Happy Birthday, ad infinitum

*As most of you know, I'm pretty close with my Uncle Alan, his wife Sandy, and their kids Justin and Julia (affectionately referred to as "the boy" and "the girl"). They let me crash their Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I don't know if it's always convenient for them to make me the 5th member of their family, but they always do it graciously and I truly appreciate their collective open spirit of generosity. Jule lives here in town now, and although I don't see her half as much as I'd like, I love having her nearby. Jus lives down in Austin and I got to hang out with him 2-3 times when I was down there for work last week. I have no idea what a healthy relationship with a sibling might be like, but I imagine it's something like what I have with these two.



So, all that was pretty much just a lengthy opening act to say happy 25th birthday to my cousin Justin, a smart, funny, talented, creative, and all-around cool dude. I'm thankful that we get closer each year we mature (er... or age, anyway) and I want you to know how awesome I think it is that I have you as part of my family. The picture above was Christmas, 1982. Always a good year when you're wearing feetie pajamas.

*Jule, you can thank me later for cutting you out of the ukelele picture... but don't get too excited because you have a birthday coming up rapidly and oh yeah, there will be pictures then as well.

Is the bar getting lower??

Hello, dear readers, it is official: I am now a card-carrying member of Mensa International. Mensa is the so-called "High IQ" society - they actually didn't tell me what I scored, only that I scored in the top 98th percentile or above (but I'm betting I got in by the skin of my teeth). I join Geena Davis, Steve Martin, Isaac Asimov, and Jean Smart (as well as a whole bunch of famous scientists and psychologists, but we all know my trivial knowledge is mostly limited to pop culture). Mensa was founded by two English Barristers in Great Britain in 1946, and has a triple meaning in Latin of "mind, table, month" which suggested a monthly meeting of great minds. The Mensa Organization has a three-fold mission: to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence, and to provide a stimulating, intellectual, and social environment for its members.

The North Texas Mensa Affiliate is an extremely busy and social organization. They have something going on almost every day of the year, so I hope to get involved in some of their outreaches, including volunteering. I took my test at The Reading and Radio Resource Center, which, among other things, records books for the blind. I like that idea and hope to help out.

I'm hoping people will stop arguing with me now that I'm officially smart. Ahahahaha, just kidding. I really just wanted something to put on my grad school application to give me a leg up on the plebians others.

and so it begins...

Today is the first day in over 2 months I have had NO work, NO school, NO appointments, and NO errands to run. Truth be told, there is plenty of work, school, and errands I could do, but as it's my first day off... I'm not doing them. I'm lying around and watching TV and reading all damn day. Bill's coming over after work to watch The 4400 and he will be lucky if I even decide to shower.

As of today... I have one month off. I leave for Orlando (blech) on August 26th. For the next month I have a t0-do list about a mile long that includes things like "clean out hall closet," "finally unpack those last 2 boxes in the corner since I've now lived here for 6 months," "lose 10 lbs," "read," "watch TV," "cook," "organize my iTunes," "buy a coffee table," and hopefully squeeze in "just generally lie around." OH, and "turn 30." It's going to be awesome.

Also, everyone say three cheers for my friend Rori, who very graciously switched shows with me so I don't have to work on my 30th birthday. She certainly didn't have to and it's not incredibly convenient for her, so I really really appreciate her generous nature and big heart and I plan on buying her a very large "chah-colate mah-tini" next time I see her. *blows kisses to Boston*

In less-exciting news, my iPod is broken and I am really bummed.

Happy Birthday Sandy!!!!

It's full-on birthday season here in the big D. You'll be seeing a lot of these messages to come. Some day I will be burned at the stake for posting embarrassing pictures of my friends on the internet. But today, happy birthday... to my favorite freak of nature, Sandita Bonita.

This photograph was taken in June 1996. Over 10 years ago.




Here's a famous song-and-dance number performed to the sound of bloody marys being stirred... Pt. Aransas, Summer... 2001? Someone help me out here. Look how little we were!!




And of course, the singing into spatualas. What party is complete without that? This is Sandy's surprise 24th birthday? Again, I need help with the years...




And the all-too-oft told Peep-eating contest. I totally schooled her, btw. My favorite part is that we're wearing workout clothes.




Colorado, February, 2003. How on earth could you even feel your face to smile for this picture?



Aaaaand, some big underwear. I have NO IDEA. Seems like it could be New York, but I think we've only been there together in the summer. Bueller?




As you can see by this limited sample, Sandy has been my partner in crime, my fellow freak, my yang, and many other things for about a hundred years. We're a dynamic duo. (Because there's two of us... Julia.) Happy birthday, Sandy... I love you!!

Billy's Birthday... 4 days late

I meant to post this on Bill's actual birthday, which was the 20th. But I am a bad friend, and went to Austin without my external hard drive (where my photos live) and stayed there until Sunday, thus missing his party. Bill is now 30 years old (and has stopped smoking, and I'm very proud of him). This picture was taken probably 10 years ago. Bill and I have been friends our entire adult lives. That's pretty cool, no?



And also, because I am mean and funny, all at the same time, I wanted to post this picture. I don't even remember what play it was from (On the Verge?... btw, when you read those quotes, dear readers, in your head hear them as Jamie playing Mary, Erin playing Alexandra, and Bill playing all the male roles. My favorite was always the Yeti. Classic!) but we, no doubt, in our tender age, thought Bill might look like this at 30. Luckily, our former naiive selves have only bettered with age, and Bill now uses that rose to fend off lady-suitors at every turn.




Hey, where the hell is that room?? I have no recollection of that locale. So... happy birthday Bill, and thanks for always being a great friend to me! XOXOX

still in Austin

I don't feel like a superhero today.

I said that to Shelly earlier, and she said "do you usually?", which made me pause for a moment, but yeah. Usually I do. Meaning, specifically, that I usually feel like I can overcome whatever crap life throws my way, and still come out on top.

Life can be horrible and life can be beautiful, it can be painful and it can be elating, it can hurt and it can heal. But the one thing it always is... is what it is. I can't change it. I can only change how I react to it. And to me, my only choice is to deal. To go on. To get over it. To enjoy and love and live and be. I'm not letting my life be dictated by a poor choice and certainly not by a situation out of my control. I will go on because I have to.

But... I don't feel like a superhero today.

Last day

... of work until August 27! I'm so excited I might pee my pants, er... skirt. Last night was the big association shindig - I love how Texans in the event-planning industry perpetuate the myth that we all wear cowboy boots, listen to country music, and ride a horse to work by always throwing Texas-themed parties. We've had Mexican food, barbecue, and "home cookin'" so far this week (not that I'm complaining about the food... laws, no!).

Anyway, thankfully, the theme of last night's party was "Keep Austin Weird." We had The Spazmatics, an 80s cover band that were actually pretty fun, and the Texas Roller Girls. All I have to say is... I would be an awesome Roller Girl. I spent about an hour in 104 heat herding cattle... ibym "herding cattle..." "...directing attendees onto busses." Unbelievable. We had seven busses for these people, and they all got a free margarita when they got on board, which they had to drink in 7 blocks, because that's how far away the venue was. SEVEN BLOCKS! I don't even want to know how much it cost for 7 busses and 400 margaritas to get them seven blocks. We could have all held hands and walked there in a line in less time it took us just to load the bus. What a crock. When we got there, there were a bunch of crazy people with their art cars. I'm TO-tally going to start bedazzle the Maxima and wear a picture of it around my neck.

Anyway, it's been a fun week. I love Austin. I've had some really good food, and I got to go shopping in the South Congress district yesterday. I found a bunch of awesome stores: an antique store called Uncommon Objects that I could have spent hours looking around in, a boutique called Parts & Labor that only sells local designers, awesome, a toy store that had the most vast display of sock monkeys I've ever seen, and several rockin' thrift stores. I've also got to spend some time with my cousin Justin, which has been great! You can check out his quirky production house here, and when he's famous I'll get you all autographs.

I have a birthday party in Dallas tonight but I'm not sure I'm going to get out of here in time. We officially close at 10am and our "all out" time is 5pm... but honestly, it could be anywhere from noon to midnight. Speaking of, it's getting close to opening time, so I'd better get some work done. Hope everyone as a great weekend, and I'll see you on the flip side!!

*pants*

I. Cannot. WAIT.



(pretty much only Bill, Tom, and Scott will watch this, but OHMIGAH. OHMIGAH!!!)

family

Uncle Al, the kiddies' pal, sent me this bumper sticker yesterday. My family is weird but I love them.

I got to Austin and apparently the office kinda "forgot" this show. Meaning, I have no printer, no gang box, no supplies of any kind. I found a couple of pens and a paperclip in my bag and am hand-writing orders on a Hilton notepad. Which is a step up from the tablecloth, which is where I was writing them before someone brought me the notepad. Good times. I went out and bought a printer this morning (thank goodness I have my car!) and even though I asked the lady at Office Max if it came with the cord and she looked me right in the eye and said that it did, it didn't, so the printer's just hanging out here at my desk, doing me no good until I can get away and buy a new cord. Which, come to think of it, might happen a little bit faster if I stop blogging and start working.

Monday, bloody Monday

Holy crap, I just made the best cookies I've ever made. I'm the Patron Saint of Cookies now. I was making them for my work guys but they'll be lucky if they make it all the way to Austin. It's not looking good for them. I've had like four. OK, seven. What? The last three were overdone! My kitchen timer is broken!!! I can't take my co-workers overcooked cookies... I HAD to eat them.

My house is a wreck and I'm trying SO hard to ignore it. I will have plenty of time to clean when I get home from Austin. A month, in fact, of no work and no school. So I'm trying really hard to turn a blind eye to the mess, since I have to study for a nutrition test and pack for a trip and all... but I'm not doing so hot. It's driving me crazy. Plus, I'm a little ADD tonight. I still haven't watched any of my movies that are sitting here. And I need to be in bed by midnight. That's the goal. Who knew nutrition was going to be so much chemistry? Look, something shiny!

Oh, I got my stitches out today and all the cancer cells are gone, but I seem to have had some sort of allergic reaction to the nylon threads so I had to get some more medicine and some weird second-skin bandage sticker thingies (which are way too tan for my white neck, but that's another grief). Awesome.

Oh, and I don't think anyone who cares about this piece of info still reads this blog, but one of the words on the American Mensa test (which I took on Saturday and which kicked my @$$) was propinquity. Hey, hey, it's the dork squad! Suck it, Trebek!!

OK. I'm drawing carbon bonds now. Right after I clean the kitchen.