What the World Has Been Waiting For.....

It feels like only yesterday I was sitting at the bus stop around the corner from my house, rocking my leggings and She-ra backpack, and talking about important 2nd-grader things like Lisa Frank Trapper Keepers. There were quite a few boys in my neighborhood, and many a pre-grammar school morning was spent listening to them talk about their Mortal Kombat scores and sing lyrics from Weird Al Yankovich songs like Eat It and Like a Surgeon. Mostly, I thought the lyrics were pretty funny, but to uphold my position in the girl world, I had to come to the consensus with the other girls that the boys were sooooo stupid. But what I really wanted to do after school was hang out with the boys and listen to their Weird Al tapes too.

Maybe that just makes me White and Nerdy, but if being that way is wrong, I don't want to be right.


White and Nerdy

"They see me roll on my segue."
Priceless.

But I do have to say my favorite part is Donnie Osmond dancing in the background.

Welcome back Weird Al, it's been far too long.

The Best Things in Life are Free

Especially if one of those things is music.

Today a stumbled across a site called It's Free Downloads that is making a directory of ONLY the free downloads from iTunes. That way us cheapies don't have to search through the whole iTunes website to find those little treasures. It's not just for music either - there are links to free TV show episodes (special eps of LOST and Grey's Anatomy anyone?), video clips and audiobooks. Plus, there's this free song list for Facebook members. Check that out here.

So, it's not exactly Napster circa the year 2000 (sweet, sweet times), but it also won't land your ass in the middle of a ridiculous lawsuit where the plaintiff is an artist worth 100 times more money than you'll ever see in your life. Don't EVEN get me started.

At Least I'm Not Crying in the Bathroom this Time

New Job Post #1:

I've decided that starting a new job is a little like starting a new high school - with less teen angst and better clothing choices. There is meeting your new peers and your superiors, learning where everything is located, what your schedule is like and what your options are for lunch.

Today, my second day of work, I ventured down to the cafeteria at lunch time. It made me think about twelve(!) years ago when I started the 7th grade in a new school district with no friends. Back then, I dreaded lunch time because it always meant severe anxiety. Who was I going to sit with?! What if my lunch isn't cool?! Why doesn't anyone want to be my friend?! Honestly, this terror led me to spend more than a couple lunch hours hiding in the bathroom being miserable with life and wanting the security of my old school and friends back.

Even in college, most of us spent all of freshman year in large groups flocking to the dining hall at meal times. No one wanted to get left behind. If you somehow missed the big group trip, you would frantically IM everyone else on your buddy list to find out if they had already gone too. Then if they had - the horror! The only choice then was to go get something to go and bring it back to your room and your friends (those traitorous group meal thwarters).

It is on days like today when I look back at those memories and really see how (blessedly) far I have come. I still have a tendency to be shy and somewhat awkward around strangers, but I now have the ability to walk confidently into the cafeteria where I know absolutely no one, find myself a seat and eat my lunch with no anxiety whatsoever. Did I really ever care so much? It's hard to believe.

I still don't have any friends though.

I guess my next life lesson should be "Strangers and You: How to Approach Someone Else in the Cafeteria Without Friends and Make them Yours."

Question for My PC Using Friends

Is the right side bar actually situated next to the blog post box or does it not start until after the end of the blog blox? The sidebar should be next to it (hence "side" bar), but when I brought it up on a PC today in Internet Explorer, the side bar was all the way at the bottom of the page. It looks fine on my Mac so I just want to check and see if it is just this computer or all PCs.

Thanks for your help!

Confessions of a Grey's Anatomy Virgin

In the past 3 weeks, I have had a total of 5 people almost go into coronary arrest over my utterance of the simple statement: "I have never watched Grey's Anatomy." So, to ensure that I am not to blame for anyone's premature death, I have succumbed to the peer-pressure and watched last night's episode. It was the re-airing of last year's season finale and thus I was a little confused. However, TV is not rocket-science and this show isn't exactly 24 or LOST (no offense Grey-lovers, it just isn't as complicated as those), so I think I'll be able to pick it up.

Fast forward to tonight. I just watched what I am assuming was a show to catch up people like me on the last season, and I think it did the trick. And I'll admit, I'm intrigued. I do keep having to stomp down the little voice in me that says "But what is the NEED for another hospital-based drama?!", but if it's as good as you all say, I'm sure I'll get over it.

So, here I am. It is 9:00pm on Thursday, October 21, 2006, I am in my PJs, have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and I am about to watch my first episode of Grey's Anatomy (ok, technically not the first, but the first that I'm going to understand). Come along and I'll tell you how it goes.

9:01
Well, we are off to a good start, they are using the Lullaby song I love from the Dixie Chicks' latest album. +1 (even though Medium used it last year)

9:08
The bubonic plague? Ok, ok, I'll give it a chance.

9:20
Realize I haven't been writing in here about the show. That's probably worth a +5.

9:22
Knocked-up catholic school girls throwing their baby into a dumpster and cheaters getting cheated on. +2 for piqued interest, -1 for soap-opera quality

9:25
There is a skunk outside my apartment. -10 for the skunk and another glass of wine for me.

9:32
There is a woman larger than a size 2 on the show and she seems like she actually has a part beyond the comic relief or the wise friend who can't get a date. +5!

9:36
Dr. McDreamy (that is his name right?) is going to die of the plague in the resident locker room after he eats every piece of food in there. +2, I want to see that

9:39
Someone save the plague guy who used to be on Boston Public!!! +1 for emotional involvement

9:48
Realizing this show is different than ER because no actual medical procedures are performed. No points won or lost because I haven't decided whether it's a good thing or not.

9:49
How long do you think Chris O'Donnell will be "Guest Star"ing on the show?

9:59
Finally! She put those damn panties on the bulletin board. I was waiting for that the whole time. Good move Mrs. McDreamy, even though you were the one that cheated first.
Ok, I'm obviously getting into this. +1

10:01
Told us what music was used in the episode. Good job ABC. +2
But why are your shows ending at 10:01?
At least it's not like LOST where you tell us it's an "extended episode" and it lasts until 10:02. -10 for ABC and their idiotic-ness when it comes to that show.

But, I digress.

I made it successfully through my first Grey's Anatomy episode and I enjoyed it! I hear the first two seasons are even better and Jen has decided that I'm going to watch those too. So I will admit I am excited for that.

But, back to tonight. The tally is......drumroooooooooooll........16! (for Grey's, but -8 for ABC and -10 for the skunk.)

That's a pretty good score. Of course, my points are like those on Whose Line is it Anyway?, they don't matter. However, they do mean that I will probably watch again next week.

Well, I may tape it while I watch CSI.
What can I say? Dr. McDreamy is pretty dreamy, but Nick Stokes is the hottest CSI around.

A New Look for a New Beginning

Welcome to my newly rennovated blog! It's barely shy of it's 1st birthday and I've decided it needs a facelift. I've heard cosmetic surgery is addicting, so maybe I'll be changing it all the time! Now that I use Blogger Beta (thanks to Sara), it is much easier to make changes than before. Not as much messy HTML code to fumble with.

So that is the new look. The new beginning is MY NEW JOB!!! Yes, I got a job! Actually, I got two, but who's counting? The one I accepted is working for the graphic communications department in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth (that means it's a state job). Pretty good pay, great benefits and an amazing view of downtown Boston from my office! It is all very exciting and I start Monday!

I owe a huge thank you to my friend Emily who is actually leaving the job and helped me slide into her place. She gave her boss my resume and kept promoting me to him. It really is who you know. I am greatful that this opportunity came up because it ends 8 months of job searching, something I don't wish on anyone. I am also thankful to those of you who kept my spirits up during those months. Your sympathy and words of encouragement were so helpful and greatly appreciated.

It may be hard at first to leave such a great schedule behind, and the comfort of working in my PJs, but I can't wait to get into the real work force, meet new people and learn more about graphic design. I think this is just the first step on my career path.

Definitely the start of something good.

something i took from someone who took it from someone else

since i have been harassed on MySpace by Sara for my infrequent blog postings, i have decided to top off a couple days worth of new posts with something i stole from a post on her blog. so there sara! (you better watch it, or i won't wear the horse skirt.)

she stole this from someone else's blog. you can only give one word answers. here goes:

Yourself: low-key
Your partner: nonexistent
Your hair: pretty
Your mother: strong
Your father: supportive
Your favorite item: powerbook
Your dream last night: bizarre
Your favorite drink: colada
Your dream home: comfortable
The room you are in: haphazard
Your fear: failure
Where you want to be in ten years: happy
Who you hung out with last night: StandUp
What you're not: skinny
Your best friend: thoughtful
One of your wish list items: job
Your gender: female
The last thing you did: read
What you are wearing: GAP
Your favorite weather: sunshine
Your favorite book?: Odyssey
Last thing you ate?: PBJ
Your life: stagnant
Your mood: indifferent
The last person you talked to on the phone: Chip
Who are you thinking about right now: Lucas

Did I Say That Reality Shows Are Stupid? Because What I Really Meant Was "Reality Shows Are Stupid Until a Family Member Wins Money On One"

Apparently, my second cousin (or something) just won 1/2 million dollars on Big Brother All Stars.


They say distant family members come out of the woodwork when you get rich.

Watch out Mike, cause i'm a-comin!

Just look at that family resemblance!

another reason to love Spain

Skinny models wearing thin in fashion shocker

gracias espana.

Bix.com

One of my newest assignments for my job is to promote this new contest site called Bix.com. It is basically like You Tube, MySpace and America's Got Talent combined. People make contests using video, audio or writing and anyone can enter. A lot of them are Karaoke, Lip-Syncing, Comedy, etc. Some even have cash prizes and eventually most of them will. My job is to make contests and get people to enter into them. My goal is to get as many people to sign up and participate in the site as possible. So I will keep you all updated on the latests contests and everyone can go to the site and register and start entering contests! Plus you can tell all your friends and your friends friends! =) Then I would love you forever. Also, if you want to start making your own contests, give me your username and the contests you make and the people who enter them will be added into my numbers and help me out even more.

The first contest I made is a song parody contest (except I made a typo and it's a Song Parady contest, and it's really bothering me). But anyway, I got inspired by Brad Akin's parody of "Sexyback", "Sweatyback". So if you want to enter, go here.

To inspire you, I wrote this little ditty and I'm going to have my roommate enter it:

Turn it Brown (aka, The Miseducation of Al Gore)
(sung to The Rolling Stones' Paint it Black)

I see some green grass and I want it to turn brown
No ice caps anymore, I want them melted down.
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I love that it's December and it never snows.

I see a line of cars all waiting for some gas,
A Hummer, Escalade and Ford Escape S-Class.
I see a Hybrid car and quickly look away,
Tree-hugging hippie cars will ruin my whole day.

I look inside my lungs and see they are all black.
Like using corn power will help them to turn back.
Maybe then I'll understand why we should find a cleaner way,
It's not easy facin' up when I've got big oil to pay.

No more will our green sea go turn a deeper blue,
How could I forsee the damage oil spills would do?

If I lay on the beach out in the shining sun,
I'll burn my skin all off before the night time comes.

I see some green grass and I want it to turn brown
No ice caps anymore, I want them melted down.
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I love that it's December and it never snows.

Hmmmm, hmmmmm.....

I wanna see the world turn, world turn brown,
Brown as dirt, brown as poo.
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky.
I wanna see it turning, turning, turning, turning brown.

someone IMed me this link today:

http://www.paulsadowski.com/birthday.asp

it is one of those sites where you put in your birthdate and they give you a whole sheet about you and things that happened on your birthdate and birth year.

it also told me this about myself:

"Of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritable and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self-confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner."

crap that's accurate, except the first part (Oh, wait, there's my "lack of self-confidence"). actually, come to think of it, it does say "unusual" and not "immense" or "breathtaking," so i guess that could be right too.

i also found out that Rachel Bilson (The OC) and i have the exact same birthdate, same year and everything. guess that's really not that interesting to anyone but me. but i guess none of this is. haha. oh, well.