the Muffin has moved in

I am in a losing battle with the Cosmic Muffin who has set up camp in my life. Like unpacked the summer clothes and decorated.

Today, I spent 5 hours seeing 3 mechanics (and the DMV), spending $228 on a rear oxygen sensor in order to pass the mandatory smog test so I can get my car registered in California. Well, this project has been extended, since the check engine light is still on. The last mechanic told me to drive the car 100 miles to see if the check engine light clears itself. Unfortunately, I never drive anywhere except the grocery store. Also, if this oxygen sensor isn't the problem, then I get to drop even more money on a new catalytic converter, even though there is still honeycomb catalyst still there. But I got a free espresso truffle latte at Starbucks, and I got a few pages of Judith Butler read. I drove home feeling largely frustrated because I really got nothing accomplished today. And then my day got worse.

Drove up to the 4th floor of the parking garage where I always park, because no one else ever parks up there. Parked in my diva spot, got out of the car, keys in hand to unlock my bike. Which wasn't there. Every time I move my car, I ride my bike (it's on the opposite side of the complex). I take the bike on the elevator and lock it to itself up on the 4th floor, out of the way. I can put my groceries in my basket and ride home, instead of schlepping bags for the 10 minute walk. Now it's missing.

I called the police, afraid, but hoping the bike was just impounded. Instead, they send over an officer to take a report. The officer was really impressed, because I could give detailed information, including providing a receipt with serial number, printing a photo, and giving a narrow window of disappearing. Then he told me they probably wouldn't ever find the bike. ARGH!!!

As a consolation prize, I walked into IV to get a cheesesteak. And there is a matte periwinkle bike! With black basket and leather handles!! I call the police; the "owner" comes out, insisting it's his. There was drama. Squad car. Only to find out that there are 2 matte periwinkle bikes out there. Part of what was so appealing about this bike was how unique it looked. Now I feel like a prat for calling the cops, accusing this perfectly innocent exchange student. I offered to buy the guy a pizza or something, but he was really nice about it, and just wanted to get home.

This is the 3rd bike I've had stolen from me. My first bike was stolen in Williamsburg. Another bike was stolen off my front porch at Yellow House. The red bike I bought to replace the first one was hit by a car, which bent the front fork irreparably. And let's not forget the stolen car adventure.

It sucks because I loved that bike, and I don't like walking places, because it's inefficient. I liked walking in Chicago as leisure not transit, but that was back when my iPod still worked (The battery doesn't hold a charge). I don't have the $150 for a new iPod OR a new bike.

Just another charming event in a list of bad luck I've been having. Last month, I tried getting a new phone, but that turned into drama because it was a lemon. Friday, I got slapped with a parking ticket in L.A. because I punched in the wrong parking space number to the kiosk. Someone got free parking, and I got a $48 ticket.

And all my chocolate has fat bloom, which makes it crumbly and yucky. But I can't just curl up and hide, because I still have Judith Butler to read, presentations to assemble, grants and book reviews to write.

Giant pinata

If you haven't seen it, this is what I want for my birthday party.

No, no, not the cruise (although I wouldn't turn it down). I want this giant pinata.

Can you imagine what it would kind of things you could whack it with? Being surrounded by hundreds of other people who have all turned into 5 year olds at a block party? Or better - standing under the shower of candy?

(PS. It was filmed in Philadelphia at Broad/Washington)

Now back to my regularly scheduled Schechner.

More grumpiness

Because I forgot:

1. My fun new GPS doesn't work in Santa Barbara.
2. In an attempt to set up a savings account to sock way the tax-money the school doesn't take out of my check, the bank is hassling me, but only during normal business hours on the east coast.
3. O'Blenness sends me mail like it was going out of style, because apparently the last 2 times I paid them just wasn't enough. see also: Insurance blows.
4. The WB just took the season of the show I was watching offline. Thanks.

I'd just eat some chocolate and go to bed, but SuperK and his Costco card have not gotten my chocolate, oh, and I should probably start reading one of the 20+ books I get to read this quarter. ARGH!

PS. California may be sunny, but warm is a joke. And sunny just isn't as much fun when your freakin sunglasses broke.

Blast from the past

A bit out of the blue, I got an email from an old friend. A shot in the dark to see if we might be in the same place at the same time long enough for a beverage. He and I worked for Virginia Shakespeare Festival in 2001, and I haven't seen him in so many years.

It was a blast to see an old friend. We talked about our respective PhD programs and sisters and such. Very holiday both in the chance to see old friends and the out-of-context-ness.


After coffee, he headed to a conference, and I made the mistake of trying to run errands at the mall. I park on the top level anyways, but clearly underestimated the insanity, to say nothing of the alien chi-chi of Tysons.

And while I still had the car (it sucks having to share), I got to see K, my mentor and local snark-partner. It's always good to catch up, especially if it is over coffee or cobbler!

on the tube: The Tudors 2.2

My princess existence

For the past few days, I have been kickin' it princess style. I wake up at 2PM (I blame my vampire habits and my internal California clock). I loaf around the apartment until I get bored with that, and then I call NonSmokin' Fairy to pick my butt up. You see, I have no car here in Athens. And since I am squatting at Lil Sis' apartment (which she keeps toasty), I am up on a hill. It's too damn cold to walk far, especially if I have my knight in shining Prelude to schlep me around. My only objection to my princess existence is the ice. It is very un-princess-like to skid and crack your butt on the icy pavement. I have managed to stay vertical thus far.

But it's awesome! I am casually reading random books, not thinking too much about UCSB crap, just living in my happy hedonistic moment. Last night, I had pizza with a friend, and then we headed over to Rardon for Get Smart and baked goods (including super gooey-yummy caramel brownies that I helped with). The movie was appropriately silly and enhanced by the mild sugar-shock we all were in.

I guess I should think about putting on some non-jammers and be social. Oh, and find the earflap I KNOW I packed.

on Jango: Hot Chip - "I Don't Know the Half..."

Skippers is the new Gator

I have done more drinking, laughing, and geeky frivolity in the past couple of days than I have in weeks. (Like since the last time I was in Athens.)

NonSmokin' Fairy and I were pretty much chillin' and hating on the airlines when Riff recommended shooting some pool at Skippers. He and I got there first, chatted with the bartender and quickly became the only people in the bar. They have over a dozen beers on tap and a bartender who was willing to keep the bar open just for us theatre kids. AND he wants to re-institute Martini Night, since Gator is no longer. (There was much sadness all around, because that was our bar). Basically his logic is to support the kids who support the bar. Woot!


There was beer. And crappy pool. To the point that we had to invent a new game - Blue Ball (the 8 ball seemed magnetically attracted to the pockets). And that went downhill very fast as well all let our inner 12-year olds run loose. And between shots, we tried to gross each other out with horror stories about bugs. I will NEVER live in Texas, but I'm glad A. did, because his impression of a scorpion on his chest was priceless.

Last night, NonSmokin' Fairy and I had some lunch at BW3, only to return there later with some of the other designers for beverages. Closed that place out and rolled down to Tony's, and eventually Goodfellas. I was bummin' because O'Betty's is closed for break. But so much fun, drinking cranberry-vodkas (unlike the cranberry-rubbing alcohol I seemed to have ordered at Chocolate in SBA), gossipping about people and shows and general bullshit. Ah.

Now I am curled up under a voluminous comforter on Lil Sis' couch, watching her DVDs, eating a pumpkin spice Krispy Kreme. I should do some yoga or pushups or such, but it would kinda kil the hedonistic buzz.

Bad Blogger

Not that this page is ever really thrill a minute, but I feel bad for becoming such a slacker. I keep starting entries, but I never have the time or attention span to finish them. But my plan is that once I am done with this quarter, I can play a bit of catch-up.

In the meantime, check out Lolcats - which is entirely responsible for any shred of sanity I have left. (to get the full effect, you should play ABBA in the background)

Girl culture

In the past week, I have seen some really odd, if entertaining girl behavior. But this is what you get when you visit an all-women's college and I.V. any weekend-night.

The CORD conference last week was hosted by Hollins University, which is a lovely, if tiny space in the hills of Roanoke. A great size for the conference, as it was scenic, but manageable, without the sterility of a hotel. (The building with the dance studio looks like it is wearing a hat.) And I had nearly forgotten that at least at the undergraduate level, it is all-women.

Nothing like walking out of the Parlour with my coffee at 8.30AM to see a girl in the middle of the quad, dressed like GRAPES, dancing and handing out brownies. Later that day, there was a girl singing "Barbie Girl" loudly and acapella on the steps of Cocke Hall. Like all schools, Hollins has its own set of unique traditions, which were only explained to me after the fact. Apparently, this is the annual Ring Night, where the senior girls give class rings to junior girls, but only after a dose of hazing.


Last night, on my way to the Co-op, I saw the ultimate sight. It was a girl with her hair in loose, but nonetheless "done" curls, a sparkly strapless dress, and (mercifully) matching flipflops, pushing a keg on a dolly down the bike lane. I tried to take a picture, but I was so busy laughing my ass off and trying not to fall off my bike or hit her, that I was not able. I mean, I admire her total blase ownership of the absurdity and willingness to move the keg herself instead of getting some meathead to do it, but still funny. It made the gaggle of girls in short black dresses and silver pumps just pale in comparison.

I'm not sure which was more disturbing/funny, but I sure don't want Jeannette to punch me in the uterus for not attending the Hollins game.

(apparently Odes and Top 10 Lists are big at Hollins)

on Hold: BN.com customer service

Dentists can be fun too

While I will never get excited about going to the dentist, or dropping a C-note for each cavity, the UCSB dentists I have had lately have definitely made the visits more entertaining.

The GSHIP insurance may require a steep co-pay for prescriptions, but it does include dental. For the first time since I graduated from college, I went to the dentist. Because of the permanent retainer I have, the cleaning was so nice. Also nice - talking to a normal person. She managed to squeeze me in even after I ended up 10 minutes late. She was originally from Ohio, friendly but still productive, and she was just as happy to find another person from Ohio.

Sadly, she found 4 cavities. Not pleased, but they were all in an early state, and mostly in really obvious places. And if in the 7 years since the last visit, that's the extent of damage, I can deal.

On Wednesday, I went into knock out 3 of them. And the banter between the dentist and hygienist was so entertaining, I barely noticed the whole cavity thing. Dentist is two weeks out on her bachelorette party, which will be at this awesome Pan-Asian restaurant up in SF that apparently involves drag queens. The conversation drifted to other bachelorette parties they had planned or attended. With all the stripper horror stories. Because which is worse - the male stripper who looks like an older version of Richard Simmons or who looks like the brother of the bride? Try not laughing with that much equipment in your face. Because it was the day after election, there was much Obama excitement.

They are really funny, but how do you find a way to socialize with your dentists?

Modeling

For reasons I haven't really figured out, I find myself modeling on more than one occasion. When I was an undergrad, I almost got burned by it, when I discovered that a picture of me was in the art gallery attached to the theatre and directly behind the AIA table where all the classicists were congregating.

Tonight, I did a pinch-hit modelling for a friend of mine from many lives ago, who is now at Brooks for photography. A product shot for headphones. He knew exactly what he was looking for, which made part of it really easy. Not so easy - supporting my head off the side of a table for any length of time. And I realised that I am either a really good model or a really bad one. I am great at being posed. (tilt down, arm here, etc.) Not so good at improvising poses on my own. Fortunately the other model was, which just gave me more time to play Guitar Hero.

I think it is all part of my weird relationship with theatre. I am not an actress, but a director, an organizer/manager. Improv makes me even more awkward. But I love dancing and competing and performance. Maybe it's the safety of the choreography or being able to cover my ass with the presence of at least one other person.

My weird habits

• I am addicted to information. I go into a mini-panic whenever I don't have my phone on me, or perish the thought, I don't have internet. it's part of why i got a laptop - because I constantly have stupid little questions that will irk me until i get an answer. having portable search is way better. for example, I can't watch a movie on TV without checking imdb at least once. so instead of jumping up and missing something, I would just bring the laptop in. Learned that trick at Yellow House.
• Along with this addiction to information, I love learning new things. I can easily spend the better part of an hour clicking through links that lead me to MPIs and the awesomeness of St. Vitus (patron saint of dance because of of the apraxia not the other way around, also performers and oversleepers and Prague).
• So in that sense, it's great to be in grad school. on the other, it makes it so hard to commit to a topic or have the attention span to focus on it. that's the real reason it takes me so damn long to do anything - because I am constantly interrupted with random queries.
• Also - I hate the look people give me when I try to explain my interest in weird diseases. I hate apologizing for being interested in something entirely unrelated to theatre-dance, and something most of the people I talk to know nothing about. grr.
  

Massage

The whole idea of "getting a massage" sounds so indulgent. Especially for a grad student at the mercy of financial aid. But I consider it part of a larger health treatment/stress maintenance. The past few days have been pretty rough, so it was nice to take some time to do something completely frivolous. Well, not completely, since I found a school that offers massages by their students at a discount.

And of course, one massage is never enough. But it did make me much more body aware and integrated. What a difference human contact can make. It was interesting to feel/find different points that hold or release tension. The technique of the masseuse was very lengthening. It felt like a mile between my ears and my sacrum. And now I feel all moisturized, even slick. (Makes sitting cross-legged really entertaining). If only I could find a way to incorporate massage into a more regular routine.

Catching up on my shows

Thursday nights have become the time for me to do a bit of a brain-dump. Last night, I accidentally slept through the Teatro Chicana event, and I skipped ballroom practice. Why learn basic swing when I could sit around and clear out the TiVo with SuperK? (I know I should work on my fundamentals and technique, but the impulse to advance or try teaching can be too much of a temptation.)

I love our DVR. I am never around for the first airings, and I prefer watching my shows at odd hours as a stretch break from my reading. And Thursday nights in particular are a great chance to catch up and clean out the DVR.

House: What an interesting episode! Crazy diagnosis and we learn about House and Wilson's relationship. This show never fails to grab my interest. Maybe the delving into the personal is just trendy, since the new SVU was also really good. Watching Hugh Laurie or Christopher Meloni work can give me goosebumps. Their eye-candy-ness doesn't hurt either.

Grey's Anatomy: I feel dirty for liking this show in the first place, but it does work as a great mind-dump. It's great to see less and less of Cry-Face Meredith. And in case I didn't love George enough, the scene with him bodily snatching the kid out of the gruesome surgery and connecting, was precious and brilliant. 2nd fave - him getting all bad-ass on the whiny girls.

Project Runway: Actually, we watched this live, but I re-watched it last night. Kenley continues to drive me crazy, and her collection was chaotic. I will say that I covet her mandarin collar beige silk dress with flowers. But when Leann's collection came along, I was just blown away. Sublime! Cohesive, flawlessly executed and styled, obviously Leann. Probably the best final runway show I've seen. If she didn't win, I would have given up Project Runway altogether. Korto's collection was interesting and innovative, but I didn't love some of the looks and th imperfect color palatte.

Also on the DVR - When Weather Changes History - the Chicago Fire. Yeah history+science+Chicago!

But now that it's Friday, I need to run errands and start my African Theater reading.

Ringtone

After weeks of mulling, I finally changed my ringtone. This was a long time coming. Partially because I have the same ringtone for ages. I generally choose the weirdest ringtone on my phone. Unfortunately, so does my mom. Nothing like the eerie moment in the car when a cell rings and both of us dive for our phones. Ouch.

So I had been shopping around for a new ringtone. The options on T-Mobile were much more extensive than I had expected. It ended up me on the couch playing snippets for SuperK to find the perfect ringtone - catchy, interesting, possible conversation-starter, but not too annoying, brain-sticky or spring-y or so much fun I would never answer the phone because I was listening to it. The decision - "Galvanize" by Chemical Brothers. Tres cool. Now I just need people to call me!

on Jango: "Can You Feel It" - Apples in Stereo

Muffin attack

The sheer quantity of crap thrown at me on Friday went beyond humorous to actually scary. Cosmic Muffin didn't just get bored - it got vindictive.

Fridays = no classes. For grad students this is supposed to be a day for "research." In reality, it's the day you run all your errands. For me, this also includes making all those phone calls that have to be made during "normal business hours" which are inevitably on East Coast time. Unfortunately, this also involves burning cell minutes on hold. And apparently getting the run-around without resolution. So now I have to make yet another round of phone calls this Friday.

Running errands in Santa Barbara is also a challenge. Partially because I am still learning my way around town. Partially because I still underestimate traffic. Deposited my fellowship in the only branch of my bank in the area, which is on the opposite side of town. Then got hose down my car because it was infested with ants. I'm not sure how or why, since the windows were up and there wasn't any food/drink. And I'm not talking about a couple of stray ants. I'm talking multiple trails. I blame the construction at my apartment, which has made my car so dirty I can barely see out the windows. Forgot my bag in the car at Trader Joe's, and I couldn't find my TJ lo mein to replace what SuperK accidentally ate. Had to go to 4 different stores to get stuff I should I have just been able to get at Staples. Didn't make it to the post office. Went to the parking lot to meet the mail truck which left early. (It's only in the lot from 2-4 M-F to pick up oversized mail) UGH!

Suddenly it was nearly 4. I was super grumpy, and I was expected to attend the undergrad convocation for the department. But first, I had to pick up my course packets in IV. Biked down there to find out that they messed up my special order, thinking I just wanted the regular comb-bound packets. When I special-ordered them to be 3-hole punched because they are so damn huge, I don't want to carry 2.5inches of photocopies around. So they had to recopy both 700-page packets for me. (PS that's like $200 worth of course packets). Then I got a call from Mail Services insisting that the truck never left the lot, but that I could pick up my package directly from Mail Services before 5. By the time I explained that I wouldn't have missed a big white truck, I had about 12 minutes to bust ass down Los Carneros to get my book (and alot of attitude). Really? Why would I make this up? By the time I picked up my book (not the expensive textbook I have been waiting for and actually need this week), and they finished properly copying my packets (without so much as an apology), I had missed convocation. (Apparently they tried to introduce me, but I wasn't there. Awkward much?)

Being a couple flavors of fed up, I just decided to go to the Habit to get a cheeseburger and milkshake, because at the rate the Cosmic Muffin was going, my apartment would probably have caught on fire if I tried making food. But the road was blocked, involving a long detour. Got home, curled up and gave up. Only to be deafened by the sound of undergrads shrieking in the halls.

Yup, that's right. San Clemente is NOT grad housing as advertised, but rather overflow housing for undergrads where some grad students got suckered into living. Undergrads are loud, and the echoey architecture only exacerbates this. Closing the windows only cuts the shrill, but I still hear every drunk 19year old word clearly. And because this place is so disorganized, there is no one to complain to.

The Cosmic Muffin is relentless. It was really hard not only because of the individual piles of crap, but the fact that I got NOTHING accomplished, and I wasted my one day a week to do it. And I am still dealing with it (there is some hall-bonding game outside that involves screaming right now). I have an appointment with Financial Aid on Thursday, and will be hunting down a landline for all the bullshit phone calls I get to make. Again.

on iTunes: "High Rise" - Ladytron

Well-matched

Based on our instantaneous connection, I am convinced that SuperK and I must have known each other in a past life or something. Which is how I knew that we could live together. And our well-matched-ness continues to manifest in new ways.

We are slowly settling into life and the apartment. I am borrowing his bike until I find one of my own. We both hated the pedal cages, so I just busted out my tools and removed them. SuperK has much better taste than I, so he wanted an entertainment center for the TV/DVR/DVD/Wii, etc. And he saw that the back of the book case currently offered up might come off. I figured out how. I also mentioned how we could add more shelves. He has the taste, I have the tools.

The living room and kitchen look civilized, if without hanging art. (But SuperK did bring an awesome, mesmerizing clock). I have unpacked about a third of my books and need to put together more shelves. Instead, I think I will eat dinner and go out, lest I be really lame.

on the tube: House marathon

Squatting

Now that I have moved out of my apartment in Athens, I am alternating between couchsurfing and squatting. With Lil Sis out of town, I have her entire apartment to myself. Got most of the stuff tucked away, but I still need to go through it. By Saturday, I was pretty much just dumping crap into boxes and bins and driving it over. So I need to sort out all of my remaining Athens stuff. Make sure I return all my library books. All in anticipation of my Big Blowout in September. I have already warned my family that when I get back to NoVA, I am dumping all of my earthly belongings in one place (the basement) and I am just going to take a day to sort/cull/pack. This will be my third out-of-state move in 2 years, so all of my stuff has become jumbled. Distance and space has dictated what goes and what stays. And now that distance is at a maximum and space is at a minimum, it is really time to prioritize.

Squatting in a house with no TV kinda blows. Like I could drive over to Smokin' Fairy's place and chill on my couch, but that would be a little weird for his roommate. Besides, sometimes I just want the ambient noise or leisure of lounging on the couch in my jammies flipping channels. All the more time to catch up on my reading list, I suppose.

And here's my other rant. With caveats of course. I move alot. Which is funny, because a) my parents still live in the house they brought me home from the hospital and b) I don't particularly like moving. Besides the whole college/summer thing, when I graduated, I lived in 3 different places the summer in Williamsburg. Then Cheese Fiend and I backpacked and Eurailed for 9 weeks. Parents' house for 3 months. Massachusetts for 3 months. Parents for 3 months. Surrogate parents for 2 months. Random house in Falls Church for 3 months. That was just 2002. In 2003, I moved to Charlottesville. Then I moved IN Charlottesville 3 times (1st apartment, then better apartment, then house to accommodate 3rd roommate). Then Chicago, which involved living out of my car for a couple of weeks. Athens for a year. Now I am still in Athens, squatting in a different apartment for 2 weeks before more backpacking. Then couchsurfing different family members, driving cross country and living in CA for what will hopefully be a while.

OK. So in all the times that I have moved, only 2 people ever helped me move out. Sure, roommates moved their stuff out, but I was always the last one out and the one who moved all my own boxes. Not that I can't do it, just that it sucks. So this time, I had some veritable strangers move 2 pieces of furniture. But all the rest was me and the Civic.

But the exceptions are kind of surprising. One was Mom#2. She helped Cheese Fiend and me move (packing the kitchen, which I HATE), and she helped me move my own crap (PFM was busy with all of Cheese Fiend's books). The other was Kallisti. Who cut out of work early, took the L to my stop, walked the mile from the stop to my house to help pack my car in his nice work clothes in the August heat.

The other part of this is how many times I have schlepped the crap of others.

This isn't to say that people haven't helped me. Mom drove a van of my crap to Athens, and has taken boxes of my crap back to NoVA as a prelude to my moving. She will also be driving me and said crap cross-country. And then there are the siblings who unloaded it, the college roommates who put up with it, and the other roommates who accommodated it.

I think I need to stop moving so much. Or at least stop moving in freakin' August.

All by Myself

In the course of 2 days, my playmates have abruptly abandoned me. I am pissed. Individually, it's a bummer. Collectively, I have to find a way to keep myself busy for the next 3 weeks, 2 of which I am not even working! And because I promised to help watch Smokin' Fairy's pets, I can't even leave Athens. Oy!

This also means I have to move by myself, which generally sucks. But it also means that I get my choice of places to squat, including an entire apartment, to which I now have Lil Sis' keys. Now I have to rely on my own motivation to go to the gym. And just when I discover a bitchin' bar, I don't have anyone to go with (without looking like some dorky alcoholic).

But I tend to get more work done without people to play with. Maybe with all this damn free time, I will be able to kill more of my reading list, eat less crap, and head to the gym more. And maybe pigs will fly.

on the tube: Cubs v Brewers. 5-1 Cubs @ top of 7th

Couch shuffle

Although not nearly as fun as the Court Street Shuffle (think pub crawl - there are like 32 bars along the strip), the Couch shuffle was pretty entertaining yesterday.

My lease is nearly up, and I am starting to pack and ideally give stuff away. The coffee maker is going to the Green Room, Lil Sis gets the dumpster dive TV, and Smokin' Fairy gets the red couch, which I am very sad to part with. If I could think of a practical way of getting it to CA, it would come with, because it is possibly the most wonderful couch ever. Second only to Comfy Couch in the costume shop at William and Mary, which was a 50s relic of pink velvet. Tucked under the weird ladybug-like blanket, it was like sleeping on a cloud under the window. As long as you didn't think too hard about anyone else who slept on it.

But since Smokin' Fairy is headed to Edinburgh Fringe on the fly, I pressed him into service early. To accommodate schedules, we had to shuffle couches during my lunch yesterday. A bit tricky, since Smokin' Fairy was running amok getting ready and Lil Sis and her toy SUV were sacked out after staying up till 6AM. Red Couch, though a sleeper, moves pretty well. It's heavy and cumbersome, but we were people on a mission without too many corners to negotiate. Got it into Lil Sis' car with the butt hanging out. So I sat on the couch in the car, clinging to the front seat, and Smokin' Fairy drove behind us. In order to make some room for Red Couch and too give me something to sit on for the next few days, we had to move his black IKEA FnF, which is now living in my apt. It's nice and lightweight (gotta love IKEA), and now vacuumed and Febreezed. But of course, there is still dog-hair. It looks kinda funny in my living room, since it is considerably smaller than red couch. But still pretty butt-friendly. So there were 2 girls, 2 boys, 2 couches, and one very helpful dog trying to negotiate space.

When I finally move out of my apartment this weekend, Smokin' Fairy's living room is going to turn into Festival du Couch (my red one, his black IKEA one, plus the white dog couch). Which, per Lil Sis' suggestion, will involve beer.

Now to finish packing the crap I can't give away.

on Pandora: "Fake Tales of San Francisco" - Arctic Monkeys

Lunchtime yoga

In theory = brilliant. In reality = doh

Instead of the usual lunch break, which consists of surfing, standing at the refrigerator only to end up licking peanut butter off a spoon, and the occasional picking up of crap strewn the night before, I tried something different today. I went to my yogadownload.com podcast for the 20minute hip-opener class.

I love these podcasts. Most of them involve slides of the different poses, since they can have different names depending on the instructor, style or location. Also, I can do it in my underwear. At my house at lunch. Or 3AM, which was always fun during the school year. And when I inevitably topple over, there is no one there to laugh at me. Nothing says zen like "Oh crap" and then crashing into the spool or something.

The actual lesson was ok. It was only audio, so it took me a second to remember what eagle pose was. But damn did I work up a sweat. Probably because the AC needs a new filter, and I refuse to crank it only during lunch. And apparently my hips needed opening more than usual, because I am extra chewy, even a bit wobbly. So my butt has to compensate, which made the walk back to work kinda funny. I'm sure the old guy who calls me Smiley got a chuckle.

Also, because of all that deep breathing I am bit too relaxed. Fortunately, I have refills on the SITD. But I need to sit a bit while my butt/hips recover.

on Pandora: "Just can't get enough" - Depeche Mode