Come on baby in our dreams, we can live our misbehaviour*

I am going to use the collective power of the internet.  Hopefully someone out there knows how to do this:

There is a keystroke in Excel that allows you to copy/paste the exact cell above into the cell below.  (No, it's not copy/paste).  Basically, it prevents iterations from happening.  So, if I had a date in the cell above, I could use this keystroke and it would put the same date in the cell below (whereas copy/pasting puts the next day's date). 

It's very frustrating because I knew this keystroke for all of about 5 seconds, and I've forgotten it already.  D'OH! 

So, have at it, tell me what I'm supposed to use. 

Moving on.

Yesterday, I was having some issues breathing.  It kind of felt like I had an elephant sitting on my lungs all day.  It was very un-fun.  However, it was ALSO my first day of my new training plan (I finally picked a race to train for!), and I was going to be so angry at myself if I already messed up my training plan on the FIRST DAY. 

So, I got home and threw on some clothes, used my inhaler again, and ran out the door of the hotel.  I ran pretty damn fast considering I don't think I breathed IN the entire run.  And it was actually a really relaxing run. 

I then came home and hung out with Oscar for a while before heading to the grocery store where I spent almost an hour in the produce section.  Oh, I LOVE Wegman's produce section.  SO MUCH FUN!  I bought all sorts of fun veggies to eat for the week.  I also bought some chicken which I am attempting to cook in my crock pot today.  However, I'm not entirely sure how well that's going to go considering I just kind of threw some stuff in there.  It will either be really yummy, or the worst tasting stuff ever.  I'm also starting to wonder if I actually turned ON the crock pot.  I may have to go back to the hotel real quick and check...

Anyways, hope everyone is having a fantastic day!

*Arcade Fire

Everybody knows it sucks to grow up*

So, I'm going to say something I NEVER thought I would say:  

I really did NOT like the Harry Potter movie.  I wouldn't go so far as to say I hated it, but I was SO BORED.   It was so slooooow and drawn out and nothing happened, and even the so called "sad" parts, I was so un-invested in this movie, I felt nothing.  

They could have eliminated half of the stuff, and just made one movie.  But, it feels like they just didn't want to give up their cash cow and decided to make you pay two times.  Seriously, not fun.  

However, other than the people I went with, I appear to be the only one who feels this way.  Everyone I talk to has LOVED the movie.  (Are these people insane?)  Seriously, I could have taken a nap and not missed anything.  

So, the second half had best be better.  

I went with my friend Mike to the movie.  So in addition to the not good movie, I also had an awkward night meeting Mike's family.  I don't do well meeting new people.  And while they are quite nice and very friendly, I can't remember the last time I felt so awkward.  

At least my Thanksgiving was lovely.  J and Baby V and I did a 5k Thanksgiving morning (J is hardcore...she ran part of the race with Baby V strapped on her belly in the carrier...crazy lady!).  It was a nice way to start the day, and makes the yummy food that much more enjoyable.  Then, we all went to my grandma's house for Thanksgiving "dinner" and as always, I love seeing the family.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures.  So, I have to post one of my sister's:

The adorable Baby V eating her Thanksgiving Day party dress.  What a cutie!

All in all, it was a mostly successful weekend, however, I'm really not ready to go back to work tomorrow. I kind of want another day off.  :-)

*Ben Folds

You just smile politely, and I grow weaker inside*

I am not a fan of daylight savings time.  

It's bad enough when it was getting dark at 5:45, and I barely had time to go for a run after work, but now, it's getting dark at 4:45, which means that it's dark before I even leave work.  This is entirely not working for me.  

I also am feeling the lack of reflective clothing in my dresser.  

My daddy gave me his reflective vest to go running in, but honestly, I look like an ass in it (and while I do enjoy being a LIVE ass, it's still not my favorite look).  

I bought a new running jacket, however, it does not have any convenient reflective strips anywhere on it.  I have been attempting to find reflective tape, but apparently nobody around here has ever heard of it, and I can't find it anywhere.

So, I bought some fun reflective stickers that are supposed to be used for biking helmets and made a fun decorative jacket.  I still look like an ass when I wear it (and I bet planes could try to land on this thing, but at least it's more comfortable than that vest thing).  

 Seriously, doesn't this thing look like a landing strip?

So, I took it out for a run the other evening, and it worked wonderfully.

I just hope these things stick long enough until I can find some reflective tape.






*Ben Folds

And there's so much where we ain't been yet*

I have this amazing ability to attract weird people to me. It could almost be a talent (if it wasn't so obnoxious).

In college, I used to take the train home, and it was almost always an adventure. Some person would feel compelled to sit with me and spend the hour talking to me. Except, I could never have NORMAL conversations.

One time someone spent an hour telling me that I was too pretty for my own good and someone was going to feel compelled to hurt me. Um thanks? Creepy!  Another time, I listened to a guy tell me about the weird warts on the bottom of his feet and his genitals.  (REALLY???).  Listening to my mp3 player did nothing to deter these people.  In fact one person actually removed my headphones so I couldn't ignore him. 

Or, the time I took a train back to Virginia and there was a really smelly guy sitting next to me telling me that I was obviously meant to be with him forever.  Or the drunk guy that kept trying to give me weed randomly and telling me we should go make out in the bathroom of the train car.

Or the time on the Metro in the DC area where the guy was doing something inappropriate to himself while plastered up against me on the train (it was a full car). 

Or the time I was flying back from Indiana, and the guy sitting next to me kept trying to convince me I should fly on to Florida with him and help him house sit.  And then proceeded to rub my arm, ALL FLIGHT.  And the flight was full and I couldn't move.  And he wasn't being OBVIOUSLY touchy-feely.  He kept playing it off like it was an accident.  But really, it was not. 

Last night, I was in a funk and I went to get some takeout sushi.  While waiting for them to finish my order, I was sitting in the front area of the restaurant.  A guy randomly walked up to me, looked around all kind of furtively, and then pet my head a few times and stroked my arm. 

He looked around again for a few seconds and ran out the door as I just sat there in shock. 

I'm not some freakishly attractive person.  I'm pretty average, so what in the world is wrong with me?  Why do people feel the urge to come up and just be weird around me?  Or as we like to say, why am I flypaper for freaks?  They just come and stick themselves to me.

It's bizarre. 

*Josh Ritter

And you know you've seen it all, in daddy's car thinking you'll go far*

I have a definite case of the Mondays. 

So, I'm going to post about the lovely weekend I had instead. 

Actually, this lovely weekend started out kind of shitty.  I woke up at 5:30 in the morning on Saturday to Oscar vomiting blood.  Usually he throws up multiple times before getting to the blood stage, but this time he appeared to be in a rush and just went straight for it. 

Sigh. 

He seemed ok and didn't do it again, so being the heartless mom I am, I decided to just keep an eye on him, and if he did it again, we'd go to the emergency vet, but otherwise, we were waiting until the normal vet opened at 8.  (Other than needing to poop twice in the next 2.5 hours, he was ok).  Off to the vet we went. 

Waited about 40 minutes for a doctor (I had no appointment, just kind of walked in, so I was surprised it wasn't longer).  An internal IV (those things are so cool) and a few shots later, we walked out with a bunch of meds to give Oscar, and he already was acting much happier so I wasn't too concerned.  And he's fine.  Doesn't seem to be showing any adverse side effects from being sick, so, we're good. 

In addition to drama queen Oscar, I had invited my sisters and their families to come to breakfast at my place (yes, I am crazy and invited 8 people to eat in my ridiculously tiny room...but that's just how I roll). 

But, my lame oldest sister L (ha!  last week you were awesome...but this week you're lame!) had completely bailed on me and NOBODY from her family came.  And then, JP was supposedly "too sick" to come (although he made a miraculous recovery in time for his co-workers party...), so it was just J and baby V.  Which was actually great.  I had way too much food for just the two of us to eat (I had planned for at least 4), but it was really fun hanging out with J, I feel like I didn't get to do that enough the past 5 years. 

Then, in the afternoon my parents came up for the evening. 

My mom has been wanting to learn how to bead and make jewelry.  So, I spent Saturday afternoon/evening teaching her how to make a necklace.

And seriously, her first attempt is freaking AWESOME:

I'm impressed :-)  (Also, best teacher ever...)

My parent's stayed the night, and we went to breakfast Sunday morning at the diner up here (it's a really good diner...best french toast ever!). 

They went home after breakfast, and I cleaned and fell asleep on the couch (that early wake-up call on Saturday took a lot out of me), and waited for JH to call so we could go out for her birthday dinner.  (While helping my mom, I made a necklace for JH's birthday gift.)

We just went to the Applebee's across the street from my hotel for some drinks before dinner (so we could watch the game), and we ended up just staying there for dinner as well.  Our bartender couldn't get any candles for her cake (apparently they don't have candles???), so he held his lighter lit for her to blow out.  I suppose that was creative. 

Then, I came home and went to bed so I could go to work at 5:30 (that didn't happen, but it's a story for a different day).

All in all, I had a lovely weekend (minus the bloody vomit) and it was so nice to see everyone (except the lame L). 

*Dead Kennedys

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar*

I got a weird email today and it's put me in kind of a shitty mood. 

There is someone in VA that I'm not a huge fan of, and to be honest, I kind of never want to see again.  This person is an asshole and pretty much is just a terrible person.  I unfortunately ran into this person last time I was in Richmond, and it just kind of re-emphasized how happy I am to not be living there anymore.  

I forgot that I still had this person as a friend on Facebook (this person quickly got unfriended).

BUT I AM SO MAD AT MYSELF FOR NOT THINKING TO DO THIS SOONER.

This person saw some pictures from this past weekend and decided it would be fun to email and make comments to me about them (Yeah, there is nothing bad in any of the pictures, don't worry mom and dad).

So now, all I can think about is how angry I am at this person, and how much I can't get over what a douche-bag this person was.  And I'm mad at myself for letting this get to me. 

And, yeah, I've just been mad pretty much all day. 

*The Band Perry

So bar maid bring a pitcher, another round o' brew*

I mentioned in a previous post that Oscar has been a little concerned lately with how often he gets left at my parent's house. 

I left him there again this past weekend in order to head to North Jersey to see Little J play in a soccer game, and to go to the bar crawl that a bunch of my college friends were at.  

I had a great time this weekend. 

The soccer game was so funny to watch.  However, the other team was full of douche-bag parents and coaches that are teaching their kids to be assholes!  They beat little J's team like 17-0 (I honestly lost count after 13-0, so it may not have as bad as I said, but it was BAD).  AND, they kept telling their kids to KEEP SCORING!  WTF????   Keep in mind, these kids are like FIVE.  What are you teaching them??

After the game, I headed down to New Brunswick for the bar crawl and I got to see A LOT of people that I haven't seen since graduation.  It was the most random gathering of friends (it's crazy how your circles of friends can intersect and you aren't even aware of it).  I saw old classmates from my Chem-E days. I saw old floor-mates from Freshmen year.  I saw my old roommate JH and hung out with Mike again (it's crazy how many times I've seen this guy in the past two months.).  

I got very happy that night.  Probably a little TOO happy.  I was thinking of posting pictures, but that requires posting pictures of myself, and I kind of have a policy about that...so...no pictures.  Just know that I had a great time and it was reflected in the pictures.  

Oscar on the other hand, apparently did NOT have such a good weekend.  

When I got home Sunday evening and started unpacking, I think Oscar thought I was getting ready to leave again.

Because he crawled into my suitcase and made himself at home.  He just REALLY wanted to make sure I couldn't leave him behind this time.

And, on a side note...guess whose oldest sister gave her their old camera?  That would be me...I can now take pictures!  That look like pictures!  And not big dark blurs!

Isn't she awesome?

*Jimmy Buffet