me & my cultured self

Ah, yes…. What have I been up to? Well, being the east-sider that I am now, last week I went to an orchestra concert AND the opera.

Yeah, ya heard me.

The orch concert was amazing; there's nothing quite like hearing a full orchestra live in a great hall. That was Wed night. Then, Sat night, I went to see La Bohème at Playhouse Square downtown. Just us gals went; there were supposed to be 6 ladies, but 2 had to back out.

By the time the lights went up for the 2nd intermission, I was just bawling. We had to go out to get tissues b/c 2 of us were just in tears. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara, no?

Tomorrow night, one of my fabulous friends arranged for all of us to go see John Caparulo at Playhouse Square. My friends are really the best! We are going to be in the 2nd row for a show that's being taped to dvd for Comedy Central?!?!!? Are you kiddin me? I just love my friends.

Not for that, per se, but b/c they really are great. I've been a Ms. Cranky-Pissy-pants lately, & they've dealt with me accordingly.

I'm also excited that we're going to Bricco before the show. They just opened it up here, across the street from Playhouse Square, & I was there just last Sat after the girls & I left the opera. It's totally fab, so I can't wait!

operas & parties

I haven't been posting because I didn't want to bore all of yous guys with my mundane life. But I've got nuttin else to say, so here we go....

I've been pretty busy (too busy to post, as you all know). You might remember my mentioning it in past years, but I've just gone through my busy season at work. I've put in 11-hour days on most Sundays & some Mondays for the last 2 months. But now, I'm free.

I'm looking for a new apt, so a lot of time is used up doing that. So far, nothing good. By "good", I mean a place with 2 bedrooms, where you can actually fit a full-sized bed AND a dresser in BOTH bedrooms. I know, I know.... I'm just soooo demanding!

We had a snow storm on Tuesday, & I went out to see Steve Poltz that night at the Beachland Ballroom. That was fun, he did an impromptu "rock opera". I'm not just over-using quotes there; trust me, it's in the quotes for a reason.

Then, Wednesday, I went to see Mozart's Die Zauberflöte*. I loved it, not as much as Le nozze di Figaro*, but I did enjoy myself. I went with one of my closest friends, Urban Cowgirl. She loves classical music (I just love it when it's live). I did kinda nod off during the 2nd act; not b/c it was dull. I think it's just cause I've been running myself ragged, & also most of the "songs"** were low (bass/baritone). And the low notes tend to put me to sleep sometimes (I've also nodded off at cello or double-bass recitals for this same reason).

Anyway, it was cool, I esp. loved Papageno & I'm sure he's everyone's fave character in it. So ridiculously funny, he is! But The Marriage of Figaro is still my fave, b/c I was in stitches throughout that whole opera. I'm a big fan of that silly-humor.

Then, last night I went to Urban Cowgirl's 1st 29th birthday party. That was a complete blast. I had so much fun, hanging out at their house w/ a gaggle of fun ppls. I was there until almost 3 am, & still coulda stayed all night, but I could see others were getting tired.

So, that's it for now. I hope to have more things to post about soon. I keep thinking of things I wanna post, but then actually forget them when I'm in front of the comp.

* yes, that's me being snooty. But you're allowed to be snooty when you go to see an opera.
** I'm pretty sure they're not called songs; but they're not all arias, so I don't know what word to use for them.

I'm channeling cantaloupes

Hi everyone. Yes, I'm still here. Sorry I've been all absent & stuff. Just a lot going on. I always have 10 days off work from just before Christmas to January 2nd every year, but guess what? This year, I spent much of that time all sick. Yuk.

That's the worst; well, for me anyway. I've told y'all before how I'm super-busy at work from November to March. Like, so crazy busy I have NO time for anything. Well, I look forward all year to that lil break I get at the end of December so that I can have my normal life back, & of course this year, I was all sick for the entire period.

Also, major life-changing news in my life: Mr. T & I broke up. This really is life-changing. We weren't just bf/gf; we were s'posed to get all married & stuff (this upcoming October). We'd been together for about half-a-decade. That's a long time to be that close to a person. There really wasn't anything we didn't share with each other. So, it's kinda weird when something happens & the person you normally tell that thing to just isn't the person you can still tell it to.

Yes, I'm still ending sentences in prepositions. Oh, & talkin about 'tions, I still haven't made a New Year's resolution yet. Although in my defense, I've been sayin 'yo' more often than I've changed my underwear so far this year.

Yeah, I know... it's hot.

Ok, so what else....? OH- Guess what comes along with a huge break-up? More hot-stuff... zits! Yeah, I've gotten one zit after another. And so now, I've got myself a binary-zit. That's when 2 zits decide to orbit around each other. And lucky me, it's right on my cheek!

I know.... hot.

I put up a pic of a cantaloupe, b/c I know that the FCC would fine me if I put up a pic of my binary zit. It's about time for them to make an example of someone to keep us in line; & I just don't have an extra $300,000 lying around, ya know?

So, I was thinking of my whole one zit after another complex I'm going through right now, & I thought of something. You know how everyone likes melons? No, seriously, there's a melon out there for everyone. I myself LOVE all melon, but I think honeydews my fave. Santa Claus is cool too, but you have to be in the mood for it cause it's so sweet. But I do love all melon.

Well, I was thinking of pick-up lines from guys (b/c all guys have them, & most are NOT creative). And thinking of melon. And it hit me! Why can't a guy who loves melons (99.9% of guys) also love zits on chicks?

Like, why won't a guy come up to me & be all like:

Damn girl! That sexy thing on yo face reminds me of cantaloupe, & I've gots ta get me sum cantaloupe! I just wanna lick it!

But nooooo, I'm not hearing that. Weird, huh?

Oh, & this post is dedicated to Jen, who's been asking me for months to update. Holla!

Photo Friday: Travel

Trust me folks, I've done y'all a favor by not posting recently. Nothing exciting to report. I got a speeding ticket. Hmmm... yup, that's it.

But the current Photo Friday challenge is Travel. And I do love to travel. I love walking into clean, crisp rooms w/ freshly made beds. I like my toilet paper folded to a triangle. And the tissue paper too; but of course being the hopeless OCD-head that I am, I immediately pull out that first one (cause someone had to have touched it for it to get to the triangle shape) & wash my hands w/ a cutie lil soap.

I like collecting the tiny lil shampoos & conditioners. I have exceptional hair (read: high maintenance) that requires that I use only my own shampoos/conditioners. So, I just collect them, & if I get a house-guest, they're getting all kinds of teeny lil toiletries.

My fave place to stay so far has been the Roosevelt Hotel. Yes, that Roosevelt Hotel, where Paris & LiLo sometimes act up at. And yes, I did see some socialites when I was there. But why was it my fave place? The room was amazing & so comfortable, they had orchids on the desk (orchids! I love orchids!). But most of all, they had the most yummiest, heavenly-scented soap. It just smelled so FRESH! I wish I could just buy the soap, or an air-freshener that smelled just like it!

Anyway, back to the PhotoFriday challenge. Although I do love to travel, you never want to get to your destination to see this waiting for you at baggage claim:As always, click here to see other Photo Friday submissions.

love me tender, love me true

Ok, I’m gonna tell you guys something. For the last 4 years, I’ve been investigating 2 ppl at my work. You see, 4 years ago, this elderly man who used to do business at my company told me that one of the women here had “kissed” Elvis. Yes, the Elvis.

So, I narrowed it down to 2 women. They were of the right age, & audacity. I mean, these are 2 spunky, outspoken broads*.

I knew that one of them would be leaving sometime in the coming year, so I figured I had a year to figure it out. Yes folks, I had turned this into my very own Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

So, today I learn that 3 women at my company are retiring. Two are the initial two suspects, & the 3rd is a new-comer to the race. She had always worked at the company, it's just that I didn't know her that well in the beginning. In the last year, I've gotten to know her, & she could also have done the deed.

If you guys don't know, I have this compulsion to need to know things. Things that are interesting, things that are none of my business, just THINGS. I mean, take a look at my sidebar, & how many links I have under "Media Stuff" or "Celeb Stuff".

So, wish me luck, b/c my detectiving is abouts ta hit overdrive.

Hello [insert city name here] !!!!

Yes, I've been like all MIA & stuff. In this past 3 weeks, I've been in:

- Cinci
- Chi-town
- NYC
- Rochester
- BAH-ston

Um, no I think that's it. Anyway, I've been around.

But now, I bees back, bitches! Yeah, there be a tongue twister for ya.

And as soon as I get some sleep, I'll post. And they will be real posts, w/ real sentence structure & no made-up words.

Ok, so there'll prob be made-up words. Whatev.

lifehacker

I don't really have anything to post. Don't have time either, as I'm pretty busy actually do tons of work.

So, I thought I'd pimp out Lifehacker. It's a website that has tips & downloads to do just about anything.

I use my blog as a place to store bookmarks of places I like to visit that aren't all necessarily other blogs. So, I have all those categories in my sidebar. You can click on each cat to expand it & see the links. I've got Lifehacker under 'Resource Stuff'.

re-focus

Ok, I haven't been posting b/c I've been so incredibly stressed out. I can't even tell you what's been going on. Real life can be way stranger than fiction. Everything in my life (literally every aspect of my life: work, home, personal friendships, love, family) has been turned upside down.

To try to take my mind off of things, I've spent this evening reading blogs. I've known this wonderful, beautiful girl for the last 3 years, & although I've known she had a blog, I was just waiting for her to share it w/ me for whenever she was ready. She's now leaving the country to go to Africa for the next 2 months. Why? B/c her heart is big enough to give of herself to ppl everywhere who may need someone to help. That did help me feel better about the world. All is not lost.

Debbie says that her friend Kevin's doing better. You guys, you won't even believe what happened to him. He was walking down the street & got mugged. They beat him & beat him. Even as he went into unconsciousness, they beat him. He has been in a coma for the last few days. He woke from his coma today. That's a step. It's gonna be baby steps, but I hope he takes back his life.

Then, I went to Lozo's blog. My heart felt the pain he's going through w/ his mother. It's hard to not be accepted by someone so close to you. But then, of course, I read a little further down, & read this post. It cracked me UP. But then at the end, he talked about fantasy football. His exact words were, "if you want to avoid burning the roof of your mouth, don't try to eat any of my fantasy football teams because they are super hot."

This reminded me that I forgot to share my fantasy football question. So, here it be. (uh, my next post that is).

still alive

Doh! I'm totally sorry I forgot to let y'all know I was still alive.

I made it back to C-town totally ok. Completely tired, but ok.

I have tons to catch up on, at home & at work.

More to come later.

just checking in

Hey guys,
Sorry I haven't been posting. Have been really busy, plus there's just stuff going on in my life that I can't talk about. I know, why even mention it, right?

Here's what I can tell you. I just got back from the Getty Center/Museum, & it is A-MAZE-ZING!!! I can't even tell you. Well, ok, maybe I can (& I will), but not now. I just got back to my room, & I'm just across the street from the Grauman's Chinese Theatre & the Kodak Theatre (yes, where the Academy Awards are).

But I have to go. I'll have more to write later. Just wanted to check in, & let you guys know I'm still alive. I didn't die in the 5 hour plane ride on the way here. Wait, should I not have said that until I complete the 5 hour plane ride back home? Well, whatev happens, happens.

I'll send out a post on Tues just to let y'all know I didn't just jinx myself. (I hope).

I have more to say

There's so much I want to write, so much that's happened & on my mind. Unfortunately, I've had like NO time. I still haven't watched the last 2 Grey's Anatomy's that are waiting for me at home yet.

So, hopefully, I'll be a postin machine this weekend. Also, below you'll see my PhotoFriday #12 submission. Where's PhotoFriday #11 you ask? Um, I haven't posted it yet. I have it (the pic), & there's a huge commentary that goes along w/ it. But it's only in my head right now, cause I didn't have time to write it out. So, I'm gonna do it, & sneak it in the middle of #10 & #12, but I'll let y'all know when it happens. 'Kay? Cool. Lata-gata.