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!

I hope 2011 brings you all health and happiness, with as much joy and as little sorrow as possible.  ♥ ♥ ♥

As to resolutions, I thought I would keep it simple:

1. Start working out again. When I started working 50+ hours a week, my workout routine was the first thing to go and even before that, I was not as diligent as I could have been.

2. I will finish at least 3 major projects with the house, which may or may not include: replacing the 2nd story siding, digging up and replacing the pipe in the front yard, putting new flooring downstairs, replacing the fence, re-grouting the shower in the master bath, changing out the toilets in the master and half-bath, and having someone come out and look at/fix our dead lawn. With the exception of the siding, none of these projects will be terribly expensive and I have no reason to dawdle.

3. Be a better girlfriend/friend/sister/daughter. I get so wrapped up in me me me, that sometimes the people around me get neglected. Every year I make an oath that I am going to work on my relationships. Sometimes I succeed and other times, not so much. But I won't ever stop trying.

4. Write more and read more. I have no excuse; there are several half-stories and ideas floating around on Notepad and Word. I just need to keep at them, even if it's just for my own pleasure. I have been reading more lately and remembering how much I love it; I have a lovely tower of books, thanks to several sales at Half-Price Books; again, no excuse. Time to get my learn on!


Last night, we went for Indian food and then came home and watched part of the Dr. Who marathon. I hadn't seen the end of Tennant's run, so I got to watch that and a couple of other episodes with him. I am not a huge fan of the series and I've only seen a couple of others play the character, but David Tennant will always be the Doctor for me.

So, I guess it's time for resolutions, eh?

2010 Resolutions
1. Go back to the freaking gym. Also, use new home workout equipment to, you know, work out.
2. Clean this house up. For reals.
3. Write something every day (prepare yourself for more journal entries, y/n?)

That should do for now. Back to everyone's favorite, the never-ending meme!!!

Day 14 → A non-fictional book

I am currently enjoying this book that is part memoir and part instructional manual. I don't think Stephen King will ever be one of my favorite authors, but there is no doubt that he is an incredibly gifted writer. This book rocks.

Nothing new, but the days are starting to blend together, which is kind of nice. I am on vacation, after all. No plans for New Years, except snacks and probably several episodes of Venture Brothers and maybe Big Bang Theory, season 2 ($17 at Target!). I have a bottle of Prosecco and a bottle of Asti. La, la, la...

The meme: whoop, there it is...

Day 13 → A fictional book



I have been thinking of this book a lot lately, even though I haven't read it in years. The language is so beautiful:

"Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces, to call you once by your name."

And my favorite, by Molly Grue:

"And where were you twenty years ago? Ten years ago? Where were you when I was new? When I was one of those innocent young maidens you always come to? How dare you! How dare you come to me now, when I am this!"

Gah! Have been invited to cousin's New Year's Eve party and she lives almost out of town. Do not want to go to party in the sticks. I want to stay home under blankets watching DVDs and Turner Classic Movie channel. If mom insists, I'll go. Otherwise, I am hunkering down here for the night.

Anyhoo, how about a quiz?

You Are a Lone Wolf

You are resilient, and no doubt your resilience has already been tested. You've had some difficult experiences in your life, but you are wise from them. Having had to grow up quickly, you tend to discount the advice of others. You tend to be a loner, having learned that the only person you can depend on is yourself. Your strength: Well developed stability and confidence Your weakness: Suspicion of others Your power color: Eggplant Your power symbol: Spade Your power month: October

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?


 

It's a little late, but what the Hell...some of that stuff is pretty accurate.