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

I need to post more often...I miss everyone!!!! I'm sad LJ is not the busy, thriving community it once was, but I don't think I will leave it. I try to get on Facebook but I just can't like it the way I like LJ. And don't get me started on Twitter! My verbosity will not be bound by 140 characters! LOL...

Work has been going well. Although we are ridiculously busy and I feel like my head is going to explode, my boss recognized me in a great way - she arranged for me to get tickets and passes to the company suite for the Spurs vs. Lakers basketball game last night. It was a great! Of course, my boss' new boss was supposed to be hosting, so JP and I dressed up and I was mentally preparing myself to be in business mode...but then he didn't show up while we were there! So, we ate fajitas and blondies, had a couple of sodas, and went to watch the game from our plaza-level seats. And yay, we won! So much fun.

Today, we are packing up the car and driving to Mustang Island (North Padre) for a couple of days in the sun! See y'all on the flip side...

That's right - I've been reading Milton. That's good times. I have also recently (re)read Beowulf, most of Shakespeare's sonnets, the first few pages of Spenser's The Faerie Queen (but I dropped that like a bad habit, yo), and a goodly chunk of poetry by John Donne (he will forever remind me of Wizard Howl). At this rate, I will have skimmed a respectable portion of the classics by the end of summer.

Nerd alert!!! ^___________^

In other news, Roberta's wedding is this weekend and there were no good gifts left on her Target wedding registry. Unless I am planning to drop $80 for a Shabby Chic quilt. Which I am not. Oh, well. That's why God created gift cards.

I have ordered many pairs of shoes this summer and returned them all because of bad fits. I finally got a pair that fit, but they are a half size too big and frankly, I don't have the energy to return them. I look forward to flopping around in them and eventually tripping and falling flat on my face. 

In a good mood today, in spite of work and whatnot. Huzzah!

I just watched Xanadu for the first time in a long time and you will all be relieved to know that it still ROCKS. Seriously, I totally had good taste as a kid when I watched this movie like 30 times in a row. I mean, they have a freaking 68-year-old Gene Kelly tap dancing AND roller skating; the soundtrack is completely Olivia Newton John and ELO; they quote Coleridge; there is a Don Bluth animation sequence; ROLLER DISCO MUSICAL. What more can I say? It took me back to a time when all I wanted was to be a rollerskating queen like Olivia Newton John, with her strangely sexy apron dresses and hair ribbons. *le sigh*

Free app of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets is love...

Feeling better today. I worked from home (score!), made some delicious curry (I actually cook other things, I just never mention it), and watched Glee and So You Think You Can Dance. ^_____________^

I'm not sure I am liking the show's plot, but I am loving Glee's songs! Makes me happy...

I have to work tomorrow for half a day and again on Sunday for half a day. Also, I am going to have to make time this weekend to

- call Nay-nay
- visit the 'rents
- color my hair
- get a mani/pedi (which I hate doing so early, but I simply will not have time in the days leading up to my trip)
- gird my loins for what will be three horrible days at work where I will be guilt-tripped within an inch of my life before finally leaving for NYC!

Merry Christmas, everyone! I don't know about ya'll, but I am totally exhausted! I am so glad I have today and tomorrow to recuperate before returning to work on Saturday (ugh).

Visiting Nay-nay in Austin was a blast! On Sunday night, we went to the Alamo Drafthouse downtown, to their Xmas Pop Sing-a-long. They showed old Christmas music videos and TV specials on the screen with the words underneath and you sing along (duh) to such greats as the Muppets, The Grinch, and Last Christmas (Wham!). They gave us props (Santa hats, bubbles, candles) and they even had a snow machine! For the last song, we all stood and put our arms around each other and sang Happy Christmas (War is Over) and I won't lie, I got all teary. It was a lovely moment.

But the best part was afterwards. The Drafthouse host invited us all to go "rogue caroling," where we got song books and wandered around 6th Street, surrounding unsuspecting victims and singing Classics like Jingle Bell Rock and Dick in a Box. It was HILARIOUS! We even sang Baby, It's Cold Outside, with the girls on one side of the street and the guys (all 5 of them) on the other side. People laughed, honked, took pictures of us, and looked embarrassed as Hell when we followed them. It was great fun.

We spent the following day shopping at the Keep Austin Bizarre Bazaar (lots of cool and weird stuff) and the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar (beautiful art and jewelry out of our price range). We drove around town, ate and drank too much, and just had the best time. I was in low spirits and being silly and mindless with her was just what I needed.

Yesterday I got up early and went to my parent's house to help my sister clean in preparation for the party. Then, I made my special sangria (I bought wine at the outlet mall!) and all the dips as well. I then came home, wrapped gifts, did a quick load of laundry, got ready, and hauled ass back to the parent's house to finish preparations.

It was a very nice party. JP spent HOURS settting up his Rokenbock toys for the kids to play with (my aunt has 12 grandkids between the ages of 2-18) and it was a hit! You couldn't keep the kids away. As one said, "It's like a real live video game!" *facepalm*

But we had fun and after my aunt's brood left, we opened presents. I got gift certificates to Amazon, Borders, and Office Max (yay, time for a new computer chair), and JP gave me a lovely stained glass window to go over the front door transom. The best gift of the night was for my sister and her husband, from JP (of course).

As some of you may know, my sister is something of a fanatic when it comes to rescuing stray animals. She has a big heart and expends a lot of money, time, and effort into rescuing dogs and cats. Her husband doesn't care for it, but he lets her do as she likes. So, for their gift, JP bought a movie poster from the new film Hotel for Dogs, took some funny pictures of Mike and Paula, pasted their heads on the two characters' bodies, and framed it. It was very well-done and had the entire family holwing in laughter. Good stuff.

The most beautiful gift I received was from ixiepixie , who made me to COOLEST Totoro knit hat and sent us lots and lots of pocky. Thank you, Julie! You are the best!

I will be the first to admit that, to me, it hasn't really felt like Christmas. Usually, I get all excited and watch and rewatch my favorite Christmas movies, obsessively listen to Christmas music, bake goodies, and just radiate happiness. But this year, while not quite the Grinch, I still have not felt full of the holiday spirit. But in the end, everything worked out well. I was able to spend some time with family and friends and in that, my heart found some contentment.

So, today and tomorrow I will be enjoying the calmness and cleaning my bedroom, as it looks like the Ghost of Christmas present exploded in here...

Have a great day, everyone!

wonderelf  is gone and I am le sad.

But we had a great weekend and did lots of stuff, so that was good. It was so great to see her and spend time catching up with one another. We explored caverns (and mined for precious gems), saw Avenue Q (righteous and we met the adorable guy who played Princeton/Rod), visited the tackiest museum ever (creepy), ate lots of nummy food (urp), and lied to a realtor (hurrah for duplicity and touring homes we can't afford)! We also learned about quilting from some colonial-type ladies at the Alamo, wandered the Riverwalk, and watched about 10 hours of The Venture Brothers.

All in all, time well spent.

Now I am gonna go pout in front of the TV.

My eyes are barely open, for serious.

So, the three minute update? Here goes:

Family: the Kid is in town for a visit, so that means late nights and lots of beer and laughter. Family in and out of the house and just wonderfulness in general. Tonight, he and I went to dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant. We had the BEST time, sitting at the sushi bar and cracking up with  the sushi chef, who had aspirations of being a comedian. Mmm, so happy that I feel full. Just brimming with the warmth of it.

Work: I clocked 53 hours last week and we just started testing. Like less than ten percent of our volume. We go live tomorrow and I will be in the office at 4 a.m. to make sure everything kicks off okay. Hold me. I mean it.

JP has been a cleaning maniac lately. He shames me. The house smells lovely and we can walk through the rooms without tripping over stuffs. The empty sink alone is reason to rejoice. Thank you, honey.

Okay, enough with the sap. I have eaten something like 12 pieces of sushi and washed them down with two large bottles of Kirin Ichiban. I need sleep.