My birthday is over now. Kim took some cool pictures of the ci-tay from up on our building's roof and framed them so I can have cool stuff to hang up on my wall. Excellent. She also bought me a book, "The Case for Animal Rights," by Tom Regan. Reading is fun. Oh yes, and my mom gave me a Brita water filter. Now I can drink tap water with the greatest of ease.

No plans really for this weekend. I wanted to go to Kennywood, but it is supposed to be rainy today, tomorrow, and Sunday, so that sucks. I think Nate and I are going to the Church Brew Works tonight and going to see a movie tomorrow... either I, Robot, The Bourne Supremacy, or The Village.

Express revealed their new fall line up yesterday. Ooh. And since I am personally keeping Express in business, I will be sure to head over there this weekend as well. Maybe some of their summer shizz will be on clearance or something. Except I always hate going there when they are having those super clearance sales... they always just have bins full of clothes that you have to dig through and everything is all like thrown around.

Has anyone ever used the Simplique thing for your eyebrows? I am looking for an easy way to remove eyebrow hair that isn't tweezing or going to get them professionally waxed. Getting them waxed seems like such a waste to me... sure, it looks good for like 2 days, but then the hair just comes back and you have to wait another two weeks before they are grown in enough to do it again. So you look good for 2 days and like a hairy monster for 14. Doesn't seem like a deal to me.

I feel like summer is running away and I haven't gotten to enjoy it as much as I would have liked. I keep wanting to like do stuff outside, like go hang out on the roof or go to places like Kennywood, but everytime it is the weekend it is either too cold or I'm tired or something. Yesterday was a beautiful day, but of course since today is Friday that means it is monsoon time. Die, Pittsburgh.

So, at my IT leadership class the other night, this woman from a program called Boards by Design came to speak. They place people who want to serve on non-profit boards on said boards. It sounded like something interesting to me and a couple of people in the class had actually done it and said it was cool, so I emailed them and I have meeting next Monday to discuss what kind of non-profit board in Pittsburgh I would want to serve on. I don't know if anyone would actually want me to be on their board, but I think it would be neat, especially if it was for some organization that I felt strongly about.

Right now I'm just bored and trying to kill some time. It isn't working - I'm still bored.

Posted by Julie at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You say it's my birthday, neer na neer na neer na neer... not really. My birthday is Monday but the celebrations have already started. Yesterday, my dad, Jenny, and Laura came down and we all went out to eat. Then we came home and watched Ken Jennings tear it up on Jeopardy! and played some Mario Kart. They also gave me gifts and I am now the proud owner of the season 1 DVD's of Survivor. I'm pretty happy about that. They also gave me a gift card to Express so I can fill my closet more with clothes and a lovely necklace. Ooh.

Last night, Nate and I also went to The Funny Bone to see Mitch Fatel. He was funny, but I actually liked one of the opening comics better. His name was John Miller and he was from Pittsburgh. He did a funny joke about looking like Marty McFly's dad from Back to the Future. I love me some Back to the Future humor! Hey you, get your damn hands off her.

Today I had to meet with some group members for my IT leadership class and then I came home and played some Dance Dance Revolution with Nate. Fun stuff. I put it on workout mode and burned like 30 calories. My goal was 150, but that would have taken forever! Oh yeah, Nate already gave me both of his presents. He gave me a PC game called "Missing" which is very cool so far. Kind of like CSI and shit. He also gave me... a cell phone! I have finally moved into the 2000's and I now can be reached at any location in space. I've always said I never needed a cell phone, but lately I've been desiring one. It was nice before how when I went home for lunch I could make any calls to utility companies or whatever places like that closed before I got home. I have lost that luxury, but now I can take my phone to work and chat all during my lunch hour. I can also call Nate from class and ask him to come pick me up instead of looking for 2 quarters and a payphone. I have arrived.

Tonight I think we are going to The Sharp Edge. No plans yet for tomorrow... maybe I will go up to the roof and take some pictures. Monday (my actual birthday), I have two interviews. Wouldn't it be lovely to get a job offer on the spot on your birthday? Maybe I'll let them know of the special day to try and entice them. Yeah right. They will probably just think I'm a loser. And they would be right!

Speaking of jobs, I got a 4% raise the other day. Pretty swanky. It wasn't actually much monetarily, but I appreciated the gesture. Always nice to know something thinks you are worth something.

No school until September 7th! Awesome. Still don't know what I got on my econ final... not sure that I want to know.

In video game news, I bought Pokemon Puzzle League the other day for Nintendo 64 and it is pretty awesome. I like puzzle games.

I'm going to go eat some birthday cake now and get ready to paint the town red. Have a dandy one.

Posted by Julie at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I hate the show Absolutely Fabulous Not just that, but I hate most British humor.

Moving along... I've been watching I Love the 90's lately. They definitely aren't as funny as I Love the 80's, which has been a bit of a disappointment. The most annoying part is when Liz Phair does the "Dirty Alternative Rocker" bit. And who the heck is Michael Buble?

Nate and I had a productive weekend. Friday we ate at Maggie's, an organic vegetarian restaurant in the dregs of South Oakland. It was REALLY FANTASTIC though and I recommend it to everyone. It wasn't what I expected at all... it was like this fancy little nook tucked away in what should have been some crap hole in the wall on Atwood St. So good, though. I had the Spinach Porcini Mushroom pie and it was excellent.

Saturday, we finally cleaned out our old apartment. Yuck. Apparently throughout our last few months there, a bottle of apple juice slowly leaked a little bit everyday and covered the entire bottom of the fridge with this thick, sticky, disgusting apple juice goo. I didn't even see it until we took out all the food. Lucky for me, Nate is in to cleaning nasty stuff and he took care of that. Cleaning usually works out well for us because I hate cleaning anything that involves soap or water, and Nate hates dusting and vacuuming. I don't know why because those are both really easy chores. I think dusting is fun. Plus, I've always had this irrational fear of touching wet paper towels. I don't know why, but the feeling / texture/ smooshiness grosses me out.

I have my econ final on Tuesday and then no more school for like a month! Hooray!

Today Nate and I went grocery shopping. I always want to go to Whole Foods and Nate always wants to go to Giant Eagle in Shadyside. We made a compromise this time and went to the Giant Eagle at the Waterfront. They have a selection of food that's a step up from other Giant Eagles. We came home and made a gigantic vat of pasta salad which will last a week. That's good news because I'm already sick of taking sandwiches to work everyday for lunch.

Guess whose birthday is in 8 days! Yes, it is mine. Nate has a birthday present hidden in some blankets in his closet, but I can't look. I found that out today when I suggested that he move some stuff around on the shelf. He reluctantly agreed and I couldn't figure out what the issue was, then I figured out that that is where something was hidden. Oh powers of temptation, leave me be! I don't know what all we are doing next weekend to celebrate the big 2-3, but I do know (I think) that we're going to the Funny Bone on Friday. I took Monday off of work and I have at least one interview scheduled for that day. At least my birthday will be just like any other day - me being excited for an interview and then being let down and disappointed when I find out I didn't get the job.

So, working out at our new apartment with Gilad kind of sucks. We haven't gotten the key to the fitness room yet, so we don't have any other options. Who knew hardwood floors would be so hurty to the knees? I want a fancy exercise mat like Gilad uses. Too bad I have already distributed my birthday list because that is something I would like to add to it. That and a phone with caller ID on it. And a lifetime gift certificate to Dean of Shadyside salon.

Everyone is so darn friendly in this building. Not a day goes by when at least 3 people don't say hi to me. Why just yesterday an older man in the laundry room sent me a cheerful hello. And then I saw a dirty pair of his underwear that had fallen on the ground and I felt a bit uncomfortable. Ew. Old man panties.

Posted by Julie at 03:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night I was pissed. My econ class had to do presentations and my professor clearly didn't realize how long it was going to take for everyone in the class to finish. My class is supposed to be over at 9:10pm, I think, and when I left at 9:55, there was still another presenter to go. I was really furious by that time and when I got home I had a nervous breakdown because I forgot The Amazing Race was on and I wanted to watch that, The Real World, I Love the 90s, and Jeopardy, but I still had to get clothes ready for the next day and get ready for bed, since it was like 10:30 by that time already. So, I only got to watch Jeopardy and I guess the other shows will have to wait. I thought that SURELY he wouldn't have kept us past 9:30, but time kept on ticking and he kept letting groups go. I would have left way earlier but he threatened to take off points from anyone who didn't stay for all of the presentations. That was really a bastard-like move, if you ask me and I would have rather had 1 or 2 groups go next week before we take the final than have had to sit there all god damn night. Oh yeah... our presentations were only supposed to be 15 minutes long and the very first group stood up there for 40 minutes!! If anyone loses points, it should be them. Our presentation rocked and it only took 12 minutes.

So, today I am cranky and tired and all I want to do is go home and rest, but this evening I have to go to my IT Leadership class. At least it is just downtown and not somewhere annoying like Monroeville or Wexford this time.

Our new apartment is good. We got our storage space and got all of our boxes stored in it. I want to go sit on the roof patio soon, but I never have time. Hopefully Thursday will be a nice evening to sit up there.

Well, back to the daily grind.

Posted by Julie at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Howdy ho, fun bags. Nate and I are moved into our new shack now. It is nice. Kim helped us move Saturday and 6 hours later, we were all unpacked. "Murph," the door man, helped us out a little with the heavy furniture. That was nice of him, even though he said some snide remarks to Kim and I. Something about had we been Irish, we would have had the truck unloaded faster. Whatever, dude. Then he called Nate, "Buford," when he saw that we had 2 TV's. I don't even know how that makes sense. I would think that someone named Buford would be like a backwoods redneck and wouldn't have any TV's. Finally, he called me "Pearly Bay" when I couldn't get the cart loaded up with furniture pushed over some rocks. Weirdo. Thanks for the help though.

After some nagging on my part, I convinced Nate to put all of his stuff away and we were completely unpacked by Sunday afternoon. We have cable and internet, so we are set for life now.

We still have to figure out how to get our storage space that we are entitled to so that we can keep our good moving boxes. Not that we will ever need them since we're never moving again. Seriously... I dread the next time we move, especially with the couch we just bought. I think it comes apart in like 3 pieces though, so maybe it wouldn't be that bad. Hopefully I won't have to find out.

Only 2 more weeks of class! Time flies when you're having the life sucked out of you by economics, I guess. We have a presentation on the beer industry that we're doing tomorrow, and then the final is next week. My other IT Leadership thing goes until August 4th though. Then I have 3 weeks or so of nothing until class starts again.

Now that I live farther away than 5 minutes from work, I have to pack a lunch. Today I packed a vegetarian "chicken" salad sandwich, some Silk yogurt, and tortilla chips. I am hungry. Packing lunches is pretty cool.

"I Love the 90's" is on tonight! I'm excited.

Nate and I are thinking of buying some heavy drapes for our bedroom... I am not used to this whole "sunlight" thing since our last apartment was a cavernous, dark dungeon and no light ever came in unless we wanted it to, which was pretty rare. Apparently it starts getting light out at like 5 am. Who knew?! Yeah, that's going to be a problem. Also, who knew that bastards like to ride loud motorcycles around our block for like 2 hours on a Sunday evening? I am REALLY annoyed by loud noises, especially motorcycles, and I thought I was going to have a seizure. Isn't there some sort of noise ordinance after some hour? If not, there should be.

Oh yeah, Nate got his new car. It's a new silver Hyundai Accent. It is cute. I like silver cars.

Other cool things about our new building are that they have shopping carts on the bottom floor that you can borrow to take your groceries or whatever up in, they have door men that will help you do handy things around the apartment, there's a roof patio to hang out on, a fitness room to get "fit" in, you can send out mail from there (this is a big step up from any other building I've ever lived in before), and the walls are super thick and we haven't heard a peep from any of our neighbors yet. Actually, I couldn't even hear Nate in the dining room listening to music when I had the bedroom door closed, so that's a bonus.

So, things are going pretty well now, other than the fact that we still have to go back to our old apartment soon and clean it out... right now there are gross things all over the countertops, floor, and refrigerator including but not limited to dead bugs, apple juice, crumbs, cobwebs, and who knows what else. Sounds like a blast.

Posted by Julie at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I went to see fireworks. They were fireworky.

I ate haluski at Heritage Days.

Andrew played in his sand box.

I kissed Honey Bun.

I was in a 5K.

Nate bought a new car.

We're picking it up today.

We packed a bunch of shizz. We are donating a bunch of other shizz to Goodwill today.

I have some interviews coming up.

I have an ulcer in my mouth.

My skirt is too big.

"The Amazing Race" started.

We're moving in like 2 days.

I'm excited.

Our couch came, and it rules.

We bought stuff at Ikea, even though I HATE HATE HATE Ikea.

My birthday is coming.

Oh yeah, I forgot the whole reason that I wanted to post today... I am really tired of people that I don't even know saying, "Smile!" to me. And like, it's when I'll be walking to the bathroom or just sitting at my desk or whatever. Who the hell smiles all the time? And if someone did, they would be really annoying. I have no reason to smile while walking down the hall. It takes muscles and energy to smile, and if I'm not happy, I'm not going to smile just to please you, ornery old mail guy! Seriously, lay the hell off. It's not like I'm sitting in one of those ball pits like at Chuck E. Cheese's while eating my favorite meal and playing fun games and not smiling... I'm SITTING AT MY DESK DOING WORK. Bite it. I think I'm going to start to say, "Crook your right elbow! It's Tuesday!" to everyone I see.

Posted by Julie at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm cranky. Isn't that a surprise? All I want is a whole bunch of money, more days in the week, and some snacks. Is that so much to ask for?

Today is Andrew's birthday. He is five. Holla.

So, in honor of the little guy's birthday, Nate, Kim, and I are heading north to Ford City after work today. We are also going to hit up Heritage Days and they better have haluski otherwise I'm going to write a strongly worded letter to the mayor of Ford City. And since I'm on a first name basis with him, I'm sure shit will get done.

Tomorrow is the annual Heritage Days 5K, which I routinely participate in with my old pal, Katie. Maybe since I am actually semi "in shape" these days, I might finish in less than 45 minutes, but I really doubt it. It's not like I'm in it to win. I'm just in it not to lose. And for the free banana and orange drink at the end.

Also, our new couch is being delivered to the new apartment tomorrow. Oh yes! The new apartment. Nate and I took a few boxes over last night and checked things out. The kitchen has like 50 cabinets, for real. It is so weird though, because the cabinets go like from the floor to the ceiling and not even the tallest person I know would have easy access to the top cabinets. We had big aspirations to measure all of the rooms and our furniture and make a "scale model" of where everything will be placed before we moved in, but that idea quickly dwindled away to nothing. Kim was over "helping us" with checking out stuff, but that really meant that she took over our juggling balls and kept screaming, "I'm doing it!" while Nate kept asking her if she wanted 5 bucks to make the scale model for us. She didn't want to and I hate drawing things with rulers, so no scale model for us. We did stand there for a good 20 minutes wandering where the TV would go and I don't think we ever decided. That is, after all, the most important thing in the whole apartment.

Sunday is the 4th of July. We have no plans. We will do something, but I'm just not sure yet what it is. Monday we have to do some hardcore packing and then I have to meet with my econ group because my whole life revolves around school. We are doing an analysis of the beer industry. Sounds interesting, right? I guess.

I told Nate that if I don't find an awesome job by July 30th, I'm quitting my job. For no real reason. I really just never thought I would be here this long and it is kind of starting to piss me off. I like my job, but I'm really annoyed about doing the whole search for new jobs thing for 5 hours a day and then hearing nothing. I'm going to go back to school for career counseling. Then I can tell people what to do instead of actually having to go do it myself. And who would be a better career counselor than myself? I obviously know what the hell I'm doing. Can't you tell?

Posted by Julie at 03:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)