almost breathless

I am all topsy-turvy right now and feeling very out of sorts because I am basically working every night this week through tomorrow and then two nights next week and then next Saturday and trying to squeeze in my time off between all of the assignments is a bit complicated.

But I'm really not complaining because I really do like my job even if I only got to see three Coldplay songs last night, at least I got to sit through the entire Fiona set and I did hear Coldplay's rendition of "Ring of Fire" and I have seen Coldplay twice already and really they are just alright and really it becomes so very obvious how much all of their songs sound alike when you hear them all at once....and anyhoo, there is so much to do in the next couple of days:

To-do

• Watch Fast & the Furious (don't ask)


• Watch Chinatown (it's about time)


• Start taxes


• Need food!


• Organize notes


• Resume Project Super Secret


• BILLS!


• Post office. Co-OP. Bank.


• Organize calendar


• SF?


• Date night w/ Cory because otherwise I won't see him until Friday and even then I am not really seeing him until Thursday

Also, there are a buncha movies I want to see between now and the Oscars including the Squid & the Whale which is already gone from the Crest...I do hope it comes out on DVD soon or returns to the theater....

semi-breaking

In case you've actually been working today and not glued to the sports Web sites, it's offical, the Kings played the trade card again (for reals, supposedly) with Indiana...Peja for Artest...this should be interesting. I think the team could definitely use a kick in the ass, and who knows, maybe Artest's ass-kicking ways are just the ticket. (Via ESPN)

crazy, redux

Nothing against the American Heart Association - but things like women-oriented National Wear Red Day really irk me.

All I know is that when I'm old, I won't wear purple.

Unless I'm at a Kings game.

And yeah the whole Peja-Artest drama? Crazy!

Moving on...because I still won't let Cory delete the SNL episode with the "Lazy Sunday" short (he asks me a couple of times a week and I just shake my head solomnly, no) here is a link to Lazy Monday -- a spoof on said video.

It is courtesy of Scott and features two freaking adorable fifth graders with questionable lip syncing skills....

Crazy delicious!

saturday-ing

after a really crappy day on Friday, i just wanted to come here and say that today has been a really good day. There was a wedding shower with lots of wine. There was Edith Frost on my car CD player. There was a low-key dinner with Cory (crepes) and now we're going to watch Project Runway and The O.C. I love that he'll watch those Project Runway and The O.C. with me. I love that sometimes the perfect Saturday night mean watching Project Runway and The O.C.

inaction....

I was going to come here and complain about how busy I’ve been, but it’s not really the truth. Just the opposite actually – I’ve been super-lazy. Went to Santa Cruz for a four-day weekend and managed to so completely laze myself out that, upon returning to work on Tuesday, the mere act of sitting at my desk was exhausting.

Speaking of exhausting, it’s not so true that I’m just being lazy. I’ve actually started a new exercise routine. As a woman of a certain age, I’ve started to notice some flexibility issues so it’s on with the Pilates and yoga. I did some Pilates yesterday morning – and wow, can I feel it in my abdomen and thighs….

Anyway, thank you to Maya for the yoga classes tip, I think I will check it out. I'm starting my exercise plan a little later than expected but, nearly three weeks into the new year, I finally feel as if I’m ready to tackle 2006 and all of my new year’s resolutions.

To do this (pre)weekend:

Tonight: Dolly Parton tribute show at Old I

Friday: Marilynne Robinson reading at the Crest

Saturday: bridal shower

Sunday: mini film fest

Somewhere in there I will also do a little gardening, a little baking, a little TV catching-up (Project Runway, Gilmore Girls) and a little vet-visiting-- both cats have new but very treatable yet still expensive ailments…oh yeah, and someone swiped my ATM / debit card number last week and spent $400 of my hard-earned money on freaking online video game memberships, so I have to deal with that too...the fun never stops!

now hear this...

You all should go check out Zoe Radio and download podcasts from 15-year-old Zoe's radio show...Kanye West, Built to Spill, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Joni Mitchell, Deerhoof - and she's not afraid to play the Top 40 hits, either.

I wish I'd been as cool as Zoe when I was 15.

Damn, I wish I were that cool now.

cowards...

I wrote something about Brokeback Mountain today and I'm just seriously astonished at the number of hateful phone calls I've received. It's days like this when the state of humanity depresses me.

Grow up - and if you don't have the guts to leave your name and phone number, please don't even bother calling.

Gah.

when January...

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by life right - but mostly in a good way. So many commitments, so many possibilities, so many times with good friends to which to look forward.

But not enough time to just chill, relax and get centered.

The Christmas tree in the living room and the piles of holiday stuff strewn around the house are taunting me right now.

I always think of January as being this smooth, foggy white expanse of free time...and lately it never seems to turn out that way. The thing is, I don't want to give up any of the things I'm doing or not embark on the things that I've been thinking about doing - but how I do achieve some semblance of balance in my life? How do I keep from freaking out when I look at my calendar and see so many to-do items?

How do you keep your life balanced - if at all? How do you say no to something and how do you choose which things to cross off the list?

I'm just thinking out loud here but if anyone has ideas, suggestions, tips or sage philosophical advice that does not involve a self-help book, Franklin-Covey planner or strategically placed candles, please let me know.

day three of my new year....

I love my new iPod nano but I wish I knew what was wrong with my old, beloved 40gig...Reset didn't work. Complete restore didn't work....time for a visit to the iPod doctor....

Also: tonight:

Hootenanny! Tonight at the Capitol Bowl in West Sacramento (900 W. Capitol Ave). Come out and listen to the Haints (Ghoulies and friends acoustic), Devastates, and maybe the Helper Monkeys and Anton Barbeau...The fun goes from 7:30-10:00p.m.. The show is in the bar, but all ages can bowl and eat pizza.

What better way to ease the transition back into work and 2006 in general? See you there....

out with the old, in with the new...

New Year's Eve was nice and mellow...small party and Cory joined Eric on guitar for a midnight rendition of Auld Lang Syne which, of course, made me all misty-eyed because I get sentimental everytime I hear the line "raise a cup of kindess dear."

It was just the right way to help 2005 shuffle its way into the past.

And 2006 started off with a fun and friendly wallop of rain and bluster and pumpkins and good friends. We started with a noon lunch at Los Jarritos (veggie burrito and veggie tostado) and then headed down to the swollen river for Launching Day 2006. This is the tradition, started by the Ghoulies and a few friends, wherein you launch your Halloween-era pumpkin into the river - after writing messages on it. You don't have to hold onto your Halloween pumpkin though. We didn't have one ourselves but managed to save a small slug-infested pumpkin from the side of our house. Others brought pumpkins and gourds and tiny lemons.

In all, about 2 dozen people showed up to officially launch 2006 - even Launching Day co-founder Eric B. made it at the last second. Our tiny, holey, "Little Buddy" pumpkin even floated and we walked along the bike path to follow its journey down the swollen Sacramento River.



Best of all, the rain did not start up until the exact moment that we got into our cars and closed the doors. We thought that maybe next year we should eat lunch at the Virgin Sturgeon, follow it with the launch and then drive over to the Sutterville Landing to track the progress.

After launching we headed over to Old Sac where we bought hot coffees and chewy taffy candy and perused all the half-off sales at the tacky shops.

Dinner was Zelda's and then back to watch "24 Hour Party People"

Really, as I've learned in life, it's not the new year without some extra-cheesy spinach pesto pizza. I hope the rest of this year is even half as nice - and filled with times spent with good friends - as yesterday turned out to be.

Today was more mellow - I never even left the house, but only listened to the rain pounding against the side of the house as I tackled various projects. I did pause long enough to finally watch Bring it On (I said brrr, it's cold in here ...), which was quite enjoyable.

Right now I'm listening to the new Kate Bush (love it) and thinking about how I have to get the coffee ready for the morning and wishing I had just a few more days off but then again happy that life will, once again, find a rhythm.....