Good Things Friday - Trashy Novel Edition

Mom & Da are here
So I'm soaking of the 'everyday-ness' of it
Since I don't get to see them this much ever
It's lovely and relaxing
"If we were any more relaxed we'd be dead." - Da
I'm reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
It's a totally trashy historical novel
About a time traveling WW2 nurse
And a kilt-wearin' Scot named Jamie
It's short on history and long on trashy
With lots of thrusting and bodices and dirks and whathaveyou
Can't imagine what I'd do if some charming 18th century Scottish brut asked me to meet him in the stables at noon
Who the hell am I kidding?
I know exactly what I'd do
SlimFast Rich Chocolate Royale is delicious
Went to dinner with the You-Know-Who's Wednesday night
Ordered my new iPhone
It'll be here August 18
Sold my Mac Air
The check will go towards an iPad
Attended my very first board meeting Tuesday night
And immediately wished I'd paid more attention to the parliamentary procedures part
Of whatever that class was in high school
I remember someone I didn't know very well
Calling it parli-pro
And thinking a) she's such a smarty pants and b) Woop di freakin' do
Anyhow it's never too late to regret something you did (or didn't do) in high school
Dave's column on immigration law at Rather Than Working
It's fantastic
Because no one ever talks about the employers hiring "illegals"
And why don't we have a disparaging/vaguely racist name for them?
Went to Corbin's 50th birthday party last Friday
People wore crazy 70s costumes
I'd forgotten about the white tube socks with stripes
And the curling iron induced 'flip' hairdo
"If it doesn't make sense, it's probably not true."
Finding new music from my cousins via Facebook
Like this one: The Conversation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: Conversations about projects
I am reading: About Jamie the hot highlander
And I am: Relaxed

Good Things Friday - Bending the Truth Edition

Susie was here for a long weekend - it was lovely, catching up and shopping and laughing
Discovered a new cheap yet delicious wine: Barefoot Shiraz ($5 at Walmart)
Delicious
Got an owl necklace similar to this one for $3.80 at Forever 21
Never would've gone in there if it weren't for Susie
Managed to escape without feeling old
Mom & Da are coming this weekend
Life is just good when they're here
Corbin's big 50th birthday party is tonight
It's a 70s theme party
I don't have a costume
But I'm going braless
The only fitting tribute to that decade I can muster
Since I was in elementary school for most of it
Made employee of the week again on Monday
It was surprising since I felt like I was just doing my job
But it's nice regardless
Jim and I went to the Blackberry Inn Wednesday night
Then a long, zippy drive on the farm roads west of town
It was awesome
It's like pushing the reset button on my soul
Sold my MacBook Air last night via Gazelle
Enough cash to get an iPad
Feel pretty confident in my stance that starting a business relationship (hell, any relationship) with a lie is not good
And have given up arguing the point
Although it is unbelievably disappointing, given the people with whom I'm arguing
Sometimes it's more powerful to be quietly right
I've taken to drinking SlimFasts in the morning
Having something, anything for breakfast is good for you
I knew this, but it was Susie who reminded me
And I am better for it
As I always am, after her visits
She is the one who suggested breast reduction surgery years ago
She helps with learning how to shop
"Look at the price tag before you like it too much."
"Go to the sale racks first."
Anyhow, have a good weekend people and try to be kind (and honest) with each other
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
I am reading: Outlander by Diana Gaboldan or something
And I am: Disappointed

GTF - Sweating Like a Whore in Church Edition

It's hot
And I am not complaining
Because soon it will be nasty cold again
But I am sweating like a whore in church lately
Which happens to be one of my most favorite sayings
Went to the Kane County Fair Wednesday night
This is not a particularly good thing - it was quite lame
But it's given me a whole new appreciation
For the best county fair on the planet
The uber-fair if you will (and I know you will)
The Sandwich Fair
It's not some suburban bullshit asphalt fair-poser show
Speaking of bullshit
Penn & Teller's Bullshit show is good clean fun
I don't always agree with them - sometimes they're just maniacally wrong
But still, it's entertainment
The Pillars of the Earth is a series on Starz starting one week from today
It's one of my all time favorite books
I'm quite certain the movie will disappoint as most books-turned-to-mini-series do
Still, I will watch a bit
Susie is coming for her annual visit tomorrow
We will shop, sun, shop, sun and drink a little
It is good
Speaking of old friends - Corbin's 50th birthday is next weekend
Jim 'n me are going to All Dressed Up for 70s costumes
I would like to be a Disco queen
Had a fantastic time in Lake Geneva with the You Know Who's and Judy & Steve
There's something very special about swimming in Lake Geneva (or Geneva Lake as it's called)
I got a haircut last night
Here's hoping we vanquished the Billy Ray Cyrus mullet
If you haven't seen Don't Mess with the Zohan, rent it immediately
It is outstanding fun but you have to watch it more than once to really catch everything
Mom & Da are coming to town very soon
Can't wait for that
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: Quiet house
I am reading: Nothing right now
And i am: Sleepy

Good Things Friday

This song from Zack & Miri Make a Porno
It came up on a Genius mix from Sugar Ray's Fly
Fabulous sunny day song
My eye (MY EYE!) is slowly getting better
It's no longer got that raped/beaten look to it, just beaten
Had lunch at Dairy Queen in the South Loop last week
It was way better than I imagined
Jim's friend Tom was here twice in the past two weeks
He's a good soul
Jim & Tom were playing guitars in the basement last night
They did that 30+ years ago in Jim's parents' basement too
Wish You Were Here was quite good
Had a PB&J sammich for dinner last night
My umbrella makes me happy
The Poetry Foundation is building its new headquarters up the street from my office
Jim and I had an awesome city date Wednesday night - nice long walk on the beach followed by dinner
Made reservations for our anniversary dinner yesterday
"You have no power here! Be gone, before somebody drops a house on you, too!"
Looking forward to Corbin's 50th birthday bash - 70's style
Need to find costumes for this
I want to be a disco queen
Eric called earlier this week to thank for the visit
It was good to hear his voice
Disk Inventory X is a great tool
Weeded the whole front yard last Saturday
Very satisfying work
Jim got a flag and red/white/blue bunting for the front porch for the Fourth
It looked great
Now we have a list of dates to put up the flag
I am looking forward to this responsibility
I like the word 'bunting'
It can mean so many things
Finished watching the A&E mini series Pride & Prejudice
Soooo good after reading the book
We watched the movie Taken with Liam Neeson night before last
Actually quite good
It was a relatively intelligent thriller type movie
With no particularly disappointing moments
I recommend it
Susie will be here one week from tomorrow
YAY
For our annual long weekend of drinking, shopping and sunning
I am looking forward to at least one long, cramp-inducing belly laugh
Another lovely summer tradition
Cried as I finished the book The Help
It is just fantastic
And to think all of that happened just 50 years ago
Crazy
The bus arrived just as I reached the stop Wednesday morning
It's been a good week for public transportation
A Persian cab driver said to me yesterday: "Who came up with work like a dog? Doggies don't work. In my country, it's work like a donkey. Much better."
I couldn't agree more
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: Len - Steal My Sunshine
I am reading: Just finished The Help - awesome book
And I am: Sleepy

Good Things Friday - Peacocky Edition

A peacock lived across the street from us when we were little kids
It was sort of a mini-farm with a couple of ponies, too
And other small animals I can't recall
Mom told us the peacock was saying "My Eye! My Eye!" when it would make its loud peacocky noises at night
Yesterday morning I woke up with a huge gross broken blood vessel in my eye (My Eye!)
It aches a little
My official story is "You should see the other c*nt."
Thanks to Jim the IT Guy for that one
I'm still laughing over the fact that I'm c*nt #1 in this 2-c*nt scenario
Peacocky
Eric is here again - another 24 hour visit on his way home from his cross-country road trip
He's got a lot of great stories about his trip
Mostly involving women of all walks who really like dirty, rough-looking biker dudes
Including at least one 80-ish chick
Eric reminded me that (at the house across from the peacock) we pressed our hands into the fresh cement floor of the barn
Built by Da and other family members back in the mid-70's
I forgot about that
He went there and showed it to the home's new owner
And said "That's my hand, I'm Eric"
Very cool
Saw a couple of satellites while looking up at the stars last night
By the fire
It was a very good night
A young person blew a stop sign and my dad was in a car accident yesterday afternoon - he's okay, just very sore
And pissed off that his car is totaled
Why is this good news?
Because he's okay
It could've been way worse
I was nominated to the board of a local charity
It was kinda cool - they actually read my resume and liked it
My resume is updated for 2010
It feels good but is rather odd since I'm used to updating it when I'm looking for a new job
Which I'm not
My boss told the team in our status on Monday that the company is at 83% of our revenue goal for the year
It's likely we'll be at 100% by the end of July
The rest of the year is big fat icing on a rather delicious and fun cake
So yes, still warm and yummy feelings for my job after two years (on June 18)
Speaking of cake, it feels like I'm losing weight
Happens every summer
More moving, less eating
Finished reading Pride & Prejudice last week
Such a fabulous story - and so very laugh out loud funny
Off to breakfast with Eric now
Have I mentioned he's awesome?
Have a great holiday weekend, everyone
And remember with all the fireworks, food and fun
Living here with all this glorious freedom is a privilege, not a right
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am listening to: Collective Soul - The World I Know
I am reading: Nothing right now but contemplating the Outlander series
And I am: So happy and relaxed I could cry