Dear Internets,
I never really know what to do (blog-wise) when I go on vacation. Guest posts? Ghost posts? No posts?
What are your thoughts, Internets? Anyone* want to write a letter to the Universe/the Internets/your boss/etc while I'm on vacation?
Love,
Jane
*I'm just a girl, standing in front of the Internets, asking them to love her, hoping she won't hear crickets.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
The life
Dear Internets,
It's Friday evening. I'm sitting on the couch watching "Secret Lives of Women: Mail Order Brides" while I wait for Achilles to get home so we can go get pizza. My pre-dinner snack of macaroni and cheese is almost ready on the stove.
Sometimes life is really, really good.
Love,
Jane
It's Friday evening. I'm sitting on the couch watching "Secret Lives of Women: Mail Order Brides" while I wait for Achilles to get home so we can go get pizza. My pre-dinner snack of macaroni and cheese is almost ready on the stove.
Sometimes life is really, really good.
Love,
Jane
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I'm a believer in Neil Diamond
Dear Internets,
I've been a little down-in-the-dumps lately, so I thought I'd make a list of the top 5 things that are making me happy right this minute.
5. We (Achilles, me, and 6 of our closest friends) are only a couple weeks away from our trip to Lake Tahoe. Achilles has promised me birthday cupcakes while we're there. (Anyone wanna dog sit?)
4. My second job is gearing back up. More money + getting to be a big ham + actual human interaction at work = happy Jane.
3. Ben's boob cupcakes. They're hilarious, and benefit a cause close to my heart* (and yours too, if you're a lady or... have ever hugged a lady. Sorry. That sounded a lot better in my head.)
2. I just read that Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand were in the high school choir together. I like to think it was just like GLEE! Only real life! And there's a new episode of GLEE is on tonight - double win!
1. This short film I watched on YouTube. So cute! (Cried at my desk.)
What's making you happy today Internets?
Love,
Jane
*Speaking of that, did you know that a majority of women have a left breast that is slightly larger than their right breast? You learn something new every day. High five for learning!
I've been a little down-in-the-dumps lately, so I thought I'd make a list of the top 5 things that are making me happy right this minute.
5. We (Achilles, me, and 6 of our closest friends) are only a couple weeks away from our trip to Lake Tahoe. Achilles has promised me birthday cupcakes while we're there. (Anyone wanna dog sit?)
4. My second job is gearing back up. More money + getting to be a big ham + actual human interaction at work = happy Jane.
3. Ben's boob cupcakes. They're hilarious, and benefit a cause close to my heart* (and yours too, if you're a lady or... have ever hugged a lady. Sorry. That sounded a lot better in my head.)
2. I just read that Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand were in the high school choir together. I like to think it was just like GLEE! Only real life! And there's a new episode of GLEE is on tonight - double win!
1. This short film I watched on YouTube. So cute! (Cried at my desk.)
What's making you happy today Internets?
Love,
Jane
*Speaking of that, did you know that a majority of women have a left breast that is slightly larger than their right breast? You learn something new every day. High five for learning!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Stalky stalk stalk
Dear Internets,
So it appears that I don't have meningitis (which, logical or not, was my first thought when I woke up with a stiff neck)(I'm glad I'm not the only one whose brain works that way). I guess I just slept in a strange position or something. Anyhoodles.
I found a former coworker's blog (we worked together almost 9 years ago) and have been reading her archives all afternoon. It is so weird. I normally don't feel creepy reading blogs - after all, the writer decides what they do and don't publish - but reading J's blog makes me feel like a total stalker. Even though we haven't talked for several years, there's a weird sense of familiarity. I have eaten lunch with some of the people she talks about. We shop at some of the same grocery stores. Her voice as a writer is so similar to the way she was when I knew her: open, dry, sarcastic, matter-of-fact.
I wonder if she'd censor herself if she knew I was reading her blog (answer: probably not). I wonder how many acquaintances from my past have found my blog (answer: I don't want to think about it).
Thinking about all this has put me in a kind of weird mood. I should probably just stop reading, but that is unlikely to happen. Oh well.
I hope your day has been less weird than mine Internets.
Love,
Jane
So it appears that I don't have meningitis (which, logical or not, was my first thought when I woke up with a stiff neck)(I'm glad I'm not the only one whose brain works that way). I guess I just slept in a strange position or something. Anyhoodles.
I found a former coworker's blog (we worked together almost 9 years ago) and have been reading her archives all afternoon. It is so weird. I normally don't feel creepy reading blogs - after all, the writer decides what they do and don't publish - but reading J's blog makes me feel like a total stalker. Even though we haven't talked for several years, there's a weird sense of familiarity. I have eaten lunch with some of the people she talks about. We shop at some of the same grocery stores. Her voice as a writer is so similar to the way she was when I knew her: open, dry, sarcastic, matter-of-fact.
I wonder if she'd censor herself if she knew I was reading her blog (answer: probably not). I wonder how many acquaintances from my past have found my blog (answer: I don't want to think about it).
Thinking about all this has put me in a kind of weird mood. I should probably just stop reading, but that is unlikely to happen. Oh well.
I hope your day has been less weird than mine Internets.
Love,
Jane
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The advice vice
Dear Internets,
I spend a lot of time mentally composing lists of "good advice" that I'd either like to tell my kids someday, or go back in time and tell myself. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I mentally write letters to myself at 80, or pretend I'm 80-year-old Jane writing letters to 28-year-old me.
For example:
I look forward to hearing what you wish you woulda known, Internets.
Love,
Jane
I spend a lot of time mentally composing lists of "good advice" that I'd either like to tell my kids someday, or go back in time and tell myself. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I mentally write letters to myself at 80, or pretend I'm 80-year-old Jane writing letters to 28-year-old me.
For example:
Dear Jane in 1998,Or:
Everyone thinks they're going to marry their first serious boyfriend or girlfriend. Don't be so obnoxious.
Love,
Jane 2009
Dear Jane in 2001,Or:
Cute boys with guitars are often cute boys with no jobs. It's fine to split the check, but don't always be the one who picks it up.
Love,
Jane 2009
P.S. There's a very romantic picnic in your future that probably cost all of $3. If he's worth your time, he'll find a way to make you feel special once in a while.
P.P.S. Picnic guy turned out not to be worth your time either. It's still a good lesson though.
Dear Jane in 1991,Or:
"What are you going to be when you grow up?" is the most asinine question grown-ups ask kids. They're just hoping you'll say something like "astronaut" or "ballerina" so that they can wink at each other and feel smug. Most of the people who ask don't have a clue themselves. Don't feel so pressured to figure it all out before junior high.
Love,
Jane 2009
P.S. When the time comes, remember: it is always better to have more tampons on hand than you think you'll need.
Dear Jane in 2009,And perhaps most often:
Be nice to your family and friends. Forgive them. Life is short. Be happy.
Love,
Jane 2060
Dear Jane 2009,What is the advice you wish someone had (or would) give you? What do you want to try (and probably fail) to get your kids to understand to keep them from repeating your mistakes?
For the love of God, stop leaving sodas in the freezer!
Love,
Jane 2009
I look forward to hearing what you wish you woulda known, Internets.
Love,
Jane
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Because I can't keep my mouth shut
Dear Internets,
This morning, my mother and I got into the stupidest argument ever:
Mom (abridged): I'm going with your sister to the professional photographer this morning so that she can get pictures taken of your freakishly attractive niece and nephew*.
Me: Oh, that'll be nice. I like the photographer she uses. Is she getting the pictures for Christmas cards?
Mom: Yes, and also because she hasn't gotten any professional pictures of Lauren yet.
Me: Oh, that's nice. I bet they'll be cute.
Mom (slightly offended): Of *course* they'll be cute. Why wouldn't they be?
Me: Uh.... Oh. No, of course they'll be cute...
Mom: Yes. They will.
Me: (thinking) Maybe I should compliment my sister. Mom seems to be happy with T this morning. (aloud) You know, I'm impressed with T for getting cards made and mailed out every year. Christmas cards are nice, but I don't know if I'll ever send them. You have to be so organized to get everything done.
Mom (clearly offended): Well, as an aunt, a great-aunt, and FINALLY a grandmother, I have to say, I like getting Christmas cards. You know, some people actually care how their family is doing. Besides, you can be organized when you choose to. You just never care enough.
Me: I was... I... I just meant that it seems like an awfully stressful thing to put yourself through. And expensive. And... trees... Um... [Editor's note: here is where I get annoyed myself and everything goes downhill.] And besides. I do have a hard time with organization Mom. Remember the whole learning disability thing?
Mom: Oh, you could get over that if you really wanted to. Christmas cards are wonderful. Your father and I were so excited when we FINALLY got to announce to the world that we were grandparents three years ago. We thought we were going to have to wait forever to do that, you know.
What I felt like saying: Yeah, it's crazy that T had the nerve to wait until she was 27 and married to get pregnant. What an old maid! And it's too bad none of the losers I dated in college knocked me up so I could have just moved home and lived with you for the rest of my life.
What I actually said: Uh huh. Yeah, you're right. My generation is more into Facebook than Christmas cards I guess. Listen, I have to go to work, I'll talk to you later.
end scene
Why do I do it? Why do I take the bait? I heard the tone in my mom's voice when we started talking: "You haven't talked to me in three days. I'm feeling neglected, so I'm going to pick a fight."
I know what to do when she gets that tone: cut the conversation short as cheerfully as possible ("Oh! My boss is calling! TTYL XOXOXOXO!") and call her back after she's had a few hours to take a nap and/or get into a fight with my sister.
Instead, I decided to take a stand. Why? Because the mailing (or not) of Christmas cards is so important to me? Because I think I can change her into a person who doesn't enjoy fighting with her daughters**? I have no idea.
Internets, what is wrong with me? Can we just blame it on my lack of sleep last night?
At least I didn't let her bring up the wedding.
Love,
Jane
*Seriously. Compared to my niece and nephew, the Gerber baby looks like he fell off the ugly tree and got hit by a few branches on the way down. They freak me out.
**Once, when she was in a good(?) mood, my mom admitted that she likes picking fights with my sister and me, because it reassures her that we care about her.
This morning, my mother and I got into the stupidest argument ever:
Mom (abridged): I'm going with your sister to the professional photographer this morning so that she can get pictures taken of your freakishly attractive niece and nephew*.
Me: Oh, that'll be nice. I like the photographer she uses. Is she getting the pictures for Christmas cards?
Mom: Yes, and also because she hasn't gotten any professional pictures of Lauren yet.
Me: Oh, that's nice. I bet they'll be cute.
Mom (slightly offended): Of *course* they'll be cute. Why wouldn't they be?
Me: Uh.... Oh. No, of course they'll be cute...
Mom: Yes. They will.
Me: (thinking) Maybe I should compliment my sister. Mom seems to be happy with T this morning. (aloud) You know, I'm impressed with T for getting cards made and mailed out every year. Christmas cards are nice, but I don't know if I'll ever send them. You have to be so organized to get everything done.
Mom (clearly offended): Well, as an aunt, a great-aunt, and FINALLY a grandmother, I have to say, I like getting Christmas cards. You know, some people actually care how their family is doing. Besides, you can be organized when you choose to. You just never care enough.
Me: I was... I... I just meant that it seems like an awfully stressful thing to put yourself through. And expensive. And... trees... Um... [Editor's note: here is where I get annoyed myself and everything goes downhill.] And besides. I do have a hard time with organization Mom. Remember the whole learning disability thing?
Mom: Oh, you could get over that if you really wanted to. Christmas cards are wonderful. Your father and I were so excited when we FINALLY got to announce to the world that we were grandparents three years ago. We thought we were going to have to wait forever to do that, you know.
What I felt like saying: Yeah, it's crazy that T had the nerve to wait until she was 27 and married to get pregnant. What an old maid! And it's too bad none of the losers I dated in college knocked me up so I could have just moved home and lived with you for the rest of my life.
What I actually said: Uh huh. Yeah, you're right. My generation is more into Facebook than Christmas cards I guess. Listen, I have to go to work, I'll talk to you later.
end scene
Why do I do it? Why do I take the bait? I heard the tone in my mom's voice when we started talking: "You haven't talked to me in three days. I'm feeling neglected, so I'm going to pick a fight."
I know what to do when she gets that tone: cut the conversation short as cheerfully as possible ("Oh! My boss is calling! TTYL XOXOXOXO!") and call her back after she's had a few hours to take a nap and/or get into a fight with my sister.
Instead, I decided to take a stand. Why? Because the mailing (or not) of Christmas cards is so important to me? Because I think I can change her into a person who doesn't enjoy fighting with her daughters**? I have no idea.
Internets, what is wrong with me? Can we just blame it on my lack of sleep last night?
At least I didn't let her bring up the wedding.
Love,
Jane
*Seriously. Compared to my niece and nephew, the Gerber baby looks like he fell off the ugly tree and got hit by a few branches on the way down. They freak me out.
**Once, when she was in a good(?) mood, my mom admitted that she likes picking fights with my sister and me, because it reassures her that we care about her.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Sometimes
Dear Internets,
Sometimes I hate hipsters. This is not one of those times.
(via Aura and Cinematical)
Love ya!
Jane
Sometimes I hate hipsters. This is not one of those times.
(via Aura and Cinematical)
Love ya!
Jane
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wednesday bullet point Weecap
Dear Internets,
Love,
Jane
- Both my grandmother and
onetwo of my best friends were in car accidents yesterday. Their cars are totaled and they are sore, but otherwise they're fine. I feel so thankful that we live in an era of relatively safe cars. Wear your seat belts Internets! - Wedding plans are chugging right along. The nice part of the whole "Wedding Industry Machine" is that it has created a really clear process that just sort of sucks you along until you somehow show up on your wedding day with everything done. Sure, going along with what the Wedding Industry says can leave you thousands of dollars poorer, but for the super disorganized like myself their "you must do Thing 1 now, and Thing 2 precisely 17 minutes after Thing 1" drill sergeant approach can be really helpful. I don't know how many of their rules or recommendations I'll actually follow, but their 93 page checklists and constant nagging help me feel more confident that I'm not going to forget to hire an officiant or something. (Now if only I could build this sort of structure into my day-to-day life...)
- I need a good tailor if anyone has (local) recommendations.
- I am procrastinating about everything lately: from health stuff to updating the sidebars in both of my blogs, to cleaning out my car and taking stuff to Goodwill. I know I just need to sit down and make a list of everything I need to do and start tackling things one by one, but I'm just feeling a little buried.
- Speaking of buried, I'm afraid to even look at my Google Reader. NaBloPoMo is totally overwhelming me and I'm not even participating.
- For the past few days, I kept thinking I was coming down with swine flu. I'm pretty sure it's actually a combination of stress and allergies. Yay for immune systems!
Love,
Jane
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Potato, egg and cheese. Just a suggestion.
Dear Universe,
It has been a while since you sent me breakfast tacos. I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but I'm just sayin... A couple of tacos might be nice.
Still a huge fan,
Jane
***
Dear Daylight Saving Time,
You know how much I love you. It is so nice to leave work at the end of the day and actually see the sun still shining. I'm really going to miss that. While this extra hour of sleep and sunshine in the morning are not too shabby, I'm glad you'll make it back in time for the wedding.
See you next March.
Kisses,
Jane
***
Dear Birthday,
You are only 29 days away. Please stop that. I don't think I'm ready to be 29 yet.
Love,
Jane
***
Dear guy driving while talking on his cell phone,
I know I sometimes say I'd rather not turn 29 or 30, but they are just jokes. I do not actually want to get run over. Please hang up, drive, and watch for pedestrians.
Thanks,
Jane
It has been a while since you sent me breakfast tacos. I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but I'm just sayin... A couple of tacos might be nice.
Still a huge fan,
Jane
***
Dear Daylight Saving Time,
You know how much I love you. It is so nice to leave work at the end of the day and actually see the sun still shining. I'm really going to miss that. While this extra hour of sleep and sunshine in the morning are not too shabby, I'm glad you'll make it back in time for the wedding.
See you next March.
Kisses,
Jane
***
Dear Birthday,
You are only 29 days away. Please stop that. I don't think I'm ready to be 29 yet.
Love,
Jane
***
Dear guy driving while talking on his cell phone,
I know I sometimes say I'd rather not turn 29 or 30, but they are just jokes. I do not actually want to get run over. Please hang up, drive, and watch for pedestrians.
Thanks,
Jane
Monday, November 2, 2009
Why I love Halloween
Dear Internets,
I love Halloween weekend. Friday, the Queen tribute band show on the riverboat was all kinds of awesome. As I have mentioned before, I enjoy creativity in Halloween costumes. I was not disappointed by the costumes people were wearing on the boat ride. Most involved some sort of witty pun (which is my favorite type of costume). The others were mostly either scary homemade costumes (my second favorite type) or semi-obscure pop culture reference costumes (Captain Crunch and MacGruber both made appearances). The sponsors also served unlimited free beers and margaritas, which helped to ensure a good time was had by all.
Saturday, one of my friends hosted a Clue murder mystery party. I had my doubts at first (what does one do at a Clue party?), but my friend Annie did an incredible job. Seriously, she built multiple secret passageways that were completely hidden behind bookshelves and curtains. She even cut the eyes out of a portrait and hung it on a false wall so that people could look through the eyes of the painting.
I was Mrs. White. Apparently, I had it out for Mrs. Peacocok.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend, Internets!
Love,
Jane
I love Halloween weekend. Friday, the Queen tribute band show on the riverboat was all kinds of awesome. As I have mentioned before, I enjoy creativity in Halloween costumes. I was not disappointed by the costumes people were wearing on the boat ride. Most involved some sort of witty pun (which is my favorite type of costume). The others were mostly either scary homemade costumes (my second favorite type) or semi-obscure pop culture reference costumes (Captain Crunch and MacGruber both made appearances). The sponsors also served unlimited free beers and margaritas, which helped to ensure a good time was had by all.
Saturday, one of my friends hosted a Clue murder mystery party. I had my doubts at first (what does one do at a Clue party?), but my friend Annie did an incredible job. Seriously, she built multiple secret passageways that were completely hidden behind bookshelves and curtains. She even cut the eyes out of a portrait and hung it on a false wall so that people could look through the eyes of the painting.
I was Mrs. White. Apparently, I had it out for Mrs. Peacocok.
I hope you had a wonderful weekend, Internets!
Love,
Jane
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