Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Busy Weekend Update

I forgot to actually post this on Tuesday.  Foot!

**********

Friday started our weekend off a bit messy. There’s was miscommunication about Kayleigh’s plans, then a family meeting about expectations during the summer (i.e. I expect you to help out around the house more since you have no responsibility and get to sleep in late while I have to get up early and sit in a cube all day and I really don’t think it’s fair that I still have to put your dishes in the dishwasher when I get home) then Kayleigh left and it was time for pizza a movies but the movie Vampires was pan and scan and my director hubby will have NONE OF THAT so we watched the BluRay version of Road Warrior.

And then I fell asleep while Todd stayed up and played.

Saturday was shopping. I picked my friend CB up at 11:30am and we headed to the big Goodwill downtown. She’s pregnant and doesn’t want to spend a lot of money for maternity clothes, so we made a day of it. And boy howdy, it was a long day. I got home at 5:30pm. Whew.

I was hoping for lots of summer clothes, but came away with three sweaters (including a black, cashmere cardigan for $5 – SCORE!), a dress, a pair of capris and a top. Woohoo.

That evening was Ann’s birthday party, along with her twin sister’s, at a swanky club/bowling alley in Bellevue. So Todd and I made the trek over to eat, drink, bowl and be merry. Well, we didn’t bowl. We were just merry.

Sunday, was (GASP!) even more shopping! Gotta get ready for the hot weather of West Virginia (5 more days!). For some reason, I was awake at the ungawdly hour of 8am, so the hubby and I were out the door by 9am. We got our coffee and headed to Target. Which proved to be so much more productive than Goodwill. Capris that fit perfectly (so I bought two pair), a peasant top that was uber comfortable (so I bought two), a bright, thin hoody (perfect for just the slight chill of the mountains) and even another comfy top. Good stuff.

After Target, we hit a couple of places in Southcenter, but didn’t have has much luck and we were wearing pretty thin by the time, so we called it a day. At 1:30pm. Todd dropped me off at Steph’s to help her with some house stuff, then Steph took me home and I got cleaned up in time for dinner with the Grismore’s, who were in town. And after dinner, Tyler wanted to watch Tombstone (the best movie EVER).

At about 10pm, it was getting a little too late for me and the movie still wasn’t over, so I excused myself and went to bed early. All that shopping really takes it out of you, I guess.

We have just a few last minute errands to run before we fly out Friday night. And then! Let the vacation begin…..

Yeah, baby.

Friday, June 25, 2010

WTF?

No, this is not the Friday segment of WTFWRD? This is me literally asking, what the frick?

It’s not even 9am and I have had the worst morning since I can remember. It’s just one of those days where my happiness is thwarted at every turn.

First, a dressing issue. Every morning, I lay in bed and think about what I’m going to wear that day, so I can get an extra 5 minutes of shuteye. But when it comes down to actually getting dressed, if that outfit doesn’t pan out, well, my morning is all screwed up. Such was the case this morning. But I found a quick resolution. Long dress, flip flops (I know!) and my black, flowy cover up.

So that crisis was averted.

Then I sat at the Mercer light for, what felt like, FOREVER. I hate that light. I hate South Lake Union. I hate the SLUT. I hate the new traffic lights. I hate the beggars on the corner who try to give me puppy dog eyes so I’ll give them money. I DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY! I should print out my bank statement and show it to them when they come up to the window. They’ll see my balance of $25.89 and then maybe give ME a dollar.

I finally get through the stupid light, and I make a beeline for Starbucks on Westlake (because Todd and I both woke up a bit late and we didn’t make coffee. And it’s Friday! Big ass latte Friday!) Only no one could seem to maneuver the freakin’ parking lot at Starbucks.

Which way should I turn? I could turn left, but is that a parking spot up there? Maybe I should try to go up there. So let me sit here and think for a minute while there’s a line of cars piled up behind me in the intersection. Do do do….

GET OUT OF THE WAY SO I CAN GET MY COFFEE!

I finally get into a parking space, next to a blue car. A blue car that is not actually in a parking space, but rather, on the white striped lines that are next to a handicap space. And the car is empty but the motor is running. Who does that these days?

Obviously, an idiot. If I had any balls at all, I would have gotten in that car, very casually, and drove it around the block and parked it. Maybe teach them a lesson.

But alas, I have no balls, and I still hadn’t had coffee yet, so priorities.

For the first time, there is more than two people in line at this Starbucks. Fan-freakin-tastic.

At least a I get a chuckle talking with woman in front of me. She is a regular, so she didn’t even have to open her mouth when she got to the register. The barista had already rung her up before she could say hi.

Eventually, I get my big ass latte and head back to my car. The blue motor running car is gone now. I wish I’d seen who was driving it.

I pull out of my parking space, and drive around and come to a stop sign.

Thus, another moment of complete confusion.

Cars coming from my right, pedestrians walking in front of me, a car stopped on my left, more cars coming straight. Traffic finally eases and I start forward.

Only to have a Barbie doll bitch in her $50,000 Audi attempt to turn left, right in front of me.

So, of course, I slam on my brakes and my purse goes flying into the passenger seat floorboard (as is required EVERY FREAKIN’ DAY I AM SO SICK OF DRIVING).

And Barbie has the nerve to throw her hands up, shake her blond-from-a-bottle Barbie doll head and mouth “WTF?”

My thoughts exactly, Barbie.

Why the frick didn’t you have your turn signal on, indicating to me that you would like to turn left, in front of me? Does that $50,000 car not have turn signals? Gee, that’s not good. You might want to go back to the dealership and ask about that. I think you were overcharged.

If you had put your turn signal on, I would have gladly waited for you to turn, and I might have even given you a slight wave because your car is very pretty and I would have been surprised that a nice, courteous person was driving it, rather than the stereotypical bitch who thinks she can do whatever the hell she wants, without any regard to the rest of the people in her small, little world, just because she has a sugar daddy who is probably twice her age and buys her all of the expensive crap she whines for, and she has no other responsibility in life except to decide which caviar she and her girlfriends want to have with their brunch on Sunday.

Where was I?

Oh. Yes. Use your freakin’ turn signal so my purse doesn’t end up in my floor board!

So I FINALLY get out of the Starbucks parking lot, only to get up to the next gawdforsaken light, and witness a truck in the lane to my right, turn LEFT, along with the actual left turning lane, which I am actually in.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Did you not see my question in the Seattle Times in 2006 (third question down)?

You cannot turn left from that lane! See the arrows on the road, jackass!?

And then comes the SLUT intersection, where I just put my car in park at the red light and wait because I swear it’s a 10 minute light. And then I drive down the street, only to get to another light and wait and wait and wait, and when the light finally turns green, the stupid car in front of me just sits there, like he’s waiting for a written invitation to proceed forward so of course, I have to lay on my horn, while still having a I-am-going-to-kill-someone-crazy smile on my face, just in case he looks in his rearview mirror because I don’t want to look mean. (Crazy is okay, just not mean).

And then I finally pull into my parking garage and thank the Zinfandel, my three favorite spots are open so I have my pick and the nice lady just ahead of me holds the door to the elevators because I am juggling my coffee, my Tupperware dish of lunch, my keys, my badge and a banana peel, and I’m tripping over my dress because it’s a smidge too long, and my flip flops are already annoying me but she’s nice and says “Happy Friday” and I accidently glare at her, but recover and say “Thank gawd” and she laughs which makes me smile, so things are looking up.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Bathroom Etiquette

Am I the only one who peeks under the stall to see if someone is in there, instead of just yanking on the locked door? That yank is quite startling when you’re trying to go pee. How hard is it to just bend over a little and look for feet?

And also, please don’t stand in the bathroom and have a conversation. I’m trying to do some personal business here and it’s hard enough when there’s someone else in the next stall trying to do their own personal business. But when I know you’re just standing out there, flapping your gums, it’s just added pressure. I don’t want to interrupt you with some loud, obnoxious sound, but then, maybe if I do, you’ll get the point and move your conversation out into the lobby.

In any event, give me some privacy, please. I don’t come stand in your cube to fart. Don’t come into the bathroom to talk.

Thanks.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Happy Freakin' Solstice

Our high was 63.
Shoot me.

We've had "delayed" summers but this is just ridiculous.  What is up with Mother Nature?

On a different note, happy birthday Ruby.



Sniff.
I miss ya.

Quick Father’s Day Weekend Update

We had an especially low-key but social weekend. I love those.

Friday, I took 1.5 hours of vacation and rushed home to get some yard work done. It was close to 75 degrees and sunny and our grass was about knee high. So, Kayleigh mowed the front yard, while I held the electric cord and then swept up. Then Todd mowed the back, while I pulled the two foot tall weeds along the fence and parking pad. We still need to weed eat, but the yard looks much, much better.

Then Stephanie and Isabella dropped by to say hi, but ended up staying for Friday night movies. Dan, Trish and Rosiland also joined us. We watch Mirromask, which Steph and Isa really enjoyed, even though it was a bit scary in some parts for Isa. It’s a beautiful film with a lot of special effects and a dreamy quality.

Saturday, I slept in until 10am, then got into housewife mode. I made coffee, had breakfast, cleaned up the kitchen, started some laundry, tidied up the bedroom. It was lovely.

JD and Ron came over that afternoon to see Todd’s progress on the video, then Lydia came over later that afternoon. Todd and I went grocery shopping, then he made some cheesy pasta for dinner (it’s the best, Jerry, the BEST!) and then watched The Crucible (Kayleigh's choice) with Daniel Day Lewis (yuck) and Wynona Ryder (yay!).

The Crucible is about the Salem Witch Trials. Great film, but just maddening because 1) it’s a true story and 2) people were so ignorant back then. Wynona would simply say “I saw so and so with the devil!” and suddenly that person would be arrested and hanged because they were practicing witchcraft. No proof. Just one jealous little girl’s comment and BAM! Executed. Maddening.

And then Sunday was Father’s Day. When I finally dragged my butt out of bed to give Todd his card and make french toast for breakfast, I found him already online with JD playing Champions. So, he had a good start to his day. I made breakfast for everyone, then we got cleaned up, took Lydia home and went to see Toy Story 3 downtown (daddy’s selection for Father’s Day).

There are not enough good things to say about Toy Story 3 or Pixar. Those people are freakin’ amazing.

And then after the movie, Stephanie and I got some one on one bonding time talking houses and watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall (which I absolutely loved) at her house, while Steve and Todd hung out and watched their own set of movies. When I got home, at 9:30pm, I could hear Rock Band from down on the sidewalk. Todd and the kids were rockin’ out. It was a nice ending to a nice weekend.

And the West Virginia Countdown – 13 days.

Yeehaw!

Friday, June 18, 2010

I Crack Myself Up

I followed a WSDOT truck to work today, and on the back it said “INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM”.

But I misread it as “INDECENT RESPONSE TEAM”.

I started picturing 50 and 60 year old workers with hairy beer bellies, in hard hats, yellow vests and thongs, hopping out of the truck, bustling around to respond to this incident.

I laughed out loud in my car. Then I re-read the truck and laughed even harder.

Now, why is that I didn’t think of buff, young, 20 somethings hopping out of this truck?

Interesting.
I’ll have to talk to my therapist about that.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

I have started yet another blog.

I know, right?

This one is about my weight.  I need to lose weight. I have hit my heaviest this morning at 155. And this is not good.

In December of 2007, I was at 132. I was happy. I was comfortable in my clothes.

I was also in a severe depression, I was forgetting to eat, I was on pills that I wasn’t supposed to mix with alcohol and I was walking every evening because I was lonely and bored.

Skip ahead three years and I am happy and married and making dinners every night and celebrating my new life with sweets and wine.

It’s really just a recipe for fatness. Now my back hurts and my knees hurt and I get winded when I vacuum.

So, what’s the best way to lose weight? Aside from the obvious?

Hold yourself accountable to someone.
Or to a group of strangers on the interwebs.

By being frank (don't call me Frank!), posting my weight (I am not ashamed!) and telling you what I eat (except for the desserts.  Kidding), I cannot be in denial. It’s all laid out there. I will not fib to you.

I would like to be able to post my weight each day, but I don’t think I’ll have the time, between actually working and then going home to a full house. But I’ll get at least three or four posts up a week. I promise.

So, because I know you need even more crap to read from me, please visit Well Past Voluptuous.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

It’s Like Leaving Camp

Sunday night was the wrap party for the video we’ve been shooting. There was lots of champagne (oy) and beer and laughter and drunken people (okay, just Raechelle) caught on camera.

When we talked to JD yesterday, he said it was like leaving camp. You want to go home, but then again, you don’t. We’ve been hanging out with pretty much the same group of people for the last two weekends. It’s a bit sad that we won’t be hanging out this coming weekend. I asked Todd, “Now what do we do? What can we shoot next?” Todd said let him actually get this video done, and then we’d do another project.

Although, I have to say, I am looking forward to sleeping past 7am this weekend.

Saturday was ninja day. The ninja (yes, that the plural. Ninjas is just wrong. Trust me.) were hysterical. Great guys who love playing dress up and flinging swords. Kyle (of Kirby Krackle) came by to watch and was uber impressed. Which helps, when the video is for him.


(The ninja, just hangin’)



(Me, being fierce while standing in for JD)

And Sunday was the bar scene. We had the whole set of actors there and spent most of the day in a basement bar. While it was 75 degrees outside. We had to block out the two nice daylight windows, for lighting purposes, so there was no breeze and a ton of lights, and a ton of bodies and oh my gawd, the drinking was good at the end.

AND I had my official debut as an actor. I was a barmaid. I walked on set, passed out two drinks, picked up two empty glasses, then walked offset. I think I have enough for a resume now. Maybe I should think about headshots?


(Me and makeup artist and costumer, The Gore Sisters)

After cutting loose and partying with the cast and crew Sunday night, Rae-rae was looking forward to sleeping in Monday morning, maybe only waking before noon because she had to either pee or eat. Something very important like that.

However, the Universe was not down with that plan, so I was awake at 7am and up out of bed at 8am. Shoot me. But I woke up happier than I had been in a really long time. It was nice to just lounge in my jammies, have some coffee, cuddle with my husband and go about my day in a leisurely I-ain’t-got-a-damn-thing-to-do kind of way. Okay, I did clean up the kitchen. But that’s it! I got a lot of Tom cuddle time, and a couple of short naps and even a few minutes of reading in the sunshine (then the sunshine said “Screw this! We’re not in some tropical paradise, you silly pale woman! BRING ON THE BLACK CLOUDS!)

Our calendar is considerably empty for the next couple of weeks, and that is a-okay. That’s more time to prepare for our upcoming trip to West Virginia.

And I cannot wait.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Random Friday Thoughts

The maintenance lady here in my office just came around with her duster. We’ve talked about Swiffers before, and then two months ago, the building started scheduling dustings. I was not impressed by the first dusting. And now I know why.

The lady used her duster to dust a little here, and dust a little here. She never moved anything – she just hit the spots on the desk that were bare.

Um. That’s not dusting. That’s not really even making an effort.

When I dust my cube, I remove everything in sections. Start up high (the shelves, the posters), then work your way down. I do every inch of the desk and then use my disinfecting wipes (that smell like lilacs) to really wipe down the areas where my hands are all the time, or that specific spot where I eat my lunch. I use the compressed air to blow out my keyboard, and I have these premoistened Q-Tip thingies that clean in between the keys, and work pretty well on the phone buttons.. Then I use my new handy dandy carpet sweeper and get up all of my granola bar crumbs and anything else that was swiffered off my desk and onto the floor.

What?

**********

It’s supposed to be 75 degrees here tomorrow.

Yeah, right. I believe it when I se…feel it. It’s 62 right now and rainy. Where is summer?

**********

We have more filming this weekend. Two more days of waking up way too early, then standing around while the shots get set up, then eating cookies. But the light at the end of the tunnel (aside from the kickass video that we’re making) is that we wrap at the bar on Sunday.

And that is why Rae-rae took Monday off.

**********

I am attending the ballet tonight with my sister-in-law, Sara.
Look at me! Gettin’ all cultured and crap.

**********

I really just want to curl up with Tom, though. Something about sitting in cube for eight hours just exhausts me. And makes my tushy hurt.

**********

Have I told you that my buddy, CB, is preggers? Yep. And clueless, despite having a 15 year old son. When she told our co-worker finally, he squealed with glee (just like expected) and then asked, “How far along are you?!”

CB looked at me.

“Seventeen weeks, woman! You’re at seventeen weeks!”

I have her week marked every Friday on my Outlook calendar. And I send her the weekly post about her baby’s progress from the website Pregnancy Guide Online.

At fourteen weeks, I reminded her to step up her fiber since her hormones have relaxed and it may cause constipation.

I think I may have crossed a line at that point.

**********

What’s my biggest pet peeve right now?  Aside from the phrase "I KNOW!", complete with that high pitched whine?

When people leave their cell phones out on their desks and they are NOWHERE around when it rings. I have to listen to gansta rap, Bach, wind chimes, tropical birds cawing and the Star Spangled Banner all freakin’ day.

If it is so important that you must have your cell phone on top of your desk all day, by gawd, take it with you when you go to the kitchen or the bathroom.

**********

And another thing!

Turn that ringer on your desk phone down! Every time that damn thing rings, I jump a foot off my chair. You don’t need it that loud! You’re sitting RIGHT THERE! Are you hard of hearing?

I am not a mean person, so if you are hard of hearing, may I suggest a hearing aid? We have very good health insurance, and it’s probably covered. I’ll look into that for you.

**********

Okay. I’ve had enough fun for today. I’m outta here.
Happy weekend!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Weekend Update - Wolverine Style


Isn't my man hawt?  Not only is he directing a music video, he played the part of a bad dude.  Hence the black claws.

This weekend was exhausting.  Up at 6:30am or 7am, carting a bunch of stuff to a location (a house, then a park and then back home), standing around for an hour while the cameraman got the shot JUST SO, the filming, then rearranging, then more standing around.

But I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

I love watching everyone bustling around, setting up lights, getting angles just so, and deciding which way the actor should turn his torso or his head.  And I love watching Todd work. 

Oh, I worked, too.


I did double duty.  Script supervisor (keeping track of the shots) and Line Producer (no idea yet).  But don't I look like I know what I'm doing?

Kayleigh worked hard, too.  She was the behind-the-scenes cameraman...er...camerawoman.


Now, of course, I can't show you any of the actual footage.  That would ruin the surprise!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Happy (belated) Memorial Day


Get it?  Red, white and blue?
I'm all about the desserts.

I know this is a late post, but let me catch you up, briefly.

Saturday, sleeping in.  Morning walk.  To breakfast.  Then to the pet store for raw food and better kibble for the kitties.  Then carpooling with Steve, Stephanie and Isabella to Tacoma for our friend Morgan's "soft opening" of his new cafe.  Go Morgan!

And Saturday night, blah.

Sunday, cleaning.  Power walk to the farmer's market with Stephanie.  Briefly lose Stephanie and freak out.  Open houses with Stephanie.  Grocery shopping.  Miles over.  Kids retreat, grown ups watch Brothers.

A note about this movie - holy crap.  What a freakin' amazing film.  And the little girl who plays Isabelle steals the show.  Highly, highly recommended.  But you only need to watch it once.  Whew.

Monday, big breakfast.  Crepes, berries and bacon.  Yum.  Then Kayleigh wanted to make cookies.

A note about Kayleigh and her cookies - this girl is not deterred.  If I have to do more than throw shit in a bowl and mix it up, I don't make the cookies. Too difficult.  Too much effort.  But Kayleigh picks out a recipe that looks yummy and without bothering to read the entire instructions, declares these are the cookies we are making!

Then we start and as we read the instructions, we see the dough needs to chill for two hours.  D'oh!  That is not a step you can skip.  I learned that during Cookie Fiasco 2006.  Okay, so we chill the dough.  Then you roll the dough in to balls, make a dent in them, bake them, the pour the melted caramels and whipping cream into the dents.

Wait.  We have to melt caramels with whipping cream?  Have you ever tried to manage melted caramels?  Pain in the tushy.

But totally worth it.


Those cookies are amazing. 

Then Lydia came over, I made homemade lasagna, and we watched some Buffys (Buffies?).

And then, some Tom cuddling.


A happy long weekend, indeed.