Week in Review - School's out for summer.

Hey! Guess what! So much news happened this week!  Unlike every other week where NOTHING EVER HAPPENS EVER.

I am taunting you with information about my past at Kelley's Break Room.  Go on over and check me out at Name That Job! What prior job did I actually have? Oh, you have no idea.  I bet.  Go.  Guess!

I'm organizing the inaugural 1940s Twitter Movie Night on Sunday, June 19, 2011, at 9:00pm EST.  The movie is The Philadelphia Story [thanks to the lovely @Mrsped for the assist in selecting the movie]. We'll all be watching the movie and live tweeting how awesome we think the whole stinking thing is. Use the #1940sMovie hashtag. Join me, please, so I don't feel like I have some sort of social disease.

The girl is officially done with middle school.  HOORAY.  The giant end of the year party is over.  I am almost officially done being PTA president. Oh, sweet relief.  Seriously.  So sweet.  Like a vodka ice pick in my brain sweet.

I am still PMSing like crazy! You may not consider this to be big news, but I assure you, everyone in my path will be talking about this for a LONG TIME to come.  A LONG TIME.

Evidently hockey fans in Vancouver take shit pretty seriously [and also may be PMSing?].  So seriously that the past couple of times that the Canucks went to the Stanley Cup Finals and lost in Game Seven, these bastards rioted in the streets.  Seriously? It's HOCKEY.  Let's keep the rioting where it belongs, on the ice.

This sounds like a particularly bad idea.  The Tennessee Valley Authority wants to revive a half-built nuclear reactor that's been in mothballs for the past 23 years.  Yeah.  Have these scientists seriously never seen a science fiction movie? How is that possible? I would like to direct them to that fine 1950s documentary about giant radioactive ants, THEM!. Who knows what kind of radioactive vermin are going to come shooting out of this thing? 

The Tea Party is trying to bring some younguns into its fold by hosting a summer camp.  Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be eerily reminiscent of Jesus Camp?  Or maybe God Camp?

What the hell? I don't get people.  I mean, I like Joss Stone and think she's a great singer, but can't fathom that someone - someones, I guess - would want to kill her.  I mean, she's pretty harmless so far as celebrities go, right? That's a lot of rage.  Maybe they weren't thrilled with her acting in the The Tudors?  I have no idea.

And finally, the winner of the Freedom contest is:

Flannery said...

To be unconventional, to question authority, to make choices unencumbered...freedom.

You all had amazing answers, truly, and I ended up randomly picking a number.  Because who can make that kind of Sophie's Choice?  Not me. That's for damn sure.

Flannery, please contact me with your info so I can send you . . . a surprise.  I'll take a photo when I put together the package and then share it with you all next week.  No, it's not just because I haven't picked out exactly what the gift is.  Not completely, anyway.  I've got ideas. LOTS of ideas.

What news do you have for me this week?

Oh, NOW I get why people hate lawyers.

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I was one of those happy Americans selected to report for jury duty.

This was my first time getting a summons, and I was kind of excited, except I wasn't going to be in the criminal courts, which kind of put a damper on my thrill ride.  But still! Jury duty! I'd hold the fate of someone in my hands! Do you understand how much a bossy, controlling person would enjoy that?

Ah, if only it was so sweet.

I got to the courthouse at 8:20am.  As an attorney, I am allowed to bring my cell phone to court.  But, because I am a rule follower [except for posted speed signs and evidently, from my driving record, those No Turn On Red signs], and jurors are not allowed to have cell phones, I did NOT bring my cell with me.

I was pretty much the only one who didn't.

I brought my newspaper, a notebook [I'd spend my time writing! In longhand! Like the pioneers!], a bottle of water and not nearly enough Motrin.

I ended up at a table with 3 kind of older men.  Two of whom would not stop talking.  To me.  About cars.  And delivering stuff.  And cars.  And their kids.  And the new diets they're trying.  And cars.  And their jobs.  And cars.  And how many times they've been on jury duty.  And property issues.  And cars.

The third guy?  FEIGNED BEING ASLEEP.

We spent the morning waiting to be called.  There were only 2 cases that needed jurors.  We all had fingers crossed that we'd be out of there by lunch.

Nope.

I went to lunch and sat alone, enjoying the quiet.  And the lack of talking about cars.

Back to the jury room. 

At which point Jury Overseer dismissed half the group, since one of the cases adjourned for the day. 

I was not lucky enough to be in that group.

The two talking guys were, though.  And Fake Sleeper?  Started laughing about how they wouldn't stop talking to me.  I almost punched him.

We sat back and waited to be called down. 

You know what's awesome about being in the courtroom either as an observer or as an attorney?  You get to see everything that happens [it's actually pretty entertaining - I highly recommend going, but go to a criminal trial.  A LOT of stuff goes on there.  Opposing counsel arguing for evidence to be brought in or kept out, families giving each other the evil eye, attorneys gossiping about everyone in the courtroom.].  The juror room?  NOTHING HAPPENS.  You wait and watch the clock and wait some more. 

As noted, I wasn't going to be in the criminal courts.  I figured [rightly] that this would be an insurance issue.  Is there anything more dull?  Maybe a property issue.  Maybe.

We were FINALLY called down to the courtroom for jury selection.  I kept tensing up as the clerk called names and questions were asked of potential jurors.  I kept looking out the window and at the clock, hoping that the jury would be selected soon, before finally giving up and reconciling myself to the fact that I would have spent the entire work day in jury duty - and make $25!  WOOHOO!

At which point my only prayer was that I wouldn't be selected.  During a break, a couple of people and I were discussing whether or not we'd be selected.  The guy said he'd tell them he was going to wear his iPod.  The woman said she worked checking disability claims.  We all hoped we wouldn't be picked.

They were picked. 

One after the other.

And they were kept on the jury.

And I escaped, having done my civic duty by showing up and sitting around.

Learning Stuff About Myself

I'm finally home after a long day out and I'm tired. Still have some work to do, but I'm thrilled to be home.

Which is weird, because growing up, the last place I EVER wanted to be was home.

It took me a while to realize that being at home - MY HOME, that I created - didn't have to suck. In my house, I could create a space that I liked. It's still a work in progress, but it's still mine.

Right now, there are papers covering every available space (including the ottoman and part of the couch) but I'm glad I'm here.

*****

One of the things I did today was start physical therapy for my knee (and feet). My knee tends to buckle - it feels like it's no longer there. So one of the things the PT did was use electrical stimulation on the area around my knee. This completely freaked me out. Which kind of freaked out the people around me. I explained that I suffer from crippling anxiety and was afraid I'd die or something, and they were very nice about it. One woman said she'd be right next to me in the next cube. Another gave me a bell in case I needed her.

That was weird. I very seldom tell people about my anxiety because I feel like such an idiot, but it felt good to let them know and even if they do think I'm a freak? Well, what else is new?

One Down

Finished an exam today. Am procrastinating like CRAZY on my paper. Must start studying for next final.

I'm in need of a haircut, but I kind of want to grow it longer. I need to do something, though, because by the end of the exam, when I had spent over 3 hours running my hands through my hair, I had giant hair. Seriously. I looked like this:



Except my mustache and beard are less noticeable and I'm a bit grayer.

The best part of the exam is that about 2 1/2 hours in, my stomach started growling REALLY REALLY LOUD. Like I'd burned 8,000 calories trying to figure out if a b c or d was the best answer and I needed nutrients RIGHT NOW.

Wednesday Night. 9:00 p.m. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

E is working crazy hours. He's worked the past 2 weekends and will work this weekend, too. And I have finals. And the girl is sick. And we have done no shopping for the holidays or E's birthday. And I haven't even taken the girl's picture to put in the holiday cards that are staring at me (from under a pile of papers on the bench - What? I can feel their judgmental eyes.).

On the plus side, I've finished studying for one exam, and I'm about 1/2 way done with my paper (which is the same 1/2 way done I've been for about the past 3 or 4 days now). Also, my sister will take the girl to get her hair cut this weekend while E is working and I'm having studying group sessions. So that's awesome.

However, have you seen the holiday stamps? Maybe it's just the craptastic post office I went to, but my choices were overtly religious (thanks, though) and these shitty ass knitting stamps. Seriously. Are you fucking kidding me with these? THIS is the best you could do?



(Yes, I know they're backwards. I took them on the webcam. They're still ugly facing forward.)

Who picks these? This is the best option of all the holiday entries? Did NO ONE else enter? How hideous were the other entries, if there were any? Like they'd blind you hideous?

Anyway, I need to actually write something today. I should probably start on that.

Sunday. It's Better Than Nothing.

I went swimming this morning (I love swimming indoors when it's 28 degrees. God bless civilization.) and it was fun, except for the very young kid (I'd say 5/6 - 10 years old) swim meet and the SHRIEKING girls in the shower who would NOT SHUT THE FUCK UP. Gah. Stupid kids.

While I was out, I stopped at the market and bought myself some things I like to eat. This sounds innocuous, yes? Not really. I tend not to purchase things I enjoy. Or ask for them. Very sad, but true. So, after E spoke firmly last night reminding me of this defect in my personality ("Why the fuck won't you just tell me what you want and then have it?"), I thought, you know what? WHY DON'T I? (I know the reasons I don't. Or didn't.) So I've decided to get stuff I like. It was VERY HARD, though. I found myself justifying the purchase of a wedge of parmesan ($5) because I'm going to make lasagna for E's birthday and not just use it on my salads (mmmm . . . shaved parmesan). Still, I didn't buy anything specifically for E or the girl. That's progress. And next time I go to Target? I'm buying baked Doritos.

I just finished a 5 hour study session with a friend. I like studying with other people, because then I'm not always to blame for taking breaks!

Back to the grind.

Just Real Quick

I spent the morning shopping - I haven't been yet this holiday season and I cannot believe how dead the mall was. Macy's was having a giant hullabaloo sale and my sister, my mom, my daughter and I were the only people in some sections of the store. That does not bode well.

On the plus side, I got a cute dress, a jacket, a top, a pair of jeans and 3 shirts for the girl for $109. I know. I was surprised, too. I love sales.

And now, my feet hurt, I have 20 pages to read, and I have to leave for the girl's choir concert in 45 minutes.

Have a good evening!

What I've Been Listening To

iPod Shuffle Top Ten

Dirty Mack - Ice Cube
Working Class Hero - Green Day
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Fidelio Act1 /9: Duett: Jetzt Alter Jetza has Eile! - Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor - Beethoven
Christmas is Coming - John Denver and the Muppets
String Serenade E Major op. 22 (4. Larghetto) - Dvorak
Flesh for Fantasy - Billy Idol
Round & Around - Alana Davis
Do What You Wanna: Mr. Scruff's Soul Party Mix - Ramsey Lewis

Because today I actually did some work!

(I highly recommend the Ramsey Lewis tune - it's off of Verve Remix #2. I love Verve Remix).

Today I . . .

* Did 6 loads of laundry
* Ran the dishwasher
* Emptied the dishwasher
* Read everything on the internet
* Watched 2 episodes of Dharma and Greg (Why? I have no idea.)
* Rode the exercise bike
* Showered
* Made dinner
* Talked to my kid
* DID NOT A LICK OF STUDYING

Wow. I just can't seem to make myself care until my back is against the wall. That would be tomorrow.

How's YOUR Day Going?

I just talked to a friend who was stressing because she is only studying 6 or 7 hours a day for exams.

I told her to stop calling me during "What Not To Wear. "

Update-a-reeno!

So I've been meh about posting, mostly because I'm embarrassed that I've told people that I am such a goober about wanting people to like me.

And then I realized, who cares if people think I'm a goober? Isn't that what the internet is for?

And, most importantly, my lovely internet friends DO NOT think I'm a goober. Which is a delight.

***********************

So I'll catch you up with my Thanksgiving:

** My cousin (former student of the year at her college prep school and current pre-med student), my sister (current office worker), my daughter (10 year old brainiac) and I (well, words fail me) spent a VERY large amount of time practicing gang symbols. The Blood's gang sign, to be exact. In my parents' whitey-white suburban neighborhood. As we were taking a break from playing Apples to Apples (Hilarious game!) and pausing between foraging for food. Yeah. Nerds.

[But how cool is it that you can spell the word BLOOD with your fingers? Huh? HOW COOL?]

** I accidentally bought the adult version (and by adult, I don't mean porno) of Apples to Apples for my daughter and her friends to play. Except that a couple of the cards were the words SEXUAL and SENSUAL. So I guess I do mean porno adult. Poor kid was mortified and wanted to know if she should just throw away the cards or first rip up the cards and then throw them away.

** I also accidentally ended up eating with the giant turkey serving fork after picking up a piece of turkey, putting it on my plate, and then starting to cut the turkey and take a nice bite. It took me a few bites before E realized something was wrong. Yeah, not only did I not notice I was eating with a giant silver serving piece, but when I finally stopped laughing about it, I almost made my cousin choke because I absentmindedly started using it AGAIN. Mmmmm . . . giant turkey fork.

** I saw another cousin I hadn't seen in ages. That was particularly fun because we both just found out that we are major hypochondriacs! Well, not really hypochondriacs. Mostly insane with medical overtones.

** E and I have decided that the best Simpson's episode EVER is the one where they go to Flander's beach house. Seriously. Possibly best t.v. show episode ever.

Dammit.

So Bloglines is down, which leaves me in quite a pickle, because I don't remember any urls to read any blogs.

DAMN. I may have to actually do some work. That is just grossly unfair.

A Picture . . .

My desk is a mess. Seriously. A big honking mess.

I know I need to take care of it, but things just keep happening (you know, like life) that make me not want to deal.

Instead, I'll do a photo essay:

This is the center of my desk. Please note the giant pile of receipts next to the printer. And my perfume on top of the printer. Because I often feel the need to spritz myself with Coco Mademoiselle while working.
The giant blue cup is supposed to be filled with water to keep me hydrated, but I often drink it down to the dregs and then forget to refill it, so I sip the remaining molecules in an attempt to quench my thirst.




Next is the right side of my desk. It' got piles of papers, a bluebook, and my sad, broken backed chair that I use as a bookshelf. See those books? I've not looked in most of them! Also take a look at the Mom & Me picture frame from G that still, 2 years later, has no photo.




Finally, the left side of my desk. For some reason, this photo won't sit right, so just tilt your head and look at the fabulousness that is piles of paper! and pens and pencils! and TWO broken drawers. You'll note the smaller drawer is hiding underneath the center of the desk in shame. And I know the umbrella is hideously floral blue. I don't even know where it came from.



Do you see what I have to work with?

I Have To Say It Was A Good Day

Today was good. Nothing spectacular happened, it was just a day where my professors were all funny and cracking jokes (law jokes, the laughter of the damned) and my friends were amusing and E and G were fun. A nice day. I like those days.

Now I'm going to go and watch the Sopranos and read some delightful homework and then go to bed and have sweet, sweet dreams. Or at least hope I don't wake up more than once!

******

You know what's funny?

Having your kid try Tom's of Maine Toothpaste ("It's all natural! And hardly minty!") when all she's had before is Big Name Fruity Sparkle Toothpaste.

"BLECH! GET THIS OUT OF MY MOUTH! BLECH!"

Man, that's especially hilarious when she's on crutches.

You'll Never Guess What!

We have a new furnace!

There is heat in our home!

(It is also dark as fuck at 6:00pm - stupid ass daylight savings time.)

I have a bunch of windows open because of that new appliance smell. Ugh. I hate that. Also new car smell. Make me gag. Anyway, I set the thermostat really low so it won't kick on and make stinkies. So. Good job getting the furnace. Once it stops smelling I'll be happy to use it.

Today was invigorating, if by invigorating you mean it was a day where we didn't get 12 inches of snow threatened. So, yay! I'm not ready for winter. If I tolerated the heat better, we'd totally be living in southern climes.

Tomorrow is election day, so don't forget to vote. I love voting. LOVE IT. Exercising my civic duty makes me feel like I'm making a difference. (Please do not burst my bubble by explaining things to me. I'm enjoying living in pretend-land.) G is off so my dad will be over to watch her. Meaning I think we can go vote before work/school. I hope.

I wish everyone had election day off. Then we could have Election Parties and go vote and wear straw boaters and play banjos and have a parade!

Well, a gal can dream, right?

NaWhatNow?

I forgot that it's November, and so on the internets, it's NaNo something or other.

I did NaNoWriMo a few years ago and actually finished a novel. I haven't sold it yet, but there is hope.

I tried to do NaNoBloMo a year or two ago, but couldn't manage it.

I like the idea of doing something every day besides just eating and breathing, but I'm not sure what.

I'd also like to be a nicer person, so we can see how I aim high and don't necessarily fulfill my plans. But I'm trying, so I think that's good.

**********

We were talking about Litter Critters today. God. Funniest SNL skit ever.
"I made a whistle!"

**********

I can't believe there are only 2 1/2 weeks until Thanksgiving. WTF? How did that happen?

**********

Having one car in the suburbs when both people commute to work is generally o.k. when things go according to plan. Particularly when one of us (me) carpools. But when there is a hitch, then it becomes frustrating beyond endurance. And when you add into the mix that I'm still having panic attacks about driving on the freeway and driving on surface streets into downtown . . . well, then it's just a monstrous pain in the ass. All of it.

There's that positive attitude!

It's Time to Get Wild and Loose

I don't know where the time has gone. It seems like I plan things out with the understanding that there are enough hours in the day to do them all, and then suddenly I'll realize I forgot to factor things in like drive time or waiting for other people to call you back or going to the bathroom (which can really add up, when you have a wee bladder). The day just flies! I do get disheartened when I try to factor those things in, because really? 1 1/2 hours to grocery shop? Should that take, like 25 minutes max?

Anyway, I've got megatons of homework and the house is filthy and we're expecting people tomorrow and I just don't have the energy or inclination to do anything about any of it. So in about 2 hours I'll spazz and try to do it all at once and then yell at E and it'll be great.

OR

I could choose to live my life in a new and better fashion. I could choose to say, you know what? It doesn't matter that there is a layer of cat hair on the ottoman. It also doesn't matter that the bathroom is . . . bathroomy and not sparkly shiny.

I'm trying to get to that point but it is hard.

************

In other news - we're getting a furnace on Monday! God willing and the river don't rise! (That's my new saying. It's awesome, isn't it?) I CAN'T WAIT!

It hasn't been too cold, and our house is insanely well insulated, so the temperature hasn't gone below 64 in the house (which is where I usually have it at night, anyway) and I try to use the oven every day which really kicks up the heat, but I'm so TIRED of people (meaning my parents) acting like I'm exposing the Girl to hypothermia. For the love of god. We're in MI, not the arctic!

**********

We're evidently having the 2nd Annual UM-OSU party at our house this year. E's been collecting returnables for the past year, so we're going to get our grub on. Join us, if you're in the area!

We Interrupt Our Sunday Night Study Session . . .

We're all feeling a bit drained here. I went out today (swimming and running some errands) for the first time since Thursday. I don't like being cooped up too long. It makes me go all Shinning (I don't want to get sued!).

I haven't watched any scary movies this year. I LOVE scary movies - but they have to be good scary, not craptacular slasher movies. That's not scary to me, that's just gross.

What's your favorite Halloween movie? I think The Exorcist is a good one, but I really like M. Night Shamalan's movies. Psychologically creepy and a good story to boot.

o.k. back to work. Blech.

Hey There!

So. Been a bit busy lately.

School stuff (exam, writing, studying).

House stuff (the whole furnace deal).

And the latest - G blew out her knee while skating the other day. DISGUSTING.

She's much better, once they popped the kneecap back into place (for which she was thankfully knocked unconscious and I was quite thankfully out of the ER room) but she's on crutches and in a brace and has to see an orthopedist on Monday and . . . I'm VERY VERY tired and realizing the world is a much better place since I'm not in one of the caring professions.

O.k., I'm off to do laundry and do homework and pray for sweet relief (because of COURSE E has to work today. Of course).

Update-ididdidly-oodly

* I hope everyone is watching Reaper on Tuesday nights at 9pm because it is hilarious and I don't want them to cancel it.

* It's amazing how a well made garment actually looks really nice and holds up well. I'm done buying cheap ass clothes.

* I ate a bunch of sausage and now my stomach hurts. Not totally surprising, but upsetting nonetheless.

* I still haven't had G's photos developed from August. I have 2 disposable cameras sitting on my desk, as well as 130 digital photos on my computer. LAME.

* I have not put out one single Halloween decoration and it's my favorite holiday. That makes me sad. But evidently sadness is not incentive to fix things.

* I have a Wonder Woman lunch box on my desk, and damn, she's got a very skimpy outfit on.

* I'll have to take a picture of my desk and "shelf" (which is actually a broken chair) so you can see how I work. Like a crazy person, that's how.

* I need to go eat some fruit or something reasonably healthy. That sausage is not doing me any favors.