ho hum

So here I am again on my own...going down the only road I've ever known...

 

Okay, so I'm not really on my own, but I am possibly going to go down that only road I've ever known, again. The road to CraftLand.

I've been out of work for 2 months now. It's been a mix of things, but mainly some health problems. Dare I mention that D-word? I decline, I am sick of that D-word. I'm hoping to move on-word.

Oh. No internet on the homefront has disengaged me from writing in this bloggity blog blog.

Maybe one day I'll feel like myself again.

 

Pictures of our 2 new kitties soon to come! Mr. Curtis Mayfield and little Prudence can't wait to meet you all!

Memory Lane: Scotland

25 Mar 2008

"Holy crap, I'm tired." - Travis

I'm going to have to agree. Not sure why we thought were departing from Glasgow Prestwick instead of just plain ol' Glasgow airport! Also, tonight we experienced the most expensive cab ride ever at 100 or $200. F-IN A!!!! Definitely not a "relaxi-taxi" when we have an hour to make a flight 45 minutes away. Luckily, the flight was delayed...unluckily,we didn't find that out until 10 minutes before we were supposed to take off...

And then  there was that whole AerLingus check-in desk being closed and not having a boarding pass, but I s'pose that makes for a good story. And an expensive one, at that. Wonderful.

But now for ruminations of the trip that prefaced that whole airport mixup ordeal. Scotland was magnificent. I am elated that Travis knew such a great person from camp in West Virginia nearly 6 or 7 years ago, Graeme and his lovely lady Chloe. Travelling to another country is always much easier and much more pleasant when you know someone who knows it well. We had a place to stay and our own personal tour guide!

First things first. We got to Glasgow VERY EARLY Thursday morning, it was raining and cold. So much so that Travis had no qualms about letting me shop for awhile just so we were out of the rain. It cleared up not too long after that and we went to a record shop while we waited for Pizza Dump to open. I know, I know...we are nothing more that stupid Americans, but we were on a budget and the Pizza Hut buffet was the right price. We bought a Cat Stevens album, Paul Simon and Queen for about 10 quid. Afer lunch, we went to the Museum of Modern Art...modern art stuff is always interesting, I either love it or hate it but there were some gems...plus it was free so we couldn't really go wrong. After that we strolled over to The Lighthouse in the lovely sunshine, although it was still bitter cold. The Lighthouse was fantastic. I will never forget the "take-away' exhibit which had all funky takeout containers from decades ago to the more modern ones, and also picninc gears and thermoses. It also had a spiral staircase of over 130 steps to the top of the lighthouse...the view was incredible but man, IT WAS FRIGID UP THERE!!!!

----TAKEOFF----



      view of Glasgow from the Lighthouse museum

After that we took the train into Ayr and met Graeme and Chloe, chatted for a long while and had dinner. After watching Rocky IV, Travis and I called it a night. The net day we headed to Edinburgh and saw some amazing sights, including a whole store dedicated to whiskey! Again, it was frigid. We actually saw a little bit of snow that day. For lunch I had fisherman's pie with pieces of salmon and haddock, inside the delightful filo pastry that enclosed it. Mmmm! Immediately after lunch, Graeme insisted on trying a deep fried Cadbury Egg from next door in the store which had deep fried anything and everything. Travis and I took some great pictures this day, but it's hard not to since the Royal Mile is so picturesque.

Saturday and sunday we were in Stirling, visiting Graeme's family for Easter. I must say how lucky both Graeme and Chloe are to have gotten such a good one. Especially Uncle Colin! He was my particular favorite to chat with for his collection Elton John and whiskey! What a dear. They all are, in fact. I also must note the insane amount of Guitar Hero played this night. So much so that the carpet was moving after momentarily taking my eyes off the screen. It was a wonderful Easter. Also, the house was breathtaking...right on the Stirling mountainside. It had an outdoor hottub, three baths, a sauna, a sunporch, oh my!
Sunday morning we had breakfast, consisting of many things unfamiliar to our foreign palettes, all except good old fashioned bread. I tried a duck egg which tasted the same, only larger in size, and haggis, which is surprisingly delicious! Who knew lamb paunch could taste so fine?
After breakfast (what an experience!) we said goodbye to the family, and the three of us plus Graeme's brother Mark, went to the William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) monument and saw his massive sword. Then we climbed another assload of steps to the top. Might I add that it was frigid up there as well.
We drove back to Ayr listening to the late,great Mitch Hedberg , before heading to a local hotel bar to catch some European futball (wooo!) with some of Graeme's buddies and his bro. To avoid any trouble, we ordered local Kronenburg which is 5 point something of absoulte deliciousness. After three, I was feeling pretty good, but started to get a little homesick all of a sudden. I couldn't stop thinking about how badly I wanted to hang out with Erin and Jess and how awesome it's going to be to see them again.
After beers, we went home and I prepared my specialty for dinner. Drunken Stirfry!
Gotta love it! And then it was time for our beloved LOST. We got to Meet Kevin Johnson after about 2 seasons of not knowing where the F he and Walt went!

So I forgot to mention that Saturday morning before we left for Stirling, Graeme brought us to see some sights of Ayr, including the Electric Brae...a raod that appears to be going downhill at one point, but is actually going uphill. We experienced this by driving to a certain point, putting the car in neutral and feeling it roll back downhill. Crazy!
That same car trip we also stopped off at an old castle site, quite in ruin, right on the coast of Ayr. We climbed all through it and took some lovely pictures.

Yesterday was Monday and we drove up to the highest point in Ayr and saw herds of sheep crossing the road! That may have been my favorite part of the whole trip. After that we went to the Brig O'Doon bridge, which was also brilliant. And a beautiful place to get married, I might add. Then, dinner at Graeme's parents house, which consisted of steak pie with a WONDERFUL turnip mash (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!) and some more haggis! They are two fine people whose paths I hope to cross again one day.

------LANDING!!------

Let me just note that this flight took less time than the cab ride to the airport from the airport. BAH!  'Tis all for now.

Update Shmupdate

The last month has been crazy, a mix of hills and valleys. It started out with 4th of July weekend---Travis and I were house-sitting for his parents, which is one of my favorite things to do. Not only do they have an amazing house with a huge bathtub, fridge filled with beer and cable, but that weekend had perfect weather...and in the privacy of their extremely large backyard, I tanned topless while my own personal Cabana boy (Travis) brought me gin and tonics, that is when he didn't "accidentally" spill beer all over me!

In speaking of backyards, we were hoping to have our wedding reception in his parents' since it's a beautiful expanse of green and trees and flowers, flat land and plenty of room. But get this. His mom wasn't really feeling her only son's wedding in her own home! I'm sorry, but

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

Here's something else I can't believe. Getting fired, surprise style. Like, leave work on Thursday for a 3-day weekend...come back on Monday, incidentally the Monday my boss was on vacation, and am handed a letter by my co-worker who was telling me something along the lines of "It's not working out. Thank you and good luck."

Dumbfounded, I took the letter and said "No, thank you!" and left. Feeling totally defeated. I did abhor that job, but I am unsure of what exactly I can tolerate for 8 hours out of my day. Whatever happened to the verbal warning? The letter said I was "unwilling to follow directions." What directions? Not to use the internet? Well, I would have gladly stopped had there had been any sort of direction not to, instead of moving my desk so "Jenn could help you out more." Well, before that, I was sitting next to Jenn. Then I was just sitting merely in front of her. Now, I was getting fired via Jenn.

That was a month ago. *sigh*

I'm not too sure of any prospective jobs at the moment. All I know is, I would love to own my own business...something along the lines of Estate Sales, Ebay and Event Planning. A little extra shot of faith in myself would be perfect right now.

Then there was debit card fraud. Excellent.

But on one of those said hills, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing two concerts in the last two weeks. The first was Aimee Mann in Albany, her only FREE! show of all of her tour dates, in an outdoor park about 80 miles away. Travis and I decided to also go camping that weekend before seeing the show on Monday. We ended up in the Catskills, tenting during a HORRENDOUS thunderstorm! I was scared, so we collected our must-haves from the tent (did I mention just about everything, including us, was soaked?) to head over the car to seek shelter. On our way, we discovered a brand new river running between us and the car. We were on our own private island.

The concert was amazing, I am so in love with Aimee and her new album &*$(#)^$ Smilers! She never disappoints. Especially since this is the second time I've seen her in concert and the first time I had to drive all the way down to VA to see her! The opening act, Ashley Pond, was just as incredible. What a voice that chick has, not to mention she's not bad on the eyes either. Her and her band are like a mix of blues,rock,country,soul, something...wow.

The other concert we went to, and just returned from, was Radiohead in Montreal. But first, we stopped in Old Forge (Adirondacks area) to stay at camp with his parents. We would be dining with some of DC's finest gay men this evening, and other friends. Before the rest of the gang arrived, Travis and I decided to go kayaking, this being my first time. I was a bit of a slow-poke but enjoyed myself nonetheless. Feeling just as adventerous, I also opted to go tubing for the first time ever, once David and Maurice arrived with a speedboat and a tube! I stayed on for the entire ride, not noticing until later that I had a MASSIVE contusion on my shin!  I think the booze may have had something to do with that. I usually try to opt for beer instead of liquor, but Leslie (future mother in law) makes a mean martini and pomegranate cosmo, so I had a few.

Other noteworthy aspects of that evening included: Jim and Leslie learning from the said gay couple what exactly a "blumpkin" is.
Okay, that was the only noteworthy aspect.

The next morning, I awoke in some PAIN. Slight hangover, extreme nausea ("In the beautiful land of fun and sun, we never flush for number one.") the bathroom pee stench was OUTRAGEOUS, upper body pain from rowing, the rest of the body pain from the tubing incident. Both of my butt cheeks have bruises and charlie horses. Not fun for a 5 hour drive to Montreal. YOW!

We arrived in Canada in plenty of time for waiting around, but were not allowed to bring in any food or beverages to the concert area. Enter: me drinking 2 beers faster than I have ever drank before. Not that it mattered, by the time we got into the venue I was way beyond sober. While waiting in line, Travis and I tried to pick out the Canadians from Americans. It was relatively easy. Where we were standing, there was a railing seperating us from what  weconsidered to be the front of the line, or at least, they were closer than we were. What we didn't know was how long the line actually was. We thought showing up 4.5 hours in advance would be enough time, but man. When they opened the gates, we realized just how far away we were.

The area was a large, muddy field. Muddy only because it had been a torrential downpour, recently upgraded to sprinkling status. We purchased a pricy hotdog and bottle of water, and the hotdog was peculiar to say the least. Wanting to find a good spot, we walked into the crowd and almost immediately ended up next to two of the coolest people ever! I was stoked when I heard one of them utter "That's what she said." When I mentioned we came unprepared, they said they also had and we set out to find some of that good Canadian stuff we always hear about. It didn't take too long after that.

During the opening act, Grizzly Bear, the sun came out momentarily and presented the crowd with a rainbow, notable only because Radiohead's new album is entitled "In Rainbows."

Radiohead was incredible. I wish I had a better view, but being as vertically challenged as I am, I guess I'm always going to have to wish I had a better view. By the end of the concert, my back hurt even worse from the constant standing, prior evening, no room to move or breathe in the crowd. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want Radiohead to leave the stage, but I couldn't wait to get back to the car either. We were planning on sleeping in the car until the parking lot cleared out and then head for the border. After a beer and three Advil, I was in a much better place. I didn't rouse until the alarm went off at 3:30 am and we awoke to a totally empty lot. By 9, we were home again and only minus $120, most of which was spent on gas.

I guess the only thing I left out was the wedding plans. Like I may have mentioned before, about the B&B in Maine and the reception in his parent's backyard...those plans have changed...for the better, I think and hope. The ceremony will be at his parents friends' camp in Old Forge, where we stayed this week, on the water with 50 of our closest friends and family. The couple also offered to cook for everyone afterwards. Perfection.
It's much closer and easier and free.

The reception venue was just decided. Our downstairs neighbors are moving out, to our surprise, and I was fearing the worst: since we live in the house that Travis' stepdad owns and is planning to sell relatively soon, I thought this would be it. Loss of 2 tenants and us already paying a deeply-comped rent. We met them (the parents) for dinner out, had drinks, got to talking about wedding plans, which seems to happen alot these days. After two Red Stripes, I felt ballsy enough to say, "You know, I was kind of hoping we could have the reception in our own backyard." And, to my very much surprise, they both immediately agreed.

So, we don't have to move until at least next September. That's good for us and our wallets.

And I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate our wedding than our own home. I'm elated.

My favorite, food.

So here it is. A whole blog about food.

First things first, let it be known that I love food. I love cooking it and I love eating it. Thank god for my wonderful Italian genes. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I dream about recipes like what to make for dinner tomorrow using whatever randomness is hanging about in the refrigerator and pantry. I think the best utilization of the bare minimal to date was the dusty can of white cannellini beans thrown into some random pasta, with some leftover fresh spinach that was about to be on it's last legs. Toss with butter, fresh garlic,
a little olive oil and some fresh grated cheese....ideally it would be fresh grated but in this case, I opted for the parmesan in the green plastic shaker thingy and sprinkled it quite generously while all of the flavors were meshing over medium low heat. It's a shame I didn't have some delicious prosciutto on hand.
Other times, when I'm day dreaming at night, I fill that insatiable urge in my belly with a varietal of nourishment. No, it's not the typical late-night cravings of heading to the drive-thru and hitting up the dollar menu for an array of extremely high trans fat foods, that were bathed in day old oil, with pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun. I mull over steamed mussels, or a delicious hunk of salmon with a walnut crust, butternut squash, a bathtub full of gravy, or that squid's ink paella we tried in Barcelona. Who knew that squids ink was a delicacy? I also ruminate over the crepes and waffles that the Belgians are known for, dusted to perfection with powdered sugar and whatever fresh fruit to accompany it.

It's no suprise with my dual passion for food and travel, that I am the third book into my
travels alongside Frances Mayes, who penned Under the Tuscan Sun during the first years she had bought the old villa in Tuscany. In Bella Tuscany, she took us on an amazing tour of Italia, never leaving out the delicous meals consumed, recipes, stories from a Southern childhood, home renovation and gardening. It made me laugh. It made me cry. But most of all, it made me hungry. Today I've started A Year in the World, where Frances continues her journey of breathing life in a foreign country in France, Portugal, Spain, Greece and North Africa. I can't wait!

I've also been reading a fellow AOL Journal, Trickle of Semi-Consciousness by Belfast Cowboy, another member who left due to the "incident" and has found comfort in his blogging elsewhere. I must say, reading his past entries make time fly by here at the office, and it's a challenge to not laugh and give myself away.

"Marissa, are you blogging again? What is so funny?"

I'll tell you what's so funny. Cowboy's former career as a jug-bander. And I hear they did a doozy of a version of "My Eggs Don't Taste the Same Without you" in which he croons, "My heart's in a-shambles, I can't eat my scrambles."

Back to the immediate subject at hand, or at tummy, whilst on the topic of the wonder that is food, I must make mention of a place that never disappoints. La Petit Maison, the little house, is a FANTASTIC French restaurant here in Waterville. While I've never had the pleasure of dining in France per se, dining in The Little House is always an exceptional treat. With a bottle of wine, we order for an appetizer oysters
or gazpacho or a warm mushroom salad with endive which is INCREDIBLE. For the main course I always find myself torn between the bouillabaise riviera with saffron (ping!), salmon with caviar and a champagne sauce, filet mignon with a blueberry and bourbon reduction, or something off the specials menu which can range from rabbit to duck to bull testicles (dubbed 'sweet bread,' I don't think so). Travis is slightly more adventurous than me in this sense, because I will not touch a fork to a rabbit or a duck, although I hear both are magnifique. On the side of each dish comes a small couscous salad, scalloped potatoes, and mashed beets. (Remember that bathtub full of gravy? Scratch that. Make it a tub full of mashed beets.) Dessert too, is sheer perfection. An array of sorbets, custards, creme brulee`, gateau (cake) are presented with a carmelized sugar cage. Yes, a cage. A sugary sweet net of unrequited goodness. Needless to say, the price of all of this makes our visits rare, but equally more enjoyable each time we sign the guestbook on the way out, our bellies full and our hearts light.

So. When I'm in bed on the night before christmas, you can be sure that I actually am having visions of sugar plums dancing over my head. Actually its probably something more like beets doing dance moves to Gloria Estafan's "Turn the Beat Around."
 

goings-on.

Just another day at the office, having no other choice but to listen to this god-forsaken country "music." at least the radio station has been better about changing it up a bit. i heard a new song today, well it was new to me. It actually made me laugh out loud, prompting my co-worker Jenn to inquire as to what was making me giggle..."Did he just say, 'she's rockin' the beer gut'?"
She confirmed this to be true.
Wow.
I must admit that this lyric has made all of my insecurities surrounding my drinking paunch fade, as it sounds as though maybe it's not such a bad thing, and perhaps it is viewed as a highest form of honor or a mark of Buddha in some faraway land, like Alcoholpulco or New Drinkingland. I should see the bulge that rests atop my beltloop symbolically, that I have enough to drink.
And I am lucky for that.
Or am I?
But as for new music on the country radio station, there isn't much. In fact, I'd say nearly half of the songs played on there were originally belonging to someone else. Like All4One's "I can love you like that" or Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" or anything by Kelly Clarkson. To my suprise, Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish fame, has just released his first country album. Didn't see that coming. Who's next?

On another note, it's a slightly dismal day here and all I want to is to crawl in my bed and be all cozy and sleepy warm, listening to the rain outside my windows. But instead, I sit here, typing away andd wishing the next 3 and half hours away, which is something I greatly dislike to do.

My wedding planning has temporarily halted. We set a date, and it seems still a little
too far to start ordering favors, tables and chairs, and all that jazz. But I have to say, I think our $5000 budget will go a long way. It will hopefully include our honeymoon expenses, plane tickets and resort in Turquoise Bay, Honduras! I've already planned for the flowers...my downstairs neighbor and I will be planting them in the spring, hundreds of zinnias in all colors, fuscia, oranges, yellows, whites...they will be included as bouquets in my centerpieces, in various vases, pots, lemonade pitchers, mason jars, wine bottles...a mishmash that throws uniformity to the wind.
Did I mention the date is September 4, 2009? That will be the day that Travis and I exchange our written vows in front of immediate family and the closest of friends, on the coast of Winter Harbor, ME. We've arrangedthis with the owners of the B&B and they are having a lobster bake for the party in their backyard...it should be wonderfully splendid. Two days later, the sixth, will be our reception hopefully in his mom's backyard, back in NY. That's also the day of my parents 35th wedding anniversary.

I'm also in this hyphenation contemplation. Shall I be Marissa Olivera? Marissa Fiorentino-Olivera? Or just plain old Marissa Fiorentino? I feel attached to my last name. How will people know I am still a Fiorentino? I love it when people ask me if I am related to or know so and so.

Having all this excess time throughout my day, in front of the computer, I began reading some of the old blogs that still remain, that I once loved, and still do. Anyone recall The C-Cup Chronicles? They still make me laugh out loud, cry, and warm my heart...Then there was TwoScoopsofCrazy, always hilarious. And of course, Jennifer from Random Ramblings. I wonder what her and Walter, the wonderpup, have been busying themselves with. I'm sure she also still "idoling along."
We didn't lose everyone to the move, afterall, Mike and Kathleen and myself are still ever-present. I never found my blogspot to be as homey and comfy as it is here.
Whatever happened to those Weekend Assignments from Mr. Scalzi anyway? Did he run out of questions and scenarios to present to the eager bloggers? Or did he just get a new job?

Until next time, keep on rockin' those beer guts!

Dum Dum Da Dum...

Since I suprisingly have alot of extra time when I finish my workload here, I've been the queen of googling wedding ideas, with the occasional game of Freecell or Sudoku to spice things up. How amazing it is to get paid to do these things.

Last night, Travis and I asked his parents if we could have our wedding reception in their backyard. I don't think it would've been as big as a surprise as it was, considering they haven't even asked us if we've set a date yet. Which we haven't. Next August is looking to be it, though, mainly because I want to steer as far as possible from the possibility of being rained out! Not that that's any indication of whatever inclement weather happens to arise in this crazy area...

Take the other night for example. It was one of those warm nights and right before a storm was due to hit...the wind blowing right through our curtains and cooling the stickiness of the day, dually curing our swamp-ass. I reveled in the fact that this was one of my favorite parts of summer...

And then our house got struck by lightning! I was TERRIFIED. The kicker is Travis and I were just talking about how silly we are to have not gotten renters insurance yet, seeing as how it's like $1 (not really, but pretty damn close) and that I work at an insurance agency. Not only was it the loudest, brightest, most horrifying storm I've ever experienced, that shook the ground and house like a bomb had hit, but it ended up striking the siding and taking a large chunk out of the foundation as well. With one fell swoop, our TV was no longer and my car wouldn't start the next morning.

All I could think of was the antiquated electricity that runs through our outlets...and boy, OUTlets they are---the thick plastic-coated wires that come out of the floor to attach it to the silver metal box in which we plug things. My hair crimps at the thought.

But back to wedding stuffs. I have to say, of all things in my life, this is the only thing that I am totally sure of. Nothing I've experienced in my 23 years compares to the companionship and intimacy that I have shared with my love. I feel lucky, and surprised that I've found it at all. Like any other two, we have those inevitable moments where we grind each others' gears or cannot accept the fact that the other never makes the bed/buys too much furniture...I bet you can't guess who the latter is.

Loosely, our plan for the marital union is as follows. Intimate ceremony in Winter Harbor, Maine in the backyard of a beautiful B&B we stayed in last summer, right on the coast. Reception back here at home a few days later, in his mom's expansive backyard under a tent, with Brooks BBQ (DELICIOUS!) cooking chicken and ribs at a pit within safe distance...

We also have been researching how to register for your honeymoon, which I think is a splendid notion. Instead of registering for china and crystal stemware that we'll NEVER use, we'll opt for a bottle of champagne for the happy couple as we toast our love in some tropical location. Or chocolate covered strawberries. Or a couple's massage.

This is fun. Such a challenge to create our idea of a perfect union on a budget... it forces me to get creative. I'm sure this will undoubtedly bring his mother and I closer, unless of course she turns into mother-in-law-of-the-brideZILLA.

But until then, I've got colors, flowers, desserts to choose...for me, and my chosen one.

this country is bad for my health

So, I've just been adjusting to being a full-timer here at the insurance company,
waking up at 7:45, hitting snooze til I can hit snooze no more, getting here at 9
and leaving at 5. It leaves me little time for myself, seeing as how I can barely
stay awake after 11 pm these days.

My day at work entails drinking too much caffeine,taking/making payments,
processing homeowner/car insurance applications, renewals, reinstatments,
cancellations, etc...and after all that fun is done, it's just me and Freecell
and this forsaken country music. There's one in particular I feel I can actually
relate to...in the typical southern drawl, and this one is more of a drawl than a
twang

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMEEEE I WANNA GO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMME

Every time that song comes on, roughly twice a day, I just want to tell the man,
I concur.

But not ALL of the country tunage is bad on the ever-popular local country radio
station (ever-popular here in Waterville, that is) there is one, count 'em one,
song that I enjoy. It's called "Johnny and June," referring to the Cash's
of course, and the singer chick says "When you go, I wanna go too."
Brings a twitter to my ticker.

Other than that, I feel on the upswing at the moment, healthwise. I don't believe
I've mentioned at all here what's been going on, but it started about 3 months ago
in Ireland when I had severe pains in my abdomen and lower right side. All signs
pointed to appendicitis, especially when I bent over to tie my shoes and almost
doubled over in pain. Doctors, surgery and a hospital stay confirmed it to be
endometriosis, oh joy.
If being cut open and hospitalized for the first time wasn't enough,on the exact day
I was journeying home to the states, a different kind of pain prevented me from eating celebratory dinner with our parents and friends...yadda yadda yadda, cut to today and here I sit with pernicious anemia, inability to absorb B12 and Iron, main symptom being gastritis--inflammation of the stomach lining.

I haven't felt well enough in the tummy area to be keeping up with all m'beer drinking,
and my pants don't fit. *sigh*
All the medical terminology aside, I hate feeling unwell enough to do things. I'm tired and
alot of days I'm in pain from either gastritis or endometriosis, which has chronic lower back pain and tummy pain. But, I am glad we've figured all this out whileI still have insurance.
This is where I face another one of life's ironies, working in an insurance company that doesn't offer insurance to their employees. At least in Ireland, my surgery was FREE!

SOCIAL HEALTHCARE! SIGN ME UP!

On a much much much lighter note, my beloved Aimee Mann has a new CD called %^*&#Q(* Smilers! Picked it up yesterday, and can't wait to fall in love with it like I have the others. Also, she's doing a FREE (there's the word again!) concert in Albany in July...

Can't wait for the weekend. I have much to tend to. A great book, I am almost done with. My plants. My honey. Rewatching LOST season 3, you know, really important matters. And hopefully, in keeping with the last few days *knocks on wood* feeling well enough to get some much needed exercise.

I can't believe my voice is joining in the millions asking "Is it Friday yet?"

Also, I just noticed all of the different moods and didn't find one that fit my "feels like bugs are crawling all over me" present state of mind. Who should I talk to about that?