03/27/05, 8:38am, EST.
...
Vacation rundown:
Days spent in the sun: 2.
Rainy days: 4.
Days spent at malls: 4.
Bags from purchases: 5.
Purses acquired: 2.
College visits: 1.
Movies watched at home: 2.
Movies seen at a cinema: 1.
Dollars I've had to spend: $0.
So far, a pretty successful trip. Yet to come: 2 days at Disney World (hopping the parks),
college visit to University of Central Florida, and many out-of-town visitors. My aunt
Bonnie and cousin Andy come in today at 11am, my sister Fayanne tonight at 6pm. Fayanne's
friend Becca will be here tomorrow at 1pm. Tomorrow will also be our Easter dinner. Turkey,
potatoes, apple pie...the usual.
And now, it's sunny again, so I shall work on my lovely tan.
Current Music: Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
03/22/05, 10:39pm, EST.
...
First full day of vacation is over. Not too shabby. I got in late
last night, so we didn't do much other than get to bed. Today was
pretty full though. This morning, we sat out in the sun...where I
got thoroughly burned on my face, shoulders and chest. Granted, I
was using accelerator, so maybe I was asking for it. After our hour
in the toasty Florida rays, my mom, aunt and I went shopping. We hit
a mall and my mom bought be some clothes from Old Navy, and I got
a purse from Macy's. We walked up to my mom's house to see how it
was progressing. There was a guy putting in the doors and moulding,
and another doing something to underneath of the roof overhang. I
don't know what that is called. We went to dinner and came home in
time to watch American Idol (I voted for Jessica) and some other
shows. Now we're ready for bed.
I shall attempt to sleep with my monsterous sunburn, and a cat who
will pat you lightly with her paw if you ignore her for too long.
She's precious, but she woke me up at 5am to pet her this morning.
I'd lock her out of my room, but then she paws at the door, and it's
such a sad sound. I've never met a cat I didn't like...so I guess
she can stay. ;-)
Current Music: The busted motor of my aunt's cat, Olivia.
03/21/05, 9:51am.
Pictures of your Mama, taken by your Papa, a long time ago...
I'm giving myself the next 9 minutes to relax before I kick my butt in
gear. My sister Emily is getting off work at 2 to come up here around
2:45, so that she can take me to the airport. Thus, I will have four
and a half hours (starting at 10am) to pack, shower/wash my hair/shave,
do some major house cleaning, and make space on the TiVo for my 2 weeks
of regularly scheduled programming. There are 22 episodes of Gilmore
Girls coming up, and I want them all! I may have to sacrifice my daily
dose of 70's medical humor and miss out on a bunch of M*A*S*H. Oh well,
it's for the greater good. Oh, and of course first-run shows must be
recorded so I don't miss a minute of the suspense of Alias, Survivor or
American Idol. Sadly, those are really the only current shows I watch.
I live my life in reruns of That 70's Show and Charmed. I watch first-run,
CSI, but without continuous plotlines, it doesn't leave me hanging from
week to week. And I mostly watch the re-runs Spike TV plays all the time.
Well, not only have I used up my 9-minute break, but I caught myself
monologue-ing...about TV, no less. Gail needs a life...STAT! (TiVo just finished
recording ER from 1995...)
Current Music: Picture Book - The Kinks (from the HP commercial)
03/20/05, 1:58am.
She's been wishing on the stars that shine so bright...
Tonight I saw some people that I haven't seen in a while. Probably since
The beginning of January...so two and a half months. And I won't see them
again for another 3 months. What a crazy way to live, eh? It was really
good to see them. I didn't realize how much I miss people until they are
near. I guess that's a testiment to "out of side, out of mind." Of course,
there's always "absence makes the heart grow fonder" and "you don't know
what you have until it's gone" though both of those seem more focused on
losing something, rather than regaining. I miss Chazz's hair.
And Patty's silence. And Candace's never-matching socks. And Jason's witty
reparté. Crazy.
I guess this officially begins my month of not driving. I kinda broke that
coming home, but only by an hour and a half. Though I must admit, my unnatural
paranoia and belief that bad things will happen at the worst possible time...I
had my cruise control set the entire way home. I went 68mph on the tollway,
where most people go between 75mph and 80mph. I made full and complete stops,
much to the aggrevation of a few people stuck following me. I guess you can't
be too safe. Though I think this may have been meant to be. My car has exactly
21000 miles on the odometer. And it will stay that way until April 20th. But
that is just too perfect a number. If only she had a full tank of gas, but alas
there is only 1/4 tank. Hopefully it won't freeze, or something. I'm still trying
to find an upside to the license suspension. The only thing I can think of is
being able to weasel my way out of obligations and responsibilities. Which is
more nagging on my conscience than causing any sort of joy.
I just have to learn how to float...like the jellyfish. Just float.
Current Music: Rinse - Vanessa Carlton
03/18/05, 5:00pm.
...
So not fucking cool. My mom got a letter today (since all of our mail is
being forwarded to Florida) that my license is being suspended. For one
month. Fuckassshitdamnhell and all those other words you can't say on TV
or radio. I have learned via online research that getting 2 tickets within
a period of 24 months while under 21 results in a suspension. To make matters
worse, most Google searches came up with DUI information and criminal lawyers.
They think I'm a criminal. The state of Illinois thinks I'm a criminal. Yet,
on their "Don't Jeopardize Your Driving Privileges" website, I have not
done any of the things they outline! DUI - no. Failure to appear - no. Parking
suspensions - no. Failure to pay fines - no. Emissions testing - no. Tollway -
no. I'm not a bad person. Self-pitying, yes...bad, no.
If my mother is reading correctly, it will only be suspended for one month.
Which isn't awful. It starts March 20th and ends
April 20th. Well, from the 21st until April 6th I'm in Florida, so
that's not a terribly huge deal, it's not like I'll have a car anyway.
However, April 7th through the 20th will suck like none other. As if I don't
feel anxiety when stuck in a house all day as it is, I will have no way
to leave. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, my sister relies on my to pick
up my niece from school, because she works two jobs, starting at 8am and
working until 10pm. I have weekly doctor's appointments that I will
be unable to attend. A month without therapy will not be pretty.
And apparently for this last ticket, the accident that I try to forget
ever happened, I figured I'd be able to go to traffic school and get it
taken off my record. It wasn't my fault but the officer said that he had
to issue a "failure to avoid collision" ticket. $75 later and nothing about
traffic school. I'm kicking for not going a year and a half ago for my
rolling stop ticket, but I believe I was going to college. Whoops...education
or optional traffic school? Tough choice. Besides, I'm too damn proud and
stubborn to admit to myself that I got either of those tickets. I go to the
post office, get a damn money order and hope the problem disappears before
I ever have to think of it again. I live in denial, just let me be happy
while I'm there.
So I'm angry. And ashamed and disappointed and crying. Because I don't deal
well with criticism. Especially in the form of bad grades or traffic tickets.
Now I get to scavange for a ride to the airport on Monday at 3:30pm. My dad,
who has unfortunately been off work all week, finally has a job to go to, and
it's in Naperville until 3:30pm. Fucktards. My mom suggested my sister Emily
take off work early, or if she can't, my sister Chris. The major wrench in
the system? Whoever takes me has to pick me up from my sister's house in Antioch,
because I can't drive myself anywhere after Sunday. Fuckshitdamnhell. To make
matters even better, my mom doesn't want to tell my dad that my license has
been suspended...she wants Emily to take over all of my Zoe driving-related
duties and to have him not be the wiser. Though it would probably be easier
for my dad to do it. And when he calls to ask me and Zoe
to meet him for dinner...I get to lie about being busy? Yeah, that's going
to work really well. NOT.
Excuse me while I display my anxiety over this ordeal by vomitting...
Current Music: The anger in my head.
03/17/05, 9:21pm.
If you're out on your own...
Ever find yourself sitting on the toilet and thinking "hey, I haven't peed since
9:30 this morning"? Perhaps this is an overshare, but that means that my killer
bladder has lasted for 12 hours. This indicates a few things. 1) I'm probably
really dehydrated, 2) This probably really isn't healthy, and 3) ... that's
about it.
Oy, the anxiety I'm feeling!
Today I went on a tiny shopping spree. Old Navy for some new, cheap clothing.
It's Spring-type clothes, and nicer shirts...collared. Rumor has it, the French
actually dress nicely. So tank-tops and cut-offs are not so appropriate. Besides,
I always look better a little dressed up. 'Cause I'm hot like that.
Current Music: Where You Lead - Carole King
03/16/05, 8:30pm.
It's like thunder, lightning. The way you love me is frightening...
"Male Enhancement" drug commercials really creep my out. They are generally
very stupid and carry warnings like "men with erections lasting longer than 4 hours,
though rare, should seek medical attention immediately." Can you even
imagine? His partner would be like "will you just COME already???"
In other, less vulgar, news...I have to move out of the apartment. This
will be about the 8 millionth time I've had to pack my shit up. This time,
I have to decide what I'll need for the summer to keep here at my sister's,
and what can go down to the house in Florida, and subsequently, to school.
*sigh* Suckitude. And I have to do it by Monday, when I leave for Florida,
because before I get back to Illinois, the apartment has to be empty...or
something. Whatever.
Well, I'm going to go watch TV and do nothing. Because that's what life
is for.
Current Music: Knock on Wood - Lindsey (the chick who got kicked off of
American Idol tonight)
03/14/05, 1:13pm.
Like they have any right at all to criticize...
Best Buy has some Disney DVDs on sale. I got Bug's Life for
$13 and Mary Poppins for $15. Schweet. And tomorrow, The
Incredibles comes out! I'll definitely be buying it. ;-)
Energy...so low. Oy. No motivation.
I love Family Guy:
Lois: Oh good, I don't have to cook.
Peter: No, go ahead and cook anyway and we'll throw it out. I don't
want you getting rusty.
Current Music: Breathe (2am) - Anna Nalick
03/11/05, 10:45pm.
I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does...
More snow. It's sucking big time. I'm done with winter...it's too
dreary and dark. Not good for morale.
Not really any other news...so that's that. Kids and cats are afoot,
my sister should be home from work soon. C'est ça.
Current Music: How Soon is Now - Charmed Theme
03/10/05, 10:21am.
She knows what she wants to do and I know I'm fakin' it...
Back from Florida. The average temperature there was 67°...and
here, it's snowing. Needless to say, I'd rather be back there. But I
will be in two weeks.
To clarify my recent jet-setting, I left Sunday for three days. We
went to Magic Kingdom and did some shopping, but the purpose for my
visit was to bring my sister home, since she hates flying. In two
weeks, I'm going down for a "me" vacation...that's the time that I'll
really do all the fun Florida stuff. I'll be visiting University of
Tampa...my future school, fingers crossed. I've already paid $325 in
deposits securing a place at the school and housing. Then there's
some Disney to visit and beaches to lounge and tan. 11 days...
Until then, I have to suck up the dreary weather and the snow.
Something tells me this won't be pleasant. On the upside, Zoe comes
home for her Spring Break on Friday and Becca bought me a ticket to
see Hello Dolly with her on Saturday night. So plans are good. Since
the only one who seemed to miss me while I was in Florida was my
sister's cat, JC.
Current Music: Fakin' It - Simon and Garfunkel
03/05/05, 10:43pm.
In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground is where I spend
most of my day...
Well, I'm looking into getting a different apartment for Paris. This one
is actually a bit nicer. It has a washer, dryer and dishwasher...which
is uber spiffy. But it's farther out of the center of the city, in
Montmartre. The metro stop it's near goes right to the Ile de la cité
and the Jardin de Luxembourg, where Allie will be in class, so that's
kinda cool.
And another good thing is that I got my passport yesterday! I love it!
It's wunderbar!!! Me = geekily happy. I can't wait to use it.
That's about it for now. Tomorrow I head to Florida for a few days,
but I'm back on Wednesday. Just going down so I can fly back with my
sister Emily...who hates to fly. It'll be nice to get some sun. These
dreary days have really been getting to me. Yuck. Well, I'm going to
finish packing, and then get sleep. I'm so damn tired.
Current Music: Theme to the Fresh Prince.
03/04/05, 9:41am.
...
Fuuuuuuuucccckkkk.
I think I just lost my beautiful apartment in Paris. Yesterday at this time
when I sent them the request, it was fully available for the dates I wanted.
Now, it is entirely booked until July 2nd.
Dammit. Why doesn't ANYTHING go right????
Current Mood: Pissed off beyond belief.
03/03/05, 10:58am.
She says that she wants me, she'll never leave me....
First post of the new month. Woo hoo. And I will now apologize for
the gratuitous photo post that is to follow.
First, I just thought the FoxTrot was funny today. Good ol' Survivor...
And who wouldn't want to wake up next to this? Lucky bitches.
[EDIT: Pictures taken out...because, well. It's no longer my pretty
apartment.]
Isn't it pretty? It's only 800E per month...which really makes me wish that
the US economy wasn't in the shithole, so that the strength of the dollar
could be...oh, I don't know...good? Once agency fees are tacked in, it will
be about $1400 US. NOT FUCKING FAIR!!!! Remember back during the Clinton
era when the dollar was strong and the euro was weak? Remember a time when
the 800E apartment would have been $650 US? ARG!
Alright, I'm done with being angry and posting pictures...so fear not.
Current Music: She - Brian McKnight (on Ellen)
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