Calypso: My New Fave.

I have walked past the Calypso store at least a hundred times in the past four years. But I had never considered going in until today.

I chose to see what was in there after I saw a dress in a magazine editorial. It was a beautiful crinkly wrap dress you can ball up and throw into your sack. How cool is that?

In the shop, I saw many beautiful colors and pieces. They have AWESOME bags too! I could have spent a fortune in there! But I didn't. Even though things are reasonably priced, I only walked out with two things...

The Christiane Celle Ianna Dress


The Christiane Celle Heidi Top


There were a few other pieces and a bag I am eyeing too... Hmm....

Sicko.

It was "date night" with the husband last night. This usually means "dinner and a movie" with me and my husband. Last night's movie choice was Michael Moore's new documentary, "Sicko." And it had me all over the place with my emotions.

Within the first 15 minutes of the movie I was crying. (But there wer funny parts too.) You were shown story after story of people who died because they were denied medical care, despite having health insurance. Then you get a few stories about people who can not afford health insurance and have to choose NOT to receive medical care for serious conditions. Then there are the people who are attempting to get health insurance, but are denied because they have had previous health conditions.

That last one was something I was not aware of... The list of "pre-existing conditions" that could prevent you from qualifying for health insurance range from diabetes and HIV to anemia and a yeast infection.

A yeast infection! You learn the list is long and pretty much includes anything.

This is bullshit people. I know first hand how crappy the health insurance industry can be. It took me about four months and 20 different phone calls to find a primary care physician recently. I had never had a physical as an adult, and it was time to just get one. But every time I called a doctor in this city to see if anyone was accepting new patients, I kept getting a "No."

Then I went to book a check-up with my gyno. And I was told, "Well, unless you are seeking treatment for a specific condition, your primary care physician can just see you."

"Umm," I said. "No. I don't have a PCP, and I DO want to talk about something specific with the doctor."

They ended up getting me an appointment about a month out. But this is ridiculous. I only ever go to a doctor every year and a half. I haven't been to the walk-in clinic in YEARS. And I can't even remember the last time I had an emergency room visit. My health insurance company makes a great profit off of me, as I cost them nothing. But I expect to be seen when I feel it is time for a check up.

This movie angered me. It angered me because there is no reason why people should be denied medical care ever. It should be illegal to deny someone care because their health insurance company dictates the care as being "alternative" and "unnecessary."

I'm sorry, but telling a woman with a brain tumor that you don't see her condition as "life threatening" is criminal. Even more so when she dies because hospitals will not treat her.

I won't say much more, except the following:

• As a well-off woman, I would happily pay more in taxes if it ensured that other Americans could be healthy and educated. (As people say, it's "We, not Me.")
• I can not wait to move to Canada.
• And, you must see this movie.

VD Is For Every Body.

Just a reminder kids, as another Summer weekend kicks off...

I Am The Funky Dresser?

I decided to wear a dress to work today. A new one that I picked up at Anthropologie last night on my way home.

I threw black legging on underneath it because it was a little chilly today when I left the house. But when I got to work, a co-worker of mine came up to me and said, "You look so cute! You always dress funky!"

"Funky?"

I know she meant it as compliment. But I wouldn't exactly call my style "funky." I mean, I basically live in flip flops, tank tops, sweaters and jeans during the summer... But that ain't exactly "bo-ho chic."

Maybe my style is a little too "casual" for most people in Boston; especially in the work place? People here tend to stick with a pretty straight forward uniform of twin-sets, khakis and Tory Burch flats lately. And I guess if you veer at all from that formula, you are "eccentric" and "funky."

Whatever. I will take it as a compliment. But if I was living in NYC still, I'd blend in with everyone.

iPhone Line In Downtown Crossing.

Popped over to Wagamama to pick up take-out for the team this afternoon. (Here's a tip: don't order ramen as take out. It's damn near impossible to eat. Also, when they say something is "spicy," they mean it is so hot it will burn your skin just eating it.)

Anyhow, while I was out getting lunch, I saw a line of people outside the AT&T store on Washington. And I realized it was the line for the new iPhone... And it's only three people deep right now! (I can still see it from my work window.)

Hmm... So tempted to go hop in that line. If I got one, I could "blog on the go." No waiting till I got home to write.

Semen For Your Hair: But It's Organic!

I'm into organic things.

I like my apples organic, but not necessarily my bananas. Berries? Gotta be organic. I prefer my lotions be organic too.

But sometimes, the whole "organic" thing can go to far. Like, maybe, when it comes to putting organic bull semen in your hair?



Sure, I want shiny, glossy hair. But not badly enough to go "Something About Mary" style with the hair products.

And while I may not be down with it, apparently it is all the rage in London town. A salon in London, Hari's, is the first to offer a treatment of organic bull semen to repair weak hair.

Crazy, right? Would you try it? No? What if I told you the semen was from pedigree Angus Aberdeen bulls? Still no?

Don't blame you.

I don't want the "protein packed formula" touching my strands. Even if it is organic. (Eww!)

Cocktail Hour, Anyone?

There's no finer way to end your day at work then to walk out of your building on School Street to a woman puking her guts out on the sidewalk a few feet away from you.

Nothing finer indeed.

Unless that same woman were then to walk closer towards you, and puke some more right on your building while you stand there trying inconspicuously to snap a picture of the events unfolding with your cellphone camera (which you just recently learned how to use.)


The puke smelled heavily of wine/beer.

It reminded me that it was "cocktail hour" and that I needed to pick up a bottle of Shiraz on the way home.

Smaht Cahrs In Da Hahvahd Yahd.

Wow. That title was INCREDIBLY hard to spell out phonetically for me. But I managed.

So I think I know one thing I will be doing this weekend (other than finally seeing the Hopper Exhibit at the MFA)... I want to go test drive a Smart Car in Harvard Square!

I am anti-car for the most part. I don't think you need them too much in this city. But I would totally go for one of these little monsters!

When I visited Rome and Paris a few years back, they were everywhere. I hope it gets like that in America and Canada too. Imagine how wicked easy it will be to parallel park one of these!

(That coming from someone who has never parallel parked in her life!)

High Maintenance - Where Do You Fall?

I never really saw myself as high maintenance. I mean, my monthly "beauty and health" bill looks like this lately:

• Training Sessions Twice A Week - $170 (times 4) = $680
• Bikram Yoga Pass = $83.25
• Equinox Gym Membership = $134
• Acupuncture Twice a month - $180 a session = $360
• Eyebrow Waxing (really only done every 6 weeks though, not monthly) = $35
• Home Hair Coloring = $9.00

Total = $1,301.25

That's a lot. But it's nothing compared to the ladies in this NY Times article on "beauty regimens." They drop that much in a week!

A WEEK! Holy crap!

When I lived in NYC, I had co-workers who used to do the "twice a week blow outs" for their hair. And the weekly manicures. And the fancy, healthy food. And the training sessions and private Pilate's sessions. Oh, and the bi-weekly facials. But I could never justify spending that much on beauty stuff each week. I was making $35,000 a year... I didn't have that kind of cash. I still don't have that kind of cash.

I am wrapping up my private training sessions in the next three weeks. So that cost will go away. And I have prepaid for my Bikram yoga membership for a year, so I actually don't have a monthly cost for that. Every three months I get my hair cut. And that's only about $75.

So I guess from a financial perspective, my beauty regimens are fairly cheap... At least when you compare them to NYC and LA women.

Just don't ask how much I spend on Starbucks coffee and shoes.

Don't you dare ask!

Closings In Downtown Crossing.

I tend to move about Downtown Crossing quickly lately... Especially in the heat. But today was cooler, so I strolled a bit around Washington Street... And that's when I noticed more real estate available in this area...

The Scottrade and the Express store have closed.

I wonder what will be next to go? The Barnes and Noble is already gone. Filene's Basement is shutting down for two years in a few months... Hopefully better stores will come into their spaces.

Swinging Into Fall.

I am loving Summer. I can walk to work every day. I can run around during lunch and get some fresh air. (Well, fresh city air.) And the Sun just makes me happy.

But I'll admit it, I am looking forward to Fall.

Neiman Marcus keeps sending me updates this week on Fall fashion. And I keep getting tempted by the cozy things I see. My latest temptation...

The See by Chloe Swing Coat.



It's a combination of military and trapeze... Both 60s-inspired fashion elements. And gray is a staple color for me. But the cost... Well, it would be the most I have ever spent on a coat. Don't know if I can pull the trigger on this one. But I have time (I am sure) to think about and budget for it.

Recently Netflix-ed: Little Children.

I threw some new movies in to my queue the other day. Three of them arrived this evening. I popped one in and thoroughly enjoyed the film.



Little Children was one of the flicks I kept meaning to see while I was taking a break from work last Fall. I never got to it, because I found myself quite busy. But I am glad I got around to watching it, as it is a wonderful film.

I don't know if I could love Kate Winslet as an actress more. She is beautiful and so is her talent. She's uninhibited. And she falls into whatever character she seems to be doing quite easily.

This was a dark film. But a great film. I loved it. You must see it.

Sapphire Blue.

My blue nail polish arrived today. I tested it out on my fingers while at work, and then moved to my toes when I got home.



I love it! Very dark with a hint of deep blue.

The Argument for an iPhone.

Keys. Check.

Lime-flavored Lara Bar. Check.

Chapstick. Check.

Sunglasses. Check.

Water bottle. Check.

iPod. Check.

These are items I listed off in my head as I was packing my purse this morning. I somehow remembered to get everything in my bag, including my heart monitor... But the one thing I forgot?

My cell phone.

I am always forgetting my cell phone. I never pay attention to it. The most use it gets is as an alarm to wake me up in the morning. This is why I want, no NEED, an iPhone.

See, if I had an iPhone, I would never forget it. I listen to my iPod throughout the day. So I have trained myself to never leave it behind.

My phone, on the other hand, I never use. So I forget it all the time. And that shouldn't be. I think one should always have their cell phone on them.

I wish I knew exactly when we were moving to Toronto. This would make the decision to try and get an iPhone now so much easier.

What Coincidence...

What coincidence!

I write about how I am no longer wearing moisturuzer, and Neiman Marcus sends me an email "reminding" me that it's time to buy some more.

No thanks. Not for now anyways.

No More Moisturizer.

I made a decision about a month ago... I would stop wearing moisturizer for the Summer months.

This after having spent a chunk of change on a pot of Creme de la Mer a few months ago. I still use that on my eyes and now my elbows too.

I decide to stop wearing moisturizer because it just sits on my skin. In the Summer, you sweat more. And when you sweat, the moisturizer doesn't really get that absorbed in your skin; unless you have really dry skin... Which I do not.

So far, my skin has actually cleared up a little... And no new wrinkles have appeared. (I didn't actually have any to begin with though.) I still get my SPF, but only from my mineral make-up. And I wear large sun glasses every wear outside.

Do you think you could give up moisturizer for the Summer? I bet you could. And you'd probably save yourself some moo-lah by doing it.

Wagamama Take Out!

I am totally craving noodles today! But I so don't have time to go and sit and eat... So I called over to Wagamama and asked if they offer take-out... And they do!

Yay!

It's too hot to eat noodles outside today!

Scary Berry.

I work in a very casual office. We all sit at desks and use laptops. We wear jeans, and even flip flops, every day to work. No one watches what time you come in... And no one watches what time you leave or how long a lunch you take.

It's nice. Very nice.

However, working in a casual office, it also means that messes can be made and left behind. Yesterday afternoon, my team and I were meeting in one of our smalled conference rooms, and we saw a bowl with strawberries sitting on the table.

We figured the berries belonged to someone, and they left it behind but would come back for it later.

We were wrong.

I came in this morning... And the berries are still on the table, beginning to decay in a bowl of liquid.

I'm sure the fruit flies will be coming soon.

South End: A Beige Culture?

What kind of bullsh%t is this?

As I was walking home (hysterically, funny drunk) on Friday night with The Husband, we passed one of the recently closed real estate spaces on our block. In the window was the following sign...



An Upper Crust Pizza, in the South End?

I know I am partially to blame for the "yuppi-fying" of the South End, as a young straight woman (but I don't want kids now, so that counts for me)... But with the mummies who block the sidewalks with their double-wide strollers (and don't bother to move them when people are trying to get through) and the enormous SUVs taking up all available parking, we really don't need a local chain coming in that will serve us with what I have tried at least 10 times and deemed to be some of the "blandest" pizza in Massachusetts.

I mean, they (the yups, and the people who want to sell them real estate) already bought out the gay video store a few blocks up on Tremont... Do we really need to put more "beige culture" into this part of the city?

We need more rainbows! More gay porn! More psychic shops! We don't need beige.

Beige is boring.

Vacation Ideas?

So I have decided to go away on a solo vacation for Labor Day weekend. I've never really vacationed solo, and it is something I have always wanted to try.

Problem is, though, I have no idea where to go. I was thinking Rome. But it is quite scary to think about hitting a foreign country solo as a woman. Then I thought, "Maybe Canyon Ranch?" in western Mass. But I am kind of "spa-ed" out lately.

Ideas people? Anyone have any good places for a woman go to solo?

Thanks in advance for all suggestions!

Recently Netflix-ed.

My recent Netflix selections have been ideal choices...

Entourage's Season Three, Part One - Awesome show. HBO keeps producing great series. If you haven't seen this show, or don't have HBO (like me), I recommend putting this in your queue.

Pan's Labyrinth - An adult fairy tale... I won't spoil it for you... But this was a good one, if you like films with subtitles. The imagination it took to put this together is worth seeing. Very beautiful.

The Queen - Yes, I like to Netflix movies I see in the theater. I, unlike my husband, enjoy seeing movies more than once. This one was a great viewing.

Children of Men - Put this one at the top of your queue. Clive Owen is not only hot to watch, the story keeps you on the edge.

The Fountain - Now, you would think that since I love LOST and I am on this energy and spiritual kick lately, I would dig a film about parallel lives. But I found this film abrupt and hard to follow. I don't recommend it, unless you like looking at Hugh Jackman.

Now I need to go and dump some more movies in the queue.

Grace.

Sarah Jessica Parker. Jackie Kennedy. Audrey Hepburn. Grace Kelly. These women have/had "grace."

I do not.

Don't get me wrong. I am not just being critical of myself. I really have no grace. I have attempted to gain some through my yoga practice... But even I am unsuccessful at remaining balanced and graceful in class sometimes. For example, there was the incident last week when I fell backwards out trikanasana, triangle pose.

"Sometimes, we all have wipe outs," was the comment I got from the instructor.

"Are you okay?" whispered my namesake, practicing next to me.

I fall/trip so often though that I can easily laugh this stuff off. I don't get embarrassed by it. I've learned.

But what I've begun to wonder is whether or not I will ever be able to attain some form of grace. Is it really something you can pick up and learn? And once you reach a certain age, can you learn it? Or is it too late?

Thoughts? I'll keep trying, in the mean time.

iWant an iPhone.

I got my first iPod nearly four years ago. It was the full size white one, and I received it as a gift from my (then) fiance for Christmas.

It died 11 months later, and I replaced it with a light green iPod mini.

That one died 11 months later (because I dropped it) and I got an iPod Nano.

I've had my iPod Nano for nearly two years (knock on wood). And I still love it and use it ever few hours of every day. But I so want an iPhone now.

I don't know what I like best about the new iPhone... But the fact that it is a phone, music player, media player and wireless web device is certainly attractive. I'm not big on being accessible at any time via phone or mobile instant message (I never answer my phone - really - ask most of my friends and family)... But if I could have a device that does all this, I would be more open to being available at any time to people.

I have had the same phone number and phone service with Sprint for over six and a half years now. I've had the same cell phone for over two years now too. (I only replaced it because the old one died.) So I am not quite so advanced when it comes to technology.

The problem is though, with a two year service agreement with AT&T REQUIRED, I can't get one. If I am scheduled to move to Toronto in the next year and a half, I can't commit to two years. And I don't want to pay the supposed $175 early termination fee.

So no iPhone for me for now. I will continue to use my ugly little compact LG phone. And since I never use it anyway, it's really not that much of a disappointment. I really think (maybe) I just wanted a new iPod. And the new iPhone is the next natural step for me.

Sapphire Is A Girl's Best Color.

I have always been on the classy side when it came to polishing my nails and toes.

I put no color on my fingers (because really, what's the point? It'll just get chipped and rubbed off during my yoga practice or during something else where I am wielding tools or carrying large bags.) And I only paint my toes red. So I keep it basic and somewhat boring when it comes to pedicures. (I think it was Jackie Kennedy who said that it was proper for a woman to wear only light colors on her fingers and classic red on her toes.) And that's the way it's been for me for years.

Until last fall when I started wearing black on my toes. It kind of had an "emo" feel to it, but it was still cool. Plus, the only time anyone ever saw my toes was in yoga class. Now though, I am ready for some color beyond red on my toes for the Summer...

Lately, I have been craving an inky blue. But I hadn't had any luck in finding a proper color. Everywhere I looked, I only saw a pale baby blue. (Boring!) But while flipping through the latest issue of InStyle, I saw an ad for a new selection of colors from OPI called "Night Brights." And one of the colors featured was a sapphire blue!

Yay!

I hopped on Drugstore.com and Amazon to find an issue of the color. It took a while, but I have ordered a bottle that should be here later this week. I can not wait!

The rest of my make-up tends to be very natural looking. So getting to "sass" it up a little with my toes is something to look forward to.

Wag Your Mama.

A recent conversation...

"What do you feel like?"

"I dunno, whatever you want sweetie."

"Oh! How about I meet you at Fanueil Hall after my appointment, and we hit Wagamama?"

"What? Wag you mama?"

"Are you done with that?" asks the waitress.

"Sure," says The Husband, sheepishly.

"That's the second time you've made a comment filled with sexual innuendo when the waitress was coming towards the table," I accuse.

"I know!" says The Husband. "She keeps sneaking up on me!"

The Husband and I were trying to plan out the rest of our week, so that we could make sure we sync up at some point. We both have our own lives, so we never count on having the other around on an afternoon or evening. This just means we believe in continuing to make efforts to see each other, even though we are married.

We decided that Saturday evening we would meet up at about 7pm at Fanueil Hall and hit the new U.K. chain, Wagamama, for dinner.



Wagamama is a Japanese noodle bar chain that started in the U.K. Their recently opened Fanueil Hall location is the first one opened in the U.S. They will be opening one in Harvard Square later this year.

Fairly inexpensive, the joint has great food. I've been twice so far, and I ordered the same thing both times. (Veggie noodles of some kind. It's number "41" on the menu.) The only thing I don't like about the place is their policy of running food to tables immediately once it is done. This means that if your plate is done before your table-mate's, you'll get your food before then. And one of you will be sitting there while the other eats.

Not cool.

But other than that, it's a great place to eat. I recommend not hitting the place at lunch time until close to 1pm. It gets packed during that time.

"Remember Who You Are."

That was one of the messages I was given yesterday. I won't elaborate on the message, as it was intended only for me. (That's the way messages work, if you go for a session. The message is only for you.)

There were two other messages given to me in the session. But I won't mention those.

Is This How You Pick Up Chicks?

I was Google-ing the term "greatest living american to see where my dream date, Stephen Colbert, ended up in the search results, and I came upon this sponsored listing.



Check out the description for the listing.

"Paulina, call me?"

Is this a new method of picking up chicks? Are we now going to see people proposing in Google's search ads?

It's all about the delivery of the message, I guess. And the power of the Internet (and Google) is here to stay. (No matter how hard you try crappy Yahoo!!)

Oh Holy Hell...

Yes, I am pumped about this.

And don't you dare make fun of me! This kind of crap is what makes me so much fun (to make fun of.)

Broken Head Phones. :(

I think I may have broken the headphones I use here at work. They're noise-reduction heaphones that I have had for over a year, and they totally rock. I hear nothing when I put them on, which is great.

Problem is though, I use them so much. And earlier when I turned them on, I heard a loud "CRACK" in them. And now, the sound quality is static-y.

Boo. Tear. There's no point in having "noise-reduction" headphones if you can't turn them on and push out the noise.

And all I wanted to do today was "rock out" at work. It may be time to buy some new ones.

Bobble-head "Human."

My company gave me a little stuffed bear dressed up like an old fashioned pilot to put on my desk. I stripped offit's clothes and put them on my husband's bobble-head figure.

Clearly, it's a Friday. And we're just killing time here.

Seattle?

I've never been to Seattle. But I found out this morning that I may be going there at the end of July to present at a search engine conference for my company.

I do like speaking in public. (No joke.) So this should be fun. Problem is though, the day I am potentially scheduled to speak, I am supposed to be flying to Toronto for a friend's wedding the following day.

I can probably arrange to fly the morning of the 27th from Seattle to Toronto. It all just gets so confusing. Traveling is fun though.

iPhone Features.

I SO want one... Simply because of these sweet features...

My co-workers both thought that the best feature was the iPhone hat. My friend Wighty really dug the reproduction through asexual budding.

Me? I'm all about the prominent Apple logo. Well, that and the Lightsaber sound effect. They're both pretty sweet.

Is It Odd?

I keep asking people this today... "Is it odd that I have an urge to go to Burning Man this year?"

I have never been. And I am a HUGE fan of showering at least once a day. But I think it would be cool to go to this crazy party in the middle of the Nevada desert.

"I REALLY Like That Top!"

Oh A.M. Door Guy... You're the sweetest fella evah!

I have learned the following about the A.M. door guy who works the desk in my building from 7am to 3pm:

1. He is 35.
2. He has never been on a plane.
3. He is planning his first plane trip/vacation for Las Vegas using my company's travel site. (We do appreciate his business.)
4. He really likes how I dress.

Now, I know I've written before about how he gives me unsolicited "props" on my outfits. But yesterday's comment got a huge giggle out of me and eye-rolls from my co-workers. I was wearing a ruffled burgundy deep V-neck blouse and some jeans.

Very "casual," yes. But I work in a casual space. And I will admit that the top is very flattering, but there was no exposing going on. And it wasn't a tight top. But yet, A.M. Door Guy felt the need to "hollah" at me (as I was walking out):

"Hey! The Missus! I REALLY like that top! Lookin' good girl!"

Hmm... Maybe if I wear the top again, I'll get an invitation to join him in Vegas? I've never been. (Gambling is not my "thang.") Hmm....

Eww!

So, today when The Husband stopped by to take me to lunch, I made sure to introduce him to A.M. Door Guy.

"A.M. Door Guy, this is my husband," I said.

"Yah husband?" asked A.M. Door Guy. "Hey buddy! How are yah?"

Hopefully this will take care of the comments.

Get A Clue.

Oh my!

Can I blabber on about work for a second, s'il vous plait?

I love my current job. But my Google rep (who is based in the UK and can't calculate the time difference between Boston and London, "It's eight hours, yes?" "Um, no, Google Rep. It's five hours.") is completely clueless.

I never hear from her except for when she wants me to spend more money by upping bids. I tell her, "I actually see better performance and conversion in positions 2 and 3 on some keywords than position 1." But she doesn't want to hear that. She wants me to spend, spend, spend. But after about two months of ignoring her pleas, she finally bothered to figure out a little bit about me. And she realized that I had been working at an agency doing search for quite some time. So I'm not the type of client who will sit back and just take the suggestions. I actually know how to evaluate what the engine is recommending I do and decide if it really is for the best.

The latest in my clueless experience with her - she wrote the following email just now:

Hi The Missus,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you but I had to await feed back from the US in order to collate the data. As you can see there from the data, there is a lot of potential with the assistance of maximisation. It would be good to get your feedback on this and so let me know when you are available for a call.

Regards,-- GOOGLE REP
Account Manager
Google United Kingdom

Pretty straight forward email, yes? Problem is, she forgot to attach the data.

"D'oh!"

I bet there is "a lot of potential with the assistance of maximisation." And I bet it means "raise your bids!"

Whatever. So not gonna happen, lady. As they say in the U.K., "Cheery Bye!"

Summer Solstice.

Was just reminded... The Summer Solstice takes place tomorrow night at 6:08pm.

I love Summer evenings, when the Sun stays out late. It's so nice to be able to walk home at night, after a Bikram class, and have it still be quite light out. It keeps me peppy.

But Summer will be officially here. So bust out your SPF 45 people. Time to coat it on!

Your Body. Your Choice.

I was walking through Downtown Crossing last week when I came across people set up at a table trying to collect signatures and funds to impeach Dick Cheney.

My thought to that was , "What's the point? He only has about a year and half left. Just let this lame-duck administration finish their term. Let's start focusing on positive movements for next year's elections. Let's not waste any effort getting too much more angry with the current fellas. Plus, if Dick Cheney can shoot a man , be implicated in a national scandal and be a bastard grandfather and not acknowledge both parents of his grand kid; can we really get him out of office with an impeachment? This guy is somewhat 'untouchable.'"

But now, I see another headline that just greatly disappoints me about this administration, and I have to speak up and out against it. Bush vetoed the bill to remove stem cell limits. (Jackass!)

Now, while I appreciate his ability to be loyal and stick with his political views; this guy needs wake-up and hear the call of the nation.

I would think that if the people who these stem cells come from are okay with their essence being used for science and mankind, then he should get over it and be okay with it too. I mean, who made him the authority of my body? If I am okay with donating my unused embryos to science, then they should be used however they are needed.

Maybe this is lame, but I equate it to organ donation. My Arizona drivers license (which doesn't expire till I am 65) notes that I am an organ donor. If I'm dead, please, feel free to pilfer my organs. I am going to be cremated anyway; so if all this Bikram yoga pays off and my "shit" is still good, then hell yes, please use it. It would be wasteful not too. (And you all know I am on this whole "recycling" kick anyway.)

Same goes for any embryos I may have processed and stored at a fertility clinic (which as of now, is none.) If I am not gonna use all of them, after a certain period of time, I am more than happy to sign a waiver for them to be used for whatever purpose they are needed. If it helps save the lives of others, why would I NOT want to have them used?

It confuses me. And even though I am a registered Republican (though I have never voted Republican outside a Presidential primary), I think it's time the party evolves. Not all of us are God-fearing Christians. Some of us are dying to see a party that comes back to the middle and does some compromising. That's what public service is supposed to be about. Helping and working with others. Not pushing and holding to dear life to your own crap agenda that does not work for most of the people you represent.

The jerk.

It's What Real Cowgirls Wear.

I was having a conversation with someone at work recently about how many people today who consider themselves "cowboys" and "country" really aren't reflecting the style properly.

True, the style genre evolves. Trends go out and come back in. But when I hear people say "I'm dressing like a cowboy/cowgirl," I have a solid picture in my brain as to what they would wear. And then I am always disappointed.

Here's a clue people, true western wear does not involve loud, bright colors and graphic prints. It's a lot more subtle. I know, because I grew up with a grandfather who wore legitimate country wear every day of his life. It was always jeans, with brown cowboy boots (very well worn in) and a button down "work" shirt in a fairly light color. There was usually some kind of faded print on the shirt; and that was key, it was well worn in.

This is what real cowboys wore. They wore it when they took you out to dinner. They wore it when they took you fishing in the summer time. They even wore it when they were sitting around with you on summer vacation watching your afternoon "stories." (My grandfather liked to watch General Hospital and the Young and the Restless.)

Bottom line, it was a standard uniform. And it worked.

Why all the talk about western wear? Well, I came across this really sweet True Religion shirt that totally reminded me of Grandpa.



It has the grungy/western appeal to it. And I very much like it. Yes, thinking about putting it on my Fall wardrobe list along with the soft gloves.

Guess I'll be going for a punk/western look this Fall. (Yes, I am very grateful to have a job where I can dress so casual.)

28 Degrees - Friday.

Just a posting... The Husband and I are making an effort to be more grown-up and hang out. We will likely be at 28 Degrees on Friday for cocktails, in case anyone out there in Internet land wants to meet up.



Let's be more social people! Social networking is not just about online. Human contact is crucial too! And in my business, it's WAY too easy to stay in and not be social.

It's The Little Things...

I don't know about your mum... But my mum is good about surprising her children (probably the female ones more than the male ones) with little tokens now and then.

In the small town where I did most of my growing up, Mum came across this little trinket at a local chain store that she knew I would love.



I like the occasional costume-y sparkle thing to dress up an accessory. Thanks Mum!

Free Crap: To Accept or Not?

I get lots of crappy swag from various media vendors.

When I worked at an agency, management used to elude that they considered the swag as part of our job benefits. And, no joke here, it was to some extent an excuse to pay us crap.

"But you get taken out lunches, dinners, cocktail hours, free massages, receive free binoculars, poker sets, mouse pads, etc... That's a huge benefit to the job."

"No it's not," I used to say. Sure, I can accept crappy and useless (for the most part) swag and free outting events from vendors... But then I feel guilty about not running money with them. Or running less money with them. I don't know, I just have never been comfortable with accepting free stuff from media vendor reps for spending money with them. It has always made me uncomfortable.

I was offered Sox tickets recently from one of my vendors. I don't follow the Sox. So I declined them. My boss joked (when he found out) that I should ALWAYS accept the free stuff. But I couldn't bring myself to do it.

(However, I would TOTALLY accept a set of Ginsu knives from one vendor who has promised them if I sign with them. Hmm...)

Often, vendors (one in particular that I find completely useless) will just send me the crap stuff without giving me a heads up. Then it just sits on my desk, un-used. I would give it away, but it's crap. No one would want it.

But today, I found a use for one particular piece of crap swag I got from the useless vendor.

I didn't have any napkins to put my pop on. So I used the mouse pad as a coaster. Quite useful now!

Position Three!

Eh-hem... Brevitt... Check it out...



From non-existent to position 3 in about 36 hours. It takes some serious SEO skills to do this. You have been officially knocked out. That's all for now. "Keyword Battle: Tay Zonday" over, for now.

iPod of The Missus: On Repeat...

The following songs are currently getting some serious play on my iPod:

• These Boots Were Made For Walkin' by Loretta Lynn (I don't like any other version of this song... Including the original by Nancy Sinatra.)
• Over The Rainbow by Ella Fitzgerald (The best version of the song out there in the Universe.)
• You Ain't Woman Enough by Loretta Lynn
• Jackson by Johnny Cash with June Carter Cash
• Rainbow Connection by Willie Nelson (You have to go two minutes in to hear this one.)
• Umbrella by Rhianna
• All These Things by The Killers
• Heard 'Em Say by Kanye West
• I Don't Feel Like Dancing by the Scissor Sisters (Yes. This one is still on the list, even after a year!)
• Come to Jesus by Mindy Smith
• This Year's Love by David Gray
• Sheena is a Punk Rocker by The Ramones (This one is on constant repeat a LOT. God, I miss NYC.)

Things I Would Like To Do, But Can't...

As I was told when I was younger, "'can't' is such an ugly word."

But yet, even as a full grown adult, there are things that I can't do, even though I would like to. I won't go into why I can't do them. I will just state that I can't do them, but would like to. These things include:

• Get a second tattoo. (Got my first one when I was 18 on Halloween. Shh! Don't tell Mum! Event though she probably already knows. Time to come clean, I guess. Sorry Mum... Kinda.)
• Learn to play the bass guitar. (I've wanted to do this since I was about 17 and first heard Green Day's "Longview.")
• Go on vacation by myself. (I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to re-do Rome solo. I would spend all day writing, reading and drinking cappuccinos and even some wine in cafes. I would even totally try a Bikram yoga class in Italian... The poses are universal, after all.)
• Get a dog. (Not a puppy. But a dog. A big dog. I love dogs.)
• Go out more with friends. (It was easier to do when I lived in NYC. Boston's not much of a "go-out" city when you get married. Thinking of maybe starting a "Friday Night Strictly With Friends" night.)

This is it for now. Is there anything else I should do? I know Brevitt thinks I should sit back, relax and listen to some more Tay Zonday. I mean, I love Tay Zonday. But there's only so much Tay Zonday you can take dude. Thanks though, Brev.

P.S. Brevitt, position four in Google after only one day! Prepare to give up your position. Check mate my friend!

My Extra Marital, Intimate Relationships.

Apologies. The above title is a bit misleading. You probably continued to read the posting simply because you thought "Scandalous! What's she fessing up to?"

Sorry to disappoint. This isn't what you think. There are no other men in my life romantically. This posting is about the other women in my life.

Yes, women. But not in that way, you perverts.

For the past few weeks, I have gotten up every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 5:30am to work out with a trainer. She is very good at her job. She has shown me how to isolate muscle groups as best as possible. And at the end of our session, my legs are shaking and my arms can barely lift above my head.

At the end of each session though, she makes me lie down on a massage table in the stretching area. She stands up on the table and lifts each of my legs in turn to stretch them. They get bent, pulled out, shoved into my chest. But, because I am extremely flexible, she has to use a lot of her strength to stretch out the muscles. So she basically ends up mounting me on the table to stretch things out.

I always wonder if the other people in the gym are freaked out by this display. Or if they are possibly turned on. It worries me that we could be giving someone their daily "entertainment." But then I let the thought go. There's nothing sexual about it for me. So I shouldn't care what others think.

And yet, as you know, I tend to think a lot. Over think, some say. And this got me analyzing my mornings at the gym. I developed some very intimate relationships with other women as a result of hitting the gym on these two weeks days consistently. There are other women who work out on these days too. And not only do I see them with their trainers on the floor; I also see them in locker room.

Once I'd developed my routine at the gym in the mornings, I realized that I keep seeing the same women naked in the locker room. And I know we're all supposed to be comfortable with nakedness. And I am. But I think it's somewhat odd that I know other women's naked bodies.

Let's be honest, naked or clothed, girls are always checking out other girls. But not in a sexual way. We are always comparing our selves to other. So seeing the same women naked twice a week, these are the thoughts that have flooded into my brain:

• I wouldn't want to have her boobs, because they have got to be fake. No one's boobs are that ridiculously high-set on their body.
• I would LOVE to have her back. Perfectly toned. (Must ask trainer for more back exercises.)
• I thought I was the only one with wide hips and a big bum at this gym... But mine is perky and petite compared to hers.
• That woman has a face that says she is is her late 50s. That chick over there has a face that looks to be in her late 20s. Yet, the 50-year old has a better body. It's toned. the 20-something has a very un-toned and way to tan body. She's gonna age very quickly!
• That chick uses the same blue poof sponge every day I see her. Those things are bacteria magnets! But she always has the prettiest bras. I wonder where she gets them?
• Why does that chick always have to stand naked in the middle of her dressing area rubbing lotion all over her body. It's not an attractive position she stands in.

I told my husband about all this nakedness at the gym. I asked him how he felt about me having these intimate relationships with these women. (Because seeing someone naked on a regular basis does note an intimate relationship, even if it's not sexual.)

"I reference Seinfeld on this one - This falls into the category of 'Good Naked vs. Bad Naked'. Quality is key here. If it makes you want to follow their example around me though, I'm all for it."

Typical man.

Acupuncture: Meridians.

Tonight I had the second in my monthly acupuncture series. And I find it more and more useful each time I go.

As most of you know, I've been going to acupuncture for about six months now. Even though I initially started going to work on one thing, I've actually begun to gear it more towards other things. In particular, overall health.

One person asked me recently if the sessions have helped me with the initial ailment I wanted to work on. And the answer to that questions is "Yes." But not in the way some of you may think. I've begun to realize that maybe I didn't need fixing for this ailment. (It's complicated. And unfortunately, I am prevented from writing about it.)

But the bottom line is the acupuncture has helped me in many more ways. In last week's session, the acu-therapist asked me about my health. There was one area in particular I was concerned about. Then, when she was putting the needles in me, I felt none really go in EXCEPT for the one that corresponds to the meridian of that ailment. That one needle I felt go in. And it was a hard pinch on my upper back. And my back began to spasm around that pressure point.

"It's tender?" she asked.

"Ohmigosh, yes!" I squealed.

After the session, I asked her what was up with that pressure point.

"It's the one that corresponds to that ailment you mentioned earlier. Energy was stuck there. We'll work on it next week if it isn't moving then," she explained.

I didn't need to work on it tonight though. The problem corrected itself since last week's session.

I'm telling you people, you have to try acupuncture a few times. I am a different person than I was six months ago... And I am definitely a different person than I was nine months ago. (Remember the over-worked, stressed-out girl who worked non-stop and frequently used coffee drinks to feed her emotions?)

What's changed specifically?

• I eat a lot better.
• I drink way less coffee.
• I drink more water.
• My dreams; holy crap are they on a spiritual kick!
• I have more energy after each session.
• Stress? What the hell is that? I don't know anymore.
• I sleep through the night. (No waking up to pee at 3am on the spot every night.)

Everyone should try it at least once.

The United States Doesn't Like Canadians.

Yes... I am convinced of this... Now.

Remember back in December when I wrote about the exquisitely pleasant experience I had flying American Airlines? Well, since then, my husband and I have joked that he was probably put on to some special list with the airlines because he always get pulled aside to be checked individually when we fly. Even though it was me that called the American Airlines whore-ish desk attendant a "bitch," he was the one put on the list, not me.

Well, flash forward five months since then to about a week ago. The Husband and I were watching 60 minutes. We saw a piece about how out of date and inaccurate the government's "No Fly" list was, and how people with common names were being prevented and severely hassled by TSA employees whenever they went to fly. Bottom line from the piece was, "If you have a common name, and someone with that name is on the 'No Fly' list, you are eff-ed. Seriously eff-ed.'"

My husband and I joked to each other that he was probably on that list. But in reality, we figured he wasn't because he just has an extra search when he flies. He's not taken aside into a little room and asked a bunch of questions.

At least he hadn't been, until today.

Poor Husband was trying to fly back to Boston from Toronto this afternoon. He was pulled aside at Pearson in Toronto. He has his initial screening. Then a secondary screening. Then he was photographed and fingerprinted. All this despite having a U.S. Greencard.

His bag didn't make the flight. So the airport has promised to drop it off when it arrives later. This just blows though. He hasn't exactly had the best of experiences when it comes to the U.S. and trying to re-enter.

Tay Zonday, My New Fave!

My friend Brevitt posted about this kid last week, Tay Zonday. I have no idea how he found this kid on YouTube, but he is awesome.

Now, the kid does have a "creepy" factor to him. First, his looks are so innocent. He's 25, but looks 13. (A pedophile's dream! Eww!) And his voice is just adds to the creepy factor... It's so deep.

So, I am bringing back the YouTube battle for this week. And it's the Tay Zonday YouTube battle, and it's dedicated to Brevitt... Who is the seond biggest Tay Zonday fan. (After me, of course.)

So comment vote people! Which Tay Zonday song do you like best? Please take the following into consideration when you comment vote for your favorite "Tay Zonday" video:

*Tay Zonday's song lyrics.
*Tay Zonday's facial expressions.
*Tay Zonday's mad keyborading skillz.
*Tay Zonday's boyish good looks.

Tay Zonday: Demon On The Dance Floor



Tay Zonday: Rainbow Connection

Am I The Only One Who Watches VH1?

Umm... This either indicates that I am the biggest loser or the most pop-cultured on my team here at work...

A co-worker of mine and were talking about the growing obesity problem in Asian countries among their children. In Japan, kids there love to hit the McDonald's after their school day and chow down on the greasy (but tasty) stuff. But now they are starting to develop obese characteristics, similar to American children.

So I made the comment, "Instead of 'turning Japanese' they're turning American. But of course, we all know what that song is REALLY about."

All I got was a blank stare from my three team members. No one knew what the song was about. They wanted to know. But I wouldn't say it out loud. So I instant messaged it to them.

I guess I am the only one who watches VH1's specials on various music-related things. I, personally, think that enhances my attractiveness to other people. It makes me wittier. Or it could just show that I have spent too many nights in watching VH1.

"Ironical."

I heard someone using this word repeatedly the other day. And I mentioned to them that I didn't believe it to be a word. They tried to convince me otherwise.

I was wrong. They were right.



I don't talk so good. And I don't know too many words. My bad. Apologies.

What's In.

Someone commented to me recently about my fashion sense. I don't think they meant it as a slight. But I felt like they were mocking me just a little.

"Your bag matches your outfit," was the basic remark. The tone seemed slightly negative, as though they were making fun of me for making a fashion faux pas.

Then, this evening, I was finally catching up on my glossies, and saw this on the last page of the magazine in the "What's In, What's Out" section.



I guess my fashion sense is more in tune than I thought lately. Normally, I am way off with the trends. Guess this one was perfectly timed.

Not much in life is perfectly timed. So it throws me a bit when things like this happen.

Break It Down.

One of the things that I've been learning about in the past few months, with all the energy work I've had done, is how your body breaks down what you put into it.

When you eat things that are loaded with chemicals and are incredibly processed, its going to take your body a while to break it down. And when it comes to fast food, I am shocked by exactly how long it can take. Check out this video I came across on YouTube.



Insane, isn't it? And too bad. One of my favorite treats in the world is an order of McDonald's french fries. I can never eat those things again.

Well, maybe not "never." "Never" is a long time. I don't ever plan on eating those again.

"I've Met You Before, Yes?"

Have you ever simply seen someone before and thought, "I know you from somewhere?" The feeling that you already met this person before is so strong, that you momentarily want to say this to them to figure out where and when.

But then you realize that it is crazy. It isn't possible you have met them before.

I bring this up, because I just woke up from another nap where I dreamed about someone I had felt an instant connection to when I met them.

It was a few years ago. I was at an interview in a city I was still new to. This person was introduced to me, and I looked at them and right away felt at ease. I was running through the furthest corners of my brain to try to figure out where I knew them from. But I kept coming up with nothing.

The dream I had about this person is one that have had a few times since I met this person. Even though we don't work together any more (and haven't in a really long time), I dreamt that we were going to see a client. This person was holding my hand as we walked. When we came to an elevator, they hopped on and went up without me. I got in the next elevator and followed them. When I got up to the floor, I asked them, "Why didn't you wait for me?"

Their answer was, "I love my wife! I love my wife!"

They screamed this at me while madly grabbing my hand. Then they proceed to walk to the client meeting with me while dragging me along by the hand.

Then I wake up.

Soon after I had this dream the first time, this person stopped being nice to me... For the most part. I still have no idea why. And I am confused as to why I have continued to have this dream. I must have some unfinished business with this person from a past life. I must have annoyed them in my past life.

RELAXing Afternoon.

I was out till 5am on Friday night. (More on that later.) And because my body won't sleep in past 8:30am any day, I was up after only three hours of sleep. After I forced myself to eat at brunch, I headed over to the salon to take care of my hare problem.

The hair problem I am referring to is my naturally wavy/curly, frizzy long hair. I took care of it by getting it chemically relaxed. And it was a little painful.

Not hard painful. More like continuous pinching and snagging for two hours.

I guess that happens when you have very long, ridiculously thick hair. (So deal with it, Missus!) I had to get it straightened because it was too high maintenance to deal with. You can't wash curly hair as often because it dries the cuticles out and causes frizz.

How often is too often for curly hair? Well, I have had friends who wouldn't wash their hair for a week straight. They had beautiful curly hair... But I can't go that long with out washing it. I need to do it at least every other day. (I have to.)

So, after sitting for two and a half hours while dying to fall asleep in the chair (but couldn't because of the constant hair-combing - which is what they do when they straighten your hair), I walked out of Salon Marc Harris with pin straight, long locks.

And I LOVE it!

My hair is so long now. In the front, it goes down to my mid-biceps. On the back, it goes down past my mid-back.

I will, of course, have to get it thinned out and cut later this week. But I am loving the straight hair for now. Thanks to Soxy Lady for giving me the idea to get my hair relaxed.

Big Love, Big Fun.

I love coming across interactive marketing games online. It happened to me twice today.

First, when I tried to log in to one of my vendors, I was given a splash page that reminded me the site had scheduled maintenance and would be down. Instead, it offered me a game of Pac-Man to play. (Sweet!)

Then, while reading some news online, I came across an ad for "Big Love Land." It's a fun little game based around the HBO series "Big Love." The whole point of the game is to get through it and see where you rank in the order of the wives... One, two or three. (Wife "One' has the most power and pull, and is usually the only wife legally married to the husband.)

Where did I rank?

Number one of course!

Job Myths.

Just saw this article on Boston.com about six major job myths...

I agree with the writer on every single myth. Especially the following two...

#1. Job hopping ruins your resume. Job hopping is one of the best ways to sustain passion and personal growth in your career. It also helps you build a network quickly and allows you to build your skill set faster than if you worked in the same job year after year. The learning curve is always highest at the beginning. (I have had 9 jobs in the 8 years I have been out of school. And I have an eclectic set of skills because I had a few different types of jobs.)

#6. Work hard and good things will come. You'll actually be rewarded only if you're likable. People get hired for their qualifications, but they get promoted because people like working with them. So spend your days trying to figure out what people need and what people want, and how you can help them. Empathy makes you likable. (So very, very true. This is why it is important to like the people you work for... I've worked at a company in the past three years where only the brown-nosers and the people who liked to sleep "up" got promoted. I am neither of those things. And I was only able to get so far up the ladder because I bitched and complained. But I refuse to kiss ass, and I refuse sleep "up.")

Calories Burned In Bikram.

I've often wondered exactly how many calories a person can burn in a Bikram yoga class.

I've read online that it is between 300 and 600 calories per 90 minute class. So I always guessed (just to be modest) that I was only burning about 350 calories in a session. I was wrong.

Yesterday, I wore my Polar heart monitor during the Bikram class. I was shocked by how many calories it said I burned... 712.

Seven hundred and twelve???? That's insane!

Insane, but fairly accurate.

Based on my heart rate and all my other statistics, I burned through over 700 calories in just one session of Bikram. And according to everything I am finding online, the Polar heart monitor's calorie calculator is fairly accurate. So even if it is off by as much as 10%, I still burned nearly 650 calories in one session of yoga.

How cool is that?????

Want to know how much I burned my training session yesterday morning? Only 222.

Trash Your Wedding Dress?

I saw this article in the Styles section this weekend about brides who are taking their wedding dresses and "trashing" them for photo shoots.

Sounds awful? Well, it's actually meant to be artistic.

Brides are putting their dresses back on and posing for photographers in situations where the dress gets ruined. Photo settings have included plunging the bride in water, having her roll around in mud to even lighting the dress on fire!



I got married three years ago. And people have asked me what I have done with my wedding dress. I still have mine hanging in my dressing room. I haven't even paid to have it cleaned after wearing it on my wedding day. It went off my body, straight back into the garment bag.

And even though I will likely never wear the dress again, I can't imagine "trashing" it. It would break my heart to damage a very expensive dress beyond wearable condition.

I hope this trend fades fast.

Solo Weekend.

I won't lie... I LOVE it when The Husband occasionally goes out of town for the weekend. And this coming one happens to be one of those weekends.

I'm not one of those gals who has to spend every free minute with her significant other. I never have been. I never will be.

Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and enjoy his company. But I occasionally need a break and have the apartment to myself. This weekend, I have a few comforting things in store for myself...

• Cleaning the house with out another person coming behind me making a mess.
• Brunch and fashion glossies. (One of my favorite things to do solo.)
• Movies! (I'm a big believer in movie theaters were made for going to on your own. You can't talk in them. So why go with someone else? Plus, then you get to control what you see without anyone else's influence.)
• Hair Appointment. (Getting my hair "relaxed" for the Summer at the salon. I'm tired of the really thick and wavy-frizzy hair. Can you say "trashy?")

These are just a few things I plan to do this weekend. And come next Tuesday, when The Husband is back in town, I will be so happy to see him after our time apart.

Fondness does make the heart grow fonder.

Snake Sandals.

A girl can always rely on the Barney's seasonal shoe sale.

Really. Truly.

After spotting some snake skin sandals earlier this year online, I found the same shoes at Barney's for 50% off this past weekend. Even better, they are red snake skin strappy sandals!



Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for... And exactly in my size!

Barney's did have the orange ones though, but I had to go for the red.

I Am In Pain.

Kinda... But it's totally my fault!

I worked out with my trainer this morning at Equinox. I was up at 5:30am, and in the gym by 6am doing bar raises, planks, oblique planks, lat pull-downs, chest flies, and weighted steps. My lats and my obliques hurt a little right now. I am sure it will all hurt tomorrow.

At the end of the work day, I decided to hit the 5:30pm Bikram class. I was fine during the class. In fact, I was able to stabilize my poses better than I have been lately.

But I guarantee you that tomorrow morning, I will have serious problems lifting my arms above my head. Should make showering very interesting.

It IS Aerobic.

Whenever I tell some people about my Bikram yoga practice, they like to dispute that it's a "well-rounded" form of exercise.

Mostly, these people tend to be those who believe that you can only get "fit" by attending a gym where you can do cardio, because they don't believe that Bikram is aerobic.

I can tell you people though that I know for a FACT that Bikram is aerobic.

I know this because after purchasing my heart monitor last week, I wore it during yesterday's Bikram class. And based on my stats (height, weight, age, etc...), my "cardio fitness" zone is 131 to 171 heartbeats per minute. During 80% of yesterday's Bikram class, my heart rate was between 140 to 161 beats per minute. And that is the ideal range for me, according to my trainer.

Perfect Sandals.

The Husband and I have a wedding to go to at the end of July. It's in Toronto for some friends of ours.

I have been to quite a few summer weddings over the past few years, and I have always played it "low-key" when it came to dressing for them. I always wore black, and almost never any color. This year, I am doing it differently.

I am still going to wear a black dress. (Strapless cotton, a-line.) But this year I am mixing it up with a hot pink wrap. The only thing I need to go with this summer ensemble, though, is a pair of colorful strappy sandals. Similar to these...



These are orange. But I like the shape. If I could find something like this in a pink or purple, I'll be all set.

Time to start searching! Only seven weeks till the wedding!

One Last Picture...

One last picture from the Pride Parade this afternoon...



Good times. Great music.

I'm Cool Enough Now, I Guess.

I went back outside to snap a few pictures of all the craziness and fun that is going on outside.

I found out that the start of the Gay Pride Parade is pretty much outside our building. Thus why all the fun is happening here.

Angry downstairs neighbor is back in town, now that the construction on his apartment is done. he was sitting on the front steps.

"This is so cool, isn't it?" He screamed at me, over Rhianna's "Umbrella" blaring from a float nearby.

"Yeah!" I screamed back. "I don't remember it being this crazy last year!"

He told me the Husband and I needed to head over to the block party near the Chandler Inn later today. It's supposed to be crazy fun, and, as he put it, "You guys would be like one of the few straight people there. That would be way cool."

It's odd that he's being so nice. I like it. I think I might head over there later today for a beer or two.

Check out the fun:

Wieners and Gay Pride.

I stumbled out of bed late this morning.

I have been so tired lately, I seem to be sleeping longer and longer every day. (Went to bed at 10pm last night... WEAK!)

Anyhow, I got up this morning about 9am (which is about 2 hours later than normal on the weekends,) and I dragged myself across the street to the Starbucks for a soy latte. When I got outside though, I had a fun surprise.



Two guys dancing in skimpy shorts in the window of Motley Home.

Yes, it's Gay Pride. And my apartment is in the thick of all the action here on Tremont Street. I managed to navigate the crowd at Starbucks (which was very packed this morning with all the excitement) and get back home quickly.

As soon as I got in, I switched to the History Channel, as it is my usual Saturday morning ritual. Last Saturday I was treated to a documentary about Jonestown. Today though, it was a documentary about the history of the hot dog. It was quite interesting viewing.

Today has a "wiener" theme I guess.

Dressing Room Sofa.

Someday... I will own a house. And I will have my own large "office" in it. (Rather than the small one I have now.)

And in this office, I will have the most feminine (but not "girly") furniture. And the piece I want most is a feminine sofa, like this one...





I found this on UrbanOutfitters.com. It's perfect for an office, or at the end of a bed (instead if a bench.) I could probably go ahead and fit it into my dressing room for now, if I want it that badly.

But I don't know that I do. I love it. Just not sure how much.

Propositioned In Downtown Crossing.

Wow... Walking to work in the morning can be quite the adventure!

While walking down Temple Street to hit the Starbucks on my way into work this morning, I was propositioned. You know, like a hooker. Or as they say here in Boston, "A Hook-ah."

A homeless man came walking towards me. He had a wad of crumpled one dollar bills in his hand. A whole lot of them. He smiled at me.

"I gotta a whole lota money," he said. "And I wanna go home with you real bad baby. Please????!!!!????"

I just laughed and kept walking. No need for a response to him.

It's good to know, though, that if I ever felt the urge (though not likely) to become a prostitute, I can at least bank on the homeless population.

Though, perhaps I should feel a little insulted and ego-bruised that I have only ever been propositioned by a homeless person?

Whatever. It's all funny. And at least I never have to worry about money. Ya know?

Downtown Crazies...

Crazy "Jesus or Hell" Preacher Guy wasn't around this beautiful afternoon in Downtown Crossing.

Instead, a few other crazies were taking his place.



I saw two groups at different locations in downtown with this same set-up. I didn't exactly catch what they were yapping on about. But they had the Ten Commandments posted on tablets with the presentation.

So I am guessing it was about God. And how the rest of us are going to hell if we don't become good people and stop being heathers... I mean heathens.

Spring In The Common.

Grabbed this snapshot on my walk from the gym to work this morning.



The Common has such pretty flowers right now.

It's Soy Good.

I have switched to drinking soy in my lattes in the morning. Normally, I go for skim milk and then pat two raw sugars into it. But I have found that when I put soy in it, I don't need any sugar. It tastes sweet enough without it.

So why the soy and no skim milk? Am I going vegan?

Um, no. (Did you not see my previous post on all the ice cream I tasted yesterday?)

I am just trying to cut back on eating a lot of dairy. It's not good for you. And when you're not eating meat, it's easy to substitute in dairy to get your protein. But that's not an ideal switch-out.

I don't think I could ever go vegan.