About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
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June 27, 2007
As I get closer and closer to the date of my own little Mecca, you’d think I would be gleefully planning each day, girding to do battle with the masses of people who’ll be attending Comic Con this year. Most especially, you’d think I would be hoarding my pennies more fiercely than ever to maybe add a little somethin’ to the miniscule budget ($200: food, parking, gifts for 4.5 days). Heck, I’m not even sure that I should be spending THAT much in the wake of some recent revelations!
You’d think. How I wish you were right! Because you’d be wrong. Oh, so wrong. The programming for Comic Con is still not available, and so I’ve not got a program to obsess over.
In its place, my obsessiveness has grabbed hold of my acquisitiveness left over from that weekend jaunt to Macy’s and now I’m restraining myself from yearning after adorable summer clothing the likes of which I can only imagine would be wonderful for our lunch reception aboard the USS Midway, or for the lectures of Salmon Rushdie and Michael Tilson Thomas.
Surely, surely you say, such intellectuals wouldn’t be interested in my attire if they even gazed in my direction. True, but I can’t help but want to make a good showing anyway. It’s not for them, it’s for me. Hah! That makes it even harder to stand firm. And NOT BUY. Lord, give me strength to resist!
“Anything I spend now only takes away from Con.” (Repeat 10, no, 100! times.) Where’s someone to browbeat me into obedience when I need him/her??
I know, this is not the most dire situation. But, still.
June 26, 2007
BoyDucky’s rolled out his best offer, take it or leave it, in a bid to gain my consent on the car he’d like in a few years: The Honda Element SC. (bleech!)
In his attempt to woo/win me over, he’s offered FIVE CUTE PUPPIES.
HIS:
HERS
What do you think of that? Are five whole puppies cute enough to balance out the decided UNcuteness of that hideous boxcar? On one hand, they are distinctly, overwhelmingly cute. On the other hand, that car is ridiculously not cute. Pro, They’re REALLY cute. Con, I’m not crazy. I can’t handle five puppies. Pro, Puppy breath. Con, having to look at that car everyday. Pro, I have puppy fever and this would hit the spot. Con(s), one bedroom apartment, drive ’til the wheels fall off mentality, he might possibly have been thinking of stuffed Gund puppies.
The jury is still out …. but at least we show the spirit of compromise! š
June 25, 2007
Wanda brings up the conundrum I frequently debate: to travel or not to travel?
In particular, my group of friends had a mini-pool party this weekend, and we got to chatting about trips we’d love to take. The conversation rapidly evolved into a discussion of weekend trips we could actually take over the summer like a kayaking trip either over by Alamitos Bay or in the Channel Islands, or camping in Yellowstone, or a long weekend in New York.
B, an outspoken blonde, asked with some asperity if we were ever going to take a cruise as we’re always talking about it, and never actually do it? Cue the requisite “Can we take a cruise when we have money?” from a few members of the group. B’s response? Absolutely guaranteed to give me hives: “That’s what credit cards are for. I’m in debt anyway, what does it matter?” *shuddering uncontrollably* Seriously???
I withheld my mental, knee-jerk, ranty response to her disparaging implication that now that she’s got money, others should be willing to pony up for fun regardless of their circumstances.
I only said that I didn’t believe in getting into debt for luxuries, but it did turn my mind to the trip to Italy and Greece that my best friend is taking with her family next year, and whether or not I’m refusing to consider it out of an enforced sense of poverty? I expect it would cost approximately $2000-2500 and I already have about 130 vacation hours. Sure I don’t have the money yet, but if (and this is a BIG if) the rumors about a substantial raise really do come through, could I? And I really want to go. Of course, if I evaluated everything on the basis of how much I really want it …. š
To be honest, you know what I’m really looking forward to if that raise truly comes through? Giving my mom a monthly allowance. I’m sure it couldn’t be much, but it would mean, to me, that she would see that she doesn’t have to slave away at her various jobs, earning a mere pittance, so that she’s not a burden to me. It would mean that she isn’t a burden to me and I could prove it. And for her to believe that? Priceless. So, really, there are more important things in life than going on a trip or three.
June 24, 2007
I’ve got a challenge for you, my sartorially gifted readers. I’d love some advice on how to build work appropriate outfits with this blazer. I know the pictures aren’t the best, but a basic description of the blazer is: Full notched collar. Single button front. Havana plaid. Half sleeves with three button cuffs. Front flap pockets. Contoured fit.
Bearing in mind that I’ve only got black pinstriped, regular black or gray trousers, knee-length black or white skirts, and I’d really rather not buy more clothes just because of this blazer, what sort of outfits would you suggest? Other than with a tank top and blue jeans, I’ve got that one down. š
I must be on an out-for-the -summer circadian rhythm. I’m irresistably sleepy at 5pm, wake up in time for dinner and then stay up the rest of the night reading into the wee hours. I’ve really got to stop this! If for no other reason, so that I don’t sleep between 4am and 11am, losing the entire morning.
Despite the late start, I did manage to get myself to the mall to replace my parents’ cell phones with T-Mobile (remind me to tell you about that encounter and also hit about 7 different stores to try to find replacement shorts for my two pairs of khaki shorts, circa 2000. This is part of my ongoing quest to deFrumpify my wardrobe, an item or two at a time.
All in all, I did ok, though I spent a bit too much. Didn’t finish half of my errands, but I DID accomplish a few important things:
T-mobile, 2 Samsung T-219 phones for: $0. No tax, no shipping (savings of $20, had I ordered them over the phone) and no hassle.
Express, New York and Co., Forever 21, Ann Taylor Loft, Aeropostale and American Eagle were all having some sort of sale, alas, nothing fit.
Macy’s: $61.61 for (all on sale) two pairs of shorts, and a 3/4 sleeve Guess blazer whose niche in my closet I’ve not quite determined yet. The blazer was $35 on sale, making the shorts a great deal ($11 and $13, respectively) but the blazer? Not so much.
Trader Joe’s: $10, their milk and eggs are consistently priced lower than any other store, and that’s their regular price. Their bread, however, leaves much to be desired. At nearly $3 for a 2-pound loaf, I expect the bread not to fall apart when I make a sandwich!
I didn’t get to:
Recycling.
Walgreens to check out their FAR items.
Target: I need some heel inserts for my new work shoes.
Perhaps next weekend!
June 23, 2007
My friends and I spent a rather pleasant afternoon by the pool today. We tried to avoid prime sunburn hours, especially for the ultra-whities among us, by having lunch first and then sitting mostly clothed with our legs in the unheated spa. Despite the liberal use of sunblock at least 30 minutes before I went outside, I still managed to get a little burned.
I used this ridiculously expensive bottle of Aloe Up bought from the hotel gift shop during our business retreat back in … er, February? I had neglected to bring any sunscreen outside of my usual facial moisturizer sunscreen, and we were scheduled for a hike in the Tucson desert, so I let the office buy me a nice 7 ounce bottle of this “Enriched Aloe Spa Formula” which is touted as an “Aloe based Ultra High Sunscreen, SPF 30.” It’s what they call a dry lotion formula that’s sweat resistant, hypoallergenic, non-comodogenic, and biodegradable. I’m not sure why exactly it had to be biodegradable, but there you go. Anyhow, the back of the bottle says it’s sweat resistant, very water resistant (MUCH better than the merely water resistant) and “Formulated for athletes who spend hoursi n the sun, water, wind or snow. With antioxidants.” I looked hard for the “Cures cancer, gout and other miscellaneous ills” but didn’t find it. Yep, it sounded like a bunch of hooey when all I was looking for was effective sun protection.
So, despite the non-greasiness, the moderate lack of that weird sunscreen smell, and the SPF 30, I still got Roasty-Toasty! *sigh* Actually, it’s weird because I’ve only gotten sunburned a couple times before this. Either my skin’s gotten more sensitive as I get older, or it’s time for new sunscreen! Still, the expiration date is 02-22-09, it seems a little soon to require replacing, doesn’t it?
June 21, 2007
Perhaps it’s the parents-are-away syndrome. And it’s the first day of summer!!
I paid my parents’ tax bill eons ago, ages ago, and now the IRS is demanding their money. Again. Uh, NO. I really don’t think so. But that means I have to search through my checking accounts for an copy of the check and, most times, I can’t usually recall which checking account was most convenient account to use at the time.
Thank goodness for online check images!! At least I don’t have to fuss until I get home and then risk major papercuts wading through my returned checks. Still, times like these make me wonder if I shouldn’t just use ONE checking account to make my bill paying/referencing life simpler.
