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November 30, 2004
Cat Scratch Feveritis
So last night in the middle of the night Thomas (aka, clingy mcneedypants) was clamoring all over us, trying to get in the middle spot. This, of course involved sticking his big fatty butt right in Miss B's face (and we know there is nothing worse than a cat butt in the face) so we both were pushing at him (Thommmaaassss! MOVE!) which resulted in him STEPPING ON MY EYE.
Thank goodness I live with nurse-in-training. She hopped up, got something to clean it, got some ice to stop the swelling, and shoved me full of aleve. I love my nurse.
But wouldn't you agree that a scratched swollen eye (ok, eyelid) is a good reason to go in late to work? Hmmmmmm???
Posted by Loody at 09:15 AM | Comments (4)
November 29, 2004
Get down with your funky self....
I wish I was feelin' that George Clinton/Parliament kind of funk, but instead I'm feeling that good old fashioned cloud over my head kind of funk.
So I'm going to write this post, get it out of my system, and then all will be right again. Ok?
I couldn't sleep last night (even with Miss B playing sleepy tunes on the the lime green harmonica) so woke up tired and, to make matters worse, I never got my coffee. My 9:30 meeting which I stressed about being late to the whole time in the car (hence the skipping of the coffee) was cancelled at the last minute, and my mother called me no less than 4 times today. And, you know what else? The fact that I have to be at work while a certain someone is on vacation just stinks.
You know what I needed today? One of those super crabby lunches that frecklegirl, our wonderful friend Jenn, and I used to have. We would fly out of the office, pile in the car, bitch and moan all the way to the restaurant, complain all the way through lunch, and bitch and moan all the way back. Doesn't sound like much fun to anyone else - but boy did we feel better. Some days it was the only way to get to the end of the day.
But, since I didn't get a crabby lunch, you all get a crabby Loody.
I do feel a little better though.
And now its time to go home.
That's always good.
Posted by Loody at 04:41 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 28, 2004
Stuffed with stuffing, Part II
Since we didn't get to bring home any leftovers from Turkey Day - yeah, I'm still not sure how that happened - we decided to have our own little thanksgiving for sunday dinner. I made a roasted chicken, stuffing and mashed potatoes and Miss B made her famous apple pie.
So...from a food induced stupor, some highlights of our long weekend.
Friday: lounged around and then went to see The Incredibles (which is amazing - go see it right now) and Ray (also amazing...in a totally different way).
Saturday: watched Battle Royale (must have the requisite freaky Japanese movie), went to Berkeley to help my brother move, and ended up on 4th street - a super cozy and festive little shopping area - where we splurged on books at Cody's and bath salts at Hydra (thanks Miss B!!).
Today: surprised ourselves by getting xmas shopping done for my whole family (we bow down to the Target gods) and topped that off by driving back from Daly City via the Great Highway...ocean ocean ocean. Yummy.
Must. Eat. Pie
Posted by Loody at 07:34 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 25, 2004
Oh....and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
gobble gobble gobble
Posted by missfitsandstarts at 07:58 AM | Comments (1)
November 24, 2004
Our "pad" is "hella tight"
At least according to my nephew. Who is ten. Don't you love it when kids start using expressions like that? It's like they are trying their coolness on, seeing how it fits.
The boys don't have school today or "after school" so my sister is dropping them off to hang out with us while she goes to class this afternoon. Apparently, visiting their dad at work just doesn't compare to hanging out with Bridget at the hella tight pad.
My nephews love me in that "she's my auntie who has been around since I was born and I guess she's kind of fun" way, but they love, and I mean LOVE, Miss B. Any time I walk into my sister's house, the first thing they say is "where's Bridget? is Bridget coming?".
They love her because she plays video games with them, watches the Simpsons with them, helps Nick with his comic book company web page (when did 10 year olds start having comic book companies?) understands all that Pokemon business, AND has already promised to buy them Super Smash Brothers Melee for Christmas! I don't have a chance...I'm just not that cool. And that's ok. At least I'm cool enough (and smart enough) to permanently attach myself to someone who is.
And by the way, I don't know what Super Smash Brothers Melee is either.
Posted by Loody at 11:57 AM | Comments (2)
November 23, 2004
Loving the community in community service.
I just got back from volunteering at the 13th annual City of Oakland Thanksgiving Lunch. It was amazing...
Because they had too many volunteers. That makes me feel good about the City of Oakland.
Because of the way people just pick up and do whatever needs to be picked up and done, alongside people they have never met, and they do it all with a big smile on their face.
Because the crowd was entertained by a group of 40 residents from a senior center doing the electric slide, and a jazzy ensemble playing a slightly elevator music-ish version of Janet Jacksons "That's the Way Love Goes"
And, most especially, because of the 20 or so older japanese ladies who arrived wearing the most beautiful kimonos under matching aprons. They didn't speak a word of english but watching them serve plates of thanksgiving dinner with the utmost respect and grace (to people who don't get a lot of respect and grace) was the best thing I've seen in a long time.
Posted by Loody at 03:17 PM | Comments (4)
November 22, 2004
Red Sky at Night, Loody's Delight
Driving home at sunset, across the bay bridge, water on both sides, sweeping orange and pink sky, fog rolling in over the city...without a doubt it's one of the best parts of my day.
It's also one of the fullest. In my head.
Today I was thinking about friends, making them, keeping them, appreciating them. Reconnecting with some this weekend is part of it, but I've been swishing this around in my head since we moved to California.
For two big reasons:
Keeping up with old friends is hard.
I'm a really bad long distance friend. To me the stuff of friendship is in the little daily things and I kind of don't know how to do it any other way. I miss people so much when I'm not around them but then I get on the phone and suddenly I can't remember all the things I wanted to share, all the daily things blur together and I end up feeling like I don't really have anything to talk about. So just know (and you know who you are) that its all there, all the love, really. I just get stuck, and time goes by.
Making new friends is hard
It just is. Especially for a "friendly on the surface but really shy and private underneath" person such as myself. Making friends is like dating (which thank the stars above I won't have to do EVER again)...sometimes it just clicks but most of the time it's a careful uncertain dance. Not knowing if or when you will be friends, until if you are lucky, suddenly you just ARE friends. It's exciting, filled with new possibility, and it's also exhausting.
Then it came to me...
Maybe this blogging thing will help with both!
I love knowing that my friends on the east coast are reading this, it makes me feel like I'm talking to them every day (hi!) even though they are far away. I also like knowing that there are a few new people reading this, it makes me feel like there are lots of ways to get to know new people, and new chances to share daily things.
So there.
Now I can go back to enjoying the sunset.
Posted by Loody at 08:58 PM | Comments (5)
November 21, 2004
Yay!
Miss B is home, the sun is setting over the hills, we have the food network on and she's making her mom's super yummy tomato sauce.
Life is good.
Posted by Loody at 04:54 PM | Comments (2)
I'm plum tuckered out!
The wedding was beautiful (historic cathedral), reception was stunning (panoramic views of SF and entire bay area), food was delicious (three kinds of cake!), conversation was hilarious (witty banter flying left and right - I miss those friends). Since it was a daytime wedding we disbanded for a while but got back together for a yummy noodle dinner last night. So so nice.
Miss B had to go to the hospital today to make up a clinical shift from earlier in the quarter (6:30 a.m, sunday morning? poor baby!). So I hung out with our friend T who was staying with us for the wedding. Now by hung out you might think I mean we sat around, rested from the wedding, maybe drank some tea, had some brunch. No...not so much.
T is one of those super energetic outdoorsy people who loves to exercise, so I shouldn't have been surprised that I would have to work for my coffee this morning, but I think we must have walked for a good 2 1/2 hours. Down the hill, up the hill, down the hill, up the hill. Then....as soon as we got back, she turned around and headed back out for a 30-40 mile bike ride.
Me? I'm taking a nap as soon as I finish writing thi.................
zzzzzzz
Posted by Loody at 12:32 PM | Comments (2)
November 17, 2004
Who woulda thunk it? (or...Loody's life lessons)
This weekend we are going the wedding of a very good friend of mine (we'll call him The Professor) and I'm really looking forward to it. I like his fiancee very much and I'm glad to see him (and them) so happy. Plus...it's going to be a wicked good time.
It's got me thinkin' though and here's why:
About 5 years ago, The Professor and I were part of a little wine tasting (read: wine drinking) group. We used to get together at least once a week, drink wine, eat cheese, and regale each other with our various dating and graduate school dramas.
We were all very good friends but my cross to bear was that I had a HUGE crush on The Professor. He was perfect for me (I just knew it) and I pined after him in that tortured "did he just say something to me in a non-friend way? he did, I know he did." way. My awesome and very patient friend Ginny bore the brunt of the tipsy-post-wine-tasting "are you sure he doesn't love me?" phone calls every week for at least a year (are you laughing at me right now Gin?).
Eventually, wine-tasting disbanded. He moved to another state, and I figured out that pining for something that didn't exist in the first place seemed, well, kind of silly. It took me a while though, to get over the idea that he was "the one who got away."
He wasn't, of course. This we know because "the one who will never get away and never want to" is right here next to me (watching a very strange japanese horror movie :)). What he is, now, is a very dear friend and our relationship, now that we are both with the person we are supposed to be with, has grown into something it never could be during those tortured days.
My point, and yes people I do have one. Is that for me it's a lesson in not missing the relationship you DO have with someone because you are too busy hoping for the relationship you WISH you could have. [hmmm...sidebar to self: think about how said lesson relates to your family....]. Ironically enough, the next time life taught me a relationship lesson it was that the one you are wishing for might be the one right in front of you (but that's a story for another time).
All that aside, I'm also thinking about how great it is going to be to have a mini-reunion (4 out of the 5 original wine-tasters will be here this weekend) and how nice it will be to pick up where we left off.
Posted by Loody at 09:32 PM | Comments (5)
What part of "NO" don't I understand??
Can't concentrate on work because I'm ruminating about the fact that I have committed to being in 3 different places tomorrow night (not at the same time, mind you, but in pretty rapid succession) and its making me feel a little crazy.
Miss B said to me this morning "You never think of yourself, you just say yes...its like a reflex" and she's right. The Yes-reflex is so deeply ingrained that I really don't stop to think about it it just comes out. "Yes", "Of Course", "No Problem".
And that's how I end up here. Overcommitted. To things that involve small children and dogs so there is no chance of resorting to the last minute "bail-out"
Its just two little letters...it shouldn't be so hard.
Posted by Loody at 10:34 AM | Comments (2)
November 16, 2004
I got off the Bed, had a Bath (ok shower) and got myself some Beyond
Feeling much better tonight after stopping at Bed Bath and Beyond for a new vacuum cleaner and a clorox wet mop, hitting Safeway to pick up the ingredients for Loody's garlic chicken pasta, and indulging in my favorite soothing distraction...magazines (I LOVE magazines!!)
Of course the novelty of the new appliance wore off after testing it on the area rug but I did cook a yummy dinner.
Baby steps. Its all about the baby steps.
Posted by Loody at 09:08 PM | Comments (2)
November 15, 2004
Ants in my (pajama) pants
Tonight is one of those nights when I am equal parts restless and lazy. There is so much to do (dishes, laundry, other stuff that I'm sure I should be doing) but I just can't seem to drag myself away from the bed/tv
Self...am I boring you????
Posted by Loody at 08:57 PM | Comments (4)
Things that go bump in the night (or, Loody vs. the Raccoon)
Saturday night. Fast asleep. Cozy.
I wake up to the sound of thumping and scratching. "Oh the jungle cats are at it again," I think to myself, and drift back to sleep.
Wait (one eye opens). We are not at home (other eye opens). There are no cats! (I jolt up in bed).
Now I start trying to listen really hard (Why is Miss B sleeping so loud? Why is the wind blowing so loud? Why is the fridge humming so loud?). But then, there it is again...thumpity bump.
So I get up and look around from the loft where we are sleeping... I can't see anything from there but I'm SURE I heard something not quite right.
Heading down the stairs armed with a clog (yes, clogs can be very dangerous weapons...really) I'm feeling pretty silly. Noises happen out in the country, bumpy thumpy windy animal-y noises. At the bottom of the stairs, I turn on the lamp and shine it full force on the corner of the living room where I think I heard the noise.
What do I see?
The big fat head of a big fat raccoon staring right at me.
Fatty raccoon had been doing his very best to squeeze his middles through the 5 inch slot of the window that was open (this I know from the multiple little footprints on the cushion just in front of the window) but luckily for me his eyes were smaller than his waist.
We stood there for a full minute, Fatty and I, staring each other down. Me thinking "ok, racoons don't like light, if i just keep shining this lamp REALLY HARD, he will go away". Fatty Raccoon thinking (maybe?), that a nice romp through the trash can might not be worth a clog to the head. He eventually backed out of the window, but wasn't going to let me have the last word. He came around the corner to the next window, stood up on his hind legs, and tapped the window with his front feet...
"You are lucky I'm so fat you silly clog lady!"
The best part of all? Some people slept through the whole thing!!!!
Posted by Loody at 04:19 PM | Comments (2)
November 14, 2004
I'm not so fond of Sunday nights....
Cause next comes Monday morning, and back to reality.
Safely home and watching tv in bed. Too tired - and technically challenged - to post pics tonight but hopefully tomorrow (hold your horses frecklegirl!!!)
Night Night.
Posted by Loody at 09:07 PM | Comments (1)
November 13, 2004
I could get used to this!
The drive up on windy windy (as in winding not full of wind) road in the pitch dark was totally worth it to wake up here.
So far this morning we have been to the local bakery for a sticky bun, seen two hummingbirds and a gaggle of quails and watched the second half of "Angels in America" (amazing!!). That's what happens when you wake up with the sun.
Now its off to my favorite grocery store, the Surf Super, in Gualala (the nearest town) and then a picnic on the beach.
Wanna meet us there???
Posted by Loody at 10:37 AM | Comments (2)
November 12, 2004
Did I say 3:00?
Can't hold out any longer. Must leave now.
So...I just have to drive to my parents house to pick up the dvd player, then drive to the video store to pick up movies movies movies (Oh no the pressure of the video store, all by myself. Why didn't I ask for recommendations??), then drive to Emeryville to pick up:
1. Snacks and other yummies at Trader Joe's
2. My Sweetie
Let the mini-vacationing begin!!
Posted by Loody at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)
Gettin' the hell out of Dodge (errr... San Francisco)
We are going on a mini vacation this weekend and I'm so excited that its really hindering my ability to go to work this morning. Can't we just fast forward to 3:00 this afternoon?????
My family has a house about 100 miles north of San Francisco at a place called The Sea Ranch. It's one of my favorite places in the whole world mostly because there is NOTHING to do there but lie around, read, eat, walk on the cliffs, drink tea...you get the idea. Oh, and take a bath in the Japanese soaking tub (we just can't get away from the Japanese things!!)
Yay for down time, yay for down time together, yay for beautiful views of the rocky rocky coast.
p.s. Of course my dad can't be there without being able to work so there is an internet connection so i'm sure there will be posting at some point (hopefully with pics)
p.p.s. Ok we are taking a little dvd and the ipod to hook into the stereo up there...we can't live w/out movies and music!
Posted by Loody at 10:19 AM | Comments (4)
November 11, 2004
Turning Japanese, I think she's turning Japanese
I really think so.
Miss B is enamored of all things Japanese these days and I love being along for the ride.
Today we took a little trip Japantown so B could stock up on stationary and notebooks and japanese novels (in english - she hasn't made THAT much progress yet :)), we had sushi for lunch and Ramen/Udon for dinner, and now she is patiently (sort of) waiting for her computer back so she can surf her japanese blogs.
Miss B does not mess around when it comes to her obsessions and its one of the things I just truly love about her. She gets excited about things...lets them flow over and through her and examines them from all sides. Tonight she was telling me about the history of ramen and the etiquette of ordering drinks in a restaurant in japan.
Sometimes she thinks that I think she's silly for caring about all this stuff but really i'm just amazed. I tend to shy away from things and I have so much to learn from her about going full speed ahead TOWARD things.
This blog is one step in that direction (and its working because I'm obsessed!!!) so thanks B for being my inspiration in this and all things.
Posted by Loody at 11:47 PM | Comments (1)
November 09, 2004
How much do I love my new boss?
THIS MUCH:
She came into my office a little before 11 this morning and said "lets go....". We drove to a little Taqueria and had nachos as an early lunch. Mmmmmmm
The only downside to this?
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ (cheesy beany goodness makes loody very sleepy)
Posted by Loody at 03:57 PM | Comments (2)
November 08, 2004
Speaking of reunions....
Don't think I've mentioned that I recently attended my (gasp) 20th high school reunion. And not only that...I actually had fun.
Living on the east coast for so long has provided the perfect excuse for not attending the 5, 10 and 15 year events although I always got the important updates (ok, gossip) from the two lovely ladies I still keep in touch with from "back in the day". Now that I'm here there was NO way they were going to let me get away with not going.
After figuring out (with some help from Miss B) what exactly "dressy casual beach attire" means, I met up with my friends and we headed over there.
If you want to know the wisdom gained from this evening, keep reading...if not, just know the most important thing. That someday, somewhere, your senior yearbook picture might be projected on a wall, 100 times normal size. Think about it.
1. Dressy casual beach attire for men apparently meant kakhi's and a hawaiian shirt. No exceptions. For women it meant anything from jeans and a flowered shirt to slinky red dress with stilleto heals (yeah, try walking on the beach in those!). Men have it so easy!
2. People really do look the same. THE SAME, just older. Its a little freaky really.
3. Some of the "cool kids" really weren't that happy. And I know because one of them told us so. She said she spent all of high school worrying because everyone was watching her. Makes me happy that pretty much no one was watching me.
4. I dont remember a damn thing! Miss B is always making fun of me because I dont remember things that happened to me when I was little, but this was crazy. People remember exactly which locker they had, which room belonged to which teacher, what class they had at what time on Tuesdays. Huhhh? Am I crazy...or maybe got hit on the head and dont remember that? People do you remember these things????
5. My high school costs $11,000 a year to attend this year. WTF???? No, I didn't go to public school but it sure wasn't 'spensive like that!
Posted by Loody at 07:44 PM | Comments (1)
Oh my god the talking......
I just ever so innocently tossed out a "how are you doing" to someone dropping off some papers in my office and ended up with an avalanche of talking that started with "I just broke up with my boyfriend" moved through stories of her ten year high-school reunion, and ended with the story of her sister-in-law's mother's third divorce. Oy.
Don't get me wrong...I'm not sorry I asked her how she is, or that she felt comfortable (or maybe just needy) enough to talk about it. I just wasn't expecting everthing but the kitchen sink...plus the kitchen sink.
Loody's got her listening ears on.
Posted by Loody at 06:52 PM | Comments (1)
November 07, 2004
It's Pho Sure......
We have found the best yummiest bowls of steaming noodly goodness.
Not to mention sushi, and tacos, and peruvian food, and gooey cheezy thin crust pizza.
Oh and blueberry scones.
You should all move here...and that's all I have to say about that.
Posted by Loody at 05:42 PM | Comments (4)
November 06, 2004
The Joys of Apartment Living
Is it so wrong to just want a little house? A little house with 4 sides that dont touch anything else? This apartment thing is getting old.
Dispatches from the motel-style-tree-house-in-the-woods (aka our apartment building):
2:00 a.m. (give or take)...a small gathering of the Future Doctors of America on the balcony of the apartment next door (which puts them about 5 feet from our sliding door)
Med Student 1: Dude, I am so hammered
Med Student 2: Yeah dude,..me too!
Med Student 3: Dude, have you ever climbed up on the roof?
Med Student 1: Yeah, but it involves climing on the chair to the railing to the roof
Med Student 2: Cool...but I think I'm too hammered
Med Student 3: Yeah..cause the danger is....you might fall off the railing.
(dude, what about the roof?)
ah..the best and the brightest.
7:00 am: Somewhere (up? down? right? left?) some one's fog horn alarm has been going off for about half an hour...just loud enough that you can't go back to sleep...please..turn your alarm off on the weekend!!!
Every weekend morning: The dog that barks incessently down the hill and the guy who seems to be remodeling his entire house with a circular saw....bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Of course we should not talk since we are the owners of "think they are giant cats in the jungle"....thumpty thumpty thumpty crash wrestle growl.....thumpty thumpty thumpty crash wrestle growl...
Maybe THAT is why i can't sleep.
Posted by Loody at 11:25 AM | Comments (1)
November 05, 2004
Looking on the bright side.....
The sushi last night was out-of-this-world (I can tell by the look in her eye that Miss B wants to go there EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM NOW ON)
And...we are taking my nephews to see The Incredibles tomorrow afternoon. I can't wait!!!! (Even though my brother isn't technically a full time employee there anymore which means we can't wait until the veryendofthecredits to look for his name and clap (thanks, Gin, for your particiption in that activity in the past!)).
i'll let you know the reviews
:)
Posted by Loody at 05:03 PM | Comments (1)
November 04, 2004
Sushi...Family Style
Its taken a little while for my family (read: my mom) to get used to the idea that we LIVE here now. For the first 2 weeks (I kid you not, two full weeks) my mom would call me every morning:
"Were you thinking of stopping by tonight?"
"No?"
"How about tomorrow?"
I LIVE here mom...I'm not going to visit you every day. I love you but I'm just not. The problem is...unlike most people who take no for an answer, my mom just kept asking and I just kept feeling bad for saying no. Lets just say the whole thing came to a head when I got a voice mail at 10pm on a thursday night "Its mom, its 6:30, I thought you and B were meeting me at the gallery opening and having dinner and driving me home...where are you?"...Uhhhhhh...home in bed???? Lines of communication have CLEARLY broken down and its time for plan B
Plan B involves being proactive about suggesting a weekly outing with my parents (usually lunch so that Miss B is spared) so they feel loved and I feel like not-a-jerk and, I get a free lunch (not that that is the real motivation...or is it? hmmmmm..must examine self and said self's motives...but not right now).
The problem with this plan? Today's "lunch with mom and dad" has somehow morphed into dinner. with parents. and uncle. and uncle's wife (and you KNOW who I'm talkin' about).
The best laid plans and all that.
But at least there will be Sushi (mmmmmm...sushi) and lots of it.
Posted by Loody at 07:25 PM | Comments (1)
November 03, 2004
Loody's back..and blue
I figure if anything can get me off my butt to start writing again its the heartbreaking events of yesterday. I'm with my friend Jess in saying "who are these people?" not because I dont think they have the right to think what they think but just because, as ususal, the election makes me realize that I live in a bubble (a very BLUE bubble). I live in a blue state, having just moved here from a blue state (heck I was even born in a blue state) and working in higher education for 20 years also means that I have tended to move in more liberal circles.
So I'm genuine in saying "who are these people" because I really don't know them. The hard part is...they also don't know me but that doesn't stop some of them from wanting to make decisions about my life or or to dictate what choices I can and cannot make.
What also puzzles me about the exit polls is how many people who voted for Bush DONT ACTUALLY THINK HE'S DOING A GOOD JOB!!
I can totally respect that some (ok..obviously MANY) people think differently than I do. What I can't respect is validating a leader who isn't doing what you want them to do on most issues....just because you think he has "strong moral values".
It scares me that there are people who are willing to risk the future of our country (and the respect of the rest of the world) to make sure that gay people can't get married (or women can't choose, or whatever "moral" issue it is). But of course, what I'm not considering (fingers in ears..la la la la) is that to those people gay people getting married (or other so called examples of the erosion of "american" and "family" values) ARE a risk to the future of our country. And that makes me sad.
As usual in our household...Miss B was in tears while the madness was unfolding and I was the one saying it was all going to be ok...then I woke up with a crushing sense of sadness and she had to hold my hand all the way to the car just to get me to go to work this morning.
Now we are both just blue...
Posted by Loody at 04:45 PM | Comments (1)