Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Really?!?

I've been thinking a lot about useless things lately. I'm not sure why. It might have to do with Josie and how short her life just might be. I don't know. I do know I have quit taking things for granted and what not. But I digress. . .

I realized that while I might be complete the way I am, I don't think my friends want me to be complete alone. Don't get me wrong, I do want to be in a relationship, but when it happens, it happens. Case in point: Two of my friends are getting married and as I think I mentioned in my birthday post, Christine basically told/threatened Dean to be my date and come to her wedding. And then today her fiance Robb emailed me and said that I should invite Dean to his Bachelor Party and that it's on the same night as Christine's Bachelorette Party, so if he can get off work, he should come. I responded back and said "You don't have to invite him if you don't want to! Unless you miss him!" And he emailed back "Of course I miss him!!"

I'm sure if I was dating someone, Robb would feel inclined to invite him to the Bachelor Party, but seeing as Dean and I are going as friends, I doubt if I was bringing just a guy friend that Robb would invite him. Dean is in fact now just a guy friend. But I'm starting to think that my friends miss him. And I mean really miss him. Another friend last week made the comment about how much she misses him too.

So now I'm thinking that if I would start to date someone, that while I know some people were afraid I was comparing Wine Rep to Dean in the beginning, should I be worried that my friends are comparing any guy I date to Dean as well?? I just don't know. Oh and in case you were wondering, I haven't talked to Wine Rep since my birthday. I'm pretty sure there is no trip to St. Lucia in my future. . . Darn it! ;)

Friday, January 23, 2009

Nicknames, schmiknames. . .

I usually answer to two different names. One is my full given birth name that anyone who has met me in college and beyond often call me. The other is the shortened version of my name that anyone who is family or has known me since birth calls me. My sister always used it as a good indicator when I was home from college on who was calling. My sister from Finland always used to call me her "Little Meatball" or "Marshmallow." You can see from the side picture the reason for this lovely nickname.

When I was in 8th grade, my best guy friend, David and I were trying to think of nicknames for each other using the encyclopedias during study hall. I came up with the name Brutus for him. He thought it was after some Greek guy named Brutus but it was more or less because he reminded me of Popeye's arch nemesis Brutus, except that he really didn't look like him besides the dark haired features. David's for me was Chicky-Monkey. And guess what nickname stuck?? That would be correct. In high school it got shortened to just Chicky.

David often didn't even refer to me by name but Chicky. When Luke moved to our school in high school, before I had met him in person, he would often talk to me on the phone and really only knew me as that. When I met him in person a couple of times, I, of course only said my real name seeing as the guys were the only ones that called me Chicky. A month after Luke had met me in person, we were at a back to school party, and David said "hey Chicky, come here a sec" and that's when it dawned on Luke that we were in fact, one and the same person.

I used to HATE hearing Chicky being yelled down the hall in high school, especially when I was trying to be all cool when I was a freshman. And David being a gifted athlete would always seem to say my nickname around the cooler older upperclassmen that he played sports with. In high school, this was just completely mortifying!

Being a girl, I was a lot better at the nickname game, seeing as my friends and I used code names for guys we liked, so we could openly talk about them. In front of them. With no repercussions.

My big crush in 7th grade was on an 8th grade guy who had the initials A.W. so we called him Root Beer. I would say funny things when he sat across from he in study hall to my friend "Man, I could go for some root beer right now!" and he would say "I think the vending machine has some, so you could get some after school." And then we would giggle like junior high girls, and he probably thought I was the biggest tool ever. Which I know isn't too much of a stretch now.

My friend Anna and I would call her crush Rhubarb for no apparently reason, that I can think of now, but it was a very cool code name. In high school, the guy I was in love with for about 2 years, we called Joe because his name in Spanish was Jose. He was a Junior when we were Freshmen. To show how cruel girls are, my friend Jill dated him when we were sophomores and told him that I had that nickname for him one day when he and I were talking about one of our classes and she got jealous. I was a super dork and was the only sophomore in a senior class. It's amazing that I continued to be friends with her in high school. She also dated the above David later on, so of course I got her back a few times. :) I would get David to cancel plans with her and hang out with me instead. It was evil, but he was my best friend and did this whenever I asked.

The reason I bring this up is because my one cousin and I hang out quite a bit. I mean, we live less than a block away from each other and in the same complex, so I mean, it would be weird if we didn't! Anyway, today my friend and neighbor Mike was emailing a bunch of us and said "Well Mac N Cheese (and by Cheese, I mean you) need to. . . Hopefully you like the new nickname!" And to be honest, it is kind of funny. But when she emailed and she said she was at home in bed, I emailed back and said "I hate you." And she emailed back that she was offended and I said "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Where would cheese be without the Mac??"

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Weird happenings. . .

So I'm looking at the cover of one Juice magazine here and just keep thinking "I know that guy!"
I look up his name on "Who's on the cover" and I realize I do know him. I met him at a wedding back home last year! He's in my phone as "Cole-Wedding" haha!!!

And seeing as I'm from another state and he's from this state, it was quite comical that night at David's wedding!

So I just texted him and said "Funny story. I was looking at the cover of Juice and was like how do I know that guy? Then realized you're the guy I met a wedding in 9/07."

And he just responded "Ah-yes! Haha funny stuff, that cover. . . I don't remember your name, just had u down as 'Bloomington Wedding' in my phone! A little help??"

I said "I had Cole Wedding in my phone! My name is A."

The he wrote "Haha nice. . .nice to, err, meet you. Again! Thanks for remembering my ugly mug. Actually movin to Chicago in a week!"

So that's kind of disappointing. . . he's a cutie! :( But I am in Chicago quite a bit!

Hello New Reader!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my friend Dan who has started reading my blog to avoid doing any work during the day!

Hello Dan!

He also is kind of disappointed he doesn't have a nickname and I suggested that I would give him one, but he told me that was okay.

He also is pretty sure Dean would be able to pick out who he was but I said "He can barely check his email, let alone start reading blogs!" I'm pretty safe.

Also ladies, Dan is single, cute, smart, HILARIOUS, has a good job, and is just pure awesome, so if you're interested, let me know!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

It's a coming. . .

Seeing as I decided to drink myself into a stupor three days in a row, my recap of my 3-day birthday festivities will probably be updated tomorrow. :)

Well what I remember from the festivities.

I'm going out with a bang!!

This was my last birthday in my 20s. So. . . apparently I thought it was completely okay to get totally HAMMERED 3 nights in a row.


I also have determined as did my friends that they tend to on the most part drink more than I do on my birthday.


Thursday was my actual birthday and the plan was to just go out after work for happy hour for a couple of drinks because Jamie had a baby about 3 months ago and had to be home at 8 to put Izzy down. Well after her first drink, she called her husband and said that she was going to stay out all night now. I should also state that I decided it would be a great idea to drink Rum and Diets all night. And when mixing with the shots I did. . . not a very good idea. Oh and I had been drinking since 3:30pm. Rum and Diets. Yeah. . . .


My night was basically this: Sober, sober, DRUNK. I remember things. I do. . . but some things are just really blurry and I don't remember. Basically according to Sarah, my eyes were almost closed and I couldn't form complete sentences. She said she yelled at the waitress "We need water. Stat!" haha! I remember doing a lot of dancing and Jamie said that she had burned 4000 calories on her Biggest Loser monitor that day and when she got to the bar she had only burned about 1000. So dancing was definitely a big part of the evening.


And Wine Rep came out. . . and paid my bar tab plus 2 drinks. Oh and did I mention he told me "Hey, so I won a trip to St. Lucia for me and a guest, would you want to go with me?" I also couldn't get past this that night because Sarah's pretty sure I told her 3 times. I'm calling DOUCHE BAG on him either way. You can't be kind of about a girl and then ask her to go on vacation with you. I mean, granted, if he brings it up again, I'm totally going to go because it's a free trip. To a warm, tropical place. With sand and the ocean. And I'll need that in February when I am ridiculously pasty white. That's all I'm saying. But we'll see if he brings it up again. Which I'm 100% sure he won't. Because, well have I mentioned, he tends to be a douche bag??


Also, that night, Dean gave me a ride home. He came out after he got off work. Now, it's never a good idea to ride home with someone that you used to be in love with when you're that drunk. And have no idea what you could have possibly said. But apparently we're still friends, so that's good! haha! He said I was quite comical. I'm sure I was. . . I'm sure I was!! I mean, I was practically falling asleep at the bar. . . well falling asleep, passing out. . . either way. . .

Friday all day during work I am pretty sure I was still drunk. At about 3pm I decided that I needed to go home and take a nap because I was supposed to go out to the piano bar for some happy hour drinks. So I decided instead to stop by the mall and buy new jeans and look for a shirt. No nap. At all. Earlier in the day I had mentioned to my friend Sheryl, that she needs to smack me if I say "I'll have a rum and diet." Did I also mentioned that I talked to Sheryl on Thursday night?? I talked to her. I remember at the time having a completely coherent conversation with her. Friday? Did not remember one bit of it. So I had to email her and ask her what we talked about. Lovely. Anyway so I get to the bar at about 4:30-5 and I state clearly to those around me that I am not drinking any hard liquor tonight.

Yeah this went well. I turn about 15 minutes after that and Stacey has a shot for me. A Vegas Bomb to be exact. So since I couldn't make it to her birthday the week before, I go and buy her one so we can do birthday shots together. This is where things went downhill. Now while I was drinking beer, I also had 2+ in front of me at any given time. And my lovely neighbor Mike after the shot decided to buy me a Kansas City Water. Which is a drink. Which apparently is all alcohol and is sweet, so you don't know you're drinking alcohol. Oh and did I mention as I'm drinking it he says "You may not remember anything in a half hour." Thanks.

Also about this time, we decided that the word "Shot" was our favorite word. In fact, it was the word of the night. I cannot tell you how many shots I did. I counted 6 by the pictures. And that's not including the one we didn't take pictures with. But I did stick to my guns and continued to drink just beer. And the bad part of it, when I got my bill, I had 5 beers on there. That's not including the beers that were bought for me. This night was not turning into a low key night again. And pretty much again, everyone was more drunk than me. Perhaps because I was slowing down at the end??

Since it was a dueling piano bar, I somehow missed the whole 'everyone with birthdays' get up on stage, but don't worry, my friend Suz took care of that and I got called up on stage all by myself with the one piano player while they sang "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw." Good times. Good times. Oh and I totally asked if I could play something and proceeded to play the accompaniment to Chopsticks. Yes. Oh yes. The end of the night ended up with some girlfriends crying and the next day not remembering that they cried at the bar. And my friend Dan was for sure drunk. I love drunk Dan! And Mike kept telling me all night how I need to give Wine Rep a chance because everytime Mike's out and he's with us, he's all about me. I told him that we'll see but Wine Rep was supposed to call and come out after work on Friday. That didn't happen. The exact reason I won't be giving him a chance, but will take him up on any free trips.

Saturday morning, surprisingly I didn't feel hung over. Maybe it's because my liver was still deciding whether or not it was still drunk. Not sure. I had to go earlier than expected to get my car fixed and then just laid on the floor watching movies at my friend's house with her kids. However, laying on the floor, wasn't exactly what I was doing. I kept having to get up and get Alli or Cooper because Renee had a severe migraine that was causing her to vomit. And since her husband was fixing my car, I was trying to help her out. When I left their place around 2ish, I realized I hadn't eaten all day, so I went to Subway and told the guy to pick out whatever for me on 6inch white. And he said "Whatever??" So I said "Well pick between meatball, chicken/bacon/ranch, or chicken breast then." It was like no one had ever done this before. Well maybe not. Not sure. I was too tired and too hungry to make a choice. And in case the anticipation was killing you, he chose meatball. :)

Saturday night was supposed to be going out to dinner with a huge group of friends and their hubbies because Thursday was mostly girls besides the single guys that came up. Well, pretty much everyone got sick, so it ended up being Suz, Kattie, Emily, Luke, and Dean. And Suz, Kattie, and I were doing shots like no one's business on Friday night. And Suz was pretty sure she was still drunk from the night before still at 7pm. Dean had drank a lot on Friday as well and said he wasn't feeling all that well. And I felt bad because he had taken off his second job to hang out with our old friends who were all sick.

Well in the end, it ended up just Dean and I going out to meet some of my friends bowling. But since we had some time to kill, we stopped by this dive bar and had a few drinks. Which turned into 3. And Dean telling me he was feeling better and said "Game on." No one should ever say "game on" to me because I can never back down from challenges. I'm very competitive by nature and so when someone says "game on" I'm going to bring the 'A' game.

We ended up splitting 2 pitchers of beer between us at the bowling and when everyone else left at 10:30ish we stayed until close to finish our beer. I should also state, I bowled the worst game of my life. It was a 62. I bowled a gutter, a 3, a gutter, a gutter, a gutter, a gutter, a gutter, a gutter, and ended up with a 62. I have never not broken a 100 in my entire life. This was horrible. And of course, no one believed this was the first time! After the bowling alley closed, we decided to head back to the dive bar that was close again. For more drinks. I had a margarita at supper and he had 3 beers. We were going down fast.

Since we were alone, it also gave us a lot of talking time. Which isn't good for us. I mean, it's good, and it's not. Because I turn into the very blunt me when I drink a lot, and he tells me things that I'm pretty sure I don't want to hear, so I give him very blunt responses. Like basically the only thing he likes about the girl he is dating is that she likes to have sex all the time. And he does like her a little bit more than he used to but he's no where near in love with her. And then I tell him he's a big jerk for doing that and he justifies it because he kind of likes her. I tell him that there was a period of time he turned into this person that I didn't know and wasn't sure I even liked as a person anymore. And he becomes offended and I said "Look, if I thought that you were that same person, I wouldn't still be talking to you."

Then the bartendar, anytime Dean leaves me, asks me what's up with us. And that he's pretty sure we're going to hook up tonight. And I tell him that "we're just friends" and "He has a girlfriend" and the bartendar is not having any of it. He continues throughout the next two hours to say that he's pretty sure we're hooking up tonight, and that we are definitely not 'just friends' because he sees a lot of couples coming in here that are just friends, and we are not them. He said that we do not act like two people who want to be platonic friends and will probably get together in the near future. Then at the end of the night the bartendar asks for my phone number. Did I mention he was 45?? Oh and I totally gave it to him! hahahahaha! I was hammered. What do you expect? And he was nice looking for a 45-year-old. :)

We had some problems with getting our taxi. Initially the bartendar called and said we wanted it at 2am. They came at 1:30am, five minutes after we called, and we still had a full pitcher. Then Dean called from his phone to get one. After Dean called to see when it was coming, the lady at the cab company said "Well, Dean, it's only been 9 minutes since you last called and we're at our busy time, so it might be a little bit longer than 10 minutes." And Dean said "Well you don't have to be bitchy about it!" We were pretty sure our cab was never going to come and Dean said that he could just drive. This wasn't a good idea. He and the bartendar were doing shots and he drank as much beer as I did. . . but he drove home anyway. Not a good idea. But we made it. I think I probably should have driven in terms of who can drive better drunk. We took residential side streets because we thought that might be safer. For other people. Not us. I hate doing things like that. Absolutely hate it. And I try very hard not to. Having lost someone in a drunken driving accident, I should know better. So, hopefully I am forgiven.

Then on Sunday, I detoxed. I literally drank 12 glasses of water, 2 large cokes at lunch, and only peed when I woke up and then again at 6pm. I might have been a wee bit dehydrated. I definitely went out with a KABOOM on my last birthday in my 20s. Maybe 30 won't be sooo bad.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

It's Official!

Today is actually my birthday. I am kind of blogger challenged in the fact that I tried to post date the post and it didn't work out so well. . . obviously because it's posted. . .


The day has gone by well so far. I got some funny cards, birthday cake, a free lunch, and many emails, wall posts, phone calls, etc, wishing me Happy Birthday.

My friend Dan asked what I wanted for my birthday and I said "Oh just to be able to hang out with my friends." Which is kind of hard seeing as some of them live pretty far away. But I do get to hang out with my friends here which is nice. I'm probably going to be in a drunken stupor all weekend. . . but what's new??



I really can't think of anything I want for my birthday. My Mom keeps asking if I got my card. And I said "Well seeing as I am at WORK today. . ." I think she sent me flowers here. She's quite funny that lady.



And the hot sounding guy from corporate that I am working with on this proposal and have to be on all these conference calls with emailed me and said Happy Birthday and then on the call this morning that I was 2 minutes late for called me out to everyone on the call saying "Well just because you're old now today and it's your birthday doesn't mean you can just come late to these meetings."



Thanks hot sounding corporate guy. I have developed quite the crush on his voice. He sounds like really hot on the phone. And I do find myself becoming kind of flushed when he makes jokes towards me. I have no idea what he looks like, but I am guessing it's this:


That's Jensen Ackles. You can learn about him here. I have realized lately that I am in love with him. If you don't believe me, check him out on You Tube and his Chelsea Lately interview. He makes fun of the Hilton sisters. I almost died. Especially because his best friend and guy that's on Supernatural with him was in House of Wax with her. So you know that he probably runs into her more frequently than not. haha! Yes I love you! And I'm pretty sure that they grow them well in Texas.

Actually, I change my mind. . . I do want something for my birthday. . . HIM. :)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Happy Birthday to me. . . Happy Birthday to me???

It's funny as someone gets older they seem to handle birthdays differently.

Some handle them with a grain of salt (and a lime. . . and tequila. . .)

Others go into this downward spiral of depression on their upcoming birthday.

I think I am in between. I'm not looking forward to this birthday. It's not quite my 30th. . . but it is my 29th. One year until that dreaded 30.

I think when I look back at my life, I really thought it would be different than it is now. But maybe it's right where it's supposed to be. I don't know.

When I was a senior in college and turned 22, I thought, man, when I'm 30, I'll be a doctor, married, maybe have a kid on the way. . .

In case you were keeping track, none of that has happened.

I can explain not being a doctor. I made that choice. Maybe I had a different calling or something. I do still occasionally "play" a doctor. And then my grandfather reminds me that if I had actually become a doctor he would listen to me more and it would save him trips to his own doctor who subsequently tells him the exact same thing I did.

On being married. . . it's not like I don't want to get married. I do. And at one time, I thought I saw myself marrying someone. But in reality, when it came down to it, maybe he wasn't the one. I've quit shooting for a timeline on getting married. My sister tells me I'm too picky and stuck in my single ways. And she is right. Anytime Wine Rep wants to do something and I have plans with my friends, I fit him into my plans. I never make plans for just him and I. And really I did that with a lot of guys, not just him. I don't think it's unrealistic to want to be swept off my feet. I mean not literally but if you like me, you need to try really hard. And I do mean do something like singing "Let My Love Open the Door" when you come and knock on my door. That to me would be a big indication of your intentions. And it might make my clothes fall off if added with a guitar. . .

On not having kids, I'm pretty sure this is a personal choice seeing as I would like to either be
a) Married when I have them, or
b) Be in a serious relationship and then become pregnant by accident
I don't want to have an "oops" with a complete stranger. Even though, my dad on many occasions has said that he doesn't care if I get married anymore before I have kids, he just wants more grandkids. And well you all know how adorable my nephew is, so. . .

My friend John brought up a very good argument not too long ago when we were out. He said that as a woman I have the ability to be able to walk up to any guy and say "Hey, want to come back to my place?" and the guy would. While I don't necessarily believe this for me personally, I got to thinking he was right when my friend Jeff told me that he didn't like going to a certain bar because the girls were all too snobby and he wanted to go to a place where the girls went up to him and said "Hey want to go back to my place?" So. . . I guess it all depends on who you ask. . . oh and that whole "I try to have some self-respect so I don't go sleeping with random people thing." I mean I only sleep with people I've known for. . . I don't know. . . at least a week. . . haha!! ;)

Well I have to go for a walk now. . . and wanted to leave this with you from Chelsea Lately:
Paris Hilton doesn't have the Clap. . . she has the Applause.

Thank you Chelsea Handler! haha!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Do you ever wish you could get your life back??

I know I have talked about this before. But I just got done watching yet another movie that I wish I could get those 2.5 hours back on. My Mom and I had started to watch it at like 11pm when I was home and just thought it was because we were tired that we couldn't get into it.

It was on HBO again today, so I thought, "Why not watch it from where I left off on it??" Yeah. Big mistake. BIG. HUGE. I can't get those moments back. It's not like I sat and watched it though. I was doing other things such as making dinner and watching it. But now, I'm just mad at myself that I didn't watch a show online or something. I can't get that moment in time back.

I'm sorry if you liked the movie, but well if I had to give an award for it, I wouldn't. I do not recommend ever watching the movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. No matter how much you love Casey Affleck or Brad Pitt, please don't put yourself through that. I love Casey Affleck too and am just sad. Very, very sad.

These are the other movies I suggest never watching unless you are just wanting to see how bad they really are:

From Justin to Kelly
Glitter
Gigli
Down to You
O
Wicked (the movie not the musical)

After watching From Justin to Kelly, my friend and old roommate Sarah and I decided to later that night sing every time we talked. While it annoyed our friends, it made us crack up every time. Now once in awhile when I am back, we do this for shits and giggles. :)
I'm sure there are others but those are the only ones that I can think of off the top of my head. Plus some really weird movie about a girl who gets turned into a werewolf by being bit by one that was just really weird. And I'm sure you'll also notice like 3 of them have Julia Stiles in them. I loved Saved the Last Dance but seriously, not a lot of her other movies where she is the big star. Anyways, that's my beef.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Happy New Year and do you think AA is for quitters??

Last night when I went out to the Piano Bar, I got to thinking when I was drinking my rum and diet, that I need an intervention. Of probably the Alcoholic variety.

My friend and I got to talking and I said, "Man, I've drank a lot this week." I even drank on New Year's Day, which I usually don't do, but since the Hawkeyes were in the Outback Bowl I had to go to the bar with my friends at 9:30am and watch the game. Which I started out with a Bloody Mary from the lovely Bloody Mary bar the bar provided. Then my two guy friends decided to start getting pitchers. And where the late morning and early afternoon took a turn for the worst was when I realized my guy friends kept filling my beer up so it was never really empty. When we got the bill I realized, that I helped consume 5 pitchers of beer between 4 people and had a Blood Mary that was pretty much half vodka. So pretty much by 2pm I was beyond drunk. And passed out on my neighbors floor. I'm good like that. However, I wasn't as drunk as Dean was when he called me at 9pm, and as I was talking to him, told me he was having a hard time hearing me, and then realized he had his phone backwards. Yep. I can't make that up. His message he left me, even better.

The day/night before. . . I started drinking at 12:30 when I met my one friend for lunch, then met another friend right after that for shopping which we decided to stop for a beer first which turned into 3 because it was by 2 get one free. Then started drinking again at 7pm dinner. $3.50 Margaritas. BIG margaritas.

Long story, long. . . I drank every day starting on Christmas Eve. I usually like to go out on weekends and drink and sometimes during the week I'll have one or two. Or there is the rare occasion I get wasted during the week. But even this is a long streak for me. I mean, don't get me wrong, in college I think my streak was 21 days after my 21st birthday. But now that I am an adult and in the "real" world. I usually don't do the binges. I guess I'm not near as old as I thought! I guess in the summer, I do some little binges because of my sports, but not in the winter. Never the winter. . .