Friends moving away...
Try to be happy for them,
but heart is breaking.

My roommate did the most ridiculous thing on Friday.

She called my cell phone while I was on my lunch break and left me a message ... to tell me that she left me a message on my work phone.

And honestly? The message wasn't important at all.

Seriously. The bitch is crazy.

I just got an '08 W-2 form from a company I didn't actually work for AT ALL in 2008.

I did work for them in 2007. In fact, I posted about my very last day on the job in my journal here.

Whaaaaaat.

EDIT, 2/6/09: It turns out that I got a paycheck from Lone Star in 2008. Except...I never received it. So glad they could find the time to send my W-2, but not my $150 paycheck.

Grrrrr, taxes. This tax season is going to be the worst, especially because I now how freelance work to report.

I fail at livejournal.

This is going to be a quick update; I don't have many exciting things going on in my life right now.

I wanted to thank mhaithaca for the scotch recommendation. I got Andrew Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban, the extra-matured port-casked scotch. He loves it. So thank you. I would have been completely lost without your suggestions.

The holidays came and went so quickly! I got a lot of good stuff, and our new year's eve party was a blast. At one point, I think there were about 30 people in Andrew's two-bedroom house. What a great way to ring in the new year, with all my friends beside me.

I've been pretty good about going to the gym three times a week. My goal is four times a week, and it happens sometimes but not often. There's a 5k coming up at the end of March that I might run. I haven't decided yet — I've only been jogging on the treadmill; it would be a shock to go straight from the treadmill to hard ground. I'll have to take it outside when the weather gets nicer, but I don't know if that will happen before the run.

Work is work and it's a slow period right now. Makes it almost unbearable. Thank goodness I've made friends with one of my co-workers. She, facebook, childfree and the Fail Blog are what's keeping me from going insane with boredom here.

Sigh.

I really have been reading, just don't feel like commenting or even writing in my own.

He sent another bouquet to work Tuesday. This time, roses and calla lilies.

Now my co-workers are calling me "flower girl." The women in the office are jealous.

I love it.

He said, "I knew you were expecting the first ones, but I wanted to really surprise you."

He definitely pulled it off. My desk is so cheery.

I have the best boyfriend.

Our two-year anniversary is this Sunday. He sent tulips to my office today.

"A reminder that even in winter, love blooms." &hearts

I feel like I’m on crack. I guess mixing DayQuil and Monster energy drink was a bad idea.

The office is too quiet today. Only three of us in my department are here—the rest are at shows or on vacation. It’s 3:15, and I’m thinking I may have to leave early. But I’m taking work home with me—so it’s not like it really matters.

Besides, I have major ADD right now. I can’t focus on work for more than 15 minutes at a time without wanting to play around online. I’m on page 24 of 90 in the MINExpo convention guide. I need to be put in a room with only a desk. A desk, and my work and a pen. I might go crazy, but at least I’d get it done.

I’m thinking it’s time for me to start working on updating my resume and portfolio. I’ve kind of let it fall by the wayside since I started at Ascend. I’d like to freelance more … not make it a full-time job, but at least have a couple more jobs part-time. It’s a great way to earn a little extra money, and I get my writing fix, too. A co-worker said she’d help me build a portfolio-blog-type thing, and also would help me create business cards. I’m excited about that … I have business cards for Ascend, but I’ll have my own, personal freelancing business cards to pass out at networking events. It makes me feel grown-up. Ha.

In other news, I might go back to Madrid in March of 2009. Not to see Kelly, though. Nope, still haven’t heard from her, which is fine by me. But a friend from high school, Alysha, and her dad are going during spring break to visit her friend stationed there. So I might tag along—fly to London, then Paris, then into Madrid. I don’t know any details, yet, but I really hope I get to go, so that I can make up for the last time. Maybe I’ll actually get to go sight seeing this time!

I'm home sick today for the second day this week. Nothing bad...just a sore throat and the chills. I think I could go to work today and be OK, but there's nothing for me to do there. Being sick at work would be that much more boring and unbearable, so I might as well stay home.

I have things to do here, anyway. Two stories to write for the September issue of Women's Edition. One is due tomorrow at 5 p.m., and I'm nearly halfway finished with that. The other is due Tuesday at 8 a.m., and though I haven't started, I've already done the interview, so I'll crank that article out this weekend.

Also, since I was home all day yesterday, I started reading Twilight. It's been on my reading list ever since ink_smear mentioned it in her journal. It's amazing, and I'm already two-thirds through the book. I'll probably finish it today.

OK, wow. I started writing this entry at 9:30. Then, in true Internet-caused ADD form, I wasted two hours reading up on Lithium Picnic and Apnea. LP is a fetish photographer, Apnea a model. They just got through a nasty lawsuit filed against them by Suicide Girls. And it's great that they're finally moving on with their lives, but I'm kind of sad that they're getting divorced. It's silly isn't it? I only know these people just by reading their journal entries, but I don't really know them. Their lives shouldn't affect me at all.

So yeah, I was catching up on their lives and also checking out all the pretty pictures at lithium_picnic and apneatic.com. Those links are NSFW, just fyi.

It's so quiet here during the day. Both cats are just laying in the sun napping. I like it--it's definitely peaceful. But at the same time, I wish Andrew were here to keep me company. I'd really just like to cuddle right now.

But...I really, really need to finish writing my article. And start the other one, or at least type out the interview transcript. I find it's so much easier to record interviews rather than trying to write it all down during, but then it takes a good chunk of time to type it all out afterwards. It usually takes 1.5 hours for a 45-minute interview.

When Andrew gets home from work, we're finally going to see the Dark Knight. At an IMAX theater in Olathe, because a friend says it's awesome in IMAX. I cannot wait.

Wow, this entry is all over the place. ADD, check. Now, if I could just get some Adderol, that would be greeeeaaaat.

Thank god it’s Friday…er, pretty much. The last couple of weeks have been rough trying to get the book out. I’ve clocked a lot of overtime hours (five on Monday alone!), but at this point, I think I’d rather just leave on time instead of getting paid overtime. Seriously thought I’d never say that.

Good thing we get to leave at 2 p.m. then. I was thinking of skipping out a bit early from work today, anyway, but more like 4:30ish. 2 is juuust fine.

I’ve got a few things to do this weekend, but it’s not packed full. Not like the last few weekends. So that’s nice. I’d like some time to breathe, too. Spend time with the kitties — I feel like I’ve been neglecting them a bit. Just too many things to do…
So a night out tonight with Becki and Jessica, my friend who’s staying at my apartment for a bit. The 4th of July celebration is with Andrew’s friends Matt and Jodi. Then a birthday pool party Saturday afternoon at my apartment complex for Amanda, Lauren’s sister. Then maybe dancing Saturday night while Mikey DJs at a club. Then rest on Sunday. Read and sleep and play with the cats and maybe even plan ahead and make lunch for the coming week. I need to definitely get back into that.

Andrew and I talked last night about how our views on going out differ. He’d be fine going out once every two weeks or so. About once a week for him is pushing it. I, on the other hand, feel like I need to hang out with my friends once a week — a different friend each week, just so that I can keep them in my life and get away from Andrew a bit. But I also feel that going out with Andrew once a week will help keep things from getting boring...
So that’s eight times a month for me. Is that too much? Andrew thinks it is. But my definition of “going out” doesn’t necessarily mean spending tons of money. I’m totally cool with hanging out at someone’s house and watching movies. Or going to a museum for free. Or going to walk in a park, or whatever. It doesn’t have to cost money to be fun — it’s just the “getting out of the house” thing I’m concerned with.
So it’ll be a struggle to get Andrew out with me. It already is, actually. He’s very picky about what he does, and also a debby downer about things until he actually gets there and realizes it’s all right. Prime example: When I dragged Andrew to the burlesque show with me, he was unsure and kind of annoyed that I made him go, but he actually ended up having fun!
I think he just needs to be more open-minded. I think I need to stop asking him to do things with me and just not tell him what we’re doing until we get there.
Or maybe just stop taking him out and go with my friends instead, as I’m sure they’d be more fun anyway. I wonder what he'd do about that?

Gah, I should be in bed. But I cannot sleep. This is a pretty regular thing...but I've been working tons of overtime at the office for the past couple weeks, so when I get home, my mind's still on work. Vicious cycle. I can't wait for us to finally get this book out. It's been a crazy mess, and I'm just done with it. For example, I worked tonight until 9 p.m. And, my office is having their annual summer party tomorrow, but I don't think I'll be able to go because we'll be working on getting the book to the printer. Boo. I should get overtime for that. Plus, I had two freelance articles due this month to Women's Edition, which is awesome because it's more money, but not that awesome because this has been the busiest month EVER for me.

I thought May was busy, but c'mon. Of the four weekends in June, I will have gone to Topeka for three by the end of the month. I'm eagerly awaiting the 4th of July not just because it's a three-day weekend, but because I don't have any plans. Thank God.

Anyway, here's a fun story. My best friend, Jessie, and I toured the Boulevard Brewery in KCMO last Saturday. That evening, we planned to go to dinner at Bluestem, a fine-dining restaurant. That's sort of becoming a tradition -- we make reservations at a different nice restaurant every month. So our reservation was at 6 p.m. We had a few hours to kill, so we went to the Isle of Capri casino (only because we couldn't find Argosy). You know those promotional things they have right at the front, where you swipe your card and see if you're a winner? Well, Jessie swiped hers...and won $500. I swiped mine right after and won...$20. Damnit! Oh well. Jessie decided she'd use some of the money to pay for our dinner, so we each ordered the seven-course meal, wine paired with it and a four-course dessert menu. It was THE most expensive meal I've ever eaten but it was also the best. EVER (er, so far, anyway). I nearly died from shear excitement. I tried foie gras for the first time. I'm branching out!

And, I've been going to the gym about twice a week. I know I should be going more often, but seriously, I have NO time. So twice a week it is. I've decided my goal is to finish the 5k in 45 minutes. That gives me time to walk some of it if I need to, which I most definitely will. But for my first time, I think that's a good goal. Besides, the run is only two months away, and that's not much time for me to prepare...

Think I'm finally starting to get tired! Great. Now I get to go dream about work.

What I'm doing at work today: Editing Linux World conference session descriptions for the show directory. I have no idea what they're talking about. Just editing for basic grammar. But man, is it boring.

I'm so tired right now. For the last few weeks, I've been running on little sleep. With the vacation to get ready for, trying to get my stuffed moved to Andrew's and my apartment cleaned before Jessica moves in and all the stuff I've been doing since we got back, it's just been a crazy few weeks.

Work has been crazy busy, too. And I had tons of deadlines that week before Andrew and I left for vacation. One Friday, I stayed until 8 p.m. just trying to get ahead. No overtime. That's sad. But the vacation was so worth it -- it was nice to be away for six days with Andrew. Even though at times we got on each other's nerves and had little arguments. One fight was about how unfamiliar with the area we were before we took the metro to downtown (so I could go to H&M). He studies maps before hand, while I just take the map with me and figure it out on the way. Another fight was about how he always seems to have something nagging to say to me -- my cut off jeans looked "red-neckish," he said I needed to look nicer if we wanted to have a drink at the hotel bar (for the record, I was wearing jeans and a t-shirt -- it's not like we were going to a five-star restaurant) and when we dressed up for the nice restaurant we went to, he said, "You look the nicest you have all week!" Which was supposed to be a compliment, but, just. No. No, that's not really the kind of thing you want to say to any girl. Good try though. But we had a talk about that, and I thought he understood until he said later while we were cuddling, in a tsk-tsk tone, "You have a lot of split ends. You really need to get your hair cut."

Sigh. But we got along the majority of the time. We saw most of the National Mall, and went to a few Smithsonian museums and the Arlington Cemetery. Saw the White House from a distance. And also, saw a co-worker! Small world.

We left for vacation on the 15th and returned the 20th. Before we left, I started moving all my clothes, girl products and valuables to Andrew's house. My friend is "moving in" to my apartment starting tomorrow -- and she'll be there for a month and a half. It'll be nice having that extra money. I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with it. I need to build up my savings account, but I'm thinking I might use some of it to balance out the tattoos on my shoulders. It's looking a little lopsided, and it's sort of driving me crazy.

The Thursday after we got back from vacation, I had a date with my friend Alysha to see "Wicked" at the KC Music Hall. It's so different from the book, but I'm thankful it has a happy ending. I don't think I could have taken the actual ending. Last night, I went to the Taste of KC event in the Power & Light District. It was $25, and that got you samples from 20 area restaurants along with free drinks from some of them. We also got into the bars around there for free. Pretty sweet deal -- and I've found some restaurants that I definitely want to try.

And now tonight is the only night that I haven't been out in maybe 15 days. It's nice to be able to just sit back and do mindless activities like watch TV (except nothing interesting is on...and I already watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy online at work today).

I actually think I'm going to be pathetic and go to sleep. It's a little after 11 p.m. This is when I'd be going to bed on a school night. Yet, the bed seems to be calling my name. Goodnight...

I'm deathly afraid of tornadoes. I've lived in tornado alley all my life, but I've never really been in the direct path of a tornado. It's been in the same city as me, but my life has never been in iminent danger. It's kind of fun to watch the weather change, the skies turn green and pink, the air get completely still...but any sirens I hear, I immediately turn on the news and am glued to it like people were glued to the television after the 9/11 attacks.

I think the main thing that's given me peace of mind in tornado warnings is the fact that I've always been with other people. Family, friends, significant others. I've never been alone in a severe weather alert. But yet, here I am. In a warning, without Andrew, and I'm so, so, so scared that I'll be caught in the middle of one. But more than that, it's the fear that I might die without having hugged my loved ones one last time, without kissing him goodbye, without telling my parents I love them. And also, that I'll lose my home, my photos and memories and, as shallow as it sounds, my favorite movies, my clothes, my faveroite posessions. I think maybe it's the thought of starting over...and building a new life from scratch that scares me the most.

So scared that I'm contemplating driving to his house with kitties in tow. Yes, the kitties are locked in the bathroom right now. I'm still glued to the TV. Freaking. Out.

So, since I got to work at 8:30, I've been editing stories/press releases for the quarterly, 32-page newsletter/magazine-type thing for my favorite client. Whoever writes these articles in their PR department clearly doesn't know their style nor how to write press releases according to...any style, really.

Example:

Yadda-yadda, some opening about an after-market party they held.
“This was great,” said Joe Blow.
Dana Andrew said, “Blah blah.”
Another person said, “Blah blah.”
Someone else said, “Blah blah.”
Said one attendee, “Blah blah.”

Seriously.

Quote after quote after quote does not a good story make!

/rant

Must have break! Off to Planet Sub, now, for energy replenishment.

Such an eventful weekend.

Friday. I bounced out of work at about 10 'til and rushed to Andrew's house to get ready to go out before meeting him at his office downtown by 6 p.m. We then met up with his friends at Seven — a couple of them had reserved the plush loft for happy hour. Free apps and multiple drink tickets each. Tipsy by 7. Yeah!

( Cut for drama. )

Well. That Bodies exhibit was interesting.

You know that part in The Cell in which they show a horse that's then cut into segments suspended in glass? That's what they did with the human bodies...in three different ways.

It grossed me out, but that's the only thing that did. I especially liked the fetus room. Which may be a bit morose, but oh well. Still educational.

I think any exhibit longer than 90 minutes would have definitely gotten boring. But I'm glad

On a totally unrelated note: Man, do I love trance.

Yeah. Tiesto is coming to Kansas City in June. I think Andrew and I are definitely going to that.

Edit, 10:45 p.m.: Andrew and I are having an impromptu dance party. Just the two of us.

My milk that was supposed to expire April 3rd is still good! I know that only because I used it to make a White Russian.

That's what happens when I'm at home all evening by myself. I drink all my liquor (vodka, Captain Morgan (but not together)) and watch tv for three straight hours. Yeah. Umm...Criminal Minds, CSI: New York and now, Family Guy.

Next up: Sonic on PlayStation 2.

I am awesome.

Yes, I do. Have to be at work tomorrow morning, damnit.

I just found a half a piece of Godiva cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory in my fridge. Glorious!

After I finish it (and the rest of Andrew's, too), I'm headed to Andrew's house for grilled salmon and corn. Yumminess!

Then Thursday, I've got a reservation at 1924 Main with Jessie. Good thing I got my first freelancing check. It's going to be an expensive dinner. But worth it -- I've heard and read many good things about that restaurant.

Friday, I'm taking a half day for a long, leisurely lunch with Andrew at McCoy's (and I already know what I'm getting), then we're going to the Bodies Revealed exhibit at Union Station.

Then I'll work off all that food at my Zumba class and during my several mile-long walk with Andrew this weekend. We walked six miles in Brookside this past Sunday, trying to get ourselves ready for all the walking we'll be doing in D.C. Speaking of, we've bought the plane tickets and made the hotel reservations -- now all that's left is planning the fun stuff!

Umm... My supervisor is in Cuba. And apparently I'm the last one to know... She didn't even bother to tell me! How does that even happen?

In other news, all is OK with the boyfriend. After I posted that last entry, we talked and he apologized.

Man, that iCal application on my Mac is a total life saver. I have to have all my assignments blocked out on a calendar. Otherwise, I'm completely oblivious to how much (or how little) time I actually have to work on them. Plus, I have my personal schedule on there, too, so I have stuff to look forward to. So far, the only free weekend I have is next weekend, then I'm busy until the end of May. That makes me a very happy girl.

What else? Nothing much has really been going on... I did finish my two freelancing articles. I hope they're well-received. My "English classes" have been put on hold while Hye Keung's friend is visiting from Korea. I think we'll resume next Tuesday.

And... I've got nothing. Pretty much the same old, same old. Except that they're re-roofing my apartment building today. And dirty construction guys ogle all the girls going in out of the apartment complex. It's really disconcerting to have a construction guy practically follow you into your apartment, believe me.

Good tiiiiimes.

Today is a good day. I’m full of energy and completely giddy. I’m wearing one of my favorite shirts (it shows off my ink), I curled my hair and am actually wearing earrings (something I rarely do). I’m 99 percent finished with my story for Women’s Edition that’s due at 5 p.m. I’m leaving at 3 p.m. today for a dinner date with Andrew at La Bodega. Half-price sangrias and tapas, YES PLEASE! I’m finished with most things that are due today at work, so I have time to get ahead on other projects. I’m listening to all my new favorite music, thanks to Project Playlist. I heart that Web site (you can launch the stand-alone player to listen to my playlist):



It’s not even a nice day outside. I’m just glad it’s Friday. And that I’m leaving early, even if it is only two hours. I’m quickly getting burned out at work. I need a vacation soon.

So, Andrew and I have started planning our trip to D.C. We’re thinking mid-May. A seven-day trip to check out the National Mall and Smithsonian. Neither of us have been there yet, so it’ll be an adventure! Uh, the International Spy Museum sounds awesome. Have any of you been to D.C.? What are some of the things we HAVE to go see?

Last night, Andrew and I made a last-minute decision to buy this game. It’s so addictive. I even dreamed about it last night. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes challenging puzzle-like games. It even looks like you can play it online.

Ah, crap, I lost. Oh well. Back to work.