What else is there after flooding?

Oh wait, how about food poisoning? I went out to lunch with my underwriter today and I guess I am being punished for going off of my diet. At first I thought, oh, just the rich food. But no, this is so much more than just some rich food illness.

And I have a test tomorrow that I absolutely cannot reschedule. So skiving off of work? Not really a point since I have to wake up early and go take a damn test anyway. At this point, if I fail, I don't care. Urgh, my stomach. Bright point: letter from my friend Al today. Thanks! I think I'll do the meme (read it as I do - mimi) my sister wants me to and then crawl into bed. Aren't you jealous of the wonderful week I'm having?

Three things you are wearing right now:
a grimace
stripey pajama pants
which coincidentally match my stripey underwear

Three favorite bands/musical artists:
Dave Matthews Band
Guster
Coldplay

Three favorite songs:
Typical Situation - Dave
Scars and Stitches - Guster
Mother - Tori Amos

Three things you want in a relationship:
a real, live boy!
humor
trust

Three physical things about the preferred sex that appeal to you:
oh lovely teeth (i guess you could lump that with smile, but honestly? TEETH)
hands
lower lip

Three of your favorite hobbies/interests:
reading
cross-stitching (look how similar we are sister!)
mindless TV/movies

Three things that scare you:
Falling
loneliness
those white bugs in our garden, like huge creepy albino worms with a big brown head. Ugh

Three of your everyday essentials:
lint roller
granola bar
book

Three drugs of choice:
advil
Today: Imodium AD
cookies

Three favorite toys:
Swiffer Wet Jet
my mini ipod
computer

Three careers you have considered/are considering:
well I am in insurance
author
dog/cat pamperer (in all its many aspects: shelter, kennel, dog walking service; all of which i own)

Three places you want to go on vacation:
California
Greece (stole that from my sister)
England

Three kids' names you like:
I do not feel like answering this one.

Three things you want to do before you die:
buy a brownstone and make it "home"
own a big, beautiful needy dog
actually try to write a book

Three celeb crushes:
Jimmy Fallon (was renewed today....)
Topher Grace
i should say Justin Timberlake but I want to say Adam Brody. You pick.

What holiday?

I am totally exhausted. First let me say that my Saturday was wonderful. I went home, planted a lot of flowers and spent some quality time with my mom and sister (even if I did go to bed early). It was a really nice day. This morning I went out to breakfast with my dad/sister, got a car wash and drove home which were all perfect Sunday activities. I was planning to come home, have a vacuum, maybe go to the zoo and then sit and watch a movie.

I came home to a couple of leaking ceilings, smelly (like a fish tank, not like poo) puddles of water and soggy everything. I went into a little breakdown with a considerable amount of panic involved, called my mom and figured out how to deal with this disaster. After calming down a little I went to my upstairs neighbor who said he had a clogged tub. He had called the landlord, they would fix it tuesday. I called the landlord and said, no, that is not acceptable, my apartment smells like a fish tank come fix this. The handyman comes. So does my mom. Thanks Mom! You really are the best mom ever! What other mom would just rush to downtown chicago to save their freaking out child (who is actually an adult now)?

Here's the real story. Jackass frat boy upstairs has had a clogged tub for a week or so and has been showering in it every day. It got worse, and worse, and was at the point of overflowing onto the floor before he called the landlord. On a holiday weekend.

I now officially have reason to hate my neighbor. Wonderful way to meet your neighbors for the first time, huh?

I'm going to go eat some lunch (cheese and pretzels probably) and lay on the couch with Harry Potter. What an emotional rollercoaster....hope your memorial day weekend was a little better than mine.

My life without me...

Very rarely am I serious on this blog. I don't think I'm generally a serious person. I don't think it would be easy or fun to live if you took life seriously.

I don't think that's what you come here for either, to hear about my political, religious or life views. Although they do get splashed in here and there, I guess I don't define myself by my views. Which some people do. I guess what else can you define yourself by? I don't know. I don't typically define myself any way.

I just watched a movie called My life without me...and it was really sad and it was the first movie in a long while that really made me think. What would my life be like without me? Who would be left behind and how would the world change?

It was really a very sobering thought process.

So how do I define myself? What would I do if I knew I was going to die in two months?

My half day off...

Today I had a half day off to go to the dentist. Nobody likes the dentist and I am no different from the masses. My teeth are soft and squishy, I get cavities if I smell sugar. So fillings, yeah, I'm a veteran. But I've never had issues where my "bite" was off and I'm therefore biting my filling and causing myself sharp pain whenever I eat. Twice now I've had my teeth slowly shaved away (or quickly, by a drill that can cause serious pain). This time lets hope I have no more issues. Note to self and anyone who is going to the dentist soon: do not eat pickles for lunch beforehand.

The dentist told me I have a deep bite. What does this mean? He also told me I have sharp cuspeds or something. I immediately pictured myself as a vampire.

I hung up some pictures just now. It turns out my wall is slanted (not surprising considering I live in an old building). So the bottom pictures are not resting against the wall, their bottom is free-floating. It looks a little weird, but I still like my pictures.

On the way home from getting my shots yesterday I saw a horrible sign on a pole that told me my area has been treated for rats. Who thinks about rats? Ew, rats. Mice are bad enough, but rats!

Ellsworth was a friend of roomie #1. I really only knew him our last semester of school (so exactly a year ago). He was in one of my classes. The last few weeks of school I was going out a lot (are you shocked? Don't be, I wanted to enjoy my last weeks of school) and I saw him out a lot. He wanted to try something and I said no. I'm not going to put his name out there or anything because that would be totally rude.

Two things...

Quick post, I'm tired and I've been a bit cranky today.

First, Ellsworth came forward. It was who I thought it was. For those of you who don't know who I thought it was, oh well! Let me know you're curious and I'll fill you in. For those of you who don't care who he is but want to know what happened: he's currently getting involved with someone else and I am therefore tossed aside. Which is a good thing. No offense Ellsworth (if you do still read).

Second, to roomie #1, I would love to see you. Last time you were in town I tried to get in touch with you via IM beforehand. I don't think you get my IM's. Let me know for sure what weekend you are in town next. If its June 17th (that weekend or the next) I'll be off to Hawaii and therefore unavailable.

Off to eat some diet food and study for a test I have next week.

Things to say...

I almost called this blog entry pontification, but that sounded snobby so I didn't. Good story.

I have some issues:

1. I always end up at the zoo. I went to a scrapbook store that was probably a mile away from the zoo, went even further south and then went to the zoo. I know Lincoln Park Zoo has been killing lots of animals, but oh well. I still like it there. On Saturday I didn't even end up looking at the animals (some seals, cows and pony's) much, I just walked through. I guess I just like zoo atmosphere.
2. Rugs are a weakness. Some people buy shoes, some collect teapots, I can't help but be drawn in by a rug. Don't worry family, I haven't bought one...but I need a new one for my kitchen. There was an unfortunate incident involving ocean fish catfood and I figured the smell/stain was there to stay. So the rug was tossed.
3. I have a friend who lives in Minnesota (see J over at bloggy bloggertons). She reads this, so I'm not talking about her behind her back or anything, but she's harrassing me to come visit her. Here is my logical thought process that always leads me to NO: she frequently comes to this neck of the woods to visit her family and has not once mentioned coming to see me or even asking me out to Naperville (although it would be nice if she saw my apartment). There was a housewarming, nothing. Since I do think it is much more convenient for her to visit, once she makes an effort, then I'll make an effort. Please tell me if I'm being unfair.
   

I convinced some poor person to go to Malkovich's play. Let me rephrase: Malkovich was excellent because I love him, but PLEASE do not go to that as your first play. It was still boring. Just not as boring as I thought. Go see Wicked.

On Friday's this summer I might get off at 11:30. Are you jealous?

John Malkovich...

For a really long time I've had this thing about John Malkovich. I can't really explain it because it's not like I want to jump his bones, I just really like him. Something about him can be really sexy (some of you may be thinking of the creepy dancing scene in Being John Malkovich where he's in a towel/sheet and dances around like a marionette - this is NOT an example of a time when I find him sexy. I haven't completely lost my mind. Not yet anyway). My thing probably started with Dangerous Liasions. For those of you who don't know, this is a classier, better version of that slutty Cruel Intentions movie. And then he was really sexy in a piggish bruty male way in Portrait of a Lady (can be slow, but worth the boredom). Anyway, i love him.

My point is, I got to see him in a play today. It was wonderful. I thought the play (Lost Land) was going to be horrendously boring. I mean really the only reason we went was John Malkovich. But it turned out to be better than I expected. And he was classically Malkovich. It was an experience I needed. Quite entertaining.

I had a fish named Malkovich once...

The Saturday of dreams...

So, a Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn flick is being filmed here. I've been told right near me, but we'll have to see about that. For those of you who don't know the area, the place Scott tells me its being filmed is an alley or a church. So I'm skeptical. But maybe it's near enough that i can gawk at Vince Vaughn sometime.

Today I plan to do nothing. First I will clean the bathroom and go to PetSmart and then I will do nothing. I can't really starve my cats or leave an empty litter box just because I don't feel like doing anything. I'm also planning to go to a scrapbook store for some needed powder blue items.

For those of you who don't know, I'm a participant in a "color book." Basically ten people have all bought a small scrapbook and chosen a color. We then send it off to someone on the list who does something artistic with that color. It's been very interesting although powder blue has me a tad stumped. All the other colors I had an idea right away.

And then tomorrow I get to see John Malkovich in a play. I've loved him for years now and am seriously excited. What a boring entry, huh? Oh well, they can't all be gems...

Update: Just found the coolest thing (waiting for someone in the building to finish showering I was wandering around the internet). Go here.

Home again...

Feels wonderful to be home. Trip was not nearly as scary as I had expected. Everyone was really nice and kind of in the same boat. The weirdest part is that I ended up knowing someone there. I mean, I didn't really know her but we had emailed and talked before in the course of business. So now I have my first insurance contact. She promised to send me applications as soon as I'm an underwriter....ha ha ha, take that underwriter that I assist!

On the way from the airport we listened to XM Satellite radio. I chose the "90's" station and quite enjoyed myself. I used to love that crappy dance-y pop music. I heard one of my "high school dance" favorites: Mr. Vain. Oh high school dances. How innocently we danced. I love to dance, but has anyone noticed that dancing at bars/clubs is like an invitation for nasty boys to grind their hard-on into your ass? Sorry, too much? I just wish there was somewhere to go where it would be hands-off dancing. Besides a wedding.

My cats don't remember me. Ok, that's a lie. But Mona was definitely hesitant. Boku actually came out right away to say hello and I almost touched her head. Then she ran for her life.

I have no noticeable color. I thought I was burning more than once, but it turns out I was red from the heat (SO HOT). No color.

Scott, one of my bloggy bloggertons over yonder, says that he doesn't like when blogs are all about "me me me." I see the point, but cannot avoid writing about me. Narcissistic?

Ok. Couch + me = hooray!

Hello from Scottsdale...

Didn't think you'd hear from me so soon, did you? Well, there are courtesy computers here at my hotel and I have 5 hours to kill, so I thought why not?

I do not like flying. I got here safely although I imagined 800 things going wrong (at the top of my list was the solar storm that could knock out all the electrical everywhere).

Ok, this spacebar sucks ass and i can't handle it any longer. I sat outside for about 10 minutes and i think i burned already. My plan was to spend the afternoon in the sun. But the high is 100 and I'm pale as shit.

I conversed with a cute boy in my shuttle. Unfortunately, he is staying at a different hotel,but interestingly he works as a chocolate salesman for Hersheys. Should have tried to get some free samples.

I quit. Off to my room to watch mindless TV and read. Maybe another 10 minutes in the sun? Nah.

Ah well...

Today I had lots of family in the city to go to a nature museum. I quite enjoyed myself except for the dreaded air conditioner. I am doomed to sweat through the summer. I have a fairly pungent personal odor when I get hot (i must be really enticing now, huh?) and I'm not excited about that.

I'm a little nervous about this business trip. One because I'm not the best flier, I tend to expect the plane to crash. Two because I can get a little awkward in social situations where I don't know anyone. But at least I should be able to spend some time lolling around on a lounger reading crappy romance novels. On Monday it's supposed to be 95. Maybe I'll be in my air conditioned hotel room after all.

On the cat front, Boku had a major victory today by coming out from hiding in front of all of my visitors. She does exist! And she is not evil looking, merely of darker coloring than Mona...

Lots to do tomorrow...laundry, packing etc. I may not blog for quite a few days (unless something exciting happens tomorrow) so ta-ta!

Should I...

I've been thinking about blogging about this all day, but I know that it will offend and dismay some of my readers (specifically my parents and anyone who likes to believe I am innocent). But I've not really held back on this blog, so why start now? Hell, I had my tattoo confession on here before. Another quick tattoo confession: i secretly (or not anymore) want another one. I know my friend originally wanted hers on her foot, and I saw a girl with the best tattoo on the arch of her foot..and i desired it. But I'll hold off on that one for a while. No need to "tat" up my body. God I hate "tat".

The real meaning of this entry is to express my growing concern over one aspect of my lifestyle. Or maybe non-aspect is more correct. My fear is that I will be celibate for the rest of my life. I'm not an experienced girl by anyone's standards (except maybe a crazy, celibate 60 year old virgin - these do exist, and one used to work at my office. But she broke her streak and got married before I ever started work there). I'm not ever going to be the type to pursue recreational sex (sigh of relief parents?). But I'm 23. It's starting to drive me a little mad.

Too much information? Eh, you could have stopped reading when you started to feel weird. But you didn't, did you?

I almost cried at work today. So cliche huh? But honestly, I am starting to hate my underwriter. I do like her, although i don't respect her. Today she was in panic mode (because she left early yesterday and was dealing with a personal issue all day monday, and the drinking episode friday). She took it out on me and blamed me for a chance we missed. I explained that I had discussed it with another underwriter (who of course doesn't remember) and she started to ream me out about how she needs to underwrite the file before I can tell people things, blah blah blah. I knew what I was talking about. I did ask another underwriter. It's my own fault for not writing a note on the file that I had discussed it, but leave me alone. I'm going to be good at this and you hate it. Its come to my attention that she is resisting all efforts to train the new assistant. I'm tired of being someone's bitch. If this is going to last too much longer I'm not going to make it.

With that I go to bed. Lucky for me and her she will be in a meeting all day tomorrow and gone on Friday. I may be bitchy. At least I'm away for all of next week.

An observation...

Boys should have to wear engagement rings.

Don't you get me...

Happy Mom's day Moojy...hope you had a nice day golfing and eating!

Today was absolutely gorgeous, it was perfect. I came home early, unpacked and took a walk to the zoo. How nice is it to walk to the zoo?? I love it. The crowds were crazy and I honestly didn't stop and look at much. Kind of just a nice walk with exotic animals. Can't wait for more zoo babies. Right now its mainly monkeys. You know what I noticed? Not so many people go to the zoo alone. Wonder why...

My sister already mentioned my bro's prom and feeling old. She really captured the feeling, so I won't repeat it. Go read it.

I was driving home this morning listening to my "dance" music CD, because sometimes I need pop music and Britney Spears (not often. I think I enjoy it for two reasons: the beat and the fact that I sound almost as good as her with my tone deaf voice). Anyway, a song came on that I think of as my "getting busy" song. Not because I usually get action to this song (in fact, that has never happened), but because it always makes me want to get some. Does anyone else have a song like that? You hear it and you think, wow - i could use a good make out? No? Just me?

Should be a fairly short week and then I'm off to Phoenix! I can't even imagine how wonderfully warm it is there. Oh wait, I can...according to weather.com its 80 there today. And when I get there its going to be 88. Ah ha ha ha...yay!

Blogging frenzy...

I just watched the Notebook. Sappy, but worth the time. Sometimes you just need a good cry.

I think I need a date. For real. I think I may be at that point where I almost would go look for one. I mean, its been a long time over here, and probably some of you out there are thinking, well damn its about time (shut up you). So now the only problem is how to proceed. I'll have to give it some thought.

I'm off tomorrow to spend the day with the mom, watch the brother get in a tux, marvel at the trashy dresses girls are wearing nowadays and do some errands. I am such a silly girl that I hate leaving the cats here alone overnight and its starting to cause panic and sorrow to think of leaving them for three solid nights for Scottsdale. And then there's Hawaii.....

I thought Mona had stopped liking me while Mandy was here. I think she was just being shy. She never once got on my lap with Mandy around, but the second (literally) she walked out the door Mona jumped up on the couch with me. It was weird, but i'm a little relieved over here.

I'm off. 'Til Sunday probably...

I have frustration...

I have three things to say. I'll get through the one that is making me angry first. Way back when, I blogged about the slackers at work who don't do anything when the bosses aren't present. My sister mentioned that she and her friend T believe they would be those slackers. I challenge you both to confess if you would be so bad as the following:

Today is a busy day. Fridays generally are. My underwriter was swamped. I personally put two or three rushes on top of her pile around 11. At about noon she left her office for a meeting (please note that the rushes were still on the top of the pile). She never came back. The meeting was in the VP's office. They chatted (I'm right near the door and this was no meeting) and then decided to go for lunch. She came back around 4. That is 5 solid hours of slacking. Not only that, but at 4:10 she left for the day. And should I mention that she reeked of alcohol and called me "Katie-doo" before she left? Do you really think that you could have so little respect for your job that you would do that A and T? I lose respect for her everytime she does this. Not only does this leave her clients screwed (many an angry person called me) but it also ruins my afternoon listening to these people bitch. At one point I had to go ask another underwriter to do some of her work. I think I wouldn't have minded had she left at noon with a beautiful clean desk and no stack of rushes. I may have even laughed at the "Katie-doo" incident. But not today...oh no...not today...

On another work note: boys, you may want to skip this paragraph. It really is meant for the girls out there. Although you may be curious about this. By this I mean douching. Every so often (at least once a week) I end up in the bathroom with a certain co-worker. I think she douches every time she goes. There are interesting noises coming from her stall and I've decided it's either douching noises (i've never douched, so how would i know?) or some sort of drug that I'm too naive to know about. Is it really necessary to douch every time? Or at all? Has anyone out there douched before? You can leave comments anonymously...

I'm getting to this strange point with one of my friends where I just don't care. Sometimes friendships fade, and in most cases they fade mutually. In this case, I do believe it isn't mutual and I have no clue how to proceed. Or if I should proceed at all. What is the right way to deal with it? Just not deal with it?

I'm off to lay on the couch. The stomach is knotted. I don't know why. Not in a nervous way but in a painful oogy way.

Today was...?

I shouldn't be in a good mood. Honestly, I got very little sleep last night. I went to bed much later than usual and woke up this morning at 5 unable to fall back asleep. Sleep is important to me and I didn't get much. This usually guarantees crabbiness.

Then, my L breaks down. Not just a 5 minute break down. A 25 minute, train ends up dropping us at the next stop break down. We sat (or more accurately stood) on a packed train, broken so no air for 25 minutes. Only to be unloaded at the next stop and told we would have to cram onto the following trains. Think this through. Every stop behind us had crowds on the platforms because they also were delayed for 25 minutes. So I ended up jamming on to the third train that came past. And I was 35 minutes late for work, sweaty and stressy. As far as L issues go, I hope that was my worst one.

Work was fairly good today. Everyone was cheery because of the weather.

I noticed that often when my hands end up on the wrong keys and I go to start an email to someone I write Gu. And it always makes me giggle.

I get indian leftovers tonight! Oh tikka masala, i love you....

One more thing...

On the whole I don't think old men should call young girls assholes. I think it really made him look like the asshole.

I wanted to mention that Carol Kane was in the play last night. In case some of you are scratching your heads (which I would be too) she was in the Princess Bride. She was the old lady, Billy Crystals wife. Unforgettable really.

The other two famous people were some guy from Married with Children (he was the wizard) and a chick from Sabrina the Teenage Witch (she was the wicked witch of the east).

Ok, have to go get ready to go to work.

The joy and pain of the theater...

Quick blog about Wicked. It was entirely enjoyable. I loved the play from start to finish. I have to worry and warn though that the wonderfulness did revolve around the actors and the singing. So to those seeing the "Chicago cast" rather than the "traveling cast" I don't know if it will be as good.

Katy preferred the second act while I preferred the first. She said its because the wicked witch was evil in the second act. I preferred the first because it had more laughs. I guess that just shows you what Katy and I each love. She loves evil, I love laughs. Maybe that's why Boku was drawn to her and stared at her so evilly. Because evil likes evil? HA! Just kidding Kate.

An old man and his wife called me an asshole as I got in my cab after the theater. Please note that it was MY cab. I most definitely hailed it and the door was pulled up straight to me. He said I stole his cab. Clearly not mister, since you came running up from behind to get to the door. I was the one standing there. Who's the asshole? And to think, a family would get in a cab while watching a single girl in the city stand by the curb. No siree. I let him call me an asshole and ignored him completely. Asshole.

Off to bed. Keeping Mandy awake with my typing...to sum it up: Go see Wicked. Maybe the Chicago cast will be better and I'll be sad...

A little slack please...

Well, it seems that my friends are angry with me for promising a blog entry that I did not write. I forgot for a few minutes that I had a houseguest coming. I got busy and forgot to blog. Sorry to disappoint.

Yes, Mandy is staying for the week. She has finals (I do not envy her) and didn't want to commute from Champaign. So my apartment has become an inn. Only for specific situations though so don't get any ideas all you bums out there. I do realize that I am a little set in my ways. I can't help it, a routine has formed...but its nice to have another person around. Ask me again at the end of the week though...I'll be ready for some alone time (nothing personal to you Mandy).

To Ellsworth: Sorry I've been postponing. I just guess I wasn't in the mood for all the mystery. I have a good idea who you might be though, so watch your back - the jig may be up.

#1: I know a lot of boys I don't want to date. But at the same time, I know very few boys. Which is why I don't have dates because all the boys I know I don't want to date. Maybe I should rephrase: almost all the boys I can think of fall into three categories: 1)dated them (so I probably don't want to go back and try again) 2)had weirdness where one of us wanted to date and the other didn't (so these boys almost all fall into don't want to date, i can think of one where there was weirdness and I still might try. But one...not good odds for you Ellsworth) 3)Boys I only kind of know who I am pretty sure aren't you, I didn't date, and there was no weirdness. So see, you fall into category 1 or 2.

#2. I am always the one saying we should get an appetizer. I like appetizers. I love food. Ask my friends. I'm always the one trying to cram us to the gills. But that is no more. I'm on a diet for real.

Questions for you: #1: Did you go to college? If not, why not? If so, was it a brilliant experience that you will forever refer to as the best years of your life?

#2: What's your favorite body part? on you...and on a girl.

And now, a little PS to you Ellsworth. My sister just told me she's getting bored with the whole thing, and I must be honest, question #2 was hard to think up. You're going to either have to fade into the mist or declare yourself soon. Very soon.

Exhibit A...

I offer the following as proof that my second cat (not often seen by visitors) is not evil. My mom and her friends say she has evil coloring.

She's the one on the left.

Can you really call this evil (click on picture to see larger, more convincing picture)? Will blog again later tonight.