And the day is mine!

I sucked another victim into the world of Harry Potter. Julie, my unsuspecting roommate, actually suggested to me that we watch it! Don't let her tell you anything otherwise. She even made us stop playing Rummikub so she could pay attention since she was "getting too into it." I know she'll watch the other 2 movies (3 if you include her at Goblet of Fire opening night) and perhaps I can even sucker her into reading the books--we all know those are better anyway. :)

Her two most memorable quotes:

1. Did they make black wizards back then?

2. Look at those mentors running through the forest! (I think she was talking about the centaurs, not a professional guru, but I'm not really sure. She's in graphics for a reason--I'm going to hear about it for that one.)

Ketchup and other matters

I feel as if I’m experienced enough to write a fairly decent book on roommate relations. I just might do it if my job keeps sucking so much. I will discuss other issues later, but I’d like to start with this: food, specificially condiments. My roommates and I are not, shall we say, culinary artistes in any way. We have lots of food, but most of it isn’t touched. I think we have about 10 canisters of Crystal Light and 3 boxes of Cheezits, but items for a meal? No way!

While cleaning out the fridge yesterday I realized that we had 2-3 of each condiment. I know this is probably because I’m a condiment snob, but it still seems a little excessive to me. I mean there are probably starving kids in Ethiopia that would love to have the Hunts ketchup that I stick my nose up at. I just think it’s amusing that there is nothing in my fridge except 6 bottles of BBQ, 2 ketchups, 4 tubs of butter and possibly a cheese or two.

I really need a hobby so I don’t ponder these things. I mean who spends all day Saturday cleaning their house and counting condiments? I guess I should be glad that it’s almost ski season!

Twisted and Snorman: The Soundtrack

Snorman and I have decided to put together an official soundtrack of cool Europe-themed songs in preparation of the big trip in 6 months. Now I just need to think of a clever name for this compilation. Any ideas?

Track 1: From Paris to Berlin by Infernal

I have the best timing ever--

It's true. Wednesday morning I get this cryptic email from my landlord saying that he wants to talk to me about selling the townhouse. This would be the same townhouse that I have a lease to live in until next May. He'd like us to move out so he can quit his job and go into real estate. Why did he just extend our lease for a year if he wanted to sell the place??

This may be just the thing Julie and I have been looking for--She wants to move out (probably to get away from me) and I wouldn't mind moving closer to the District if I can't land a gig in Germany. I've decided to either buy a house or pay huge money to live in Crystal City or Arlington. Who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to pay $1200 to rent an apartment the size of a small dorm room. At least I'd be living near people my own age. Maybe there would be more eye candy and I could spend my spare time looking for rich lobbyists (oh wait, I'm not a hooker). This sounds like a good idea, except that I like to spend money like I'm the next Mrs. Matt Damon (sorry, that's what I came up with under pressure) and I've blown any down payment I may have had on really random, yet essential, things. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN THE ONE TIME OF MY LIFE THAT I DECIDED NOT TO BE CHEAP ANYMORE!?!

August/September recap of why Thomas is the financial planner in the family:
1. Pimping my new ride (who still doesn't have a name...) - Window tinting protects the color of my interior. Yeah, that's it.
2. Laptop - I'm just glad I have 18 month interest free...
3. Trip to Minnesota/Mall of America - I spent enough at the mall to have my credit card company turn off my card until I verified my purchases.
4. Sony Home Theater System - This might not be bad if it wasn't for my room and left me with the desire to upgrade my TV.
5. UK Harry Potter books - Not just the two that I didn't already have, but the whole set because I needed to have a matching set of hardcovers. I think I spent more on shipping than the books. Apparently the exchange rate isn't very good right now... I'm sick.
6. Trip to Chicago for Sue's wedding - I guess she'll want a gift too... :)
7. Commitment to go to Europe for 7-10 days in the spring - Shannon and I can't have a cheap trip. We'll be too busy buying Italian leather and getting massages/facials.
8. XM Radio - This is probably the sweetest toy I've ever had--I may even get rid of Netflix! It validated my purchase of the home theater system. I couldn't blast out my neighbors or roommates with wicked trance music unless I had those speakers.

I really need to get a hobby or a boy toy. Otherwise I'm going to be living with one of you before long. Maybe I can stay on Snormie's couch. I've heard she has an extra room... ;) At least you can rest assured that I have sweet possessions to up the party factor of your pad...

I love being German

This isn't right... but I'm German so I can think it's funny. :)

What a weekend...

I'm going to address an issue here that is very painful for me to discuss... Yes, Michigan lost to Notre Dame. I have accepted this as fact. I don't know what upsets me more: that they lost or that I didn't really care. I left the house during the 4th quarter to go to Kohl's to see if they had the Adidas track jacket I wanted. They didn't, but I did get a cute pair of track pants with pink stripes. You can't have it all. Maybe I'm starting to channel all my sports related rage into shopping? Hmmmm...

Today I went to my first Redskins game. They played the Bears. I know I should probably care about that, being a good Illinois girl and all, but I was indifferent. At least I was until I realized that I could probably get into a lot of trouble by being 'that asshole'. We all know I love that. Don't worry though--Kyle Orton snapped me back to reality before I could open my big mouth. He's the Bears' rookie quarterback and played for Purdue. I've seen him choke enough over the couple years to know that I didn't want to bet my life or my green shirt (does beer stain?) on him.

I've decided that my next Redskins game will be with 2-3 of my drinking buddies (TBD - applications due by 25 September) so we can get ridiculous. It would be so easy and inexpensive to do. On the trip back today, we were offered a variety of food, beer, and (with a return visit) a jersey. I guess that's what I get for wearing green amongst a sea of red, orange, and blue. That's how I roll. :)

My experience was not nearly as special as that of my cousin Brian. He's going to kill me for talking about him, but that just encourages me. As a Detroit Lions season ticket sucker... oops, I mean season ticker holder... he was at today's game against the Packers. My game started at 1, his at 4. Naturally he was tailgating before I had even left for the game. Thank you, Brian, for being drunk at noon to entertain me. Thank you for yelling at those Packers fans while I was on the phone. I can only hope that you yell at younger kids next time. TARA'S OBSERVATION OF THE DAY: drunk Redskins fans will NEVER compare to drunk Lions fans. (Probably because of the bitterness associated with Lions football.)

Pizza... and dude ranch?

Tonight I felt like being fat and lazy... I know that's probably not much of a surprise to many of you, but I've been much better lately. :) Imagine my surprise when I realized that by ordering a pizza, I could get a free blackberry or a trip to a dude ranch. Wha? You can buy $10 of chicken strips from Papa John's (who gets chicken strips at PJs??) and they'll give you a free blackberry. All you have to do is sign a 2 year contract for $75/month phone and email service. I'm sure they'll rope lots of morons into that one. Who actually reads fine print these days? People probably think blackberry is just another cheap DVD they're giving out instead of a super sweet tech toy that even I don't have (what can I say? I can't resist new toys...)

The dude ranch is another issue. I could go for that to get some hot cowboys. In fact, the cowboys were almost enough incentive to get Domino's. But then I figured they'd be George W. Bush type cowboys and I can NOT get into that.

Cityfolk

Sorry, I know I'm behind and have lost all sense of humor I once may have had.

When I was growing up, my cousin always used to call me "cityfolk" whenever I'd come to visit. Mind you he rarely called my brother this. Apparently I'm a better target. I always took it as a compliment (similar to when people, not that this would ever happen to me, call me a b*tch). I didn't really consider myself too city since I could occasionally let go on my trips up north. Back then I didn't really have a problem playing in the ditch or walking around in the lake.

My how things have changed. Brian would really be making fun of me now (thankfully he's preoccupied with the W administration). I think I've really become a girl! This year I'’ve worn a strapless red formal dress, avoided boating activities, and put on makeup to go out on a lake. Today I found myself matching my tanktop to my pajama shorts. This would not be strange if I had a boy toy. As it is, it disturbed me.

MN weekend the girls and I took a paddleboat to a bar. We had to get out of it to walk it through shallow water. It took me what felt like hours to walk through there and catch up to them. Lesson learned 1: Pedicured feet are not conducive to walking around in a rocky lake (and it was slimy, ew). At least I got the opportunity to redeem myself later as we were leaving the bar. The tie-up rope (sorry, I don'’t know the proper pirate/boating terms for it) got stuck underneath the boat. I don'’t know how it happened, but I volunteered to take care of it. I got to reach under the boat as Catie, Savvy, and Amie held my ankles to keep me out of the nasty swampwater. I needed multiple people since a certain someone started to let me slip in after awhile (hint: name rhymes with Haiti). Intentionally or not, we'’ll never know. It all worked out though. As Rachel would say, I didn''t even break a nail. If anyone was on the lake at that point, they got quite a show. Lesson learned 2: I should have planned to go with the boatneck top over a v-neck.

The French conspiracy

I’m glad Laura was there to witness this episode--I have a witness! I have my keys attached to an Eiffel Tower keychain. When sending my purse through the xray machine on the way back from MN, my bag was picked for a 'special' search. Apparently the Eiffel Tower, when combined with my keys, looks like some kind of sharp, harmful object.

I find it highly amusing that this would be the item to get me searched. I should have guessed that something like this would happen because of the Frenchies. :) Had this been DC, I would have gotten nasty looks from the fine TSA agents in charge. Thankfully people from the midwest are actually nice. TSA chick thought it was pretty funny too.

One reason to say yes to lap dancing...

Wow, I think this is Lisa in a few years (I'm just testing to see if she ever actually reads this blog).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/crime_stripper_dc

In memory of the Gamer...

The Gamer moved on to a new family several weeks ago. Prior to its "passing" Julie and I saw this car while we were in South Carolina. May the Gamer have more good times and classic moments (Hey look! A Dennys!) in its new home. NEXT PROJECT for you kids: naming the new car (I'll get pics one day...)

I miss college...

so I try to overcompensate by staying up as late as I used to. Somehow staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning was easier when I didn't have to work at 7:30. I am such a moron.

I like Risa's explanation of this insomnia: "Why sleep at night, when you can sleep at work all day." Truer words were never spoken, yet I'm still too much of a sucker to actually do it.