Ok so referring back to the last post, I've been reading Augusten Burrough's latest book, Possible Side Effects. One chapter is titled "Killing John Updike." In this chapter he goes on about buying all of John Updike's books, first edition mint condition books, because his friend told him that John Updike was going to fall dead at any moment. So Augusten bought all these books and was expecting to make it rich any day, based on the most certain immense value these books would have after his death. This book, Possible Side Effects was published in 2006.
This morning, January 28th 2009, the Today show announced that John Updike died yesterday from Lung Cancer. Had I not been reading that book, this news would not have meant anything to me. But it does. And now I have to wonder if Augusten Burroughs is going to cash in on his books...
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The reasons I love him...
Okay, so this blog refers to (2) hims, but don't start freaking out yet. I'll start with the more important one.
Bruno.
For Christmas, my awesome and amazingly intuitive fiancee got me a fabulous pair of Uggs. I had never mentioned them to him, and honestly didn't realize I wanted them until about 2 weeks before Christmas. When I opened them as my last present, I was floored at how he somehow knew to get them for me! He is truly amazing when it comes to knowing me that it's a little scary sometimes. Haha. So since I got the Uggs, I've been wearing them nonstop. Nonstop enough to spill meatball sauce on them soon after I got them! I was devasted and Bruno was not too happy about it either. We, well mostly him, worked on getting the stain out with the stain remover/conditioner from Uggs, and while the stain came mostly out, the softness and deep color of the sheepskin had all but disappeared. Sadly, I accepted my boots and hated myself for ruining these wonderful treats for my feet.
Last night, Bruno takes my Uggs out of the bedroom to out them away. I figure they are annoying him because they were just strewn about the floor, in his way.
"Thanks" I say.
As we leaved later in the evening for dinner, Bruno has my Uggs, but it pulling a carboard shaper out of them.
"Why would those be in there" I thought to myself.
Then I looked at them closely, as he smiled, and they looked so much softer and richer then my Uggs. The awesome fiancee that he is, had bought me new Uggs! I think it bothered him that I had messed up mine, and he couldn't take it anymore. So now I have new Uggs, and I'm super pysched!!
Augusten Burroughs.
This is the one and only author I can't get enough of. I've read 3 of his books, including Running with Scissors, and am on to my 4th one now. If you know me, reading is not my thing, and for me to LOVE an author is just crazy. But I do. I love him and read through his books so quickly. His sense of humor is exactly what makes me laugh to myself, even on the shuttle with everyone watching. I get lost in his books and am deeply saddened that he won't be writing anymore (or so it seems).
So yesterday as I started the book I came across a chapter titled "Team Player." The first line of this chapter...
"I collect college T-Shirts."
Someone else does that???? He goes into how he proudly wears these shirts, and then constantly gets questioned on when he graduated and whatnot. His most prized t-shirt? His solid red Harvard shirt. (The shirt I was wearing when I met Bruno). Coincidence? Well, yes. But it makes me love him that much more.
Read his books!
Bruno.
For Christmas, my awesome and amazingly intuitive fiancee got me a fabulous pair of Uggs. I had never mentioned them to him, and honestly didn't realize I wanted them until about 2 weeks before Christmas. When I opened them as my last present, I was floored at how he somehow knew to get them for me! He is truly amazing when it comes to knowing me that it's a little scary sometimes. Haha. So since I got the Uggs, I've been wearing them nonstop. Nonstop enough to spill meatball sauce on them soon after I got them! I was devasted and Bruno was not too happy about it either. We, well mostly him, worked on getting the stain out with the stain remover/conditioner from Uggs, and while the stain came mostly out, the softness and deep color of the sheepskin had all but disappeared. Sadly, I accepted my boots and hated myself for ruining these wonderful treats for my feet.
Last night, Bruno takes my Uggs out of the bedroom to out them away. I figure they are annoying him because they were just strewn about the floor, in his way.
"Thanks" I say.
As we leaved later in the evening for dinner, Bruno has my Uggs, but it pulling a carboard shaper out of them.
"Why would those be in there" I thought to myself.
Then I looked at them closely, as he smiled, and they looked so much softer and richer then my Uggs. The awesome fiancee that he is, had bought me new Uggs! I think it bothered him that I had messed up mine, and he couldn't take it anymore. So now I have new Uggs, and I'm super pysched!!
Augusten Burroughs.
This is the one and only author I can't get enough of. I've read 3 of his books, including Running with Scissors, and am on to my 4th one now. If you know me, reading is not my thing, and for me to LOVE an author is just crazy. But I do. I love him and read through his books so quickly. His sense of humor is exactly what makes me laugh to myself, even on the shuttle with everyone watching. I get lost in his books and am deeply saddened that he won't be writing anymore (or so it seems).
So yesterday as I started the book I came across a chapter titled "Team Player." The first line of this chapter...
"I collect college T-Shirts."
Someone else does that???? He goes into how he proudly wears these shirts, and then constantly gets questioned on when he graduated and whatnot. His most prized t-shirt? His solid red Harvard shirt. (The shirt I was wearing when I met Bruno). Coincidence? Well, yes. But it makes me love him that much more.
Read his books!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Slightly scared...
So today is the last day of one of our project managers who has resigned. She actually resigned last month, but has been sticking around to finish up projects. So why am I writing about this? Because I'm taking one of her biggest clients and I have no idea what I'm doing...
She has this master spreadsheet with all her projects, which is great. Unfortunately, when I've tried to ask her about how to update it, and who to call, she just talks and talks about the projects, but never actually gives me an answer. Or well, the answer I'm looking for. I tried to ask her this morning, since it's her last day. But again, not answering my question.
I'm really nervous about taking on her responsibilities because even though I've been down here for 2 months, there are SO many things I don't know how to do. The government has so many wacky processes that I'm honestly so lost. I really don't want this responsibility at all. I hate not knowing what I'm doing. I feel like I've just been thrown into this project manager role and I haven't had the opportunity to learn the designer role yet.
I don't like being down here, and getting this task only decreases my chances of going back to Arlington. All I keep hoping is that we DON'T get this contract renewed so we can get out of here in March. But that still leaves all of February.
Things here are overwhelming, well the processes I don't know. and honestly, I don't want to really learn them because I don't want to be here long. But I will tell you what, if I am here long, well in another few weeks or so, and I'm doing this whole project manager thing, I'm going to ask for a raise. This is not responsibility I was asked about, it was just thrown at me. All I want to do is space plan and work on CAD, not worry about chairs coming in....
She has this master spreadsheet with all her projects, which is great. Unfortunately, when I've tried to ask her about how to update it, and who to call, she just talks and talks about the projects, but never actually gives me an answer. Or well, the answer I'm looking for. I tried to ask her this morning, since it's her last day. But again, not answering my question.
I'm really nervous about taking on her responsibilities because even though I've been down here for 2 months, there are SO many things I don't know how to do. The government has so many wacky processes that I'm honestly so lost. I really don't want this responsibility at all. I hate not knowing what I'm doing. I feel like I've just been thrown into this project manager role and I haven't had the opportunity to learn the designer role yet.
I don't like being down here, and getting this task only decreases my chances of going back to Arlington. All I keep hoping is that we DON'T get this contract renewed so we can get out of here in March. But that still leaves all of February.
Things here are overwhelming, well the processes I don't know. and honestly, I don't want to really learn them because I don't want to be here long. But I will tell you what, if I am here long, well in another few weeks or so, and I'm doing this whole project manager thing, I'm going to ask for a raise. This is not responsibility I was asked about, it was just thrown at me. All I want to do is space plan and work on CAD, not worry about chairs coming in....
Monday, January 12, 2009
Like Riding a Bike
Yesterday I got up at 6am to go on my first snowboarding run of the season. Yes, it's January and it's only my first run. With our busy schedule, and the way too warm weather, this was the first chance I got. Unfortunately Bruno couldn't go with me, since he got his wisdom teeth out on Friday. Poor guy has been eating mashed potatoes and ice cream all weekend.
Anyhow, so Steve picks me up at 630am, so we can get to Whitetail when it opens to beat the crowds and get the good snow. Yeah, I was tired but it was definitely worth it. By noon, when I would have normally gotten there, the lines were long and the snow was pushed all around.
Needless to say, I was really nervous when I got to the slopes. I hadn't been boarding in almost a year and I wasn't sure how it would go. But it was nothing... well not nothing, but I did really well. I took the first green really slow, just to get used to the balancing and everything again, but it was really no problem. After a few runs, I moved to the blues with the group, and eventually the left bowl with the black diamonds!
When I found out it was only black diamonds on the left bowl, I was so nervous. But hey, I might as well try it out. And then wouldn't you know, I did really well. I don't know if it was my experience in Vail last year or what, but I did great on the slope, only falling like 2x, and they weren't even hard falls. It was more of a lack of concentration that caused me to fall, not skill. I started psyching myslef out about being on a black diamond... but then I pushed that aside and on I went.
I was really pleased with the day and I'm really not as sore as I thought I would be. Hopefully I'll get to go again before our trip to Wisp in February, but we'll see. Nice.
Anyhow, so Steve picks me up at 630am, so we can get to Whitetail when it opens to beat the crowds and get the good snow. Yeah, I was tired but it was definitely worth it. By noon, when I would have normally gotten there, the lines were long and the snow was pushed all around.
Needless to say, I was really nervous when I got to the slopes. I hadn't been boarding in almost a year and I wasn't sure how it would go. But it was nothing... well not nothing, but I did really well. I took the first green really slow, just to get used to the balancing and everything again, but it was really no problem. After a few runs, I moved to the blues with the group, and eventually the left bowl with the black diamonds!
When I found out it was only black diamonds on the left bowl, I was so nervous. But hey, I might as well try it out. And then wouldn't you know, I did really well. I don't know if it was my experience in Vail last year or what, but I did great on the slope, only falling like 2x, and they weren't even hard falls. It was more of a lack of concentration that caused me to fall, not skill. I started psyching myslef out about being on a black diamond... but then I pushed that aside and on I went.
I was really pleased with the day and I'm really not as sore as I thought I would be. Hopefully I'll get to go again before our trip to Wisp in February, but we'll see. Nice.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Here they are...
Love in Philly
Sorry.......
First Snow!
First pic of 2009
Bruno and Brian
Stephanie and Me
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Perfect NYE
To celebrate the New Year, Bruno and I decided to keep it low key. So along with my cousin Steph and her hubby Brian from New York, we stayed in a cool Bed and Breakfast in Media, PA, about 20 minutes outside of Philly. And it was perfect!
The B&B we stayed at was called the Alpenhof www.alpenhofbedandbreakfast.com and it was awesome. We went up Tuesday night and arrived at the house a little after 9:30. Steph and Brian had gotten there around 8, and went on a beer run. Unfortunately, the liquor and beer sales in PA are different then here or NY, so the 2 came back empty handed after 30 minutes of searching. No worries. We said our hellos, chatted for a bit, and all went to bed around 11pm.
We got up early NYE morning and sat down to our Made to Order breakfast. Yep, Roland, the Inn Keeper, came into the dining room and asked us what we wated to eat, and had a plethra of options. The Inns Bruno and I have been to before have a set menu and while the food was always delicious, it was great to have exactly what we wanted. All but Brian sprung for the Eggs Benedict, which Bruno and I also ended up having the 2nd morning. It was amazing and a gret start to our day.
From there we trekked into Philadelphia to see some sites and be touristy. Our touristy stops, with pictures, included: LOVE park, the market (near HArd Rock Cafe, can't remember the name but it was AWESOME), the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We didn't make it to Pat and Geno's for a cheesesteak, but given the really cold temperatures, and oh yeah, the crazy blizzard going on, we were okay with missing it this time. We had cheesesteaks in The Bourse food court instead, and they were pretty darn good!
After a few hours in Philly, we headed back to the house. We played board games and snacked on pizza to pass the time until our 10pm dinner reservation in Media. We ate at a restaraunt called Azia and it was REALLY yummy. We finished eating just in time, around 11:45, to walked down 2 blocks to join the big crowd of people (about 200-300) gathered to watch Media's very own ball drop. We counted down, cheered, kissed, and then immediately left the cold to head back home. We were all in bed by 1pm.
While it was a low-key early night (well, early for NYE) it was the perfect way to ring in 2009. Now where will we go NEXT New Years??
PS pictures to come...
The B&B we stayed at was called the Alpenhof www.alpenhofbedandbreakfast.com and it was awesome. We went up Tuesday night and arrived at the house a little after 9:30. Steph and Brian had gotten there around 8, and went on a beer run. Unfortunately, the liquor and beer sales in PA are different then here or NY, so the 2 came back empty handed after 30 minutes of searching. No worries. We said our hellos, chatted for a bit, and all went to bed around 11pm.
We got up early NYE morning and sat down to our Made to Order breakfast. Yep, Roland, the Inn Keeper, came into the dining room and asked us what we wated to eat, and had a plethra of options. The Inns Bruno and I have been to before have a set menu and while the food was always delicious, it was great to have exactly what we wanted. All but Brian sprung for the Eggs Benedict, which Bruno and I also ended up having the 2nd morning. It was amazing and a gret start to our day.
From there we trekked into Philadelphia to see some sites and be touristy. Our touristy stops, with pictures, included: LOVE park, the market (near HArd Rock Cafe, can't remember the name but it was AWESOME), the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We didn't make it to Pat and Geno's for a cheesesteak, but given the really cold temperatures, and oh yeah, the crazy blizzard going on, we were okay with missing it this time. We had cheesesteaks in The Bourse food court instead, and they were pretty darn good!
After a few hours in Philly, we headed back to the house. We played board games and snacked on pizza to pass the time until our 10pm dinner reservation in Media. We ate at a restaraunt called Azia and it was REALLY yummy. We finished eating just in time, around 11:45, to walked down 2 blocks to join the big crowd of people (about 200-300) gathered to watch Media's very own ball drop. We counted down, cheered, kissed, and then immediately left the cold to head back home. We were all in bed by 1pm.
While it was a low-key early night (well, early for NYE) it was the perfect way to ring in 2009. Now where will we go NEXT New Years??
PS pictures to come...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
