Thinking

How can I go back in time and thank the person that discovered cheese?

How many sodas will I drink at work today?

Wish I had some pizza.

Anything Related to the Sea

The following traits are widely associated with Pisces.

* malleable / impressionable

* gentle

* good natured / easygoing

* likeable / kind

* compassionate / sympathetic

* sensitive

* impractical / dreamy

* instinctive / intuitive

* imaginative / artistically able

* versatile

* gullible / naive / easily led

* spiritual

* escapist

* selfless

Likes: Feeling appreciated, feeling loved, freedom, stability, mystical settings/enchantment, dreaming, having their input valued, being unique

Dislikes: Feeling vulnerable, having no goals to move toward, feeling invalidated, being criticized, illiteracy, noisy scenes and displays, having no sense of structure

Ideal Careers: caring for the needy, as in the fields of medicine or veterinary medicine • anything related to the sea • acting • psychics or mystics • religion • cooking • pharmacist

Dear Guy

Dear Guy in the Big, Black Cowboy Hat -

Your hat is awesome.
Your boots are, too.

You make me cooler by proximity. Thanks for drinking your coffee with soy milk at Janine's.

Your Fan,
b

decidedly

I may not have any inclination towards or talent for writing about the current political climate, but I'm sure glad that other people do.

Read this now:

Undecided by David Sedaris

My weekend, in brief.

Ready, Set, GO:

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

IOWA!
Play Wii.
Power sleep.
Get up at 7.
Shower.
Bid adieu.
Fast food breakfast.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Tertiary Edition, Radio Play

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

KANSAS!
Find Megan, Mike, Wendy, Jeb.
Eat thai.
Find wedding party.
Look at all those pretty faces.
Bowl a 96.
Bowl a 103.
Drink coffee.
Eat pizza.
Drink whiskey.
Dance.
Dance.
Dance.
Eat cake.
Remove shoes.
Prince.
Talking Heads.
'It's Raining Men.'
Sleep.
Eat muffins.
Drink coffee.
Eat India Palace.
Drink more coffee.

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

IOWA!
Eat pizza.
Play video games.
Watch Darkman.
Sleep.
Donuts.
Allergy explosion.
Video games.
Serenity.
Video games.
Watchmen.

Drive.
Drive.
Drive.

(Nap nap nap.)

HOME!

Fin.

We Make Good Foods

Let it be known.

My task:

Grilled Cheese with Pesto Cheese, Winter Cheddar, and Tomatoes on Buttertop Bread
Carrot Ginger Soup
Thick-cut Pepper Bacon

SuperFriend task:

Halved Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar

On the side:

Dill Pickles

For dessert:

Light Roast Coffee with Cream and Sugar



We know how to make this one delicious life.

Somebody spoke, and I went into a dream

Woke up, fell outta bed, dragged a comb across my...

No, wait. Wake up, see the beginnings of sunlight, know that's a bad sign, roll over, look at my alarm clock, see 7AM, say MOTHERF***ER (not too loud, don't wake the roommates), pull on pants, find two socks that are vaguely similar, shove everything near me into my bag, curse my STUPID PHONE for shutting itself off in the middle of the night even though it was fully charged, thus not waking me up at 6:15 as planned, put on my shoes, run out the door (did I shut it?), pedal to the metal, GOTTA PEE GOTTA PEE, get in the back door of the shop, turn off the alarm, start the dark roast, open the door, turn on the OPEN sign, go to the bathroom (oh, thank goodness...), settle in, settle down, settle in, settle down.

Off work, three hours to myself, plan for phone repair, new socks, shower, clean hair, nice clothes, ready for DoG, instead drop off phone to get FLASHED (what?), go to Target, find no new socks, buy a drink and some gum, swing by to pick up my phone, sorry not ready, read 1 chapter... read 2 chapters... start a 3rd chapter and realize this is just too long, hey where's my phone, no one answers, I stand, I ask, I sit, I stand, I ask, I watch the guy who helped me first count out his drawer and avoid my eye contact, I ask a woman with a watch for the time, OH MY it's 5:25 and I have to be back at work by 6, lost all chance at shower, clean hair, nice clothes, fixed phone, I ask ONE MORE TIME, a girl comes out and says the flash fried it, nothing left, did anyone warn me that might happen?, no they did not, well, I'll get you a new phone, sorry about this, so sorry, well I have to go right now, can I come back tomorrow, sure come back between 8 and 5 and I'll help you, NO, sorry, I have to work and then play with astronauts.

Pedal to the metal, deep cleansing breaths, breathe in, breathe out, breathe breathe, GO car, GO FASTER.

Pull in.

Big hug.

Big laugh.

Breathing back to normal.

Genuine smile on my face.

Ready to make coffee, dirty face or no. Ready to belly laugh. Ready for the good bit.

Aaaaaannnnnd.... here we go.

DoG

Delusions of Grandeur, you rocked little ol' Janine's last night. The place was hopping, full of friendly, loud laughers, and you proved a good date for them all. You showed them a grand time. I, for one, am already ready for more.

What a fine premiere!

Repeat after me, everyone: DoG, Janine's, 1st Friday of every month.



Sarah Palin, in Australia, with a meteorite.

le petit, again

I asked Pascal how old he turned on his birthday, and he held up his fingers - 4. I asked him if he liked being 4, and he nodded.

Papa said that on the morning of Pascal's birthday, he came into the room, arms flung open wide, as though he felt noticeably bigger.

Today, Pascal asked me how I pick out the things that we sell, what is in the refrigerators, where the dishwasher was ('that's me!' I said, 'I'm the washer!).

He said, 'I'll see you next weekend!'

I told him I won't be here, because I'm going to a big party.

'Who's going to be at the party?'

See you in two weeks, mon petit!

le petit prince

So, the tiny, coffee-drinking, french-speaking prince-o-my-heart's name is Pascal.

And today was his birthday, so his papa told me. As an explanation for why he was particularly full of energy, running in and out the front door. I didn't mind all the running around, though, because le petit Pascal has the good manners to run around quietly when he's inside.

He came to ask what the ladles were for while I was doing some dishes, and I told him they were for soup. I told him, "Bon Anniversaire! Happy Birthday!"

To which he replied, "Happy Birthday!"

"What are you going to do for your Birthday?"

"Have presents!"

Later, he came behind the counter while I was making coffee, and asked what the espresso machine was for.

"It's for making coffees like the one your papa was drinking."

"Oh! Well. I'll see you next weekend! 'Bye!"

"Happy Birthday!"

"Happy Birthday! 'Bye!"

Bon anniversaire, mon petit chou!

Cry if you want to, I won't tell you not to.

Yesterday, my roommate got home just as I was getting done watching the season finale of Grey's Anatomy from last season. I had, as I am wont to do, cried my way through it (I finished my tuna sandwich before the real deluge began), and so there I was: tear-stained, sniffling, ready for the season premiere.

She asked me later why I watch shows that make me cry (lady shows, she called them, thank you for that), and I told her I that I think it's because I find it cathartic. All those emotions that I can't quite find an expression for in my own real life, that don't quite well up to climax of tears, I can let them come out all at once when I watch other people suffering or finding joy. I like to do the same thing when I read books and see performance, as well. (Strangely, more embarrassed to cry when I hurt myself than at a good piece of theater. Why is that, I wonder?) I feel like, maybe, it makes me more prepared and open to my own life, to feel so much for other (fake) people. So long as I don't forget to go out and live my own life, too.

I mean, I also like to laugh at funny shows and be horrified by gritty shows (many can't agree with me on this one), seeing some things I find recognizable from my own life, and others that I, thankfully, can't directly identify with. I feel kind of lucky, that my taste range runs large, so I can love goofy TV and vomit-inducing theater and everything in between.

Really, this post is just so the whole internet knows that I cry when I watch TV, in case anyone didn't already know. It's a good thing, I guess, that I couldn't get that episode of Grey's Anatomy to work while I was at the coffeeshop on Saturday. That would have been a little awkward.

There must be someone out there...

...who wants to buy me a present.

Je voudrais un cafe, s'il vous plait.

There is a four-year-old in the cafe right now, visiting for a blackberry Izze and a scone with his papa after french class.

Apparently, sometimes they share coffee, even though the little one is, let me say again, 4. Papa wouldn't give him any espresso, because 'it's not the kind of coffee you like,' much to the little one's dismay.

Seriously, this is my kind of kid.

Also, Papa asked him if his class today was easy or hard, and little one said, 'medium.'

He's a four-year-old genius coffee drinker. We're going to be best friends.

Wedding Bells

I'm going to the first wedding I've been to in 4 years tomorrow afternoon. The only wedding I was invited to that I'm really, truly sad to have missed in all that time was definitely Sara's wedding in Greenville. I'm still regretting not reading at the wedding. Alas, I was trying, unsuccessfully, to save up money to move to NY.

The last wedding (reception) I went to was Emily and Aaron, and I took my friend Steve as my pseudo-date, and he didn't know anyone but me. He got drunk without me noticing and colored me pictures in children's coloring books, and refused, for the most part, to dance. Oh, Steve. I had a good time, I hope you did, too.

Anyway! Now, I have new friends that are getting married! And tonight I will get to hang out at their rehearsal dinner! And tomorrow I will get to don some fun clothes and see two people who are really cool experience a really important ritual together, and see how happy they make each other, and eat food, and see a handsome friend of mine in a handsome rented suit, and dance a lot, and meet new folks.

Yay!

Congratulations!

Ouch

Somewhere between 8 hours of manual labor and reading for several hours propped up on many pillows last night, I have such a horrible crick in my neck that I keep dropping things at work. Much coffee has ended up on the counter, I can't really look up, and I keep inadvertently cursing under my breath.

I'm not actually in a bad mood about it, which is cool, but I really wish someone would come and fix it. Any takers?

Thanks...

...to all of the many generous tippers to come into Janine's today. You've totally made my day. I'm totally gonna buy an ice cream (or two) in your honor.

Shed His Grace On Thee

So. Where do you go when your one-time pick-me-up destination, your go-to vacation, has recently become your new home town? I'll tell you where.

The majestic mountains of Colorado.

Activities included (but were not limited to): playing cards, building fires, hiking, reading books, watching Firefly in its entirety, getting sunburns, riding horses in the Garden of the Gods, riding SCOOTERS in the Garden of the Gods, getting lost in the car on a dark, dark mountain, taking the Cog Rail all the way to the top of Pike's Peak, playing Skeeball, singing Karaoke, watching friends get engaged, drinking coffee, cooking, sleeping, laughing, and eating sooooo muuuuuch goooood fooooood.

Delicious treats included (but were not limited to): Cracker Barrel French toast, Mom's salad, Radina's and Edesia's coffee, vegetables from my Grandparents' garden, French toast stuffed with ham and swiss cheese, eggs, so much BACON!, Butterfinger ice cream, tortellini, hamburgers with pepperjack and mushrooms, some serious mac and cheese, PIROGIES! with Havarti cheese and horseradish, served with smoked salmon and an egg, fresh salt water taffy, fudge, carne asada, menudo (is that a pig's foot in my soup? yes, it certainly is), tots, barbecue chicken, and lots but not enough SONIC.

Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.

Aside

People have told me about Devotchka.

But I've managed to ignore them for a long time.

Put some on this morning, and it immediately started to lift me out of the funk I found myself drowning in this morning when I woke up.

Between that, the surprisingly cool morning air, and this delicious cup of coffee I've found for myself, I may make it to the end of this day in one piece.

Thanks, Devotchka!

T-Minus 6 Hours

Please whisk me away, from this place that for so long was my Great Escape. Take me back to where I'm from, and then away amongst the trees and the clouds. Let's breathe easier (after the initial strained breath of higher altitudes) and remember how to share and how to be happy. These have been hard weeks and I want to become a better version of myself.

To the mountains, the valleys, the free meals, the big hugs, and the adventure that is to come: CHEERS!

I'm ready.

Good Things Come to Those Who...

You know.

Tuesday morning, I call my boss at Janine's, where I've been working part time since the end of the end at TJL, to ask a quick scheduling question. My boss says she's not sure where I am in my job search (I'd sent out another round of resumes to office jobs that morning), but she thinks I'm doing a really good job and doesn't want to lose me if she can help it, so can we figure out how to make the cafe my real job? Especially since she eventually wants to take some leave to have her baby?

Well, YEAH.

You know what I love? Making coffee. You know what I'm good at? Making coffee and being nice to customers. You know where I'd like to do these things? In a tiny cute shop with cute artwork and homemade soups and a garden in the back (as opposed to corporate chocolate with uniforms and chocolate sludge in my shoes and rules rules rules).

So. I am a happy, employed girl, who will have plenty of time and energy to start working on little theatrical projects and keep playing with her friends. How about that? Sounds like the best way to play grownup.