01/25/11

I have a mouse. And it's not cute like Jerry, but is rabid and has beady red eyes and scampers. Actually, I have no idea what it looks like, but when I'm trying to fall asleep I can hear it darting and clawing and chewing in my ceiling. I just imagine this furry critter eating a whole in my ceiling and dropping on my chest in the middle of my slumber. It's horrible. And it's driving Tinga berserk. She's been on sentinel duty and won't leave her post until I relieve her. She's a loyal soldier. Except when she decides to go AWOL. Last week she got a bit of fresh air when she sneaked out like a rebellious teenager. I got home from work and was literally sobbing and panicked because I couldn't find the little devil. I finally found her sitting calmly by the side sliding door...outside. And you know, she was actually mad at me. The nerve! All that night she kept slapping my arm with her paw and giving me these 'you're a bad mom' look. Seriously, I think I have been demoted from hero in my kitty cat's eyes. My cape has been stripped.

This past weekend was unusually social and busy. Friday night we watched Sunset Boulevard with Brad & Ashlie in the basement of their house on a projector. It's pretty much going to the movies, but maybe better since price of admission is free and I can sip on beer while enjoying a flick. His basement is lovely and decked with blankets and a couch. It's rather perfect except for this creepy doll that is hanging from the wall and blankly stares. It's kind of unnerving, and I think it was coveting my drink. Next up on the queue is Dogville.

Saturday night, we played board games with Tyrone and Lauren. I've known this entire time that Tyrone is not a beefy, black man, but it was still shocking (maybe even a let down?) to finally be introduced to the famous Tyrone, a red-headed Anglo-Saxon. Cool thing about Tyrone: he used to play bball with Jason Terry in Seattle when he was a teen. Unfortunately, their relationship never budded outside of that one summer on the courts, so no freebie court side tickets or autographs. Ben and I kicked butt at Taboo, and realized that partner games, competitive games, games in general might not be the best social activity when playing against two must-win-at-all-costs people. Welcome to the high tension zone!

I started taking Salsa classes on Monday nights with Elisa and Allyn. The class is an hour of me shaking my hips and switching partners every minute. Everyone would awkwardly introduce themselves and it felt a bit like speed dating. The class is hilariously predictable. There are the three couples made up of ebullient, hip-swaying females and sad, obedient husbands. Then there is the older man who is looking for a hobby to fill his time and the two younger guys who are obviously there to pick up ladies. The class is held on the top floor of a building and it makes me feel like I'm in the movie Center Stage.

Happy Birthday Pops! I love you & miss your goofy-butt like crazy!!

01/17/11

According to the Chinese calendar, 2011 is my year. It’s the year for the furry, cotton-tail, carrot-eating rabbits! So far: 2011 is A-Okay. The good: Got a job. The bad: Bowser sounded like a teapot until K&S Auto performed $300 worth of repairs.

The good: I successfully completed my first work week! I was so anxious that I didn’t sleep a wink the night before I started. I really just tossed and turned all night long like it was Christmas Eve instead of the First-Day-of-Work-for-the-Rest-of-My-Life (which is slightly more ominous and depressing than presents). Despite having a vat of caffeine that day, I think I’m going to like it there. My boss/owner of the company is crazy. She called me back to her office to help her figure out why she couldn’t get volume out of her speakers. She was watching youtube trailers for Portlandia and then started talking about Bridalplasty. Also, during the tell-a-bit-about-yourself in the team meeting, she put a squash to the NE vs SE debate by informing everyone that she was a NW, hills kinda-girl because she was rich. Her daughter, my guardian angel that offered me the position, is a raw foods enthusiast and is known to make a pretty awesome non-bake apple pie. The girl training me looks a lot like Vanessa from Gossip Girl and says the word ‘totally’ like she’s back in the 90s. I’m fairly certain that is going to rub off on me. It’s going to be the 2003 ‘honey’ fiasco all over again. And everyone else is really great and quirky too.

The bad: My poor truck had a bad spell and made a whistling noise whenever I had my foot on the accelerator. I took my truck to 80^th and Sandy, and this hilarious Asian man got him back to snuff. Apparently, the front brake pads were worn out. It was a three hour operation in which I spent in this renovated coffee shop down the street. The coffee shop played bluegrass music and gave me free coffee. This man walked in and spent a chunk of time telling me about his days in Jacksonville being a carpenter and then changed the subject to his bike. He kept telling me that I was nice.

Lately, I’ve been playing Cribbage with my roommates. It reminds me of Dane and also makes me feel like a 60 year old lady. I haven’t won yet, but I can feel that the next game is mine! I've also been playing some Mah Jongg lately. Ben bought me my very own set for Christmas!

Today is Ben’s birthday!! I took the birthday boy out for the best mac&cheese in Portland(except he didn’t actually order mac) and tonight we’re celebrating with Bryan and Lizzy at Russel Street BBQ. He had a small shindig last Friday:

01/09/2011

Announcement the First:

I GOT A JOB! Is everyone out there enjoying a sigh of relief and whispering the word finally over and over? I'm not going to lie, I really thought this day would never happen. Gosh, that sounds like something you say on the day of your wedding. Regardless, I'm ecstatic. ELATED. OVERJOYED! The job specs: I am the newly hired accounting assistant for a small bookkeeping firm, Susan Matlack Jones and Associates. It's a part-time position with

potential to grow into full-time. Perks: My office building is located in Old Town and overlooks the Chinese Gardens (Zen lunches!), this is my current, realistic dream-job and IT'S NOT THE MACARONI GRILL (I had an interview last week for a waitressing position at the Mac Grill. Not carrying trays of Italian food: score! Not working nights&weekends: score again! Not having to write my name with crayon on a paper tablecloth 20 times a night: winning score!)

Announcement the Second:

I got a gym membership with 24 Hour Fitness! A few times a week I now lift weights and exercise on the elliptical while listening to mash-ups. My goal is to whip my butt into shape. I've spent too many hours reading blogs and watching Bones on Netflix (Pops, this Bones business is all your fault). Perks: Gym clothes are cute and I get to check out hunky, buff boys (Sorry Ben! But you know my eyes will never stray past you :) Cons: It hurts

Announcement the Third:

This blog is being updated on my brand spakin' new laptop! Thank you Santa Clause (aka mommy & daddy)!! My new beaut is one hunkin' machine that causes my forearms to horripilate every time I use it. No joke. This thing is amazing.

Announcement the Fourth & Final:

I finally watched Gone With the Wind. My reaction: How can a movie that is 226 minutes long end on a cliff-hanger? I realize that the viewer could soundly assume that Scarlett O'Hara does eventually get the man given her tenacity and determinatio

n throughout the movie. But still! Frankly my dear, I don't

give a damn! Also, why did the Victorian/Southern Gentleman fashion have to go out of style?

2011 Resolutions:

I hope to start writing in my blog a couple of times a week (fingers crossed).

I hope to be a gym rat this year.

I hope to start crafting (first on the list is knitting a scarf).

I hope to cook at home more frequently than I eat out.

I hope to stay in touch with family and friends better.

I hope to travel more in 2011.

I hope to make lists and take more photos.

New Year's kiss

Tynan, Ben and Me wearing

matching snuggies

11/18/2010

It's getting cold outside and all I want to do is eat soup and make Christmas lists. Really, it's ridiculous. My pantry is stocked with onions and chicken broth. And my Christmas list is looking a little greedy.

I'm sorry for the absence. Do I apologize too often? I know I do, sometimes it's just hard to not be lazy. I think I need a healthy dose of dedication. Mostly, I just get a tad behind, then I get bogged down, followed by a case of the "where-do-I-starts?", finally ending with an "I'll just update later." It's a total downward spiral.

Today, I'm temping for Laika, the company that produced Coraline! There are Coraline models in glass cases, framed Coraline posters hung on the walls and the different sets displayed throughout the office. I keep wishing Neil Gaimon will waltz through the front door. I also wish they had the movie playing up at the front desk. I kind of like the absurd idea of working in 3-D glasses. Other than a few last-minute fill-in jobs, work has been pretty slow. I've been spending most of my days crumb-bumming in bed and looking at recipes with Sex and the City on in the background. I've found that I'm kind of becoming obsessed with food. I spend a chunk of my day researching dinner ideas, grocery shopping and getting some quality kitchen time in. I think I might need to get another hobby. And maybe a gym membership.

I'm mega-ultra-to the zillionth power excited about visiting for Thanksgiving! Bonbon is spoiling me and making a turkey this year! I've never been a fan of Gobble, Gobble Day, but after my discovery that traditional Thanksgiving dishes are actually quite palatable, I'm rather looking forward to gorging myself on turkey, stuffing and pie! I might even induce a turkey coma this year! On top of the awesome food I will be masticating, I'll have nine days of fun time with family and friends. So Dallas, get ready!

11/01/2010

I wonder if I subconsciously sabotage myself by wearing white on the days that I pack tomato sauce/soup/colorful foods that stain for lunch? Why does it never occur to me in the morning in between yawns that red food and white sweaters is an embarrassing, never-coming-out splotch waiting to happen? Why couldn't it have been peanut butter sandwich day?! I need to invest in a Clorox pen.

Halloween weekend was mostly spent pigging out on candy from the care-box my mom mailed and watching campy horror movies on Ben's couch. Vincent Price is creeptacular (The Abominable Dr. Phibes!) and I now understand why Wes Craven's Last House on the Left was banned from the UK until 2004. Pretty much I looked like this on the couch:

(Pictures from Hyperbole and a Half)
I think I have officially gotten my fix of blood/guts/murder/rape/necrophilia and all those other delicious things that horror movies have to offer. At least we passed on the slasher flicks! After our weekend marathon of scary movies, Tynan (Ben's roommate who actually stayed awake during these films and not: Double Indemnity, Dr. Strangelove, Singles, Crazy Heart... I think you get the pattern) and I agreed that we needed a good healthy dose of Rom Coms stat.

On a regular basis the Skidmore house (minus the replacement roomie) spend a solid chunk of time lamenting the loss of Dane. We'll go around in a circle and swap our favorite Dane memories. We're a sad, pathetic bunch and if only Dane could play Bob Dylan's greatest hits record one more time! After looking sad and longingly at each other, we usually end our conversations with, "I wonder what Dane is up to right now?" and spend some time on his facebook page. I'm saying this with complete sincerity, we sorely miss Dane.

Did I mention that Ben picked me up an Ipod Touch from a coworker? Did I also mention that I haven't stopped playing pinball all weekend? In fact, I've stopped writing this post twice to take a Deep Pinball break. On the commercial breaks during the Mavs game I whipped out this baby. It's engrossing and lethargic and I'm pathetic.

Everyone around me is getting the sniffles and sore throat. Lauren has mono, my boss has caught a bad case of the cold (she called in sick twice last week and claims to have "broken a rib from coughing so hard) and Ben isn't feeling 100% either. I keep washing my hands and eating lozenges as my pre-meditated attack on the fall bug. Don't you just love this time of the year!

10/28/2010

I'm kind of obsessed and in love with fall right now.

This is the view from my bedroom window




Aggie Spirit Trees

10/26/2010

Due to popular demand, actually the nagging of two individuals, I suppose it is time to begin updating this again. WAH! I'm so far behind! It's daunting. Believe me, on numerous occasions I sat down to post, but then I got side tracked by new recipes and web comics (Melinda!) and other people's pretty picture blogs.

Since trying to cram a busy/whirlwind month into one entry will be the length of a novella, I'm going to stick to the highlights much like a Christmas letter.

First off, it's fall. All the trees are changing colors and the weather is cool and crisp and drizzly. It's absolutely beautiful and all I want to be is a slugabed. And eat stews and soups! And plan trips (starting with a stay in the "sweet room" at this hotel in Milan: http://www.maisonmoschino.com/en/maison-moschino-rooms-suites). Speaking of trips, my dates have been set and I will be in Dallas for Thanksgiving & Christmas! Deck the Halls with Turkey, Stuffing, and Pie!

Second, I have a new house! It's slightly out of the norm, but I'm walking distance to bars/coffee/and Whole Foods. We're kind of a scraggly bunch of roommates, but it seems to work. So here's the skinny:
-The Landlord: He lives in an attached apartment and watches a lot of game shows. He had a stroke and now can't use the right side of his body. Due to the stroke, a ramp has been constructed to get in/out of the side of our house (bike ramp too, score!). His 95 year old mother visits twice a week and has Alzheimer. She's a huge fan of cats, so there are a bunch of kitty magazines laying around the house. Tinga can't wait to meet her. Also, there is a permanent nursing home fragrance in the house (I think they are to blame).
-Dave: He lives in the basement with his up-to-my-waist pooch, Whiskey, who is a complete scaredy cat. So far, Whiskey just stares at me and keeps his distance. I tried bribing him with doggie treats shaped like steaks, but he's a smart lass and must have been privy to my plot. Dave is the house keeper and does all the cleaning/odd jobs. He enjoys painting and baking brownies and cheesecake.
-Gery: He lives upstairs and his door is decorated in Native American style which I find odd because he isn't even partially Indian. He has a little Chihuahua which is permanently glued to his arms. Seriously, his pup is an accessory. He makes Ramen Noodles almost every morning for breakfast, and is a pool shark at night. His trophies are adorning our window sills.
-???: He lives upstairs as well. I met him once and accidentally offended him by addressing him as the 'elusive roommate.' After that we had an incredibly awkward conversation about the toaster. According to Dave, he's 24 and a workaholic.

My room is huge and it's totally quirky.
Pros: There is a faux fireplace and a hidden closet. I can climb out my windows on to the roof of the house. My very own internet.
Cons: I live off a fairly busy street and the sound of cars is a permanent white noise. I have hardwood floors that collects dust and spreads Tinga's litter all over and is extremely cold to my bare footsies in the morning. There is no overhead light, so the room gets a little dark at night, but it kind of makes me feel like Jane Austen (don't ask me why).

Work front: I'm currently temping in Lake Oswego in the hr department for a couple of weeks. The company is a school that provides mental health treatment to children. The school is decorated in Hogwarts theme and I'm kind of loving Snape's Potion Lab. Yesterday the heat went out, so today everyone brought space heaters and heavy coats. Also, the sweet fairy keeps leaving sugar cookies in the break room.

Ben and I have been somewhat glued to the tv this past week playing Heavy Rain (for all those with a PS3 GO BUY NOW). And Ben is now going to be perma-glued since basketball starts this week. Oh joy! At least it gives me an excuse to make chili (or do we need to be watching football for chili?)!

I'll try to be better/more frequent with my updates.