Overdue

I need to get out of town. Not just for an afternoon, or over night- for several days. I'm suffocating a bit. Everything/most people are annoying me, and I find that where I can normally react tastefully to something, I'm having a lot of trouble. I can't muster up small talk, I can't fake laugh. Maybe that's a good thing- no b.s. Just my initial reaction. Me: raw. Just like Eddie Murphy!

Anyway, I'm going to the Martha Stewart show taping tomorrow, so I won't have to stare at a damn computer screen all day. Saturday, my roommate has invited me to her parent's house in New Jersey, where we will dogsit, relax, and enjoy some time in Small Town, USA. Then, next Tuesday night, I leave for home- sing my long-awaited Army audition, and CHILL OUT for several days. I can't wait. The air is heavy.

Whyowa

A great way to start the day.




Thanks, Alex.

For serious

I never really know what news is reported outside of the East Coast- I'm sure all the major news events are made known, but do you people in Kansas know about stuff when it happens? Or is that 2-3 days later?

Anyway, one cannot escape current events in a city like New York. All you have to do is walk around Columbus Circle, and you'll be watching CNN. When stories break, I usually receive 2-3 emails, and it's only a matter of minutes before the office game of telephone starts.

So, I won't say "unless you live under a rock", because the rock could be the rest of the United States for all I know, BUT...in case you don't know, the President of Iran is speaking at Columbia today. He is expected to address such issues as the Holocaust (he denies it), his desire to wipe Israel off the map, and the alleged development of nuclear weapons. Should make for a nice afternoon tea. Read more about it here.

Flaming

Last night, around 4 AM, I was jerked out of my peaceful slumber by a loud popping noise, followed by an orange sky. I scrambled out of bed, totally freaked out, because I knew SOMETHING was on fire, but I didn't know what. I couldn't really see out of my window because of my air conditioner and the smoke. I woke up one of my roommates, still not knowing exactly what was going on. We were finally able to see- as the cops yelled to the entire street "stay in your houses": it was a car. A car completely engulfed in flames, and lighting up the tree beside it. We have no idea how the car burst into flames. I doubt that someone would set a Subaru Outback on fire in Park Slope. Although, maybe one mom was really mad at another mom because she had bought the last Bugaboo stroller. But I digress.

I couldn't go back to sleep at all, even though I was relieved that it was a car, and not a house that was on fire. During the final semester of my senior year at WVU, the house I was living in caught on fire. The house itself was a total piece of shit- my roommates and I occupied 2 floors, and another tenant rented the basement apartment. That tenant was West Virginia as SHIT. I'm talking animals tied up out back, vacant cars taking up parking spaces, and there was probably even a toilet in the yard at some point. The fire was a result of these lovely people discarding an ash tray into a trash can that was filled with mineral spirit-soaked rags. Genius.

The night of the fire, we were all home. I heard a loud popping noise, and then the faint beeping of a smoke alarm. I called the fire department, and told my roommates that we should probably go outside, just in case. (Oh, this was in February at 8 PM. Not exactly the most fun time to be standing around outside). As soon as we left the house, we saw the flames lapping up the side of the house and all started freaking out. The fire department was there in a minute- tops- and put out the fire before it reached our part of the house. However, they knocked down several walls in the process (the fire was coming through the rafters), making the house complete unliveable. We were homeless.

The remainder of my senior year was spent in a University apartment, which was an even bigger piece of shit than that house. It was also more expensive. What a way to end my college experience. Fortunately, the good times and memories didn't burn with that piece of crap house. (Awwwwww sweet sentimental oooey goooey pewpy.)

HAaaaaaaaahahahahah

On the watch

Well, it's official- I'm too fat for the Army. How can this be? (I asked myself): I don't eat like shit, I work out, and I walk everywhere. Answer: LIFE. I'm not 22 anymore, I'm not as innocent as I'd like to believe, and I know that I have to work harder than most people to actively lose weight.
I have to lose 10 lbs in order to be Army-ready. My audition is in 2 weeks. There is no way in hell I can lose 10 lbs in 2 weeks. Even if I starved myself, spent 8 hours a day in a sauna, and ran 10 miles a day. It just doesn't work like that. Hence, my extreme frustration with not hearing back from my recruiter for 2.5 weeks. He suggested that I start working out on base (which is 1/2 hour car ride from my apartment), 3 mornings a week (at 5AM) for the next 2 weeks, where they will (almost) literally whip me into shape. I'll pass. IF and WHEN I get offered the job, I'll kick it into high gear. But I don't think stressing myself out even more for a job I may or may not get is worth my sanity.
So for now, I have to ignore the goodies my roommate brings home (she works on Martha Stewart's "Everyday Living", and brings home test recipes). No corn cake or pumpkin roll for me tonight. Eff.

The gauntlet has been thrown

Boccismo! successfully began the Fall Season last night with a strong win. This is the first time in 4 seasons that we have won our first game. Last season, we won EVERY GAME except for the first game, the season before we had lost 2 games, and the very first season, we lost 4 games. We got mad skillz!



Last night also marked Jeremy's triumphant return from his 6.5 month globe-trotting adventure. He's back, he's tan, and he's zen as hell.



This season is gonna be it for us- I can feel it. As long as we keep taking pictures like this...










...we'll just scare off the competition.


B!

Let me see you bounce that

My foot STILL hurts from dancing the night away on Saturday. I was lucky enough to get on the house list for the Girl Talk show, a much ancitipated event for me, as he's one of my favorite DJs. Girl Talk is one dude, really, from Pittsburgh, who creates mash-ups of hip hop tunes, classic rock, indie rock, and everything inbetween. He's not a traditional DJ with turntables; I'm pretty sure he just presses "play" on his laptop, and the show starts.



The stage was decorated with a giant inflatable palm tree in one corner and an even bigger inflatable spider in the other. Right before he came on stage, "R U motherf*cking ready?" flashed on the projection screen. The show was great- very high energy, with people bustin' moves left and right on the dance floor. I told Bucket I wanted to hear more filthy hip hop, since that's on a lot of his recorded mash-ups, but alas- it was more of a PG-13 performance.

Now that I'm all caught up with Nip/Tuck...

...I can devote my full attention to The Wire. I've seen episodes here and there over the past 3 or 4 years, but never an entire season. I have no idea why I waited so long to watch the show in succession, but now that I am, I can't get enough.

Several times, on the way to work at Hopkins Hospital, I saw the show being filmed. While it is primarily filmed in the West ghetto, from time to time, they shot in the East. I even met one of the stars when I worked at Charleston- she and her boyfriend came in for dinner and gift certificates. The portrayl of drug and gang wars is dead on (no pun intended); even crime experts agree that The Wire is the best example of what that lifestyle is all about. And we all know that crime, murder, and drugs are rampant in Charm City.

McNutly aside, Stringer Bell is my favorite character on the show.

Ahem.




Now THAT is a fine-lookin' man, not to mention a fine actor. Originally from England, my future husband has many television, movie, and theater credits under his belt. (Insert joke here).

Let's have another look, shall we?




If you aren't already a fan, you will be now.

Frustrated Incorporated (again)

You'd think that people are just lined up, banging down the door to join the Army. At least, that's what one would think if one dealt with my recruiter. Admitedly, this office has no idea what they are doing when it comes to dealing with a musician. Everything my recruiter needs to do is clearly outlined on the sheet I gave to him three weeks ago. I don't THINK the sheet is in Greek, but I don't remember- I've done a lot between then and now. It seems pretty cut and dry- take the ASVAB (done- I scored an 85), make travel and hotel arrangements (I've made my hotel arrangements although I might end up walking to Ft. Meade, as this is not my responsibility), and take the MEPS physical (an all-day event). As I previously mentioned, I have to shed a few lbs. to be in my desired weight category. Fine. I've cut back, I've re-introduced running to my crying foot (and lungs), and my ass is in gear, thanks to my bike (no pun intended). I still have no idea exactly HOW much weight I have to lose. And why is that? Because no one will call me back. I put in roughly 4 calls a week (for the last 2 weeks), trying to get an answer, to no avail. Am I to assume I don't have to lose any specific amount, just maintain? Who knows. Am I a total fatass? Not bloody likely- check out some pictures of the first week of boot camp when you get a chance. Compared to some of those kids, I'm like fucking Gisele.

My audition is exactly 3 weeks from today- this will potentially change my life. I think at the very least, that deserves a returned phone call.

Boccismo! gets reco'nized

...for a sentence. But still, it's something. Fall League is about to start up, and it just might be my final bocce season, so it's a bit sad for me.

Nonetheless, Boccismo!

Better leave even earlier...

...cause the trains will be packed.

Dang it.

Thighs of Steel

I've only been cycling for a week. (Can I call it cycling, when I don't have a road bike? Biking. Maybe biking is better, Although, cycling sounds more athletic; I like that better. I'm sticking with cycling.) It's only been a week, but I've already ridden about 35 miles or so, and it feels really good. 35 miles really isn't all THAT much on a bike, but with a full time job, practicing, and just life, 35 miles is a decent amount; especially for a beginner.

Yesterday, I rode down to Coney Island and back- the whole trip was maybe 15 miles or a bit more, but with all the stopping and starting and picture taking, I was gone for 3 hours. Here's the link to my flickr page, where you can see my photos. My next trip will be to/through the Greenwood Cemetery. Morbid photos to follow.

Other weekend highlights included a trip to Long Beach with Nikki and Ryan, where the weather could not have been better, and the water could not have been more full of seaweed.

My boyfriend is funny

What a great way to start the work week.