Wicked

Wicked... Cold. I swear, Mother Nature has a twisted sense of humor to give us dreamy balmy winter weather followed by a harsh smack of arctic blasts. I haven't seen the sun in days and the temps keep dropping. I may turn into a popsicle. That walk to the train/train-work/work-train/train-gym/gym-home is brutal.

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Wicked... Commuters. Seriously, folks, I'm losing my sanity dealing with anyone who complains about the cold/crowds/queues/ice/bad drivers who almost mow us down when crossing the street/street vendors blocking our paths/any other morning or evening complaint that is a big huge downer. Honestly? We're all going through it together. I don't need the running commentary. I'm trying to put it all out of my mind, and the grumblings, swearing, and complaints isn't helping. Focus on bundling up and braving the cold. Shut your trap and conserve heat and energy.

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Wicked... Games. (Not an intentional take on the song of the same name) With DXB, they've reached ridiculous proportions. I'm not even playing anymore until it requires me exerting less energy.

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Wicked... PMS. Yeah, it's not a good month. It's possible I could eat my way through work. I'm trying to exercise restraint.

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Wicked... Medium? My future SIL's dad died. It sucks. The family went to the wake on Sunday. My (already-) SIL and I were sitting on some stairs [leading up to where is something I'd rather not contemplate] and Diva Niece was walking up and down, babbling away. She got into this routine of walking up the stairs, staring (and sometimes pointing) and then coming back down only to look back, plant herself firmly on the floor, and then turn around and do it again. SIL and I were both puzzled by this routine, and so she asked her daughter, "Diva, what's up there?" We were giggling, thinking she'd say "door" or something in her cute but rather limited vocabulary. Diva Niece turned around, looked us both squarely in the eyes and said with complete clarity, "ghost." (Ok, it was more like ghooosssht, but it was still unmistakable)

:: shudder ::

Needless to say, SIL and I were freaked out. So I encouraged Diva Niece to go up there again and tell us what was really up there. She complied and came back with the same answer. We sent her up one more time, hoping to get a name and/or purpose out of it/her, but then realized that even if she got it, she didn't have the verbal skills to explain it all back to us. So we grabbed her and walked away. End of (freaky) game.

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Wicked... Tired. Only Tuesday night and already amazingly exhausted.

One of My Biggest Fears

Um...swallowed head first? Yikes!

Oscar Nominees

Some standard picks and some surprises... Like Ryan Gosling's nomination for "Half Nelson" and Jackie Earle Haley's for "Little Children." And how about "Dreamgirls" not getting a nom for Best Picture?

Superbowl Bound

Bears win! We're Superbowl-bound! And another generation in Chicago may know what it's like for us to win a Superbowl. Tipsy. Fun. Celebratory. Yay!

And Toddler Makes Two

My life as a singleton has long revolved upon the credo that I am solely responsible for me and me alone [and any actions that I take]. It works well for me, which is good since there is no one begging me to change this arrangement. One could say, perhaps, that when I want to focus only on my little world, I am the center of it.

So you can only imagine what an incredible lifestyle change it was to recently care for Diva Niece for several days on end. Suddenly, I was caregiver to an 18-month-old girl who truly believes the world revolves around her.

I have long respected all parents. It's a hard job and obviously a very important one. I don't think anyone knows exactly how hard it is, though, until they step into those shoes and fill the role of pseudo-Mom for a few days. Is it similar to babysitting? Not even close.

I have never been so incredibly exhausted. I have also never experienced so much unconditional love. And the fun! There is nothing like seeing something through a toddlers eyes.

I already miss the little peanut. Her bright eyes and rosy cheeks. Her big laughs and limitless enthusiasm. Her unending supply of hugs and smiles. Her incredibly happy disposition. Her singing. Her funny, funny dancing. Her cuddles. Her mimicking. Her little voice babbling away with tons of real worlds peppered into the jibberish that will soon be full-on English I'll understand.

It's almost enough to make me (eventually) want one. Almost.

P.S. -- How long do you think it will be before I get the "Go Diego Go" song out of my head? Honestly, it's driving me batty!

Amazing Race All-Star Teams Announced

At least 5 teams are exactly who I hoped would be back. At least I don't have to worry about the winter blahs when it comes to TV viewing.

Countdown to Spring

Many, many years ago, someone told me that by 2014 Chicago would have the climate of SoCal or some warmer southern state. I don't know how much credence I really put into this, but this curious stretch of imagination has stayed in the back of my mind for quite some time.

Because I hate the snow and cold but adore Chicago, you can see the bind I'm in. The warm weather effects of global warming became my friend (note: this does not mean I am a proponent of global warming or that I don't recognize the ill effects this has on the world and our resources. However, for selfish purposes, try to understand the minute lust.). With this winter's mild "winter" temps, I couldn't help but think that perhaps whoever provided the weather factoid to me as a kid was Nostradamus incarnate.

And then the snow and ice and general ickyness came yesterday. Slow and intermittent, it created a bigger mess than if it had been dumped from the sky in massive piles. It was layer upon layer of ice and then snow and then more ice. It didn't amount to much besides one cold Slip 'N Slide, and though there's still a healthy layer on the ground we've had much worse. And don't think I'm complaining. Well, Ok, I am. But really, I'm leading up to a point. I can handle this amount of snow. But then came the cold. Bitter cold, mind you.

And it doesn't appear as though it's going to get any better. :: groan ::

Therefore, my annual countdown to Spring begins. Just 75 more days to muddle through.

What We Didn't See Last Night

Press rooms can be so fun.

Obama's (Exploratory) Hat In The Ring

I'm not sure what a one month exploratory committee mission is really going to accomplish since we all pretty much know he's going to run, but this is the first big sign that the run in 2008 will be an interesting one. His official announcement should come next month along with a few more from both parties, I'm sure. This is surely the start to what is bound to be an exciting political race.

Globes Recap

10/26. That's my win ratio. If this were school, I'd be failing miserably.

The show stayed on time, for the most part. Tom Hanks acted as though he was Warren Beatty's BFF. Maybe he is. In which case that's news to me. Warren Beatty seemed drunk...or maybe he's just not as eloquent as he appears when truly scripted.

I don't like Angie's tat's. It hit me full on just how ugly it is for her, especially for fancy dress-up occasions. Her back is a riddle.

Most people looked pretty awesome for the most part with these notable exceptions:
Naomi Watts (so disappointing from you, Aussie)
Evangeline Lilly (bad 80's couch?)
Annette Bening (were you drunk, too?)
Meryl Streep (I expect this)
Sienna Miller (wassup wit dat hair, girl?)
Jennifer Love Hewitt (no comment necessary)

Ladies, find a new stylist. Yours is lying to you.

Now...to wait 'til January 23 when the Oscar noms are announced...

For Those Dear Peeps Not So Near

Courtesy of Daily Candy... GoCakeGo. It's literally a birthday 'do in a box. I could possibly, just maybe, enjoy this more than getting flowers.

More on the Globes: The Odds-Maker Viewpoint

Yes, I am a bit...obsessed...with a handful of awards shows, the Globes being one of them.

Here, the odds-makers share their opinions. Some of my predictions may not have been as far off as I thought.

But here, compared to some people who make a living watching this stuff to write about it, I may be way off.

Nod to the Globes

Tomorrow is the beginning of Big Awards Season. Since the pundits have their picks, why shouldn't I have my own? I'm no psychic and I can't even claim to have seen some of these movies or miniseries. But why not have an opinion? Let's see how well I do come tomorrow night.

Best Picture (Drama)
Babel
Bobby
The Departed
Little Children
The Queen

Who I think will win: The Departed (Scorsese + DeCaprio = win)
Who I wish would win: Little Children. Because anything a little raw should receive some nod.

Best Picture (Musical or Comedy)
Borat
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
Little Miss Sunshine
Thank You For Smoking

Who I think will win: Dreamgirls (too much buzz)
Who I wish would win: I'm torn. Little Miss Sunshine was awesome. But Borat was an amazing pop culture success (and I almost peed myself laughing so hard)

Animated Film
Cars
Happy Feet
Monster House

Who I think will win: Happy Feet
Who I wish would win: Monster House

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)
Leo -- Blood Diamond
Leo -- The Departed
Peter O'Toole -- Venus
Will Smith -- The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker -- The Last King of Scotland

Who I think will win: Leo -- for one of the movies
Who I wish would win: Will Smith

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
Sacha Baron Cohen -- Borat
Johnny Depp -- Pirates #2
Aaron Eckhart -- Thank You for Smoking
Chiwetel Ejiofor -- Kinky Boots
Will Farrell -- Stranger than Fiction

Who I think will win: Sacha Baron Cohen
Who I wish would win: Sacha Baron Cohen

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Drama)
Penelope Cruz -- Volver
Judi Dench -- Notes on a Scandal
Maggie Gyllenhaal -- Sherrybaby
Helen Mirren -- The Queen
Kate Winslet -- Little Children

Who I think will win: Helen Mirren
Who I wish would win: Helen Mirren

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
Annette Bening -- Running with Scissors
Toni Colette -- Little Miss Sunshine
Beyonce Knowles -- Dreamgirls
Meryl Streep -- The Devil Wears Prada
Renee Zellweger -- Miss Potter

Who I think will win: Meryl Streep
Who I wish would win: Meryl Streep

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Ben Affleck -- Hollywoodland
Eddie Murphy -- Dreamgirls
Jack Nicholson -- The Departed
Brad Pitt -- Babel
Mark Wahlberg -- The Departed

Who I think will win: Brad Pitt
Who I wish would win: Ben Affleck

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Adriana Barraza -- Babel
Cate Blanchett -- Notes on a Scandal
Emily Blunt -- Devile Wears Prada
Jennifer Hudson -- Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi -- Babel

Who I think will win: Jennifer Hudson
Who I wish would win: Emily Blunt

Best Director
Clint Eastwood -- Flags of our Fathers
Clint Eastwood -- Letters from Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears -- The Queen
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu -- Babel
Martin Scorsese -- The Departed

Who I think will win: Clint
Who I wish would win: Stephen Frears

Best Screenplay
Babel
The Departed
Little Children
Notes on a Scandal
The Queen

Who I think will win: The Departed
Who I wish would win: The Queen

Best Original Score
Babel
The Da Vinci Code
The Fountain
Nomad
The Painted Veil

(FYI: I have seen none of these. Score? What score?)
Who I think will win: Babel
Who I wish would win: The Fountain

Best Original Song
Something from the Pursuit of Happyness
Something from Dreamgirls
Something from Bobby
Something from Happy Feet
Something from Home of the Brave

Who I think will win: The song from Dreamgirls
Who I wish would win: The song from Bobby

Best Foreign Film (it's always fun to guess these since I tend to watch these movies after awards season, therefore I am going off of names and countries)
Apocalypto
Letters from Iwo Jima
The Lives of Others
Pan's Layrinth
Volver

Who I think will win: Letters from Iwo Jima
Who I wish would win: Volver (Penelope's in this one)

Best TV Series (Drama)
Big Love
Grey's Anatomy
Heroes
Lost
24

Who I think will win: Heroes (I don't watch it, but everyone else I know does, and the buzz around this one is huge)
Who I wish would win: Grey's Anatomy

Best TV Series (Musical or Comedy)
Desperate Housewives
Entourage
The Office
Ugly Betty
Weeds

Who I think will win: Ugly Betty
Who I wish would win: Ugly Betty

Best Mini-Series or TV Movie
Bleak House
Broken Trail
Elizabeth I
Mrs. Harris
Prime Suspect

Who I think will win: Elizabeth I
Who I wish would win: Elizabeth I

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Drama)
Patrick Dempsey -- Grey's Anatomy
Michael C. Hall -- Dexter
Hugh Laurie -- House
Bill Paxton -- Big Love
Kiefer Sutherland -- 24

Who I think will win: Patrick Dempsey
Who I wish would win: Bill Paxton

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
Alec Baldwin -- 30 Rock
Zach Braff -- Scrubs
Steve Carell -- The Office
Jason Lee -- My Name is Earl
Tony Shaloub -- Monk

I love all of these and they all should win (although, really, is Monk still on?!). However...
Who I think will win: Alec Baldwin
Who I wish would win: Alec Baldwin

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Miniseries/TV Movie)
Andre Braugher -- Thief
Robert Duvall -- Broken Trail
Michael Ealy -- Sleeper Cell
Chiwetel Ejiofor -- Tsunami
Ben Kingsley -- Mrs. Harris
Bill Nighy -- Gideon's Daughter
Matthew Perry -- The Ron Clark Story

Who I think will win: Robert Duvall
Who I wish would win: Bill Nighy

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Drama)
Patricia Arquette -- Medium
Edie Falco -- Sopranos
Evangeline Lilly -- Lost
Ellen Pompeo -- Grey's Anatomy
Kyra Sedgwick -- The Closer

Who I think will win: Patricia Arquette
Who I wish would win: Patricia Arquette

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy)
Marcia Cross -- Desperate Housewives
America Ferrers -- Ugly Betty
Felicity Huffman -- Desperate Housewives
Julia Louis-Dreyfus -- New Adventures of Old Christine
Mary-Louise Parker -- Weeds

Who I think will win: Julia Louis Dreyfus
Who I wish would win: America Ferrera

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Mini Series/TV Movie)
Gillian Anderson -- Bleak House
Annette Bening -- Mrs. Harris
Helen Mirren -- Elizabeth I
Helen Mirren -- Prime Suspect
Sophie Okoneda -- Prime Suspect

Who I think will win: Helen Mirren (Liz)
Who I wish would win: Helen Mirren (Liz)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Thomas Haden Church -- Broken Trail
Jeremy Irons -- Elizabeth I
Justin Kirk -- Weeds
Masi Oka -- Heroes
Jeremy Piven -- Entourage

Who I think will win: Masi Oka
Who I wish would win: Jeremy Piven

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Emily Blunt -- Gideon's Daughter
Toni Collette -- Tsunami
Kathrine Heigl -- Grey's Anatomy
Sarah Paulson -- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Elizabeth Perkins -- Weeds

Who I think will win: Elizabeth Perkins
Who I wish would win: Kathrine Heigl

Da Bears

A win in OT. And because it was such a big win and uber-Bears fan DXB is nothing if not predictable, it will be an...interesting...night.

Upcoming TV

Word has it that the Amazing Race, All-Star Edition is premiering in February. This is some of the best news I've heard all week! And yes, I really do want to see Rob & Amber compete again (because boy, Rob played that game well). If I had my pick of other teams to come back it'd include the frat boys from season 1 as well as some of the most fabulous gay boys from seasons 1-3. Entertainment, I tell ya.

In other reality programming news, I hear Rob & Amber are going to have their own reality show. Ok, I liked them on Survivor and really liked them on The Amazing Race. But hell, isn't their 10 seconds of fame over yet?

Update on Weekend Project

Weekend project accomplished. And it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

The organizing spirit seized me and I even cleaned my book shelves (oh, I wish I had the space for more!), pulling out those missives which I never which to lay eyes on again [to donate or sell to a second-hand store] and taking out those which I wish to keep but do not have the room to display [for a move into storage].

Now, if only I had the gumption to clean off this catch-all of a kitchen table... But the pre-game is calling me and I have no desire to do too much too soon. I need a project for next weekend, right?

Friday Rants

Things about today:

* I detest slow walkers. They have a habit of getting in my way; cutting in front of me only to slow to snail's pace. I'm convinced they're doing this on purpose, targeting me as the person they will piss off. This usually happens when I am in a bit of a rush--a train to catch or work to get to. Normally, I think something along the lines of "Move, you fucking bitch" or "Bastard, bastard, fucking bastard." Today I actually muttered these sighs in only a semi-quiet way. It was almost too much to continue to internalize this bit of rage.

* My sloooowww co-worker is paining me so. He is dragging his feet on a program we're working on together, and I have exhausted all work I can do at this point. We're severely behind schedule, and his laissez-faire attitude about how things will get done/accomplished/fixed is downright killing me.

* The Chinese, sweet as they are, handed down a "request" last night: They want me and a couple others on this team to come back to Beijing--by the end of the month. My first thought was "Nice. I so appreciate the thoughtfulness in giving us more than two weeks to organize this trip." My second thought was "How many people are going on this journey exactly? Because it comes out of my budget, and I'm not going over-budget for a trip like this." My third thought was a bit more anxious. Something along the lines of "Holy crap! I just sent my passport in for renewal and I didn't expedite it because I didn't think I was going anywhere anytime soon. So who knows when I'll get it back, but it looks like 6-8 weeks from now."

This last thought is the most crucial and more bothersome one. I need to be at this meeting. It also needs to happen as soon as possible--according to the Chinese (although I would much prefer March because I have a feeling far more will be accomplished and I'm working on pushing it 'til then). So if they come back with now as is in immediately, I'll have to deal with the folks at the passport office to speed this along, wire them money, and beg beg BEG the Chinese Consulate to rish me through a visa. I'm getting a headache just thinking about this.

And, so much for not traveling until June... I knew it would be like this. I just didn't think it would be so soon.

* Snow is on the way, or so all the weather channels are saying. I don't much care for snow and was actually enjoying the relatively balmy weather followed by a cold snap followed by more spring-like temps. In all honestly, I was becoming a bit smitten with that mysterious but dangerous Global Warning. The reality check may be on the way. If snow comes, I may hide out in the confines of the ever-shrinking condo thereby successfully avoiding the white crap for a day or two.

* The aforementioned ever-shrinking condo is annoying me in its smallness. I actually cursed at a box this evening, looking pointedly at it and ensuring every nasty look and curse word was aimed directly at it. As if it's the boxes fault it resides there. Ha!

90+ Minutes and Counting

That's how long this conference call with the Chinese has been going on, and it doesn't seem as though the end is near. My ear hurts.

Weekend Project

The week has been...interesting...and I could certainly share many a tale. But most of them have a severe negative angle, and I prefer to stay upbeat. So instead I'll share with you my Christmas present to myself (oh, there were many of them this year, but that's because I was such a good girl).

Here is the new arrival, not even 24 hours old.



Oh, how I adore it! I can't wait to use my lovely new mixer! But first...finding it a home within the confines of my kitchen.

It seems I outgrew this place soon after I moved in. I'm sure creative moving-around-of-belongings will show me a bit more extra room, but in all honesty this teeny, tiny kitchen is begging for more storage space. Me thinks the only way to do this is empty some of the cabinets that are used mainly for storing bakeware and kitchen gadgets and start putting things away from scratch. Because this little lovely needs a place to reside other than the useless box in which it currently sits.

Thus, I present to you my exciting project for the weekend. I know. You're super jealous.

Weekend Recap

Back from Milwaukee and all I can say is WOW. The city has totally revamped itself in the past few years. I was blown away by all of the new stores, bars, and restaurants as well as all of the new buildings and building rehabs.

Enjoyed Bayshore's new mall (completely re-done and very classy, if not a teeny bit impractical); socialized with the locals; stayed at one of the nicest hotels (and certainly most expensive) in the city; dined at an old favorite Italian restaurant; laughed at all of the (really, really) outlandish Christmas lights and decorations in the parks; and, closed The Lodge ... Got new, better passport pictures taken at the Walgreens that used to be "mine" when I lived in the area; had a memorable greasy spoon breakfast at the place that saw way too much of my business during college; and, walked through campups realizing that I was pretty lucky to go to such an amazing school--and as much as I miss it, I am too exhausted in my life to even think about reliving those days.

Never made it to Alterra for coffee and never made it to the art museum (although I could see the new addition from my hotel), but both of those things can be easily taken care of the next time I visit. And certainly I hope next time is soon.

It was awesome to see Spinelli, and and it was just as fantastic to be in a city that I really adore. It was the perfect weekend away, and I dare say I was actually a little sad to come home. I am honestly considering buying property up there- not only as an investment opportunity but also to have a place to crash when I go up there (visits of which I hope are far more frequent than they have been the past few years)- but first I'm looking for one or more people to go in on it with me. What with my monthly mortgage payments and assessments increasing this year, I won't be able to swing it on my own, but it's something nice to work towards and think about.

In the meantime, here I am back in Chicago, looking forward to detoxing from the weekend while wondering just when I will be able to get away for an entire weekend again.

Day of Annoyances

I woke up early (on my own!) after a night of a few Bacardi and Diets and just knew that today was going to be a day where nothing went 100% right and everything annoyed me a bit more than usual.

It all started with an email this morning from FTF, who I know has been under the weather for days now. When we spoke yesterday he sounded awful, and I can only imagine how he feels having just been amazingly ill myself. It still annoyed me to hear that our evening plans would be less than fulfilling or extraordinarily pleasant. Not that it's his fault he's sick, but why did it have to be this weekend?

Then there was the passport picture debacle right before lunch. I have been putting off getting my passport renewed for several weeks and decided it needed to be done. So yesterday I filled out the forms and brought my passport to work and talked to accounting about cutting me a check, and then I realized: Duh! I need pictures. So today I went to Kinko's because I have always had better luck with pictures there than at Walgreen's. Plus, it's closer to the office. I was immediately waited on and felt like things were going smoothly--until it came time to actually take the picture. Out came this monstrosity of a digital camera and the woman seemed to have no clue how to work it. She was so busy talking with her co-worker about fried fish (whatever!) that I was second fiddle to the food talk. So there I was, with this goofy grin on my face, just waiting for the picture to be snapped. The first one didn't take--no flash or operator error. You pick. By the time the second one was taken, my cheeks hurt from smiling and I was gritting my teeth in annoyance. The Kinko's woman showed me the picture, which made me groan. She looked at me and literally said, "It's only a passport picture." Only a passport picture?!?! In my line of work, a lot of people see that picture. Co-workers, friends, numerous people at customs in many countries, and several folks in tourist offices handing out visas. A lot of people see that picture and I didn't like the one she took. Seeing that it's digital, I honestly thought something would be able to be done about deleting it and trying again. Maybe this time faster and without distractions. But no. So I waited for the print out, which was even worse than the image on camera (if that's possible), and $14 later I have the ugliest passport picture ever. I will not use these. New ones will be taken elsewhere tomorrow.

On to lunch, where I learned that there are some people in our office who are religious bigots. The same people also have something against the infirm. It makes my blood boil.

As if my mood couldn't worsen, I later learned that New Sales Dweeb invited several people to a marketing networking night next Thursday -- and I didn't get an invitation. Of course, no one he invited was actually in marketing. Go figure. Granted, I'm busy Thursday night, but it's the point of the matter. Plus, let's not forget that this is also the guy with zero social skills who I have officially declared is dead to me. (Harsh, perhaps, but drastic times deserve drastic measures).

Of course, the day rounded out with the train ride home, where I finally found a seat in the packed car next to a man who sniffled like crazy and also refused to move his laptop bag from between us. I was literally wedged into the bench and was miserable but refused to move on principle alone. Of course, directly across the aisle from me was a nail biter/slurpy sucker. Hope that finger tasted good, buddy. Ugh!

So now I must finish packing and head up to Milwaukee. I'm totally not rushing and instead will enjoy the leisurely drive up there and anything the evening presents. Because I'm not meeting Spinelli, my old college roomie, until tomorrow at 1, I have all morning at my disposal. First up will be a trip to the downtown Kinko's for another try at a more pleasing passport picture. Then, a trip to the art museum, which I haven't been to in years. And of course, once Spinelli gets up there, the real fun begins!

I have a feeling the evening hours through the weekend will be far more enjoyable and filled with far less annoyances than today has held.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

A woman who used to work for the company long before I did stopped by the office today with her 4-year-old daughter in tow. While the woman was catching up with a few of my co-workers, her daughter decided to walk around and introduce herself. The little girl sidled right up to me at my desk, introduced herself, and then petted my arm and told me I had a pretty sweater. Totally the thing I needed to hear during my "I feel fat" day! I gave her a nice comment on her furry pink coat, and we swapped a few other compliments before she tired of me and moved on to other people, hugging and smiling for them. But she didn't compliment them. Oooh noooo, those were reserved for the woman with the pretty sweater. Well-mannered and brilliant! Just lovely. If all little girls could be guaranteed to provide such ego boosters, I would think about having one. (I jest, really. But it must be an upshot to having a kid...right?)

Searching For Love In All The Wrong Places

I used to be a serial dater. Ah, how I miss being a 20-something, when the energy for such activities seemed limitless and the desire for more was nil.

The past couple years I shed the multiple dates-in-an-evening/weekend attitude and decided to try to find the "one true fit" for me. It stood to reason, in my mind, that now was the time to mature my dating stance and start thinking seriously about my future. Still unattached, I can attest that this transformation didn't work as well as it did in the theory that led me to this "plan."

In the past few years I have dated several losers and nogoodniks (with a few keepers thrown in for good measure), and the line is still forming--and the passing up of said losers is still occurring. I am nothing without my standards.

And seeing as I'm not shedding those, it seems as though being single is something I am embodying more and more as the days tick into months and the months tick into years. I don't think my idea for looking for Mr. Right instead of Mr. Right Now is a bad one. It's just a helluva lot harder than it sounds. I'm convinced I'm looking- or putting myself out there- in all the wrong places, but if that's the case, then what are the right places?

Which leads me to think that maybe, just maybe, not everyone is meant to be hitched. And, if there is someone out there for everyone, then maybe that doesn't always happen in the prime of life. I started to think this several years ago, and long ago came to terms with the fact that if this is case then I am possibly one if its casualities--or members (depending on how you look for it).

I have friends in similar situations that I'm in. Good, smart, attractive, witty women (and men) who can't find a worthy date let alone a partner for a year to life. The difference is many of these friends are fighting it kicking and screaming. Refusing to believe that if there is someone out there for everyone, then maybe their someone isn't coming along for another decade or so.

I'm not suggesting sitting back idly and waiting, but I also refuse to believe that every man I meet is "the one." In most cases, they're not worth the time I spend chatting with them. But I roll with the punches and try to enjoy every minute I can. Even the bad ones.

Though I am intent that I will open myself up to new possibilities this year, I stand firm in my belief that being coupled does not define me, it is only something that enhances who I am.

Ramblings Already

After setting my goals for 2007, I decided to get right on one of them, if for no other reason than to give me some incentive to hit the others.

So, before the New Year began, I booked my hotel room for Friday night up in Milwaukee (rendezvous with FTF will be delovely!). And what a nice way to start my Milwaukee weekend. Visit with Spinelli begins Saturday, and that will be so fun and refreshing as well.

I also booked my ticket to NYC in mid-February to go see the ever-fun Sue.

And, since Milwaukee and NYC can both be considered "vacations" in some sense of the word, I decided to reward myself by redeeming some points for a few lovely kitchen accoutrements, including this:

Now I can really explore my culinary skills in the new year! I'm tres excited about the mixer and can't wait for it to arrive. Of course, with my uber-small galley kitchen and limited counter space, I have NO idea where I'm going to keep this little treat. I suppose it's time for some kitchen re-organization stat.

And between being sick and jumping head-on into these goals- before I even had to, mind you- yesterday was truly my day of rest.

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And why go back to work on the first expected-work day of 2007? So I took a vacation day. And what did I do? Every errand I have been meaning to do during the holiday season, including an oil and transmission fluid change for the Crayola. I swear, I was the oldest person at the Oil Express. The kids working there literally looked as though they were in high school. That did little to ease my mind as they clunked around by my car.

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My liver, which once was begging for a break, now thinks I have entirely forgotten it. I can hear it squeaking, "Hey, WTF?!?! Where's the juice?" This cold of mine really did a number on me. Luckily, I am feeling much better, and I figure one or two more days and I will be ready to jump back into something more intoxicating than water to soothe the spirits of my confused organ.

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It appears as though I have somehow found myself as a caregiver/pseudo-Mom. Not now...but soon. Diva Niece is in need of someone to watch after her for two days and nights. In my sickly, drug-induced haze, I must have agreed to this. Tricky Mom for roping me into this when you knew I was weak.

I LOVE Diva Niece. I love spending time with her. But rest assured, this will be the most difficult two days I will have had in a long, long time.