You're so Vain, You Probably Think this LJ is About You

It's time for what is becoming a bimonthly check in. Very bad, but what can I say? When did I get so busy? Seriously. I don't have kids or a demanding family or a wide circle of friends. And yet, somehow...my days are filled. Not with important or exciting things. Just...things.

I hope everyone had a good holiday. I was off this past week, so mine rocked. Tomorrow I return to work. Blargh. At least it should be a fairly quiet week (I hope). I don't think I mentioned it, but my boss got a really big promotion and now has only VPs reporting to her. She was nice to me, though, and placed me in a Technology/Project Support team run by her bestie, so I feel pretty safe for the time being. I am still working on that horrible project, but I think they will probably yank me off of it (or so my boss promised, but we'll see).

I am 40 now. It feels weird to say it. No big shindig or trip or even a weekend at Nay-nays, which is my normal way to celebrate. We had to postpone because we were both too busy. And I wanted to take a "dream" trip for this birthday, but since my brother just had his baby and tickets to Alaska were hovering around the two thousand dollar mark (for me and JP), I decided to postpone that as well. Instead, we went to Yuma to see my brother, his wife, and the baby (cutest thing ever, but I'm not a gusher so I will leave it at that). I am actually okay with being older. I think I freaked out a couple of years ago, so I am mostly over it.

We had a nice, quiet Christmas with no drama or problems. I have enjoyed this week off so much that I really want to look into retiring early. I guess I can't avoid a financial planner any longer, although I've been doing my best to not think about annuities and life insurance and IRAs. Yuck.

In concert news, I don't think I mentioned that JP and I went to see The Civil Wars, who were totally awesome and cute and wonderful. They performed in Austin, at Stubb's Barbeque, so I spent a lot of time looking around for people older than us, LOL. And apparently, I am hip as shit because every teenager I know (all three of them), were supremely jealous when I told them about the concert. If you get a chance, check out their music. They rock.

We also went to see Louis CK, also in Austin. He was flipping hilarious! Nice, long set. He got this annoying shithead thrown out of the venue, which was awesome. We almost didn't make the show because I took us to the wrong concert hall. What can I say? Sometimes I am sleepwalking through this life.

In movies, we saw The Hobbit (excellent and wonderful and Richard Armitage is my boyfriend...I saw him first!), Hotel Transylvania (a little late to that party but it was really good - Genndy Tartakovsky is my hero), Pitch Perfect (cute, but overrated IMO), and This is 40 (so fitting). My only beef with that movie is my frustration with the "bankruptcy" plotline - they run small businesses, drive a BMW and a Lexus, live in a big beautiful house and have parties catered...and they have money problems?! You don't say! I wanted to scream at them, "Sell your fucking shit!" Sorry - I have a beef with people living beyond their means and acting like it's so unfair that they get into financial predicaments. I have been driving the same Jeep wrangler for 12 years - suck it up, motherfuckers!

Ahem, anyway. I guess that is enough for now. Have a safe and happy New Year!

Ugh. So tired. Have worked 27 hours in the past two days with two more to go. Working the week of Christmas blows, not only because we are short-handed and ridiculously busy, but our new hardware refuses to work  right so guess who gets to stay and wait for the programmers? I'll give you a hint - it's not my boss. Add to this grocery shopping (violent urge meter: murder), preparing for annual family-filled Christmas party at my parent's house (violent urge meter: maim), and various other undone errands (violent urge meter: mischief/mayhem) and you have one grouchy chica.

I hate to say it, but I am so ready for Christmas to be over!

Okay, that was the crap. Here is the good stuff:

- birthday/anniversary party at my parent's house was good. I got money, a gift card (Old Navy!), and a purse I had picked out from Fossil. JP got me Pride & Prejudice on blu-ray, which rocks ass! All in all, a good day.

- the next day I headed up to Austin to hang with Nay-nay. Her and Danny took me to County Line on the Lake for lots of barbeque and a beautiful view. Later, we went shopping and then to her brother's house where her sister-in-law had made me a cake. Aw! That night, we went to Applebees to watch the Dallas game and break the law (we smuggled a few airline liquor bottles in to make mixed drinks, ghetto-style). Afterwards, we retired to her house, I drank a whole bottle of Rosa Regale, and was mildly sick the next morning. Lovely, lovely weekend.

- JP and I made our reservations to go to San Francisco in February. We are staying at the Hotel Bijou, which is quaint and has a mini-theater that plays a double-feature every night and is apparently right around the corner from the local crack den. Sweet. We got a screaming good deal: two round trip airline tickets and 4 nights at the hotel for $650. Rock on.

Finally, I got off track with my meme, but allow me to er, re-track it

Day 08 → A photo that makes you angry/sad

My plan to sleep in has been thwarted by a barage of text messages from work. A couple of questions, but mainly funny little notes wishing me happy birthday, etc. Aw!

Okay, this is like the third straight day of FOG in San Antonio. It's warm, muggy weather out. Better than the insane amounts of snow others seem to be getting at the moment, though (8 inches? Really?!).

Heh, heh - I am buying Loreena McKennitt's Christmas album right now. ^____^

I still wish I could go see Cook and Weiland in Las Vegas but as long as I can catch it on TV or someone gets some good audio/video of the event, I am satisfied.

OMG - it's nearly Christmas!!!

Also, I am not turning forty quite yet, but this poem is fabulous and still applies. ♥

Turning Forty

At times it's like there is a small planet
inside me. And on this planet,
there are many small wars, yet none
big enough to make a real difference.
The major countries—mind and heart—have
called a truce for now. If this planet had a ruler,
no one remembers him well. All
decisions are made by committee.
Yet there are a few pictures of the old dictator—
how youthful he looked on his big horse,
how bright his eyes.
He was ready to conquer the world.

- Kevin Griffith

So yesterday for JP's birthday we traveled up to Texas State University in San Marcos, like the good little geeks that we are. He wanted to peruse the King of the Hill collection in the Archives and I was along for the ride because, let's face it, what's better than spending the day at the library? For reals.

The author of The Flowers, Dagoberto Gilb, was there, reading some of his stuff and entertaining questions while us moochers helped ourselves to the Mexican pastries that had been thoughtfully provided by the college. ¡Muy delicioso!

Anyhoo, his writing isn't really my style, but I loved that he was a former construction worker and self-described "pocho" (Americanized Chicano) who has finally found some success as an author. And I loved hearing him talk about the patronizing world of publishing, how the editors didn't know his voice and they thought he just had a weak grasp of English until he explained that, no, his characters were supposed to speak like that.

Just interesting and a little sad, but what he said resonated in a lot of ways. Of course, I can't give him too much credit as he is hardly breaking down new barriers; but he is definitely widening the road, so to speak. And the pan de huevo (egg bread, topped with SUGAR) and marranitos (gingerbread cookies shaped like piggies) were fantastic!

After that, JP and I went to eat at Salt Grass, which is right on the river and just beautiful. ^___________^

In other news, Gamestop gets all my love and a fig newton for having a "Buy 2, Get 4 Free" special on their DVDs. For $40, I picked up 3 Voltron boxsets, 2 seasons of South Park, and the first season of ER. wOOt!

The Voltron extras are pleasing me muchly. And that first season of ER will forever remind me of that Biochemistry lab I took on Thursday afternoons because it ALWAYS ran late into the night (FOR ONE MEASLY CREDIT) and we would all sit around moaning that we were missing Friends and ER. Stoopid Biochemistry.

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday. And also *hugs* and a huge cuppa Starbucks to whitereflection for the v-gifts. ^____^ So weird you picked the champagne picture because I have been craving Asti for over a week now!

Birthday was very nice. Nay-nay sent me flowers. JP fixed the antenna on my jeep and bought me the Hello Kitty manicure/pedicure kit (score!). I also got some moola, gift cards for Amazon and Old Navy, Avon stuffs, and a most awesome ipod nano! Wot, wot! I are spoiled. It rocks, basically. ^_~

Everyone kept asking if I was depressed yesterday, but I really wasn't. I just always look like that. LOL...

Turning 35 is supposed to be a milestone I guess, but being the little overachiever that I can sometimes be, I freaked out last year. S'all good now.

Also, I caved and bought the Hana Yori Dango set from Right Stuf. Hee, hee! So bad.

I am totally in a baking mood right now. I want to make a million Christmas cookies, but I know after like two batches, I won't want to make anything again until next year.

Off to go clean the house some more. Dammit.

So, as of last night, I am on vacation. The only thing that would make me happier would be if I could have Christmas week off, but I'll take what I can get. Rock on!

Last night, JP took me to see Lars and the Real Girl, probably one of the best movies I've seen in a long, long time. Go see it. Even if the premise sounds strange, go see it. It's warm and funny and sad and weird and very, very touching. *sniffle*

RightStuf is tempting me sorely with the cheap Hana Yori Dango DVDs. But, cheap as the set is, it's still nearly $100 smackers. *le sigh*

We are going out to eat for my birthday, so I must choose a restaurant that everyone likes...oi.

Damn, the wind is blowing so hard, the house is creaking.

Am positively exhausted. But in a good way. Dropped off my Jeep this morning to get it overhauled. Now, it no longer runs rough and growls like a 6-cylinder should. Vroom!

Also, JP took me to lunch at Benihana's and then to see The Holiday (cute movie BTW...Jude Law is so dreamy, even JP wants to marry him. LOL!!!). Afterwards, we had ice cream! Hurrah!

Sure, it was rainy and humid, traffic was ridiculous EVERYWHERE, and I had some bad moments early in the day re: getting older and my lifestyle choices, etc. But overall, it was a good day. And I can't ask for much more than that.

I have just wrapped three presents and am wiped. Bed time. Work tomorrow. Blegh.

So, Saturday, after a full day's work, I went out with the gang. I loved Swig. I loved the dark panelling and the jazz music and the kick-ass dirty vodka martinis. Unfortunately, the gang hated the pricey drinks and pretentious crowd, so after a while we went to another club. Still, all in all, had a good time and was careful not to drink too much.

Although that seemed to make no difference to my head in the morning. But I glugged some Gatorade and popped some aspirin and was ready to go when JP took me to the early showing of Stranger Than Fiction. I thought it was a terrific movie! I don't know if I am seeing through clear eyes, given that I am an Emma Thompson fan and a Will Farrell freak. But I liked the story and how they went about telling it. Wonderful and highly recommended, especially if you are a bibliophile. *literary squee*

Afterwards, I came home and slept like the dead. Huzzah for loooong afternoon naps!

Later, the whole family (sans Davy-boy, who is sick) turned up for dinner at Outback Steakhouse to celebrate various December birthdays and anniversaries. I got lots of cool gifties and one disgusting cake. Here's a question for the cooks: does substituting olive oil for regular vegetable oil make a cake taste like ass? My sister, bless her and her wannabe-McGyver intentions, did this and I was just wondering. Hee, hee.

Oh, yeah and I got a third compliment on my haiku t-shirt. Almost no one in San Antonio gets this, save the bitter service industry. Ah, well.