Today is step 1 of the Praha Preparation. I am going to clean out my closet.
Usually I end up keeping things because I think, "Someday I might wear this." But today I get to say, "Am I going to pack this? No? It's getting pitched." (or rather, given to Goodwill). I think it will make throwing things away a lot easier, because if I'm not willing to pack it, it's not worth keeping.
I watched a really great movie today called Bella. Highly recommended.
Time to start.. :( I hate work on weekends.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Just a little add-on to my last post...
Don't get me wrong, despite the fact that all of that might have come off as complaining, I really meant it as more of a funny anecdote. I'm in quite a good mood :) It's been pretty hard to get me down lately.
And THAT is a nice feeling.
And THAT is a nice feeling.
Memorial Day Weekend
Long weekends are awesome. Top it off with the fact that for the first time probably since I got back from Prague, I didn't have any work to do. I mean I probably could have invented some, but nothing was pressing. So I reeeeeally got to relax.
You know, since I got back, I have been dropping nearly everything I pick up. It's insanely frustrating. Nothing messy so far, thank goodness, but if I pick up a cup to go get a drink, I will drop the cup. If I pick up a CD to put it in the player, I drop it. If someone asks me to hand them something, it will fall to the floor before it gets to their hands. Worse even, if I go to pick something up, I will knock several other things over in the meantime (example: just this week I went to pick up a water bottle from my nightstand and my remote control, a small notepad, and a framed photo fell to the floor).
I mentioned this to my mom and she reminded me that the old Arab remedy to dropping everything is to pee on your hand. I decided dropping things wasn't so bad.
After this continued for some time, I mentioned it to my mom again. "It's been weeks, and I am still dropping everything."
"Did you pee on your hand?"
"Not yet."
Then she thought for a moment and said, "I bet I know what it is."
"Oh?"
"I haven't seen you calm since you got back. You're always bogged down with something, you're always rushing, and you always have something you need to be doing. You're always in a hurry. You're probably just moving too fast."
I kind of agreed but I shrugged it off. Then this weekend I thought about that, and I realized that this whole weekend I really didn't drop anything, not that I can remember anyway (I tend to notice it now, since I saw the pattern and all). This weekend was so relaxing and fun. Friday night I went to the movies with Ash, Saturday I went clothes shopping with my mom in Cranberry and had a nice lunch out, then a coffee, and she bought me two new Wii games (belated birthday present), and then went out dancing. Sunday I spent the whole day with Hernaldo, and then we went dancing with Tara last night again. Today was a pretty lazy day... I went to Robinson Mall, had a nice dinner, and played some Wii.
And then it was around 9pm or so that I started to notice. I was washing the dishes left from dinner and I did it again. I started dropping just-washed silverware all over the floor. I went to put a cooking spoon away and knocked over the canister. I went to the basement to get my clothes from the dryer and sent the little detergent measuring cups (there are 4) all over the place while trying to pick one up. And finally, when I went to pick up the shampoo in the shower just a bit ago, I sent it (along with the conditioner and the face wash) in a crash to the floor. And the only reason I can think of is that I'm back to work tomorrow.
Either I really do get unconsciously stressed out by work, or this is just turning into a mental thing. I'm not sure which is better. :)
It's midnigh and I wake up at 4:30... I should get to sleep. Yep, things are back to normal.
You know, since I got back, I have been dropping nearly everything I pick up. It's insanely frustrating. Nothing messy so far, thank goodness, but if I pick up a cup to go get a drink, I will drop the cup. If I pick up a CD to put it in the player, I drop it. If someone asks me to hand them something, it will fall to the floor before it gets to their hands. Worse even, if I go to pick something up, I will knock several other things over in the meantime (example: just this week I went to pick up a water bottle from my nightstand and my remote control, a small notepad, and a framed photo fell to the floor).
I mentioned this to my mom and she reminded me that the old Arab remedy to dropping everything is to pee on your hand. I decided dropping things wasn't so bad.
After this continued for some time, I mentioned it to my mom again. "It's been weeks, and I am still dropping everything."
"Did you pee on your hand?"
"Not yet."
Then she thought for a moment and said, "I bet I know what it is."
"Oh?"
"I haven't seen you calm since you got back. You're always bogged down with something, you're always rushing, and you always have something you need to be doing. You're always in a hurry. You're probably just moving too fast."
I kind of agreed but I shrugged it off. Then this weekend I thought about that, and I realized that this whole weekend I really didn't drop anything, not that I can remember anyway (I tend to notice it now, since I saw the pattern and all). This weekend was so relaxing and fun. Friday night I went to the movies with Ash, Saturday I went clothes shopping with my mom in Cranberry and had a nice lunch out, then a coffee, and she bought me two new Wii games (belated birthday present), and then went out dancing. Sunday I spent the whole day with Hernaldo, and then we went dancing with Tara last night again. Today was a pretty lazy day... I went to Robinson Mall, had a nice dinner, and played some Wii.
And then it was around 9pm or so that I started to notice. I was washing the dishes left from dinner and I did it again. I started dropping just-washed silverware all over the floor. I went to put a cooking spoon away and knocked over the canister. I went to the basement to get my clothes from the dryer and sent the little detergent measuring cups (there are 4) all over the place while trying to pick one up. And finally, when I went to pick up the shampoo in the shower just a bit ago, I sent it (along with the conditioner and the face wash) in a crash to the floor. And the only reason I can think of is that I'm back to work tomorrow.
Either I really do get unconsciously stressed out by work, or this is just turning into a mental thing. I'm not sure which is better. :)
It's midnigh and I wake up at 4:30... I should get to sleep. Yep, things are back to normal.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Praha Process
My visa paperwork was sent off on Monday.
From what I understand, it should take about 5 weeks to process/be accepted. After that, I have 30 days to get my game together and move on out. :)
Had a nice night out last night. After work I swung by the house to pick up Mom, we went to return a top I bought that I wore once but ripped for no reason at all, then went to a nice dinner at Longhorn, out for ice cream, and then home just in time for the season finale of Ugly Betty.
Today is a good day already, and I know this weekend will be great. So far today I woke up without a problem but had a very nice nap on the bus, I bought breakfast out (as I was running late) which really is a waste of money, but so good, AND they had Nantucket Nectars (orange mango!) which I haven't had since my high school days at the coffeeshop in Bridgewater. It's just as good as I remember.
Today there's nothing major going on at work. After work I'll see bus-friend, go home, possibly see a movie with Ash tonight. Tomorrow I'm going shopping during the day and out dancing at night, and then Monday is a HOLIDAY so Sunday could potentially be very fun as well. :)
Life is good, crazies. Life is good.
From what I understand, it should take about 5 weeks to process/be accepted. After that, I have 30 days to get my game together and move on out. :)
Had a nice night out last night. After work I swung by the house to pick up Mom, we went to return a top I bought that I wore once but ripped for no reason at all, then went to a nice dinner at Longhorn, out for ice cream, and then home just in time for the season finale of Ugly Betty.
Today is a good day already, and I know this weekend will be great. So far today I woke up without a problem but had a very nice nap on the bus, I bought breakfast out (as I was running late) which really is a waste of money, but so good, AND they had Nantucket Nectars (orange mango!) which I haven't had since my high school days at the coffeeshop in Bridgewater. It's just as good as I remember.
Today there's nothing major going on at work. After work I'll see bus-friend, go home, possibly see a movie with Ash tonight. Tomorrow I'm going shopping during the day and out dancing at night, and then Monday is a HOLIDAY so Sunday could potentially be very fun as well. :)
Life is good, crazies. Life is good.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Our Nation's Capital
DC was awesome. I'll race through ths.
Tara and I somehow thought we'd leave Pittsburgh around noon. I got out of work around 11am, and the bus wasn't until 11:43am so I had a very quick bite with Chris. Got home around 12:30, went to the notary to get something done for my visa application, went home, finished up some last-minute packing, and by that time Tara had arrived.
Got in the car, drove to Cranberry, got my passport photos done, bought Twizzlers and Sour Patch Kids for the ride, picked up our rental car, I drove Tara's car back to her house, got her suitcase, went to Wal-mart, and THEN we got on the road. It was after 3pm by that time... we are so slow. :)
Stopped for a quick piece of pizza around 5pm, arrived at our hotel around 8pm. Found out that we were staying in the worst possible part of town. My mom used to live in DC when she was an early-twentysomething and told me that Uncle Martin told her she was NEVER go to into the part of town where we were. :) We walked to a bullet-proof liquor store where we stuck out like two very sore thumbs, went back to the room, made some cocktails and watched America's Funniest Home Videos, laughed like crazy, got ready, and set out for the club.
We asked at the front desk how we could get to Bravo Bravo (our favorite latin club). The girl said she'd call a cab. We said, no, we'll walk. She said, you can't walk, it's insanely far. We said, try us. So she pointed us on our way and we headed out. Got lost several times, eventually were in the neighborhood but couldn't find it, plus the blisters on our feet from our girly shoes were killing us, so we hopped in a cab that already had a guy in it. Rode for free to the club. Flirted with cute boys, danced until it was unbearable on our feet, got a ride back to the hotel in a tiny car (we're talking tiny - a little sports car - four of us in the back, me, Tara, and two boys, and two boys up front). Did not get mugged or killed by new friends. Slept the next day until noon, then napped again until 2pm. Got out the door around 3pm, went to find food, went to the mall.
Met (m)ex-boyfriend and his friends (also my friends) for dinner at a Salvadorian restaurant, then all went to the same club. Despite the pouring rain, boys did not let girls off at the door and then go park, rather we all had to run through the rain. Girly shoes + water caused me to slip as soon as we got in the club, luckily it was still empty since we arrived early. Had some drinks, danced lots. Again, danced lots. Took off shoes, got black feet from the dirty floors but did not care. Danced the last hour of the night with a salvadorian...girl. Tried to hook her up with Irving. He was not interested. Danced 500 bachatas with Irving, taught him how to dar vueltas en bachata. Left. Said goodbye to ex forever, wished each other the best. Fell asleep still completely dressed in going-out clothes.
Woke up around 8am and got into pajamas and went back to sleep for real. Woke up around 11am. Showered, packed, got ready, out the door at noon. Had a craving for Damon's (a favorite restaurant of ours). Knew we saw one somewhere on the way to DC, stomachs in pain from hunger but held out for this one particular restaurant. Ended up driving all the way back to Pittsburgh before finding this restaurant. Ate, took back rental car, arrived home.
The end. :)
Tara and I somehow thought we'd leave Pittsburgh around noon. I got out of work around 11am, and the bus wasn't until 11:43am so I had a very quick bite with Chris. Got home around 12:30, went to the notary to get something done for my visa application, went home, finished up some last-minute packing, and by that time Tara had arrived.
Got in the car, drove to Cranberry, got my passport photos done, bought Twizzlers and Sour Patch Kids for the ride, picked up our rental car, I drove Tara's car back to her house, got her suitcase, went to Wal-mart, and THEN we got on the road. It was after 3pm by that time... we are so slow. :)
Stopped for a quick piece of pizza around 5pm, arrived at our hotel around 8pm. Found out that we were staying in the worst possible part of town. My mom used to live in DC when she was an early-twentysomething and told me that Uncle Martin told her she was NEVER go to into the part of town where we were. :) We walked to a bullet-proof liquor store where we stuck out like two very sore thumbs, went back to the room, made some cocktails and watched America's Funniest Home Videos, laughed like crazy, got ready, and set out for the club.
We asked at the front desk how we could get to Bravo Bravo (our favorite latin club). The girl said she'd call a cab. We said, no, we'll walk. She said, you can't walk, it's insanely far. We said, try us. So she pointed us on our way and we headed out. Got lost several times, eventually were in the neighborhood but couldn't find it, plus the blisters on our feet from our girly shoes were killing us, so we hopped in a cab that already had a guy in it. Rode for free to the club. Flirted with cute boys, danced until it was unbearable on our feet, got a ride back to the hotel in a tiny car (we're talking tiny - a little sports car - four of us in the back, me, Tara, and two boys, and two boys up front). Did not get mugged or killed by new friends. Slept the next day until noon, then napped again until 2pm. Got out the door around 3pm, went to find food, went to the mall.
Met (m)ex-boyfriend and his friends (also my friends) for dinner at a Salvadorian restaurant, then all went to the same club. Despite the pouring rain, boys did not let girls off at the door and then go park, rather we all had to run through the rain. Girly shoes + water caused me to slip as soon as we got in the club, luckily it was still empty since we arrived early. Had some drinks, danced lots. Again, danced lots. Took off shoes, got black feet from the dirty floors but did not care. Danced the last hour of the night with a salvadorian...girl. Tried to hook her up with Irving. He was not interested. Danced 500 bachatas with Irving, taught him how to dar vueltas en bachata. Left. Said goodbye to ex forever, wished each other the best. Fell asleep still completely dressed in going-out clothes.
Woke up around 8am and got into pajamas and went back to sleep for real. Woke up around 11am. Showered, packed, got ready, out the door at noon. Had a craving for Damon's (a favorite restaurant of ours). Knew we saw one somewhere on the way to DC, stomachs in pain from hunger but held out for this one particular restaurant. Ended up driving all the way back to Pittsburgh before finding this restaurant. Ate, took back rental car, arrived home.
The end. :)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Keep on keepin' on
I knew that I'd feel worlds better once the stress of all the things I had to do this week were over.
I had two big projects, and a huge time-consuming daily report to do while my manager is out of the office. Today I have two half-hour presentations which are a breeze and not at all scary, my two big projects are done. Today I'll spend the morning making that report, and the afternoon doing the actual work that I haven't gotten to do all week. And tomorrow - oh ho - TOMORROW I am going to DC. I could not be more excited, and Tara is feeling better from the allergies/sinus infection she got earlier this week, thank goodness.
The plan for Friday night is to go for thai food at a restaurant we love down there, have hotel party and get ready to go out, probably take a nap, then hit up Bravo Bravo (a salsa club we love). Saturday we'll go shopping (I hope, because shopping is better down there), see some friends and my ex (because we are still friends, and I want to say goodbye to all of them before the big move to Praha), go to dinner with them, maybe go to the zoo during the day, not sure.. then go to BRAVO BRAVO again. This is the tradition.
Also following tradition, we will not take a cab or bus but we will walk back to the hotel, and talk to literally every person we see in the street on the way back. This includes homeless people. On our last DC adventure, we made friends with these two homeless guys. Once had a really lovely voice, and his soul as he sang brought tears to Tara's eyes (we have pictures). He was really nice until the other one stole his CVS card, then he was really mad.
Anyway, in conclusion, DC is awesome. Look out Washington, here comes Double Trouble (a.k.a. Pinches Locas).
I had two big projects, and a huge time-consuming daily report to do while my manager is out of the office. Today I have two half-hour presentations which are a breeze and not at all scary, my two big projects are done. Today I'll spend the morning making that report, and the afternoon doing the actual work that I haven't gotten to do all week. And tomorrow - oh ho - TOMORROW I am going to DC. I could not be more excited, and Tara is feeling better from the allergies/sinus infection she got earlier this week, thank goodness.
The plan for Friday night is to go for thai food at a restaurant we love down there, have hotel party and get ready to go out, probably take a nap, then hit up Bravo Bravo (a salsa club we love). Saturday we'll go shopping (I hope, because shopping is better down there), see some friends and my ex (because we are still friends, and I want to say goodbye to all of them before the big move to Praha), go to dinner with them, maybe go to the zoo during the day, not sure.. then go to BRAVO BRAVO again. This is the tradition.
Also following tradition, we will not take a cab or bus but we will walk back to the hotel, and talk to literally every person we see in the street on the way back. This includes homeless people. On our last DC adventure, we made friends with these two homeless guys. Once had a really lovely voice, and his soul as he sang brought tears to Tara's eyes (we have pictures). He was really nice until the other one stole his CVS card, then he was really mad.
Anyway, in conclusion, DC is awesome. Look out Washington, here comes Double Trouble (a.k.a. Pinches Locas).
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Corriendo
There's nothing much to update, but I hate to let this go too long without saying anything so here goes.
Work sucks this week. And it's only Tuesday. I'm not going to complain more than that because the fact is, I have a lot of really good weeks, so one bad one won't kill me.
I am going to DC this Friday, which will totally make up for all the other stress of this week. I love DC.
After all this time, I am finally enjoying my hour-long busride every day. Well, in the p.m. anyway.
Y aunque rompí su foto, su imagen sigue aquí... it still crosses my mind that this whole thing is just my way of running. Either way, I'm really happy, and I believe that's all that matters.
Work sucks this week. And it's only Tuesday. I'm not going to complain more than that because the fact is, I have a lot of really good weeks, so one bad one won't kill me.
I am going to DC this Friday, which will totally make up for all the other stress of this week. I love DC.
After all this time, I am finally enjoying my hour-long busride every day. Well, in the p.m. anyway.
Y aunque rompí su foto, su imagen sigue aquí... it still crosses my mind that this whole thing is just my way of running. Either way, I'm really happy, and I believe that's all that matters.
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