Driving to Work on 405 North

The Batesville Casket Supply truck pleads "Please drive safely!" Call me cynical, but wouldn't that mean less business for the nice folks over in Batesville?

I got my Macy's credit card today: $240.45 for my beautiful, adorable, wonderful wool coat. *Sigh* Life is good. Now I just have to pay it off right away so I don't end up paying finance charges and interest that drive the cost right back up to the original price.

(I'm so excited to type this!) Jacque and I might be moving in together one of these days! Yippee! We already spend every waking minute together (and many of the minutes when I should be sleeping), so that should make it even easier to do so. It won't be until December at the earliest, and January at the likeliest, but I'm super excited.

Heehee. "Super excited" reminds me of when my sisters and I were kids and we would say "Super Excitement Finger Twinkle!" in Eek the Cat's voice. (Was that an Eek saying, or did we make that up?) Oh man, we were easily entertained. Still are!

I made Jacque throw a housewarming party for herself on Monday, and it was a huge success. I bought frozen appetizers, but we didn't have enough oven space for them (Jacque only has one oven, poor thing), so we had Goldfish crackers as appetizer instead. Note to self: Grape flavored Smirnoff tastes like cough medicine. At any rate, I think our one guest enjoyed himself very much. Yes, we are in high demand. I can't wait until we move in together. Then we can have house parties with one guest all the time! Heck, we might even be able to entice two people to come over! I don't know, maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself with that one.

Okay, it's definately my bedtime, and my overactive guilt complex is starting to kick in. Goodnight, luvs!

Nerd Humor

Where did these people go to school? Or perhaps they didn't...

Don't I Deserve to See a Bloody Nose?

This weekend was fun-filled and tiring. I went to a hockey game with my mom and Jody on Friday night. There were roughly 300 spectators. You can tell we love our hockey here in Seattle. I’ve never been to a hockey game before, and probably will never go to another one! There was only one fight, and I swear it was staged. I’m willing to bet the coach was like, “The fans are getting antsy. Make sure you pick a fight with someone before the period’s over.” And speaking of periods, did you know there are only three periods in a hockey game? What’s up with that? What an odd number. Two or four, people. Two or four. Or nine works, too. Anyway, the fight was seriously lame, and they were just kind of hugging each other and swatting the air around each other’s heads.

I STILL CAN’T STOMACH BEER

I went bowling on Friday and Saturday night, and was very pleased with myself. After a month or so of bowling at least once a week, I’m finally improving! On Friday, I bowled four games in a row with a score above 100! Weak, I know, but way better than my prior average of 70. Saturday wasn’t as good ‘cuz I was really tired after all that traveling. I didn’t realize it took two and a half hours to get to Leavenworth. Maybe it just felt like a long ride because I was one of three people crammed in the back of a two-door coup. At least I wasn’t driving! I didn’t drink any beer at Oktoberfest, except for a couple sips of Becky’s and John’s. It turns out I was right all along: beer really is disgusting. I wasn’t imagining it. In addition to not drinking, I also didn’t dance. Well, ok, I danced once. They forced me to do the chicken dance, which I was seriously unhappy about. But I did eat two (count them: two!) bratwurst, so I feel I still got the Oktoberfestive experience. Photos: my msn space (not all of them are mine).

On Sunday, I met Jacque in Issaquah for the Salmon Days festival. Man, those salmon get big! There's a salmon ladder with windows on the side so you can watch these suckers jumping upstream. Those fish are hardcore! As Jacque said, if you're ever feeling discouraged about your life, go watch a bunch of salmon jump repeatedly against a wall. I don't know if it'll make you feel better or feel worse, but it'll make you feel something, that's for sure.

SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB

Wouldn’t mind Zach Braff in my tub.

Le sigh. John has informed me that NBC hasn’t yet announced when Scrubs will premier. Apparently, those two episodes I saw a month ago were...something else. I don’t know what season those came from. Now I’m sad…I’ll have to watch my DVDs of seasons 1 and 2 to get my fix.

Fall Has Fallen

With Seattle’s mild, wet, and inconsistent weather patterns, autumn sometimes creeps in so slowly, you don’t even really get to see the leaves change and fall. Well, that hasn’t happened this year. Despite sunshine and temperatures in the high 70’s, fall has most definitely arrived, and for once, I’m kind of enjoying it. On Saturday, I’ll be heading to Oktoberfest in Leavenworth, a little Bavarian village up in the mountains where the leafy color change is always particularly breathtaking. Also, there will be German sausage. I can’t wait!

I LOATHE “INSIDE EDITION”

My step-mom turns on the TV as background noise when she gets home from work. The news is on for a couple hours, which is kinda nice because I never take the initiative to either watch or read the news, so I’m generally clueless about what’s going on in our world. It’s usually boring, useless information anyway, or melodramatic retellings of stories we heard yesterday, but this isn’t a discussion about the relevance of the evening news. It’s a discussion about the relevance of “Inside Edition.” (Hint: there isn’t any.) “Inside Edition” comes on after the news, and after “Evening Magazine” (gag me with a spork), and has to be the worst show on television, with the possible exception of “Access Hollywood,” which in my understanding, is basically the same show. These people are leaches. The thing is, I love gossip, even some celebrity gossip. I mean, I’m as keen as anyone to see Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton sock someone in the nose, or to know who Mischa Barton is BFF with this week. But “Inside Edition” doesn’t cover interesting celebrities. They specialize in pseudo-celebrity gossip, Anna Nicole Smith and David Hasselhoff. I mean, seriously, David Hasselhoff? Are you kidding me? If I had David Hasselhoff’s career, I’d probably show up to a premier drunk, too, and expect absolutely no one to be surprised!

Okay, sorry. I just really hate that show. I have never before enjoyed watching “Jeopardy,” but when “Inside Edition” comes on and my dad smiles conspiratorially, asking “Jeopardy?” it might as well be the greatest show on earth. I’ve always found Alex Trebek’s voice kind of self-righteous and snobby, but now I find it downright soothing.

I watched the new show “Ugly Betty” again. I watched the first episode and hated it, so I wasn’t really planning on watching it again, but my dad didn’t want to watch “My Name Is Earl” (if there's one thing I didn't inherit from my father, it's my sense of humor). I had every intention of switching over to “The Office” at the half-hour mark, but I completely forgot and now I’m kicking myself! Argh! That makes two weeks in a row! And I haven’t seen “Scrubs” in weeks. I don’t even know if it’s still on, and if not, why on earth not? I’m clearly having issues with television lately. I might as well have stayed in France! At least there I saw an occasional episode of “Scrubs.” Luckily, I have “Arrested Development” on DVD to sustain me. Thanks Sara! I’ll be done with them…eventually. I’m nearing the end of season two, so anytime now.

Le sigh. Since TV has let me down, I will now turn to the internet to fill the emptiness in my life. Which reminds me of a poem:

"Long ago, the delicate tangles of his hair...covered the emptiness of my hand." Ah, classic stuff, that. Poetry doesn't get much better.

I Think You Mean "Footloose and Fancy-Free"

This weekend, I hung out with my friend, Emilie, and her friend. Emilie has Asperger's syndrome, which is a disorder on the autistic spectrum (it's basically high-functioning autism). We got on the subject of crushes and boyfriends, and Emilie was chastising her friend and me for not having boyfriends. We, of course, defended ourselves (and womankind) by pointing out that a woman doesn't need to have a man in order to live a happy and fulfilling life, and in fact, life can be much easier when you don't have a boyfriend to stress about. You have more freedom, at least in your schedule. She thought about it, then replied, "Well, yeah, I guess you can be fruitless and happy-free."

Potential Workaholic

At five o'clock today, after I'd been at work for over 8 hours, I was thinking about what I would do at work tomorrow. Then I realized today was Friday, and I was sad. Sad that I wouldn't be coming to work tomorrow. Should I be worried about my mental health?

Hello, Again

My new job is AWESOME!! (and I’m not just saying that because I know my boss has my url; it really is awesome). I’m having so much fun. I can’t tell you any details of what I actually do, because it’s hush hush, top secret, and I’d have to kill you if I did, but suffice it to say that I’m saving the world and you all owe me a huge debt of gratitude (monetary thanks are not required, but always appreciated).

MASOCHISM

To celebrate my first day, I went over to Jacque’s apartment Monday night and partook of my most favoritest activity in the whole entire world: exercise! Yippee. I don’t know why I’m still friends with that girl…Oh, yeah, it’s because she fed me pizza and goldfish crackers.

QUALITY TIME WITH THE FAMILY

Amy: I went to the doctor today, and it turns out I don’t have strep throat.

Pops: They already got the lab tests back?

Jody: They can’t rule out strep that quickly.

Becky: Maybe they can. Maybe they have new techniques.

The entire family (yes, including me) then spends fifteen minutes debating (shouting over each other) whether or not strep throat can be diagnosed in less than 24 hours, whether or not Amy needs to find a new doctor, whether or not Kaiser doctors are as useless as Group Health doctors, whether or not Amy’s doctor is hot, thus causing Amy to overlook his inadequacies at diagnosing strep throat, and whether or not Amy will ever succeed to find and marry a hot doctor, like we’re all expecting her to do. I mean, who goes to USC to major in environmental studies? We all know her real motive…

THE JOY OF PETS

The dog got a bath in the downstairs bathroom, and now the walls are dusted with a layer or long, golden fur. It makes them look soft, like someone used carpet as wallpaper. It’s interesting to live with this dog; she sheds like a maniac and drools all over the kitchen floor, so you’re socks get wet from walking around and you have to watch out for fur in your food. Fun times!

Izzi, where is that letter you promised me? It had better be in the mail already, or else I’ll come hunt you down in London, and I so don’t want to have to do that.

I Feel Brand New!

Alright, Izzi, I'll spare you the pain. I caved in and bought it. Now I can take pictures of it with the flash. Jacque, you're probably right about the tax; I wasn't thinking it through clearly. That's why I keep you around.

I love this coat so much. This is the first time I have ever looked forward to winter! It's also the first time I've ever owned a designer label (DKNY). I feel so sophisticated.

I also got my hair "done." Basically my whole life, all I've ever done with my hair is get it trimmed or cut shoulder length, straight across. A couple years ago, I started getting it very lightly layered (very lightly). I've been pretty bored with it lately, though, so I got it more drastically layered this time. It still looks long (actually, it looks longer than it did before), but it frames my face much better. Plus, it makes me look older! Hooray for not looking 14 years old! Photos of coat and haircut, or perhaps coat with haircut, will be forthcoming.

I Hate Making Decisions!

I had lunch with my new boss today. I’m getting really excited to start working, but I don’t start for another week. Can’t wait any longer!!

I went to go look at “my” coat again, just to make sure I wasn’t inflating its wonderfulness. I wasn’t. It’s wonderful. I love it all the more confidently having seen it a second time. And the general assembly (minus Becky) thinks I should go for it. I was talking about it with my dad last night, and I decided I should wait until I receive my first paycheck, and then if the coat is still there, I’ll buy it. If it’s gone, I’ll take it as a sign from God that it wasn’t meant to be mine. I was happy with this plan, willing to take the chance. But no, fate, or perhaps God himself, decided to rush things along a bit. When I went in to see it again today, I asked a sales-woman if it would be going on sale any time soon. She told me two sad things: 1.) It’s new, so it’s not going on sale any time soon, and 2.) They won’t be getting any more in; it’s a one-time thing. If my size sells out (and there are only two to begin with), that’s it.

Seeing that my heart was breaking, she offered me this salve: if I open a store credit card, I get 15% off. Furthermore, tomorrow is a special “Shop for a Cause” promotion where you donate $5 to some charity and you receive 20% off anything you buy. So 15% plus 20% off. But only tomorrow. So I have to decide RIGHT AWAY if I should go ahead and charge it (having not yet received any paycheck and having no idea when I can expect to receive the first one) or if I should wait and pay full price when I get the paycheck, and risk it being gone already. I hate being a grown-up. I can't make decisions! I mean, do I take this offer as a sign from God that I should buy it, or what?

I took pictures of it, but I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to take pictures, and I was too chicken to ask, so I didn’t use the flash (I didn’t want to attract attention). In other words, the pictures are fuzzy, so I artificially sharpened them. They look pretty pixelated, but you get a better idea for the color/texture of the coat.

I’ll let all y’all know what I decide about it. In other news, I’m getting a haircut tomorrow, and I’m trying to figure out if I would look cute or absolutely disgusting with bangs (that’s “fringe,” Izzi). I’ll probably chicken out and end up with just a trim. Again, the goal here is to look more my age, and less like a 14-year-old.

Two hundred and forty-one dollars. That's what I figured out, and that is certainly manageable, I believe. Here, I'll show my work:

Start with $325. Subtract 20% (the 15% will apparently show up on the credit card statement).

325*0.20=65

325-65=260

Our sales tax is (I think) 8.9%, so add that.

260*0.089=23.14

260+23.14=283.14

Then take 15% off (I'm assuming this is how they'll do it).

283.14*0.15=42.471

283.14-42.471=240.669, or roughly $241.

How Much Is Too Much to Spend?

I have fallen into a forbidden love. I’ve been looking for a winter/fall coat lately, one that is stylish and doesn’t make me look like a preteen. All the coats I’ve owned lately make me look 14 years old, which is funny, because when I was 14, I wore coats that made me look like a 40-year-old housewife. Anyhoo, I know coats are pricey, so I expected to pay anywhere up to $250 (which is the absolute upper limit, right?) I was at the mall, casually browsing, when I stumbled upon, basically, the perfect coat. I mean, my ideal coat. I don’t know any fashion lingo, so I don’t know how to describe it. I think it was…wool? It has a hood, which is rare in that type of coat, but which is something I always look for in a coat. I mean, for goodness sake, I live in Seattle. I hate umbrellas, so I pretty much have to have a hood to keep from getting my hair soaked. In deciding to get a new, stylish jacket, I resigned myself to the fact that I would not be able to have a hood and that I would have to carry an umbrella from now on. And then I find my dream coat, and guess what? It has a hood. The coat is pinkish, brownish, tannish (I think?). I tried to find a picture online, but neither the store nor the brand has it listed on their website.

Anyway, it was beautiful and cute and oh-so-me. And $325. Do I take it as a sign that it was not meant to be? Or do I suck it up and take it like a woman? Because, let’s face it, there are quite a few women out there who wouldn’t hesitate to drop that much money (and more!) for a pair of strappy heels they’ll wear maybe twice in their life. So, if I did buy this coat, I wouldn’t be the least-sensical woman in the world, right? I’d be in good company. Well, lots of company, at least. I mean, I am not the type of girl who spends money for a label. I’d rather shop at J.C. Penney than Abercrombie or Hollister. I avoid overspending whenever possible. I’d generally buy the cheaper version of a product, even if it’s uglier or more boring. So don’t I deserve a little indulgence, especially if it’s on something that I’ll wear for at least two seasons? And that’s another thing! I’m not one to change my wardrobe every season or every year or even every five years. So it’s not like I’m going to be buying a whole new coat next winter. I’ll likely continue wearing this one for a few years, whereas if I buy a cheaper one that I don’t adore as much, I may end up being tired of it in a year. I’ll have to buy another cheaper coat that I don’t love, and I’ll get tired of that quickly, and then I’ll have to buy another and another. In the end, I’ll spend more money overall and on coats that don’t suit me as well. It would be financially irresponsible not to buy this coat.

Furthermore, some of the coats I've seen, uglier, more boring coats, have been over five hundred dollars, so it could be worse, right? In comparison, $325 isn't so bad!

There. I feel I have justified myself in case I do cave in and buy it. And I probably will, just as soon as I get my first paycheck. I was planning on buying myself a first-paycheck gift, anyway (though I wasn’t planning on it being over three hundred dollars).

The weather turned completely sour yesterday, what with intermittent rain and temperatures dropping thirty degrees from Tuesday, and this provided me with ample opportunity to imagine myself wearing my dream coat. Someone mentioned that this was likely to be a big snow year, and my first thought wasn’t of Christmas or skiing or walks in the snow at night, but of me in that jacket, being warm and snuggly. It has invaded my psyche. I must go see it again and make sure I wasn’t just romanticizing it, that it really is perfect and wonderful.

Do stores still do layaway?