Insomnia and Beer Pong

So my insomnia continues. Last night I woke up like every hour. I was not rested nor was I in a good mood when I woke up. I had to keep reminding myself that it was Friday and that the day would go by quickly. Supposedly.

I am happy because I got my Norwegian assignment and I will be working on it for next week-----oh wait, the next week that I'm probably going to miss b/c of my stupid stupid court date for the asshole that hit me. Can I PLEASE reiterate how obnoxious it is that I have to travel down to MD for this crap! Whatever----I will be able to keep up! I have faith in myself. :)

Anyway, I have to do some practicing. Maybe I'll end up doing it tonight b/c I don't have plans and since I'm a loser and had to return Stick It, I won't really have anything to do. I have to get up really early on Saturday to go to this volunteer training session downtown for the majority of the day and I don't want to be hungover. Especially, since right afterward the Pure Meathead Posse has a football game to dominate.

I guess I should spend a little time talking about Kate's last night. Ok you convinced me :) Well, I met up with Leigh Ann, Lindsay, and Katie at BeBe, LA was buying a birthday outfit since her BDay is this weekend. Anyway, then she had to walk to class and LB and Katie and I headed over to Kate's. It was more crowded than normal b/c usually LB and I would get there at like 5 and sit on the seats right at the edge of the bar right next to Devon. Anyway, we had to sit in the lower section of the bar at one of the tables. We ordered out $1 Bud Lights and hung out. Then these guys came in and we were talking to them. They wanted to play Beer Pong. Of course we accepted the offer. I played with this kid named Matt, who went to Loyola and knows Nick, which was so strange/small-worldish. Anyway---we won that game and then I played twice more. Good times. Devon bought us our next round and by that time the bar was really crowded. So---as I was chatting with Matt, this kid comes up to me and like----is all in my face like, "I KNOW YOU! What is your name!?" And then I totally recognized him. He is Chris like Jeff's friend that I have hung out with a number of times down in DC. He is interviewing for jobs up here and like----is looking to move up here. The last time I saw him I think either was this summer or for Alexi's birthday in January. It was cool! Anyway, then WE played BP and lost. I was better than him. Hee--Hee. So, then it was about 8 and I walked home. I got some food, did some errands and went to bed early.

Today is busy at work, which is good. Hot boys are in today---eye candy for me. :)

TGIF!

Love,
Lauren

Running and Lack of Sleep

For some reason I have not been sleeping well. I'm really tired---I think it's that I'm over tired or something. Not exactly sure though what is going on. Last night I tried to go to bed after my awesome run in CP. My run was great. I was still relatively tired from the night before and also, from running on Monday and from softball as well. I forced myself to do it. It's cool. I then got all tuckered out after watching Stick It for the umpteenth time. yes, I'm aware that I have serious problems watching and re-watching movies. I know that I have issues and there is nothing you can say about it. Sorry, I like Stick It. In fact, you might say that I'm OBSESSED with it. I bought it on Amazon with hopes that I would get it before I had to return the original one to Blockbuster, but alas---I have to return that shit tonight and will not be able to participate in the glorious overlap that I had originally imagined. Ah well. Back to my not-sleeping story...

I woke up at like 12:30 b/c I was having a nightmare. Not like a sad nightmare, but I think it was a really scary one. I remember waking up and not wanting to go back to sleep b/c I was scared of the nightmare. I think it had to do with a scary guy or something. Then I woke up at 4. b/c my room was too cold, because somehow the A/C was turned on. I do not remember turning on the A/C at any point in the night, though not to say it didn't happen. Then I woke up minutes before my alarm, which is the worst feeling ever. My eyes were all puffy and I was really tired this morning. I look like poop today.

I also want to let you all know that yesterday's entry was missing information about my hangover. There are some parts you need to know. I left it out---rather, I forgot to keep writing the first paragraph.

1. It SUCKED the next morning
2. I got to work late.
3. I ate Gatorade, banana, bacon and egg on a roll, and then a LOT of water.
4. I didn't feel "good" until 11.

I'm going to Kate's with LB after work today. Pretty boosted about that. It's been a while since we've been there and I'm actually excited, but I feel fat right now b/c I ate Chipotle for lunch. But not the bad kind, like the Burrito Bol, which is "healthier" than the actual burrito. Anyway, I feel like I should go for a run, because I'm obsessed with running/working right now, but it is impossible to do anything if I'm going to Kate's. Maybe, after kates, I'll go for a run, but I definately can't set any sort of expectation about that b/c I always will let myself down with it comes to working out after HH.

Ok----I should get back to work. Riiiiiight.

Oh---What's up with no more comments people?! Christ! Hook me up! It makes me look popular!

Love,
Lauren

Server Problems and CHAMPIONSHIP

So yesterday Blogger.com was not working. I was seriously going to post yesterday but it didn't work the entire day. Alas, no posting. So---luckily today when I checked if it was working----it is! Anyway, so I have a lot to report on. Well, if by a lot, I mean I have to talk about the championship softball game last night. If you normally read my blog you will see that most of my postings are clocked in at like 7:20am-7:30am. That's because that's when I generally start my entries, even if it's not until 11 when I actually finish.

OK----we met early yesterday, at 4:30 to get physically and mentally for our championship game. Everyone was there and we were all sporting our cool Jersey's. We cabbed it up there and started to warm up. I was throwing back and forth with Jason. I was starting to get a sore arm after a while b/c I was really lobbing them hard to keep up with all the guys that really can throw the ball like 8 miles. We played awesome. I also played great, my best game I believe. My first at bat---hit a nice line drive between 2nd and 3rd and got to first. BUt....the last out was made while I was on 2nd. Then, at my 2nd at bat, I led off the inning---I hit a nice line drive somewhere and bolted to first, where I just made it on safely. Good hustle by me. Then Jason hit a single and I got to second. It was GT's turn at bat and he hit a ball that was just incredible. It was still rolling away as I was rounding home. It was sick. Three runs for us. Go team! My last at bat sort of sucked b/c I hit a pop fly and got out. Booooo....

Final Score: 25-5

We are the champions of the world.

We are also drinking champions of the world. Berny had cars come pick us up at the fiels and then take us to Brother Jimmy's to begin the celebration. There was so much beer and so many fish bowls, I could barely even handle it. Wings, Ribs, Onion fry thingies, more wings. It was glorious. I totally pigged out on food and drink----for the rest of the night. I don't even really know what to write about the whole evening experience, just that it was incredible. There is never anything wrong with drinking for free with your fun co-workers until the wee hours.

I eventually got home somehow and managed to get into bed somehow. I chugged water and ate some Advil cause I knew there would be hell to pay tomorrow if I didn't. Good call on my part.

I woke up at 4:00am to like use the bathroom and I felt all dizzy and disoriented. I chugged more water and like----passed out again. It was beautiful. I woke up right before my alarm today, hungover but nothing like---if I hadn't chugged water and taken Advil right before bed.

Today is going slow. I had an amazing breakfast though---bacon and egg on a roll, banana, gatorade, coffee, and a HUGE thing of water. I know how to take care of these things. Ger 'er done!!!

Ok---back to work! Going to try to go for a long run tonight. We'll see how I manage.

Happy Wednesday!

Love,
Lauren

District Court and Redskins

WARNING: The first part of this email will be quite negative. Even though I'm in a good mood today and really I'm slowly getting over my negativity about the whole situation. So here it goes:
You all know how I was in that car accident at the end of July with the asshole that was drink and then pretty much hit me head on. So---finally I made sure all the paperwork was in and everything else was in order with the insurance company and all. I also told you about the subpeona that I got at my parents house saying that I had to come down and testify on some random day in October.

I had been avoiding the conversation with the lawyer about it because deep in my heart I knew that he was going to say that I had to go. I begged him---to write a statement, anything to not have to go down there---to no avail. So----then I started complain about how it was going to cost me money to get down there and like----that they should pay for that. He called me back and said that they would pay. Ok---all is settled right? WRONG.

See, I'm not even mad about the fact that I have to physically go down there. Becuase this guy deserves to be put away and he's an asshole and I want to testify against him. But here's the thing: I'm taking a Norwegian class which I'm really excited about. I already found out last week that I have to skip tomorrow b/c of the championship softball game and how I def can't miss it. But NOW, the following Tuesday---I have to be in Maryland and there is a (big) possibility that I will miss that Tuesday too! WTFC?!? I'm seriously annoyed about it. So, my mom is going to go with me and then hopefully she can get me to the airport in time to make it to at least part of the class. I sure hope so---I'm going to be practicing a LOT of Norwegian from now until then b/c I don't want to be the loser in the class that doesn't know anything.
Ok, I'm done venting.

Saturday morning---woke up late (shocking) and then went for a really long run after downloading the soundtrack to "Stick It" and then feeling all motivated. I had a nice motivating run in Central Park. Then----I was really thirsty and decided to go down to the corner store and buy a gatorade. Stop...I know what you are thinking. Gatorade has sugar in it and I shouldn't drink it or I will get cavities. But really??? I bought some anyway and I didn't even finish it. On my way to the store (which is 15 steps from my apartment) there were these two cute guys standing out front. I obviously was looking fine in my sweaty outfit and headband---fresh from my run. I think my face was THIS red. One of them put their hand up---like to give me five and so I was like, "sup?" and slapped his hand. I moseyed on into the store, bought my Gatorade and then came out. They were still there. They stopped me:

Boy 1: Dude, where are you going?
SL: To go drink my Gatorade.
Boy 2: You should come to the bar with us--across the street. Go Blue!
SL: Um...I look like shit and plus, I don't like Michigan. I'm a Badger fan.
Boy 1: Well they are playing Wisonsin right now!
SL: Maybe I'll come. I want to take a shower.
Boy 1: I'm never going to see you again.
SL: *laughing*
Boy 1/2: What's your name anyway?
SL: Lauren, what are yours?
Boy 1: Colin
Boy 2: Cullen
SL: Aw....that's so cute----maybe I'll see you later.
*high five*

So---I go upstairs, shower and change and everything and decide that it's not every day where two cute guy stop you on the street and ask you to hang out with them. So---I went. It was a good time. I spent most of the time sitting next to Cullen, who is adorable and fun. I invited him to the bar on Sunday to watch the Skins with me and Jess. He even text messaged me back about he really wanted to go.

Anyway, then I just like hung out/cleaned/effed around for a few hours until I went over to Beth's apt. Watched VMars and straight chilled there before heading out to LB's PAR-TAY.

Party was fun. I still had that annoying headache that wouldn't go away so I wasn't in a beer chugging mood. It was annoying. Because there were a TON of people there and I'm sure it would have been more fun if I had drank a little more. So---after two beers and a few hours, both Beth and I headed out. It was OK---def. a fun party.

Obviously most of you know what I'm going to write about based off my "Redskins" title. Yes, and you all would also be correct as well. :) WE WON YESTERDAY! First time for the season. I'm like, "Finally!" I went to Turtle Bay with Jess and then Beth joined us soon after*. That place is pretty chill on the weekends. It was nice b/c the bar tender was so cool and showing us all these cool magic tricks. I was pretty much obsessed with him. Also---there were these like Coors light girls walking around giving out free Coors Light's and these like coupons to win tickets to an NFL game. Anyway, it was also nice to get free beer. :) So we hung out there for a while. Met a few more Skins fans and then after we won, we all sang "Hail to the Redskins". It was amazing.

Jess, Beth, and I took the bus uptown, Jess came over and Beth went home. I started to feel sick. I had this headache all morning. We baked chocolate chip cookies and I brought them into work for everyone ELSE to pig out on b/c I am not eating sugar. Wait, back to the headache thing...I never get headaches so I was sort of perturbed about why I had one for so long. I had even taken medicine to get rid of it, but nothing seemed to be working. It was quite annoying. Then I started thinking hard about why my head would be hurting and I deducted that it probably is from my no-sugar diet. I was in sugar withdrawal. So---luckily I ate some of the dough from the cookies and felt better. It has to be a slow process but I'm determined to not eat white flour and sugar. I will beat this addiction. OK---then we went out to dinner at Angelo's Pizzeria where Jess's roommate Viviana works. She is so cute and I had a good dinner---Caprese salad. :) Yummy! Anyway, then I went home and passed out. It was a good, but kind of weird weekend.

Love,
Lauren


*Cullen never txted me back about the game. I hate him.

Dentist and Stick It

As many of you know----I like the dentist. I love going and getting my teeth cleaned and the like. I like the challenge of not choking on the spit sucker and trying to hold a conversation with my dentist about where I work and what I do with about 18 instruments stuck in there.

Everything changed yesterday after my appointment to get my cavities filled. And here the story shall begin:

I walked in extremely nervous as it is and waited for the nurse, assistant lady to call me back. The first thing that happens is that I meet the dentist that is going to fill my teeth. His name is Dr. Joe. I'm fairly sure he's a pediatric dentist, b/c that is what the dentist told me on Wednesday and adults in the professional world that use their first names as last names are hacks. So----the fact that he normally is a dentist for kids, I considered it acceptable. OK----so, he's like:

Dr. Joe: Lauren, have you even gotten a chance to look at your x-ray's from yesterday?
SL: No, I didn't.
Dr. Joe: Well, we found some more cavities.
SL: Yesterday, Dr. Kafka said I had two.
Dr. Joe: Well, there are actually five.
SL: Five...???
Dr. Joe: But don't worry----they are so tiny. I think it's b/c you eat too much candy. Is that right? They are in between the teeth and so, it looked like two separate ones, but really there are four.
SL: (hysterically crying)
Dr. Joe: I'm sorry this is so upseting to you. We are going to fill three today and then two on another day. The two on the upper left and the one in the front.
SL: (through tears and sobs) FRONT?!
Dr. Joe: You know, where your tooth was bonded?*** Well, it's normal, bonding doesn't last forever, so there was a little guy there and then we are just going to re-bond the tooth.
SL: (silent---begins to shake)

So, I'm really really upset. This isn't really supposed to be a funny entry even though some of you may laugh and I may laugh in due time, but as for now---nothing is funny about this conversation.

I get into the chair and can't stop crying. I'm nervous and upset about everything. I'm sad I have three more cavities than before. If only I didn't pig out on airheads all the time, and skittles and chocolate, etc.... I was really disappointed in myself. I was also really nervous for the drill and the scaryness of the entire operation. It was then, I began to have the shakes hard core. I could not stop shaking. Dr. Joe kept reassuring me that I was going to be OK, and the only part that sucked was the shot of novacaine.

He numbed up my upper gum line with Oragel, which was really nice of him. Then he put in the first shot. He is really good. It really didn't hurt at all. Then he put in the other shot in and again, not much pain. I think it's cause he works with kids. I hate how it is generally accepted that adults should be more brave and cabable of handline trauma than children. I think it's the opposite. Kids don't really understand or can even comprehend the complications of going to the dentist, etc. Adults can and understand how scary things can be. I was excited that I got to have a pediatric doctor working on me. I think I'll try and get him every time. Then, we had to wait a little bit for the Novacaine to take full effect. I was still crying and shaking. I really couldn't stop. I was really nervous----clearly.

Then, it was time to start the whole drilling and filling thing. That actually was the most pleasant part of the whole appointment. He was really fast and really good. The only annoying part was that every once in a while the assistant lady would shove the spit sucker down my throat unexpectedly and that annoyed me. I'm like, "wtf?" can you please give me a little warning about it? Anyway, the funny part was that she would do the shoving thing and then be like, "I'm sorry about that." I was totally annoyed. It finally was over. I was all numb and still shaky. The shaking thing was so bad that my mouth would chatter and then b/c the dentist was doing work on my mouth, I didn't think it was that good of an idea to be like chattering with all these drills and things inside it. So---I would then concentrate REALLY hard on not chattering. Then I would end up having my whole body shake. I was pretty much convulsing the whole time. It was awful. I love how they ask you to "rinse" after the whole thing is done. So I put the mini cup to my lips that I can't feel and attempt to take a sip---and then swish it around in my mouth that I can't feel and then end up drooling all over the place. It's like a funny joke to them.

After I walked out of the dentist's office I promptly called my mom and began to bawl. As if I hadn't cried enough already in the dentist's office. She was a great mom and comforted me on my walk home. My face was still numb but I felt a bit better after talking with her. Mom's are good for that.

I went home, changed clothes and went to Blockbuster. I couldn't very well eat anything. I rented the movie "Stick It". It was funny and good. I recommend it. A good rental. Anyway----I was in a bummed out mood and went to bed relatively early.

Today I feel fine. My mouth is a little sore where they shot me----but otherwise, I'm great and I survived.

Thanks for your support----and REALLy thanks to those of you that called me after the fact to see how everything went. :)

TGIF!

Love,
Lauren

P.S. Beth are we going out/seeing a movie tonight? xo

***my tooth was bonded in 11th grade after an accident with my attempting to carry my bike up my stairs at my parents house, when I tripped, the bike handlebar went into my face and part of my frontish teeth were chipped off. This is I think in the top 5 most traumatic things that have ever happened to me. To this day I am still haunted by that handlebar.

Cavities and Norsk Kurs

Ok---so this could be one of the worst days of my life. I had a dentist appointment this morning at 7am. Yes, it's early but I was ready for my 6 month cleaning. I went to a new dentist b/c my old dentist moved to jersey. The dental hygenist had a lot of wonderful things to say about my teeth. She said they were beautiful, etc. etc.

Then the real dentist came in to tell me that I had two small cavities. WTF. I never get cavities. I have two. I'm chronically obsessed with my teeth. Why would I have them? Apparently, they are in difficult areas to floss properly and also that I should reduce sugar in my diet. I am so sad. All morning I moped around. I get them filled tomorrow. Eff this.

My Norwegian class last night was really really great. The teacher is phenomenal. Her name is Anita and there are a few others in the class that are really dedicated to learning Norsk. I'm happy that I moved up a level. I am very boosted. She speaks in Norwegian a lot and forces us to try and speak, which I think is a great tactic. Anyway----I'll be sure to keep you updated about this.

SHOUT OUTS:
Brittany: Are you ok? Sorry about the riots. Sorry that i didn't get your IM until after you were signed off.
Mike: I'm sorry I've been shady. Whenever you IM, I'm practically always in the middle of something or severely distracted.

Love,

Lauren

P.S. I want the SKins to win so badly, but I also don't want to lost money in the pool because I root for them and then they lose. wtf.....such hardships.

Catch up Entry

I feel like there is so much to catch up on these days, since I've been out of commission for a while. Mostly though I've just had a lot of things to do and I was also sick. I'll talk about this weekend first:

Friday:

• Left work early, was feeling really bad/fatigued. My body was telling me that I needed to sleep. I went home and slept from 2:30pm on Friday to 8:00am on Saturday morning. Not much happened in my sleep.

Saturday:

• Woke up at 8am. Walkedto get bagel @ H&H but actually was really annoyed b/c Manny, my "friend" that works there gets all mad/frustrated when I don't come. He doesn't understand why I don't get bagels every day. He speaks Spanish to me and that's fine. One reason I don't like to go there is because he always pressures me to go out and like hang out and go dancing and shit. I really don't want to go out with Manny. But sometimes I get free bagels. This is such a dillema.
• Did chores, like the dishes, which I hate to do---totally annoying things, but they all had to be done. I cleaned the bathtub, that was important.
• Took a nap. Watched Harry Potter.
• Played in the "Pure Meathead Posse" Football game on Saturday evening. It was great. I took the trek all the way up to Riverside park to play with my work buddies. We CRUSHED the other team. They sucked. Then we went to the organized bar afterward. There were flip cup tables set up and I ate a bunch of wings.
• Went home and fell asleep.

Sunday:

• Woke up at the crack of dawn to get to LaGuardia so that I could fly to DC for the day. I had an MLW Policy Board meeting and also I had plans with CK for breakfast/lunch at the Parkway Deli. It was yummy and it was really great to see her and catch up since I missed the wedding.
• She drove me to the wedding reception place and past the church. It was great!
• She then dropped me off at Ron's house for the meeting. The meeting was really long, but really productive.
• Ate dinner at Bankok Garden or something like that and then---Barrie drove me to the airport. Thanks Barrie.

Last night I went to my first Norwegian class. It was great! Well---except that I have to go to more more intermediate level. The beginner class is a bit under my level. I'm not saying that I'm so awesome t Norwegian, but I am saying that I know how to count and say basic things in Norsk. So---I'm going to the class tonight too to see how I fair there. After which, I will make a decision on which one to take.

I might also ditch the gym to get a mani/pedi. We'll see how I feel.

I have to get to work.

Love,

Lauren

Matty and Norwegian

Last night I went to dinner with my friend from college Matt. I can't even remember the last time I saw him, so it was nice. We went to this little place in like the 30s or something. Called---shit I already forgot the name of it. Way to go Lauren. Anyway, it was good. I honestly was a little buzzed on the wine I drank. It was delicious Pinot Noir. For dinner I had delicious bread and olive oil of course and then I ordered Caprese----an essential and my favorite Italian app. :) My meal, normally consists of pasta but I wasn't in the mood for something heavy like pasta or anything. So I got chicken in wine sauce. It was very yummy. I was happy and I didn't have leftovers which was a bit disappointing, but I didn't care. (You know---I'm trying desperately to work on my leftover eating habits.)

Right now my apartment is a total mess. Again, not like a tornado, but a pretty big mess for Lauren standards if you know what I mean. There are clothes all over the place, dirty dishes in the sink (although that's normal) and papers and fish tank materials all over. I have to get on that. Especially if Jess comes over for dinner tonight. It would be a disaster I imagine.

One reason I'm really excited is because I just signed up for a Norwegian class at the Norwegian Seamen's Church. Since I'm a member of the Sons of Norway, I get all these emails about Norwegian happenings in New York and I got this one this morning! Yeah!!!! So it starts on Monday and I can't wait! I am going to try to get pretty good at it so that I can be a legit Scandinavian.

Tonight is my night at No Idea Bar---where they have your name on a certain day and then you can drink for free. So---I'm going. If you live in New York and want to come out---come! Jess and I are going so you should come out if you are around! But you have to pay for your own drinks---heh heh. :)

I wish there was something else so say about my exciting life. I've been pretty busy in the evenings. It's going to wear me out but I don't really care. I like being busy and working hard. It's like in my genes.*

*at first I had typed "jeans" and then I realized it looked wrong and then I changed it for fear of being ridiculed. But as I type this admission, I realize I will be made fun of anyway.

I wish that today was Friday.
I want to see Invincible soon.

What are people doing this weekend?

Love,
Lauren

PetCo and Skins

I ended up getting free suite tickets to the Shakira concert on Friday night----I was pretty amazing. :) I love love love Shakira. :) "La Tortura" Baby!!

Saturday I had a really annoying experience purchasing my new pets---two fish I want to buy. I went to PetCo to get an aquarium and everything. I got a great deal on a kit that comes with everything. I was so stoked. I went home all ready to set it up and then I realized (through poor planning and what not) that I had no where to put the damn thing. It was just a disaster. I have to get an actual fish tank stand. I went back to PetCo on Sunday and the stand that was for sale was like aprx. 55 dollars. Are you effing kidding me? I'm totally not paying that much for a fish tank stand. It was redick. So----I looked on Craigslist to find a stand---all of them were already taken. I hate that shit. I hate fucking Craigslist. So I am now owner of a wonderful fish tank, with no water or no fish and especially no fish tank stand.

It's never a good idea to watch a scary movie by yourself. It really never is. I thought it would be a good idea to rent "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" by myself on Sunday night. Why why why? Would I do something so stupid. It was a scary movie with scary and suspenseful parts that are not safe to watch alone. It did though, spawn an interest in ghosts and demonic posession that lasted for the following morning when I spent a while looking on the internet for as many papers about being posessed and all the different demons in the world. Quite fascinating in my opinion.

I was quoted in Newsweek! Look in the main box where they summarize the letters from the article about Pluto last week---mine is the last quote, something like, --One ruefully stated, "I'd much rather have nine pizzas". While it doesn't quote my name nor include my entire letter which you can read below----I still got a shoutout!

My letter to Newsweek:

Dear Newsweek,

As a former student and outer-space-obsessed kid, the demotion of Pluto has put me into a frenzy. To most people, I'm sure it doesn't matter too much. But so much of my childhood rested upon the existence of this planet! What about the mnemonic device? My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas! What is she going to serve now? Nachos? I'd much rather have nine pizzas. What about all the textbooks? Furthermore, if they are going claim it's not a planet----why then are they calling it a "dwarf planet"? At least give it the courtesy of a cool name. I can't wait until 2015 when the satellite photos come back with amazing shots of the little guy. Pluto---you are still a planet in my book. :)

Last night was the Skins game. I've been doing a lot of football watching these days but I'm certain now that I will attempt to watch every Redskins game this season in a bar----most likely with Jess. Yesterday after work, I raced home, put on some running clothes, ran in Central Park for a while, and then raced home to shower and change, just in time to bolt out the door to meet Jess in midtown at some bar where we were going to watch the game. We got coaxed into Turtle Bay by some guy with an army haircut that was standing outside smoking a cig. He was nice, his name was Joe and he bought us drinks. He was shocked we were there to watch football. He himself, was not a sports fan or something. Although he seemed pretty content routing against the Redskins. We quickly acclamated ourselves with the rest of his Marine buddies----Mikey, Steve, and this hot one that I can't remember his name. We even made napkins with the letters "GO SKINS" to hold up and annoy the Viking fans in the bar. Mostly we just sat there are chatted, as usual. The Skins were playing decent. Some good plays. The 4Q was just a disaster. I don't really want to talk about it any more.

Going out to dinner with Matty tonight! I'm really excited about it. I haven't seen him in forever!

Love,
Lauren

Nano and Little Miss Sunshine

First all of you should be proud of me. I ate leftovers from my fridge last night. If there is something you should know about me, it's that I have a problem wasting food in my fridge. I am notorious for getting take out (practically every day) and then having some left over, putting it in my fridge and then forgetting about it completely, watching it rot and then having to throw it away because of the stench. Many of you may be surprised at this personality trait. I have to tell you something though. It's not that I'm TRYING to waste food. It's just that I forget about it and then just happens right before my eyes. Well, you know how I mentioned yesterday that I went to Blockheads? Well---I had some left over chicken, rice and beans and....

I ATE THEM FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT!!!!

I was one of the few times I've actually followed through with this leftover thing. It was quite liberating. I did enjoy the savory flavor a day later. Jess, you were right, they were yummy. :)

Ok, now for the juicy stuff. Well, it's really not juicy at all in the traditional sense, but this has been an ongoing story line for the past few days and I feel the need to wrap things up today. I went to the Apple store during an extended lunch hour I took yesterday. And if by "extended lunch hour" I mean, I took a walk to the Apple store b/c we don't get a lunch hour. Anyway, with my hopes and dreams of the possibility of my iPod being saved, I walked down the spiral stairs and over to the "iPod bar" or whatever the fuck it's called. I walked up to one of those ladies with an iPod name tag around her neck and asked her about my iPod.

SL: Hi, my iPod has been acting pretty strange and I was wondering if you could fix it?
IPL (iPod Lady): Well, what seems to be the problem?
SL: Well, yesterday my iPod started to get really hot, like burning hot, I could barely hold it and then it wouldn't charge and the screen went all black when I went to try and plug it in. Oh also, my computer wouldn't recognize it in iTunes.
IPL: ...how long ago did you purchase it?
SL: About 2 years ago. January of 2005.
IPL: Well, did you buy extended warranty? (she actually used some Apple euphimism for this said warranty that I didn't understand)
SL: No.
IPL. Well, you are going to have to make a reservation to see a specialist. Let's look at the computer.
SL: Well I have to go to work, isn't there any way you can look at it? I mean, I just want to know if it is really broken or if I can get it repaired.
IPL: Ok, let me take a quick look.
SL: Thanks a lot.

***comes back 3 minutes later***

IPL: Well---your hard drive is pretty much fried.
SL: So it's broken? Can you fix it?
IPL: It will cost you $250 bucks.
SL: Guess I'm getting a nano. Thanks a lot.

So----I stood in line, got my cute new black nano and went on my way. :)

I went home and played with my new toy and ate my leftovers. I still can't figure out how to get playlists on my iPod. I had a bunch on my old one, but I really don't know how to transfer the old ones onto my new nano. Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance.

Jess called me at like 8:30 and said she was still in the city and wanted to go see a movie. So---of course, we did. We decided on "Little Miss Sunshine". It was soooooooooo incredibly good! It really was. I'm pretty bad at writing movie reviews, but the acting is great. It's completely believeable and touching. I loved it and so glad I got to see it before it left theatres!

It was late when I got home, and so I passed out.

It was really hard to wake up this morning.

Again, let me please reiterate how bitchy and obnoxious some of the girls in my office are?! it's like---I really wouldn't be friends with them in college or high school. They all have this sense of entitlement and are so snobby. They are really fake and it makes me want to puke all over myself. The problem is that in the office the managers play favorites. The managers love those girls. It's like the more normal and nice you are, the less chance you have that the managers like you. It's so annoying. It think it has to do a lot with the business I'm in and the type of people it attracts. Thankfully, I am not one of those fake mean girls.

Love,
Lauren

P.S But the boys are cute. :)

Fire Engine Red and iPods

So---last night was my final painting endeavor, at least for my bathroom. My "Licorice Stick" red Behr paint was ready to be spread all over the walls. It looks really good I think. Is it a professional job? Absolutely not, but it looks great and this weekend my bathroom is getting a makeover and it's going to look the bomb. I can't wait until it's remodeled. And keep in mind that when I say remodeled, I mean, that I went to the Container Store and got some stuff for it to make it look cute and Lauren-esque.

I was going to go straight home and paint my bathroom but LB emailed me like right as I was leaving and asked if I wanted to go to kate's for a drink. Also that Katie was going to come. Of course I had to say yes. So----$1 Bud Lights it was for about an hour. Then Katie was hungry, and so was I (crap! I just remembered I had leftovers in the fridge that I was going to eat today for lunch---bummer!) so we went to Blockheads, this amazing burrito place in NYC. I got rice, beans, and chicken---very reminiscant of PR. :)

One thing I'm PISSED off about is my iPod. Right now, it is non-functional. It all started in Puerto Rico on the plane. I took out my iPod and it didn't turn on at all. It was weird. I deducted that it must have been left on for a while and then eventually died. Though now I think that was not the case. When LB, Katie and I were at Kate's yesterday I pulled out my iPod to find out the name of a Red Hot Chili Peppers Album---it was "By the Way" BTW..... and my iPod was SO HOT. Like I could barely hold it. And to top it off, it wouldn't turn on and it was dead. WTF----I still had hope that it would work. When I eventually got home, I plugged it into the wall to charge it and the little apple sign came up after I toggled back and forth on the machine, but then it would go away and would be replaced by the battery sign with the lightening bolt. But it didn't move back and forth like it was charging. Then it would go away. I hate hate it right now. If it is broken, which I'm going to find out today when I go to the Apple store, I not only have to buy a new camera, but a new fucking iPod. Why?! Why?! I really can't hang with all this broken/stolen technology.

Sorry for my venting.

At least my bathroom is a cool color.
I think I need to buy a cute plant/flower for my desk. It is a sad desk. I still haven't fully decorated. My day sucks.

Wish me luck at the Apple store.

Love,
Lauren

Paint and other Mistakes

So last night, as it was raining out I walked home. I usually walk home in the rain. Mostly because I always have an umbrella and also because I like walking in the city in the rain. My clothes aren't usually that ruined, except that one time when it was a hurricane and my gray pants (the ones I'm wearing today) were completely saturated in water and subsequentially extremely disgusting. Anyway...as I was walking, an idea popped into my head. I wanted to paint my bathroom. See, I've been wanting to paint my bathroom for a while now, it was just a matter of time until I actually buckled down and actually DID. I thought that now was a good a time as ever, so I stopped in Home Depot and headed down to the paint department.

For those of you that know me, know that I'm not a white paint kind of girl. When I lived in Philly with Kim I painted one of our living room walls this really pretty blue. I decided that I want to paint my bathroom red. Not pink, not ugly burnt sienna or brick red---but red: apple red. I told the guy at home depot this and he said that I need a primer. I've technically never used a primer before. When I painted the wall in Philly with Mark we just straight up started to paint blue all over the wall. And it worked just fine. So----I was shocked/annoyed that I would have to use some sort of primer for the bathroom. Luckily, there isn't a lot of actual paintable wall space in my bathroom, just above the bathtub wall, over the tiled area and then over the sink and in the window ledge thingie where all the pigeons like to congregate outside. I thought this whole thing would be an easy task. Of course I was wrong.

I headed in to start taping all the places I could reach. I really couldn't reach the ceiling area so I just decieded that I'd "be careful" when I was painting the edges up there. "Being careful" is much easier said than done. It also was complicated by the fact that I had to stand on my tippie toes on the edge of the slippery bathtup to even remotely reach the upper echelons of the wall. It was a bit of a disaster. Needless to say, that part doesn't look very good. So, I bring a chair in and paint with the mini-roller all around in the areas I can reach and that I can actually do with the roller as opposed to the brush. Then I use the brush and try and get all the edges and not get paint on anything I'm not supposed to, etc. That worked pretty well. I decided I wanted to paint the pole where my christmas lights are in my bathroom as well. That didn't turn out as well as I'd have liked cause there are parts where I just physically can't reach and it's just going to have to be OK, because I can't do jack shit about it. Also---the christmas lights burned out and I don't know where I'm going to get more before the xmas season actually starts.

The primer is like a dark salmon color. I've decided that I HATE the dark salmon color. It repulses me to go into the bathroom right now. However, the real bathroom paint is awesome red and I can't wait to paint with that. I am thinking about doing it today although the thought of doing everything I did yesterday again today gives me a stress headache. Partly b/c I it was a strain on my reaching capacity and also because I am remembering the smell of the paint causing the headache. Anyway----it was a mini SimplyLauren adventure that I'd thought I'd share with you.

So let's review:
1. Painting as an idea is great.
2. Actual painting is horrid.
3. Needing a primer is stupid.
4. Painting the top edges is very hard and for losers.
5. It's ok if you get paint on the ceiling, it means your room has character.
6. Paint stinks.
7. Be careful standing on the toliet when painting the upper edges of the wall.
8. Don't paint alone, you could die.
9. Salmon is an ugly color.
10. Christmas lights are hard to find out of season.

I'm sure there will be more adventures tomorrow in dealing with this new bathroom endeavor. If anyone wants to come over and help a poor girl out---I'd be much obliged to feed you dinner.

Love,

Lauren

P.S I'm reading a really great book at the moment, "Running with Scissors". You should read it. I highly recommend it. :)

Aventuras en Puerto Rico

Ah, there really is so much to write about. I'm probably not going to be able to post this until the afternoon the way this is going...busy already. It's totally annoying in my opinion. I guess it makes the day go faster, but honestly, I'm a good multitasker, but Christ!

Ok, so, let's start the rundown of my amazing long and relaxing weekend------

Jess spent the night on Thursday night since we had to wake up at the crack of dawn on Friday morning to get to Newark airport. It was totally annoying that we were flying out of there, but it actually turned out not to be that bad. The traveling part wasn't that bad----it was what was happening during the traveling part that was stressing me out---the effing Action Plans were coming back to haunt me. I get this text message from Ron at like midnight on Thursday night. I was already asleep, anticipating my early wake up. I start to stress out immediately upon receiving the text message from Ron about getting everything taken care of as far as the lost aformentioned action plans.

Pretty much, Jose took care of everything: I love Jose for doing that. Thanks dude. :)

The plane ride was long and boring. The food was horrific---shocking. I tried to sleep but it was hard and I'm usually really good at sleeping in random places. We land, the weather is beautiful and we are really excited to get right to the beach. We call the hotel, ask if we can check in early and they say OK. Then we drop off our stuff, put on our bikini's and walk over to the beach. One scary thing is that we see this HUGE dark clouds hovering over our hotel, like it's about to burst open any second. We set up our towels and lay back totally relaxed. Then it started to rain. Like these large-ish drops started to fall. Not a lot of them, but some, enough for us to notice. No one moved. No one got under an umbrella or anything. So we decided it was going to let up and that we could still lay there. We did. The sun was still bright and it was still hot though it was doing this weird drizzling thing----then it stopped after like 20 minutes. Jess and I layed there for the remainer of the useable sunlight and then headed back to our hotel to shower and get ready to pig out for the evening.

We had picked out a few possible restaurants in Condado to eat at and we were excited to go on a little adventure. We went downstairs and asked the lady at the hotel desk how to get there. She said we could take a cab. We asked her if we could walk. She gave us a definitive "No". As we were walking away, I bet that we could walk and that sometimes locals tell you you have to drive or take a cab, but really you can physically walk to the destination.

Me: I wonder if we actually can walk there---I bet we can.
Jess: If only that hotel lady could see us now, she'd be like..."Stupid gringas! I told you that you couldn't walk there!"
Me: *laughing*

After walking like for about 15 minutes, we realize that it doesn't seem like we are getting anywhere really cool. So we walk into a gas station to ask the attendant for directions. He thought we were in a car and gave us directions to Condado that way. Of course, I didn't realize he gave us driving directions until we started walking and then right when we turned left where he told us---it was the entrance onto the highway. Anyway----of course we kept walking. Then, we stopped in a 7-11. Yes, they have 7-11 there. It's like America but with Spanish signs everywhere. Yeah, just like America.

Inside the 7-11 we were hoping to find a map to look to see how far it actually is. This nice man gives us instructions on how to take a bus to Viejo San Juan. Oh yeah, we decided that it was too confusing to get to Condado without taking a cab and we wanted to save money so we just thought it would be easier to get to Viejo San Juan. And when I say "thought it would be easier" I mean that Jackie told me it would be easier. It costs 75 cents to ride the bus or "tres pesetas" in PuertoRican. We hopped on the bus, an adventure unto itself. We were standing in the crowded bus and it was fine. We really only knew that we were supposed to get off at the last stop which was the bus station in the middle of old san juan. That was easy though. It's much easier to say, "stay on until the last stop" then try and explain where some random bus stop is in the middle of PR. So---eventually a seat opened up but I let this other woman sit there. An older woman was sitting by the window. The younger woman that I had let sit down looks at me and in spanish sign language says that the old lady smells to badly and she has to get up. I didn't want to sit down then. At the next stop the smelly old lady gets off. Both seats are available. Jess wants to sit down, but I make her sit where the smelly old lady was sitting. The reason I did this was not because I'm a bitch----which is what most of you would think right off the bat, but it was becuase I know that Jessica has the worst sense of smell of any person I've ever met. She literally can't smell. She smells things 20 minutes after I've smelled them and noticed them. So I thought, there is no better seat for Jess than that one right there!

I complained for the rest of the ride how disgusting the bus smelled. In front of us was a homeless and sketchy man that had sand all over him and his toenails were as long as those black women who get tips an inch long on each finger. They were disgusting. I couldn't wait to get off the bus. We we did. It dropped us off at the bus station and then we wandered around trying to find a delicious place to eat. We were starving since we really hadn't eaten anything all day. We didn't want to eat somewhere too trendy, basically a place with mofongo that was delicious. I had never tried it and Jess said it's amazing. Even though she can't smell worth shit, that girl can taste and has good taste in food. We finally found a place and then ordered a butt load of food. We both ordered pollo mofongo and pigged out. I mean pigged out. I ate rice. I ate chicken. I ate beans. I ate maduras. I ate tostonos. I ate everything. It was amazing.

We rolled out of the restaurant and then walked around a but trying to explore Viejo San Juan a bit and then decided that we were exhausted and wanted to head back. We now knew that we had to take a taxi since we had also just found out that the busses stop running in PR at like fucking 9pm. Seriously? 9pm? Get with it people! We found a cab. The driver was so excited about telling us everything about what we were passing and it was cute, but I had a feeling he was going to rip us off. We only got ripped off a little bit. Oh well....no matter how good you are at spanish, you can still get ripped off if you are a tourist. And clearly, we were.

It wouldn't be a vacation in the sun if Lauren didn't get sunburned right? Right. Of course after laying out all day on Saturday I had "forgotten" to put sunscreen on the back part of my legs and butt and like back/shoulder area. It was quite red there---of for the Roster---nothing like at Mata Las Canas, so don't worry. It was a Level 1 Lauren burn, thought still quite painful and annoying. On the beach we met Ben, a guy from Staten Island but born and raised in Brooklyn, he bought us beach chairs and I hung out with him in the water for a while. He seemed pretty nice. So let's talk about Ben a little bit. I want you to get the whole experience of his persona. He was not THAT cute, he had a bad haircut but he did have a nice smile. When I saw him on the beach he was wearing dark shades. I didn't think anything of it at the time because you know----everyone was wearing dark sunglasses and we were at the beach. Commonplace for sure. We left and headed back to the hotel to change and go for a walk.

Jess and I were on our way for a snack. Then I hear someone yelling----it was Ben across the street. He was yelling Jessica's name. It was strange b/c I was the one that talked to him for 20 minutes. He never even met Jess. So---then, he told us that he'd call us to let us know where they'd be going and to see if we wanted to meet up with them later. We said cool and that we were going to go out to dinner and that it was a fine idea. We walked along the main drag in Isla Verde and stopped in for Ice cream at this cute place. We found a nice table outside and sat down to eat our gelati. All of a sudden, this guy walks by and grabs my purse from on top of the table, just like that! I'm like "hell no!" So I get up, throw some chairs down and immediately start to run after him. In my purse is my wallet: with all my identification, credit cards and cash. Also, some lipgloss and my digital camera. I start screaming and cussing at him in Spanish hoping he'll stop and return the purse in fear of my bantering. He does get flustered though and drops my wallet and lip gloss. These guys were nice enough to pick it up and return those to me once I reached the area where he escaped from. The police were called and at the time I'd forgotten that my camera was even in the purse, so I thought I made out without anything missing-----it wasn't until after the police left and also we were halway back to the hotel that I remembered. It kind of put a damper on my night. But I bounced back. Luckily I had only taken a few pictures, cute ones, but only a few. I also had everything that was on there already uploaded on my computer, so no previous pictures were lost. Pretty much the only thing that was lost was my actual physical camera, which is 100% replacable. So, if you think about it, it was the best circumstance possible. I made the good decision to not bring my cell phone when we went out that evening---so that too, was not lost.

We meandered back to the hotel and I called my dad and told him, he told me it could have been much worse. I had already known that cause Jess and I played this little game called, "What horrible things could have happened if my wallet too was stolen". Awful things were brainstormed and so I was happy it was just my camera. We were at this point, starving. We took showers, cause we didn't before and got ready to go out to Metropol. This place that Jackie had recommended along with every one of the guidebooks we had with us.

Ah---Ben had called us like he said he would. I could NOT understand his message and it was like---all staticky and horrible to listen to. I called him back and said that we were just going to out to dinner and then see if we can meet up with him later on or something.

At Metropol I ordered this smoked chicken with rice and beans and this rum drink. Jess ordered like the equivalent of pulled pork it seemed but it was beef instead. My chicked tasted EXACTLY like ham. It was kind of gross. I pigged out on the rice and beans and the plantains instead. It was relatively disappointing, but not totally a bust.

Jess and I went and had a drink at Lupis, this bar on the main strip and had a beer. We were both really full from dinner, even though the food from Metropol wasn't that great. We were still full somehow. I know Jess was b/c even if jess is about to barf, she will still finish her food and keep eating if she likes the food. I, on the other hand, can't eat when I'm full. Giving myself a stomachache is NOT my idea of a good time. :)

Anyway, Ben was like---my friend's running late---why don't you all come up to my place for a drink, some people are here and then we can all pile into the cars together to go out to this bar. OK----sure whateve.r But we weren't done with our drinks yet. We finished up and then called him back----no answer. Then----we see him walking along the street.

BEN IS WEARING AN EYE PATCH. Like a pirate one.

Yes, I started to snicker, in the usual Lauren-laughs-at-others'-diabilities style. I thought it was a joke. Jess and I were laughing the entire time about it. I was like, um.."what's up with the eye patch". He tells us that "he'll tell us later." Of course we are relentless about it and keep asking him. We ride in this car to this bar called Bamboobei. It was so cool. Right on the beach and the decor was just really cool. Ben bought us drinks. The people we were with were also really nice and cool. Then Jess and I kept asking Ben about his fucking eye patch. He said that we could each have three guesses to why he had it and if we got it, he would tell us we were right. If we DIDN'T guess in 6 tries we had to buy in a drink. It was not a fair trade. So we guessed that he had a scratched cornea. And then we guessed he had a lazy eye. Both were wrong. We were intrigued. The game got boring after a while. We didn't want to buy him a drink. Then he went and ordered shots because the bar, which was not crowded AT ALL had run out of ice and beer and I think most types of alcohol. Not sure EXACTLy how this happens, but it was annoying. Ben ordered shots, I made a request for him to not order tequilla. So what does he order instead?

151.

Who the FUCK does shots of 151 unless you are at a college frat party with nothing left to drink?!? I was like..there is no way I'm doing that shot. I immediately saw right into Ben's mind. He wasted money on the premise of being a jackass and trying to be funny. First, no one actually LIKES 151. It tastes like oil and burning rubbing alcohol. There isn't going to be one person who's like, "Oh yes! I LOVE 151! I can't wait to feel the sensation down my throat." So---He did it to be like a dick since I said I didn't want tequilla, he got the most disgusting shot possible. I then officially didn't like Ben and thought him to be a total TOOLbag, as if the eyepatch didn't set it off for me. We left soon after thankfully. Miguel, the driver drove us back to our hotel. Ben, the douchbag, the entire way was like----obsessing over Jess. Oh, by the way, he had left a message on my cellphone being like "I love Jessica. I think she's totally cute." Anyway, he was saying how beautiful she was and how he wanted to touch her hair. Needless to say, we were both excited to exit the car. Ben, you suck.

Sunday morning was a lazy one. Since I was so sunburned, the idea of going onto the beach and laying around in the hard sand---and having it rub all over my lobster legs and ass, we opted for the pool instead. We got towels from downstairs and then layed out ALL day. It was really hot on Sunday. I kept having to get up and jump in the pool. It was easy for me to lay out on my back and get a tan instead uncomfortably twisting around on my towel in the sand if we were at the beach. The pool was perfect. In the middle of our tanning/swimming this like DJ/singer came out and played pop music and sang. It was great! I also found $5 on the floor.

That night we were going to eat at this place with a MILLION kinds of mofongo. But as soon as we got ready and showered and ready to go out---it started to rain. Jess can't deal with the rain. Mostly b/c of her hair. See I don't have ANY problems with frizz or anything----but she did. So, we ordered in. It was GREAT and very delicious. We were going to go out to a casino/pub after dinner though as we were dressed and everything. But there was one problem...I PASSED the FUCK out on the bed after dinner. I woke up at like 11:30 and Jess was in her PJ's I guess we weren't going out. I think it was a semi-wise decision though considering how hard it was for us to get up without having gone out drinking the night before.

The Monday early wake up call came much to soon. I did NOT want to get out of bed. My hair was still braided from the night before and looked like shit. Plus, it was just DAMN early. It was dark and pouring outside. We went downstairs, got in a cab and headed off to the airport. I was passed out/delirious the entire flight and waiting time so I don't remember much at all. I remember landing and getting to NY, where it was nice. Jess and I took AirTrain back into the city and then I went home. I ate a delicious bagel sandwich from H&H and then took the most killer nap ever. I woke up, read some of this book I bought to read on the beach, though I never did. Then, I went to bed eventually. I honestly can't remember much else. Oh, I think I cleaned. It was a great ending to an amazing and relaxing vacation weekend. :)

Love,
Lauren