Tuesday, June 28, 2005

The Nerdiest Thing I've Done in a While

I watched this last night.



And I loved it.

All Out WAR

Okay, so Awesome Roommate and I are engaged in an epic battle. It is us (good) versus CreePaul (evil). Territory in question? The house air conditioning.

When it is 90 degrees outside, entering a 72 degree house is nice. It's a huge drop in temperature. It's refreshingly cold. It hits you right away and makes you happy. In fact, 72 degrees should make you happy when it's 80 degrees outside - or 75, for that matter. Why? Because it also conditions the air. It removes the dreaded DC humidity and makes everything pleasant and lovely.

Then WHY does CreePaul insist on lowering the GD thermostat to SIXTY-FIVE every night? He says that his window is stuck, so he can't open it at night, and therefore needs it to be colder than 72.

To a point, I understand. It's difficult to sleep when it's hot. As a person who has never lived in air conditioning until we moved into THIS place, I admit that I LOVE it. I love it and I want to marry it. As a child in humid Michigan summers, I also am quite aware of how to heighten one's comfort level. My parents enjoyed the outdoors - they hated having the doors and windows closed tightly. My mom could only SEE the birds on the bird feeders. She wanted to hear them as well. But birds retire early - and suddenly it's nighttime and the humidity is still at 90%. So she devised this amazing system drawing hot daytime air out of the house and forcing cool air back in. It worked remarkably well. We still resorted to wet t-shirts and fans on some of those over-the-top hot days, but all in all, I think it worked out just fine.

HOWEVER.

He sleeps in flannel pajama pants. He might have two blankets on his bed for all I know (luckily, I do not. Because, ew). I think that I might have a solution... I don't know, wear a t-shirt and shorts to bed? I KNOW that this sounds radical, and it may only be an unproved hypothesis, but clothing and layers are designed to keep heat closer to the body, right? Hmmm...

But Awesome Roommate hasn't said anything, and since I avoid him like the plague, there is really no way to explain to him this theory, this idea. I think that it's worth a try, but what do I know?

So this is what happens. It's like we're in elementary school, I swear. He turns the air conditioning down, Awesome Roommate turns it back up. He turns it down, I turn it up. I AM NOT JOKING.

Of course, this all started last week, when Awesome Roommate informed us that the electric bill, $41 in May, was $106. What?!!??!?

Yeah, so we're children. But it is kind of fun.

Hee! He just turned the temp down again. Gotta go!

Monday, June 27, 2005

Which Movie?

I don't feel like being at all verbose today (because let's be honest - I'm either using too many words or complaining about something whilst using too many words. See? Too many words). So here it is: In which movie does this quote appear?

"These aren't the droids you're looking for."

Haha, just kidding. Here's the real quote:

"You know what's gonna happen to you? I am gonna march you over to the zoo and feed you to the yak."

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Shenandoah National Park

I love camping. My mom is a teacher, so she's always had the summers off. My aunt, her sister, is also a teacher. Let's just say that I saw my cousins all of the time. We would go camping together at least a few times each summer.

Now, it's not like we camped in the wilderness or anything. No, we went to this little campground in a Michigan state park and only stayed for a few nights. I think that's all my mom and aunt could handle, even with only four kids total. We were obnoxious. And my brother and I fought like mountain lions.

Since I've lived in DC, I haven't had the chance to camp. Mostly because I didn't know many people when I first moved here, but also because no one ever wanted to go. But then I got the chance!

We camped here:
We saw lots of these (deer, not Ford trucks. Though there were a lot of F-150s, now that I think about it):
And a tons of these:
Then we hiked and came to this:

Later, we had too many of these:

Sunday morning, we ate here (it was definitely as dirty as it looks):

And driving home, I threw up on the side of the road. Yum (stupid strep throat medicine)!

All in all, the best weekend I've had in a really long time. I can't wait to go back!

Friday, June 24, 2005

Mmm... strep

I got home from work last night and I decided that it was time to stop ignoring the fact that my throat hurt. So I grabbed the flashlight and looked in the mirror. I immediately called my parents:

"Oh, hi Dad! Hey, so are my tonsils supposed to be the size of bouncy balls and have white spots all over them?"

So I went to the doctor this morning, and I have strep throat. Well, actually, the doctor said that I was "a big walking ball of strep." So I guess that's the same thing. Then he told me not to go to work today. No problem.

While waiting for my prescription to be filled at CVS, these are the things that ended up in my basket and that which I ultimately bought:

prescription
a bottle of kiwi strawberry juice
a can of chicken noodle soup
2 gel pens
a big bag of animal crackers
a jumbo Hershey bar

That's what happens when they make you wait for a prescription. You buy crap.

Now, I'm home, and I have nothing to do. I don't want to watch The Price is Right, even though I know that watching it is what you're supposed to do when you're home sick. Bob Barker just creeps me out too much.

21 Days

Just so you know, the new Harry Potter book will be released in 21 days. 21 days! That's all!

While you're waiting, check out this fun site: Mugglenet.

Yes, this is what I do at work. What? I already finished the flippin' office payroll. I have nothing else to do!

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Maybe Next Year, Boys

I'm not going to lie and say I watched the entire thing. Because I didn't. I watched the beginning. Then I got bored with clapping to myself. Finally, I periodically checked the score online. Hey! It's not like I call myself their biggest fan! Anyway, it's not like when I was ten, and it was all about the Bad Boys. So boys, maybe next year.

At least Detroit will have The Wings back this year. Otherwise... shudder.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Annual Retreat, part 2

No more retreat, so that's cool. We spent most of the day updating the action plan, which, if you've never dealt with said document, be happy. Then we went and toured Amazonia at the zoo which was AMAZING. After returning to the sad little seminar room, we finished up and played some games. The only good prize offered today was for a rambunctious game of BINGO: one full day of annual leave. Who won? The intern. Who gets paid nothing. And shows up whenever he wants. So that blew.

But then we got to go home. Early. So that rocked. I retreated to my room and watched Friends DVDs on my computer. But then I heard someone get home, so I instinctively closed my door.

Which brings me to Creepy Roommate, CreePaul. As I have yet to write about him, I should explain. Awesome Roommate and I moved into the fab house on Capitol Hill knowing that we wouldn't be able to afford the three-bedroom place without posting on Craigslist. We met many people, most of whom were bizzar-o. Paul was semi normal and didn't creep us out within the first five minutes, so we chose him. At first, everything was fine. He was nice, normal, and not creepy. After a few weeks, that started to change.

Weird comments and "announcements" would find their way in to everyday conversation (like, "I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is my summer." What?). He also made negative comments about the dating lives of Awesome Roommate and I. After living here for a week. Then my (male) friend from Ann Arbor came to visit for a few days, and the inappropriateness grew exponentially. And then, the concert...

One of the (several) things that finally set me off the edge happened when I was driving the three of us (us + Waayers - yay!) to the Legwarmers concert. My lane was about to end without warning, and I was all, "Oh, fuck me." That comment does not solicit a response. Ever. It's an observation like "oh balls," but better because unnecessary swearing is always better. Obviously. What he said wouldn't have bothered me so much, but it was just one of the many comments he had made up to that point. What does CreePaul say, then, all slimy-like? "You should be careful about saying that when I'm in the car." Wink wink. RIGHT. Because what I actually meant was, "I'm going to pull the car over, hop in the back seat, and hop on you while Waayers watches from the front seat." It was stupid and inappropriate. Then he got drunk off his ass at the concert. So that was great. I ended up telling him off that night after the concert and really pissed him off.

I know that it seems like I am overreacting, but honestly, there's just not enough room to list the ridiculously crazy-ass things that he's said and done since he moved in.

Now, if he walks into the room when I am there, he says nothing. Awesome. Tension is fun! I hide in my room (aka the land of no cell phone coverage) most of the time as Awesome Roommate is usually with her bf.

I am completely aware that this needs to change: spending my free time holed up in my room and passively ignoring him is not constructive and can only get worse.

Just give me a little more time.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Ah, the Annual Retreat

Spent the day at the zoo for my office's Annual Staff Retreat. Had to meet people at the metro at 8 in the a.m. So early! Getting up before 7 is just wrong on so many levels. And evil metro: unloaded my train after only two stops! So I was late. Then again, so was everyone else. Meh.

But right, the retreat. It wasn't as painful as I thought that it would be, but it wasn't the happiest place on earth, either ("If you go to Disneyland, you don't spend the whole day on the Matterhorn!" "You would, if it were anything like seven!" Ah, Friends). I won a bouncy ball during the one physical activity, so that was pretty sweet.

But the weather was gorgeous! And being at the zoo was fun, even though we were in the staff-only area and there weren't any animals nearby. Awesome Roommate was like five minutes away, but I couldn't go visit because our lunch break was cut from an hour to only 30 minutes, blah dee blah blah. Maybe tomorrow...

Inconceivable!


Watched this tonight. Again. Cried. Again.

Shut up.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

The Legwarmers, v.2


Right. So I know that the pic is awful, and I tried to mess with it a little, but check out one of the "backup" dancers/musicians: he's the one in the red & white hawaiian shirt to the right of the bass player with the red tie. Look closely, and you might be able to detect his "short shorts." He seriously looked like a cross between Lt. Dangle on Reno 911 and the closeted bartender in Out Cold. Simply amazing!

Monday, June 13, 2005

Amazing

This is great.

That is all.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Nats 9, Mariners 3


Also, one of the beer jockeys kept shouting, "IT'S MILLER TIME!" in order to sell beer. This made me laugh. Of course, I laugh at most things, so... nevermind. Evil Ex-Roommate's current roommate was there, though, and he laughed too.

How do I know this? Talk about bizarre - Waayers and I were sitting in our awesome $7 seats, pretty much alone, and this guy approaches:

"Are you from Michigan?"

"Yeah - the accent? I know. I get a little obnoxious at baseball games, sorry!"

"No, do you work for the [insert company name here]?"

"Um, yes..."

"I know that you and I had a lenghty conversation about your job, but I can't remember where."

Long story short, he tells me that he lives in Arlington with six girls. Evil Ex-Roommate lives with five girls and a guy. Ah, I figured it out! Cool thing is that he asks if I am still living in my old apartment in Arlington, and I get to gush about my new place. It wasn't like I was bragging though - I love my place!

The Nats scored five times in the eighth inning, and we finally left at top of the ninth.

"Please tell Evil Ex-Roommate that I said hi!"

It feels nice taking the high road when it comes to her.

Friday, June 10, 2005

Oh, the Drivers...

Poor Laurel - just another instance of asshattery in DC:

"I'm walking to the metro and I'm crossing a street. I see a woman turning left from the opposite side and she is turning fast and doesn't appear to be stopping, so I stop because you know I didn't really want to get run over this morning. So she slams on her breaks and I sedately walk across the street after she stops. She yells and honks at me because I didn't continue walking in front of her speeding vehicle! I should of have flipped her off, but there's always that off chance that someone in my neighborhood would pull out a gun. I really want to carry eggs around with me so when people are stupid I can throw eggs at their car. I really am not sure where this egg throwing obsession comes from, but I really feel it would be beneficial. It was really funny because she seemed really upset, like I had just ruined her entire day. Because she is a bad driver."


But you see, Laurel lives in the GHET. So it makes sense. Sort of.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Killers & Keane


I'm so shiny! And my boys are druuuunk...

Let me just tell you -- if you get a chance to participate in an OnTap bus trip to Merriweather Post Pavilion or Wolf Trap, I highly recommend it. SO MUCH FUN!

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Elevator Chat

Being on the ninth floor has its advantages: amazing view, lots of sunlight, bragging rights, etc. So that's fine. But sometimes it sucks.

It's the elevators that suck. And the people in them. People in elevators suck! What else sucks? The fact that there are six elevators, yet it seems like only one works EVER.

Right. So I leave for lunch, and I wait at least 14 minutes for an elevator. Lah di dah. It stops on the 8th floor. But no one gets in. Elevator phantom. 7th floor, three women get on, bitching about coworker's new haircut. "I have to tell you, I really don't like so-and-so's hair." Well, obviously, since it probably looks stylish and nice compared to your Farrah Fawcett/1990s poofy bangs thing you've got going on. So that's happening. The best part is that they then see someone and hold the GD door so they can chat with her. About the haircut. What??!?!?! Chatting is for later! Lunch is now! DAMMIT! I hate when people hold doors to "chat." 5th floor, a woman steps in. Actually her perfume got on first, and then she did. Barf. Then it stops on the SECOND floor. I think I hate this the MOST. Take the GD stairs, people! Most of you could probably benefit from walking up a flight of stairs once in a while, you Fatty McFats!


Wow. I think this hangover might be affecting my mood...

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Ella's


drunk. off. our. asses.

Can you tell?

Five Guys

Okay. The recent posts of my niece have been dripping in optimism and wonderfulness. I apologize for this lapse. Let's get right to the matter at hand:

It is fucking HOT here. Hot like the seventh level of Hell (coincidentally, that's where K-10 works!). It's pure yumminess. Also yummy? The humidity. I love that by the time I get to work, I feel like another shower would be greatly appreciated by my coworkers. Blech. Woke up this morning and checked the weather. At 7:15 a.m., it was 68 degrees. Okay, that's fine - warm, maybe a little breezy. Lovely. I got out of the shower at 7:30. 74 degrees. A six degree jump in 15 minutes? That canNOT be a good sign. Then I saw the high temp for the day. Are you ready?

92.

90 + dos.

92!

I swear, it was in the 50s two weeks ago. The temperature in this area has some MAD rapid mood swings, that's for DAMN sure.


Left for work at 8:15 or so and it wasn't that bad outside. Yet. It was still a little cool after the MONSTER storm that we had last night. Holy storm, Batman! It was all thunder and lightning-y. I flippin' LOVE thunderstorms. I love how they sound, I love how they look. Usually, they lull me to sleep, but last night, all I wanted to do was stay up and listen. So it's the storm's fault that I'm falling asleep at my desk, really. I mean. I can't be bothered with getting an acceptable amount of sleep.

But anyway, I just went to grab some lunch, and it was wicked sick outside, so I decided not to walk very far and opted for a Coke and a little hamburger from Five Guys. No joke, it's actually called a Little Hamburger. Yet, it is roughly 1/5 larger than a normal size burger that most normal people might do up on their backyard grills. Here's what it looks like, 1/3 eaten:




I don't even want to know what a "Hamburger" looks like. Jeez Louise, America is a tubby bitch.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Alexis with Mom, Dad, and Aunt Heather



Of the five hours we were at my aunt's house, I think I held her for at least four. Hee! I love aunt privileges!

Alexis With Grandpa

My Beautiful Niece


Alexis Nicole - four days old. Precious! Perhaps I'm a little biased, but I think that she's absolutely perfect.

The best part about being the only out-of-town relative is that I got to hold her whenever I wanted since I'd "be leaving soon." The worst part - having to leave. The next time I see her (probably in a month since I don't think that I can wait any longer than that), she'll have changed so much!

The first time I held her, my brother handed her to me saying, "Careful now, she's almost as big as you." Always the comedian, I swear.

My family is placing bets on how long it takes until her feet are bigger than mine. I give it seven years. Tops.