Entries from January 2006 ↓

Kristi and I went to see “Brokeback Mountain” after dinner at Pizza Luce on Friday night. I was expecting to be sobbing hysterically after every review I’ve heard from coworkers and friends, but Karyn tells me I have no soul since I didn’t cry at all. Good movie, no tears. Oh, well.

Saturday morning, Karyn and I went to our second bellydancing class. We reviewed steps from the previous week and also started working on stretching our “rib cages” for undulations! Margo gave us a preview of what real undulations look like when one is coordinated and good at bellydancing and darn will we be sexy someday! I’m still practicing those whenever I’m just standing around, taking a shower, getting dressed, etc. After class, Karyn and I visited several different stores to see what Minneapolis has to offer for coin/waist scarves and zills. We visited Egyptique Imports on Nicollet, which is where I may purchase my zills from. Karyn has found a few online sources for waist scarves but I’m not sure what I want for that, yet.

Anyway, it was a very worldly morning/afternoon. Middle-east, Egypt, the Tibet Store (where the woman of the shop showed us how to use singing bowls and prayer things), Global Village, and Cuba for lunch — Victor’s 1959 Cafe. Basically eggs with black beans and either yuka fruit or plantains for breakfast items, but it was pretty yummy. I also tried guanabana fruit juice — the waitress said it is kind of an “exotic pear.” I would have had mango juice except they were out.

Last night, Kristi and I hung out at home. I finished a scarf I’ve been looking at since about September and we watched “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “Saving Face.”

Today I went to Target in my pajamas, even though I’m usually very anti pajama-wearing in public. I was lazy this morning. Otherwise I’ve been sitting at home trying not to be bored. Just about 20 minutes ago I thought I might be having a crazy attack when suddenly I wanted to sell things. But I have quite a few books on my shelves and they are all collecting dust. I should sell some of them.

I’ve also been craving a real Cherry Coke, which is strange because I’m sure it’s been over 3 years since I’ve had dark soda (I drink Sprite and Fanta sometimes), let alone a real Cherry Coke. Why this craving? Weird.

I was nearing completion with a project at work that was due a very long time ago. I was getting pumped to be done and I was converting all to a .pdf and editing and all that good stuff. Then the UMN servers decided to crap out, so I couldn’t email it to the VIPs at work anyway but I kept working. Kept plugging away. Then finally my computer decided to quit early for the day and nothing worked anymore so I didn’t work anymore, either. This is what happens when technology rules the world.

I hope I saved my work. I hope I hope I hope.

I was planning to only sing a few different Heart songs last night at Legend’s karaoke, because usually, on a decent karaoke night, I only get to sing 3 or 4 songs. Well, my friends, it was very dead. I think I submitted 10 solo songs and sang 9 of them (I eventually strayed from Heart — but I got five of those songs in). I also sang a duet with Kristi (which never happens and maybe we need to practice once we start our rockin’ piano/clarinet/flute/accordion band). Jen and Barry also joined us at 10pm. Other people were there. Regulars such as James (the karaoke artist formerly known as “LL Cool J”) and The Ramones Guy (who I appreciate as a karaoke comrade, but am not a fan of) arrived late and left too early. There were a few other random people who made me start thinking that perhaps I’m becoming the worst of the karaoke snobs. I must chill! Anyway. Everyone had basically cleared out by 1am, so the four us had the “Karaoke must go on!” attitude and stayed, just to sing songs with/for Brenda and various Legend’s staff. I was drinking water all night, but staying out until 2am combined with not getting sleep due to cats at Janet’s house for a month is just not good. I am super tired today and ranting. Grumpy. Impatient. I just wanna nap. I also want to sleep in my own bed. Janet returns in one week and then I’m never leaving Nordeast again. Except for when I go to Vermillion next weekend, though that is still tentative, I guess.

P.S. I have absolutely nothing planned/penciled in until the end of March. Not even for work. For real. It is so weird knowing that I won’t have any homework-related stress. I may never go back to school, it might be too fabulous being FREE and lazy.

I want to go home and lay on my man-eating couch and turn into a squishy pile of apathy. To the tune of ER.

Very exciting news! Next time I visit my hometown I am going to pick up the clarinet that I haven’t played since, um, hm… 7th grade, I suppose. Anyway, I’m going to buy some new reeds and get out my lesson books and I am going to JAM with Kristi while she rocks either her piano or her flute. Or she may be purchasing an accordion soon. Our home will be the House of Rock! Or of squeaks.

The clarinet, man. Totally nuts.

Friday night: rented “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” in honor of Friday the 13th and being very interested in laying on my couch at home for a change. It was decent — some parts were silly and some parts were, um, educational. Interesting and spooky, at least. Kristi and I watched “Fever Pitch” afterwards just to make sure that we’d be able to sleep.

Saturday morning: attended the belly dance class that Karyn and I had planned to try the previous Saturday morning. Kristi joined us, too. It was fun! I hope we’re all planning to go again as I need more hip-shaking practice and fun with zills. Afterwards we went the The Egg & I for brunch. Yum!

Saturday night: Kristi and I drove to Plymouth to visit some of my extended family. Scott and Diane returned from a 6-month hike on the Appalachian Trail in October. They had a bunch of friends and family over, served food and drink from all of the states they hiked through, shared maps, camping gear and photos from their trip. Very cool. I drank beer from Vermont all evening: Long Trail Ale.

Then Kristi and I got into the tiny tent since we were almost the youngest people at the party.

I got home around 8pm and Paul joined me around 8:30. We watched “The Exorcist” in honor of the full moon. That movie isn’t as scary as it once was, but I couldn’t watch Regan’s spider-walk down the stairs. Yikes.

Sunday: Kristi and I went for brunch and Bloody Marys at Legend’s. Yum.

Then we picked up Jon Rusch. We played Trivial Pursuit before Kristi and Jon started playing the piano then dancing like lunatics.

Around 4pm, Kristi and I joined Karyn and Barry at Grumpy’s for Scrabble.

Afterwards Kristi and I went home for a while then went to visit Jason and Serg and company in south Minneapolis.

Today is Serg’s birthday — HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SERG! We didn’t stay long because I had plans to hang out with Peter. Once I got home, he came over and we were hypnotized by Minnesota Bound before switching to “Office Space.”

I woke up this morning around 10am (University of MN declared a holiday for its students and staff, hooray) to this drama:

10:14am: So, Jack’s not in the aquarium and something appeared to drop from the ceiling behind the aquarium as I was getting out of bed a few minutes ago. I stood on my bed as whatever it was thumped around under my dresser, unable to get out. After a few minutes and it slowed down, it occurred to me that it might be Jack. I’m fairly sure it is Jack. However, he is under my dresser and although the four drawers can be removed easily, the 10 gallon aquarium sitting on top of the dresser can not. I was hoping I could remove the bottom drawer and there wouldn’t be any sort of support plank (so I could just see what was underneath), but my dresser is made well, I guess.

So this sucks. It’s a day off and someone close to me has already committed suicide.

What is WRONG with my stupid fish??

10:29am: Jack does not appear to be under the dresser. Nor is he on the dresser behind the aquarium. I have no idea where he is. It should not be this easy to lose a fish.

10:37am: I found him, he is under my knitting bag (next to the dresser). I’m glad no one is here to hear me screaming like an idiot right now. POOR JACK. This is the worst morning in the history of days off.

10:43am: I just very carefully placed some toilet paper over the deceased, planning to scoop him up in it for burial at sea but I can’t do it yet. I hate what a girl I am right now. It’s just a dead fish. … Oh, but he was one of my babies. This is sad/pathetic for me.

10:47am: The eulogy: “Goodbye, Jack. I was going to clean your tank today, [profanity].” And then I shook my fist and then I flushed. End of saga. Day continues as usual once I get my dresser back to normal.

Although that was quite stressful, I’ve been trying to relax today. I baked some very easy bread, took out the garbage and cleaned the aquarium’s filter. Now it is time to watch Oprah and knit.