Violent Femmes, Adult Chuck-E-Cheese and best of all...

VODKA! Last night was John-Boys 34-th birthday. Yes, I think this officially enters him into the old category. Anyhoo- we went to Dave and Busters. The best place in the land. Or thats what I was saying last night. Sometimes its just fun to go hang out with your buddies, drink, and shoot things. Without actually being a red-neck. I mean, what other place encourages you to drink, shoot people, and virtually drive? ITS AWESOME. For once, I didnt get my butt kicked playing all the games- I came in right in the middle...small victories are amazing these days.

I did realize that even as we get older, we really don't change that much. As a small kid, I loved playing all the silly arcade games that gave me useless tickets so I could redeem into some useless prize. Last night the same. Only thing that Dave and Busters doesnt have, which would make it the greatest place of all time, is the big ole ball pit. Can you imagine a bunch of slightly inebriated adults playing in the balls- no pun intended. I promise.

This morning, on my way to work- I heard Violent Femmes on our local alt station- its going to be, and has been a great day so far!!

Ode to hand lotion.....

Ok.. thats probably one of my creepier titles, but lately, I have been experiencing some dry skin. I think its age related- like the older that I get, the more moisture is being sucked out of my body.

I have become slightly obscessed with lotions. In fact, last night, whilst slathering on Bath and Body works latest confection "Vanilla Bean", I was channeling Hannibal Lector, or that other guy from Silence of the Lambs and saying "you put the lotion on the skin". I seriously have problems.

I have hand lotion, Le Couvent Des Minimes, on my desk. I have Kiehls lotions extrodinaire in my purse. I have kitchen sink appropriate lotion. I have cute spare bathroom lotion. Basically, what I am saying here- market a new lotion, and I will buy it. I am just that pathetic, bored and ashy.

I'm not really ashy- To be ashy would mean I would have to have some shred of color in my skin, which would mean I could see the daylight. Which would mean I could get a day off. But in reality, I would probably spend the day off at the mall buying more lotion.

Its tragic this screwed up way that I think.

7lbs

gone. there yesterday, gone today.

now, trust me dear internet, i am not bemoaning the fact that i lost 7lbs. in fact, i am silently cheering and eating my sugar free jello all at the same time.

how the heck does one loose 7lbs in one day? am i going to find it tomorrow on my ass?

this concerns me greatly.

it has been determined

by my friends, that my life is going to "exponentially improve" once i move to D.C.

Ahem. Seems that some of my girlfriends are less than impressed with my latest routine of work, sleep, football and more sleep. And work. And the occasional drinkathon.

They think I am going to get culture. Or a boyfriend. Or a new life.

I think I am just going to be doing the same things there that I am here. I shall work. I shall find some shitty bar, drink my vodka, and do the same things..I really am ok with that.

Santa Schmanta...

Yesterday was November 8, 2005.

I was at the mall. Against my will. I had a migraine, but had to pick something up. It was NOVEMBER 8th, and SANTA WAS PLUNKED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MALL.

WHAT THE HOLY HELL IS WRONG WITH THE WORLD WHEN SANTA IS AT THE MALL THE FIRST DAMN WEEK IN NOVEMBER.

Now, I love Christmas. I mean, love it with all my heart and soul. Love the cooking, love the decorating, love everything. But there is a time and a place, and in my world, that stuff doesnt happen till AFTER MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE ON THANKSGIVING.

I love Thanksgiving, I love turkey, I love Adam Sandler's turkey song. I am NOT ready for Christmas yet. SLOW DOWN WORLD, its going too damn fast.

Is this what it has come to?

My life has fallen into a pretty boring routine. Sad routine. I don't know how to fix it.

I work about eleventy million hours a week.
I go to the gym before work every morning.
By the time I get home, I am so wiped, all I can do is make a bowl of soup or cereal, read or knit for about 5 minutes and fall asleep.

On the weekends, I spend Saturday running all the errands that I didnt get to run during the week.
Sunday, I try to see everyone that I dont get to see during the week. And watch football. And do something for myself.

It's not a bad life, but I am defintally in a rut. Work is going great, but I wake up in the morning thinking about work, I work all day, and then it takes me a while to stop thinking about work when I get home.

I realize that a lot of my friendships have really been neglected over the past four months- Between work, and sleep and travel, I don't have the time or energy to really do anything else.

I haven't been on a real date in ages, but don't really see the point of going out with anyone right now since I am moving.

I guess I just feel like my life is in one gigantic holding pattern. My free time today was spent researching the best way to ship my cat from Austin to D.C. Yes, I know, it really can't get more exciting that that.

Not sure what the point is with this post, but its 9:30pm, and I am heading to bed. Yep, I am just really super excited.

I hate CATS...

and I dont mean the animals. I was just listening to my Launchcast, and a stupid, stupid song form Andrew Lloyd Webers "Cats" came on. Seriously, how many drugs was he on when he wrote that one?

I seriously HATE that one. I also cant stand Les Mis.

I love Rent, Aida, Wicked, Secret Garden, Hairspray, You're a good man charlie brown, Grease, Company, Sunday in the Park with George (my all time favorite), Amour was fun, Evita, Sunset Blvd, Moving Out...there are so many good ones. BUT I HATE CATS. Hell, A Year with Frog and Toad was even better than Cats. I love Into the Woods. I love Annie.

Sorry- just my little useless rant for the night.

November 23, 2005

I shall be at the Movie theatre. Yes, me. If you know me at all, you would know that I hate going to the movies. I am cheap. And only when it comes to the movies. I will spend 60 bucks on a facial, but I wont spend 8 bucks on a movie. Why do you ask, am I going to break my imposed movie ban?

THIS... http://www.siteforrent.com/intro.html and http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/rent/


I can barely contain myself.

Seriously.

attack of the killer candy bowl

its there.
staring at me.

the remnants of halloween- reeses peanut butter cups, nerds, hershey bars and suckers.

i must divest my house of this crap, asap, otherwise, i shall eat it all.

Daylight Savings Time

I seriously can't figure out why I hate it so much. I was all excited about sleeping in this morning. I know, I know it shouldnt make a darn bit of difference what "time" I wake up, but I soo wanted to laze around and wake up, at well, at least 9 or 10.

I woke up at 7. Which was really 6. Bleh.

Totally second random thought- Santana- yes, he is great, but I am watching CBS this morning right now, and they are comparing his music to religion. Clearly, I am missing something. Don't get me wrong- I love the guys talent, but a religion? Nah, I clearly need to smoke something to make that happen in my mind.

I think I need to go take a nap.

home, gnomes and all is right in the world

Dear Reader,

My name is, well, you know what my name is, and I am happy to say that I AM HOME. Yes sireree Bobby, I am at the Casa de NQM and I am loving life. I am in my brand spanking new Gnome pj's that my mama sent me- Glam I am not-ever see a 28 year onld in pj's? It pretty much solidifies one of the many reasons why I am probably still single. I digress. I'm home. I am on my couch. I slept in my bed. It's just so good to be here.

Things I did realize last night- My house is huge by D.C. standards. After house hunting all week long, and coming back to my place, I realize that I can downsize into a smaller place. (Not saying that I want to, but I can.) I love my house. Ever just walk around your home and grin? I did that when I woke up this morning, because I finally realized what a great place I have. Another massive realization is that I can not keep travelling like this. Some people are road warriors, but I am NOT. I am a home body. I need to make sure that when I move, I won't be travelling like this, because, I do believe I will need sedatives. Another goal of mine, is to spend time with all of my friends before I move to D.C. I am going to make time with each and everyone, making sure I am spending time with my friends, and also, making time for myself.

Today, today- what to do? Part of me doesn't want to do a damn thing. Then there is this other HUGE part of me that wants to go out and run around Austin all day and just start soaking it in.


Have a great day,

i shall be having room service

I wish my house had a hotel staff. Now, I don't want to live full time in a hotel, well unless I could have a garden, and a kitchen. I do love the daily maid service. I love room service. I love having someone come bring me food while I am in my pj's and then come take away the tray. I love having them bring me water with extra ice. Its enjoyable.

In the past month, I have stayed at 8 hotels. Yep, 8. Some good, some not so good. Some bad, some not so bad. The one thing I love at all of the properties is the room service. Tonight, grilled salmon salad and a diet coke. Yesterday morning for breakfast, scrambled egg whites and a cup of tea. Last Sunday (well, two weeks ago), French Onion Soup and a kick ass chicken Waldorf salad. Variety in the kitchen without having to cook. Its such a good thing.

My thoughts about the seasons and other things

Fall, oh fall..it's not so beautiful anymore.
Autumn, as I know and love it, is over with.

It's now that yuck time betwitx Winter and Fall- craptastic time. Yep, that windy, cold icky time. Hopefully, we shall transition quickly.

Few quick little comments and I shall move on.

1. Blogs are for fun.
2. Blogs are not about anything more than just fun, personal stuff.
3. Blogs don't represent the company that pays the person that writes them. Not that the person would ever write about the company, but just in case, that needs to be said.
4. This blog, shall always be about my favorite things- food, gardening, shopping, volunteering, reading, and talking about my friends. Well, and random things I find online. And music. And my deep love of Starbucks. These are things that don't necessairly define me, but add to me. A blog is just a place where I put down some of these thoughts.
5. During the next few months, this will be a place where I journal a personal transition, and I am going to continue using it as such. Again, this is a personal journal. Nuff said. Think I made my point.

NQM, is back and getting ready for the big time- Thanksgiving, Christmas and a cross country move. Praise be to Nordstroms, hold on to your purses, this is going to be a busy 90 days!

dear lord help me..

I am in California.
San Diego to be exact. Now, San Diego, I don't really have a problem with. In fact, I am rather enjoying my time here. Let me tell you about my hour and a half in Los Angeles. I FREAKIN HATED. I MEAN HATED WITH AN UNHOLY PASSION. Its 8:45 or something, I dont know- hard telling when you lose a few hours flying west. I am walking off the plane, into LAX where I am suddenly surronded by more Louis Vouittan luggage and stupid stilletos (AT 8AM)- what are you trying to accomplish on a Sunday morning people), I digress. ITS 8:45 AM AT LAX and they are BLASTING GWEN STEFANI HOLLABACK GIRL. I HATE THAT SONG. I REALLY HATE THAT SONG.

then.. I go off in search of Starbucks- there are at least eleventy million people in line. No problem, I am going to another terminal, they should have a 'bucks there right? WRONG. But they do have GREEENDAY BLASTING THAT DAMN AMERICAN IDIOT SONG. I can see why people are bitter by living out here. Its evil.

But, I got to San Diego, and its gorgeous. My room at the Marriot on the Harbor has a balcony. I can hear the clang clang clang of the trolly (I rather feel like Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis), I can see the lights of Nordstroms from my room (a rather religious experience), and I can see water. Somehow, that makes it all better. It really does.

California is probably not for me. If I can make it out of here before an earthquake strikes, I will be blissed out.

remember what I was saying about times..

they are a changing...

well, I got thrown for another big loop today. Got a call from my company today. Was told that I am, well, needed at the main office. As in permenantly. Starting January 2nd, 2006. Which means, I am leaving Austin. My home for the past 5 years. I really don't know how I feel about this. Even as I type this, it doesnt seem quite real. I know some people that have picked up and moved 3-4 times in the course of two years. I prefer roots. I enjoy roots. I enjoy building my place in the community, with my friends, and in my career. But, sometimes things need to be repotted.

So there you have it. Things are changing.

I need to go think about this.

trick or treat?

As Halloween quickly approaches, I am amazed at how its being pushed aside by Christmas. I ran to a store last night and was amazed by the competing holiday decorations.

I wish we wouldn't rush things so much. We need to savor the days, as I am getting older, am realizing that my days are whizzing by in an insane blur that frightens me. I find myself getting up earlier in the day, just to have a few more precious minutes.

This morning, I walked around my house, looked at my Autumn decorations, tweaked the occasional pumpkin or three and enjoyed it being October. As much as I love Christmas, I am just not ready for that time of the year yet.

I just wish things would just slow down a bit.

projects or priorities

When tasked with a project, you create a timeline, a plan of action and then get moving. You look toward the end of the project, and then you move towards completion. How hard is this.

I am watching Martha Stewart Apprentice tonight, and am BLOWN away by the total incompetence by some of the people applying for this job. They have the worst atitudes. I wonder, are they applying for the job because the want to work for MSLO, or do they want to be on TV? Seriously. People do not want to take responsibilities for there errors. They are arguing with the woman that they want to work for I JUST DONT GET IT. They are on a JOB INTERVIEW. Am I missing part of the equation? What is wrong with these people. They have an opportunity of a lifetime and they act like children.

Just my thoughts for the evening.

set in my ways

As I am getting older, I realize that I am establishing a few patterns here and there. I watch West Wing every week, I paint my toe nails on Sunday nights, I water my plants every other night. I open my mail on Wednesday's and Saturday mornings. I have no idea how on earth that pattern started, but it is what it is.
Every morning, I hit the 'Bucks before 8am, and am at my office at 8:05. Every morning. Every morning, I get up at 5:26 am. 4 minutes before my alarm goes off.
On Sundays I watch football with the guys, on Saturdays I get mani's with the girls.
Once a year, for the past 4 years, I volunteer for Coats for Kids. The first Thursday of each month, I have a board meeting for CASA. The second Tuesday, I have another volunteer meeting.
My life is very routine. Very organized. This has really only come to be in the past year and a half. In fact, I don't know really when it happened.

As I said. I am set in my ways. Its really, really frightening.

hi ho hi ho off to the...

crack dealer i go.

well, rather I went. This morning, I made my inauguaral trip to my brand spankin new NEIGHBOORHOOD DRIVE THRU STARBUCKS. I didn't drive through- I wanted to stop in, and introduce myself to my new best friends, or rather my dealers. All seemed so nice and sweet, especially Chuck, a rather sweet 65 year old gentleman who crafted me a rather tasty non fat vanilla latte this morning.

This weekend was divine. I spent the entire weekend doing what I wanted. How selfish, I know. I spent most of the time working in my garden, repotting my plants and working in my patio beds. I have an entire potting station off my patio now that is great to work in. I need to figure out a way to make this a permanant solution that I can utilize all year long. I also started planting some bulbs that I will be forcing this winter.

I visited with quite a few friends this weekend- had people over to my house off and on for wine and conversation, and then met up with a group yesterday for football later in the day.

I started a knitting project, but I think I am going to rip it out. The yarn is called "Poodle", a great black that indeed looks like a black poodle, but its not coming out really well on the 10.5's- I generally am a really loose knitter, and for once I think I am knitting too tight. I guess I am going to re-guage on 11's and see what happens. For those of you that don't knit, I am pretty sure this past paragraph might have well been written in swahelli, but it torks me off, as I have about 7 inches of this scarf pattern done with the bobbles and I just hate it.

So, this concludes my Monday morning musings before I hurl myself in the world of *ahem* business. (was that general enough for you)

I found two new recipes that I am going to post, as well as a few new items that I am in love with.

Check back later.

-k

success

this morning has been a gardening sucess. i have repotted 18 plants in total, and have laid fresh mulch down on one of my back beds.

i have a great chili simmering on the stove- you can actually keep this going all day, despite the fact that the recipe says its a 20 minute project.

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped carrots
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes with liquid, chopped
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, undrained
• 1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dried basil
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

---

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir the garlic, onion, and carrots in the pot until tender. Mix in the green bell pepper and red bell pepper. Season with chili powder. Continue cooking 5 minutes, or until peppers are tender.
2. Mix the mushrooms into the pot. Stir in the tomatoes with liquid, black beans with liquid, kidney beans with liquid, pinto beans with liquid, and corn. Season with cumin, oregano, basil, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Finally....

I am knitting a new scarf- its black and looks like a poodle with big bobbles on it. Will post pictures later.

Have a great day