Making it my own

I've been in my new office space for about six months now and finally got around to decorating it. When I bought the printer's blocks and realized I didn't have a good space for them at home, I figured I'd take it to work. I started thinking of ways to make a gallery wall work, but was too intimidated/lazy to try. 

Then I found a small painted floral canvas in a gold frame at a vintage store in Old Town, and suddenly everything clicked. I went through my stash of "things to one day frame" and my stash of frames and this was the result.

 

And because I like when people do things like this, here's an explanation of everything.

 

I spend so much of my life in this little space, so I'm glad I can brighten it up and make it more me.

Here I Am

I’m alive! I’m alive! And I should be alive for a while since my crazy project is (more or less) over. It was so much work and so much stress, but overall I was happy with the product and thought it was a good experience. Until this week when it came crashing down a bit and now I want to use certain people’s names/faces as targets on a dart board.

But I’m trying not to think about that because it really is just the nature of the line of work I’m in. I sound very adult saying that but truth be told there was some holding back tears, biting my tongue, and partaking in comfort shopping the past few weeks.

I feel like it's been so long since I wrote anything substantial, I almost don't remember how to do it. I hate that. So I'll start small. Very small. And I'll start selfish.

This is what I wore today. I ordered new boots on Monday thanks to a crazy sale at Bloomingdale's and the assistance of my Mom. They were delivered yesterday and I love them like a child. (Also wearing a Gap dress I bought at a consignment store and clock hand* earrings I made.)

Can I brag about the boots? They were originally more than $300 and I got them for just over $100. I'm more of a clothes person than a shoe person but, seriously, I get why people spend hundreds on shoes now. (Though my feet are quite sore now, I hope I just need to break them in.)

Now to counteract some of this vanity. I spent so much time on the computer and typing on the crazy project that my left wrist started hurting. I've self-diagnosed myself with a little carpal tunnel and had to buy a wrist brace. Yep, I've been rocking this super sexy thing most of the work day. And then at night for the bowling league I joined.***

*For the wedding shower my sister and I threw for our almost sister-in-law -- which I will blog about -- I ordered 60 clock hands off Ebay for use in one of the favors. They were delivered late so now I have 60 clock hands to work with. So if you have a desire for some clock hands, let me know.
**Wow you can tell how torn my earring holes are. They've been like that since I was a kid, I think because I slept in earrings one night and got them caught on a pillowcase. I'm so used to buying mostly post earrings and never buying heavy ones that I forget how bad they are. I'll get them fixed, one day.
***Ha, no. Have I ever written about my disdain for bowling? I should.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

I was in New Jersey all last week for work observing the pilot of a course I wrote. (The course I've mentioned in passing numerous times in the past month due to some crazy deadlines.) It went really well, the clients were exceptionally nice, and it was great to see "my baby" come to life after working so hard on it.

This was my first trip to New Jersey outside of flying into Newark airport ages ago. I took the train to and from Philadelphia, my first time to that city outside of flying into Philadelphia airport ages ago. The Acela takes just 90 minutes to get from the pseudo North of D.C. to the North North of Philly and NJ. (The fact that this amazingly historic city is so close, and that I've lived so close too it for more than 5 years and never visited, really is shameful. Absolutely shameful. Expect me to visit again for fun if the weather ever gets warm again.)

It was a long week full of long days. Eight hours of class filled with note taking and rearranging and decision making, followed by a quick dinner or crash on the bed, then an hour to two hour debrief with the facilitators, then a half hour of working out, and then a night of restless sleep. I'd brought movies, a loaded Kindle, and tons of blogging ideas because I was afraid of getting bored in the hotel room. Ha, no such luck. But again, it was more than worth it to see my work come to fruition. And to have it so appreciated and respected by a room full of trainers.

It was also interesting to be in a new place with a new client. Even if they were all Yankees. Here are some notes I took on that aspect throughout the week:

• The train station in Philly is gorgeous:

 

• I don't like Northern accents. At all.
• Apparently eating corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's day is a thing people do.
• No one mentioned basketball or brackets unless I brought them up.
• Cab drivers in Philly are no better with directions and GPS than the cab drivers in D.C.
• But cabs in Philly have a glass partition separating driver and passenger, credit card machines, and little informational TVs.
• You don't have to pay to get in to New Jersey, but you have to pay to get out. (Cab driver added an additional $5 to my fare to cover the toll for when he drove back to the city. This toll was confirmed when I went back to the city on Thursday.)
• The Hampton Inn cleans their duvet covers with each guest.
• We had the option of a cupcake OR a cannoli at lunch. I, of course, took the cannoli. (And left the gun.)
• I ate more meat than I will in a month at the Brazilian steakhouse we went to for a group dinner.
• After long days full of people, this introvert took great pleasure in walking around Target for an hour.
• Creamer and yogurt is packed at sea level and when it gets to Denver it bursts/explodes a bit when you open. (This was learned from some Denver-based participants.)
• There are geese everywhere and thus geese poop everywhere.
• This is the view from one of tallest buildings in Philadelphia:

And that's it for now. This week has the potential to be crazy as well as I make post-pilot changes. But at least I got a chance to relax this weekend as I partook in a whole lot of nothing.

5 Years

Today marks 5 years at my job. I can hardly believe it.

Here is the post from the day I got the job and the post from my first day where I also got an AARP card in the mail.

I can't say it's been a smooth, stress-free 5 years. Because it hasn't. (And I probably would've been miserably bored had it been.) But I am thankful every day that I found the job posting on Craig's List and got this job. It tests my intelligence and patience every day but I love the challenge. This job is so much more than a job, which is what I've always wanted, and has led to great memories, experiences, and friendships.

In 5 years I have learned and grown so much, become so much more confident and capable, that I probably wouldn't recognize the old me.

Except for the wine-drinking part of old me.

2008: Celebrating accepting the job

First Day Back

I got back to D.C. yesterday evening after 2 and 1/2 weeks at home in North Carolina. (Which I'll be blogging about plenty in the weeks to come.) Today was my first day back in the office since the middle of December. I'm tired but need to get back into blogging so here are some random bits about my first day back:

1. Nearly died when my alarm went off. Yes, DIED.
2. Was not only ON TIME to work for, like, the first time in a year, but I was EARLY. 
3. But I forgot my non-commuting shoes. 
4. And my lunch.
5. So I bought black boots at Ross for $16.99 and then, going back up to office, FELL very loudly up the stairs and 4 people came out of their offices to see if I was ok.
6. My right knee is now a bruise. 
7. When I went to get lunch at the sandwich place that knows me only as "primo ham and cheese, sub roll," I walked in and saw 2 of my coworkers. 
8. Said coworkers told the owner it was my birthday and she gave me a free cookie.
9. Ran a few errands at mall--which means I bought things--and while at American Eagle got "ma'amed."
10. But then I got 15% off since it's my birthday month so it was worth the "ma'am." (And the comfy slippers I bought.)
11. Decided that given how busy this year is going to be, I need to go back to using a paper planner, and found a Moleskine one on sale at Papyrus for $4.73! YES, that is correct.
12. I bought 4 pairs of tights at 2 different stores for $40. (All but one pair will go back.) And at Nordstrom there was ONE pair of tights for $40. I can't even.

A Practically Perfect Badass

It's only two weeks after the day, but I put it on the to-blog list, so by golly here it is, my work Halloween costume.

At the suggestion of my friend, Sasha, and this inspiration, I set out to re-create Mary Poppins.

Now, lest ye think this costume flies right in the face of Operation: Badass, let me point out some reasons Ms. Poppins is quite the badass herself:

• She doesn't take any crap from Mr. Banks and his sexist ways.
• She does what she wants with the kids.
• Jumping into chalk paintings and dancing with penguins=acid trip
• Spoonful of sugar=some sort of downer drug
• Mrs. Banks is a suffragette and you know Mary was, too.
• She's a free spirit who doesn't let herself get too attached, once the wind changes, she's gone.
• Burt is clearly in love with her but she just keeps him as her friend. While using him for acid.
• She is a master of the exasperated look and eye roll.

Now that that's out of the way, this is me channeling the ultimate badass:

And her accessories. (The hat caused a lot of hot glue gun grief and I hate that you can't see it in the above picture. I'm still waiting for coworkers to post their pictures.)

I think it's easy to put together a costume if you want to spend a little cash. But I set out to do this one for $20 or less, just because I love a good shopping challenge and really don't like Halloween. And I was able to accomplish this. (More or less.)

Shirt: $3, thrift store (This was so perfect and I hope to figure out a less uptight way to wear it.)
Skirt: $2.50, thrift store
Hat: $6, Target/homemade
Daisies and berries: $4, AC Moore/homemade
Bow tie and belt: $4, AC Moore/homemade
Bag, shoes, tights: Already owned (Bag was a tote bag of Mom's that I re-constructed.)
Umbrella: $13, Target (Mom paid so it doesn't count in total.)
Total: $19.50

Not too shabby. Plus, I was one of the costume winners at work so I'll get a nice lunch out of the deal, too.

Now that I've channeled both Mary/Julie and Holly/Audrey, what 60s era leading lady shall I do next year?

Mighty Life List #5: Win an Award

I've been terrible about tracking my Mighty Life List here. I have been slowly crossing off some items and will provide an update at some point. For now I'll highlight one that I thought would take much longer to cross off.

Last week, at my company's Annual Meeting/Halloween party, I received the "Star Performer" award. This award is given out to 1 or 2 employees each year and comes with a trophy, bonus, and my bosses standing in front of everyone saying nice things about me and my work.

The award sitting on my desk. I had it hidden
more on the side but my bosses moved it so it's near
the doorway.

I know I work hard and am good at what I do but I certainly don't think I work the hardest or do the greatest work. So for that I do feel quite embarrassed for the recognition. But I also know that not everyone is lucky enough to receive recognition for their work so I'll take it, smile, and be grateful. I've been at my job for nearly 5 years and it can be stressful and frustrating and annoying but for the most part I just love it and feel very blessed.

Getting mine from our office manager. It was a day late
due to the hurricane so I had our technical director's in the interim.

Tidbits

Here are a few random things to catch myself up on:

• The only time I left my apartment this weekend was to pick up a pizza. From the curb. I wasn't intending to be a hermit, but with a headache that made me have to cancel movie plans with a friend, and then changing my mind about seeing an intense play, it just wasn't meant to me. I used to feel so lame and lazy if I stayed in, but sometimes it's just good for the soul. And sanity.
• After 3.5 years in the same small office (top photo) with the same two officemates, I recently moved to a new office (bottom photo). With the same two officemates plus the addition of one more. We lost our door but gained more space, more light, and a window. (My officemates do have faces, I just blurred them in the photo. Just in case you were worried.) It's weird after being in the same space for so long, but it's nice to have more breathing room. Literally and figuratively. 

• Toward the end of the month I was happy to help Lauren celebrate her birthday. As she pointed out, we spent Valentine's Day together earlier this year and now her birthday, so we're pretty much dating. We went to an Asian place in Old Town that was very nice. They also brought us a free dessert after I told them it was her birthday, so yay!

• I've been on quite the crafting tear lately, largely because I'm trying to make a lot of my Christmas presents. But as a result of this tear I've managed to hot glue my pants to my knee and then glue an earring I was making to my work surface. I've also broken a sewing machine needle, burned my fingernail with hot glue, and lost some painted keys. Bottom line? I might need a back-up present plan.
• As much as I'm trying to avoid Facebook lately thanks to all the political posts. (Sidebar: When in the history of the world has anyone ever changed their political stance after a FB status? Answer is NEVER.) But I must say I am thankful for the FB politics just for showing me, repeatedly, how happy I am that I didn't marry anyone from my high school. And why it is that that I'm only still actual friends with a few of them. Like two.

Last Week

I feel so behind on blogging my life. And you know my belief: If I didn't blog it, it didn't happen. But until work calms down and stops sapping all my energy, creative and otherwise, the blog will suffer. And now for some really random tidbits from the last week.

The roommate brought me this sticker from her recent trip home. It's now hanging in my office.

 
The roommate also left me this note. If I want to be sure to take something in the morning, I'll leave a note on the door. A few weeks ago after doing so, I dreamed that K left a note for herself that said "take overalls." I told her this hilarious dream because, no offense to anyone, but we just aren't overalls-type of ladies. This note was a good start to the day.

My PM was out for a week so I was left to handle a lot of project work on my own. As a thank you, she brought me this huge block of chocolate and peanut butter fudge. It's amazing.

My cousin's wedding is next weekend and I don't really have a good non-black dress. And as much as I loved this one, with the tightness, shortness, and low backness, it's hardly wedding appropriate. I did, however, manage to score a $125 Banana Republic dress for $23 at a consignment store later in the week. (That had some weird twisty fabric bits going on that three of my co-workers were able to fix for me while I was on a call.)

The most bittersweet part of the week was saying goodbye to my friend and co-worker, Gloria. I was in charge of the bon voyage party which meant balloons, cupcakes, stripes, champagne, and bright colors.
I miss her tons already but know she's in for quite an adventure.

Finally, it's no secret that I'm quite the grammar nazi. (Though you can find any number of errors in any of my posts because sometimes I just don't care.) But as punishment, I'm sure, for all the times I correct them, my family loves to comment on any errors they find.

Daddy left me a comment last week about a mistake in this post, and then followed up in an email: I left a comment on the last log you wrote. Don't worry, Daddy, I'll be more careful on the next log I write.

The Best Laid Plans

This week was the week to get back into blogging every day and to write about my beach vacation and the dozen other things I haven't written about. This week was the week to go to bed at a decent hour, go to the grocery store, eat at home every night, and keep my room clean.

Or not.

This week was the week for three meetings, none of which started on time and one that had both the location and time changed at the last minute. This week was the week for early mornings, long work days, and not enough sleep. This week was the week of sending more emails, logging more client comments, and answering more questions than I can count.

It was also the week of having to dress like a grown up not once, not twice, but three whole times! Since I so rarely have to dress professionally, and have so much trouble when I do, I documented them for future reference. (Yes, my hair is shorter in the second photo. Despite last year's butchering, I went and got a cheap haircut again last week and she cut too much. However, it really did need it.) (Yes, those are seersucker pants in the last photo. I love them.)

Now, this weekend is the weekend I get more sleep, clean, go to the movies, read, and lie by the pool. No "or not" allowed.

A Week's Difference

My view last week:

My view this week:

Reality's a bitch.

Things I Learned This Weekend

There's nothing like a severe thunderstorm to help you start to get out of a funk.
I was feeling down on Friday night and was talking to my friend Jan for some cheering up when it started hailing. I love rain and I love my friend. And after those and a little mindless TV, I was back to myself. 

Attempting to take a photo of the hail through my window.
It's there, promise.

According to melatonin, my "natural sleep cycle" is to fall asleep at 1 and wake up at 8. On a Saturday.
I took melatonin, a natural sleep supplement, for the first time on Friday night. So far, I'm not impressed.

Thrifting is the best.
I hit up my favorite thrift store for the first time in a few months and got some great deals.

A J. Crew skirt, an H&M dress, and a silk blouse.
I remember trying this dress on in the store,
but didn't want to pay $35 for it. I got it for $6!

A microwaveable container, a travel jewelry case
(which may become a gift), a picture frame
(which was already being spray painted),
and a leather purse for $2.50!

My favorite finds were these two geoboards for 50 cents each.
I remember using these, with rubber bands,
in math class in elementary school to study shapes.
They're currently being spray painted
and will become necklace storage.

The best clothing label name ever is Tall Girl.
From the thrift store. I wish the pants had of been cuter.

There's a reason I don't go to Z Burger. 
These are their regular-size fries:

There are some ridiculously priced trash cans out there.
I went to the Container Store to buy a trash can with a lid. (Woo adulthood!) I got a plastic, 11-gallon one with a pop-up lid for $14.99. I passed on the $150.00 one. Yes, that's right, $150.00 for something that's going to hold your garbage.

According to a History documentary, Butch and/or Sundance may have survived the final shootout.
I freaking love Newman and Redford as Butch and Sundance, and as a result kind of love the real Butch and Sundance. I really hope they did live longer.

The only way to atone for a (yet another) 3-hour nap is to sew a bunch of stuff.
After accidentally taking another too-long nap, I made up for it by tackling some of the clothes in my mending pile.

A Sunday at the pool is just as good as a Saturday at the pool
I spent many hours at the pool today and finished a book. Perfect way to (start to) end the weekend.

I really need to start doing work before Sunday evening.
Yet again I waited until the last minute to get some work done.  It's the worst way to (actually) end the weekend.)

Things I Learned This Weekend

If you've had a bad day you shouldn't go to Anthropologie.
I was so crazy Friday I didn't have time for lunch or to leave my desk and have a panic attack. (So I just had one right at my desk.) As the day wore on I was so stressed I just couldn't stop laughing, so my officemate made me take a walk. So, naturally, I walked toward the big "SALE" sign in the Anthro window. One vase, one bowl, and one pair of PJs later, I felt much better.

But at least the vase is perfect for holding dried lavender.
Also note my finished pottery piece. 

The fountains at the Navy Memorial really are just the best.
That's all that really needs to be said.

If you're going to almost pass out, at least do it at the Newseum in line to see someone cool.
Yep, came very, very close to fainting while at the Newseum on Saturday. It was the closest I've come in awhile and not at all fun. But luckily I was able to sit down and it passed. Which was good because...

David Westin -- former president of ABC News -- is very intelligent and inspiring.
I was at the Newseum to see him interviewed and then sign books. As a serious ABC News junkie, I've known who he is for awhile, and it was fascinating to learn more about him. I can't wait to read his new book.

If you're about to pass out and the guy behind you doesn't have gum or a mint, you will get unnaturally angry.
The guy behind me was all friendly with the tourist beside him, but when I asked for gum or a mint because I didn't feel well, he didn't have anything. For some reason this made me incredibly angry and I made sure to sit very far away from him and shoot him the evil eye. How dare he not plan for a young woman to almost faint in front of him!?

Forever 21 really is all about the super-trendy clothing.
And that's great if you've been dying to dress like Holly Hobby. Seriously, I'm pretty sure my sister's doll had this exact dress. (FYI: I didn't buy this top.)

I might be almost, maybe, possibly, sort of ready to admit I'm too old for short shorts.
But I'm not there yet. And I definitely bought another pair of short ones on Saturday. I can't help it! I'm a conservative dresser 90% of the time except for my shorts. And some of my skirts. And a few pairs of tight jeans. So, technically, I haven't learned this yet.

An ironing board can make a good desk.
I spent most of Sunday working. My little desk in my room isn't very practical and my dining room table was occupied with my sewing machine, so I improvised. And it's adjustable!
 

Watching gymnastics is one of my favorite things in the world and I can't wait for the Olympics.
I watched the national championships on Sunday and am so ready for the Olympics!

Stepping on a thumbtack in the middle of the (Sunday) night when up to use the bathroom is a terrible way to end the weekend.
However, if you step on the Tar Heel-shaped thumbtack, with your heel, you will appreciate the humor in the situation later in the day. Not appreciated: That my heel still hurts.

Things I WILL Blog About...One Day

Lately, work is consuming all my writing ability and creative energy. All the things I want to write about here, for me, turn to jello in my brain and then my fingertips as soon as I get home and touch my laptop. Instead, I find myself watching stupid You Tube videos or going through pages and pages of stupid blogs, just to unwind.

And just now, as I sat on my couch on my work from home day, fighting off a panic attack because I don't see how my current project is ever going to be completed, I glanced at my work notepad to see a list of blog posts to write. I must have written the list yesterday during a break.

I don't usually like any sort of to-do list public because I don't want the public holding me accountable. I've always put plenty of pressure on myself and I think inviting others to do the same might kill me. But, I'm posting this anyway. If for no other reason than I can throw out that sheet from my notepad so no one asks me why "lettuce" and "secrets" are on the same list.

• Cape Party
• National Cathedral Flower Mart
• Mother's Day
• Stuff I found while cleaning out my room at home
• The Asian lettuce bundles I made 3ish months ago
• More secrets
• More fountains
• Thoughts on "crazy" women
• Why I think "Sabotage" could be an appropriate wedding song
• My new laptop
• Colored jeans?
• A quote from last week's "Girls" I really like
• Comfort shopping
• Phobias

Things I Learned This Weekend

(Just a few things I learned as I'll write more about weekend happenings later in the week. As well as all the other things I keep saying I'll write about.)

It's possible to love my blanket in public.
It only took me a lifetime of owning the thing, and 7 years of consistent travelling, to figure out how to discretely hide my blanket so I can put my favorite corner to my mouth in public. This could change everything.

Adding text to photos in Photobucket is fun.
They took away my ability to collage photos, but at least I can add fun text. Or, well, if not fun text, at least just text. And just in case the above photo wasn't obvious enough.

Work from home days are great, but work from home home days are even better.
I left for NC on Thursday evening and worked from home home the next day. There's something about doing my job in the room I spent my high school years studying myself crazy, that's kind of nice/weird.

There's no such thing as eating too many Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
I may have eaten 6 Krispy Kreme doughnuts in 10 hours. This may not be remotely close to my record. (What we call the "Krispy Kreme Incident of '07," when I ate approximately 9 doughnuts in a few hours after returning from London. I only remember the first 3; the rest are just a blur.)


A quick meal and shopping with mom during my lunch break is way better than sitting at my desk and eating while working.
We went to my favorite Mexican place, Torero's, and then mom bought me pretty things at Target. I would have been happy just to ride around town with her, but don't tell her that, I also like the Target stuff.

My sister and I really should wear tiaras all the time.
While waiting to try on bridesmaid dresses at David's Bridal, we had a little photo shoot with some tiaras. We think our brother's fiancee should let us incorporate them into our wedding day attire.

  

Cleaning out papers and junk from the room you lived in from 5 to 22 is fun and weird and sad and happy.
Even though I cleaned out the majority of my room when I moved to DC, I kept a lot of books out and a lot of stuff in my closet. While looking for some clothes, I decided to clean out the rest of my closet. More on this later. But first, a glimpse of a report from my 9th grade computer class. On e-mail. That was done with a friend. That we only got a 98 on. I'm not happy about this.

My Dad is awesome.
He got a knot out of my necklace, took a bunch of my papers to the dump, lasted longer than 5 minutes in Ulta, got us Bojangles on Sunday morning, bought a great computer that I now want, and he makes me laugh.

My Mom is awesome.
She brought me Krispy Kreme and a Pepsi to the train station at midnight. She just wants to go shopping with me and have me fix her Pinterest. She lets me go around her house and pick out stuff I want. She got more excited than me when I told her I was going to make a t-shirt quilt. (More on her day later.)


It is possible for me to sleep on a train. And "The West Wing" really is just the greatest show ever.
I managed to sleep for a few minutes on both train trips. This never happens. Even though, on the way back, I was watching "The West Wing" and missed half an episode. But that's what DVDs are for.

The absolute worst way to end a long weekend at home is with an all-day meeting on Monday.
I got in at 8 last night and had a meeting downtown today for work. This can be good because my commute is only 15 minutes and costs me less than $2. But it can also be bad when it's raining, I'm running late, my metro train is off-loaded due to the fact that it's smoking, I have to run to the meeting in the rain, alternating sidewalks on opposite sides of the street due to construction, making it with just 5 minutes to spare and only enough time to switch into my grown up shoes but not brush my hair.


And that last graph should explain why I'm not going to spend forever fixing the wonky spacing in this post or care that there are, yet again, too many commas. I'm tired and just want to curl up in my queen-sized bed with my visible baby blanket and watch C.J., Sam, Josh, etc. do their thing.

Ode to Post-it Notes

I have storyboards for a course I'm writing due by noon on Thursday. What does this mean? Well, it means that until that time, I'm eating, sleeping, and story boarding. That's it. Fine, and I'm blogging this one little thing. (Because I started this on the metro when I couldn't do my work because it was too hard to write during a certain stretch of track.)

As my brain is absolute mush but I needed a break, I'm going to write a post about post-it notes. Please try and contain your excitement.

I'm really serious about my post it notes. As in I can use the brand name because I refuse to buy just "sticky notes." As in I bring my own multi-colored ones to work because my office only stocks the yellow ones. As in the photographic proof that follows.

The first photo contains my permanent notes with illuminating information such as "how to print on letterhead" and "keyboard short cut for m dash." The ones under my monitor are more project specific. And the ones on my laptop have to be dealt with that day. Or, in many cases, moved around for days or weeks like the "gap" one in the corner.

This morning, like most mornings, I spilled tea on myself. But it also got on a few of my post-its and I had to re-write some. My boss was there and, amused by my reaction, added this one to my collection.

Best post-it ever. (Even though I was too busy to follow it. Sorry, Mom! But I did email!)

Things That Happened in March

On Sunday afternoon, armed with iPhone photos and an actual desire to write, I flopped on the couch with my laptop ready to blog. And then that thing happened that I don't want to talk about. So instead I spent several hours in a depressive funk, stress-cleaning my apartment before attempting to forget about it entirely by watching "Mad Men." Which did work for a few hours and then it was back to trying not to think about that thing that happened that I don't want to talk about.

But now, several days later, again armed with iPhone photos and a desire to write, I'll post some thoughts and photos of my March happenings. All of which are things that happened before that thing that happened that I don't want to talk about.

March 13

I've been so lax about going to the theatre this year. As in, seeing "Spamalot" with my roommate the second week of March was my first show of 2012. Shameful. But what a good show to see! And my second time doing so. Unlike the last time I saw it in London, when my only Monty Python knowledge came from Wikipedia, I now know more about the group and have seen the "Holy Grail" movie, making the play all the more enjoyable. As was seeing it with the roomie, since I rarely seem to go to plays with others.

March 14

The officemates and I celebrated Pi Day by taking an afternoon trip to La Madeleine for some pie/mini-tarts. And why yes, we may have timed it so we ordered at 3:14. Because we are that cool. And also, as we're all writers, any time we can actually enjoy numbers, we pounce on it.

March 20

Grocery store blooms purchased to honor the first day of Spring. When will I stop forgetting how happy fresh flowers in the apartment make me?

March 22

 I try to get out and about during the day on Thursdays when I work from home. Last Thursday I had an appointment and took a different route home to my apartment. It was a route that happened to be flanked by flowering trees. Perfection.

March 23

Before that thing that happened that I don't want to talk about happened, there was still hope, fun, and a Friday in the office in which I wore a Carolina tshirt and a "5" on my wrist. And then there was Brandie and me at a sports bar for 4 hours talking, drinking, eating, watching, stressing, and then sighing. I also drew a "5" on her wrist and we think the waitress thought we were exchanging numbers. Oh well, we're both great catches.

My last post mentioned me trying to find something to wear for this game and I think Mom asked me what that ended up being. (And if she didn't just pretend she did to justify yet another lame bathroom mirror post.) So I went with this year's official student shirt. (Which prompted one of my coworker's to feign shock/concern and ask, "Wait, what? Together we are Carolina?") But since I'm such a diva who can't just wear a plain tshirt out and about, I cuffed the sleeves using hem tape and tied a knot in the back to make it fit better. We'll just call this tricks of the trade.  

March 25

My first pedicure of the season! I also splurged and got a manicure, only the fourth professional one I've ever had. But considering it started chipping the next day, there won't be a fifth one anytime soon.

 

Other things that happened this month: brunches with a friend, book club, Parks and Rec rerun watching, trans-continental Facetime with Jan, basketball, basketball, basketball, and a broken heart. The end.