Best Gag Gift Ever... or an answer to women's prayers?
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: haha
UM, so when we women sleep we like to be held. I saw this on the web a few weeks ago and now everyone is talking about this product. So if you have lived under a rock for the last few weeks, here's what it is. Who needs a man, when you can have.... his arm? I guess the better question is, why didn't I come up with this idea, and when's Oprah going to give these away on her show?

Happy Halloween
Mood:  mischievious
Topic: haha

Sunday Recap - my day
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Friends
1. woke up and caught up on friends' drama
2. got dog food and books: explanation of the masons, the chapters of the bible that didn't make it in, and two books about supernatural chicago for halloween
3. Got the shock of the week when received a call from Mike. Week's young, baby. Oh yeah, mike's theory is that after 20 minutes of talk time, tmobile drops calls. I think so does sprint. I see evidence.
4. Met Holly, and went to costume shop. Decided we need to make our costumes.
5. Oh no, picked up another cigar... Cohiba. Yum
6. Went to Schaumburg Panera to surf free wifi with chris, priya, addie, gina, chitra, and romana and drink coffee and figure out stuff about what happened yesterday-- I need to stop drinking coffee nothing good comes out of it
7. watched kill bill with gina, addie and holly at addie's. Holly took copious notes on Uma body language and gesticulation, as well as costume ideas and detail.
8. Taught Halls how to say 1-5 in russian. rough parts are the second syllable in 4, and the whole of five.
9. played tic tac toe and hangman with reed till 2am, and blogged. Reed's sister is avesome. Love her photography. Adding to my list of cool people.

Tomorrow's to do's:

1. call gina at 4 and remind her to do caye's workout
2. create presentation for tuesday's interview
3. catch up on email to friends, I've been very bad. Also call some of the ones that live in far away places
4. figure out what to wear tuesday
5. learn the raven for halloween again.
6. write a thank you note for my last interview
7. clean my house
8. walk dog
9. deliver Liz' present which I have in my car
10. figure out hip hop class time and location
11. email brandon --- oops forgot.
12. hold my breath and hope mike calls again?
13. work out
14. make lunch plans with Jim
15. study for gmat
16. blog blog blog
17. write a short story or outline for a book based on most recent wonderous idea
18. send out terrible wednesday email and figure out the blog for it
19. figure out halloween plans
20. figure out costumes and get materials
21. buy milk, meat, spinach, and shrooms, and cheese, and bread
22. hip hop class
23. date with Brandon unless he now hates me because I'm flaky with him. I'm flaky with him cuz he's not assertive enough but Gina's advice is to go out one more time since I'm not repulsed.
24. Take Hall's advice and text Kevin.
25. make more lists
26. figure out the copyright thing Amanda told me about.
27. pay credit card

Another list: Japanese lessons:
This week try to learn:
vocab: hello, I, you, he, she, we, they, have, key, dog, tree, water, cat, hot, cold.

figure out how to count to 10 in Japanese.
ichi ni, s-ha, chi, go, roku, hachi, nana dew jew? is that even right?

other: writing 2 letters

Saturday's Saturnine Events
Mood:  accident prone
Topic: Friends
Herein I shall recount the adventures and mishaps of Saturday.

Saturday did start out as a semi-normal day. At some point I woke up. It was probably around 1 or two, considering the red bull after-effect. I then picked up ballons and ice cream cake, and headed over to pick up L and H. Then we headed over to the race so that we can freeze our butts off. After the race we went to Liz's b-day dinner. Here's where the mishaps began.

First an omen. We finished dinner, the desert plates were distributed, and a half hour has gone by, but no cake was served.

I went out to find the assistant manger and said what's up with the cake? He said, "We didn't know it was ice cream cake. No one told us. We left it out in the hot kitchen and it melted. We'll try to fix it." Ok, so MORONS? When I handed the cake to the host, I said here's ice cream cake. It said on the box ICE CREAM CAKE, KEEP REFRIGERATED. IN BIG
LETTERS. HELLO?

I didn't even yell at the guy because what's that going to achieve. I simply asked him what the plan was. He was in shock because apparently he hasn't come up with a plan. Dealing with true restaurant genious here. If I ever interview someone to be a restaurant manager, I'm going to ask them what they'd do in this situation.

Here's who I'd hire: "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, we have already sent someone to the store to pick up another cake. Or we've prepared a replacement cake for you."

Here's what I got: "We weren't told this was ice cream cake. We have some ice cream we can add on top of the cake to make it look better. Next time you should tell us it's ice cream cake." Again, casting blame on the customer.

When Liz got to the cake, it looked like shit. At least it was edible. By the way the service was pretty bad for those who wanted drinks - they didn't come around enough. Note to self - do not sit next to Sam in restaurants. Building a pyramid out of restaurant breakables on table may be creative and cute, for AN INFANT. Sorry Sam, but it's DA TRUTH.

Ok, so as we were finally leaving, someone informs me about a SCANDAL that we missed at the other table. Someone with a very very BIG MOUTH started talking about the dirty deed that happened in the club last Saturday. This someone called the female in the story a whore. Problem is, the "whore" One was sitting right there at the club. She defended herself, but not very well, because it turns out she 1. was not drunk, 2. did know the guy was engaged - he had his ring on 3. fell for the "but it's an arranged marriage and I'm not happy" line which is like a TOTAL LIE. And by the way I'm pissed because I just met the guy's fiancee the week before this whole thing happened! And I praised him in front of her for what a nice guy he is. Guess I didn't really know him that well and I'm really pissed at him. A part of me wants to call him and ask him what he was thinking and how he can live with himself, mostly as research for future written literature about how people can rationalize things like this and so that I don't get caught with a man like this, but I would be repulsed to ever speak to him again even, so I won't waste my energy. PURE EVIL.

Later, we made our way to the club. Which was miserable. 1. all men were either ugly, or shorter then me, or losers, or with someone and I didn't like anyone's style. 2. bad DJ - no transitions between songs. 3. bouncers woulnd't let anyone sit on furniture. 4. the whole place lacked class. 5. met club owner T - he also owns rinconsito sudamericano, one of my favorite restaurants. Spent more time hanging with him then with anyone else there. I'm pretty sure most people did not have a good time at the club - not coming back there.

Then to top it off, there was unfolding dramma between C and M and I was caught in the middle. C and M love each other, but do not know how to communicate with each other. So it's all messed up, but at least they've agreed to see each other. M needs to re-neg on a promise he can't keep, and stop playing mind games, oh and give C more reasons to trust him by sharing more of his life and his past. C needs to feel more secure about M's feelings about her, and be nicer to him, and be more open about her emotions. She needs to be constructive in telling him how she feels about him and that being the focus more then getting caught up in his mind games. I hate mind games.

And people came at separate times and I was stuck going to the door to make sure everyone's getting in.

So when the C and M thing was done, I was ready to leave, I couldn't find Halls. Looked everywhere. She was not picking up her phone. I got my car and hung out down the street from the club. Got C to find her, finally, over cell. Then I got stuck driving Halls, Daniel, and his brother to Daniel's place, because their ride was too busy enthralled with R. We get to Daniel's place and turns out both he and his brother left car and house keys in their ride's car. D'uh? What were you thinking leaving the club like that? So this was 2:30 at that point. They call their ride, and he says he's coming. We then figure out that somehow he and R are still in the same car. I don't know how they managed to stretch a 10 minute ride into 1.5 hours and what they were doing, but they finally pulled up and we could leave. I didn't want to leave anyone before that because I'm responsible like that and I wanted to make sure everyone's OK. By the time I finally got home, it was 4:30. So much for getting some zzz's.

Ok so the night was pretty lame. I'm not going to be going clubbing for a couple of weeks - I'm sick of it and I'm sick of planning and organizing stuff. Someone else step up.

Am I spending enough time on me?
Am I doing everything I can to get a new job?

man list update
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: my own bachelorette show
K from bike shop still hasn't called. Leave it alone or call him?

B and I went out on Monday. Weak pressure, red hair. Nah.

M - not as funny as I thought. Several phone conversations but no date.

P - Sunday date! Yei!

C - is a freak. I'm done there

K - sent me a pic of his ho ho. Done.

K2- different K, he's interesting but conceited - ignoring for now.

Be - just very different from what I'm used to, a very soft personality.

J - blew me off because he was "sick". off the list.

Br- he's neat but may be too anal for me. Need to get back to him. This is tiring.

I still wanna go out with that dude from that band. Even if he's a conceited bastard. I just want to see what's hiding behind that camo.

New guy: MD. went on date on Thursday. Um, so many problems there I don't wanna talk about it. But I wanna see this one again.

BF sucks. I think that should be in ever post.

Pumpkin 5K
Mood:  smelly
Now Playing: not sure what the band name was.
Topic: On the way to Triathlon
Ok, so here is the glorified web log of the last race.

Official name: Pumpkins in the Park 5K
Pictures: insert later
10/16/04 5PM -- yippie, another evening race so I'm actually awake. Problem. On 5 hours of sleep because of the whole red bull thing from the night before...

Great big thanks to lovely spectators: Jenny B and LA. What great sports, braving the nasty cold weather.

Participants: Jessica, Bijoy, Me, Holly:

294/949 IRENE F 26 47/198 27:47 8:57
353/949 HOLLY F 25 60/198 28:42 9:14
496/949 BIJOY M 30 69/94 31:01 9:59
673/949 JESSICA F 26 144/198 33:54 10:55

Jessica is 5K virgin no more! And a damn good time too! LOL

Everyone should take off 26 seconds from their time, at least. That's the time we went through the start gate after the whistle.

Data from heart rate monitor, including proper adjusted time of when start was actually crossed:

total time: 27.21
in zone 11:04 --> translation: I had nothing left and so I ran too slow... or I trust myself more now... or maybe that was the in pack time...
average heart rate -- lack of sleep?
average heart rate: 175, which is exactly 90% of my max. Not sure if this is a good race or not but... It is just under 9 minutes per mile. So we are now consistently closer to 8:30... Need to hit that 25:30 soon!

Weather: SUCKED SUUUUUUUUUUCKED. 45 degrees. Ominously cloudy. At least it didn't rain.

Course conditions: small patches of mud, harsh wind, several small hills. Yucky tunnels. Start was lousy. Too narrow the whole way. Poorly maintaned pavement. Next time must wear adventure shoes. Took about 10 minutes to break out of the pack and run at pace. Next time must be at the front of the pack to get better time.



Food/prizes: not sure about the last part, but the first part was great: whole foods, flat top grill, phil stephani, coffee, and the usu bagel/banana deal. Gatorade, gotta give it up for gatorade and Dannon water, I believe. Forgive me, I was too out of it to note proper water sponsorship.

What da? LA and J missed my finish :-((((. Oh well, the best part is to have them there. Next time should tell people to be at 2.75 miles to tell me to start sprinting sooner! Or need pedometer. Or just need to continue to run more so that I learn my time and then know when to speed up.

friday/saturday night. so at least I got my butt outta the haus
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: so crazy beonsay
Topic: Day to Day
there's only one thing in this haus with a ho ho. And that's my cat. How hard is it to get a ho ho in this stupid town.

Tonite me an Halls was on the prowl. Got: 1.pilot named mike 2. lots of short losers. 3. some guy named g something. Collected 0 numbers as none were worth it. There was also some indian guy from New Dehli. Yours trully already has a sample from that city. This particular specimen claimed to be a doctor. Aren't they all. And if it even mattered, right? So I sulked at home till 10. then met up with Eva, Mark, Linda, Halls Kristina and Jenny and some new people inlcuding one that was so drunk that Kristina had to take her home at Soundbar. then we hit wet. T didn't come through so he's on the www.triumphtheinsultcomicdog.com today. Probably permanently. So much for Johny Vegas. Up yours. Then Crowbar for some looserdome with just Halls. remind me about crowbar right b4 it closes - bad idea. free parking, but BAD IDEA.

All in all... did the 4 red bull vodka's cheer me up? Did the dancing? did anything? NO. I'm still pissed about not having a job or a man. What tha?

Sorry, better luck next time.

PS. I want to type very dirty and angry things in here right now.

to do
ira funds check
masada ticks replace
film
medical bills
clean pigs
sort laundry
wash dog
wash floor
pay credit cards

sleeeeeeeeeeep

a recap so that I can some day catch up and write a good blog
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: unfinished
What did i do all week?

coming week:
mon: reed airport; chitra botanical gardens; liz restaurant; date with Brandon.

tue: terrible tuesday. Need to make reservation at sangria. also job interview.

wed: crap I promised something to someone, what was it? grandba; badminton;

thursday - crap what was it that I had to do???

friday - going out for Linda's b-day

saturday - liz's bday

sunday --- mercy, finally a day when nothing is planned. YET. AMEN!

mon - date with Brandon

tue
-interview
-Margarita from hell at el Meson with Gina, Frank, Mark, and Frank's about to be wife
- terrible wednesday at Sangria. It was Linda's idea and she didn't even show! WTF?
-talked to paul and set up sunday
-talked to mike

wed
- dinner at Jen's,
- badminton

thu -
-holly n downtown
-visited unkle mike
-chitra, romana, jen, serg at monsoon
-date with mike at dublin's
--bizzaro woman at the bar
--sausage fest
--going home to psychoanalyse mike for 2 hours

fri
-interview for job choice #1 postponed by two weeks!
- grandpa's death anneversary
- soundbar
- Chitra and Mo stuff

sat
-5K with Jessica, Bijoy and Holly and I participating, and Jenny B + L supporting, in crappy 40 degree windy weather. Heck, at least it didn't rain on us.
-man that man is hot
-din din at Koi, don't forget the molten icecream cake and the Ho incident.
-chromium
--chitra and mo part II
--Holly/Daniel
--Tony the boss

Sunday - wtf? no call from paul?
-hiking proposal will be rejected in leu of doing absolutely nothing all day. Need a day like that.

Upcoming plans:

Mon
a. date with Brandon?
b. hip hop class with holly

Tue
a. interview II with the brits
b. Terrible Wednesday

Wed - badminton with Chitra at night

Thu - AHA! nothing is planned. Hoorah Hoorah!

Fri - nothing is planned. Hoorah Hoorah!

Sat - dodgeball?

Sun - nothing is planned. Hoorah Hoorah!

the following week will be nuts: play, halloween, and a race added to the mix.

the MAN list
Mood:  accident prone
Topic: my own bachelorette show
Ok, so here's the list.

at the top of the list is this cute cute guy named Kevin from a certain bike shop. Problem, he hasn't called and it's been a week. Did I strike out?

then there's a very clever guy named Brandon. He has red hair and I don't like the name Brandon.

Then there's Mike. Mike's sooooo funny. Can't wait to go out with him.

Paul - what I like about Paul is that we have an insane amount of things in common. Separated at birth?

Chad - don't know if Chad's on the list. He lives too far and doesn't make it to Chicago enough. He pissed me off a few times already - I think I'm done here. That and he's too tall.

Kent - too desperate, he creeped me out, he's off the list.

Ken - this guy is a true daredevil, but is surprizingly level headed and easy to talk to

Kevin - different Kevin, he's interesting but conceited

Ben - just very different from what I'm used to, a very soft personality.

John - I'm trying hard here. I dunno if I'll dig him, he has some weird quirks to him

Brad - he's neat but may be too anal for me.

What was the name of that guy I met at the club the other night? Doesn't matter, he was 23 and too skinny.

I still wanna go out with that dude from that band. Even if he's a conceited bastard. I just want to see what's hiding behind that camo.

I'm tired and have a big day in a few hours, need to stop blogging and go to sleep.