Day 70: Pretzely goodness

Things I have done in a fitting room:
1. Tried on clothes.
2. Talked on the phone.
3. Got ready for a job interview.
4. Cried. (Who hasn't had a panic attack in a dressing room? There's no shame.)
5. Ate pretzel sticks.

Yes, despite the fact that my father worked in a department store and was maniacally against food and beverage in said store, I ate a soft pretzel in a dressing room today.

I swung by the Pentagon City mall on my way home from work today (again) to grab a cheap shirt I saw, and also because I was so incredibly hungry I couldn't make it through the five more stops and line change and then bus ride back to my apartment. Really, I couldn't. So as I was in a hurry and couldn't wait to eat before I tried on the shirt, I just did both. Being ever mindful of not getting anything on the clothes, and chewing quietly. Now I have a new super-soft pajama shirt...and a full, greasy stomach.

Day 69: Oprah's not the only one with a book club

As the title shows, today I joined a book club. Actually, joined a few weeks ago, but today was our first meeting. I've always wanted to do this, and since I'm trying to get out more and create a life for myself here, and then found this one on Craigslist, I jumped at the chance.

It went really well and I had fun. I had already read the book we discussed, "The History of Love," but loved it so much I didn't mind re-reading it and then of course talking it over with others. One of the most moving books I've ever read and should be picked up by all. :-)

Really, there isn't much to say.
He was a great writer.
He fell in love.
It was his life.

Day 68: Magic brussel sprouts

First off, a big hell yes to the Tar Heels. There aren't enough words to describe the thrill of beating Duke. Or, as silly as it is, how much we needed this, this week.

But today's new thing has little to do with our resounding victory. More to do with my constant and resounding clumsiness. While leaping like a gazelle to get my drink from the kitchen during a commercial, the gazelle was ensared by a lion - i.e. my purse - and then catapulted over a ravine during the escape - i.e. the footstool. In other words, I got my foot caught in my purse and in my haste to fling it off instead of bending down to remove it, I flew over the footstool, landing solidly on both my knees.

I dragged myself to in front of the tv - so I could still watch the game - while praying they weren't broken...so I wouldn't have to miss the game.

In order to prevent a real injury, I grabbed some brussel sprouts from the freezer, and iced my knee for the remainder of the game. As clumsy as I am, and it is well-documented, I very rarely ever have to ice, and have definitely never done it will brussel sprouts. So while the green monsters may be the scourge of every 5-year-old, my knees are a fan.

And also, I now have proof that Dick van Dyke truly is a comic genius and perhaps secretly a tightrope walker. Dodging footstools ain't easy.
My sprouts, Tyler's SI, the evil tripping purse in the corner, and a mysterious bruise on my foot, not sure where that came from.

Day 67: At least it comes with something pretty

I always said that as soon as I got my first real paycheck, I would buy a Burberry scarf.

Well, considering that I really do need to be more careful with my money, and I'm not going to New York anytime soon to get one, and it's almost Spring...I decided to hold off.

Instead I bought myself a small Coach scarf that I was eyeing a few weeks ago. It's the first Coach item I've ever bought for myself, and my official welcome to the real world gift.

Day 66: Say nice things about me when I'm gone

My heart's a bit broken today. As is the case with most Tar Heels, and beyond.

Since I was gone to Carolina in my mind all day today, I bought six different versions of the song off of iTunes tonite. None compare to sweet baby James', obviously, but it made me feel slightly less far away. And definitely less alone.

Day 65: Yogini

Tonite I expanded my exercise horizons away from sit-ups in bed or frog leaps in the living room, and took a Yoga class. I've practiced it a few times by myself to a DVD, and have always wanted to take a class, so when my apartment complex announced they would be offering one, I jumped, or gracefully leaped, at the chance. I'm hoping it will help relieve some of my tension, which courses through my blood apparently as I discovered tonite. And teach me a little grace. Stop laughing, it could happen.

Day 64: What do you need to know about chip seals?

I love my job because no day is ever the same. I get to work on different projects covering a vast array of subject matter. I get to be creative and have responsibility. And it is affording me lots of new things, including my first web and teleconference. For three hours. On highways and pavements and preservation oh my. It was still kind of cool though. And quite grown-up I think.

Day 63: Crystal cool

I love letter writing. And stationery. And random acts of carditude. (Carditude: the random act of sending a card to a friend just because.) Thus I became a pen pal with one of my future nieces, M. Today I received a lovely letter from her, with her "coolest crystal," inside, for me, for luck since she thought I sounded busy in my last letter. I've never received a crystal before, and it is now sitting in my office desk drawer, for luck.

Day 62: The stars belong to a new generation

I think I've mentioned before my awe and love of the space program. And I know I've mentioned what a dork I am. Actually, I may not have explicitly mentioned it as much as it is abundantly clear in pretty much every post. So what's better than putting the two together in my most favorite 80s space dramatic adventure motion picture: Space Camp, which I watched on DVD today.
This is a new thing because I've only ever seen this mega-classic on our old, recorded-off-HBO VHS. I've never seen it with such a crisp picture, with all its special effects in such rich detail. (Ok, yes, that is dripping with sarcasm. But I do truly LOVE this movie.)

Ever since the advent of DVD, I've been able to divide my moves into a bit of a hierarchy:
1. Those you have on VHS, but replace with DVD. (Breakfast at Tiffany's, Titanic)
2. Those under-rated gems that you always loved but never owned, and buy directly on DVD. (George of the Jungle, Weekend at Bernie's.)
3. Those you will only buy on VHS, from the $3 bin, and forever deny their existence in your collection. (Dumb and Dumber, Winning London)

Now I can put "Space Camp" on the #1 list, because it is that good. Tate Donovan before "The OC." Lea Thompson after she went "Back to the Future." (And maybe before too, not sure of the dates.) Kelly Preston before the Scientologists. And, of course, Joaquin Phoenex, walking in space before he walked the line. (Oh yes, I went there.)

Get this movie. So that when I say, "Max and Jinx. Friends, for-ev-er," to you, you will back away slowly out of awe, not fear.

Day 61: After the flood all the colors came out

Bob Marley said, "when the music hits, you feel no pain." That pretty much sums up how I feel about every single note and every single lyric of every single U2 song. I want to own every cd, read every book and every article, see every TV special...and movie. Including the 3D one. Which I did. I saw my first 3D movie, a U2 one.
I was lucky enough to see the actual "Vertigo" tour that the movie was made from, and the movie didn't disappoint. It was as moving and visceral as the show was. Well, almost. Close enough. Only this time, I could have reached out and touched Bono and the Edge. But I didn't because I didn't want to be that person at the 3D movie trying to "touch" the screen.