Study Break Randomness

I haven't been doing much that is super blog worthy lately. Dinners out with a few good friends which have been nice. Closet organizer construction with Kevin. Work, school, run, blah, blah, blah. . . So until I do something exciting I shall post a few pictures from the last few weeks.This was Snoqualmie Fall four days after the river crested during the floords. Standing on the viewing platform we got completely soaked from all the spray.

New Year's Eve wasn't very exciting because I was on day two of unpleasant intestinal illness. We managed to sell the tickets to the party we were going to go to but couldn't get out of the hotel reservation so we went to the hotel anyway. It was a great little boutique art hotel in Downtown Seattle called Hotel Max. Original artwork from local artists in all the rooms, modern and funky. A walk to the corner and we could look down the street to see the Space Needle fireworks. One of the touches I liked the most were these two: The Pillow Menu and The Spiritual Menu.

We didn't utilize either because the pillows were comfy and plentiful and my spiritual needs can pretty much be met by a plate of french fries but I still like the idea. Maybe if we stay again we can order up an extra firm and a reading pillow with our Bhagivad Gita and Book on Scientology.

Maybe I'm Old Fashioned . . .

While out at the mall yesterday I ran across these lovelies in the toddler shoe section.Yes, that is right. You heard me. . . toddler. To find them online I had to go to the baby section.

Never mind that the little buggers have trouble walking as it is without throwing in a tiny heel. That's a whole separate issue. These shoes are perfect if you want your little girl to grow up to work on the pole or be a "contestant" on Rock of Love. Her first wee tiny whore shoes. Strappy lucite heels on a baby (which the website calls a "fancy touch to this polished look" )! What is wrong with our world where we have to have our little kids grow up so soon and be sexualized so early? My First Stripper Pole can't be far behind.

Oy Vey

Pretty sure this quarter is going to kill me. Five days in and I am already frazzled. Started with a textbook debacle that ended up with me purchasing two complete sets of textbooks for both classes (don't ask) and is currently at 10:45 p.m. with another LONG chapter of tax to read and 16 homework problems to do.
I am going to go curl up in a corner now and whimper softly to myself.

You Say You Want a Resolution?

It is that time of year again. Time to take stock, reassess and set goals for the upcoming year. I definitely have a few items I would like to check off the list this year.

Running Goals:
1. Set a 5K PR.
2. Run a total of 650 miles.
3. Complete a half-marathon with no walk breaks.

Health Goals:
1. Lose the pounds so that the weight on my driver's license is no longer a lie.
2. Make sure to have all preventive health and dental services I am supposed to have this year.

Personal Goals:
1. Go one place in state I have never been before.
2. Go one place out of state I have never been before.
3. Pay off a minimum of half my debt.
4. Complete my bachelor's degree.

I will check back on these in six months and see how I am doing. Best of luck to all of you on your goal setting!

Damn You Bing Crosby!

OK. Enough already. The Christmas spirit is still here, still feeling goodwill toward men and all that, which is good because we postponed our Christmas until tomorrow. But really ... enough with this weather. It is still snowing!!! Where is the rain we were promised? Why doesn't Santa love me? I have been a very good girl this year and all I asked for was a little rain. I couldn't even get inside the grocery store today because my car kept getting stuck in the parking lot because of the ice/snow/slush piles and Albertson's inability to rent a plow.

Seeing this white stuff flying around outside my window makes me want to run out in the street and punch each little fluffy flake in its little fluffy face. Fast flying fists of fury!!! Righteous weather rage! I realize that this might make me look like a bit of a lunatic but oh how glorious it would feel.

On another note, I never want to hear Bing Crosby sing how he is dreaming of a white Christmas EVER AGAIN. Bing can take that song and cram it up his Bing-hole.

Merry Christmas You Old Building and Loan!

It's back! I have the Christmas feeling again!!! Late in coming and sticking this year but apparently the best thing for my crabby self was to go to work today. Christmas spirit and good cheer was everywhere. Even with the lousy weather everyone was upbeat and friendly and full of warm Christmas wishes for all. A resident's wife that I helped back in May thought enough of my help that she brought a card and a 2 lb. box of See's chocolates for me. People wishing each other "Merry Christmas" in the halls as they leave for their holiday. Something about saying "Merry Christmas" to people just melts my little withered heart. It also helps that our family Christmas was postponed to Saturday so no one had to worry a bit about the weather tomorrow. I now have a three day Christmas Eve and can get out to the store on Friday and gets some things for Christmas dinner and for a little Christmas baking. Stretch out the joy!

On my way walking home from work (with detour for cheap 7-11 wine) the Christmas spirit made me feel a little like George Bailey. I felt like yelling out: "Merry Christmas convenience store! Merry Christmas faceless condos growing like a cancer in my fair city! Merry Christmas you old fabulous nursing home!! Merry Christmas all you people driving in the slush! Merry Christmas apartment building!"

Most importantly, a heartfelt "Merry Christmas" to all of my friends. As Clarence tells us every year on Christmas Eve (you all ARE watching aren't you): "No man is a failure who has friends".
I am truly lucky to have such wonderful friends and to have you all in my life. I hope your holidays are filled with much love and joy!

P.S. Don't worry. Snarkiness will resume shortly.

Blue Christmas

I love Christmas. I look forward to it every year and I can hardly wait to feel the excitement and the joy of the season. This year has been quite the opposite. No matter how hard I try I can't seem to sustain any sort of Christmas spirit. I decorated trees, visited reindeer, listened to music, did the luminaria walk at Green Lake, saw "The Nutcracker", made out Christmas cards, drank eggnog, wore my reindeer antlers, bought and wrapped packages and still . . . nothing. This happens to varying degrees some years but this year I blame Mother Nature.
I know some of you LOVE the snow but it has dampened the holiday spirits of most everyone I know. A little snow was pretty but a week and a half of ice and snow and not feeling like we can drive anywhere is enough. All I want for Christmas is 40 degrees and rain. Glorious, gray Seattle skies and rain. Wash this crap away.
Because of the weather we have cancelled my dad's birthday party twice. I had my traditional Christmas dinner and gift exchange with a good friend cancelled. My mother was to come up for a girl's night at Hotel Ann-Marie -- cancelled. Two different outings with two dear friends -- cancelled. Now there is a very real chance that we will be postponing our Christmas to this weekend because of the weather. UNCLE!!! UNCLE!!!
However, I know that shaking my fist at the sky and complaining won't change things so I am trying to look on the bright side.
I can't get out to visit my friends and family but at least I have wonderful friends and family I want to visit and who want to visit with me.
I can't get to the grocery store to get food for Christmas but at least I have the money to buy the food and am quite clearly not going hungry.
I might have to slog down sidewalks packed with at least four inches of ice but at least I have a good job to go to and really great co-workers.
I can't dump my garbage or recycling and it is piling up in my apartment because the city can't get here to empty our dumpsters but at least I have food, newspapers, magazines and (most importantly) Diet Coke to consume so I that I need the garbage service.
I can't get out to go anywhere but it has allowed me to spend a peaceful few days organizing the apartment, really unwinding and snuggling with the kitties.
I can't ramp up my running like I wanted to when school was over because the sidewalks are far too dangerous but I have my health so that running is even an option for me.
Thinking about this situation in these terms seems to make it a little bit better.
But Santa? 40 degrees and rain please.