Duties I Performed Today because I have No Actual Duties to Perform Today

1. Forgot to plug in the switchboard phone that allows calls to come into the Corporate Office. I am supposed to start answering them at 8:00am. I plugged them in at 8:37am.







2. Started reading the archives to a very funny comic: The Chalkboard Manifesto. For obvious reasons, this one is my favorite:









































3. Told everyone I know (which is apparently only like 3 people) that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie "Smokin' Aces". It was by far one of the best movies I've seen in a long time! I thought it was an original story and all the actors (Jeremy Piven, Ryan Reynolds, Alicia Keys, Ray Liota--yumm, Jason Bateman, Andy Garcia, etc) really did an awesome job playing off each other. I was a bit skeptical with all those diff actors in one movie, but Ryan Reynolds' performance was a pleasant surprise as was Jeremy Piven's. Of course Andy Garcia and Ray Liota were great--they are always great. The movie was a bit gory, but it was about the Mob and the FBI, what do you expect? I still recommend this movie to everyone--even at full price on a Friday night with a Large Popcorn, Icee, Candy, and Preztel.





4. Thought about doing this Meme, created by Spinning Girl, but realized that since I stopped drinking caffeine all together, my morning refreshment choices have dwindled down to Water, Crystal Light, or Water.





5. Speaking of Meme's, I asked to be tagged by Lime and she gave me the letter "J" and I have no idea what favorite things of mine begin with the letter "J". Incidentally, this challenge will take up most of my thinking time here at work, as it has become my only duty on my "to do" list.





6. I'm putting together my order for Avon. This is what I've picked out so far. I'm completely obsessed with wearing tank tops lately.

7. This email joke cracked me up so much that I forwarded it to 42 people in this Corporate Office. For those of you who know me, you know that I could totally get away with Number 3!

19 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a
Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, a sk If They Want Fries
with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label it "In".


5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone has
Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Smuggled
Diamonds".

7. Don't use any punctuation.

8. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

9. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

10. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go".

11. Sing Along At The Opera.

12. Go To A Poetry Recital. And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

13. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds
All Day.

14. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their
Party Because You're Not In The Mood.

15. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock
Bottom.

16. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won! I Won!"

17. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot,
Yelling "Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!"

18. Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due To The Economy, We Are Going
To Have To Let One Of You Go."

8. I took this QUIZ and found out that I'm only sliiiightly smarter than the average person. I blame the timer. It made me a bit crazy.

Would YOU walk on this?

The Glass Bridge Construction of the Grand Canyon Skywalk began March of 2004 and is set to open to the public on March 28th, 2007. The $30 Million dollar all-glass Skywalk will hover 3,800 feet above the Colorado River over the rim of the Grand Canyon, allowing tourists to stroll on an 80-yard walk around the semicircular platform jutting beyond the canyon rim, surrounded by Plexiglass that will provide a spectacular view of the canyon floor directly below.

On May 2005, the final test was conducted and the structure passed engineering requirements by 400 percent, enabling it to withstand the weight of 71 fully loaded Boeing 747 airplanes (more that 71 million pounds).

The bridge will be able to sustain winds in excess of 100 miles per hour from 8 different directions, as well as an 8.0 magnitude earthquake within 50 miles. More than one million pounds of steel will go into the construction of the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

The Skywalk will be the first-ever cantilever shaped glass walkway to suspend more than 4,000 feet above the canyon’s floor and extend 70 feet from the canyon’s rim.

Access to The Skywalk will run from dawn to dusk and one hundred and twenty people will be allowed on the bridge at a time. The historical rollout of The Skywalk structure, with the glass in place, is scheduled for February 27 to March 2. The initial part of the rollout process involves jacking the structure up off of the supports and then subjecting the structure to several days of thorough tests that replicate the conditions of final placement. After the final testing is complete, the multi-million pound steel enforced structure will be rolled out across the canyon’s edge, which takes multiple days. Immediately after the structure is in position, it will be seated and attached to the foundation.

Located at Grand Canyon West’s Eagle Point, The Skywalk facility will also include a 6,000 square-foot visitor’s center on three levels – underground, first story and second story – which will contain a museum, movie theater, VIP lounge, gift shop, and several restaurants and bars, including a high-end restaurant called The Skywalk Café that will offer outdoor patio and rooftop seating on the edge of the canyon. The second story will be where visitors can access The Skywalk glass walkway. The visitor’s center will also offer private indoor and outdoor facilities for meetings, special events and weddings.

It's my blog, for chissakes! Of course it's going to be all about me!

1.Your name plus "ness"

Ericaness. You have to be cool to have that.


2. Two feelings at the moment?

Hungry and happy.


3. What are you listening to right now?

The videos playing in the lobby.


4. Done anything you regret so far this week?

The week just started, give me a few days.. I'm sure I'll do something stoopid.


5. Describe where you are right now?

In the front lobby of a corporate office in Houston.. there's floor to ceiling windows, my space heater is on high and there's a plasma tv on the wall over there that plays the same damn video over and over again for 9 hours a day. :O


6.The highlight of your week?

If we could count yesterday, I'd have to say the part where Adam and I didn't leave the bed. ;)


7. What are you craving to have right now?

Carbs. Day one, HOUR one, and I'm already missing carbs. :(


8. Who were the last people you went out to dinner with?

I go out to dinner with Adam all the time.


9. What are you scared of?

La Chupacabra.


10. Last movie you watched?

You Me and Dupree and Snakes on a Plane. "You me and Dupree" was HIiiiiii-larious, "snakes on a place" was a bit redic and surprisingly not funny. :-/


11. Do you have feelings for someone?

I think she's funny, I think she's a genius, I think she's a goddess, and I think she's just plain crazy (in love with me).

12. What is your heritage?

Spanish, American Indian - My people in Spain: I will meet you one day!


13. Are you thinking of someone right now?

My lovah.


14. Britney Spears is a skank. Agree or disagree?

Oh who cares.


15. Last thing you downloaded on your computer?

You assume I have a computer.


16.Have you changed much this year?

I change my underwear all the time...


17. Say something about the person who posted this before you:

A co-worker, Chris, posted this on his Myspace page. Chris is bored a lot at work. Which is strange because I sure do get a shit-ton of customer service calls for him.. hmm...


18. Do you like moms?

I like your mom.


19.Hugs Or Kisses?

Yes.


20. Say one of your friends and an inside joke with them.

Mad Meer. How many beers, exactly, did it take to get me drunk again? Two?

21. How many homes have you lived in?

Over 5.


23. Who was the last person to text message you?

My cousin (and coworker) Rachel.


24. Where was the last place you went besides where you are?

Home.


25. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celeb?

When I was younger, Selena. But maybe that was just b/c I was mexican with curly hair.


26. Do you speak any other language other than english?

Spanglish.


27. Last thing you watched on TV?

Family Guy and American Dad.


28. Do you dress for style or comfort?

Bof.


29. Name someone with the same b-day as you?

Dunno.


30. Ever had a drunken night in mexico?

I've never even had a sober night in Mexico.


31. Whats the craziest thing you've done?

Drank for 13 hours on my 21st birthday. That night I kissed my best friend's boyfriend, peed on the side of the road, and barfed Taco Bell everywhere b/c I was so drunk.

32. Favorite colour(s)?

Pink/ Black.


33. Who's your favorite tv character?

House, MD


34. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?

Thriller! and Billy Jean


35. Who are you crushing on right at this very moment?

Adamzz.


36. Drinking or drugs?

Drinking. Drugs cost too much.


38. Any plans?

Not tonight


39. What are your plans for tonight?

What did I just say.


40. What are you looking forward to tomorrow?

Not going to the gym.


41. Favourite teacher?

Chem Professor, UT, 1998


42. Last time you smiled?

Just a few seconds ago.

Everything's okay.

For the past ten days, I've had seeeeerious breast tenderness. Kinda like right before you start Aunt Flow, but take that pain and multiply it by a hundred. And then take that pain and multiply it by a thousand. I couldn't sleep on my sides, I had a love-hate relationship with bras (If I didn't have one on, my boobcicles just flopped to and fro--very painful, and if I did have one on, it squished them and intensified the pain times another hundred.), and it literally hurt to walk around (i have big boobs, they bounce).

So finally I went to the doc (after getting NO sleep on Tuesday night from the pain). She poked my boobs (yes, they hurt there and there and right. there.) Bottom line is, she said I was to no longer consume caffeine or cigarettes. They are my enemies. In short, the caffeine and the cigs were causing tiny little cyst-like bumps on my boobcicles that made them hurt like hell.

Who knew?? And apparently it runs in the family because my mom and one of my female cousins have it too.

I was also ten days late getting Aunt Flow, so the increased hormones didn't help either. And it was enough to scare me into taking not one, not two, but three pregnancy tests. Don't worry, I'm not. ;) So this weekend I'm starting birth control pills cause there is no room in the DaMasta-Worry-Center for Do-I-have-a-baby-in-me nonsense. And the doctor didn't help the situation any.. she scared the living shit out of me when I went to pee in the cup and I'm waiting for my results..

She came back into the waiting room and said, "You're okay."
I was confused, "What do you mean 'I'm okay'? Like, my-baby-is okay? Or like I-don't-have-to-kill-myself-cause-I'm-not-carrying-a-baby okay?"

Fortune Friday

My friend Jocopo has made a certainly curious observation about the quality of the "fortune" inside most fortune cookies lately. Mainly that they are most like "lessons" or "statements" (Man who stand on toilet, high on pot) rather than actual "fortunes."

Yesterday, DJ Stoopid, Married IT Guy, and I went to lunch at Pei Wei, this great Asian place by my office. After a fresh bowl of chicken fried rice (mmm!), and much to my surprise, my fortune cookie had an actual fortune in it!

It reads "Many pleasurable and memorable adventures are in store for you!"

(and in true "guy" form, the boys added "in bed" to the end of my fortune)

Adam and I have been together three months now, and our relationship is still very new, but we are discovering new things about each other and growing as a couple, and it just feels really great to start this kind of chapter in my life. :D I'm really excited about our move in April and more excited about what this year has in store for us (hint hint). He's incredibly caring and sweet and has easily become my favoritest person in ze world! ;o)

I'm not sure if this is customary after Chinese fortunes or at 9am in the morning, but I'd like to propose a toast to everyone in ze blogosphere. So raise your glasses..

(I don't have champagne - or alcohol of any sort - so I'm holding up my Starbucks cup of Hot Chocolate)

"Let's toast to the new year. May you have new adventures, new memorable experiences, and new found friends and love in your life!"

*clink!*

HNT - Naughty little bedtime photo

..and this is what happens when you send a naughty little bedtime photo to a "photo chopper" (who shall remind nameless..) <--ya'll know who I'm talkin' about!

;) Happy HNT everyone!

I want to see how naughty YOU are..

Take this survey.

He wants to see how naughty you are too..

Visit his site.

Leave a comment. Pay a fine.

This morning the roads were icy and some exits were closed here in Houston. I fought tooth and nail, but finally when it got warmer at 10am (and since ice melts), I came into work. It's freezing cold and rainy and I'm stuck here doing actual work. Hehe.. I'm in the Travel office by myself though, so it's not all bad. And since "they" made me come in, I figure I'd have a little fun..

This survey of sorts was stolen from The Great and Powerful Os to liven up things a bit on ze blogosphere :) All you have to do is add up all the "fines" that apply to you and post them in the comments. Don't worry.. an explanation is not needed (although it might make things a bit interesting).

Smoked pot -- $10
Did acid -- $5
Ever had sex at church -- $25
Woke up in the morning and did not know the person who was next to you -- $40
Had sex with someone on MySpace -- $25
Had sex for money -- $100
Vandalized something -- $20
Had sex on your parents' bed -- $10
Beat up someone -- $20
Been jumped -- $10
Crossed dressed -- $10
Given money to stripper -- $25
Been in love with a stripper -- $20
Kissed some one who's name you didn't know -- $0.10
Hit on some one of the same sex while at work -- $15
Ever drive drunk -- $20
Ever got drunk at work, or went to work while still drunk -- $50
Used toys while having sex -- $30
Got drunk, passed out and don't remember the night before -- $20
Went skinny dipping -- $5
Had sex in a pool -- $20
Kissed someone of the same sex -- $10
Had sex with someone of the same sex -- $20
Cheated on your significant other -- $10
Masturbated -- $10
Cheated on your significant other with their relative or close friend -- $20
Done oral -- $5
Got oral -- $5
Done / got oral in a car while it was moving -- $25
Stole something -- $10
Had sex with someone in jail -- $25
Made a nasty home video -- $15
Had a threesome -- $50
Had sex in the wild -- $20
Been in the same room while someone was having sex -- $25
Stole something worth over more than a hundred dollars -- $20
Had sex with someone 10 years older -- $20
Had sex with someone under 21 and you are over 27 -- $25
Been in love with two people or more at the same time -- $50
Said you love someone but didn't mean it -- $25
Went streaking -- $5
Went streaking in broad daylight -- $15
Been arrested -- $5
Spent time in jail -- $15
Peed in the pool -- $0.50
Played spin the bottle -- $5
Done something you regret -- $20
Had sex with your best friend -- $20
Had sex with someone you work with at work -- $25
Had anal sex -- $80
Lied to your mate -- $5
Lied to your mate about the sex being good -- $25

My total: $535.60!!
Observations:

At the beginning of this survey, most of the fines didn't apply to me.. I thought my total would be a little lower.

And then, there was some serious memory-jogging going on just reading thru these "fines." I thought.. I've never had sex with anyone from Myspace. But then I remembered that I reconnected with this guy I knew in high school who I thought was cute and we "hung out" a few times.. turns out I did have sex with someone from Myspace.

And back in the day when I had sex on my parents' bed, I didn't think it was as gross then as I think it is now. EW!

And who hasn't peed in a pool or kissed someone who's name you didn't know?? (we've all been to college, right?)

And I swear the only reason I cross-dressed was for Halloween!

Secret Lover Boy was 11 years older than me.

And I've had quite a few "sexual adventures", but that doesn't mean I've enjoyed them all and/or still do them now!

And when I worked at the movie theater after high school, I had sex with this boy I was seeing behind the screen in Theater number 11. :O (Having sex with a co-worker at work)

And of course I've been streaking.. I think it was a rite of passage during my band days.. (this one time at band camp..)

And think about it, every single person you've ever slept with wasn't that good, but dammit, we weren't going to let them think any different! ;)

If I'm coming in today, I'm wearing jeans dammit..

So it didn't rain last night like it was supposed to. That means the rain couldn't freeze and the road couldn't have ice on them. That also means my happy ass is at work today instead of snuggled up beside Adam in my warm Queen-sized love nest. I'm at the front lobby reception desk today and every time someone walks thru the front doors, icy cold 32 degree air blows in and chills me to the bone. OH, also? My boss just informed me that my shirt was on inside-out. Oh happy days.

So last night was my friend Emma's birthday. As I said before, it didn't rain last night as was expected and so I felt a big obligated to go to her birthday dinner. Since Adam and I don't like sushi (they were going to this sushi buffet joint), I figured we would run some short errands, grab something to eat on the way, and just meet up with them at the restaurant after 8 (it started at 8). And I thought I was clear on this plan of mine when I called Emma to let her know that we'd just meet them at the restaurant "sometime after 8." Obviously not. Right before we got there, Emma bitched to all our friends that we should have told her that we weren't coming and that she specifically told us that the dinner started at 8pm, and how she thought it was rude that we weren't there exactly on time even though she knows we didn't like sushi and that we weren' t going to eat with the group, we still should have been there on time.

Literally seconds after she finished that cute little speech of hers, we walked thru the door.

I try to get everything taken care of for everyone.. gotta get shit done when I get home, dinner on the table (or in the car), errands need to be done and whatnot.. try to please everyone at once.. and I still get shit talked about me behind my back. Nice.

I'll be back later.. I gotta go turn my shirt right-side in.

Halleluiah! It's raining ice.

It's finally beginning to feel a little like winter today in Houston. Yesterday, I wore a sleeveless shirt and jeans and slept with the a/c on. Today, it's 21 degrees outside and rumors of freezing rain and sleet on the forecast for tomorrow morning has everyone in a panic. I used this to my advantage. First thing I did when I got to work was tell my boss that I wasn't coming in tomorrow cause I heard it was going to be "bad out there" and I didn't want to "take a chance." ;)

I totally forgot my friend Emma's birthday was today, and we were all going to meet up at this sushi place after work. I, personally, don't want to go because 1. it's sushi and I hate sushi and 2. it's 30 bucks a person to eat something I don't like. I must have subconciously decided that I wasn't going because I remembered this morning that I didn't buy her a present over the weekend! Oop. I had to run out in the freezing rain at lunch and buy her a little something. Still, I don't think I'm going because, well, the weather is going to be bad and that's a perfect excuse to get out of it, dontcha think? I feel bad, but seriously, she should have rescheduled it because at 6pm today it's going to be below freezing and sleeting and traffic is going to be horrid! (plusIdon'tlikesushi)

Last Friday my company Stage Stores, Inc. (most of ya'll know us as Bealls or Stage or Peebles - Palais Royal department stores are only here in Houston) hit the "$1 billion dollars in sales" mark! To celebrate this, we had a six foot wide cake catered to our cafeteria where 400+ employees gathered around and toasted Sparkling apple cider and ate (about half) of this ginormous cake :) It was both vanilla and chocolate.

Ze monsterous cake!
















With letters as big as my head! How'd dey do dat?!


















I'm slowly slipping off into a cake coma, so if you call me at my desk and I don't answer, you know why. Adam is on his way home now.. I wish I was there. He works about thirty minutes North of Houston, so I know for a fact that he won't be trying to venture out to work in the morning (the freeways will probably have ice on them). And since I'll be on a "self-proclaimed" vacation... I'll have to think up something fun for Adam and I to do all day tomorrow (that doesn't involve getting out of bed). ;)

Postage in my pocket.

Today I'm in Travel, and it's slow (thankfully, knock on wood). So far, I've only had to book one flight to Gulfport, MS and one hotel in ... Gun Barrel City, TX. You know how "bunk ass" that town is? My atlas doesn't even list it.

So last night I was supposed to go out and drink. A few friends and I are part of this "Thirsty Nights" club.. it's sort of a play on words.. we meet every Thursday Night. Get it?? Do ya?? HUH?!? (har har)

So I get home from work and I figure I'd lay down for a bit of a nap. It's 630pm, so I set my alarm for 8pm (so I can get up and watch Gray's Anatomy at 8 and leave for the bar at 9). So I (thought I) set my alarm for 8, lay down.. and yeah, I'm gone.. zzzzzz.. snoozing away, right? A few hours later (?), I hear my phone go off, it's my friend Gwen's ringtone, so I know right away it's her calling.. and I'm thinking to myself, Self, I'm gonna lay here and wait for the alarm to go off and then I'll get up and call her back..

Yeah, right. I wake up at (what I thought was) 1am. O_O I'm like holy shit.. oh well, I missed happy hour and now it's 1am, so I might as well go back to sleep. I wake up again at (what I thought was) 5am. Groggy, but ready to start the day.. I debate on whether or not I should go to the gym today. I deduce that since I went yesterday, I should just wait and go Sat morning as I usually do. Adam was beside me and he wasn't feeling so hot, so I got him up and got him some drugs.

While I was passing thru the living room, I grabbed my phone so I could check my messages and my phone said it was 2am! WTF?! So I flipped on the light switch and checked the clock in the living room and sure 'nuff, it was two o'clock in the frickin morning!

So, damn.. I went to bed AGAIN and woke up at the "real" 5am.

Last night was weird, to say the least. I feel really discombobulated (hehe..learned that from Cindy Lou Who from the Grinch movie), and all out of sorts. I think I may have entered a new time-space continuum in my sleep..

___________________________

OH, and I have to mail out some post cards today and our office has a mail room.. but for personal mail, you have to pay them whatever it costs in cash.. so I grabbed a hand-ful of change and my front pocket is a-jingling every time I get up and walk around.. so all morning I've been singing to myself, "I've got postage in my pocket.. postage in my pocket.. postage.. pocket.. I've got some postage in my pocket.."

I found this at Spinny Gal's:

damasta is a Collosal Dragon that has Suckers on its Feet, can Phase in and out of Existence, and is Poisonous. Strength: 9 Agility: 6 Intelligence: 8 To see if your Giant Battle Monster can defeat damasta, enter your name and choose an attack: fights damasta using StrengthAgilityIntelligence

Let's battle!

I'm nobody's deliver-er..(er?)

So I'm a receptionist, who, on Fridays, works in the Travel Department. It's upstairs and I have my own office, and basically I train one day out of the week so that when I cover for the travel lady when she's on vacation, I'm not completely out-of-the-loop on what's been going on. However, it's become a common theme for me to still do receptionist duties whilst training in the Travel Department. Doing things such as answering assinine questions, sending out emails to our corporate email list, and "fixing" problems that come up in the front lobby (such as "omg, erica, there's not a stapler in the front, can you leave your office and search for one and when you find one, can you bring it to the front desk asap! no hurry, though.. thanks").

This gets on my nerves more than anything! Especially since I'm only in training half a day on Fridays and at the front desk every other frickin day during the week. I know I should be all "oh wow, people really like me and I must be doing a great job since no one else in the company can function without me being there at the front desk and blah blah blah.." but seriously, people.. can you just leave me the hell alone for a half a day?!?

Anywhoo.. so my cousin Rachel works in the Finance department and she has a temp over there named Claudia, who sometimes relieves me for breaks and lunch while I'm at the front desk. (I don't particularly care for temps who relieve me b/c they never seem to get it in their head that they're working at a corporate office and instead of saying "please hold" or "sure, one moment please", their dumb little ESL minds can only conjure up enough grace to say "hang on" or "uhh.. okay".)

So, Rachel rides in a Van Pool with this lady who sells Avon named Patricia. Every week, whoever wants to order from her, emails her and she brings it to your desk the next week. So last Friday was a delivery date. I'm on the phone in my office in Travel, and Patricia comes in and sets two bags down beside me. I'm thinking.. wow, I ordered a lot.. I thanked her via hand signal and nod and when I got off the phone, discovered that she had left my order and Claudia's order on my desk. So, I emailed Patricia and told her that she left Claudia's stuff on my desk and she emailed back saying that she forgot where Claudia sits and thought I could give it to her.

WTF. So this morning Rachel emails Patricia for Claudia and finds out that Claudia's stuff is on my desk and so..

Rachel emails me and says, "Gee, thanks.. you could have told me you had Claudia's stuff"

And I email her back and say, "OH. Yeah, I have it. Actually, it's up in Travel on my desk, Claudia can go get it whenever"

Rachel emails me back, a little preterbed, "Claudia doesn't know where Travel is, you can get it and bring it to me at lunch"

Was that a question or an order? I answer back, "It's not my responsibility. I didn't sell it to Claudia, Patricia did, she should bring it to her."

Rachel, a little more put off at this point, emails back, "You know Claudia works with me, why didn't you email me and tell me you had her stuff? Patricia doesn't know where she sits, so she left it with you, why are you being childish about this??"

I'm pissed now. "You now know that the Avon order is on my desk. Claudia and Patricia are adults, I'm sure between the two of them, they can figure this out. If Patricia didn't know where Claudia sat, then she should have left the order at the front desk instead of upstairs in TRAVEL where she assumes I will "fix" things when I get a chance. If Claudia wants her avon order, she needs to talk to Patricia and you need to quit bitching at me because two grown adults can't find each other long enough to exchange avon orders. She should have never accepted an order from someone she didn't know in the first place if she wasn't willing to deliver it. I didn't sell it, I'm not making money on this, I'm not delivering it. Period."

That's how my Monday started off... how is yours going?

Not a cloud in the sky..

Anyone notice how clear it is outside? Sure, I'm freezing my nipples off, but if you take a second and tilt your head up, you'll see clear blue skies surround you today.

Adam and I are living together now... it's kinda ''unofficial'' in the sense that we are still preparing for the ''Big Move" in April where we'll move into OUR own apartment instead of just "sharing space" in MY apartment right now. A one bedroom is a tight squeeze, but I'm lovin' every minute of it.

I love waking up and seeing his face there next to me.

I love that he yells "Hey hunny, do you see my keys over there?!" from the kitchen in the morning.

I love how cute he looks with his two shirts, two socks, jeans and work boots on as he's walking out the door.

I love that even though he thinks all women are crazy, he thinks it's sweet when I get jealous of him talking about another girl in even a passing sense or when I freak out that he's not holding me as closely as he did the other day or when I force him to watch my favority reality tv show, Beauty and the Geek.

We are utterly and completely in love and not one of us can live without the other, yet we are still both human. We have lover's quarrels about the weirdest things, I swear! Lol.. and can you believe at 27, I still have insecurities?! Oh man.. that in itself was a big shock to me. I feel like I'm 16 all over again.. ;)



----------------------

This morning's DUH award goes to a reporter on the channel 11 news cast this morning when he said this about a murder story from last night: "Two new victims shot to death means two more dead.."

Uh.... DUH! (if you're shot to death and you die, that's why..)

Best of HNT

I just started blogging again, and I noticed that last week Os did a "Best of" theme for HNT. I haven't participated in HNT in quite a long while, and honestly I don't know if my HNT posts are still up on this blog or not... I changed my blog website addy earlier this year... and I'm too lazy to check. At any rate, since I don't have any old HNT photos stored on my computer and since I'm too lazy to see if they are still somewherez on this bloggy, I'll present you with some of my favorite "Never Before Seen" 2006 HNT photoz...



















This photo was taken at the San Diego Zoo when I road-tripped there in July(ish).. I don't really remember what month it was (short-term memory and all.. ). Anyways, this is the folliage that's on the steps around the viewing areas of the different animals. Like a goober, I climbed up on the concrete ledge and posed for this picture :) It's my favorite pic from San Diego. (On a side note: It's been pointed out to me that in all the pics of me from San Diego, I'm either flicking the camera off (my signature move in most photographs) or smiling with my mouth open.)
























This photo was taken right before my cousin's wedding in October. It was the weekend after I started dating Adam and he wasn't going, so I sent him this picture via cell phone :) I like it cause it shows my boobage rather nicely, dontcha think?? (pay no attention to the dirty towel hanging on the back of the closet door behind me..)






















This picture was taken with my cell phone in "sketch" mode... again with the boobage..

That was then.

12 MONTHS OF QUESTIONS


JANUARY

1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?

Adam and I have resolved to quit smoking. We shared our last cig last night (after a heated debate.. more on that later, maybe..). He said he was going to try to go all day today without smoking. We'll see how that goes. He's more of a smoker at work, and I'm more of a smoker at home.. but I'm determined to make us smoke free cause it's not healthy and I can't breathe as well anymore and all his clothes stink!

2. Who kissed you at midnight?

At midnight I was fast asleep.

3. Does it snow where you live?

It doesn't normally. On Christmas this past year, it was 80 degrees and humid. In 2003, it snowed on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night. I remember running outside in just my pjs and slippers to take pictures and make snowmen on random cars in the parking lot of my Clear Lake apartment.

4. Do you like hot chocolate?

Love it! I prefer it over coffee, and it's the only thing I order from Starbucks. I received $60 in Starbucks giftcards this year for Christmas and I'm down to $20.. all spent on "grande hot chocolate with whipped cream, please."

5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?

Nope, never even been to NYC, but it is a goal of mine. Maybe not to see the ball drop cause it's craziness in a bottle during the holidays in NYC, but just to visit and see the big city would be great.


FEBRUARY

1. Who was your Valentine?

I didn't technically have a valentine. I wasn't "dating" anyone at the time, but Secret Lover Dood came over that night. I wish I hadn't let him.

2. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your class?

Yes, and on the valentines that went to the boys I liked, I'd draw a little heart by their name... Wonder if they ever noticed...

3. Do you care if the groundhog sees its shadow or not?

Not particularly.


MARCH

1. Are you Irish?

Are they from Mexico?

2. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?

Sometimes.

3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day?

Went to Bennigan's and discovered what 151 will do to your intestines.

4. Are you happy when winter is pretty much over?

Not really. Winter is only like 2 weeks long and it only goes below 40 degrees once or twice, so the winter leaves much to be desired.


APRIL

1. Do you like the rain?

Nope. I'm not a big fan of rain. My first accident ever was in the rain. My car tires are getting old so my car slips and slides on the road whenever it rains. And in October, it rained for four days straight and my car flooded.

2. Did you play an April fool's joke on anyone this year?

Not personally, no. But I aided in an April's fool joke that I wish I hadn't b/c it ultimately involved the police, lawyers, and a co-worker in tears.

3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter?

I was relaxing in the country on Easter with my cousin, Rachel's inlaws. I don't remember there being any candy, but there were tons of fajitas and mexifood.


MAY

1. What's your favorite kind of flower?

Daisies or Tulips.

2. Do you like the spring?

Yes... anything other than the summer's smoldering heat is a good thing.

3. Finish the phrase "April showers":

on my flowers.

4. What is the first color you think of when you think of Spring?

Yellow.


JUNE

1. What year did/will you graduate from high school?

1998.

2. Did you realize nothing special happens in June?

Birthdays are nothing special?? Father's Day is nothing special?? How rude.


JULY

1. What did you do on the Fourth of July?

Every year, my parents and I go to a friend of the family's house for pool volleyball, air hockey, and food. :)

2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?

I went on a roadtrip to San Di-frickin'-ego with good friends Jeni and Emma.

3. Do you blast the A/C all day?

Absolutely! It's 98 degrees in the shade in Houston during the summer. Consequently, my energy bill AND my gas bill double during this time of year.


AUGUST

1. Did you do anything special at the end of your summer?

I met Adam (and secretly planned to stalk him until he was mine. I won!), and I started training in the Travel Department.

2. What was your favorite summer memory?

My favorite summer memory was going to the Hot Sauce Festival with Emma and Eli and Adam and getting to know Adam later that night while all of us ate at Red Lobster. Eli and Emma were telling me funny stories about him from his high school years.

3. Did you have a sunburn?

I don't think I went outside at all this summer. Hmmm.

4. Do you go to the beach a lot?

I go to Galveston a lot, but not neccessarily to go to the beach. We usually hit "The Strand", which is just downtown Galveston, but it's not near the beach. It's just a long street (or "strand" if you will...) with tons of shops and restaurants and local vendors.


SEPTEMBER

1. Did you attend school/college in '06?

Tanks gawd, no.

2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?

I had a Chemistry professor at UT that was super hi-larious and I swore that if he didn't wear loafers without socks (or if he didn't have a wife), that I would sooo marry him.

3. Do you like fall better than summer?

I like anything better than summer.


OCTOBER

1. What was your favorite Halloween costume?

When I was about two, and my dressed me up as a lion. I had the face makeup, the fuzzy suit, tail, and all.. there's an old photo of me somewhere I'll have to dig it up.. I looked oh so cute and oh so hi-larious..

2. Did you trick or treat or go to a party??

I helped set up my friend Anna's Halloween house party. I was there until the guests arrived and then Adam got sick and we had to leave. I didn't know hardly any of them anyways, they were all her work friends.

3.Did you dress up? If so, as what?

I didn't dress up as anything in particular, but I wore this black beaded tank with a silver head piece I bought at Ren Fest.


NOVEMBER

1. Whose house did you go to for Thanksgiving?

My uncle's new house on the other side of town.

2. Do you love stuffing?

I don't. But I'll eat it if it has meat of any kind ;)

3. What are you thankful for?

Adam, my best good friends Rachel and Emma and Gwenie, and all the new friends I've met over the year.


DECEMBER

1. Do you celebrate Christmas?

But of course.

2. If not, what do you celebrate?

I also celebrate my birthday, Adam's best friend Eli's birthday, my friend Natalie's birthday, and Adam's brother Curt's birthday.

3. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?

I'm sure..

4. Get anything special last year?

Adam got me a hand-crafter white gold bracelet that says I love you with a heart full of diamonds.

5. What do you want this year?

More shiny things.

6. Do you like cold weather?

I like anything that will not make my hair go all "fro" on me.

Carry-on luggage only, please!

It's officially official: Adam has moved in with me. Phrases like, "I'll be home shortly", "Can you pleeeeease do the dishes before I get home?", and "So did you want to go ahead and get a joint bank account?" send me into panic-attack-hissy-fits faster than you can say whos-this-dood-inside-my-house?! We're still ironing out the why-are-your-dirty-pants-on-the-floor-instead-of-in-the-dirty-pile-i-told-you-about-yesterday type issues, but if I ask him pretty please (or threaten to unplug his PS2), then he'll do the dishes, take out the trash (my absolute favorite thing to make boys do), vacuum the floors, and clean the bathroom. I'm pretty firm on the no-cooking issue (I loathe cooking), but I'll make him anything frozen or already-kinda-sorta-prepared-that's-in-a-box to his heart's content. We've already worked out the financial issues as well.. he basically gives me all the money he doesn't need for the week and I pay the bills and spend the rest on shoes. As far as personality goes, he's the complete opposite of me.. I tend to over-exaggerate issues (who me?) and turn things around in my head over and over until I'm flustered and confused and angry and stressed-to-the-max, and he's like, calm down, hun... it's a minor issue, we can work thru this.. it's okay, i'll do whatever you want to do..

The River, The House, The Riverhouse.

I meant to post these yesterday but, of course, blogger was being retarded. Here are some photos of the Adam's grandparents' riverhouse. It's situated right on the Trinity River in a little town called Romayer, which is a few miles west of Cleveland, Tx.
















The area is not particularly nice, but their house is by far the nicest one on the river. They pretty much built it themselves, the interior is gorgeous. Recently, they have started an add-on which extends to the left of this picture and houses a jacuzzi.















This is the river from the balcony's viewpoint, looking to the left. All the trees are barren of course, but it's quiet and I understand why Adam's grandparents like to come out here for days, sometimes weeks, at a time.


















This is what I saw when I looked to the right. More dead trees, more silent river, and a campfire waiting for company. Did you know there are still stars in the country? It was cold and black and quiet and wonderful. That's how I spent my New Year's Eve.

Happy Nude Rear

On New Year's Eve, I went to bed at 9pm. Earlier that day, Adam and I had driven an hour and half to his grandparents' river house in Romayer (a few miles East of Cleveland, Texas on the Trinity River), had a huge home-cooked meal, ate waaay too much dessert, sat around a camp fire and watched fireworks, and then drove an hour and a half back home. It was 9pm. (See, in the country, it gets dark a lot quicker.. no street lights, city lights, that sort of thing.. so the fireworks and whatnot started 6 hours before midnight)

Adam and I had planned to ''ring'' in the New Year with a ''bang''(wink, wink), but as we laid down (at 9pm like a bunch of old folks), these were our final words..

Me: Hey, baby, are you going to sleep?

Adam (with his eyes closed): No. Did you want to.. um.. do.. something?

Me (with my eyes closed): Sure.

Adam (with his eyes still closed): ...

Me: I'm sleepy.

Adam: Thank god, me too.

Me: Happy New Year, hunny.

Adam: Happy New Year.

Me: Goodnight.

Adam: Goodnight.

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1. Who did you have your last argument with:

Adam. I don't even remember what it was about.. oh yeah.. he said he didn't want to go to his grandparents' house for New Year's Eve.. oop.

2. What's one thing you're embarrassed to admit you love:

Being oogled by creepy men.

3. What's hotter -- toned abs or strong arms:

Strong arms. Particularly forearms. Baseball players have great forearms and we all know that baseball players are hawt.

4. Where was your last makeout session:

In the living room. Before that, in the bed. Before that, the shower. Before that, the car. Before that..

5. Who knows a secret or two about you:

I can't remember who knows what, but I have many secrets. My Ex, Chuck, knows the most. Then my best friend from high school, Anna. Then my cousin, Rachel. Then you guys. (awww.. aren't ya'll special.. )

6. When did you last slack off:

I'm pretty darn close to slacking off right now (aside from the fact that I'm at work).

7. What's the grossest thing you've seen up close:

The male genitalia.

8. Three words to explain why you last threw up:

Too many burritos.

9. Did you ever burn yourself:

What? You mean, on purpose? Huh!? Shit no!

10. What's crazy to you:

Burning yourself on purpose!

11. Favorite cuss word:

Fuck, shit, mutha fucker, whore (I don't think 'whore' is a cuss word, though, because if someone calls you a whore, you probably are one...)

12. Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now:

No one to my face, that's for darn sure.

13. Have you ever wanted to make love in a car:

Wanted, yes. Have, yes. Will again?, probably.

14. How high is your shortest skirt/dress:

My shortest skirt is a pair of black pants.

15. Would you ever want to be a model:

Hellsfuckingyes. This is a stoopid question.

16. Have you done drugs:

Hellsfuckingyes. This is a stoopid question.

17. Who is the most experimental person you know:

Anna. She will do anything once. She's driven across country on the road with NIN, slept with a band member of theirs, had orgys with her best friend and a married dood from work, had sex in a barn, moved to Florida with her current boyfriend while her ex-boyfriend is living at her mom's house in Houston...

18. Greatest rock god of all time:

Oh if only I cared..

19. Do you have anything in leather? What is it:

Shoes, belt, gloves, jackets, nothing exciting.

20. Ever cheated on someone:

Yes. On my 21st birthday, I made out with my best friend's boyfriend at a bar, while both my best friend and my current boyfriend were playing pool in the next room. Oop.

21. Do you tell white lies:

Is it a white lie that I left out the other times I had cheated on someone and just told you about the one time?

22. When is your next party:

Tomorrow night. In my pants. And you're invited.

23. One wild fantasy:

Doin' it in a see-thru glass elevator with my ass pressed up on the window above the brass railing.

24. Is it better to give or get:

Give. Then they're like putty in your hands.

25. How do you handle a break-up:

By sleeping with the next guy I see.

26. Did you ever damage someone else's property:

Not really.. I'm too afraid of going to jail if I get caught.

27. An animal you'd hate to be locked up with in a cage:

A liger.

28. Sexiest word in the english dictionary:

Money.

29. Your motivation for tomorrow:

You assume too much.

30. How wild are you:

I'll fuck you like an animal. Rweor.