-i wish i had hair like chelsea clinton in 1996 :)
We saw Hero last night - it was baaaaad. don't go see it.
Read the Brethren. it was good, and i anticipated all of eric's supreme court comments
alright, major hip pain, enough sitting.
more random thoughts...
-i NEED to finish night and day. stina, if i dont, will you tell me what happened so i can fake it? ;)
-i just watched a chef on iron chef use 2.2 POUNDS of garlic for a dish.
-i miss eric - living alone has, within 36 hours, lost its charm :)
-i have another project that might get started - give me some time :)
-Andrea is back blogging - sending positive thoughts her way :)
-This is FUNNY.
-Jenny and Brenda may be in denial about jenny's leaving - so am i, except im not talking about it on here. i am not happy about this, and especially not happy because my couch rejected jenny. especially after all the trouble i went through into getting my Klippan degree-granting status!
They were on the couch, so I almost sat on them...
I picked up my own copy of Katharine Graham's Personal History so I can return Emily's copy, and The Selling of the President 1968 by Joe McGinniss - how can ANYone resist a book with Nixon's face on a Cigarette pack on the cover? Also - you may notice a theme in political, specifically Election history -- I am trying to track down as many books as I can on the elections of the recent past - I'll figure out why later :). But the 1972 election seems especially pertinent this year :).
Well, the house of kate is the house of kate once more. Now, I can watch what I want (the current bravo marathon is the latest) without worrying that Eric will be bored. Yes, WM starts Monday, so Eric has moved back to his own apartment. So last night, we had faux-Bollywood night (Monsoon Wedding and Bend it like Beckham:) and Jess and I drove back to Baltimore.
Today, I got up and decided I wanted to do something. So I finally took EVERYONE's advice and hit the book thing on Charles Street. After a parking mishap (I swear im dyslexic, and so forget what block its on) I went into this basement - it was a used bookstore on crack. There were SO many books, everywhere!! The guy there was encouraging people to be greedy, walking around, pointing out neat books, telling stories (apparently they'll get rejected christmas presents, the record-holder is one that came in the morning after - also, the milk book was there - "who would ever pay money for this, but its a pretty neat book for free!"). So what did I get?
The Making of the President 1968 and The Making of the President 1972 by Theodore H. White. I read as many of Greg's books about the 1972 election that I could, and this series of books was mentioned. I'm still looking for The Making of the President 1960, but I'm excited about these two.
Arthur Krock's In the Nation: 1932-1966 caught my eye. As did American Parties in Decline by William J. Crotty and Gary C. Jacobson, Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse and The Virgin of Benneton by Kathleen Norris. I had been staring at Woodward and Scott Armstrong's The Brethren on Greg's shelf for a while, so I picked it up for myself.
Finally, supplementing my collection of "Books that will someday be in my classroom" I picked up The Death of a President by William Manchester, Shirer's Berlin Diaries and In the Court of Public Opinion by Alger Hiss.
So all in all, a productive day. What to do tomorrow?
Alright, off to wash some dishes, do some odds and ends - and enjoy my apartment on my own :)
good morning blog readers!
quite a morning that starts at 3:30 PM :).
The party last night was a success! for those of you who worried - how could kate have a party in her little apartment? you would be shocked - that little apartment has a lot more space when you clean the whole thing up. so we had 11 people and a dog -- and we were o-fer in people remembering to bring their own chairs :). it didn't matter - the party ended with a balcony takeover, and with brenda and i taking over the balcony to close out the last bottle of wine.
a bit of a headache this morning, but nothing bad.
also, just to help publicsize, brenda has a hysterical blog -- read about friday's breakup -- its worth it.
I must have missed this story in May, but Washingtonienne's story is enough to make anyone nervous about blogging. i actually don't blog at work -- i am actually too busy to actually do it. i also don't think i would end up running the risk of getting fired for my blog - unless i was posting names of students, nothing i talk about is actually sensitive stuff.
However, I do agree with jessica that she is probably getting picked on more than most, as the 'bona fide slut to flog.' i personally don't understand it -- sex in my generation is VERY prevalent. now, not everyone is having sex all the time and talking about it, but i dont see whats wrong with those who do. if a man is giving this girl money to have sex-fine. so what? what harm does that do you? you raise your family and yourself by your own rules -- i think i can get across to my kids that treating sex as a recreational activity is an ok thing to do when you're an adult, just so long as you take certain physical and emotional protections. our culture glorifies sexual behavior at the same time it vilifies it - and as much as that schitzophrenia makes sense to me as a cafeteria catholic - society cannot complain when the society is changed! i'd love to buy her book and i hope she's a happier person.
also, i wonder if i'll start reading wonkette as it seems like a blog i would enjoy. she would be the first blogger i read on a regular basis who i don't know personally.
also, in other news, eric is visiting massachusetts because the grandmother is in town. i do admire his ability to drink until 2 am and still get in the road at 8:30 this morning. that is also how ive been able to pull off lounging in bed all day (alas, the book thing plan fell to the wayside) without feeling the slightest drop of guilt.
however, that does mean i have to take out the trash myself ;).
i guess that is a downside to living by myself.
just a busy week guys, nothing exciting.
tonight is my party! cleaning to ensue!
tomorrow, im likely hitting the book thing -- anyone else like to go?
i don't have a whole lot to say, nothing introspective and inspiring, except for that work has been kicking my ass this week.
finally, leshawn, greg, and i are going to read the idiot.
thats all ive got :)
aside from jenny who seems to be updating today.
Gwen, did you see the cubs also have todd walker?
Why do the giants have a relief pitcher who has a peace sign growing on his face?
Why do I still have a cold, its summer?
Why is aaron not emailing us, to say he's interviewing in DC tomorrow? maybe its next monday.
I hope I feel better enough for tomorrow's workday.
Why did we have two minicrises today at work? I interrupted candice's date, and then talked to keith on vikadin, and then he called me for emergency #2.
Why does eric always read over my shoulder? Why does it bother me when im blogging?
....still unsuccessful on the sleep front, but, free digital cable is paying off! The Quiet american is on Starz right now :).
i think it will be a lovely movie to snooze to.
The weather on the East Coast has been beautiful - low humidity, temps in the 70s, dipping down at night. Which has of course gotten me sick, which has woken me up at 6am.
Last night, I cooked up a storm, and Eric and I watched bits of the Mr. Iron Chef marathon on the Food Network, before Jessa, Luke and Greg came over. So we had "what's in the cabinet" curry and aloo puija, and roadsidestand corn. So now, if anyone wants a free lunch today, come on up, as there are pounds of leftovers.
Also, this is an interesting article on traffic ticket quotas in Falls Church. I have long not been a fan of quotas for police enforcement -- speed enforcement in certain places in Maryland, and Pennsylvania steps up at the end of the month. However, that article focuses on Falls Church's crazy measures - 4 per shift. I understand that you want police to perform, but when you provide an incentive to issue citations for stupid traffic violations, instead of actual traffic hazards like DUI, I think we have a problem.
This article gives me an idea, and when i have the energy, i can work on it. This article, while frustrating, gave me hope to face the morning.
Finally, Slots in DC were a controversial topic and finally were thrown off the ballot for irregularities. That article discusses the dedication of the board of elections in getting to the bottom, and their willingness to push the limit to fit into the deadlines. I remember getting stopped in the subway by a slots circulator (I now wish i asked him if he was a district resident) I commented that while I couldn't sign the petition, that he should watch out, as soliciting in the subway violates various rules of the subway -- he then started going off about his first amendment rights (sounding a little off for a DC resident, so i think he was one of the out of town guys). Sure. I'm sure he has those rights, and I'm sure those rights are curtailed when you purchase a ticket to ride on a government subway. I'm not educated on that matter, so don't pick that to argue with, but I just went back to my book. There was one god thing that came out of the slots debacle that didn't happen with Williams' signature petition two years ago -- The Feds ceded the conflicting claims, and the bifurcated jurisdiction completely to the Corporation Counsel (the DC local DA, basically) which allowed them to take quick action on slots. The CC has normal jurisdiction over misdemeanors, some minor felonies, and traffic violations, whereas the Federal courts have jurisdiction over major felonies and above - and forgeries. So good job, DC government for getting what you needed and getting it done.
Now, just too bad they can't do it over road closures.
By the way, I love the Metro section of the post.
Also, Leshon and I extended our reading to ch. 27, and talked about starting the idiot as we made our breakfast date for Friday. I've never (and nor can i spell) dostovetsky, and it is another step in my "read more literature" plan.
Alright, its later, but I'm still not tired. I'm going back to the couch :).
happy saturday everyone!!!
Well, I did it. I bankrupted myself, but I have a new car. I will be paying my parents back until I win the lottery, but I bought an off-lease (i think, it might have just been lightly used) 2000 Nissan Altima with 43000 miles on it. The purple people eater (stupid neons) finally went the way of bad-used-cars-bought-from-car-bazar (no lie, thats how they spelled it) should go.
So how to extend the life of this car, so it lasts longer than the eternity I'm paying it off? Tips would be great! (So would friends who know stuff about cars - I've got one, and working on some more ;)
Now, however, I am broke. I was broke before, but now I'm carinsurance-and-car-payment broke as well. So I'm taking up a collection. By which I mean, I'm making a wishlist, and will love it if someone got me something off it, but I'm not actually asking because I know all my friends are broke and besides, I would feel silly actually asking. So its actually a checklist for myself.
-The Club or something like it. I don't live in the hood, but I do live in the city. Besides, every other car in my lot that isn't slop has one - I don't like those odds :). DONE!! Thank you WalMart.
-Car Repair for Dummies - I've read a couple reviews, and this book seems like it would be good for me, because at some point in my life, I'd love to be able to take a car apart and put it together, but we have a loooooong way to go before that point.
-The Haynes Guide to Altimas, 1993-2001 - To assist with this car - in tandem with the above guide, i think it will be more useful than my Haynes guide to Neons, which told me very little since i didnt understand much :). (BTW, if anyone owns a neon, I'll sell you mine for half the cost you can buy it in a store ;). Free trade if anyone had a 1993-2001 Altima guide and are downgrading to a Neon ;).
-a $5 coupon to Jiffy Lube -- to make do while I'm learning to do it myself (besides, winter comes, and I have no garage or driveway). DONE! Jiffy Lube already sent both me and eric one! Yay Fred Road Jiffy Lube!
-Tips on extending the life of a clutch - don't ask me why, I just am scared now of the clutch going out (ironic, since that didnt kill the car, but replacing the timing belt is something that I can do). (SEE! I'm not just asking for money or gifts ;)
-Any car-like odds and ends - I'm going to make a collection of extra quarts of oil, and other repair things to have around the house.
-Any donations ;).
Alright, I'm off to drool over my car.
What else do I need? I just want this car to last and not cost me millions of dollars.
I had dreams about catalogues for black preachers last night. Catalogues that apparently listed our SAT classes without any hint of location.
And then my backup 6:40 alarm went off and I cant go back to sleep. So I'm posting to tire myself out.
I really do throw myself into my job. How many other people would be reading a message board about the new SAT before 7am? or checking their work emails before then, either.
My old boss STILL hasn't announced that i've switched jobs, even though he promised to do it multiple days ago.
i say touchdown because it will be short :).
i missed stina tonight because I ended up coming home and cooking dinner right away, so by the time i called her back, she was ignoring her phone. but i made my own pasta sauce, which was exciting, and bread and pasta-from-a-box. when i grow up, ill have my own pasta maker.
the daily show's interview tonight was wonderful - no, thats not why you had the rapid response team there...BAM!...jon stewart giving a smackdown. check it out, you westcoast people, dont miss it :).
finally, work wasn't frustrating today, despite making 60 phone calls :).
off to bed, eric must catch the 7:20 train tomorrow, which means im driving him in 7 hours :).
If we were curious, I'm not going back to college until I marry rich. (As in money, not the kaplan trainer, though the kaplan trainer graduating harvard med with the MD and the MBA might be the same thing, but ill stick to my lawyer and leave megan to rich) If you want details let me know, but im pissy.
My magic extendonails are off...to leave my real extendo nails!!
if i hear one more thing about a bounce, ill kill someone.
And Menckles found my blog :).
I am one of the smartest college dropouts that you will find. I work too hard, but I love what I do and I'm not embarrassed to be a neurotic dork.
