Apparently, today has decided to be “one of those days”… I will just get through it by listening to lots of Sarah McLachlan and the Carpenters, and hopefully staying dry. Hopefully, we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.
Till then!
UPDATE: Reading the “best of” on Craigslist can make anyone feel better; even me.
Yesterday was great… It was nice to have a relaxing day to do nothing; even though we did so much. Check out my orchid photos; that place was insane. And James and I were practically the only people there; it was like our own little paradise. It was totally cool. I wish that I knew how to grow all that stuff, because orchids are flipping beautiful, and I would love to just be surrounded by them all of the time.
Also, mad shouts to Lori for her incredible patience. Sorry I was 20 minutes late for meeting you at Sweetwater… I feel like a total tool for that. I will definitely take stock, and work on NOT doing that for the future, mmmkay? Sorry! But hey, at least we got to have several beers together, and that WAS awesome. =o)
I also want to say that I totally need more time off; I am saving up that vacation time, and I may just do something crazy with it when I get enough… I just need to get away; and days off just make me realize that more. I feel like lately that I have had this invisible chip on my shoulder that just comes out at the weirdest times; and it is almost like I am reacting more than thinking some of the time. I really need to watch out for that, because it is making things that are normally nothing, bother the hell out of me. I am seriously thinking that I might want to look into getting counseling or something; for real this time, because I really need something to push me further. I want someone that I can talk with, and who will push me to take steps that I know I should be taking, but for whatever reason, I’m not (which I think is the cause of my “chip). A lot of people will see counseling as a problem, but being a pusher of public health, I see it as a preemptive solution; get in there before there is a real problem. You are as smart as hell if you can bring yourself to do that, after all. So yeah… kind of a rambler today, but eh, it is my Monday; I don’t think that I am supposed to be on point.
And, I gave you a pretty orchid to look at, so shut it.
Tuesday Tunes:
Portishead – It’s a Fire
Everything But the Girl – Good Cop, Bad Cop
Nickel Creek – Jealous of the Moon
I just want to give a shout out to Washington and Lincoln for making it possible for me to sit on my ass all day at home, instead of work today. You guys rocked!!! I will hopefully fulfill my goal of doing absolutely nothing today.
James and I MAY go to the Atlanta botanical gardens to see the orchid exhibit; since I have gotten Sarah Jessica Parker, my mind has been nothing but orchid this, and orchid that. I have heard that this exhibit is one of the biggest in the country, and that just gives me happy tingles all over, especially in my downtown bonanza. Here’s hoping we actually go, now that I have talked it up so much.
Also, we are planning on hitting up the Sweetwater tour today at 4:20, if anyone wants to join. $6 for 3 beers and a glass you get to take home, is worth hanging out in the cold. And, I get to stand there and gawk at the beer making equipment and wish aloud that this is what I really want to be doing, and how I would love to get started with my own brewery… ah, dreams are great, aren’t they folks?
Oh yeah! AND (as if I am not talking about doing enough, considering that I started with “I will be sitting on my ass all day”, but I digress) I will be going to make a deposit on my tattoo consultation today. I have made the appointment for the tattoo (April 1st), and can’t wait to see what the consultation brings. I have a great idea that I am really pleased with, and can’t wait to see what this guy can do with it. It isn’t the little animals that I posted before; I didn’t feel they had a cohesive enough theme to them, and from the moment I saw them, I liked them, but always had a little reservation. My newest idea is the best I have had, and I am more happy with it now than I was when I first imagined it. I am planning on ginko leaves and 2 koi fish. You will just have to wait and see how it pans out; I know I am waiting with bated breath.
Well, that’s all for this Monday; let’s see how much of this I can actually get done. As usual, if we do anything exciting, there will be photographic evidence. Happy Prez Day folks!
Songs for you Monday (I have been holding onto these for some reason, now it is time to share!):
Morningwood – Nth Degree (TRY not to love this song… I dare you.)
Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek
Daniel Powter – Bad Day
David Gray – Ain’t No Love
Willie Nelson – Cowboys are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each other) (Yes, I went there… but it is well written)
Here’s the fruits of my labor: (aka, a slideshow of the new living room!!!)
First, let’s start with what it looked like before (circa December 2004… you know, there were changes in the mean time (between 12/04 and last weekend), but I guess I don’t take a lot of photos my house because I see it every day; so just go with it, it is only for comparison purposes anyways!)
To begin: Two living room shots…
And, pictures of the bedroom that would become the new living room…
From Sept 2004…
and December 2004…
Like I said… Apparently, I didn’t take a lot of pictures of things, at least not as much as I would have liked, so perhaps the “change” factor may be lost; especially since I didn’t take before photos (D’OH!). But either way, here is the unveiling; the new salon/sitting parlor photos (which is now the artist formerly known as the living room):
AND!!!!! The NEW living room (which is now the artist formerly known as the bedroom we didn’t really use):
Now, we have a cozy little living room that we can enjoy; a new AWESOME couch we can lounge on; and a sitting parlor/salon to gay up the place a little bit. I can’t wait for the chance to entertain in this place, because it now has so much usable space, people may come out of the kitchen!! I am exhausted, so I am going to go and lounge on my new couch! Happy Sunday everyone!
Today has been a busy day; the new couch arrived, and I have been completely redoing 2 rooms (the old living room, which is now the “sitting parlor”; and the new living room, which is, well, warm and inviting). I am exhausted. Pictures will be posted tomorrow; even some before and after ones. I gots to give you folks perspective, after all!!!
And, thanks to all my APWBTGTTD peeps who showed me such a good time last night; it was awesome. I can’t believe we only do that once a month! Oh well… till next month, eh?!
Today is a lazy Friday, and my brain is stuck on “weekend” (since this is a three day weekend coming up); so for now, I am going to post something frivolous and fun… my prediction for the winner of Project Runway. I don’t know if you all are watching this show, but I have, and I love it. If you missed it; make sure to catch it when Bravo replays it like 100 times.
Anyway! The final three were determined on Wednesday night to be Chloe, Daniel V, and Santino. Now, Santino has been one of my favorites from the beginning, because even though his personality is brash and in your face, he is a great designer. I also really like Chloe and Daniel V.; but after looking at the pictures for each of their collections for Fashion Week, I have to say that my prediction is a 100% bet that Santino will take the gold. Check out the collections for Santino, Chloe, Daniel V, and Kara (who was the decoy… but her collection was fantastic, and one of the best!), by clicking on each person’s name. Who do you think should win? I think Santino is going to win just based on this dress I have posted here. If I am wrong, so what, but that is my prediction, bitches. Happy Friday!
[image from newyorkmetro.com]
First, let me say thanks to those of you that posted your comments on HIV testing yesterday… it was interesting to see that most people just don’t think that much about it; other than for insurance/cost reasons. Perhaps that will spawn another post at some point down the road. But for now, I want to talk about Netflix.
I remember when I joined Netflix, I was so super excited; I had unlimited rentals at my fingertips, and I was going to be able to rent without going to a store. No more Blockbuster (!)… and, I would be able to get everything I wanted, and as much as I wanted for a little less than $20 a month. Sweet!
BUT… It was all a lie. Netflix has duped us all, and I for one am pretty pissed off about it. Let me explain. First of all, before I get into it, Netflix has the right to change their policies at any time, so if any of this comes as a shock, or sounds like something you didn’t see in your agreement with Netflix, then you should check again, because they changed the policies on you, and it is in there now.
Everyone probably knows that I work in HIV prevention, and there is one issue that surrounds testing that is always debated, and is honestly something that I think about a lot. (Note: While I am NOT talking about work, but am talking about HIV prevention, the obvious connection is there, but I don’t want anyone to think that there is any motive by my asking, or any true tie between the two. They are just related based on in intellectual interest and sheer curiosity. Again, this is NOT FOR or ABOUT WORK!) The issue of which I speak, has to do with whether or not people that get tested for HIV are deterred in any way because the test is confidential vs. being anonymous. In case you don’t know, confidential testing does record some identifying information about you that is recorded and reported to the county in which you test, and ultimately to the government (HIV prevalence and all that good stuff); whereas anonymous means you get the test, and that’s it, nobody knows who you are, and you are identified by only an arbitrary number (of course, if you test positive, it is recorded, but it is not associated with you, it is the number that is recorded).
Basically, out of my own intellectual curiosity, I want to ask you this: if and when you test (you better all be testing regularly… even you straight ones) are you more or less likely to test somewhere or in some situation because the testing being offered is confidential vs. anonymous? If so, then why? Does it even make a difference to you? (and this is a personal preference type question; no one is wrong here, and there will be no consequences to any answer; as I stated, this is mere curiosity.) If so, which test do YOU prefer; and how does it effect your willingness and frequency to test?
Seriously though, just to state again, this is not related to work; it is my own curiosity. It is something that I honestly think about a lot, and find very interesting. Hopefully you have found it interesting enough to read through this post, and even interesting enough to provide you own responses.
Two posts on Valentine’s!!! Woot! I saw this on other blogs, and thought I should put my spin on it… Damn thing wouldn’t let you spell it any other way:
Now that is a conversation heart worth conversing about!
Make your own.
Now, like many out there, I don’t necessarily believe that today, Valentine’s Day, is actually a day worth celebrating. I too believe that it is a day that was created by the greeting card companies and the florists of the world, in an effort to foster a great first quarter profit margin. I do believe that the hype of the cards, the balloons, the flowers, the candy, and the plush bees with the words “beeee mine” embroidered on their asses is a little too much. But, let us not forget that Valentine’s is good for one thing; being on the receiving end of any and or all of that shit makes you feel good.
Getting the box of chocolates when you are obviously on a diet (hello Abs diet!, day nine, for those of you counting!), getting flowers that will surely not live past next week at this time, and having tons of those little conversation hearts everywhere (like in between the seats in your car), is just part of the “celebration”. Having your partner (or lov-er, as today is all about love, right?) scrounge through the mob of people frantically trying to secure that last box of He-Man and She-Ra Valentine’s cards for little Suzie’s class at 9pm on the Monday before Valentine’s, just to piece together some semblance a card, some candies, and a toy you never want to see in your house the day after Valentine’s, is all worth it. It is all worth the feeling that overcomes each of you as you exchange your candies and whatnot’s, and you feel, well, in love. But you were in love yesterday, and will be in love tomorrow… so you don’t necessarily need this day to affirm that through treats and goodies; but it sure as hell feels nice.
Well, despite my “silent” protest on the commercialization of yet another day in the year to make money, and make other people feel bad; this year, I kind of went a little overboard in Valentine’s department, let me explain.
