Jeter Gig on Friday!

Jeffro's band Jeter is playing at Bistro Europa in Old Town Alexandria this Friday, February 1st to kick off this Groundhog Day/Super Bowl weekend. They'll be rocking from 10-12, and PARTYNOW will be jamming from midnight until closing. As usual, there's no cover, so come on out, and bring your friends!

Lost!

Need I say more? I'm so psyched the new season starts tonight, though from what I hear unless the writers strike ends soon, we'll be left hanging during the season at a pivotol moment. Enjoy tonight!

"Heartache" Leave

This company in Japan gives their employees time off to get over a breakup. What a great idea! You're just going to call in "sick" and spend the day crying anyway. The amount of time given is based on age, the younger you are the less time you get because supposedly your relationships aren't as serious, but I actually think you should get more time the younger you are cause you have less experience with these things and it seems to suck much more.

BTW, today was NFD2 and tomorrow will make it three. I'm actually considering calling in sick Friday, depending on what happens in our meeting tomorrow that I'm not looking forward to. I think I'm officially over this job.

NFD

Unfortunately, I had yet another NFD at work--not fun day. I have got to win the lottery or something soon, cause I don't know how much more I can take. I would love to open my own business so the only person I have to be mad at for making stupid suggestions/decisions is me, but the problem is I don't know what to do. Apparently, the guys who started Three Dog Bakery were in the same boat years ago--they knew they wanted to open a business but didn't know what. At least they finally figured it out. When will that happen to me? Well, they are looking to start more bakeries, and this area would definitely support it, but I don't know if I want to help live someone else's dream or wait until my inspiration hits. At least knowing it happened to someone else gives me hope that maybe my life won't be a complete waste of time.

Good News

I know this is going to seem minor and ridiculous to some people, but today my 14-year old dog jumped up on the couch for the first time in like 6 months. She's just gotten too old for that kind of stuff, so I don't know what possessed her. She's been eyeing it for a couple of days now like she wanted to jump up, so I guess she finally worked up to it. She's had a hard time recently getting into the car, so this is a big step for her!

In other weekend news, my sisters are coming over tomorrow for their once-a-year visit. I generally go over to see them, not the opposite way. Long story. So tonight I need to straighten up and make some soup for lunch. I also am going to make some brownies after I clean the stove. I had a big disaster this week where I spilled a bunch of stuff in the stove, so it needs a good once over before using it again.

Today was really busy, had my Italian class then ran a bunch of errands. It's been errand weekend. Yesterday I ran a bunch too, and bought a whole bunch of stuff to get my closet downstairs organized. Now to find the time to do it . . .

There was a recycling event in my neighborhood today, and I took my old PC over and had them destroy the hard drive so I didn't have to deal with it. I also took an old car stereo. It felt good to get rid of stuff that was just sitting around here. Guess I'm in a spring cleaning kind of mood.

Calling All Cat Lovers

I saw this the other day on Yahoo and thought it was just the cutest thing. A cat goes missing from home, only to turn up in a suitcase that someone took home by accident. Very cute.

Three-Day Weekend

It's been a pretty good and productive weekend so far and I'm very psyched to have tomorrow off. I've been taking care of my neighbor's dogs in addition to my own this weekend, so I've had double the amount of daily walks in this freezing cold temperature. Needless to say, I'm very happy she's returning tomorrow.

Besides that, I have:

• Attended a neighbor's Robert Burns party and eaten some haggis. Check out the details on Jeffro's blog.
• Done some housework, including vacuuming and cleaning the bathroom, in preparation for a friend coming over.
• Cooked some fabulous lentil soup--perfect for a cold winter night.
• Gone out to eat with said friend at Hank's Oyster Bar in Old Town. Pretty decent oysters and heavenly mac and cheese.
• Afterwards, went shopping at my favorite little antique store and bought a cute little sterling silver and pearl ring for only $25! I've been looking for one recently, and who could beat that price?

Tomorrow the only obligation I have is a vet appointment (early in the morning, why did I do that to myself?), then hopefully just relaxing inside, although I have some work I really need to do. But it remains to be seen whether I'll be motivated to do it or not.

American Idol's Phil Stacey

Remember him (the bald military guy) from last season? I wasn't a big fan until he sang a Keith Urban song towards the end of his tenure there . . . I guess others agreed that country was the way to go, cause Phil was signed with Lyric Records and has emerged as an aspiring country music artist. Check out his myspace page here. His song actually isn't too bad but as one caller pointed out this morning, there's really nothing that original about his vocals or style.

What Doesn't Oprah Have?

Oprah made an announcement the other day that she and Discovery Communications were joining forces to launch, what else, an Oprah channel! It's called OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network that will "entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives." Look for it in 2009 on what's currently the Discovery Health Channel. Is there anything she doesn't have or hasn't done? She amazes me . . .

Taylor Hicks: The Memoir?

I saw this book in Best Buy the other day and couldn't believe that Taylor Hicks had actually written a memoir. Um . . . I really liked him on Idol, but admit that I would never buy his CD and have found his "results" after Idol to be a bit underwhelming. Who even knew that he published this book back in July? And what kind of career has he had to be writing a memoir already? Very odd.

Before She's Released

I heard this song on the radio the other day, and I have to admit it's pretty funny. It's in response to Carrie Underwood's Before He Cheats. Click here to Jeffro's page on WMZQ and scroll down till you see Fitz: Before She's Released. The voice isn't that great, but it's pretty funny, even using ideas from the original song.

Bump

Apparently nothing's been terribly interesting enough for me to post. I've been pretty busy with watching too much CSI, work stuff, and starting a new yoga class for the year, but nothing compelling enough to turn into a post.

However, for lack of better material, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban are expecting their first kid together. Get the scoop here. I'm not terribly surprised, although it's hard to think of her being nice enough to have kids. But she is getting up there in age, so if she wanted them with Keith, it was wise to get to it.

I am looking forward to this weekend, when NOAAgirl is having a little get-together. Haven't seen her and DH in too long. I also start my Italian lessons on Saturday and have my drum lesson on Sunday. Sounds like I'm overextended? You betcha. I also have to take one of the dogs to the vet for a routine check.

Happy New Year!

Well, it's hard to believe another year has passed by. Don't we all remember the dread of 2000 and the possibility of Armaggedon and computer meltdown? That seems like just yesterday.

I hope that 2008 will be a much better year for everyone. At least Jeffro and I started the new year right with a party at the Old Dominion Boat Club. This great band, Route 66, played and we had a fun dancing till after midnight.

It's been an exhausting few days--just yesterday we got back to town after having gone to NY for a brief stint to attend my remaining grandmother's 90th birthday party. She doesn't look like she's doing well, so at least I made it up there to see her and help her celebrate.

Holiday Happenings

Well, it's been a busy few (holi)days. Jeffro's dad came to visit on Sunday and we had a nice lunch at Bebo Trattoria in Crystal City. Christmas Eve, his mom came to stay with us through the holiday. We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's house having a traditional Italian (almost) seven fish dinner. Christmas Day was at my sister's and that was a lot of fun and food. I got some really cool gifts this year and hopefully people felt that way about what I gave them. My sister has 6 kids, so it's fun to spend the holiday in a house full of kids.

Jeffro and I are driving up to NY on Friday for a party for my grandmother's 90th birthday. It will be a long ordeal, but I guess I'll wind up being glad I went . . .

Meanwhile, I had today off work, and I'll be off again tomorrow. I have to say I've been so lazy, mostly watching tv all day. It's been great and a much-needed break. I may run some errands tomorrow if the weather cooperates, but it was just too nasty outside to be running around.

Days Eight through Twelve

I guess I was rather ambitious thinking I'd have time to come up with clever things to last 12 days of Christmas . . . so here's a blanket wish for health and happiness for everyone and we'll just be done with it, unless I get another inspiration.

Moving on, yesterday was the start of a week off work! We are moving our offices, so we are closed next week until Friday and don't have to take any vacation time for it. How great is that! Of course, I've scheduled too much stuff already for next week--like doctors and vet appointments, but hey at least I don't have to be at work.

Today I've been cleaning all day in preparation for holiday guests. Tomorrow Jeffro's dad is coming for the day, and Monday his mom is coming and staying till Weds. It's a disaster in here, and I've just finished vacuuming. I have a lot cleaning to do still, plus I have to finish my wrapping, but I'm almost done.

BTW, it seems like my sister is going to be ok. She has some blood clots that they didn't know about, but it looks like it's nothing further than that (we were scared her cancer was back). So, that will make for a happy holiday . . .

On the Sixth and Seventh Day

Since I'm battling a cold or some such bug, I will make my sixth wish once again for everyone's health. You just can't wish for that too much.

As far as the seventh wish, I wish for life to be less stressful, and for more downtime in the coming year. I have been monitoring my blood pressure since my doc found that weird heart thing, and I have noticed that my blood pressure is fine except--you guessed it--when I am stressed. Then it really spikes. So I hope to get my stress under control and to have more time to spend doing the things I enjoy.

Fifth Day and Tribute

I learned last night that Dan Fogelberg passed away at age 56 and was very sad. I really liked his music, especially Same Old Lang Syne. At one point I used to own his Greatest Hits but I can't seem to find it, so I will have to repurchase now.

This is the inspiration for my day five of Christmas, my wish for healing for those who have lost loved ones, particularly over the past year. I hope we can remember them without too much sadness this holiday season--my grandmother passed on Christmas Day last year, so this year will be a little tough.

Fourth Day

Today I slept in really late, then spent the rest of the day doing things that I really enjoy. I've decided to volunteer for an editorial position for our community newsletter and we had our first meeting today. Then I had my drum lesson. So day four is devoted to giving thanks for having gifts and talents for certain things like music or writing/editing, and for the opportunity to pursue those interests. Otherwise, life would really suck if all we did was work (though often it feels to me like that's all we do). Anyway, here's to pursuing your passions this holiday season!

On the Second and Third Day

Yesterday we had our office Christmas party at work at Sequoia in Georgetown, and much food, drink, and merriment was had by all. They gave us all copies of the award-winning Planet Earth and $100 to go spend on ourselves before lunch. I bought 2 sweaters from Ann Taylor.

Later that night some friends and I went to see the National Christmas Tree in DC then to Old Ebbitt Grill for a very late dinner. Needless to say after my crazy lunch, I didn't really eat much. So this brings me to my second day of Christmas hope. I hope that people will not go hungry this Christmas. I plan on making a food donation to the Capital Area Food Bank, or you can make a monetary donation. Just $1 will go towards 3 meals. Another good option is to make a donation to So Others Might Eat (SOME).

Today brings me to my third wish, for the end of cruelty to animals and needless killing of animals at shelters. I say this because this morning I ran into one of my neighbors, who is going to put her 15-year old dog down today. It's sad, but understandable, as the dog is in really bad shape. But it got me thinking about the ASPCA, which I donate to each year. Consider making a donation this year or buying some of their cute merchandise as a holiday gift.

On the First Day of Christmas

I thought I'd do a little countdown to Christmas with a little twist on the classic song. Instead of writing about what "my true love gave to me," which I don't know yet cause I haven't snooped enough, I thought I'd write about my wishes for the season and the coming year.

Today's wish is for health. For me, my family, friends, and anyone reading this. I just got news today that my sister who has been struggling with cancer this past year is having some problems again, so I hope that it winds up being nothing serious.