tick tock

Got some serious ants in my pants today. Can't wait to get on the bus... to the train.. So that I can sew or take a nap... . and then get home to me bebes.... and see my bike now that they've spent the day fixing it up for me! And take it to the happy village over yonder..... For it is really late June already!

It's already Thursday

This is great. I have sweet potato chips from the cafeteria. As in potato chips made of sweet potatoes. Despite the fact that my productivity level is low today, I'd say things are currently pretty good.

I never thought it could happen to me

Oh no. I've suddenly got iPhone fever. Make it stop!

I'm tired of the whining. But maybe I'm part of a minority. To quote members of that minority

"Everyone seems to think it's their God-given right to have $3/gallon of gas."

And another:

"This is not a renewable resource. People pay more for Pepsi and you don't hear them complaining about that."

But I suppose whining about whining isn't going to further anything. And whining about anything is not going to stop the churn of supply and demand.

I was curious and did a google search to look at some relational charts. I don't remember what the price was when I was in high school, but I do remember stopping once to put 87 cents in my tank in hopes of getting home. Ah to be young and carefree and relatively stupid.

Oh, heres a chart of a dude's gas purchase prices over the course of my lifetime:



And the dude's little page here: http://www.randomuseless.info/gasprice/gasprice.html

I have to go to a meeting now. Later.

I always just want to go back to bed.

Man. I'm in a really great mood.

New couch is here. It's nice, but weird. I have a problem with buyer's remorse. Always. When I got home I sat down on it for a few minutes and then got up and began moving all the furniture around to try to make things look more "correct."

After a while of that, I decided I was too stressed and needed to take a break. After said break, we came back and put everything right back where it was when we started.

I suppose I just have a hard time jumping with both feet. Or maybe it's that my feet take longer than usual to warm up.

When I bought my television I hemmed and hawed about it for weeks and even kept the box it came in, before I realized it'd be too much work to take it down the stairs and back to the store if I did change my mind.

Even when we first got Fannie I remember looking at the animal in the back seat of the car on the ride back into the city, thinking "....did I make the right decision?"

Don't ever tell her that though.

And in time, I've grown to love my television and my shit-poo. At this point I couldn't imagine having any other dog but her.

And in time, I suppose I'll get used to this couch.

There really is nothing wrong with it.

It's just... different.

Breathe.

My boss's little girl's name is Camden Marshall. That's a really fantastic name, I think. As a whole it sounds so official. So important. Like someone who should be part of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Yet good for a little girl. If not a little yuppie. There's a picture of her on his desk. She's wearing a tap costume with lots of dark feathers and fuzz. I believe she's supposed to be the lion from the Wizard of Oz. In meetings I stare past him at the framed picture of this little girl with wiskers. I swear I would squeeze her. Is this inappropriate? I hope not.

Okay okay. Lions. Not tigers. Tiger have stripes. Anyhow, they're in a cute sleeping position right now. You can tell momma feels confident and safe in captivity.



We have no couch. Two girls came and took stay puft away last week. We thought it would be kind of fun to camp out in our living room with no couch for a while. But as an actual practice, it sucks. It's made for a tough weekend for staying awake. I get tired of sitting indian style on the floor in front of the television and go lay down on the bed to read a book and ....zzzzzz....

I've taken so many accidental naps this weekend.

Look! One of the bebes has crawled up onto momma's tummy and is trying to nurse:



Bath time! Bath time! Bath time!!!

I need to show you the most magical thing I've found on the internet in forevers:

a live web cam of a momma tigger and her four cubs.

I realize these animals sleep on an average of 20 hours per day, but sometimes I find it relaxing to tune in and just watch momma's giant ribcage expand and contract as she breathes. Every so often you'll see a little nobby head move. This morning I was lucky enough to catch bath time.

Magical.

nonono. okay. here are some things to be happy about today:

- They're remodeling the grocery store. The new fridges look nice.

- Sister in law left the toaster oven on all day by accident and it didn't burn our house down. Hooray. We still have a home and a pup!

- New couch in 6 days.

- My boyfriend doesn't have man boobs.

- I can go to bed right now. No one can stop me.

Okay. Okay okay. It's 9:30pm and I'm at home on the couch with my boo on one side and the pup on the other. I'm full of hummus and celery and tomatoes (it's predictable that in this tomato crisis, all I want is tomatoes) and it's safe to say I'm in a slightly better mood.

But still. Meh. Only slightly.

We've been zombie tired since we've come back from Michigan this weekend. I'm gonna try protein. I stopped at the grocery store and picked up some things with protein in them. ... My nutritional knowledge is embarrassingly crappy. I got protein water. I mean, among other stuff.

I think I'm going to go crawl into bed and wait for tomorrow to come. It's inevitably going to be better than today was.

I am in an extremely foul mood. I hate workplace gossip. I hate complaining coworkers. I hate passive agressive behavior. I hate it when people don't ask you questions, but rather copy your boss and theirs on an accusatory EMAIL. And I hate being falsely accused.

Fortunately you can always reply all with a one sentence statement that will make them look like the ass they really are.

I'm too nice. I've been told that a few times. I don't think I need to be that way any more.

We're trying to sell our couch on craigslist, and some dude just tried to scam us somehow by offering to mail me a money order, THEN coming to pick up the couch after I've received my payment. Um. Even if it was a fake money order, exactly how would he pull that off? I'm thinking dude must be a moron. Still, I feel violated when someone tries to pull the wool on me.

Here's something else to be crabby about:

The next week appears to be steamin. Like a big turd. Even if I wanted to put the dang couch out on the sidewalk with a FREE sign, I'm not sure this weather would permit.

Tick tock. Two more hours to go today. Excited to go to the library and pick out some audio books for our drive to Michigan this weekend.

Need a vacation. Feeling stifled. Action packed three day weekend in 28 hours. Work hard to keep my mind occupied until then.

I just dumped 8 lbs of kibble all over our kitchen table. Fannie is pumped.

Last night we saw a baby bunny in the urban prairie next door. He looked a little like this, but not quite as tiny and cute. Nor as sociable.

For some reason the office smells like fresh cut grass today. It's amazing. I don't want it to stop.

We just went on a long family walk up to the park and for iced coffees. I got blisters on my feet from my summer shoes, and the dog got pooped on by a bird. Zach said it was harder than taking Lia & Dominic out for a walk. Pretty much.

It's not fair it's not fair it's not fair it's not fair!!!! I'm the only one left here!!!!!! ARGH!

Greetings from the land of personalized license plates. As long as I can remember, the people of Illinois have always been dorky like that. I thought maybe it was because in IL it's less expensive to get a personalized license plate. But waiting in line at the DMV the first time I found that theory to be wrong. Not that I'd get a personalized license plate for myself. Honest.

This morning I sat in traffic behind WRTAWY 2.
???
What is that? Like Wart Away? Isn't that a product? And could it be that this person was so impressed with the product that they had to proclaim it to the highway? Or maybe they had a hand in developing the product. Maybe they have a patent on it and this is how they define themselves. I'd expect someone of that brain power to drive a nicer car though... And the funnier part is that the "2" indicates to me that somewhere out there in Illinois there is a "WRTAWY 1" or even just "WRTAWY". Daang someone done beat me to it!!

Today is Thursday. I've just been saved by a scheduling conflict and now have 24 more hours to get impressive work done before a presentation to the boss man.
But the blowers are off in our office building and I'm feeling really uncomfortable about the lack of white noise. I've suddenly got bionic hearing and am having trouble focusing. I swear at this moment you could hear a mouse fart.

Okay so I'm not posting the helicopter pictures because I want to post the video shots with them. Meaning, on the same day. But when I strung the video shots together they were pretty boring. And so I decided it needed a little song. Because I don't have a suitable little song in my library I'll just make one, right?

This is the hard part. Not so much making the song. That's not the hard part. I pretty much wrote this little one in a matter of minutes. Songs just come out that way. Especially when they're little. And crappy. But now I have to learn to PLAY it. So is it the physical or mental capacity to play? I mean I'm surprisingly dexterous after having not played much of anything for 4+ years now. The hard part is how much it HURTS! I gots no callouses on my fingertips any more and dang if it doesn't feel like I stuck my fingers in a fire. I can only play for a few minutes at a time these days. It's pretty sad. I'm totally sloppy in my technique as well, but I figure while I'm working on toughening up my pinkies I'll get the rest all cleaned up through repetition.

If I really wanted to get it done, I'd have recorded it on the melodica or a keyboard forevers ago. But see, that's not the point.

Once I get it done I'll probably decide it sounds better on melodica anyhow. That's not the point either.

I used to spend exponentially more time playing with guitars than I ever spent watching television. This is getting closer to the point.

Okay, so did everyone see the video of kitties on a treadmill from Cute Overload this weekend? It's just... It would be a shame if you missed it.

laundry day

It's only 3:35 and almost no one is left in the office. Making me
so
anxious.
Do they know something I don't?

Tonight on the way home I need to stop at a house in Ritzville to test drive a minivan for my brother. Gonna check its wheelie capability on Green Bay Ave. Yeehaa.

I'm kind of glad my friends won't be around to see this.

I cleaned the house and did work work for hours today, but I still feel like there's so much yet to get done. Working at home at the kitchen table is sometimes pretty great. Especially when you sit with your back to the furnace. Much more comfortable than a corporate office. Those places are so cc c cold. I've mentioned this before.

Speaking of warmth, Z is sort of wrapped around me on the couch and he's so warm.
Cuddling is so where it's at. And home. That's also where it's at.
So cozy.

I also planted a lot of seeds today. We discovered the best plant store ever today. It's always been there but it's kind of crappy looking from the outside and so we never thought to go in. But oh boy! So many cheap flower pots, and orchids, and air plants and watering worms and other more useless junk.....

I bought a watering worm. I've always wanted one of these. I was really excited about him and the directions said to soak him in water for 2 minutes before putting him in your plant. But after one minute he split in half. Right between the eyes and down the middle. Z kind of fixed him with a rubber band. Now he looks like he's wearing a belt. We'll see how he works. Probably not so well. I thought about returning him for a new one but honestly... I'd feel stupid bringing back a broken worm.

Oh yeah. The seeds. I planted basil, oregano, parsley, and a small pot of wildflowers. It'll be interesting to see if the wildflowers mind growing in a pot. I hate how after you plant seeds you just kind of stare at them for a while. I paced the kitchen for a good while after I'd cleaned everything up. Like now what? I still peek at the little pots every time I walk past. As if they should be doing something by now.

fiiine dining

My tummy kind of hurts from laughing again. I just watched Zach struggle through building a dog dinner table with my crappy tools because I said I thought it was a good idea. But check it out, it totally was a good idea! What a nice dog dinner table!

Melissa & Ivo's wedding is in 40 days.

ants555ants: what kind of jewelry should we wear?
ants555ants: did you decide yet?
ants555ants: or does it matter?
le modulation: oh you can wear whtevs
le modulation: i'm not concerned
ants555ants: ok
ants555ants: i will make us all friendship bracelets. out of my embroidery thread
le modulation: hooray!
ants555ants: just kidding.
le modulation: i'll make chokers out of hemp
ants555ants: and glow necklaces
ants555ants: to honor your raver heritage

Projects are really easy when you open them up and realize you did most of the work on a previous day before getting sick of it and putting it down.

from: orders@roomandboard.com

Dear Andrea Fontana,
Thank you for your order. We hope you have enjoyed shopping with us.
The following is a confirmation of your order xxxxxx.

Ohmigod. I just ordered my first, real, grown-up, I-am-the-first-owner couch. In custom fabric, no less. And because we needed to be so picky, it won't be ready until the end of June. Hopefully by then we may have paid it off. Yikes. Let this couch not be the death of my naughty naughty dog.

I am working on the gayest looking spreadsheet ever:



TGIF! I'm gonna plant some seeds this weekend. And go pick out couch fabric for when my stimulous check comes. Good times. Oh oh. And post some helicopter photos! sorry sorry.

Right now
Waiting for nails to try. Watching puppies on Animal Planet. Zach fell asleep on the couch during the news and is now missing the puppies. Should I wake him up? Nah. I mean we watch puppies on tv all the time. But these puppies are dang cute. Still, these little moments of coziness & quiet are maybe more valuable.

a few hours earlier
Tonight I made baby bok choy for the first time. Not quite right, but not too far off I guess. Better luck next time. I'm thinking the correct combo is just oil & salt, with the soy sauce added after the fact. But what type of oil?

and an hour or so before that
I've been really into walking to and from the metra train these days. It's only a little over a 30 minute walk, but it's a nice transition for work brain to not-work brain. The weather's perfect but it's going to take me a while to get used the pollution. The sidewalks along the main streets are always filthy, and the first leg of the walk in the afternoon has you under giant overpasses where the air is probably 70% exhaust fumes.

in about four months' time
About 25 friends from college are planning a Labor Day camping trip in Michigan. I kind of cant wait for some fresh air and lightening bugs. Yet anxious to see all these people again. Not sure what the root of my issues are, but I pretty much assume that people I've lost touch with - yeah, I assume they don't like me. Issues. I know. We all have them.

about two hours from now
...I'll most likely still be laying awake watching the streetlight on the corner changing the colors on my bedroom wall, thinking about grade school, the lottery, balloons, movies in the park, idealism, weight loss, nutrition, maybe some the vast majority of things I own only for their sentimental value, and maybe the fact that I probably am not prepared, emotionally, to admit that I'm only holding on to these things for this reason at this point in my life.

I'm gonna go put The Big Chill at the top of my Netflix queue.

Everyone is so upset at work lately. Be cool.

I wonder if I would chill out a little if I cut out caffeine. I've never given it serious consideration before. The thought even gives me the creeps. Decaf usually tastes so baaad....

Zach just drew this picture of me with an etch-a-sketch.

Helicopter trip pictures to come. First I need to sew a pair of pants so that I have something to wear to work tomorrow.

HOly crap! My surprise birthday present is a HELICOPTER RIDE!!!!!! We have to reschedule it for tomorrow because it's raining today, and apparently helicopter rides aren't very fun in the rain. I can't believe this. This is totally on my list of "things I want to do before I die." I have the most amazing boyfriend ever. He's even afraid of flying and he's going to do this for me.

!!!! This will probably be wayyy better than mowing a lawn.


We're watching Master P take us through a tour of his house on MTV Cribs right now. He just described his giant aquarium as eloquent.

In a minute we're going to pick up some friends and go see the Unicorns and Dragons at the Field Museum. Why did I just capitalize Unicorns and Dragons?

Work is kind of lonely and stifling lately. I don't like high cubicle walls. And I feel as if the air I've been breathing lately is stale. Thankfully tomorrow I get a change of scenery and get to go work in a plant. The plants are usually nice and warm. And I get to walk around all day. Hopefully I'll not run on auto pilot tomorrow and forget that I'm supposed to go to the plant.

I have a new watch. It's pretty. Sparkly. I keep looking at it. This makes me hyper aware of the rate of time passage today.

And you know, most of the time I'm over it, but today I'm wishing I had a window. Even if it's raining.

I hope it stops raining by the time I have to get off the train tonight in the city.

Whoa. Dog rental? It's like iGo dogs. Or an escort service. ??

I admit, there were times I would've liked to rent-a-pup before Fannie came along.

Birthday weekend birthday weekend birthday weekend. I know it's only Monday but Spring is in the air and I actually have something to look forward to this weekend!

On Friday my friends are meeting up at my favorite sushi place where we can all get tempura goat cheese with walnuts and apples salad. I hope they give us the special little room for our table. And I hope we have birthday hats.

On Sunday we're going to see the mythic creatures exhibit at the Field Museum! Unicorns and dragons and chupacabras! o my.

But Saturday is a surprise day. Zach is not telling me much of anything about this day. He did say I'll be able to sleep until at least 9:30 that morning. I'm guessing so far - an elephant ride? Hot air balloon ride? Do I get to mow a lawn???

This is gonna be the longest week ever.

Offices are so cold. Always. Argh.

I haven't been this excited about a birthday since I was maybe six.

Like laying in a field of poppies

Last night I slept for fifteen hours. No, I don't have a cold or anything of the sort. Not that I'm aware of. I made it out into the sunshine and did some walking around and eating and shopping. But I've been awake now for about 5.5 hours and I'm pacing around my house, tidying things up, dieing to go back to bed. I'm sure if I were to lay down right now it would be about two minutes before I were sleeping again.

Can't seem to stop yawning.

I think something might be wrong with me. I feel drugged.

CNN looks pretty great this afternoon.



Some day I might have to take an afternoon off just to watch Oprah.

This can't be real.

Well how about that? For months there's been a billboard off I-94, facing Presidential Towers (where Oprah is rumored to live) with the message "Oprah, please do a show on puppy mills. The animals need you." The plea is accented by a picture of a sad lookinng Pomeranian. I've giggled at it, but I have to admire their creativity and, well, balls.

Today I recieved the following email from the Humane Society:

Dear Andrea,

I invite you to watch an extraordinary hour of television tomorrow (Friday, April 4): "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is scheduled to air a special episode highlighting the cruel realities of puppy mills.

Millions of "Oprah" show viewers will be shocked when they learn of the underhanded tactics and deplorable practices used to mass produce purebred puppies and designer dogs, as seen in an investigative report by Lisa Ling. Animal lovers nationwide will also see what impact these “factories” have on pet overpopulation.

Again, all I can say is - well how about that?! I feel happy.

Today is my car's birthday (with me). A year ago today I picked it up from the dealership and brought it home. For its birthday I'm going to take it in to the shop to get its feet rotated, transmission fluid flushed, sparkplugs checked, etc. And then after today I'm going to try to not drive it for the rest of the week. Happy birthday Paco! You get a rest!

We're hanging out in the dark right now. It's earth hour. Seems like most of the neighbors are participating. I saw a few lights go out exactly at 8. And except for the blinking airplane warning lights, downtown is dark.

We're afraid the dog will try and get away with something and so we've put her in her glow in the dark skeleton t-shirt. At least this way we know where she is.

We only have 3 candles in the house. I guess I'm not much of a candle person these days. Very thankful for my pirates of the caribbean flash light.

I'm going to go take a shower in the dark. Wish me luck.

Check out this perfect little squash I got from Stanleys. Perfect, I say, because it's little. See Zach doesn't like them and so when I roast this one it will be a perfect single serve portion for me. My own little squish.

I also think I got a perfect haircut today. Hard to tell because I haven't washed the product out of it yet but I'm pretty sure it's close to perfect. I don't know if that's ever happened before.

Tomorrow morning we're going to see the greyhounds up at the kennel in Wisconsin. It's been forever since I've been there. I'm excited and I think everyone I ran into today had to have heard about it. Puppehs!

hippity hoppity.  happy easter y'all.

This is a really cute video of a kid and dad drawing the alphabet. Intro credits are a bit long but it's worth it.

By yesterday's end we decided that today we weren't going to do anything. Although it might feel like it to me, I guess today wasn't entirely wasted. I got the dog groomed. Watched Karate Kid. Tried to get myself into google reader. Failed. Watched about 8 more hours of television. Sufficiently burnt myself out on television for the rest of the coming week. Successfully made enough excuses not to go to the gym. Wrote a letter. Finished this thing:



But all that still leaves me feeling like something more needs to be accomplished before I can call it a day. I think I'm going to crawl into bed and reread The Yellow Wallpaper. I hope we see some friends tomorrow.

For the first time in maybe two years I'm completely racked with self doubt.... yet things are going better for me than, well, ever. If it isn't snowy tomorrow maybe I could run very far and fast and work out the butterflies and knots. Like running fast enough and far enough that they can't find you.

What time is it? 9:30? I need to go make a song. Or do some dishes. Or jumping jacks.