480 (2000).

Vaca Recap

2005-10-11T15:04:00.000-04:00

Ready for a full recap of my trip? Here it is in all its brutal honesty.

October 7, 2005
Wake up at 4:30 am and get ready to drive to Akron. Struggle to get Derek out of bed (this will be standard throughout the weekend). Upon checking in at the ticket counter and going through security, Derek and I discovered that we had been flagged. This meant a thorough search. We had to take off our shoes, they went through each item in our carry-on bags and a metal detector wand was used. As probably is the norm for all women, the wand beeped every time it went over my bra. The officer asked if I was wearing an underwire bra and I said "Yes." She then proceeded to have to "check" and ran her hands under my chest and in between my breasts. This whole procedure was so invasive and embarrassing that when Derek attempted to make a joke when we headed for the gate I started to cry. Great way to start the trip. The flight itself was uneventful and after Derek made fun of me for buckling my seatbelt in the cab (which I can't believe people don't do, cab drivers are crazy!), we were in Manhattan. Our hotel was gorgeous - a nice, four star hotel in Midtown. We set off to do all the sight-seeing I had hoped to do. Our first day included taking in the sights of Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, Public Library, Bryant Park, Madison Square Gardens, Derek's old digs, Central Park, and Tiffany's. It began to rain when we were at the Park and this made me grumpy. However, we needed to get back to the hotel to clean up anyway because we had tickets to the Broadway musical "Movin' Out." Derek and I were both unaware that this musical has no dialogue. It's a story told solely through dancing and Billy Joel songs. Derek and I sat in the front row and was almost drenched in sweat by the character playing Eddie. He was sweating profusely the minute he stepped on stage. I enjoyed the show and Derek enjoyed the bodies on the women. Then it was time for dinner and we stopped at a deli where I boxed up some Chinese food from the buffet. It was greasy and awful, in a true NY Chinese food experience.

October 8, 2005
Woke up to a rainy, dreary day. I dragged Derek out of bed and we got on our way. We walked over to Grand Central and went to Starbucks. Then despite my reservations because of the security threat, we took the subway down to Wall Street. I loved downtown Manhattan. It's so old and historical and the streets are smaller and curvier. We saw the NYSE and stood in front of Federal Hall (as a history nerd, I thought this was really cool because it's where Washington was inaugurated and where the Bill of Rights were drafted). Then over to Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty. We then headed north and observed Ground Zero - what a solemn place. Then because I'm the best sister ever we headed up to NYU because my sister wanted a sweatshirt. After securing the purchase, we trucked in the rain over to the Corner Bistro for burgers. Yummy. Then over to Magnolia bakery (which is featured on SATC) where I ate a cupcake. Yellow cake, chocolate frosting, pink beads = heaven. Then on to Bloomingdale's and the Met. At the Met, I had a meltdown over my apparent waving around of 400 dollars. However, the Met was great - Degas is one of my faves and I saw a couple of his along with a fellow KD sister Georgia O'Keefe. The architecture of the Met and the rooms are also extraordinary. Derek is angry with the Met because his favorite painting is not on display at this time and in his anger was heard to say, "I'm going to burn this place down." We then headed back to the hotel where games of Sudoku and TV occupied us for a couple of hours. Then the Buckeyes disappointed and angered me and I decided to take it out on Derek. Luckily, he made me go out and we met up with Ruvym at a salsa club called "Son Cubano." I had a great time and was glad to end the trip this way. It was wonderful to meet Ruvym and him and Derek are very much alike. As he observed, it wasn't like strangers meeting each other. Since we read about each others lives, we had things to talk about. I look forward to a future encounter. We then walked so drunk Derek and I could get some pizza and sat in Sal's Pizza until 3:30 am until I was the party pooper and Ruvym could tell I was about to fall asleep in the booth.

October 9, 2005
Derek and I woke up too late to have brunch and we headed straight away to LaGuardia.

My trip had ended and all in all (save for the rain and my grumpy nature) it was a good time. NYC seems like an adventure and perhaps one I will tackle soon as I make decisions as to where my life is headed. I think I would miss the laid-back, Midwestern way of life though and my only issue with NYC was all the honking. Cars honk at each other for no reason all of the time. Funny enough, as we were leaving there was a sign that said "No Honking. Fine $350." I guess the NYPD are lax on enforcing this.

But I would say it is true. New York, New York, so nice they named it twice.

Vacation

2005-10-06T18:39:00.000-04:00

Going to the Big Apple tomorrow for the first time ever! Details when I return.

Good omen

2005-09-30T13:15:00.000-04:00

I have high hopes for a nice weekend when it starts off with gorgeous weather and Graeter's Buckeye Blitz ice cream.

Rant

2005-09-29T17:36:00.000-04:00

Excuse me while I vent.

I don't know about other law schools, but I have had enough with the professors at my school treating students like they're idiots when they ask a question. They have taken on a duty to teach us and when a question arises I, along with most of my peers, expect an answer to the query not a bunch of scoffing about how the person asking the question is lacking intelligence or a necessary skill to be a successful attorney. Do they know the law better than us? Of course they do. Does that give them an excuse to think a question is dumb and essentially humiliate the asker? Absolutely not. They may think it is a stupid question, but all we are looking for is an answer from the authority provided. Clearly the casebook and a conference with other students has not cleared up a certain confusion, so we are turning to the authority for which we are paying - our professors. Us students are trying to learn all we can and are trying to receive a solid understanding of the law.

Example: In tax class, a student does not understand transfers of stocks and adopting the donor's basis and how a subsequent sale can result in no gain, no loss. I and my neighbor also did not understand. So, this student asks him to clear up the confusion. His response? "Learn how to read the statute. Successful attorneys know how to read statutes." NO. This is not the correct answer. We all had read the statute, in fact, he had read it aloud just minutes before. As my entire Civil Procedure Rules class can state, it is not enough to read the language, sometimes you need some explanation or a summarized version. Did he end up answering her question? No, so unless she talked it out with someone who understood she did not leave the class feeling that Professor is working for the money we give him. THEN, a guy asked a question about a loophole in the Code. I am not claiming to be smarter than the professor, but as soon as the question was asked, I realized the answer was a firm "Yes." But the question wasn't enough for the professor. He started harping on this kid for an example with explicit facts and certain numbers. Shaming kids into never asking questions in class is, well, shameful.

This next example was not my class, so my facts could be off, but it is still appalling. I'm used to having liberal professors - the only way to escape them is to quit all upper level education. I also am used to them jabbing at the GOP and trumping their own party and platforms. But your politics should never affect your treatment of a student. However, today in another BA section, they were discussing the TomDeLay indictment. A girl, who if you know anything about her at all, know she is a "I do not support gay marriage" Republican and VERY religious. According to my friends, she asked why what TomDeLay allegedly did was so wrong since corporations can legally give to the RNC. She understood why money laundering is illegal in an organized crime sense because the $ comes from illegal activity, but she didn't understand how DeLay's allegations constituted a crime since there was a legal act involved. Personally, I think it's a legitimate question. No joke, the professor (who is liberal and obviously thinks DeLay is guiltier than hell) looks at her and replies with, "Don't be a child." How disgusting and appalling.

The display of disrespect and superiority showed by these professors is awful and unprofessional. I hope they realize the effect these types of comments have on students - it demoralizes us. Maybe they need to go back the mantra repeated by educators in lower-level education: "No question is a stupid question." It's the truth and it's about time these professors got off their mightier-than-thou trip and realized it.

I'm so excited

2005-09-28T09:08:00.000-04:00

Good news: Weather.com's 10-day forecast finally includes the first day of our weekend in NYC. It's so close! My first time in the Big Apple - man am I looking forward to it. (The plane ride, on the other hand, not so excited about that.)

Bad news: The forecast for our first day there is 75 degrees with scattered thunderstorms and a 60% chance of rain. It has 10 days to change.

My upcoming trip keeps causing a tune from Annie The Musical to pop into my head and makes me envision myself twirling down Broadway:

N-Y-C. Just got here this morning.
Three bucks, two bags, one me.

Oh the pain

2005-09-23T11:39:00.000-04:00

So this morning while carrying my laundry basket down my apartment stairs, which were slick from rain, I totally bit it. Fell right on my ass, hit my arm on the way down, laundry flew everywhere over the wet ground, and then I slid rapidly down the stairs until I hit the ground. I sat there in pain for seriously five minutes. I almost blacked out because it hurt so badly. I believe some bruises are forming on my arm and my tailbone HURTS. And of course it's on a day where I'm spending most of it sitting. 2 hours at my desk this morning, 1 hour in class, 2 hours in my car, 2 hours in the hairdresser chair. Boo. All I want to do is lay on my stomach. I don't think it's broken because I can sit on it. It's just uncomfortable. Ouchie.

After a year of walking down those stairs in heels and in snow and ice with no problems, I fall on a day where I'm wearing gym shoes. Doesn't it figure? OK - going to search the internet to see where I can purchase one of those donut things.

Smorgasboard

2005-09-22T15:17:00.000-04:00

- After watching The Apprentice: Martha Stewart last night and having some random incidents, I got to thinking. I am going to be a horrible wife/mother. Either that or I shall learn as I go. But right now? Not cut out for it. My meals come from a box. All of them. I am a frozen-pizza aficionado and a Kraft mac and cheese master. Even when I do venture out and do spaghetti or pasta bakes, it's usually Hamburger Helper or a jar of Prego. Ironing? I have no idea. I don't know how to properly place each section on the board to iron it. I learned from a metro-sexual dorm buddy where the yoke of a shirt is. My MO is to hang whatever is wrinkly in the bathroom when I shower and hope the wrinkles will "fall out." Cleaning? Nope...my dad had to fix my vacuum because I didn't know it was a big deal that it smelled like something was burning when I used it. Sewing? Whenever a button comes off, it gets sent home to my mom. My parents still file my tax returns. Maternal instinct? Womanly, nurturing element? It's all missing! The only solution? Marry someone from a TLC show or buy every Martha Stewart book I can find. This won't be easy. UPDATE: "The finest women are like the finest wines. They are not domestic." - Ernest Hemingway. So sweet. I am attractive to suicidal, alcoholic authors who wrote crap books and who have lots of cats.

- I was flipping through my calendar and was hit with an overwhelming wave of sadness. My Grandpa's birthday is listed on my calendar. As my eyes filled up with tears, I hurriedly let the pages fall back to September. Then, some more sadness. My dog, who was 14 years old when we put her to sleep in April, had a birthday at the end of this month. It was also listed on the calendar. I want to remember the happy times with both, but right now I am still consumed with sorrow when I think about them. I know the tears will eventually stop, but I feel like the gap left will never go away. Hopefully it will diminish.

- I read an article today that Republicans are contributing to the "Hillary Clinton in 2008" campaign. The reason? They want her to have all the $ she can to secure the nomination because they believe she is completely beatable. I've heard the same type of thing is going on here in Ohio with Democrats supporting Blackwell's Republican nomination for governor. Heh...this is so funny to me. Maybe the West Wingers should have done this to avoid Vinick being in a position to wipe the floor with Santos. Oh politics...that is not a game I ever want to play.

- Ever had brownies topped with a layer of peanut butter and then Cool Whip? Heaven.

- List of current entertainers I want to date:
- John Stewart
- Steven Colbert
- Chris Fowler (from ESPN Gameday)
This is funny to me because I dream about educated, self-proclaimed dorks. While men daydream about big-breasted beauty queens. Guess this shows how women are more evolved.

- I love having the following exchanges with my super liberal friend.
Me: I think John Roberts is so sexy.
Liberal friend: I think not getting equal pay for equal work is sexy too.

- Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. I go to my favorite married couple's apartment, watch The O.C. with friends, eat the snack of the week (today's menu is zesty nachos), and just let all the built-up stress from the week subside.

- I have been rambling on this blog while I should be learning about the 4th Amendment in Criminal Procedure. Illegal search and seizures? Probably something I should be learning. Hope my friends are taking good notes.

Graham Colton Band rocks my world

2005-09-20T20:57:00.000-04:00

All of the innocence has gone away.
Son, someday you'll be a man.
All of the air I breathe has aftertaste.
Son, someday you'll understand.

I'm looking off in the distance beyond the neon lights
And I can see all the world tongiht.

All of the memories are locked away.
Soon, someday you'll take them down.
All of us waiting for my big parade.
Soon, someday it's coming to town.

I'm looking off in the distance beyond the neon lights
And I can see all the stars are out tonight.
And I'm missing all of my good friends
I promised I would write.
And I can see all the world tonight.

And I can see all the moments passing by.
Yeah I'm looking above all the buildings and all the billboard signs,
And I can see all the world tonight.

And I can see everything.

GCB - All The World Tonight

A Proposal

2005-09-20T07:28:00.000-04:00

And I said yes! I get to be a bridesmaid!

Interviews

2005-09-19T19:39:00.000-04:00

So after having 5 interviews in the past 2 weeks, I've realized some strange things:

- Obviously when talking to someone, you look at them. I don't ordinarily think about this, but when forced into this type of environment it becomes a primary concern of mine. It's not weird when I'm having one-on-one conversations with friends, but when I'm interviewing it feels so weird to look at the interviewer. I don't know where to focus on their face or which eye I should look at or if they can tell my sight is only focused on one half of their face. I usually try to switch back and forth between eyes, but realize that this might make me seem shifty and nervous.

- Sorority rush prepared me for this type of thing. I was successfully able to engage every interviewer in good questions and great conversation. Motto during rush: Sell yourself - how else do you think I got my "rush crush" to join the house? I didn't just "pay for my friends" (which is total bullshit), I now have useful skills that will segue nicely into successful opportunities in the future.

- It's true. Lawyers love to hear themselves talk. During two of my five interviews the interviewer dominated the conversation. Also, instead of talking about the firm in general, they talked about themselves. No joke, I had an interviewer tell me he can dunk a basketball. It came after we were discussing his "slam dunk" case he just had. That's the downfall of interviews...I had to pretend like I was interested that he could dunk a stupid basketball. Seriously, I think he just likes bragging on himself.

All in all though, the interviewing process was good experience and we shall see where this next phase of life takes me.

Baby Spears and the Supreme Court

2005-09-15T14:38:00.000-04:00

Britney had her baby. According to news reports, his name will be Preston. As Ter said, "that baby had herpes when it was born."

John Roberts. I don't know all that much about him, but my constitutional law professor believes he will sail through confirmation. I don't think you can put much faith into the responses at the confirmation hearings since he's saying all the "right things" or deflecting responses so he doesn't have to lie. Even so, the only thing I'm pretty sure about is that he's not going to flip to the "left" once he gets on the bench, like Justice Souter. What a damn fool George H.W. Bush was to nominate him.

And this hoopla about him being Chief Justice and being the most powerful judge in the nation? Ummm...no. He is one of 9. He doesn't influence votes on the bench. The only thing the Chief Justice really does is assign opinions when he is in the majority and hold the Bible at the Presidential Inauguration. He has stated, and I believe him, that unlike Chief Justice Burger, he won't join the majority on issues where he disagrees just so he can write the opinion to assure a limited outcome. Calm down Democrats, we have a conservative replacing a conservative. And did you really want Scalia or Thomas to be C.J.? It's O'Connor's nominee that you should be most concerned about.

Viva Republicans!

O-H-I-O

2005-09-09T13:33:00.000-04:00

Holy smokes, the game tomorrow is going to be a doozy. Walking along the street in downtown Columbus, I saw so much Buckeye pride. Cars with OSU flags waving, old men wearing the scarlet and gray beanies, and a plethora of Ohio State ties and block O baseball caps. Buckeye football is one of the reasons I love this town so much.

My apartment is becoming a makeshift hotel for the weekend. I have two friends flying in from Chicago, two friends driving up from Hotlanta, my roommate's brothers and their friends for a total of approximately 6 people. 10 total if you count me and my roommate and our boy toys. And they all will be sleeping on the floor of course since we have no living room furniture.

Tailgating will commence pretty early. It's a night game, but the hosts of the party we're attending are arising early to go to ESPN Gameday to show off the steer skull they have painted scarlet and gray. I assume the kegs will start flowing soon after. Weather is going to be gorgeous, friends are going to be everywhere, beer will be plentiful, and two schools with terrific programs and tradition will be meeting head to head under the lights. I love OSU and this town. To quote a bumper sticker I was given as a high school graduation gift, "Damn right I'm a Buckeye."

And when we win the game, we'll buy a keg of booze.
And we'll drink to old Ohio til we wobble in our shoes.

New York New York

2005-09-08T11:38:00.000-04:00

So I'm doing it. I'm visiting New York City on October 7-9. Hotel and flight were put on credit cards yesterday. Who cares about increasing credit card debt? I get to go to Times Square! Fingers crossed for good weather, lots of fun, and expensive gifts from my co-traveler.

I love

2005-09-06T21:35:00.000-04:00

My sunglasses. I am sad because Ruvym (or my blog boyfriend as Derek and I sometimes call him (hope you don't mind)) does not like these so much. I have actually encountered many a guy who has referred to my wonderful, Ralph Lauren sunglasses as "bug glasses." My dad's response was something along these lines: "Wow, those certainly cover a lot of your face." Hello? Jackie Kennedy stylishly wore these types of shades back in the 60s. We are just paying our tribute to the fashionistas of the past (no joke, I have raided my mom's closet and found many an item that I covet which she wore about 30 years ago).

Fear not, I'm sure these types of sunglasses will fade out of the mainstream just as quickly as Ugg boots did. But I will always love my sunglasses that I feel hide my face so that I can spy on other people (thus I guess, forwarding Ruvym's "sneaky" suggestion). As mentioned in an earlier entry, they are my shield against scary, cat-calling, window washers. An added bonus is they cover under my eyes, thus less sun exposure, so maybe I will avoid wrinkles and crow's feet for a little while longer. And for a little while longer, I shall don my big sunglasses as I walk through the streets of downtown Columbus.

Most wonderful time of the year

2005-09-02T18:31:00.000-04:00

Football season! Ever since I was on the high school dance team and was forced to go to all of the football games, I decided to learn something about the game. Now I am totally obsessed with it. Buckeye football? LOVE it. I also really like the Bengals, but I do not like professional sports nearly as much as college sports. Tomorrow is the first game and the forecasters predict a successful season for my Buckeyes. SO excited.

GO BUCKS!

Elmer Vernon Ziegenhardt (1913-2005)

2005-09-01T14:24:00.000-04:00

My grandfather passed away this morning. I've come to realize that I am great at holding it together and being strong as long as people aren't comforting me. Isn't that strange? I am at school for the day and everyone wants to know, "What are you doing here?" The thing is this - I think he would have wanted me to come to class today.

I've never lost someone this important to me before. It hurts and it is a raw sadness. I cry in spurts, but at the same time I am comforted that he is at peace. I worry about my mother who, at the age of 54, has lost both of her parents and a sister. I hope she comes out of this ok and I know I have to be strong for her because I know my visible sadness and pain will hurt her even more.

I loved my grandpa, he was the greatest man I've ever known. I got an OCI interview today. He would be so proud. I love you Grandpa, forever.

Life

2005-08-29T17:56:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, a couple things happened to me that caused a reflection on life, living, fate and circumstance. I am concerned about my sister who is having physical problems that they believe might be neurologically related. But this concern seemed to be the only blemish on my great life here in Columbus, Ohio. I am doing well in school, I have a job that I like and also pays well, I am in a relationship that leaves me happy at the end of the day, and I have a fantastic network of support in my friends and family.

Friday night was lazy and wonderful. I did not leave my apartment, watched a football game, ate pizza, and called it a night early in the evening. I then proceeded to catch up on my sleep, which was much needed. I woke up feeling refreshed and revived. I was ready for this thing called life. Saturday my parents came up and we had a nice afternoon of lunch and shopping. I then did all of my homework (which I do not believe I have ever completed homework on a Saturday afternoon). To finish off a great day, I spent Saturday night with the girls. Sarah, Emily, Teresa, Kris, Libby, and I spent the evening watching Sex and the City, eating cheese and crackers and drinking mixed drinks and champagne. I went to bed thinking about how happy I was.

Then, around 2:30 am, I was awoken by the telephone. I thought it was Derek, but I pick it up to see the screen flashing "Daddy." Fear seized me. My first thoughts rushed to my sister and with shaky hands I answered. "Ashley, your grandfather is in the hospital." Tears make it hard to reply and I have so many questions. "What happened?" "Is he o.k.?" "Which grandpa?" My grandpa (my mom's father who is 91) had a brain aneurysm. This couldn't be happening. I couldn't believe it. "Not again" was all I could think. Just 6 months ago, I received the same type of call about my grandma (my dad's mother). She had a frontal brain aneurysm, had to have brain surgery, and was in dire straits for about 6 weeks. All of the sudden, my life had turned on a dime. Happiness and content had turned into fear, sadness, and sobs.

My grandfather's incident spurred my internal debate on whether I believe in fate and that life is dictated by a higher power. My grandpa is a avid Reds fan. Their game on Saturday was delayed because of rain and then went into 10 innings. Around 1 am, he buzzed for a nurse to come assist him and she came down and noticed her was drooling excessively. She called the R.N. who called 911. By the time the life squad got there, he was unconscious and at one point he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. My grandpa hardly ever stays up until 1 am. Had the Reds game not been on, been delayed, and gone into extra innings, he could have been asleep when the aneurysm occurred, eventually stopped breathing, and no one would have known until the next morning when they went in to wake him up and found him dead. Was this because a higher power had dictated it is not his time to go? Is it just a series of fortunate events combined with good luck? Was it just chance that I had decided to finish my HW on a Saturday afternoon and was free to spend Sunday driving home and spending it with my grandpa and family? I don't know if I have come to a definitive conclusion either way, but I do know that I found myself thanking God multiple times yesterday.

With my grandpa being 91, I have been expecting this type of call for a while. But I'm not ready for him to go yet, and this weekend made me realize I'll never be ready for him to leave me. He is the greatest man I have ever known: I can feel the love he has for his family, and he beams with pride at the accomplishments of his daughters and granddaughters. The bleeding has stopped and he has a 70% chance of a recovery in 7-10 days, so hopefully I do not have to let him go quite yet.

In any event, life was moving along so well that I forgot that I was living and that life isn't complete without the heartache and sorrow. Experiencing the pain makes me even more grateful for the happiness I receive along the way. Sorry for the long post and sad nature, but in my individual circumstances along with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, remember that life is very fragile and don't be blindsided the way I was this weekend. Brace yourself for the pain - it's a part of living. In closing, thank you to all those I love and care about deeply - my friends and family mean everything to me.

Funny Email

2005-08-26T12:04:00.000-04:00

I got this email from a friend and I just couldn't help but laugh. I thought I would share it:

DICTIONARY FOR WOMEN'S PERSONAL ADS:
40-ish.............................................49
Adventurous.................Slept with everyone
Athletic.........................No tits
Average looking...............................Ugly
Beautiful..........................Pathological liar
Contagious Smile.............Does a lot of pills
Emotionally Secure......................On medication
Feminist......................................Fat
Free spirit....................................Junkie
Friendship first..........................Former slut
Fun..........................................Annoying
New-Age.................Body hair in the wrong places
Old-fashioned..................................No BJs
Open-minded.................................Desperate
Outgoing........................Loud and Embarrassing
Passionate...............................Sloppy drunk
Professional....................................Bitch
Voluptuous...................................Very Fat
Large frame................................Hugely Fat
Wants Soul mate.............................Stalker

WOMEN'S ENGLISH:
1. Yes = No
2. No = Yes
3. Maybe = No
4. We need = I want..
5. I am sorry = you'll be sorry
6. We need to talk = You're in trouble
7. Sure, go ahead = You better not
8. Do what you want = You will pay for this later
9. I am not upset = Of course I am upset, you moron!
10. You're certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?

MEN'S ENGLISH:
1. I am hungry = I am hungry
2. I am sleepy = I am sleepy
3. I am tired = I am tired
4. Nice dress = Nice cleavage!
5. I love you = Let's have sex now
6. I am bored = Do you want to have sex?
7. May I have this dance? = I'd like to have sex with you
8. Can I call you sometime? = I'd like to have sex with you
9. Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd like to have sex with you
10. Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd like to have sex with you
11. I don't think those shoes go with that outfit = I'm gay

Heh...isn't it the truth?

The new me

2005-08-24T22:08:00.000-04:00

As school starts up and things are changing again, I thought I might treat this as a "new year" and make some resolutions. Yes this might seem silly, but I'm excited about it because it's more feasible that I will actually keep these resolutions until January 1st.

1. Cook more - I am so tired of eating food out of a box. Kraft Mac & Cheese and frozen pizza have stopped tasting good. My resoultion is to cook at least one meal a week (Baby steps for me). And I don't mean cook from scratch. If I make chicken parmesean, the marinara sauce is going to come out of a jar. I just don't have the time to do the "homemaker" treatment for my meals. Also, since I'm cooking for myself essentially, I will have dinners for the next 3 or 4 days as I dine on leftovers. Tomorrow I think I am going to venture out and do Italian. It's easy and I figure this is good since I am a beginner.

2. Do something completely out of character once a month - I am pretty straight-laced, or as Derek likes to say, "Republican". I'm practical, safe, and responsible. I rarely do spontaneous and I am pretty predictable. (Heh. Note to self: Do not put the previous statements on any sort of Match.com profile I make in the future). These aren't necessarily bad traits, but sometimes I would like to be the wild girl who on a first date makes the guy go with her to get a tatoo. It doesn't necessarily have to be crazy, just different for me. For instance, I have already met my out-of-character goal for the month by being pro-active and making and scheduling plans for Labor Day weekend.

3. Do something cultural once a month - I don't have enough music and art in my life right now. I've lived in Columbus for 5 years and I have never been to a gallery hop. I've never seen opera and the last time I was at the Columbus Art Museum was 3 years ago when I had to do a project for my Art History class. I do love music and art and I attend musicals quite frequently, but there is so much I have missed and even more that I don't get enough. Columbus is rich in this type of stuff and I have no excuses. Cincinnati Symphony this month and Hairspray in October will put me on the right track to accomplish this goal.

And that's all. Nothing major and nothing too taxing. I think my goals are reasonable and hold promise for being resolved come the New Year. Others can take part if they'd like, but their lack of interest in my resolutions will have no effect on my desire to become a better me. And just to be clear, I'm not attempting to become a better person for anyone else. I'm doing this for me. Wish me luck.

Rent

2005-08-24T21:18:00.000-04:00

The movie version of Rent comes out in November. The website has a counter counting down the minutes "until Rent is due." I am really looking forward to the film adaptation for two reasons: 1) I love the musical and have seen it twice and 2) When people were feeling sad and down in the sorority house, my old roommate would come over to them, start petting their hair, and sing "Seasons of Love."

Speaking of "Seasons of Love", I was looking through my i-Tunes music store and saw that they offered the Motion Picture version of this song as a download. It kicks ass. The part sung by the woman with the big voice, "Share love, give love, spread love", gives me chills. And yes, sometimes a certain someone pretends she has the same big voice and sings that part at the top of her lungs with a lot of feeling (sometimes with eyes closed). Don't judge. Anyhow, I hope they do this song justice in the movie - in the musical it's very subdued with them lined up on the stage with only spotlights and only singing; very effective. My favorite song of the musical though is "Light My Candle".

AND the very sexy Detective Green from Law & Order is playing Tom Collins. Not only is he ridiculously handsome, but he can sing too? Yum-my.

Pictures

2005-08-16T15:38:00.000-04:00

I'm throwing this link up before I leave work, so I'm not 100% sure it will work. Enjoy some beautiful pictures of Ang and Jim at their wedding and her bachelorette party (if it lets you).

Good times.

ABC, NYC, etc.

2005-08-16T11:46:00.000-04:00

I have a love affair with the ABC Family channel. I am serious. I can flip on that channel randomly and 90% of the time find something I want to watch. Old classics like Full House and Step by Step; reruns of current shows like Gilmore Girls and 7th Heaven; ABC Family Original Movies (This Time Around starring Brian Austin Green is my favorite ever); and old teen flicks like Drive Me Crazy and She's All That.

Now, I am obsessed with their ABC Family Original series', Wildfire and Beautiful People. Wildfire has all the essential elements: girl with troubled past (GWTP), family with troubled farm, ranch-hand in love with farm owner, son of owner and his best friend both in love with GWTP (note: Derek thinks GWTP is hot). And last night there was a gun! Oh it makes me long for 90210, but this is a suitable replacement. Beautiful People just started (it's only on episode 2). This show is produced by one of the guys who did Dawson's Creek. We have mom and two daughters who move to NYC and mom runs into old love who is rich and powerful and his son has a bet with a friend at school that he can date one of the daughters and the other daughter is trying to be a model and is on her way to an eating disorder. Predictable, yes. Do I care? Nope.

I love every second of it. And to top it all off, ABC Family has an hour of Whose Line is it Anway? every night? Yes, please. ABC Family, you're my dream come true.

My sister, after being in NYC searching for apartments, has decided she no longer wants to live there. Decided she loves to visit, but doesn't think she can ever be a part of the big-city life. Upside: I get to keep my sister and her darling puppy close to home. Downside: looks like I will be factoring in the costs of a hotel when I plan my future trip there.

I crossed the street with Governor Taft today. It took some restraint for me not to want to shake him and ask him what the hell his problem is and why he feels the need to golf so damn much. Also, I really wanted to say "G'day Guv'ner" in a cockney British accent.

How much is that doggie in the window?

2005-08-15T13:13:00.000-04:00

Nothing really to say today. My thoughts are working overtime and I don't think this is the proper forum to air my issues. I also hate talking about things until I have completely worked them out in my head. The best sounding-board in times like these? A pet. However, I do not have a furry friend, so it seems my thoughts will plague me for the time being.

I can't wait until I am wrapped in my blanket, eating ice cream, and watching Father of the Bride.

Here comes the bride

2005-08-12T09:50:00.000-04:00

My roommate gets married today and I am so happy for her. I envy the love and happiness of their relationship. I love you guys. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Coutinho.

UPDATE: The wedding was a blast. A surprise appearance by Libby made for an enjoyable evening. Ang looked stunning, Jim's voice cracked when he read his vows, I heartily took advantage of the chocolate fountain and free beer and wine - a happy, joyous occasion. It was a true celebration for the happy couple.

NSFW

2005-08-11T19:41:00.000-04:00

Today at work, a co-worker was discussing with some other people how he was thinking about proposing to his girlfriend. Now all the females at the office think this is so cute and we're giving him advice about ring styles and such. A male , however, says, "Dude, you need to make sure you're making an informed decision."

Then...my DEPUTY DIRECTOR (we're talking head of the agency, appointed by the Governor) says, "Yeah, think about it a little more Dan. Here's one you should chew on for a while - the blowjobs stop after marriage." Men, honestly.

Sidenote: Heh. Spellcheck suggested I replace blowjobs with blockbuster.

My bank account is expanding but not my waistline

2005-08-10T16:20:00.000-04:00

I am happy to report that I am able to fit into a pair of pants I just located that I haven't worn since I bought them when I was 19. Four years and I've stayed the same size? That's good news considering I am the laziest person alive.

And...I got a raise! $14.12/hour baby!

Musings

2005-08-10T11:55:00.000-04:00

Not that anyone was going to, but don't see The Perfect Man. I LOVE movies that are girly, cutesy and primarily aimed at 13-16 year olds. This one, however, yuck. While my love affair with Mr. Big continues, the plot was ridiculous, the ending was unfulfilling, and I wanted to punch Hilary Duff in her face for her "off-beat" fashion in this movie. I only paid 50 cents to see it, so while I'm not cursing myself, I'm not sure the pain in my butt caused by 2 hours in uncomfortable movie chairs was worth it.

In other things on my mind...do guys who whistle and yell catcalls at women think this is an effective way to get a date? I am tired of walking down Broad Street to and from work and having to hide behind my sunglasses to avoid the truckers and window washers who yell and smile lecherously at you. A young woman walking alone down the street is not an invitation for "Hey baby". Furthermore, do you think I am flattered by that type of attention? A friend of mine actually told me to take it as a compliment. Ummm...no. Maybe they do it to be douchebags, but it still irks me.

Last on my mind, The Real World. If anyone watches this show, they know that one of the cast members' mom died while he was on the show. I have a couple issues with this. While I will concede that it was within their bounds to film and air him receiving the bad news call, I still think they should have taken a higher ground and not done so. Receiving news that your MOM died is very personal, private, and emotional. So while filming the roommates receiving the news and reacting and Danny's post-news tears would be fine, it just seemed really tacky that they did this. Then, they followed him to his hometown for the burial and continued to film. No footage of the actual funeral, but they do have a confessional of him at the graveyard, which makes me think they filmed it. That disgusts me. Maybe this is the most accurate "the real world" has ever been, but they could have shown a little more respect for Danny and his family's privacy during this time of grief. Shame on you, MTV.

Oh Dad

2005-08-08T13:47:00.000-04:00

Sister: Dad, want to come see The Perfect Man with me at the cheap theater?

Dad: Nah, I think it would be pretty boring to sit through an autobiography.

Long time gone

2005-08-05T10:25:00.000-04:00

So I'm back. Sorry for the lack of posting, I've been spending the week catching up with everyone else.

Vacation was amazing. Relaxing and free - just what I needed. After a brief worry of a tropical storm on the drive down, Grandpa and The Weather Channel reported that the storm had made a right and veered back out to sea. The end result: 7 days of sunshine, but there were strong riptides in the Atlantic. Not that it matters, I lounged on the pool deck and looked out over the beach every day. Tan? Ha, my Irish/English heritage laughs at that possibility. I am a slightly darker shade of "pasty." However, I have successfully fooled people into thinking I am tan due to the freckle explosion that occurred on my face. The blonde highlights in my hair also bear proof that I did spend a week in the sun. I stuffed my face full of seafood, read Harry Potter (and proceeded to cry), laughed at my sister's minor injuries sustained after a wave knocked her into a bed of jagged seashells, shopped for oceanfront condos with the rents, and made memories that only my family would find humorous. A fabulous week spent with the family.

Back to reality. A week of work with a jaunt out to the women's prison. Some other things of note from the week:

- Had dinner with Ter and one of her men. She was right - the dead tooth is just too much.
- At the grocery store, when coming around a corner, I accidentally hit a man who was not paying attention but was reading a label on a can with my grocery cart causing him to fall on the floor. Luckily he was rational and realized he was at fault too, and after I helped him pick up his produce, all was well.
- School starts in a little over 2 weeks. Blah.
- My roommate who is getting married next weekend moved out and my new roomie doesn't move in until September. My apartment is empty and all I have in the family room is a television. Looks like I'll have to buckle down and buy a futon or just deal with 3 1/2 weeks of watching TV and movies on the floor with a bunch of pillows.
- Country night at the bar was eventful. I have a new crush on WCOL DJ Joe Boxer - and I asked him if the bathrooms were open, not realizing who he was. Excellent first impression, I'm sure. I experienced $2 Coors Lights, old men, learned a line dance and witnessed Jell-O wrestling. Fun night, but today I'm dragging at work.

Weekend should be fun. Possible excursion to the Ohio State Fair (rumor has it they have deep-fried Twinkies there). And the main event: my roommate's bachelorette party - wahoo!

Vacation

2005-07-21T10:47:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I am going to Amelia Island, Florida for one week with the family. It is right below the Georgia border above Jacksonville. We're staying in an oceanview condo at The Pelicans. It's a goregeous island with a fascinating historical district and Main Street. The Palace Saloon is the oldest bar in Florida. My dad drank the oldest beer in the U.S. (Yeungling) in the oldest bar in FL. (He thought this was very cool). Looking forward to relaxing on the beach and having free dinners. Fingers crossed for no hurricanes or sharks.

It's ok, you can be jealous.

Personalized puzzle

2005-07-19T16:59:00.000-04:00

Saw a personalized license plate on my drive home from work today. It said "NO MEAT".

Vegetarian's plate? Or lesbian's?

QOTD

2005-07-19T11:20:00.000-04:00

My office is really cold. Freezing - I'm pretty sure the thermostat for the building is set at 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Today, however a "chill crank" was not working and it was humid and sticky in the building. The other interns and I threatened to organize a work stoppage due to unfavorable working conditions. The work stoppage failed to materialize though because after a couple hours the AC was fixed. However, I think they set the thermostat to sub-zero to over-compensate. It was time to put on my sweater.

Ray, an LRS who is roughly my dad's age (got the moustache, thinning hair, and glasses going on), asked if I was cold. I told him that yes, it was the North Pole in this office. He said he was always warm and I was crazy for being cold and then theorized that I must have low blood pressure. He then added, "I'd have only my underwear and a necktie on if they let me."

Thanks for the visual, Ray.

Go girl

2005-07-18T21:14:00.000-04:00

Ter, you are hot stuff. We always knew it. Good luck juggling all your men and I expect full and complete updates.

Duck

2005-07-18T14:32:00.000-04:00

Here I am filling out an application to date the guy I'm already dating - yes, I am bored at work. My answers/comments are in red.

APPLICATION
This is The Derek Walden Application for Dating Eligibility. Please complete all five (5) sections and feel free to expand on any answer which require additional explanation. Bonus points will be given for uniqueness, creativity, and honesty. Have fun.

I - Biography

Name: Ashley (had I been a boy my name was going to be Zachary. No boys so it's what we named the dog)
Current Address: Columbus, OH
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Email/Contact info: I'm speed dial 8
DOB/Age: March 17, 1982 (woo leprechauns!)/23 years of age
Education and college major (test scores would be appreciated, but are not mandatory):
Oak Hills High School - Diploma with state honors of some sort
Ohio State - B.A. History (cum laude and with honors in Arts and Sciences)
Capital Law School - Anticipated J.D.
SAT score - None of your business
ACT score - Still none of your business
LSAT score - Really not your business since your score makes it seem like I should ride the law school short bus.
Current occupation: Legal intern for the State of Ohio/Law student
Family members: Dad Glenn, Mom Cindy, Twin sister Meghan, Older sister Rachel, Puppy/teddy bear Huey

II - Basics
Provide your top three choices

Movies: Love Actually, Father of the Bride, Beauty Shop (J/K), Gone With the Wind
Books: London, Edward Rutherford; To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee; The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin
TV Shows: Beverly Hills, 90210, Gilmore Girls, Law and Order (the original - not a huge fan of SVU and CI)
Websites: cnn.com, televisionwithoutpity.com, postsecrets
Foods: ice cream, chicken caesar salad, seafood
Vacation destinations: beach, beach, beach
Leisure activities: Laughing, shopping, reading

III - True/False and Multiple Choice
Answer honestly about your habits and choices.

1. T or F - "I have already planned 80% (or more) of my wedding." - I haven't planned 80% of it. I have thought about every aspect, but nothing is concrete yet.
2. T or F - "I read Cosmo/Vogue on a weekly basis." - Pretty much because 1) I don't like Vogue because it has too many ads and 2) Cosmo is a monthly mag
3. T or F - "I leave wet towels on the bed/chair/floor." - Rumor has it that the author of this application has been known to leave a wet towel on a chair or 2
4. T or F - "I would describe myself as 'eclectic'." - I would say I'm "goofy"
5. T or F - "I believe in 'Fate'. (the opposite of which would be free will)" - I have to make some sort of excuse for my crappy decisions every now and then. Fate is the perfect scapegoat.
6. T or F - "I personify inanimate objects on a regular basis." Mr. Computer is running very slowly right now
7. T or F - "I would say I am "in touch" with my sexuality." - And by "in touch" I mean I know I like men.
8. T or F - "I would consider myself a spiritual person." - I whole-heartedly believe there is a God.
9. T or F - "I prefer city life to country life." - I think I would die on a farm.
10. T or F - "Size maters." - Have you ever worn the wrong size shoe? It results in blisters and cramped feet. You bet your ass size matters!

11. I think that Philosophy/philosophizing is...
a. intriguing
b. interesting
c. idiotic
d. inconsequential - In the grand tradition of ridiculing things you do not understand, hence the answer to this question.

12. You wake up late and are already 5 minutes late to work/class. You...
a. bust your ass to get there ASAP
b. call in to say you will be late and then bust your ass to get there ASAP - my innate sense of responsibility sickens me
c. call in to say you will be late and then get ready in whatever time you need
d. if class, blow off the day and go to the park/if work, call in and take a sick day

13. My favorite part of my body is my...
a. eyes or smile - one of my ex-boyfriends told me I had dinosaur eyes, but I love them. They're more like Gobstopper eyes
b. "chest"
c. "posterior"
d. other (please specify)

14. A "Whisperlite" is a...
a. rollerblade bearing
b. canoe design type
c. backpacking stove - Holy shot in the dark, Batman!
d. rappelling harness

15. Who has said, "I've got a bad feeling about this"?

I. Luke
II. Han
III. Leia
IV. Obi-Wan

a. I and III
b. II and IV
c. I, II, III - either Derek told me this or I read it on an EW quiz or something
d. I, II, III, IV

IV - Random
Favorite place to have sex: Mom and Dad this question does not apply to me
Favorite alcoholic beverage: Beer (Bud Light) or white wine
Favorite curse word: Fucker
Favorite Simpsons character: Millhouse because if I were a cartoon I would totally date him
If you could have any profession: TV news anchor
If you could have one superpower: Flying because I'm tired of walking the 5 blocks from my office to the parking lot
If you could have one car: SUV
Dress up or dress down: Dress up
Right handed or left handed: Lefties unite!
Soda or Pop: Diet Coke please
Bikini or thong: Bikini - butt floss only when there is a pressing need
White rice or Fried rice: White rice is super delicious with szechuan chicken
Dog or cat: Dog - I can't wait to have my own
Batman or Superman: Batman (because I know that is the ideal answer here)
Manual or automatic: Automatic by default because the two men who have tried to teach me manual ran out of patience

V - Essays
Choose 3. Be specific, but remember "brevity is the soul of wit."

A) Describe your ideal man? One who can appreciate me for me and can challenge me mentally
B) Describe your biggest personality flaw? I pass judgment rather quickly and I gossip
C) Make me laugh. What did the finger say to the thumb? I'm in glove with you. What did the girl sea say to the boy sea when he asked her on a date? Shore. Why was it hard for the geometry teacher to walk? She broke her angle. (Heh...ok, maybe these are only funny to me)
D) Describe the last time you were spontaneous or creative? Today at lunch I put some parmesean cheese on my green beans.
E) Describe one thing which you are passionate about (yikes, I ended that sentence with a preposition, sorry English majors). Family and friends
F) Tell me one other piece of information which will help me get to know you. I really like attention, hate acting like a typical girl, and I have driving ambition.

So there we have it folks. Derek, do I get an interview?

TGIF

2005-07-15T13:11:00.000-04:00

A few quick things before the weekend:

- I wrote a response to an unfair labor practice charge last week. Today the Board dismissed the charge for lack of probable cause. Woo hoo!

- I am sitting at my computer listening to CMT.com and I hear a song that I've never heard. As I'm listening to the words, my reaction is "What the...?!?" I click on the radio player and see that the song is called "It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long". This is a real song and that is the real title. Here are the lyrics for your entertainment.

It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long
By: The Notorious Cherry Bombs

She used to call me baby... I thought she was such a lady
But my how things have changed since times moved on
I gave her my last dollar... And now all she'll do is holler
Oh my life has become a country song

I've learned she can resist me by the way she always disses me
And comes to bed at night, with that cold cream on
Sometimes I might feel frisky but these days it's just too risky

It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long
All day Long. It goes all day long

If a tree fell in the forest, She didn't hear it, would I still be wrong
I guess I should admit it
She ain't never gonna quit it
It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long

Spoken Voice:Man I remember when her eyes used to be so blue and shiny
God you oughtta see what's happened to her hiney
(Her what?) her hiney
Man that thing is big enough to land a small plane on.
(Small plane?) I'm tellin' ya
I used to roll her in the the clover, (mmm hmm) but my god those days are over
(Hallelulia!)

It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long
All day Long
She goes all day long

If some day they drop the big one, I'd say sweet Jesus, She's gonna finally leave me alone
It's alright if we say it 'cause the radio won't play it.

It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long

Like watching paint dry

2005-07-14T15:37:00.000-04:00

I was reading a review in the paper today about a documentary titled March of the Penguins. It is essentially a 2-hour documentary of bird-watching. I then had a sad, sad thought. This documentary is probably more interesting than my life right now.

Save me from the boredom!

Til death do us part

2005-07-13T21:31:00.000-04:00

Happy anniversary to my parents. 31 years of marriage and they've managed not to kill each other... yet. Congratulations and I love you.

Christmas in July?

2005-07-12T11:58:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful present yesterday. As my life has been rather boring (as noted by my lack of posting), I was quite overjoyed at my discovery.

My cable gives me the Soap Opera Network. Now this is not exciting because I am a soap addict. I haven't watched Days of Our Lives religiously since the summer that Marlena was possessed by the devil. I'll flip it on every now and then, along with Passions because that soap opera is entertaining due to its ludicrous plots and storylines. Anyhow, one of my all time favorite shows is Beverly Hills, 90210. Ridiculous, I know, but I am waiting with bated breath for Aaron Spelling to announce he's releasing all 10 seasons on DVD. The Soap Network shows 90210 every weekday at 5 pm.

I knew that 90210 was on the Soap Network but I didn't think I got this channel. Then yesterday, I happened to scroll through my guide pretty far and found the Soap Network is channel 140! And that I get it! It's the little things in life that make me happiest. I usually stop looking around channel 65, but lack of good TV at 6:30 yesterday caused me to keep scrolling.

So don't call me between 5 and 6 pm on weekdays. I'll be busy...

Awesome

2005-07-06T22:26:00.000-04:00

HUGE thanks to Ruvym for having this link on his blog. Postsecret is powerful and moving and I am grateful that I have stumbled across it. Thanks Ruvym.

Growing up

2005-07-06T21:39:00.000-04:00

Tonight I was once again forced to face the fact that I am growing up. This has begun to nag at me lately considering that last year I lived in an apartment with three girls and all three girls are now engaged with one getting married in a month. I don't feel ready for marriage so it's not a jealousy thing - just whoa...life really is moving forward quickly. These are the same girls that I know everything about and had the best couple years of my life and I sort of feel that they're moving on without me. Now the conversations are not about what went on at the bar the previous night, they're about how many people are on their guest list, where they're registering, and debating whether they should have a groom's cake. In 4 short months they went from sorority girls boozing at the bar with me to brides picking out china patterns. Scary.

Then there was tonight. This is the hardest part about growing up - your friends moving away. I've been pretty fortunate because most of my friends from school have stayed in Columbus after graduating, either to work or attend more school. However, two of my roommates that I mentioned above are leaving me this weekend. One is moving to Cleveland where she got a job and the other is moving to Atlanta where she is continuing her education at Emory. Heartbreaking. These girls saw me through a relationship, struggle to make my decision about whether to pursue law, revel in the fun that was senior year, cry when my dog got sick, hugged me and baked brownies when I learned rejection for the first time, watched Friends and Sex and the City until all hours of the night, helped fine tune The O.C. drinking game, always laughed at my inability to cook and my penchant for making Pizza Rolls while being intoxicated. Now they'll be in different cities. I'll see them once in a while I'm sure, but it's not the same. I have this fear that soon we'll become nothing more to each other than names in Christmas cards. But that time is not yet - these friendships are too important to me right now.

So it's not goodbye to these friends I love so much, but rather, so long.

Sorry Abe

2005-07-05T12:46:00.000-04:00

I hate pennies.

UPDATE: Apparently that statement is not good enough. Someone was seeking justification for my hatred of the copper coin. Anyhow, today I'm standing in Starbucks attempting to pay for my Grande Iced Chai - I grab my wallet, take out some change and zip it shut (or so I thought). As I was putting my wallet back into my purse, it was evident that the zipper had not zipped shut. My change, which was so much it caused a noticeable bulge in my wallet and was a security concern when run through the X-ray machine at the Dallas airport, scattered everywhere all over the Starbucks floor. To make matters worse of course, it's all right in front of the cash register. So here I am trying to pick up approximately 75 coins off the floor as quickly as I can so that the line can move forward. This is not an easy task as the floors were that waxy kind where stuff just sticks. I couldn't just grab the coins, so for pretty much every coin I had to pry my fingernail underneath. As I was doing this I noticed that 99% of these coins were pennies. Had it been Broad or High Street, I would have just left them, but I couldn't leave Starbucks's floor looking like a wishing well. I finally pick up all my change and notice that due to the vast amount of coins I had in my wallet, the zipper had busted. The zipper had broken because I had so many pennies, that I never spend yet always accumulate. So, in summary, the pennies caused my zipper to bust, which made me spill change all over the Starbucks floor, and caused me to hold up the Starbucks line for a couple minutes.

For that, I hate you pennies. I might start adopting Emily's stance and just throw my pennies in the trash.

Give me all your money

2005-07-01T09:40:00.000-04:00

I work on the 18th floor of the Bank One building. The lobby contains a Bank One branch. The bank was robbed this morning.

Red, White, and Boom

2005-07-01T08:38:00.000-04:00

"Okay guys, one more thing, this summer when you're being inundated with all this American, bicentennial, Fourth Of July brouhaha, don't forget what you're celebrating. And that's the fact that a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn't want to pay their taxes." - Dazed and Confused (Simplifies what the Revolutionary War was actually about, but still..Heh)

I will not be attending the traditional Columbus fireworks display because I will be home in Cincinnati. But I sure am looking forward to family, fireworks, cornhole, hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, and strawberry shortcake. Happy Fourth of July everyone.

Thumbtacks

2005-06-30T12:50:00.000-04:00

I have discovered the greatness of thumbtacks. The "walls" of my cubicle are similar to a potato sack material and I assume the firm substance in between the "walls" is cork-like. Thus, I am able to tack things up in my cube. After going to the supply closet and securing a box of multi-colored pushpins, I have gone to town on the "walls" of my cubicle and hung a number of random and various things. In Derek's favorite wager, I will buy a Frosty for whomever guesses (without going over) how many different types of maps of Ohio I have posted.

Last Night

2005-06-30T09:24:00.000-04:00

I cried myself to sleep. It felt great, was just what I needed, and was long overdue.

Favorites

2005-06-29T22:41:00.000-04:00

I watched my favorite show and one of my favorite movies today. Gilmore Girls and Love Actually.

Gilmore Girls - This show is excellent. I adore every part of it: the writing, the cultural references, the fast-paced dialogue, the meta, the sleepy little town where the show takes place. I don't know why, but I just love it...I would love to be Lorelai Gilmore (minus the having a baby out-of-wedlock at age 16).

Love Actually - My ex-boyfriend gave me this as a birthday gift and I was always afraid that the movie would be tainted by our breakup (i.e., I wouldn't be able to watch it without thinking of him, etc.). How ridiculous of me; not only have I moved on and couldn't care less, but this movie is just too great to ever be tainted by something so silly. It's a long movie (the running time is a little over 2 hours) but I always want to press play again when it ends. The part in Emma Thompson's bedroom where she is playing Joni Mitchell is heart-breaking - the symbolism in the movie and the connections drawn between the characters is just so well done. And Billy Bob Thornton portraying the U.S. president? Heh - we would elect someone so slimy (*cough* Bill Clinton *cough cough*).

Not too shabby of a day when I get to enjoy multiple favorites. Ice cream was also included in this mix.

Just another day

2005-06-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a normal day here in my government job. Lots of sitting around and reading the newspaper. In fact, I will relay to you the most exciting, or rather most eventful, thing that happened at work. My office is on the 18th floor and one side of the office overlooks a neighboring hotel's roof-top pool. As the other interns and I are walking out of my boss's office, a co-worker runs down and says "Hey guys, come check this out." The reason he wanted us all to come to his office was because he thought a woman was swimming in the pool without a bathing suit bottom. Upon further investigation, done by rational women, it was concluded that she was not naked, just wearing a white bottom that was wet, thus slightly transparent. Just another day in state government. (Note: Even though I am bored 60% of the time at work, I do love my job. Labor relations is fascinating).

Then I went to the Clippers game with my friends because it was Dime-a-Dog night. I discovered two things 1) Derek Jeter played for the Clippers from 1994-95 and 2) my stomach has a 4 hot dog limit. I barely ate anything all day so that I could meet my goal of five. I purchased five hot dogs (for 50 cents, which is glorious) and was ready to go to town. In one sitting I found I could only eat 3. I had to take a 2 inning break before I could shove down the fourth and I didn't even really want to eat that. The fifth hot dog was going to go to waste. I am a failure. But other than that - it was a great time. Friends, sunny skies, and watching the Clippers take the lead and victory with a grand slam. Good times.

Oh joy

2005-06-27T12:36:00.000-04:00

Hello all you MASH lovers...I found an internet version of the game here. This has been killing my boredom at work for the past half hour. Let's see how many times I can marry "hot third year boy."

LOL

2005-06-24T09:43:00.000-04:00

A little excerpt from an email I received from a friend:

"You know what I just realized : the abbreviation for Ohio Revised Code in Lexis is ORC. Those other O states can suck it. Would you bitches in Oklahoma or Oregon like to buy a vowel? Well it can't be O, cause that motherfucker is ours! Gonna have to add some consonants or something. Buckeyeeeess!"

Color me entertained and laughing really hard.

Gross

2005-06-23T15:46:00.000-04:00

Today at work I have successfully consumed two bags of peanut M&Ms, 3 bottles of Diet Coke, and eaten one blueberry cheesecake bar. That gym membership might be a good idea...

Times are changing

2005-06-23T08:59:00.000-04:00

And so are wedding showers. The traditional approach entailed a party thrown by a friend, co-worker, etc. and the hostess would invite the bride and her female friends. The newest thing are "couples showers" where the bride and groom are both present and the guest list is co-ed. I will be experiencing my first couples shower this weekend.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. When I was discussing this with my Dad, his response was something along the lines of, "Couples shower? How stupid. Cindy [my mom], I am never attending any of these couples thingies." I would imagine most men feel the same way. Is it a guys idea of fun to watch people open wedding gifts and toasters, play games with clothes pins and cotton balls, and eat finger sandwiches? I think men would rather limit their interaction with the pre-wedding festivities to strippers and wings and beer at the bachelor party.

Maybe I'm stuck in the whole idea of "tradition." And maybe I'm completely wrong in presuming that men think toasting the couple is sufficient at the reception and actually do want to honor them pre-wedding. I don't know. But here's to trying something new. Who knows, maybe I'll like it.

Upon Reflection

2005-06-22T10:02:00.000-04:00

I was thinking about a guy I know from Pakistan. He's pretty much a friend of a friend, but he seems to be an all-around great guy. He came to the U.S. to go to school, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan, and according to my friends is incredibly smart. I have seen him play lead guitar, bass, and drums and he also sings. He is talented and America would be proud to keep him here a little longer.

But of course, we won't. The INS issued him a statement that his one-year post-graduation student visa had run out and he needed to get a work visa. For whatever reason, his work wouldn't do this...I don't know, it might have been a small company, hates government, etc. He tried to find a new job, but he couldn't. So, the good, law-abiding man that he is, he is leaving to go home since his visa has expired.

The U.S. has passed stricter immigration laws since 9/11, which at the time made tons of sense to me, but the thing is this - the bad ones aren't the ones who follow the rules. They don't use their real names, they lie on visa applications, they live amongst us illegally. These stricter immigration laws kick out the good, hard-working foreigners. This fails to register properly - we are essentially booting the good immigrants who we should be happy to have because they file their paperwork.

It's glaringly obvious to me now. Our system doesn't work.

Party time

2005-06-21T12:19:00.000-04:00

I have a dilemma. My boss is having a Jimmy Buffet party at his house on July 9th. There will be cheeseburgers, margaritas, and a hot tub and swimming pool. This equates to a potentially great time.

However...I have a penchant for going a little overboard when it comes to margaritas. Just ask my friends who attended a Don Pablo's happy hour with me. Add this to the fact that I have only been an employee for about a month, I am hoping they re-up my contract in August, and this is my boss's home.

But...everyone at the office is really laid back and nice, I've met and had lengthy conversations with the boss's wife (she's a Cap grad), and I don't really have a valid excuse to offer if/when my co-workers and bosses ask me if I am attending.

I know the simple answer is to just show restraint and limit my alcohol intake - but it's margaritas we're talking about here. Oh what to do...

Dad

2005-06-20T15:32:00.000-04:00

In honor of Father's Day...

You can't pick your parents. But I am at a stage in my life where even if I could pick my parents, the ones I have are the ones I'd want. My dad is is one of the greatest men I know. Growing up he was my dad, basketball coach, math tutor, dance competition videographer, protector, chauffeur and friend. Now, he is my dad, supporter, and above all else my friend.

My dad had all girls. Girls for which he would do anything. At 23 years old, my Dad is still telling me to do what I need to do, not to worry about it and if I need anything, he'll try and take care of it. At 23 years old, my Dad is still the guy I call in tears when I've had a bad day, something bad has happened to me, or I need that extra bit of encouragement. At 23 years old, me and my sisters still refer to him as "Daddy". This will probably continue for as long as God allows.

This past weekend I went home to see him on Father's Day and told him I was sorry I didn't have a gift for him. He replied that just spending the day with me was the best gift he could have gotten. I don't know if he knows it, but he gives me a gift every time I see him - it's the pride in his eyes as he looks at me.

Victory

2005-06-16T16:52:00.000-04:00

Today in my mock arbitration hearing, Management (a.k.a. my side or the good guys) prevailed over the Union. This feels good. I was the Management advocate for the hearing and the Arbitrator who presided over our hearing stated that he found our witnesses to be more credible than the Union's due to "effective direct and cross examination by Management." My team was able to come up with good, solid questions to establish credibility - that's huge. Furthermore, a teammate complimented me on my job as advocate, asked me if I was going to pursue litigation, and called me "Ashley Hughes, Esquire" for the rest of the day. But this wasn't the best part of my day.

The best part of my day was realizing that I am in the right place. Law school, advocacy, hearings, the works - it's what I'm supposed to be doing. I could have advocated that case all day - in actuality we were limited to three hours. These three hours flew by because I was having the time of my life. My adrenaline was pumping, my brain was working, my professionalism was in gear and I was on autopilot. It was probably the most fun thing I have done in a long time. The "is this really what I'm supposed to do" question has been nagging at me and it nagged pretty fiercely yesterday. Today provided me with an affirmative answer to that question and I have never been happier.

I needed this day.

Conservative?

2005-06-14T21:33:00.000-04:00

And they say Republicans are boring and we don't make an honest living.

Gladiator Name

2005-06-13T20:44:00.000-04:00

At work, I am in arbitration school all week. It's pretty much being run like mock trial and I'll keep you posted whether my team dominates on Thursday.

Anyhow, another legal intern used to work at the radio station The Blitz, and he told us today that his DJ name was Twitch. DJs generally don't use their real names because they don't want people to know a lot about them. Sometimes they get nicknames or they take on a pseudonym, i.e. Samuel Clemens was Mark Twain. That got me to thinking, what would I want my DJ name to be? It's like the game I like to play where I decide what my name would be if I was ever on American Gladiators.

So as I'm thinking about the names I would find desirable as a radio personality or a mean, lean, fighting machine who can nail people with tennis balls from my machine as they race from weapon to weapon to hit my target, I realized that I'm really hard on myself when it comes to picking those names. I really want them to be perfect and fitting.

But after a lot of consideration, I think I finally have it. Ashley the DJ would be known as "Kitty Thomas" and Ashley the American Gladiator would be "Banshee".

And So It Goes

O-H-I love Jon Stewart-O

I'm back - sort of

Buckeye Faithful

The wind of change is blowing wild and free

I'm a loser

Bday Recap

I Heart TV

Dearest Emily

The Olympics here at Lex Park

15 on 15 Songs

A V-Day Tale

My morning at work

Am I the only one...

Ghostwriter

Orthopedic shoes, here I come

Just one of those days I guess

Just to let everyone know...

15 on 15 - Books

We can hardly stand the wait, please Christmas don't be late

Silence is golden

I'm back...with my top 15 on 15

Finals = no time for anything but school

I'm home for the holidays

The Law

My night of magic

Sorry for the delay

H-Pot

Lots of good things in the next couple of weeks

Future living

Lunch bunch

Bad omen?

Froggie Huey

Home sweet home

Nostalgia

Wonderful week

Woo!

Lingerie Letdown

Man, I feel like a woman

Holiday Fun

I *heart* Autumn

Financial Ruin

I'm sorry

Scalia is the best writer on the Supreme Court

Vaca Recap

Vacation

Good omen

Rant

I'm so excited

Oh the pain

Smorgasboard

Graham Colton Band rocks my world

A Proposal

Interviews

Baby Spears and the Supreme Court

O-H-I-O

New York New York

I love

Most wonderful time of the year

Elmer Vernon Ziegenhardt (1913-2005)

Life

Funny Email

The new me

Rent

Pictures

ABC, NYC, etc.

How much is that doggie in the window?

Here comes the bride

NSFW

My bank account is expanding but not my waistline

Musings

Oh Dad

Long time gone

Vacation

Personalized puzzle

QOTD

Go girl

Duck

TGIF

Like watching paint dry

I heart Autumn