Pub Quiz Whiz!

"whiz" might be too strong a word, but for my first try at Pub Quiz I think it was okay because.........we won $10! Here is Megan with cerfificate (that's how the guy said it once....too many beers or whatever) before we applied it to our tab.

Annnnnd....because I made friends with the guy running it and he gave me this awesome *Harvey Porter/Where Is Waldo scarf that I had been eyeing and wanting all night long!!!! I give this scarf two hammer thumbs up!

So way to go us. (Tony, Emily & Megan!) Next week we will do much better. I'm still fuming that I forgot where the Sugar Bowl was.

*Harvey Porter is what Jason calls Harry Potter for no good reason.

Numb Gums Prah

Okay so no cavities!!!! Thanks be! I was really worried about that. BUT I do have to go back in for some horrible "gum scaling" procedure to get all cleaned up. It's a two parter too. I guess they will numb my gums but it's still mildly daunting. I figure as someone who's bit off her own tongue, (by accident not ala Million Dollar Baby), broken her face, ruptured her intestines....etc....etc., I can certainly handle a little....*shiver*....gum...scraping.

*faint*

Bleeding Gums Prah

So Arizona was amazing. Just beyond the greatness I ever expected. It was so weird and wonderful to visit with those three girls that were such a huge part of my childhood. They've all grown into really smart and strong and fun women and I'm proud to know them and even prouder that we all reconnected. We plan to go every year now!



In other news....dentist. Today is dentist day. I've put it off for so long that I'm like freak out nervous. And today is just the x-rays and exam not even the cleaning yet! I'm so worried that they'll find a cavity because I've never had one and if I have one now I just don't know what.



Plus I know I'm going to hear it about my gums. I just will be so relieved when it's over with. I might even blog about it.



Anyway, here's where I wish I was....were....are...whatever. That water slide really made me happy.


That's not me, but it is my waiter. This is right before I ordered some beer. Sigh.

Arizona!!!

I leave at the B-crack of dawn tomorrow for my girl's weekend in Phoenix! It's going to be me and three of my best friends from high school. We always talked about one day being married and scattered across the country but then taking this trip together and we are actually doing it! How cool is that!? Answer - very. Very GD cool.

One of said girls left me a voicemail last night saying how she couldn't wait to see me in a mere 42 hours and how excited she was. I usually feel this way but it was one of those moments where I thought, you know I've screwed up a lot but one thing that I've done right is made friends. I have such amazingly amazing friends and to have them really be excited to see me just makes my life because I'm sooooo excited to see them too.

I will report back on Monday with pics and stories I'm sure.

All that you really need to know is that the resort has a 110 foot water slide. Come on. It's like a dream for me.

I'm BAAAAAAAAAd at cards.

So I learned how to play Sheep's Head last night. It's like Euchre only harder. At least for me. I played it in high school with my boyfriend's parents but anything involving numbers pretty much exits my brain faster than (insert topical joke about someone leaving someplace super fast...yeah I know. I'm lazy today. I'm also cranky so don't mess with the bull or you might get the horns and what not.)

Anyway, Jason was a great teacher and the guys we played with were all super nice and patient with me but the same thing happens that always happens when I play a game like this. I got all sensitive and embarrassed for messing up and ended up yelling at Jason (sort of in a funny way...sort of in a "Why is your wife being so come on?" way). He knows me well enough that he was able to laugh it off thankfully.

However! I really did have fun and want to be good at this stupid game. So I'm going back next week. I'll try to stay calm this time, but man...I'm telling you....there is some weird part of me that gets so worried about being bad at something new that I totally FLIP out and become the opposite of how I want to be. I think it goes back to childhood (doesn't it all?). I would BEG my sisters and/or mom and dad to play a game with me...ANY game but my family isn't really big into games so the rare times they said yes I put all this pressure on myself to be good and for it to be fun for everyone. Inevitably I would do the opposite just by being so keyed up and over invested and after one round everyone would all of a sudden have something pressing to do.

Wow. Speaking of things I'm not good at. You should have just seen the results of my spell check on this post. Yipes.

ALL POINTS BULLETIN!

So get this. I'm actually DOING something. Like with my life sort of. I'm writing a real actual thing and having meetings about it and working with a friend in L.A. on it! I won't go into what it is here because I don't want to jinx anything but the fact that I actually sat down and knocked out two scenes (now you know it's not a cook book) today and sent them to my partner makes me feel so much less like a lazy buttface. I know it might not sound like a lot to those of you who write tons of stuff all the time but you have to realize I write tons of stuff all the time too but never have the nuts to put it out there so this IS a cool big deal for me.

Also, I'm going to learn a new card game tonight at this sheepshead tournament Jason is taking me to. He's been going for a few weeks but he wants me to meet the guys (I think they are mostly old dudes from Wisco) and is going to teach me to play. I predict bad card playing but a fun night.


ALSO I got my new converse sneakers today. I plan to do a lot of sneaking in them so watch your back.

IN CONCLUSION, I'm going to Arizona on Friday!!!!

My Cat Rulz & Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

I don't mean like rules for my cat (i.e....Rule 1 - don't pewp on my head...2. don't claw my face...etc.). I mean he rules the world. I love him so much. I was sick for three days and he spent almost every minute either on my lap or on the chair next to me. I'm much better now but would like to make today Calaban Prah Day. Just because he deserves it. OH wait. But it will have to be tomorrow because the world's OTHER cutest being has her first birthday today! A one Miss Elizabeth K. So today is for her and tomorrow is National Calaban Prah Day.

FOR JADY!!!!

Jady all but ORDERED me to post today so I can't let her down. Some randomness.



Lost - Best episode ever last night. I had nightmares all night which is the TRUE sign of a great ep.



My new sweater - We almost could have been magic together until I noticed those weird professor elbow patches AFTER I bought you. Now we are icy at best.



My feet - I need some serious tennis shoe time this weekend. My dogs are barking. Painfully barking.



Friday - This is how we do it. All hands are in the aye-ah. It's the freakin weekend ladies and germs. I plan to eat, drink and be awesome.



Jason - Okay. This weird sleep talking/laughing thing has got to stop. It's freaking me out because I can't tell if he's awake or asleep. Usually he's sound asleep. The other night he said "Crescent. You're the village frown." I am not.



Last weekend - My sisters came to town and brought some Stephen King-ian type influenza that struck Kendra down mid-night. We got to my apartment and she kept asking for blankets and Tylenol. So they had to leave at the crack of dawn on Saturday to get her on the bed rest she needed. She's fine now. I have managed to NOT have it yet but every time my throat tingles the leeeetlist bit I freak. With all the vitamins I'm on I think I have a chance. Stay tuned.

OH and I went to the Shedd for the first time because Kendra (middle sister) is a marine life NUT. The best part was the sting ray that looked like he was smiling with his million tiny teeth and closed eyes. I could recall that memory in the middle of a root canal and it would STILL crack me up.



Scariest part of the Shedd????



FROGS!!!!!!!

Fronchness

Last night I went to La Sardine (loosly translates to "The Sardine") with Jason and some friends of ours. I had snails. I can't spell it in Fronch. They were very magical and I wish I had them again right now.

Jason had blood sausage (loosly translates to "Barf Barf Puke Barf"). I couldn't bring myself to take a picture of that although Jason swears it was really really good. Hey I ate slugs...who am I to judge?

We drank this delicious wine.

And I had sorbet. Can you guess the flavors? Answers are at the end! Don't cheat or you will have bad luck for a thousand days.

Ahhhhhhh LA SARDINE you enchant and amaze moi. Merci Bonapart for a Fronch night.

SORBET QUIZ ANSWERS: Banana, rasberry (i think) and I forget the other one....I wanna say mango....but I kind of always want to say mango.

Insults and Injuries

I fell down some stairs again. My morning started pretty great besides having nightmares about that horrible school shooting. So disturbing and depressing and horrible. But I woke up counting my blessings and feeling positive about my day. Calaban didn’t drop a football size-nose hair burning deuce while I was watching the 6:00 am news FOR ONCE, I actually did my hair, my clothes were ALL fresh out of the dryer, my face was looking slightly less fatty fat fat after my attempts at good eating and it was Friday after all.

I headed to the train and on the way LITERALLY helped an old lady with a walker get across some dangerous ice patches causing me to miss my train but to feel like I was starting my day off right. Then things started to turn sour. The train took forever to arrive and was packed. I was standing next to some dewd with NO sense of personal space. (I realize it was packed but come on…do we have to spoon?) Finally arrived at the Adams stop and start trotting down the stairs in a rush and that’s when it happened. My boot heel got caught in my jean cuff and I sort of slammed into the railing with my arm and just kinda hung there like someone had freeze tagged me. I thought I might be able to recover but my forward trajectory or whatever that word is was too far forward. I made the slightest move and down down down I went. All the way to the bottom. Those of you long time Crescent fans will recall this is the THIRD time I’ve fallen all the way down the train stop stairs and the FIFTH time I’ve fallen all the way down a flight of stairs period.

No one helped THIS little old lady either. Everyone just got out of my way and I could be wrong, but I really think I heard a few snickers. Bastards.

Then I got to work and instantly F’d up like three things because I was so shaken.

Good times….great oldies.

What, pray tell, is the stupid Brighter Side of falling down the stupid stairs? Um….well…let’s see. It hurts to type and do things because my right arm is all tenderized? No no…..that’s not bright. Um…..my new clean jeans are all scuffed up? Nope nope nope…that’s not very positive. OH! I’ve got it. Somewhere out there in Chicagoland Matthew K. is laughing it up like a champ and marking his Captain Gravity log with one more tick mark.

Jason at the Jukebox

I took this picture because it is, without a doubt, the quintessential Jason. Playing a song in his railroad cap on a Saturday in his dad's old shirt. I love it so very much. I wish I could remember the song he played because I'm sure that would be perfectly J as well.

Come on.

I had to post this pic my friend Gena took of me and Jason last Friday night. I love it so much I want to marry it.

Beef.

I'm ate way too much beef this weekend. Yipes. BUT it was all pretty good.

My personal contribution to the lost weekend of beef was this. My first attempt at Stroganoff. It was okay. Not the best but okay. I also made ceasar salads with anchovies for Jason. God those things look gross but he loved them.

Tonight I'll probably be eating left overs of beef. God. I hope I don't heart attack.

pics.

Here is Jason's pork loin. (don't be scared. It's literally pork loin.)

Here is my cake I baked.

Don't Delete Me!

I'm sorry for the BIG gap in blogging (three people who read this and Matt) but my new job is all new and joby. I love it! Things are great. Jason is great. Work is great. My new grey pants are great. The Packers are SUPER great. I'm just very happy and actually also kind of healthy for once.

One new thing is I'm determined to learn how to cook some things. I started with a cake for my sister. It was from a box but I don't think you understand the ineptitude I offer the culinary world. BUT it turned out great. (there's that word again)

Jason has been trying some new stuff too but he's good at things right out of the starting gate. That's just how he is. So he made this. Pork loin and veggies and mashed potatoes. It was.........you guessed it! Great.

That's about all and I have to get back to work but I promise to blog more now that I have my routine down here a little better.

OH so yeah I'm going to try and make Monique's green chicken soup for the Packer game on Sunday. (that's not what it's called, it's actually green chili chicken soup, but I accidentally called it that last night and I think it's funny. PLUS if I tell people that's what I'm fixin them they won't have high expectations and then might just be WOW'd right out of their socks. We'll see. Stay tuned for updates.

Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's my last day at work. So weird. I've had a really good time at this job but am ready for the next step in my journey to have a life.

Last night I had dream after dream about my new job. Mostly it was me oversleeping the first day and not showing up until 11:00 and then having jeans on when there is a no jeans policy. BUT by the end of the run of stress dreams I was only having a small problem matching blue shoes with a brown dress. That's progress. Good thing I have 11 days off to prepare for the new gig.

Jas and I head to his parents tonight and then to my parents on Sunday. I will be eating more than is recommended by a medical professional and I don't care.

Also, I'm not going to lie......PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay it's out of my system. I know the true meaning of the holiday and all that. Don't worry. I just get very excited about presents. So do you....don't lie.

HAM AND PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!

ooops....that one slipped out. Excuse me.

Love and best wishes to everyone!

Regina Paraknockas

5:00 a.m. Jason and I both wake up to pee and get a drink of water. The following is almost word for word the conversation we had.

Jason: I dreamed an entire musical! Everyone was singing in French!
Crescent: Were they like "du day von pew don see swa..." (NOTE: not real French)
Jason: No they weren't singing in French.
Crescent: You just said they were.
Jason: I mean French accents.
Crescent: Ohhh...well you said French but whatever. I've dreamed musical numbers before like the other night when I had that dream about the kids that time traveled back to their dorms and sang that song called "It's All Here."
Jason: Whoa. Yeah that was weird.
Crescent: Don't you wish they made dream recorders?
Jason: If they did I would have a smash hit on the West End. (pause) Or the South End. (pause) Or maybe the rear end. (laughs hysterically)
Crescent: That's what your musical should be called "Zee Rear...End"
Jason: Keeps laughing. (pause) Zee Rear......End. (laughs more...gets up for more water and walks into the living room)
Crescent: Where are you going?
Jason: To write down my ideas!!!! (comes right back to bed and is chewing something) Just kidding. I needed a Tums. (pause) Zee Rear.....End.
Crescent: I only have an hour more to sleep so stop making me laugh.
Jason: Zee Rear.........End.

(5 minutes pass. I'm JUST falling back to sleep)

Jason: (laughing even more hysterically)
Crescent: Dude.
Jason: What if.....(laughs)...what if....there was a Greek woman named Regina Paraknockas??? (hysterical laughter again) Regina.....(laughs)...ParaKNOCKas!!!! You have to say it!!!
Crescent: Regina Paraknockas. Why is her first name Regina?
Jason: (still laughing) Because....she's Regina Paraknockas!

Needless to say I've pretty much been up since 5:00 a.m.

Notice!

I got the official offer last Friday and gave my official notice today! I am so excited! I start at my new job on Jan. 2ND. I have to get a ton of new clothes since my current job is a jeans and t-shirt place and my new gig is biz cazzz. I am honestly so happy and excited about the job I'm doing and the company that I keep forgetting I'm ALSO gonna be making more money! Then I faint or kick off a shoe or something to celebrate.

We had a hilarious party at Fred's on Friday night to celebrate. Here is my favorite moment of that night. I can't remember what they were doing but that's why I love it so much. I think maybe it had something to do with puppetry. I hope so. I just remember having to stop my guitar battle with Slash due to how hard I was laughing.

take stock...THAT'S AN ORDER!

Just a quick post. So one of our dearest friends mother's just passed away last week. A favorite professor passed away a few days ago leaving behind a wife and kids. And a wonderful woman and good friend is in the process of saying good-bye to her Dad. I just can't imagine and it makes my heart hurt so much for all these people and their pain and loss. It also makes me admire them and how strong they all are.

So everyone take stock today and bask in the ease and comfort of a normal day. Kiss someone you love. Most importantly don't flip a lid over tiny things that don't matter.

That's all.

Love,
Crescent

J-Toven's 5th

Jason is growing a beard and I'm so excited! I just got on a beard kick lately. Like the really short but kind of late 70's early 80's type. The things that guy will do for me when I ask him. Some of it has to do with the fact that there is a beard contest going on at work (I didn't enter.....THIS time) and so beards are everywhere.

Oh and my sister started calling Jason J-Toven on Thanksgiving because he did all the dishes and the steam made his adorable curly hair like three times its normal size. Now we all call him that.

I'll have some Thanksgiving pics up soon but just know that I think we may have had the world's most perfect T-Day ever. It just ruled in every way. I can't wait for Christmas!!!!

Love,
Mrs. J-Toven

busy and a little bit sad bee

I'm alive I swear. My sweet cat Ava, sadly, is not. We had to put her down on Wednesday and it was sooooo sad and hard, but the right thing to do.

I will post a pic of her once I can look at said pic without bawling. I'm just not ready.

Other than THAT things are great. I've lost 8 lbs. We are slowly but slowly getting out of debt. There are some job prospects on El Horizon. If I ever open a Mexican breakfast joint I'm naming it that. COPYRIGHT!!!! There...that makes the idea legally mine.

J and I are heading to my sister's for Thanksgiving and can't wait. We are having Kentucky ham (salty and awesome not wiggly and sweet like they do hams up here) AND turkey. Maybe it will be like Thanksgiving of 2000 when I ate so much I literally puked. I hope so. That was hilarious. (just kidding barf gods. I don't want that to happen again. It hurt.)

So there's my update for now.

Here's a picture of me and Jason at the bon fire in Michigan a few weeks ago. I love our weird green and orange color scheme. It's so circa '81 Sears living room.

Para Mateo

My dear friend, Matt, has been on my case about blogging more. I swear I'm trying! This GD job of mine. They want me to.....get this.....do my work all day. Whatever.

Here are a few tidbits.

I'm still on the hunt for a new gig that involves a ton less numbers. However, I've started a game with myself where everytime I go to type in a number I associate an age with it.

"82. The age I'll be when I finally find a job I love."

"18. The age when I thought things were really hard. HA!!!!! Stupid 18 year olds."

"26. The age I realized people weren't going to show up at my door with money and fames. Yes fames. I coined it just now and it's sticking."

Anyway, that's passing the time.

I'm going to Wisconsin AGAIN this weekend with Fred and Jason to see Jason's family and surprise his little brother at a show in which his band is playing.....phewwww.....that was a hard sentence to construct. You can tell I've been immersed in numbertown lately.

OH! My birthday was grand as usual. Had a wonderful time with my family and got to pick out a brand new bed set for our brand new bed!!!!

BEHOLD THE BEDROOM FIT FOR ADULTS! (bathing cat not included)
Also, I would like to pay my public respects to Sylvie the cat. You never told anyone that I snuck you a little bite of cheese every time I cat sat and that made us friends. You were very loved by Matt and Anne and even though you tried to eat part of Jason's arm that one time he still loved you too. I wish I had a picture of you to post but we will all remember how pretty you were.

Finally, Jason is the most fun person to be married to ever. I have been so stressed out and weird lately but he makes me laugh every single day and keeps his material fresh. FRESH! If that's ALL I had going for me I would still be one of the luckiest people on the planet. Thank you to him for being the best.

Whoa. The end of this post makes it seem like I'm offing myself or going into hiding. I'm not. Just doing a little stock taking. It's good for the perspectives.

The Month of Crescent Begins.

I spent my Saturday recording some kick ass back up vocals for a band/artist I used to perform with. I gotta tell you it felt so good. I didn't realize how much I missed singing and how fun it is. I always talk about how I can't do anything with my degree but I seem to forget that the majority of my life was spent in vocal performance training. Why did I stop doing that? I have no idea. But I'm looking for some opportunities to do some more. Not necessarily as a career but just to keep me sane.

In other news I'm going home for my birthday this weekend with Jason and I can't wait. I mean that. I honestly am having a hard time not just packing up and leaving this second. I usually weasel out a way to celebrate my birthday about 10 different times during the month of October so needless to say I'm feeling pretty excited about it being the 1st today. Plus I'll be 33 and that feels like a cool age. faithful blog readers will remember that 3 is one of my favorite numbers so 33 seems like a good omen...knock on wood. (I knocked on paper because there is no wood here at work. Paper used to be wood though so I should be covered.)

I dreamed I got orange and red sheets as a present. They were pretty awesome but flannel. I hate flannel sheets.

I think I need more calcium. I have white spots on my thumb nails. Doesn't that mean I need calcium?

My weekend was really great. Lots of time laughing hysterically and playing Wii and GH and then the aforementioned singing.

Still looking for a new job. Glad I have one in the meantime. I think.

Sorry I can't come to the blog right now...

I'm very busy trying to change my life but will update more regularly soon.





Here is what I've been up to.

Taking pictures of Jason in wigs that Fred owns. That and changing my life.

Boo.

I keep scaring Jason in the night. It's starting to really get seriously funny. I think it's because I am (despite my size) a quiet walker/mover arounder. It's literally happened three nights in a row almost. Poor Jason.

Anyway, I am super busy but wanted to remember that.

Tomorrow will be many pictures of my weekend funtimes.

Love,
Crescent

Anyone Can Whistle...

especially my nose. I woke up sneezing. Literally. And I haven't stopped since. And then I got a nose bleed WHILE still sneezing and now my nose sounds like a sports fan or sexist construction worker every time I breath. Whhoooooot whoooo!!! Whhhoooooot whoooooo!!!

Jason has it too. I'm calling it The North Woods Flu. Coined!

It started with the urgent need to sleep then the sneezing.

I'm going home to bed in an hour.

Whhooot.

My Weekend and Lunch Today...In Cell Phone Pics

I spent the Day of Labor in Athelstane, WI. Basically the literal middle of the north woods of Wisco. It was great. Lots of relaxing and I even slept in a tent outside one night! AND heard coyotes!! It nearly gave this city girl a heart attack but Jason made it fun. Plus I think it was good for me. My spirit or something. Anyway here are some pics.



Jason trying to catch a musky. He never caught one but he sure looked cute trying. Plus there were a million boats out there scurrin' all our fish away.

ME! Fishing with a spinner rod! I learned from Jason's mom who is the master of the spinner rod. I did pretty well! Jason's dad even said I was inadvertently doing some "techniques". Not the first time I've heard THAT! ahhahahahahah Jusss kidding.

The tallest fire I've ever been that close to. You can see Jason backing away from it in the background.
Jason playing chess with his nephew. His niece is taking a picture of me taking a picture. She is a firecracker. We had a tic tac toe tourney that lasted an hour the next day. She won. This was my first time meeting them but they called me "Aunt Crescent" right away AND said that Jason and I were "definitely cool.". But it's not for me to say how awesome we are....

Now let's fast forward to my lunch today with my best friend Anne and her PERFECT baby girl. This baby sets the bar so high for baby awesomeness that I challenge ANYONE to not want a baby immediately after seeing her.

She thinks it's very funny when I yawn at the same time she does. I think it's very funny when she does pretty much anything, which you can tell by the stupid smile on my face in these pics.

'Twas a great weekend. Ready for another one.

Things That Made Me Feel Better Last Night

I'm not feeling quiet so "on the ledge" as I was yesterday thanks to some small happy things. BULLETS!!!!!

• Worked out and finished my book


• Sitting outside while Jason grilled chicken and veggies


• Made amends with a neighbor we pissed off months ago by "SHOUTing".


• Pet a dog.


• Both cats were snuggly.


• Harvy Pekar was on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain


• Jason sang a great song while he cooked that contained the lyric "Ohhhhh Aunt Jamima...I don't think you know me anymewwwr." He meant Mrs. Butterworth I think because he sang this as he added syrup to the beans, which was a delicious touch.


• I still don't know what I'm going to do with my life but at least I decided to do something. I hear that's the first step or whatever.


• Also it's been over two weeks since I've engaged in my worst social habit so I know I can do stuff. That's heartening.


• I've narrowed my career path down to: Detective, Advice Columnist, Date Planner, Set Dresser/Art Director of Photo Shoots Like Jay from ANTM but with Less Make-Up and More Normal EyeBrows, Professional Back Patter, Housecat, Plus Sized Model, Blooper Reviewer orrrr Body Language Interpreter.

Here is a sample of my Art Direction. Matt K. was the chef and my assistant.

I call it......Salsa De La Mango or Cucumber Envy

Side Note: That jalapeno got on Jason's hands and then on his face and then on his contacts so he almost burned out his eyes. He had to get all new contacts. Fact.

My Weekend Was In and Out of the Toliet...Much Like My Ipod

• Friday night = fun, chill night at Fred's eating pizza rolls and drinking wine
• Later Friday night = me getting up in the night to pee and forgetting my ipod was still on my person. As I lifted the lid on the toilet my ipod and headphones splashed into the toilet. I have no idea how they stayed on my body and in my ears (respectively) until that PRECISE moment though. My only guess is that somehow the ipod adhered to my chest or something.....that is a gross guess but the best I can do.
• Saturday morning = making sure my ipod still works. It does. Then relaxing.
• Saturday afternoon = get a call that my dad has been in a really bad car accident but is relatively okay. I had a minor panic attack and then bawled. He was in the ER for 5 hours and luckily, besides being very cut up and bruised he was given a clean bill of health. Thank GOD! So scary. If he'd been hit on the drivers side it would have been my worst nightmare. Literally. I talked to him yesterday and besides being shaken up and without a car he is okay. I shook like a leaf the entire conversation for some reason. Then cried again when I hung up.
• Saturday night = waited for the "everything is okay call" from home once my dad was out of the ER. Went to a dance recital and spent the whole time wondering who the hell I am and what I'm doing with my life. Not in a depressed way, just really starting to wonder and panic a little.
• Saturday night after the recital = Have a lovely walk to Eno (wine bar Jason used to manage) with Jason and our friend from NYC and his boyfriend. It was cool and Michigan Ave was hopping the conversation was light and tasty. It really helped clear my head a little. GET to Eno and there is an ambulance. They are taking someone out of Eno and it's a girl that works there that Jason is friends with. She is okay but seeing her crying in pain being carried out as we came in was upsetting to say the least. Once we all calmed down we had a really nice time and ate some fantastic cheese.
• Saturday night after Eno = Our friend's Mom and her friends walked home (they are from here obvs) and Jason and I drove the same friend's 90 year old grandma home. She doesn't speak a lick of English but she was the highlight of my weekend. She's 90 and out with her son and his boyfriend having some wine and cheese and laughing and talking up a storm. She fell in love with Jason because apparently he looks just like her nephew, Max. I helped her out of the car when we dropped her off and she gave me a kiss on the cheek and hug in true Grandma style. I think I really needed it and maybe somehow she knew that or something. Or maybe she is just kissy, which is great too.
• Sunday = Spent the morning with Jason relaxing. Jason leaves for a lunch I just wasn't up for. I walk to Fred's. Jason meets us there later. We watch tons of Flight of the Conchords. Get ready to leave. Plan to grab dinner on our way home. Realize we are too broke. Fred insists on us staying and we pull together a last minute grill out just the three of us. It reminded me so much of our college days. I needed that too. So thanks to Fred for feeding us at the last minute.
• Pessimistic Conclusion = I'm feeling really lost these days and not saying it much because feeling that way seems like a waste of energy. I'm trying to put it all together and form a solution but keep getting stuck in my head. Do I want to perform? I think I miss it but not sure. Do I want to be a writer? Yes but I have so many doubts about my skills that it's holding me back. I'm holding myself back. With laziness and doubt. That is very lame of me and I feel like I'm running out of time. I want to do something that matters and that pays more and that makes me feel useful and happy but I also want money. I do. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm so sick of just getting by. I want new furniture and rugs and fluffy bedding so that if I still can't sleep at least I'll be comfortable.
• Positive Polly Conclusion = My marriage is better than ever. My friends are so much fun and so sweet. My Dad is going to be okay. My Mom's new medicine is starting to take some of her pain away. I'm going on a fun trip up North with Jason this weekend to see his family in a beautiful part of the state. I have a job when I almost didn't. It sucks but I have one. Many many many people are going through such harder times and to wallow in some minor life confusion is actually pretty selfish of me and not my style.
• Realistic Conclusion = I can't change how I'm feeling. I can change my path and need to trust myself enough to do that. Like now-ish.

UPDATE!

So get this. I am on my way to winning over the new gang. It was so simple I should've thought of it sooner. I offered to do some of their work! I overheard them saying they were swamped and didn't have any help on Friday so I braced myself and turned around and said I would help with anything they needed help with.

Then one of them said "Wow. You are way nicer than (another dudes name). And you smell better."

After that I sneezed (I have a cold) and I got TWO, count 'em TWO, bless yous.

Phewww...that's a load off. Now I just have to try and add some more jaunty convo and I'm in. Sort of.

New Job/Old Job

So I'm finally back at work. In a new cube with new people. I am really weirded out by how shy I am sometimes. Once I'm not....I'm really not. But when I am new to a situation I totally clam up and/or say dumb things.

I was totally silent yesterday with my new department but I made a promise to myself to be more vocal today. Jaunty if you will. I even considered bringing an apple to attempt the dangerous, yet VERY effective Jaunty Apple Toss (patent pending) but wussed out.

Instead I sat down at my desk and then stood BACK up and said "Hey...guys.....I just saw Elliot Yamin leaving the building." silence. "From American Idol." silence. "The one with the jacked up teeth." back to work typing noises. "I didn't even watch that season but I just remember his face and all that."

I'm going to try again tomorrow.

Edited to add!!!! PROOOF!!!! http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/

Meanwhile here are some cats of mine. I wish I could be home with them all day like last week. They would have really liked to hear about my Elliot Yamin sighting.

Happy Turn of Events

First off sorry for the delay. I've been enjoying my week off and trying to stay off of the compy as much as possible. Jason and I have been having a blast just relaxing and stuff. I rearranged the cat room and did dishes and cut my nails....these are the things that make me happy.

Anyway, I did, indeed, get laid off on Monday along with a TON of the company BUT a few people with pull decided they didn't want me gone for some reason and found me another job in a different dept. It's not exactly what I want to be doing BUT it's better than eating hamburger buns for dinner AND it sounds like there might be something even better up the river...down the pike....whatever that expression is. So I start on Tuesday and will sit in new area but least I have a job.

I am really really lucky. I have no idea what I did to deserve all the help because I had come to terms with leaving then WHAM! extra niceness and support from the same folks that were in charge of the lay offs. Life is odd as a cod.....or a pike.

Love,
Crescent

PS - a trillion and twelve thanks to all the kind words and support and champagne (I'm looking at you Gena) and the texts and calls and emails and everything. You guys are all so very excellent. I'm very lucky to have such great friends.

um.

So it's not happening until Monday. Wheeee!!!! A whole weekend to be nervous! I am so happy. Whatever. My cousin is in town and I can't WAIT to see her. My friends rule. I've already got some good leads on jobs. My dad is the best. My sister is going through something so much worse which I'm not saying is good but it really keeps it easy to have perspective of how good life is even when there are bumps.

Tonight I plan to drink cans of beer.

Love,
Crescent

Funtimes.

So I'm getting laid off either today or tomorrow. I'm not supposed to know but I figured it out and then got confirmation. I should be a detective, seriously. I'm so good at Nancy Drewing shit.

The worst part is just waiting for the inevitable. My stomach is a mess and my hands are freezing and my legs are in a constant state of numbness.

I know it will all be okay and quite possibly better but starting over is daunting. Thank God for my friends and Jason. He is doing everything right. Letting me bawl and vent, hugging me a ton and saving the good leftovers for me to eat. He is really the best.

And my friends that know are soooo sweet and supportive. That is the bright side of stuff like this. An extra kick in the ass to make a change in my life and the unecessary but well timed reminder of how loved I am.

barf. I just want it over with.

I thought it was a myth...MYTH MYTH!

Yes????

Anyway, so I've heard for years this poppycrap about how exercise helps you feel less stressed and assists in the coping with stress. This sounded like a total bunch of hype made up by people with lab coats who eat wheat germ and carob or whatever.

Guess what though. It's totally true. Jason and I had our first official work out at the YMCA last night and I gotta tell ya....I was stressed OUT before hand due to work BS but 45 mins on the cardio and I felt clear headed and ready to get fit. I've never felt like that before. I slept great which is REALLY new to me and I felt.....wait for it.....good about myself. I guess these hippy doctor wheat germ freaks were right on many counts.

I honestly can't wait to get back there tonight! That is so unlike me I almost feel like I've been body snatched. Whatever works.

All this time I've been trying to eat a ton less to lose weight but all along I could have been working out AND not hating it! I mean I'll keep eating less of course but I had no idea there was something out there that would get me off the ledge that fast on a stressful day. Lovely!

What else. Oh work is weird today. Good thing I'm working out afterwards!

Would you like to see a picture? Well I don't have one today. But I'll try to find something to take a picture of tonight. Just try and hang in there until then. I'm open to suggestions.

Best Weekend Ever.

For real yo. I'm way cranky today because it was just that great that today HAS to totally blow by comparison. We had such a great weekend starting on Friday all the way through last night. Friday we did some serious Guitar Hero 80's jamming at Fred's. Then Gena and Sat showed up and Sat fronched the dog.

Saturday was Jason's b-day so we had a cook-out beach party. It was a blast. Except for Tyler. He almost ruined it with his GD Popsicle antics. Just kidding. Everyone was a pleasure.

Most importantly Jason had a blast. Just watching him play washers and grill hot dogs and throw the Frisbee made my summer. That boy loves a beach cook-out more than anyone I've ever had the luck to know. He was getting ready before we left and he said "I think today calls for my World's Greatest Grandpa t-shirt!" It actually says "This Is What A Great Grandpa Looks Like" and it's MY shirt but it was his birthday so I silently decided he could just have it. Then he couldn't decide between his signature railroad hat or his new Cubs hat. I reminded him that the railroad hat was, indeed, his signature and he agreed that was the best choice.

He slays me.

Anyway, here are some pics Gena took at the party. They are better than my cell phone pics so I'm stealing them.

Here is the birthday boy looking at some corn so good it might make him cry. I swear he was smiling like a goofball right before this, because that is NOT what a great grandpa looks like.

Fred & Sat. It appears Sat is asking for more corn. Fred appears to be rejecting his request.

Tyler & Fred. Fred only makes trades with others who are wearing striped shirts.


Gena & Sat are the only smarty pants that thought to bring an umbrella. Show offs.

Then yesterday Jason and I stayed home all day and I cleaned the living hell out of my apt. It felt so good. I even washed rugs. I realize normal people do this all the time but for me it was a great accomplishment. Then we got cleaned up and went to a SUPER delicious bistro and ate super delicious food. Then we came home and enjoyed our clean new apartment and went to sleep.

Now I'm mad because of work. And because I'm a damn whippet again. That is a test to see if you really read my blog every day or not. If you do then you know how much I hate being a whippit.

Baby...Can't We Give It One More Try?

That's what my vacation pictures just asked me. They also bought me flowers (a lilly and some lilacs..how did they know??) and a box of noodles with cheese on them. How could I resist?

Okay. One last try pictures. But we are on THIN ice lovah.

Here is me at the Ritz Carlton Eno drinking wine. My teeth look a little "i vant to suck your blahhd" but other than that I am actually pleased with this picture of me for once.

Here is Jason taking a picture of the sunset with our real camera on our last night. I love this picture of him for some reason. He just looks handsome and serene.

Here is my daily view at the pool bar. Those are my toes. They matched my swimming suit. There was an adult pool and kids pool. The only difference I could tell was that there weren't horrible spoiled screaming children in the adult pool and there was a bar and a cute pool boy and free towels....other than that they were exactly the same.

And finally this is the view of the ocean from our resort. I usually spent half the day at the pool and then when Jason would get done at 3:00 we would head down to the sea and swim. I lost my sun glasses in an undertow one day but it was worth it because it made me laugh so hard I almost drowned. hahahahah...sigh....good times.

I should have some better pics from my REAL camera soon but for now this will help you feel as if I brought you along under the plane in our kitty carrier...don't worry....we tranquilized you.

Love,

Crescent

Pesto Chango!

I just dumped an entire dish of pesto veggie dip on our cubicle floor. Now it smells. Like pesto. Everywhere. It feels like it's in my nose forever. AND the reason the dish was full because I hated it and was going to throw it away. I threw it away alright.....up up and away.

It's because I'm dressed up. I hardly ever wear anything except jeans and t-shirts to work but today I felt like I should wear a damn skirt for once. That'll teach me. The universe can tell when I'm out of my element and makes sure to heap on an extra helping of putzfrites and spazioli on my motor skills.

I don't know what the hell is up with my pictures not posting here but my compy has been crappy all week so who knows. They aren't even very great pictures anyway. Just some sunsets and shots of me drinking wine. Nothing we haven't all seen a million times before.

What else. OH so Jason and I joined the local YMCA! We did a hand shake eye contact pact (those are legally binding in our marriage) that we were going to get into shape together. It's a relief actually. I needed a buddy but not a girl buddy. I am too insecure to compete with my own gender. Jason and I are both fond of some light, good natured chop busting so I think this will work out (ha!) well but without ending in hurt feelings and divorce. I'm going swimming tonight for the first time (at the Y. I've swam before people. I was almost world champion of swimming and water ballet at a very young age.....don't bother looking that up.....the records were lost at sea).

Here is a picture of Fred's boy feet in my girl shoes. Shoe Trade is one of our favorite games of all time. We've been playing it for years.

CRUD! This pic won't work either! Whatever. Just picture boy feet in my sandles. It's funny. I promise.

THERE! I fixed it. Here it is. I'm sure you've been on the edge or your seat praying this all worked out.

I HATE Vacations on the Beach!

Just kidding. We had a magical time and I wish I were back there in our fancy room drinking fancy wine and looking at the fancy ocean right now.

I have a tan for once so that's kind of cool in a pre-cancerous kind of way.

It's starting to itch. Are tans supposed to itch? Mine does. Or maybe that's just work.

Here are few pics.

Oh swell. It's not letting me add more pictures. What is that about? I'll fix YOU blog!!!!
Fix you good!

GD~!!!!! Something is wrong with my compy. Stay tuned for pics tomorrow.

Beach Beach Beach Beach

That's all I can think of. We leave tomorrow afternoon. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! That's all I can say. I'm just so looking forward to tanning my fat areas to make them look thinner. I kid, I kid. "If you can't lose it, tan it." Hahahahha. Some lady at work told me they used to say that in the 80's a lot. I don't know if that's true but it cracks me up. Sadly since I am so fair skinned and prone to ER worthy sunburns I am going armed with two bottles of sunblock.

All I have left to do is pack, which should be colorful since I'm taking pretty much every clothing item I have just in case.

We have our company summer party today starting at noon so my vacation officially begins then. It's whirlyball again. Sooo much fun but I've got to be careful. Jason will kill me if I'm on crutches for this vacation.

Yur A Peein' Zombies!!!

This is a short nightmare post. I dreamed that I was sitting on my couch working on some writing (yeah right) and I heard a water running noise coming from the other room. I went in there and a freakishly tall zombie was peeing BLOOD on my wall!!!!!! What do you say about THAT??? BUT it turns out that some big publisher or something saw it happening and realized it was in my dream and said he would pay me "upwards of 1 million dollars" for the idea. I don't think I really know what upwards means in that context but I pretended I did.

I've been reading a bunch of stuff on Italian horror movies even though I will NEVER EVER see any of them because of the gore, but for some reason I like to read up on stuff like that. Movie reviews and all that. Anyway, I'm sure that's why I had that dream. I woke up to every hair on my head standing up though, I'll tell you that much.


PS - This is a day of wonder and magic. I just realized that this is the first post I've ever had an error free spell check run on. Usually I have upwards of about 50 mispellings before I post but not today!

I Shoot, I Score.

About a year or so ago I dropped a cashew down my cleavage and told EVERYONE because I thought it was so funny. Well it's not so funny anymore. Today I dropped one in there for the sixth time in about 5 months and said aloud to myself "OH for GOD'S SAKE Crescent!" (I sounded just like my mother too by the way, she said those words a lot as you can imagine).

Seriously though, that seems excessive. I don't drop any other nuts or berries or food stuffs down there. Just cashews. And as I eat them I can almost FEEL it happen before it does and it's like some crazy nuthin but net shot every time. Whoosh....right down the middle without even hitting the sides. Then I have to dig around in there and shake my shirt while hunched under my desk, hiding my nutty shame. The ironic thing is I can't make a basket, putt a golf ball into a hole, shoot pool or really make ANY kind of item in target EVER! But apparently I'm the Michael Jordan of cashew cleavage ball.

I'm A Damn Whippet.

I don't even get this but I do know I'm way behind on the game. I guess you guys can go in and answer questions about me and my daemon thing might change. Help me be a tiger or something cool, please. I don't wanna be a whippet. *sniff*

Happy Birthday Matt!!!

So glad we got to have such a fun night! I have amazing friends and you are certainly one of the best. This video is for you.....and eventually Elizabeth too!

I get to go HERE!!!!

Good Lord. I can hardly keep my head on straight. So, Jason has been invited to this majestic resort in Laguna, CA (winks at Hixx....you know how extra excited I am, don't you dollface). He's going to be doing some training for a wine bar at this hotel and they are paying for BOTH of us to come out there for FOUR days!!!!!!!!! We have never been on a vacation together besides our honeymoon in Door County, WI (which was lovely, don't get me wrong) so this is truly the coolest news ever. We are both losing our minds with excitment. My plan between now and then is to stop eating and try to tan my Powder white legs. Oh and I need a swimming suit. And a couple sun dresses. And some shoes.

I am the luckiest girl in the land!!!

Ambrosssssiaaaahhhhh

I don't know how this whole business started but this is today's office flashback video winner. Eva's pick. Try not to groove and jam. I am thinking of changing my middle name to 70's soft rock. Legally. It just feels oh so right.





I'll tell you what, David Pack has some flipping PIPES on him! He sings about "a wife" and what not but this album cover might tell a different story. Or maybe the bass player just had a few shooters before this photo shoot. I get huggy after shooters too.

I bet all their hair smells like Agree Shampoo. Sighhh.

Make a wish baby....

Hot Tub Party Funtime Weekend!!

Jason and I spent the weekend in Madison at my oldest sister's house and enjoyed their new hot tub. It was the best. Here is the view from said hot tub if you put your head back.

Plus it was just a really wonderful visit with my sisters and brother in law and nephew and parents and Jason. It's been a long time since he's been able to join me on a weekend trip. I told him how glad I was to have him there because when I go by myself I have a great time, but am always a little homesick for him. My dad gave him his old GPS system for the car so we took an "alternate route" home. It took us through old timey Stoughton, WI so Jason found a radio station that was playing music from the 30's. It was hilarious.

Speaking of being homesick for Jason, I leave tomorrow at the butt-crack of dawn for NYC for work. I'll be there for four days so I'll miss J and the cats but at least I'll have Eva with me. We are both really excited to enjoy that city. I have been there a bunch but always get super excited stomach when I get to go back.

Before I "start spreading the news" I have two more pics from the weekend to hold you over until I get back.

This is Smokey (my sister's cat)squishing out of a laundry basket.

We picked Fred up on our way back into the city and we all went for lunch. We challenged Fred to create a gourmet looking plate with his dips and pita. Not bad for a first try! He was allowed to use anything on the table. The vinegar on the tomato didn't turn out how he'd hoped but none the less...pretty gourmet. Or almost.

He calls this piece "The Perfect Bite".

All You Can Eat Shrimp Saves the Day!

Jason had an off day yesterday too so we decided to go eat at Glen's Diner on Montrose. We get there and it's ALL YOU CAN EAT PEEL AND EAT SHRIMP DAY!!!! It turned it around for us. We started having the best time ever. Laughing hysterically at pretty much everything. Eating plate after plate of garlic shrimp and then finally made the brave decision to try the spicy Cajun shrimp. I had about two before it felt like my lips were going to fry off. But Jason persevered and truly ate all he could eat.

Here he is with his FingerBowl brand wet wipes and a mouth on fire. I told him to make a spicy face.

THAT LOOKS VERY SPICY!!!!!

And here is our table looking like war torn Kosovo at the end of the meal.

THAT'S A VERY MESSY TABLE!!!

My point is we had a really fun night and sometimes that's all you need to get out of a funk. At least it works for Jason and me.

Oh and I ended up having SO much fun that I left my purse on the chair and didn't realize it until I was trying to head out to work this morning. I had to work from home until they opened up at 11 this morning. But it was a nice little turn of events because I had the most relaxing morning and a nice walk and an empty air conditioned train ride into work....I really can't complain. THERE's something new!!! Ahhh...I think that means my whiny week has come to a close and I'm back to my normal "life is good" self.

Have a great weekend!!!

Pobresita.

I don't know if it was that special on the Mayan doomsday calendar that I watched the other night (FYI we are all done for December of 2012 so....you know get your affairs in order and stuff) or if it's really early PMS but I am just so.....ugh or blah or wahhhh or something. Feeling sorry for myself about nothing which annoys the piss out of me. I hate that quality in others and hate it even more when it sneaks up on me about twice a year. Everything is great and fine and good but something is just off inside me this week. I think the main issue is that I have no idea how to be what I want to be. Or maybe I'm not sure what that is yet or something. I want to write but I also want enough money to get a couch and some rugs. These seem like small things but they are indicative of bigger struggles inside I think. I kind of just don't want to be an assistant anymore. But I'm really good at it so here I sit...broken hearted...came to be a famous blogger but only farted. hahahahaha.....that kind of just cheered me up. Fart jokes...is there ANYTHING they CAN'T do?

My good friend and co-worker, Eva, has been in the same boat kind of this week so that's actually been a great help. Yesterday one of the printers was beeping over and over and over and we had this exchange:

Eva - "Hey Guy, you're a doctor, right?"
Me (aka Guy) - "Not certified but yes. What's up?"
Eva - "Is there a disorder or illness that makes you want to kill someone when you hear repetitive loud noises?.....Or is that just mild depression?"

It cracked me up for a good hour. We decided it was the latter.

BUT I had a great time last night at Jason's softball game and have nothing to do tonight except relax and drink some wine on the porch so I'll snap out of it.

AND the guy next to me has the funniest sneeze ever. It sounds so angry. It rules.

PLUS it's Retro Music Video Thursday in my dept. and I won! The objective is to blow each other's minds with an old video from our childhoods. Here was my pick, which was just announced as the winner!



Here was the runner up which is also pretty rad:



and the bronze goes to:




All delightful memories. Okay I feel a lot better now.

8 things.

I hate mememememe's or whatever they are called. The name itself makes me feel car sick. But I'm also in a crappy mood so I'm extra negativo today.

Okay so Biddle asked me to do this meme and he is a friend so I'll comply.

8 things about your childhood that people don't know or something.

1. I never sucked my thumb or used a pacifier.
2. I cried whenever my Dad would talk about his travels because I pictured him alone and it bothered me. He was fine with it but one mention of him eating dinner and I would say..."Who did you have dinner with?" and he'd say "Nobody" and then I'd bawl my head off and they'd have to explain to me that he wasn't lonely on those trips. It made me mad at his job.
3. I was in a local runway show for O'shkoshbygosh which ended up being my first leg shave day as well.
4. I think I hold the national record for most goose eggs on my head in one season. I could list them all but I'm not going to. Just know they all were from me thinking I could do something I could not do. Result....giant goose egg.
5. I started up a protection service where I would walk home the smaller boys that had bully problems. I was bigger so the bullies left me alone and the wee boys got home safely. I did this free of charge but a lot of the guys would give me homemade cards or donuts as thanks.
6. The first time I tried a shrimp cocktail all the shrimp were totally uncooked but I didn't know they weren't supposed to be gray and didn't want to bother anyone so I ate two before anyone at the table noticed. They sent it back and I tried again that same night with cooked shrimp and have loved them ever since.
7. I drank half a bottle of Joy dish washing soap once. Nothing really happened except I got in a little trouble. And maybe my insides were streak free and spotless.
8. I had a giant birthday party for my favorite stuffed bear, Oliver, every fall when the first really windy day happened (that was how I knew it was his b-day for some weird reason). Like the kind where the wind actually howls. My parents let me take over the living room on those days and take the couches and chair cushions to make the party room.

Okay now I have to "tag" 8 people.
I tag:
Howard Jones
Whitney Houston
That's So Raven
Totaro
the entire 79 Chicago Cubs (counts as one)
that annoying girl from the Welch's commercials
Shakira
the cycles from CHiPs

PROOF!

I am not sure I've ever EVER taken such a bad picture but I was very very excited. Tracey the cat looks great though. In spite of her illness she's very photogenic. God. I can hardly even look at this picture....I look so very...special. I always flip my lid over celebs but Party of Five was like my everything during college and Bailey was my main man. PLUS after this picture was taken we all went out and he and his wife are so sweet and real and smart and great. I know I've said that already but, again, I'm a little excitable ever since that trip.

man. I'm obsessing about the badness again. The thing that really blows is the fact that I looked super cute that night and had just discovered via a friend's scale that I've lost 15 lbs. BUT I was all freaked out and it was freezing in L.A. so I had to wear my gross sweatshirt over my cute shirt and if I just had remembered how giant my face looks when I smile that big I would've held back a little.....dammit. I am reverse vain or something. I'll try and let it go in 3......2.....1. Done.

Have a good weekend little ones!