Here comes the sun...and I say, it's alright...

whenever I was feeling bad/blue, I used to play this song to make me feel better - or listen to it upon waking in the morning, right away, to ensure somewhat of a good start that would hopefully spill over onto the rest of the day...I haven't listened to it in awhile, a long while, but I think I need to ASAP...Beatles songs are perfect for that sort of thing, they just kind of make you feel better all around...anyway, I bring it up because I have been a terrible person this week, full of ANGER. Rage. Wrath. Envy. Self-pity. Blah blah blah. It's so boring to be negative, isn't it? So typical. Today, I reached my limit. I was all ready to throw in the towel and go home at noon, saying I didn't feel well. I just wanted to run and hide and lay in bed, pull the covers over my head for the rest of the day, maybe only popping out to watch The Office and ER tonight. This didn't happen though because I kept thinking: "You can run but you can't hide...because then the issue still remains - why in the hell have I been such a moody mess this week"?

But I'm here to announce:

THE MOOD HAS BROKEN. I AM NOW RECOVERED.

Thank you to all who have been bearing with me through these difficult and challenging times.

I was just given a new "challenge" work-wise and I think that helped. A new project right now, possible new and bigger projects looming in the future with different people than I normally interact with, all ingredients for a new perspective. It broke the spell of doom that was hanging over my head and I just couldn't shake it.

So, with that in mind, I have a few steps to take:

1) Stop acting like such a bitch
2) If something is making me feel bad or sad or mad, do something about it, don't just sit there and whine "oh poor me"!
3) Have a drink with some friends, laugh a little, and lighten up.

I'll end with my new favorite quote:

A light in the darkness
A candle is a protest at midnight.
It is a non-conformist.
It says to the darkness,
I beg to differ.
- Indian Proverb

Bad bad bad bad mood

Typical Monday, I suppose, although I don't really dislike coming to work so it's not a "I hate my job, can't I stay in bed?" sort of bad mood, but it's REALLY cold, like Artic cold so maybe that started me off. The guy on 1010 WINS this morning was interviewing some Russian guy at a bus stop about how cold it is and he said "you look like Krushev in that hat!" and the Russian guy says "aw, its not that cold, this is like a Russian summer". HA! And people think Russians have no sense of humor! So maybe the cold, the bundling (which makes you feel fat, all those layers), the coming into the office and feeling the major heat which I hate, the lack of coffee and having to rebundle to go out and get the coffee, the dumb, lazy people in the world, the bad hair day (due to hat head, mostly) all contribute to BAD BAD MOOD.

It's dissipating now though, so that's good. Stay tuned to see how this all turns out...will she smile once this week without it hurting her face? Will she stop grunting at co-workers? Will her boss stop avoiding her because he reads her body language really well and reads the sign above her head that screams: "KEEP AWAY FROM THE ANGRY LADY"? Well, we are all on pins and needles waiting to see how this mood resolves itself...

Nada to report

Not much going on, hence - no postings in awhile. The only event of note is that I went to see Pan's Labyrinth (check out the official site http://www.panslabyrinth.com/ there is a sketchbook section by the director/writer that's super cool) and it was AWESOME and made me wish that it was a book so that I could go home and read it...somewhat grotesque and dreamlike images, but that's right up my alley and that's really what fairy tales were, not the cleaned-up, prettied-up Disney versions (which I still love but they are much "nicer") ... afterwards, there was some really good Thai food and wine on 2nd Avenue...and this weekend? Ikea on Saturday and a Ghost Hunters marathon on Sunday... Floating Head and I will be enjoying it on separate couches, cell phones at the ready so that we can text each other when we are scared and in need of comfort.

Tomorrow is Groudhog's Day and he better see his shadow (but only if that means there are 6 more weeks of winter - if not I want the opposite)! It's been so cold here and I love that, but I want some snow. I NEED snow. It's been so cold, you should see how I wrap up just to go to bed. It snowed a bit the other night; I was genuinely thrilled as I went into the kitchen and glanced out the window and saw white everywhere. I had that nice little moment of surprise that you get sometimes - you look out a window just out of habit and you expect to see the normal scenery. But this time, it was all white and quiet and little snowflakes falling and everything looks slower and seems hushed when it snows. But it didn't stick around long and it may snow tonight but it's supposed to turn to rainy slush and that doesn't count. So hear my cries, Oh Weather Gods! A Snow of Substance please :-)

But Baby It's Cold Outside...

Well finally, finally, the Winter Man has come to stay... this past week has been perfectly COLD. Not just chilly mind you, but COLD. Raw, blustery, loverly COLD. Just as January should be. I love it. I get to bundle cutely, in my fab new purply scarf and gloves and cute cute hat and I get to shiver and long for a hot coffee or tea because its so COLD and I get to scream "Holy Shit!" as I run from the movie theater to Ollie's as I did on Saturday night. I went with the Chia Pet to see "Volver" with the gorgeous Penelope Cruz - she really is amazing don't you think? - and we had wonton soup with duck at Ollie's to warm us up. Friday: I finally got my couch fixed - finally! I can sit on it like a normal human being ... and I was only supposed to wait until the fixers came and then go in to work, but I woke up with a terrible migraine so I just stayed put and rested and reread The Alchemist instead.

OOOH and Thursday, The Office!!! Jim finally admitted he still has feelings for Pam - BYE BYE KAREN! One of the better episodes lately, right Snow White? I'll be calling you to discuss all the Office events in the next day or two and also to say a happy belated birthday to my Jacob O because I'm a crappy auntie who didn't get a chance to call yet.

And I would be remiss if I did not mention that this Saturday was my parents 39th wedding anniversary...does this mean that next year I can hold a ruby wedding party for them and run into Mark Darcy, a la Bridget Jones? And stick my foot in mouth just like her of course but end up with the guy anyway ... stranger things have happened...(see I watched that movie for the millioneth time on Friday so I'm just reliving all those lovely Colin Firth moments, although he makes your toes curl the best in Pride and Prejudice - much more sullen and dour in an appealing way).

Bushism of the Day

I got this calendar for my birthday and I finally get to use it...one on my faves is today's quote from that Braniac George W.:

"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?" Concord, New Hampshire, January 29, 2000

It's really so embarassing, isn't it? It's just pathetic...someone wake me when its over...

P.S. NEW OBSESSION: Thai Chili Sauce - steam or stir fry veggies and glop this on top - OMG - it's out of this world yummy...

Also, I forgot to mention: while Floating Head and I were in Philadelphia, A Mug Was Purchased. Yippee!!

In the Ladies Room...

Someone posted a big sign in the ladies room here at work (after adding some flowers and lotions and other girlie items):

"Ladies!
Let's keep it real,
Let's keep it clean."

This will now replace the previous Ladies Room sign which made me giggle:

"If you sprinkle when you tinkle
Please be neat and wipe the seat!"

Colonial Good Times!

So here are some pix of my day-long adventure in Philly! We were enjoying a hot beverage and a trolley tour by 12:30 and after 90 minutes, we walked all over the city - from the Liberty Bell to Ben Franklin's grave to the Old City and Betsy Ross' house - turns out SHE was an incredible lady - she did a lot more than just create our flag - all the way to Penn's Landing and South Street and then back to the very tavern where Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams used to hang out and discuss things - wouldn't Vox like to have been privy to their conversation? I'm sure he would have had a lot in common...hee hee, I'm picturing Vox in stockings and short pants and a powdered wig right now...

Floating Head was "powered up" and ready to fight crime...or just get on the bus to Philadelphia

Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential block in the country - this was super cool and very quaint and we both decided that we should live there because of its super cuteness

this is a "busybody" and it was invented by the Dutch in the 17th century to see who was at the front door - mostly they were scared of the taxman, since the Brits taxed them on everything - the number of windows, the number of exposed walls, etc...

aw! a purple house on Elfreth's Alley for ME!!!

Just thought this was funny - this space not yet dedicated - maybe someday!
The Liberty Bell, complete with noted crack

Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was discussed and signed
Ben Franklin's grave (along with wife Deborah); people throw pennies on it in honor of his saying "a penny earned is a penny saved" and also for luck; also, the historical society collects it and makes several thousands which go to the preservation of the cemetary

You can't really see this, but this is the tavern we ate a very yummy dinner in - I had Lobster Pie and the staff all wears authentic colonial clothing and you are served with pewter goblets and old-fashioned utensils..needless to say, we were stuffed after this treat so we decided to nix the cheesesteak and come back another time because we have a whole list of things we didn't have time to check out. Turns out 2 days in Philly would just about do it...

Cheers to you, Floating Head! It was a wonderful adventure and I look forward to our next journey (even if it's just doing the NYC history stuff)!

You're the Funny Little Frog in My Throat

Tonight I'm off to Spain - the restaurant, not the country - to have some sangria and paella and then tomorrow I shall meet up with the Stanley's who are no longer of Jackson Heights but will be in the neighborhood for a visit...and then Sunday, it's up bright and early to have a "good breakfast" with Floating Head before we head down to Chinatown to catch the bus to....

PHILADELPHIA!

Yes, I'm taking a super cool daytrip where I can guarantee there will be yet another shot of Floating Head in Colonial Pose - perhaps near the Liberty Bell? We are taking a Historic Trolley Tour and want to walk around all the historical spots and share a REAL Philly Cheese Steak... I used to go to Philly all the time in my old job, but I never got to sightsee much - we went to the Big Market there and would walk around a bit but that's it... so I'm excited...I always feel a bit let down on long weekends when I have nothing to do, so I'm happy that Floating Head is always up for an adventure with me - she's good like that.

Now: I was sitting here listening to my radio at work and a Belle and Sebastian song was on - "Another Sunny Day" - when Vox emails me " Have you ever heard the song "Funny Little Frog", by Belle & Sebastian? I just heard the song, thought it was cute." - and that song is from the very album I'm listening to!!! So I immediately started the song and looked up the lyrics and guess what? It's an awesome song - isn't it?:

Honey lovin you is the greatest thing
I get to be myself and I get to sing
I get to play at being irresponsible
I come home late at night and I love your soul
I never forget you in my prayers
I never have a bad thing to report
You’re my picture on the wall
You’re my vision in the hall
You’re the one I’m talking to
When I get in from my work
You are my girl, and you don’t even know it
I am livin out the life of a poet
I am the jester in the ancient court
You’re the funny little frog in my throat

I had a conversation with you at night
It’s a little one sided but that’s allright
I tell you in the kitchen about my day
You sit on the bed in the dark changing places
With the ghost that was there before you came
You’ve come to save my life again
I don’t dare to touch your hand
I don’t dare to think of youIn a physical way
And I don’t know how you smell
You are the cover of my magazine
You’re my fashion tip, a living museum
I’d pay to visit you on rainy Sundays
I’ll maybe tell you all about it someday

I love little quirky incidents like these that happen for no reason but that seem to be a sign of synchonicity - because the other thing that Vox doesn't know is that I had just said in my head "right now a song is going to come on the radio that is going to make me smile" - and lo and behold, he sends me an email instructing me to play this song - ha!

The Cemetary

While the 3 Sisters were all together, we decided to go to the cemetary while I was home so that we could bury some of the ashes of my Uncle Jeff, who passed away last year, by the grave of my grandmother (his mother) and some of my grandfather is there as well.

Some Pics

Is this Kevin Federline and Britney Spears or My Mom and Aunt Judy? You Decide!