I had a bit of a meltdown last night. I wore sleeves when I sat on the couch of death to prevent further bites and instead whatever it is bit the hell out of my neck and collarbone (vampire bed-flea-ders! ARGH NO!!!). Took a Tylenol PM to hope to bring the swelling and itching down which means that today is both itchy and sleepy. (swelling down, itching not so much. I must admit the fact that these bites are so itchy they hurt concerns me) Before I got the bites, I pulled out the couch and vacuumed the entire damn thing. Front, back, sides, cushions and mattress. And the the vacuum cleaner stopped worked (I think I clogged the filter) and I quit everything until today. About half an hour after I finished the vacuuming is when the vampire bed-flea-ders attacked, at which point I had to call stentoriansista and whine for 20 minutes.

I am about ready to set this damn couch on fire.

In other news, when I was out with a cold the other week, I started watching the LG15 series. Ugh. ( Spoilers McGee they calls me )

I'm having a bit of a pity party right now. I feel like I might have a mild sinus infection - my Eustachian tubes are killing me, it hurts to swallow and I've got a bunch of really gross mucus doing really gross things. And my head has been awful today (the painkillers just kicked in, thank goodness) and my low back is painful and I'm exhusted. Boo. And I actually got over 8 hours sleep for once and still almost called out because I feel so crappy. And we're supposed to go costco and then karaoke at playbill tonight, but... wow, that sounds really unappealing right now. And I can't believe I just said I don't want to go to costco.

I'd take a nap in my office during lunch, but I've got a volunteer in here doing data entry. Grah.

( Project Runway... oy. )

Are you fucking serious? (Yes, that too) Law & Order is so starved for storylines that it's RIPPING OFF THE PANTS LAWSUIT?!?! I just... wow. I'd say that the writer's strike couldn't end soon enough except that this was written pre-strike.

Anne Rice is a crazy head! Who knew?

For mel21clc, Wikiffiti.

Note to self: start eating clams

My New Year's Resolution.

LOL Bible

( Privilege. I has it )

And dammit, I managed to not watch Project Runway so I could watch it after my shift and damned if they're not showing some fucking America's Next Top Model rip off!

There's something bizarre about channel-surfing and finding some girl performing the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram on Paranormal State.

Made me miss PAN for a minute, though if it had been merikus and not some girl, there would have been a lot more chanting and possibly some fireworks.

I'm tired and cranky and headachey and have a sore throat and still working and this displeases me greatly. I came back from Duck with Girlyfriend last night and left my bags at her house. I managed to remember to bring everything essential back (glasses, extra pants, toothbrush, deodorant) except my contact case. That's 4 cases at Girlyfriend's, none at mine. Luckily, my aunt gave me a cool decanter with a bunch of mini shotglasses, so I've got two glasses full of contacts.

So, Tuesday, I worked an 8-4, got home and worked until about 8 when goingdriftless borrowed my yoga mat and I realized that if I was going to pack and take a shower, I had to sign off. (Second work, by the way, was inSANE - I had one lady yell at me for 20 minutes about billing issues - it took me 40 minutes wrap up the call) Packed, metroed over to Vienna, got picked up by the girlyfriend and drove to Virginia Beach.

Wednesday, I skipped out on a breakfast, took a conference call and then we moseyed out to DUCK. Oh Duck, how I love you. The moon was nearly full, the water was beautiful, we picked up Thanksgiving in a box and something for stentoriansista's mom and then went and crashed on the couch. I attempted to take some calls, but after two calls where the handset never rang and an inability to call out after, I called it a day (turns out the phone number was input incorrectly). Around eleven o'clock, the winds started really picking up and right before bed, I went out to the top balcony and... charged up. I was expecting to enjoy the wind and the quiet night, but I was not expecting the cleansing and exultation that came with it. It left me dazed and pretty buzzed (and my solar plexus and chest chakras were tingly). That was awesome.

Thursday, there was much turkey. I discovered the wallet suck that is etsy, ordered a couple of Giftmas presents, took the dog for a good long walk on the beach and nearly got frozen solid. Friday was Operation For the Love of God, Don't Leave the House!!! Which was successful, in case you were worried. Saturday, we hit the outlet malls and I got myself a dress, two sweaters, a pair of pants and an awesome purse that matches my bedspread. And I hit the yarn store and got some Giftmas yarn that will soon become socks. Somewhere in there, I joined 2002 and finally got a facebook account. (Friend me! Thanks!)

Sunday, we drove. And drove. And drove. And missed most of 95 (WOO!), ate a couple of Brie LTs and listened to the two most depressing This American Lifes ever. (Seriously, there was the developmentally disabled brother with the armadillo and then the entire This American Life about violent death of parents)

Today, I got home to my Awesome! New! Boots! and to the two new bookcases my aunt gave me two Sundays ago. I took all the books off the old one, moved it into the hall, put the two new ones in place, took the shelves upstairs, went to go set them up... and realized the Aunt neglected to give me the sticky-outy things to hang the shelves on. So, now I have two beautiful new bookshelves and my books in piles all over the floor.

Also, I severaly dislike today. Something about coming to work an hour and a half early and spending most of the day photocopying. And the heartburn. And the filthy room. And the lack of a cell phone charger (long story) (OK, not longer than this, but I'm tired of typing).

Also, um... who decided that a new American Gladiators was a good idea? Because I have to hurt them.

I am so freaking stupid tonight and I have a general contempt for humanity. Also, callers are assholes tonight. And my room is really messy. And my TV isn't getting reception for non-cable channels, so I CAN'T WATCH HEROES.

I mean, I could. But I'd have to go downstairs and I'm working and new!Roommate has people over, so that'd be pretty rude and they totally think I'm an anti-social troll. Or something. Whatever.

I have a shiny new duvet cover. stentoriansista talked me into buying it in Duck. It wasn't hard. It went something like "I want to get this." "OK." "But I can't." "Why?" "It's too expensive." "Whatever. Buy it." "OK." It has birdies in trees on the front and apples on the back. I'm going to pick up some pillow shams from BB&B tomorrow and then I shall have the cutest bed in all the land!

It doesn't go with my awesome creepy art I got at Crafty Bastards, but I like being hard to define like that.

Dear Dancing with the Stars,

You should not do a quickstep to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered." Stop making Stevie Wonder cry inside. Well, he's probably not, but if he could say what y'all are doing to it, he might.

No love,
Christina

I left work early today to go to the doctor's office. I had to go to relation to a visit I made in February (I'm fine, quit yer bitching). While I was waiting, I thought I'd ask about the HPV vaccine. Not only am I eligible for it, my insurance covers it... so I got the first of three shots (ow! OW OW OW OW!). Aside from having a physician's assistant who was obviously new at the job (too waay too long to get my blood pressure, my pulse and had a discussion when I was surprised that my weight was lower than I thought it would be), it went without incident. I requested a copy of my bloodwork results from February and aside from my HDL cholesterol being 20 points higher than recommended (the good kind, so not that big a deal), everything was good. Woot! And hopefully, Friday will fix Dumbledore!hand and I'll be good.

Came home, cooked a chicken, made some whole wheat bread, drank wine. Best salad in the world? Roasted pecans & walnuts, spring greens, a handful of rasberries, blue cheese & homemade balsamic vinaigrette. I rule. I watched Love Me If You Dare, which made me cry and I really enjoyed... until the last 5 minutes. Damn French.

Now I'm watching Lost, even though we broke up, and I can't find the remote control. I hung a picture on my bathroom wall improperly, but I'd rather have it where it is than have the hole in the walll where it's gone. Oh well.

Seriously, though, the remote has been missing since 5pm. Would someone please give it back?

xkcd_rss keeps getting better and better!.

For some reason, I'm exceptionally tired. (Some reason having nothing to do with the hour aerobics class and 15 minutes on the elliptical I did yesterday. This also has nothing to do with why I'm a bit sore) I had tentatively scheduled my reiki session for tonight, but I think I'll rearrange to Monday. There's a 70% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon, so I'm not getting my walk, but I'm going to go home, make bread, roast a chicken and have a big ole salad with yummy stuff (nuts, craisins, blue cheese & maybe some dressing) for dinner and catch up on Netflix. I was considering making chicken stock until I realized I have had chicken broth in my pantry for at least a month gathering dust.

And maybe I'll watch Lost. Even if we broke up last week. Speaking of breaking up, as much as I less-than-three Hugh Laurie, Robert Sean Leonard and Lisa Edelstein, I think I may have to break up with House. It's getting... not good.

I'm wearing the most awful outfit ever today - yellow flip flops, green pants and a hotpink shirt. Whatever, it's supposed to be hot and thunderstorming, so I wore clothes I didn't care about. Just because they're ugly doesn't mean they're not work appropriate.

(ganked from the lovely kismet09)

Instructions:
Bold all of the following TV shows which you've ever seen 3 or more episodes of in your lifetime.
- Italicize a show if you're positive you've seen every episode of it.
- If you want, add up to 3 additional shows (keep the list in alphabetical order).

( I watch a lot of TV )

Yesterday, I went to yoga and there was a sub. She chose great poses, but talked in a condescending way, named dropped, told us we were doing everything wrong and overexplained to the point where I was actually mad at her. And by the way, it's not easy to try to channel the whole this is me time, inner peace when you want to punch your instructor in the face. Let's just say it made an interesting shavasana.

Went to noon yoga today, with my favorite instructor. She worked us hard, and despite being a blowhole, Sub was a good teacher so I was already sore. The result is that now I am super sore and super tired, but the good kinds. Sub did some back strengtheners which felt really easy at the time, but zomg sore! now. One of the downsides of the tired is that I'm sitting here at work, trying to do work and failing.

Also, after last night's Lost, I am breaking up with that show. Seriously. Seriously. What the fuck, ABC? What is it with you and the third season slumps? Between you and Grey's Anatomy, I am seriously out. It'll be just me and Ugly Betty from now on. The rest of your lineup is dead to me. Except Extreme Makeover: Home Edition if I'm feeling schmoopy. This is probably good because, in theory, I'll watch less TV. In practice? Ha.

I think that's it. My weekend plans are rearranging themselves, so yeah.

So, I was walking to work today, when I realized I was wearing khaki pants, khaki shoes (khaki SKULL shoes) and a navy blazer. Hipster title... stolen away. But does anyone have a yacht for me?

First day of new job. pearlandopal, they took me to lunch, too! I'm just thrilled to be busy. I realize how freaking awful that sounds, but it's true.

I started watching Excel Saga, which came in via Netflix yesterday. I forgot how much I FUCKING LOVE this series. Sure, Excel is far too perky and annoying and that can get grating, but the Puchuus! And Minchi! The sad singing dog! And the Great Will of the Cosmos! OMG, SO AWESOME.

Latest adventures in sewing are up on stitch-witch. If anyone needs me, I'll be drinking heavily and Intervention. (Irony doesn't live here anymore)

So, had a lazy couple of days. Got my stitch taken out on Monday and y'all, it pains me that I had to have a $10 copay to get it taken out. I could have taken a pair of nail scissors, snipped the excess and pulled it out myself. OK, yes, I don't know what it would have done if it had started bleeding again or whatever. And according to the doc, the thread could have not come out completely. And it's best that a doctor did it. But whatever.

After that, came home, cleaned, watched half of House of Sand and Fog and then stentoriansista came over. We went grocery shopping and on the way back, I managed to drop and break the bottle of wine I bought to bring over to sabekkas'. Alas. Then we ran off to anneball's farewell at Chef Geoff's, where it took us an hour to get a table at the happy hour section so we could get our $5 burgers. I'm going to miss that anneball - she manages to bring the crazy work stories that top mel21clc's. Or mine. And then, of course, Heroes (SPOILERS) and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (MORE SPOILERS) which were predictable. I have to agree with TWoP, Studio 60 is somewhat disappointing and weirdly about religion.

Today, I slept until the crack of noon and stentoriansista and I did some thrifting, cleaned out a closet, repossessed a ladder and hung a light. I got a turkey baster (no jokes), a T-shirt to operate on and a nifty new telephone for my landline, so we don't have to use the wireless thing that is constantly falling apart in the kitchen. We went to Leading Ladies at the National, which was badly written and hokey enough that we left during intermission and headed home. Which is where I am. Freezing my butt off.

Watching the last half of House of Sand and Fog, which OH THE HUMANITY. OK, yes, fine, it's a good movie about how good people can do bad acts. BUT OH MY GOD THE HUMANITY AND THE ANGST AND THE FOG MAKE IT STOP.

Anyway, bed now. 12 hour day tomorrow, then I'm making pies, then I'm getting drunk and eating turkey.

Linkspam:
Krispy Kreme + Science = Awesome

SFW Roleplay - Political AND Funny!

Christmas trees are Pagan - which is fodder for a whole entry I have in my head about "the war on Christmas"

FYI for Pagans in the military - The Order of the Phoenix Pentacle - Basically compiling a list of pagan vets, spouses of vets, etc... as a way to show the VA that this is an issue that needs to be addressed. I don't know any pagan vets, but I know some of y'all do.

So, does having two-three smallish glasses of wine every night for the past week make me an alcoholic or just stressed and self-medicating?

(I've worked everyday for the past week, too)

(Questions perhaps not to be asked while watching Intervention, eh?)

(in my best Strongbad voice)

FRINGE IS OVER! I can have a semblence of free time and social life again! Y'all, I am happy beyond compare. Of course, the red wine is helping. Cuz dammit, I deserve a drink after this. And a weekend in Virginia Beach. And I'm getting both. Huzzah.

I've had so little to eat today - 3 rolls, half a cup of granola, a peanut butter ricecake, half a turkey sandwich and then the sugar - some strawberry crumble, vanilla ice cream and a cookie. And many diet cokes.

AND Summer Glau was on the 4400 again. I'm going to be early tonight and maybe things will be get even better tomorrow.

Ferret love!

By the way The Mountain Goats in September, The Decemberists at Halloween! Who's with me?

I dyed my hair earlier and either I misremembered what the dye number I buy is, but either way, my hair is much darker than usual. I feel all goff.

In other news, I have to pick out a new bridesmaid dress, and am racked with indecision, as per usual. A virtual model of sort of me is below the cut, along with links to the dresses.
( And the envelope please... )

And now I shall finish this episode of 24 and go to bed. I'm pretty sure the salad dressing came out okay, too.

OK, OK, I know we all proclaimed Joss Whedon to be a bastard after watching Serenity. But I just finished watching "A Hole in the World" from season 5 of Angel. And Joss Whedon really, really, is a bastard.

I have to go cry now. I'll be back later.

ETA: So, I watched the episode with commentary and now I hate him more. Because he was all "I wanted to do something different with this character, so I decided to kill them! Ha ha!"

First, the chicken. OMG TURNED OUT SO WELL. And it's all this post's fault. Carving the chicken was... distressing and there was splatter, but I made it exactly the way sweetbums did and it worked out fantastically. Plus, I'll make curried chicken salad later.

Second, I picked up a couple of videos from wanderingbastet last April... Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain & The Princess Bride. I am just watching them for the first time now and OH MY GODS WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG! BEST CARTOON EVER.

Also, the wine I'm drinking to console my loneliness tonight is called Funky Llama (seriously, that's why I bought it. And it was onsale for $5.50) and it's actually quite good.

Later, I shall have ice cream.