That's right folks! This gal here is a resident of the #3 Place to live in the U.S.! ...according to Forbes. That's totally the reason I haven't moved to the city yet...mm hmm. Not b/c there is no way I can sell my place in this market and I have to fix it up big time before I can rent it out. But yeah. ya know. Number 3! It makes me feel better about not having moved to the city yet and being in the 'burbs of DC.
The article cites various factors in their decision making process, such as tax rates, independent water sources (we get out water from a spring...it's even bottled-the brita filter in my fridge is only for emergencies), affordable living, and household income (89k! hahahhaa...I SO do not contribute to that attribute/factoid.)
One thing it did not mention was the sense of community. It's a place where you can hang out at the pool on a Sunday afternoon and barter works among neighbors, plan a night of margaritas and swim with a gal you use to lifeguard with when you were a teen. Where working for 16 hours during a primary election is a day full of stories and smiles.
It has the small town atmosphere yet it's close enough to DC to enjoy all it has to offer.
Our Mayor and his family own a sweet shop/cafe. If that doesn't say friggin adorable town, then ppfffllllttt! Oh and 3 words; Chocolate Lovers Festival. Really? need I say more?
So we don't have too many highly educated 24-35 yr olds living here. They are living in Arlington, ya know, wearing brown flip flops and hanging out at the starbucks or the starbucks or the starbucks...
Maybe I'm waxing whatever to make myself feel better about my current living situation. But if so, then I've convinced myself that for now, it is a best place to live.
scenes from the weekend
Opening night of artomatic
I worked my volunteer shift at the beginning of the night with a fellow named Walter who provided much amusement as we found out we hung out at the same places years ago. We got to unload the beer from the truck and help out some band members (like the nice guys in Petworth) with dropping off their equipment and such. Hosting skills came in handy as they switched me to the front door. great group of friends came for opening night. Mused about fellow artist works. amazed and inspired by many. felt very humbled and realized I really need to get my art act together more. hung out on 9th and 2nd floor until zombie mode kicked in.
******
On the metro ride home...
two white dudes in their 20s apparantly got in a fight. I say apparantly b/c I was asleep with my library book open, wearing a hoodie and sneaks surrounded by drunken 20 yr olds wearing so much hair gel and sequence and takings dozens of dig pics I thought I was on the gay pride train. The train got quiet and people started moving to our end of the car. The short and scrawnier of the guys had blood all over his face and crisp white shirt-doing what I call the "angry seahawk". It's when a guy puts his arms out in a comfrontation way against the other person in a fight and usually 'say sup man c'mon'. I wonder what the fight was about... who twitters better ashton or john mayer perhaps? I mean what do white kids in their 20s fight about on the metro? My student loans from GW are higher than yours?
*******
At the engagement party in Cville...
BBQ and cupcakes. cute name tags and hawaiian shirt. Her Dad plays in a band, which of course played at the party. She and her Mom danced the night away-big bonus points! My 19 month old neice totally stole the show with her hip swaying and even b girl moves on the dance floor. I danced with my Grandpa to sweet caroline and wondered how much longer he would remember the words to the song and be able to dance with his jazz hands. My 13 yr old nephew is in his OMG this is sooo embarrasing! stage. My Mom was able to wrangle him for a few minutes to dance with him until he noticed my Dad taking their picture. The end of the night winded down with promsies for a trip to a nearby vineyard the next day.
*****
in Cville
Met Jenn for a yummy lunch in downtown cville. Went back to my car to see my hood ornament gone. sigh. The next car I own won't have a cool logo. There were distinctive fingerprints around it, but the police just said to fill out an incident report out online. Hung out in the nearby salad shop while doing so and looking up info about repalcement emblems. Talked cars with one of the guys there. the salad shop was one that Heather and I had talked about and wished they had one in nova. Its basically make your own salad. left feeling better but with 3 holes on the hood of my car. Everytime I lave cville I want to turn right back around and stay there. Its beautiful, in the moutnains, not too far from the water or DC and plenty of vineyards and microbrews nearby. I could open a strawberry picking farm I thought as I drove home, towards the traffic, towards the passive agressive emails awaiting my inbox at the office where I stayed until past midnight on a Sunday finishing up work that apparantly no one else can do and since I left an hour early Friday, I have to pony up. Pay 43 bucks for a new emblem and look at plane tickets to Denver for the end of September. Think more about selling my place and just renting in the city.
****
The emblem
I thought about not buying another emblem for my car. saving the money and such. I mean, its like botoxing an 80 yr old hooker. my girl has seen her days. she gets me to where I need to be and thats what matters right now. and it rides well too. but the more I look at the 3 holes in the hood the more it looks like a hooker who's wig has been torn off. combine that with all the rest of my cars imperfections and it just highlights how my car is falling apaprt. So I'll put the ornament back on and try to save what little beauty and dignity my car has left. Dignity can be bought for 43 bucks.
Opening night of artomatic
I worked my volunteer shift at the beginning of the night with a fellow named Walter who provided much amusement as we found out we hung out at the same places years ago. We got to unload the beer from the truck and help out some band members (like the nice guys in Petworth) with dropping off their equipment and such. Hosting skills came in handy as they switched me to the front door. great group of friends came for opening night. Mused about fellow artist works. amazed and inspired by many. felt very humbled and realized I really need to get my art act together more. hung out on 9th and 2nd floor until zombie mode kicked in.
******
On the metro ride home...
two white dudes in their 20s apparantly got in a fight. I say apparantly b/c I was asleep with my library book open, wearing a hoodie and sneaks surrounded by drunken 20 yr olds wearing so much hair gel and sequence and takings dozens of dig pics I thought I was on the gay pride train. The train got quiet and people started moving to our end of the car. The short and scrawnier of the guys had blood all over his face and crisp white shirt-doing what I call the "angry seahawk". It's when a guy puts his arms out in a comfrontation way against the other person in a fight and usually 'say sup man c'mon'. I wonder what the fight was about... who twitters better ashton or john mayer perhaps? I mean what do white kids in their 20s fight about on the metro? My student loans from GW are higher than yours?
*******
At the engagement party in Cville...
BBQ and cupcakes. cute name tags and hawaiian shirt. Her Dad plays in a band, which of course played at the party. She and her Mom danced the night away-big bonus points! My 19 month old neice totally stole the show with her hip swaying and even b girl moves on the dance floor. I danced with my Grandpa to sweet caroline and wondered how much longer he would remember the words to the song and be able to dance with his jazz hands. My 13 yr old nephew is in his OMG this is sooo embarrasing! stage. My Mom was able to wrangle him for a few minutes to dance with him until he noticed my Dad taking their picture. The end of the night winded down with promsies for a trip to a nearby vineyard the next day.
*****
in Cville
Met Jenn for a yummy lunch in downtown cville. Went back to my car to see my hood ornament gone. sigh. The next car I own won't have a cool logo. There were distinctive fingerprints around it, but the police just said to fill out an incident report out online. Hung out in the nearby salad shop while doing so and looking up info about repalcement emblems. Talked cars with one of the guys there. the salad shop was one that Heather and I had talked about and wished they had one in nova. Its basically make your own salad. left feeling better but with 3 holes on the hood of my car. Everytime I lave cville I want to turn right back around and stay there. Its beautiful, in the moutnains, not too far from the water or DC and plenty of vineyards and microbrews nearby. I could open a strawberry picking farm I thought as I drove home, towards the traffic, towards the passive agressive emails awaiting my inbox at the office where I stayed until past midnight on a Sunday finishing up work that apparantly no one else can do and since I left an hour early Friday, I have to pony up. Pay 43 bucks for a new emblem and look at plane tickets to Denver for the end of September. Think more about selling my place and just renting in the city.
****
The emblem
I thought about not buying another emblem for my car. saving the money and such. I mean, its like botoxing an 80 yr old hooker. my girl has seen her days. she gets me to where I need to be and thats what matters right now. and it rides well too. but the more I look at the 3 holes in the hood the more it looks like a hooker who's wig has been torn off. combine that with all the rest of my cars imperfections and it just highlights how my car is falling apaprt. So I'll put the ornament back on and try to save what little beauty and dignity my car has left. Dignity can be bought for 43 bucks.
Yes, the anticipation of the event deserved an all caps headline.
I went to artomatic for, embarrisngly I might say, the first time. I know, I suck as someone working in the arts field living in metro-ish DC area to not have been to it the other previous oooh 8 years. ooh but wait, I was in um richmond like 9 yrs ago. so there!
So last year I vowed I would participate this year. Goal acomplished! But alas, what did I do, even with a years worth of planning? I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to display and at the very last minute I embarked on a half a dozen different projects and threw something together at the last minute. So it's definaltely not the best representation of my work. But its not 100% crap either. well art is subjective.
If you have never heard of Artomatic, I put together a little FAQ for ya'll. a little more personal than the www.artomatic.org site gives ya
Q: What is Artomatic?
A: It's a 5 week long art showcase in Washington DC. There will be close to 1000 visual artist and hundreds of performance artist including musicians and dancers.
Q: When is it?
A: Opening night is this Friday May 29th and it goes until July 5th!
Q: How much does artomatic cost?
A: It's FREEEEE! although donations are greaty appreciated. This is an all volunteer based event. From the security personnel to the bartenders and etc.
Q Where is it it located?
A This year it is located at the Navy Yard Metro - Nationals park exit. Yes, the building is directly on top of the metro exit. Liteally. Come out of the metro and take a right, then take another right to get into the main doors. I highly encourage metro-ing there.
Q: But I can't ride metro b/c I get motion sickness/I'm agoraphobic/joe biden told me not to in order to avoid swine flu.
A: There is parking available- however, please look at the Nationals schedule before heading over. If there is a game, then parking is limited or wicked $$. OR make a day of it- drive in for a Nats game and come see the show! Let me know, I'd love to join:)
Q: What floor is your installation located?
A: The 2nd floor. my installation is pretty random and w/out much direction. much like my life. or my english papers. Please also see my dear frind Heather Borra o Donnell on the 9th floor.
Q: Is the artwork for sale?
A: It depends on each artist. If you do want to purchase a piece please note that artwork cannot leave the building until the end of the show-for security reasons. There is a marketplace which will be open on select nigts where artsts can set up tables and such and you can bring your shwag home w/you that day.
Q: Is this a family friendly event?
A: If your "family" is OK w/seeing nudes- both male nd female- um, then um congrats? er. Our artist -esp on the floor I'm on, really like to use their freedom of expression and the right to bare, well a lot more than arms. So use your own judgdement or see this as a time to teach junior about nudity and art- real art- not the ladies who are missing their clothing in daddy's magazines.
Q: Will there be beverages - mainly alcoholic ones? esp after I see them nude paintings near the elevators on your floor.
A: yes, there will be 4 bars throughout the building plus mobile drink carts! warning pleassseee bring your ID. We are told we need to card everyone. yes even -80 yr olds. not my rules. and if we don't follow the rules we'll be blacklisted for future artomatic events. All proceeds from beverage sales go to the operation of artomatic.
Q : Is this why we haven't seen/heard from you and you didn't congratuate me on my birth of a child/divorce/b day/breakup/growth on my neck.
A: pretty much/congrats!/congrats..er/happy birthday/congrats, I mean sorry/you really should get that checked out but I have a lovely scarf for you to borrow in the meantime.
Q: DC is kinda a hike for me. I'd be up for a weekend trip if thee is crash space available.
A: my place can sleep about 5. 6 if you're skinny and you like to spoon. or both. I promise I will have my cat's valium prescription refilled by then.
Q: How long does it take to see all the work?
A: 9 floors /1000 artists...it's like the louvre, you can't do it in a few minutes. Ok so its not exactly like the louvre-dan brown hasn't written a book about us and ya know, we're not in france...and stuff.. ok whatever. lots of stuff. take lots of time. enjoy. come back often!
Q:Are there any special nights to come, iek say, meet the artist night?
A: Yes, Funny you should ask! June 13th is meet the artist night!
Q: your cat's on valium?
A: you think these marks are from losing a battle with a ninja? no, these are from not feeding a feral cat at 5 a.m.
Q: Whom do you feel best explemifies your work in a time period persona nothwithsatanding the idealism behind impresisonism and the like?
A: dude, its called artomatic and I have a BFA from the top rated state art school in the country. so pffflllllt. leave your pretenses at the door and enjoy the show. and get a tattoo while you're there. I am ;)
I went to artomatic for, embarrisngly I might say, the first time. I know, I suck as someone working in the arts field living in metro-ish DC area to not have been to it the other previous oooh 8 years. ooh but wait, I was in um richmond like 9 yrs ago. so there!
So last year I vowed I would participate this year. Goal acomplished! But alas, what did I do, even with a years worth of planning? I kept changing my mind on what I wanted to display and at the very last minute I embarked on a half a dozen different projects and threw something together at the last minute. So it's definaltely not the best representation of my work. But its not 100% crap either. well art is subjective.
If you have never heard of Artomatic, I put together a little FAQ for ya'll. a little more personal than the www.artomatic.org site gives ya
Q: What is Artomatic?
A: It's a 5 week long art showcase in Washington DC. There will be close to 1000 visual artist and hundreds of performance artist including musicians and dancers.
Q: When is it?
A: Opening night is this Friday May 29th and it goes until July 5th!
Q: How much does artomatic cost?
A: It's FREEEEE! although donations are greaty appreciated. This is an all volunteer based event. From the security personnel to the bartenders and etc.
Q Where is it it located?
A This year it is located at the Navy Yard Metro - Nationals park exit. Yes, the building is directly on top of the metro exit. Liteally. Come out of the metro and take a right, then take another right to get into the main doors. I highly encourage metro-ing there.
Q: But I can't ride metro b/c I get motion sickness/I'm agoraphobic/joe biden told me not to in order to avoid swine flu.
A: There is parking available- however, please look at the Nationals schedule before heading over. If there is a game, then parking is limited or wicked $$. OR make a day of it- drive in for a Nats game and come see the show! Let me know, I'd love to join:)
Q: What floor is your installation located?
A: The 2nd floor. my installation is pretty random and w/out much direction. much like my life. or my english papers. Please also see my dear frind Heather Borra o Donnell on the 9th floor.
Q: Is the artwork for sale?
A: It depends on each artist. If you do want to purchase a piece please note that artwork cannot leave the building until the end of the show-for security reasons. There is a marketplace which will be open on select nigts where artsts can set up tables and such and you can bring your shwag home w/you that day.
Q: Is this a family friendly event?
A: If your "family" is OK w/seeing nudes- both male nd female- um, then um congrats? er. Our artist -esp on the floor I'm on, really like to use their freedom of expression and the right to bare, well a lot more than arms. So use your own judgdement or see this as a time to teach junior about nudity and art- real art- not the ladies who are missing their clothing in daddy's magazines.
Q: Will there be beverages - mainly alcoholic ones? esp after I see them nude paintings near the elevators on your floor.
A: yes, there will be 4 bars throughout the building plus mobile drink carts! warning pleassseee bring your ID. We are told we need to card everyone. yes even -80 yr olds. not my rules. and if we don't follow the rules we'll be blacklisted for future artomatic events. All proceeds from beverage sales go to the operation of artomatic.
Q : Is this why we haven't seen/heard from you and you didn't congratuate me on my birth of a child/divorce/b day/breakup/growth on my neck.
A: pretty much/congrats!/congrats..er/happy birthday/congrats, I mean sorry/you really should get that checked out but I have a lovely scarf for you to borrow in the meantime.
Q: DC is kinda a hike for me. I'd be up for a weekend trip if thee is crash space available.
A: my place can sleep about 5. 6 if you're skinny and you like to spoon. or both. I promise I will have my cat's valium prescription refilled by then.
Q: How long does it take to see all the work?
A: 9 floors /1000 artists...it's like the louvre, you can't do it in a few minutes. Ok so its not exactly like the louvre-dan brown hasn't written a book about us and ya know, we're not in france...and stuff.. ok whatever. lots of stuff. take lots of time. enjoy. come back often!
Q:Are there any special nights to come, iek say, meet the artist night?
A: Yes, Funny you should ask! June 13th is meet the artist night!
Q: your cat's on valium?
A: you think these marks are from losing a battle with a ninja? no, these are from not feeding a feral cat at 5 a.m.
Q: Whom do you feel best explemifies your work in a time period persona nothwithsatanding the idealism behind impresisonism and the like?
A: dude, its called artomatic and I have a BFA from the top rated state art school in the country. so pffflllllt. leave your pretenses at the door and enjoy the show. and get a tattoo while you're there. I am ;)
What is this I see before my eyes..oculd it be. No. no, it simply can't. It's been so long, I almost have forgotten what it looks like.i.it is..SUN! Holy bajesus there is a break in the monsoon and the clouds have opened and the heavens are shining upon us ..ahh euphoria on a Friday Good times.
Speaking of jesus and heaven and stuff...
Signs you perhaps drink a little too much beer. microbrews at that: during your nephew's confirmation ceremony, you notice that the Bishop's staff looks a lot like the tap handle for Magic Hat 9.
see:
and
I mean, it does seem appropriate b/c at times, or for some, drinking can be a religious experince. Some find god in church, I often times find it in a nice pint of beer.
So in my last post I made mention of growing a balcony full of fruitful vegetative bounty...from seed. Some might call this a recession garden. well, perhaps if I started planting the seeds when the recession started then I would have a garden by now.
Right now I have a bunch of 2 inch high seedlings. Which I can't tell appart except for the squash. Why? b/c er when I went to take them out of their starter pods into some cow pots (pots made out of cow manure!) and place them on the balcony to start their "hardening" phase. I um, I pulled a Gina (pulling a Gina can mean two things 1) that you do some klutzy thing that normally only happens in qauasi slapstick movies a la bridgette jones or 2) you fall alseep on a really comfy couch when a party is in full swing) I tripped and soil, pots seedlings went flying all over my balcony. my perfectly mapped out plan of where everything was planted was moot. On the plus side, I was able to save most of the seedlings and replant them.
So I have no idea what anything growing is at the moment. And holy crap does it take godamn long to grow stuff from seeds! And things that you think would be easy to grow like ooh petunias, yeah not so easy. But whatever, my organic hybrid heirloom tomatoes are doing well. I think. Or is that the basil? I try veery hard not to stop by those stands in shopping centers and buy already grown and ripe plants. must resist. I can do this. Stop taunting me you lucsious tomatoes, I will not take you home with me! ...I'm talking to fruit. this may be yet another reason why I am single.
Signs you are getting old...
You get excited about a sale at an upscale womens boutique outlet store aka Talbots. Where you run into your Mom.
And spekaing of my Mom. For mothers day there is something I want to give my Mom, but there is no way. I want to give her her sight back. She's currently learning brail. My Mom has Retinitis Pigmentosa. RP is a degneration of the rods and cones in retina your eyes. Night blindness, tunnel vision, cateracs and eventual blindness.
She has been classified as legally blind since 1976. So she has been legally blind before I was even born. We were always aware of her RP. Oftentimes it doens't phase me. Growing up bumming rides off ppl, or taking her arm at night to guide her are all part of normal life.
I sometimes think the reason I went into the art field was that I felt that since I am the only member of my family with perfect vision (supposidly) that I was to carry on the family art trade. use my gift of sight.
But the bittersweetness of that is there will come a time when my Mom won't be able to see the work I create. And if I continue with my current suckass luck with men, she probably won't see me get married or have children. But she is here with me, physically, emotionally, spiritually, as a hero, a friend, and a confidant....
and if you there a paaaartay aaaand invited everyone you knewwwwww you would see the biggest gift would be from me and the caaard attached would say Thank you for being a friend....
RIP Bea Arthur. Good night funny lady. glad I was able to see you in 2002. thanks for the memories.
Speaking of jesus and heaven and stuff...
Signs you perhaps drink a little too much beer. microbrews at that: during your nephew's confirmation ceremony, you notice that the Bishop's staff looks a lot like the tap handle for Magic Hat 9.
see:
and
I mean, it does seem appropriate b/c at times, or for some, drinking can be a religious experince. Some find god in church, I often times find it in a nice pint of beer.
So in my last post I made mention of growing a balcony full of fruitful vegetative bounty...from seed. Some might call this a recession garden. well, perhaps if I started planting the seeds when the recession started then I would have a garden by now.
Right now I have a bunch of 2 inch high seedlings. Which I can't tell appart except for the squash. Why? b/c er when I went to take them out of their starter pods into some cow pots (pots made out of cow manure!) and place them on the balcony to start their "hardening" phase. I um, I pulled a Gina (pulling a Gina can mean two things 1) that you do some klutzy thing that normally only happens in qauasi slapstick movies a la bridgette jones or 2) you fall alseep on a really comfy couch when a party is in full swing) I tripped and soil, pots seedlings went flying all over my balcony. my perfectly mapped out plan of where everything was planted was moot. On the plus side, I was able to save most of the seedlings and replant them.
So I have no idea what anything growing is at the moment. And holy crap does it take godamn long to grow stuff from seeds! And things that you think would be easy to grow like ooh petunias, yeah not so easy. But whatever, my organic hybrid heirloom tomatoes are doing well. I think. Or is that the basil? I try veery hard not to stop by those stands in shopping centers and buy already grown and ripe plants. must resist. I can do this. Stop taunting me you lucsious tomatoes, I will not take you home with me! ...I'm talking to fruit. this may be yet another reason why I am single.
Signs you are getting old...
You get excited about a sale at an upscale womens boutique outlet store aka Talbots. Where you run into your Mom.
And spekaing of my Mom. For mothers day there is something I want to give my Mom, but there is no way. I want to give her her sight back. She's currently learning brail. My Mom has Retinitis Pigmentosa. RP is a degneration of the rods and cones in retina your eyes. Night blindness, tunnel vision, cateracs and eventual blindness.
She has been classified as legally blind since 1976. So she has been legally blind before I was even born. We were always aware of her RP. Oftentimes it doens't phase me. Growing up bumming rides off ppl, or taking her arm at night to guide her are all part of normal life.
I sometimes think the reason I went into the art field was that I felt that since I am the only member of my family with perfect vision (supposidly) that I was to carry on the family art trade. use my gift of sight.
But the bittersweetness of that is there will come a time when my Mom won't be able to see the work I create. And if I continue with my current suckass luck with men, she probably won't see me get married or have children. But she is here with me, physically, emotionally, spiritually, as a hero, a friend, and a confidant....
and if you there a paaaartay aaaand invited everyone you knewwwwww you would see the biggest gift would be from me and the caaard attached would say Thank you for being a friend....
RIP Bea Arthur. Good night funny lady. glad I was able to see you in 2002. thanks for the memories.
So I continue to amaze my HVAC technician with how long I am willing to go without replacing my system. I think right now its about 22 years old. they usually have a life of about 15 yrs. I grew up in a house w/out AC... which OK happened to be in upstate NY so we didn't need AC in the house. Now living in northern virginia, ye ol' AC is often times needed. and by often, I mean the average person in NOVA turns their AC on around April and has it running full blast until November. But I try not to use it too often. I prefer to keep my place in a birkham yoga studio environment of 105 degrees. you never know when you might want to break out in the lotus pose.
OK fine, do you know how much money a new HVAC unit is? yeah, trying throwing that cost on your credit cards Hah! so instead i added about 200 bucks of frion to keep the bad boy running and I'll just plan on ya know, doing lots of birkham yoga this summer. ya know, get all zen and stuff. it'll be good. fabulous. really. sweat out the anxiety! ..um er anyone know anyone who can help me install some ceiling fans? anyone?...
Signs you work in the "overhead" department of a "not for profit"
1) your annual "team building" event is being held in the parking lot
2) which you have to use either vacation time or make up the time thorughout the week to attend this event
3) its a bbq (you're a vegetarian...) and you're still required to bring a side dish
4) no alcohol. the only activity aside from eating is a volleyball net overrun by weeds and ticks.
5) your 'all hands" meeting consisted of an hour long powerpoint presentation where no sustance was provided. byo...everything. whereas the other "techincal staff" departments got either pizza with cookies or 3 course meal with brownies catered. not from costco.
6) ppl who are in these "technical staff departments" argue about not getting married bc then they would have to pay 46k more a year in taxes...sigh. if only i had that problem. with my 3 jobs i worked last year...I prob make how much they currenlty get taken out of their taxes...
Speaking of money....
So if you ever want to randomly cry, you are more than welcome to look at my 403b statement from 08. the good news is that this past quarter in 09 i have gained .7%! so now i just need to gain 39.1% more to break even to what my balance was in 07! sigh. i'll be working FOREVER just like all you lovely folsk. we'll be wal-mart greeters together. work at bingo halls. it'll be awesomer than a golden girls rerun!
I was going to write a post yesterday about taxes and the whole tea parties - and make lots of bad jokes about tea bagging and the gov't. but yeah i was too busy doing my taxes...shadup
My latest money saving idea: growing my own garden from SEEDS! ok granted, instead of going to rite aide and buying those 5 for a buck packets of seeds i went online to a specaility seed site and spent well, a little too much money. c'mon, you can't grow just ANY type of eggplant on a balcony. yes, balcony. I'm atempting to grow over 30 varieties of plant life on my balcony. it can be done. it will be done. just you see. in ya know 3 months after they all germinate and stuff.
Metro Taking shape! yes virginia, it's true. all that clear cutting around the tysons area is to make room for the metro. by the time it gets here i'll prob have moved to DC or something. the island of capri, maybe. leave it to vdot and other folks to simutaneously have costruction of the HOT lanes as well as the metro in the tysons area. apparantly me taking mass trans to work would actually cost 8k more a year than driving. so its tough hippies. maybe i'll use my tax moolah to buy a used road bike on craigslist and bike to work. ya know, go full blown eco-gal, with my balcony veggie garden and biking to work.
OK fine, do you know how much money a new HVAC unit is? yeah, trying throwing that cost on your credit cards Hah! so instead i added about 200 bucks of frion to keep the bad boy running and I'll just plan on ya know, doing lots of birkham yoga this summer. ya know, get all zen and stuff. it'll be good. fabulous. really. sweat out the anxiety! ..um er anyone know anyone who can help me install some ceiling fans? anyone?...
Signs you work in the "overhead" department of a "not for profit"
1) your annual "team building" event is being held in the parking lot
2) which you have to use either vacation time or make up the time thorughout the week to attend this event
3) its a bbq (you're a vegetarian...) and you're still required to bring a side dish
4) no alcohol. the only activity aside from eating is a volleyball net overrun by weeds and ticks.
5) your 'all hands" meeting consisted of an hour long powerpoint presentation where no sustance was provided. byo...everything. whereas the other "techincal staff" departments got either pizza with cookies or 3 course meal with brownies catered. not from costco.
6) ppl who are in these "technical staff departments" argue about not getting married bc then they would have to pay 46k more a year in taxes...sigh. if only i had that problem. with my 3 jobs i worked last year...I prob make how much they currenlty get taken out of their taxes...
Speaking of money....
So if you ever want to randomly cry, you are more than welcome to look at my 403b statement from 08. the good news is that this past quarter in 09 i have gained .7%! so now i just need to gain 39.1% more to break even to what my balance was in 07! sigh. i'll be working FOREVER just like all you lovely folsk. we'll be wal-mart greeters together. work at bingo halls. it'll be awesomer than a golden girls rerun!
I was going to write a post yesterday about taxes and the whole tea parties - and make lots of bad jokes about tea bagging and the gov't. but yeah i was too busy doing my taxes...shadup
My latest money saving idea: growing my own garden from SEEDS! ok granted, instead of going to rite aide and buying those 5 for a buck packets of seeds i went online to a specaility seed site and spent well, a little too much money. c'mon, you can't grow just ANY type of eggplant on a balcony. yes, balcony. I'm atempting to grow over 30 varieties of plant life on my balcony. it can be done. it will be done. just you see. in ya know 3 months after they all germinate and stuff.
Metro Taking shape! yes virginia, it's true. all that clear cutting around the tysons area is to make room for the metro. by the time it gets here i'll prob have moved to DC or something. the island of capri, maybe. leave it to vdot and other folks to simutaneously have costruction of the HOT lanes as well as the metro in the tysons area. apparantly me taking mass trans to work would actually cost 8k more a year than driving. so its tough hippies. maybe i'll use my tax moolah to buy a used road bike on craigslist and bike to work. ya know, go full blown eco-gal, with my balcony veggie garden and biking to work.
my new diet plan:
well, let's look at the old one for a sec... measure everything, eat healthy, count calories, workout...and the scale no budges.
new plan: become so godamn stressed at work you live off of the fun size chocolate and candies in the admins basket, wine and whatever else your family forces upon you. the scale stays the same, but pants feel loser. meh. on the downside, the taste of stomach acid is pretty gross. so yeah...um, me thinks its time to start puttin ye old resume and portfolio together. on the plus side, the stomach acid has not damaged my teeth yet! that's according to my new dnetal hygenist who says they are beautiful! though she encourages me to start sleeping with someone to see if i night grind. totally my new pick up line.
So enough about me...
upcoming things to do!
Filmfest DC!
Earth day fest headined by the flaming lips! volunteer activities galore too!
Staurday from 2-4 art reception opening for fairfax city in old town hall.
moe to come and stuff...netx time..less on me..more for you! i'll sotp usign this as therapy soon. i promise, really. shadup
As if it wasn't hard enough to try not to strangle myself with my cat5 cable at work, now my mornings became more bleak. the radio station which my alram clock is set to wake me up in the morning has changed formats. now instead of waking up to the sounds of my fantasy boyfriends mick jagger and robert plant, i woke up this morning to...god, i think it was taylor swift. i couldn't listen too long b/c i started dry heaving and had to head to the bathroom and do shots of pepto.
And i went to their website and holy ...wtf. who the hell designed this shit?! I mean not only is their new name wicked lame 94.7 Fresh!..holy god. it looks like the graphic and web designers have a sick addiction to golden girls laying bathroom tiles circa 1978. I mean god, i know money is tight, but who the hell did they hire to do their new branding? some hack who got his degree online? maybe one of the DJs they laid off got a copy of frontpage or something.
And its not like the other "classic rock" station is any better- I turned to it and not only were they playing a COVER of the beatles, it transitioned into some sort of kenny loggins or rogers crap- you know one of those songs on those 20 disc CD sets which they try to sell with some washed up 70s song writer on some pre fab set where the background looks like they raided the housewares department at TJ Maxx.
this is what happens when I wake up before my alloted 4 snoozes. I become irate about stufff like..radio station formats and graphic design...and yeah.
anyhoo so yeah. work is. sigh ... i tried to write a blog entry the other day about it, but every other word was hate filled and basically the F bomb. I know things could be worse. listening to NPR this morning really humbled me as I hear about folks in Detriot being out of work for over 7 months. so my mantra lately has been " i have a job i have a job i have a job i have a job"
I also have a voodoo doll... given as a gift. more to use as a desk trinket. The first time i used it, it worked! ok, it could have been mere coincidence that the night i stuck a torn up note from my manager to the doll was the same night she got a wicked bad flat tire and had to call AAA. coincidence, kharma, voodoo whatevs.
oh p.s. if someone asks you what color you hair is- strawberry blonde or blonde, the correct answer is NOT "8w". eh, whatevs. ..i used to be a natural straw blonde. then i dunno. it started turning icky auburn and bleah. and so 8 bucks a 20 minutes will get you back to your roots.
Now if I could only get back to my happy place....
Hey Kids,
so um,. it's uh spring. ok i suck. i promise i'll have this up soon. a newly designed blog site to clog up the interwebs and add to your RSS feeds! yessssss. aren't you excited?
I have good reasons. really.
so um. i'm kinda having to be on my best behavior at work. yeah that whole bad reviews and i won't get into it or else i'll end up crying and throwing things and in the fetal position under my desk rocking back and forth saying things like she doesn' t even know where the fuck her godamn transfer folder is yet i get a fuckin 2- rating!?!!
good thing i currently only work 1 job, ditched grad school and am single, so i can spend extra hours in the office and then head to the gym where i am on a search to find my collarbone!
yes, my collarbone. or as some might put it- trying to get this fat off my body. yeah mother natures 31st birthday gift to me was a slow as fuck metabolism. and 10 fuckin pounds to boot.
seriously. it used to be you gain a couple pounds over the holidays, then you live off oatmeal and veggie soup and hit the gym for a few days and voila, back to normal. oh ho ho noooo not anymore. nooooope. go to the gym every day, keep track of every thing you eat in an excel spreadsheet and have a good looking guy pinch your fat. no, thats not something kinky. one of our trainers here at work is good looking and part of the class i'm enrolled in is doing this body comp where he takes out calipers and pinches my bare flesh. in several locations. so yeah, the last guy to see my bare middrift pinched it with a claw like device. hot. welcome to my life.
chubby girl on egg shells at work. awesome.
I've also been trying to get my condo clean and stuff. its quit a feet. when your dad says to you "you might want to clean it up so you can have some guests over of the male persuation" (yes, my dad talks all classy and articulate like that in a NY accent). so when your dad is essentially saying. dude, your place is a friggin stye, no man would want to come over to this mess. or no wonder you're not getting any boo taye - if you want a man you gots to gets this crib ca leeean ya dig? ..well then you know its time to start making a dent in things.
plus i am still pondering the plan to rent it out and move to da city.
so in essence...i'm alive. just, ya know. blah.
so I will def have this blog revamped so that i can have a fun outlet and stuff. just you wait and see! i'll get you my pretty! and your little dog too!
so um,. it's uh spring. ok i suck. i promise i'll have this up soon. a newly designed blog site to clog up the interwebs and add to your RSS feeds! yessssss. aren't you excited?
I have good reasons. really.
so um. i'm kinda having to be on my best behavior at work. yeah that whole bad reviews and i won't get into it or else i'll end up crying and throwing things and in the fetal position under my desk rocking back and forth saying things like she doesn' t even know where the fuck her godamn transfer folder is yet i get a fuckin 2- rating!?!!
good thing i currently only work 1 job, ditched grad school and am single, so i can spend extra hours in the office and then head to the gym where i am on a search to find my collarbone!
yes, my collarbone. or as some might put it- trying to get this fat off my body. yeah mother natures 31st birthday gift to me was a slow as fuck metabolism. and 10 fuckin pounds to boot.
seriously. it used to be you gain a couple pounds over the holidays, then you live off oatmeal and veggie soup and hit the gym for a few days and voila, back to normal. oh ho ho noooo not anymore. nooooope. go to the gym every day, keep track of every thing you eat in an excel spreadsheet and have a good looking guy pinch your fat. no, thats not something kinky. one of our trainers here at work is good looking and part of the class i'm enrolled in is doing this body comp where he takes out calipers and pinches my bare flesh. in several locations. so yeah, the last guy to see my bare middrift pinched it with a claw like device. hot. welcome to my life.
chubby girl on egg shells at work. awesome.
I've also been trying to get my condo clean and stuff. its quit a feet. when your dad says to you "you might want to clean it up so you can have some guests over of the male persuation" (yes, my dad talks all classy and articulate like that in a NY accent). so when your dad is essentially saying. dude, your place is a friggin stye, no man would want to come over to this mess. or no wonder you're not getting any boo taye - if you want a man you gots to gets this crib ca leeean ya dig? ..well then you know its time to start making a dent in things.
plus i am still pondering the plan to rent it out and move to da city.
so in essence...i'm alive. just, ya know. blah.
so I will def have this blog revamped so that i can have a fun outlet and stuff. just you wait and see! i'll get you my pretty! and your little dog too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
- Follow Us on Twitter!
- "Join Us on Facebook!
- RSS
Contact