Fumigation and Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! Boo!

My co-workers say that I have to slow down and that I over committ to things. This is 100% true. I wear myself down and then I get sick. Blah blah...well I'm going to try and not do that anymore. It's a new years resolution even though it's only almost November. We'll see---it's supposed to be healthier. I'm working on it. Any suggestions?

After work yesterday I went back over to 238 and changed my clothes. Then I headed uptown to Bed Bath and Beyond to pick up some stuff, including but not limited to a new mattress pad and a new pillow. It's funny that I just wrote "new" in front of those things. Obviously they are new since I'm buying them at BedBath. Anyway, then I continued uptown and went home to drop off the things at my apartment.

For all of you that forgot---my apartment was fumigated yesterday morning. Supposedly it was safe to go back in the apartment that evening. Oh god, I'm getting a headache just thinking about my place right now. I walked in and noticed that my apartment smelled HORRIBLE. Like pure chemicals. Chemicals that were designed to kill---bedbugs, but it felt like I was going to die of asphyxiation. Man---I got out of there as fast an humanly possible. God bless anyone who tried to sleep there last night. I went back to 238 and then LB and I decided that we were going to Kates. Major problem: Devin wasn't working. Devin is my hot fake boyfriend bartender. It was this new bartender LB and I had never seen before----subsequently, her name was Lauren. She was cute...obviously though b/c everyone named Lauren is cute. Got some wings and fries to chow down on and some Bud lights. It was excellent. We were stuffing our faces. We sort of felt like alkies being at the bar on Monday night. Oh well.

I spent the rest of the night watching CSI Miami and talking to Ron about MLW. Which was a bit of a disaster. Anyway---I'm not going to write about that on my blog. There are some things that need to be kept private believe it or not.

Woke up on the downstairs couch before my alarm went off. The new sunlight in the morning threw me off and I thought I was late for work. I was actually early and then got to sleep a bit more even though I wasn't particularly tired at that point.

Tonight is Norwegian class and then going back to my hopefully not smelly apartment to clean things up a bit. We'll see.

Trick or Treat!

Love,
Lauren

Beckham and Craziness

I couldn't really think of a good title for today's entry. It's going to be a crazy one. I must say. I also have to finish the entry that I started on Friday. It will contain lots of other fun things that happened to me on Thursday night. Ok, back to this weekend.

Friday night was the Halloween/Bday for Jackie Party at 238. I'd been looking forward to it all week but like I was really tired on Friday at work and all I could really think about was going home to take a nap before hand. I was also really semi-freaking out about not having a costume. I had been emailing back and forth all day with my friends about what the hell I could be. I finally settled on being a cop because Karen had some cop gear. So I threw it on and like---wore a button down shirt, blud jeans, and some Tims. It was perfect. I also had this kick ass "Special Forces" hat. Anyway---it was a great (free) costume. I am glad that I didn't end up being something lame or cliche, and that I was actually something legit. There were a ton of people at the party. So anyway, there was this really cute/hot guy there---dressed as Beckham (hence the title). His real name isn't Beckham however, it's Jim. I like Jim. He's totally cute. And he's funny and sarcastic and nice---he's like a nice guy with an edge. I love that! So---we were flirting the entire night and totally hanging out. :) Anyway---we exchanged numbers and we talked yesterday! We are going out on Thursday. I know he doesn't read this but I am REALLY REALLY excited. He was flipping great and I hope that we continue to hit it off. Whoo-hoo! Of COURSE I'll keep you updated.

Got home SO late on Friday. Slept in on Saturday and then headed up to my football game around 12:30. It was really nice outside and it was strange b/c they said it was supposed to rain all day. I hopped on the subway and then got out at 145th and Lennox (read: the hood). It was TORRENTIALLY raining. Of course I didn't have an umbrella and I was totally soaked. Tim, et al. finally showed up. Tim had practically recruited his entire family to play for us since all of the guys on our team are flakes. The most annoying thing was that right as it started to stop raining, we realized that the team we were supposed to be playing against, didn't show up. No call, no nothing. We tried to go play in a pick up game in Central Park but because they fields were so wet, CP had closed them. We went to Brother Jimmy's instead. Fun times. Bernadette came too. :)

Oh---must talk more about the party----you know how girls go to the bathroom together? Well, I was in the bathroom with Lago, we were shooting the shit. Then all of a sudden Lago says, "Shit". Then she reaches down into the toliet and pulls out her cell phone that she just PISSED ON. It took all my strength to not laugh. She washes it off with water and then tries to use the hairdryer to dry it off. It totally didn't turn on. She got really sad about it and then started to complaing how it was a new phone, etc. etc. I still thought it was hilarious (sorry Lago). Anyway---thought that was an important tid bit not to leave out.

I babysat for my co-workers nephew after BJ's down in Tribeca. Their apartment is INCREDIBLE. Like, the New York apartments that you dream about living in but in no way can afford. Anyway---babysitting fine. The kid was cute :) So anyway. They put me in a cab home afterwards but there was a lot of traffic all over the city b/c it was Halloween and lots of people were out and about. It took an extra long time to get home. I started to feel sick like around 70th and Amsterdam. It was totally obnoxious. At first I thought I was getting car sick cause sometimes I do in long awful cab rides, but soon I started to realize that I felt like I was going to boot all over the place. So I get home, throw down my stuff and run to the bathroom. I then proceed to throw up like my entire lunch from Brother Jimmy's----pulled pork sandwich and all. It was so nasty and disgusting. I finally was done and then drank some coke and brushed my teeth. I was in bed around 1.

I was supposed to run in the Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff 5 mile run the following morning. Emphasis on the word "supposed" to. I still felt like CRAp when I woke up and there was no way that I could actually run 5 miles in the morning. So---I stayed in bed to recover. It was so annoying, especially since I'd spent a really long time training for the race and everything. I woke up eventually and then began my day long apartment cleaning and organizing and preparation for the exterminator for my fucking bed bugs. That my friends, was a nightmare. Pretty much I packed up my entire apartment. Imagine moving---but then not moving and just keeping everything in the middle of you apartment. It was disatrous. Finally I finished and headed down to 238. It was chill and fun and I got to talk to Molly more about Jim which was great.
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My boss should seriously be on TV. This morning I have this weird red flush on my cheeks. Like, it looks like an allergic reaction or something even though I did nothing different this morning. Anyway---here is our conversation just now.

SL: What do you think is wrong with my face?
Jim: You are having an allergic reaction. You probably are allergic to something.
SL: Well, i didn't eat anything weird or do anything different to my face. It's strange.
Fran (other co-worker): You probably have measles.
SL: I don't. I have an innoculation for that. *grimacing*
Jim: No, it's not measels, she is allergic to something. What's that stuff you need....oh yeah. Benadryl.
SL: They have the non-drowsy kind right?
Jim: Yeah. Maybe you got bitten by something. My face gets like that when I get bit by hornets.
SL: !?!?!?

Have a great day everyone!

Love,
Lauren

Compliance and Softball Party

My crush on Justin at work has not yet subsided. In fact, it grows stronger everytime I hang out with him. He is so adorable and nice and cute and really---great in every way. He works really hard and he's really smart and he's traveled all over the world cause he's an army brat or something. His dad was the pilot for President Reagan, or something. Anyway---I like him and I have a HUGE crush on him but----he's a player. It's cool. I think we'd be better as just friends anyway.

I've decided that this lady I work with is a complete Freak. I mean, I always knew that she was a total loon, but like just the more and more I learn about her the more it makes me realize that face in its entireity.

Last night was the Annual Compliance Meeting. We had to trek all the way over to the other building for it. It was actually not that bad. As a "new twist" by having this interview section at the end. Basically they interviewed this guy that has been with the firm for 40 years. He is also hilarious. It was a great and I think it was the best meeting I'd ever been to at work.

Afterwards the championship softball team headed downtown to SouthWestNY for this like banquet and trophy presentation. The New Jersey championship team ws also there. It was nice. Free booze and free food for a few hours. Good times. Timmy, Tessa, Berny, and Justin and I were mostly hanging out. I was tired around 9:30 honestly and shared a cab home with Motto. I think I went to bed shortly thereafter.

This post sucks. Sorry.

Love,
Lauren

Bed Bugs and Shampoo

Happy Birthday Courtney! You are the bomb!

There is a guy at my office that I don't really know but he sits near me. He must have gotten really messed up this past weekend b/c he has this like huge bandage on his forehead. On Monday it looked like he got stiches from something. Now he looks like cyclops b/c of the imposing bandage right in the center of his forehead.

Work is going to be stressful today, I really can already tell. Bad sign. Bad sign. Actually not so bad as of yet. I'm about to walk into a lunch meeting. It won't be bad.

So here comes the bad news of the day. So---yesterday after I came home from Norwegian class I have a note in my door about a serious extermination my entire building is going to have on Monday the 30th. Two apts. on the top floor have bed bugs. I know---all of you are relulsed. YOu have to know that I don't have any but if they go untreated---i surely will get them. I go to bed every night fearful of getting attacked by the little guys. How annoying. I also want you to know that bedbugs are rampant in NYC right now. If you've been keeping up with the New York Times you will know that there have been several long and serious articles about them and how they in no way reflect the cleanliness of the apartment of anything. They are just everything right now. So----the exterminator gave us a list of everything we have to do to get ready for them next week. Read on....are you kidding me?!

Recommendations:
1. Tenants must vacate their unit for a period not less than four hours.
(this means i'm sleeping at Lindsay's on Sunday night and also probably on Monday night b/c I don't want to die from the fumes leftover from the fumigation)
2. Clothing must be laundered and/or dry clearned befor our arrival.
(what? does this mean only the dirty things? or everything. I'm not rich you know?!)
3. Carpeting and/or throw rugs must be vacuumed prior to our arrival and the vacuum bag disposed of immediately.
(Fine. That's actually the easist thing on the list)
4. Pull furniture (couches, sofas, dressers) away from wall perimeter at least three feet.
(What? This blows. I can't do that. It's going to take me forever.)
5. Empty dresser drawers, closets, and cabinets completely.
(Are you kidding? Where the eff am I going to put all of it once I empty it from everything?)
6. Pack personal items in a box or storage container and place in the center of the room.
(I don't think these people understand that once I move the furniture out and put things in the center of the room---there is oging to be NO room. How is the exterminator going to move around? Clearly this is impossible. And what exactly do they mean by personal items: everything i own? Yikes)
7. Separate mattress and box spring from frame.
(This is also relatively easy but still annoying.)


Nothing else is really new with me. Norwegian class was fun.

Oh actually something is pretty exciting right now. I went to Duane Reade and got new shampoo and now my hair smells amazing. I used Dove shampoo and conditioner and am taking like HUGE wiffs of my hair every five seconds. It's so great.

Ok---I'm actually personally getting bored with this entry. Comments please!

Love,
Lauren

Cold and Diversity

Good morning everyone!

I have a few exciting things to say. The first is that I'm a badass. I just wanted you all to know that. Mostly I'm saying that b/c I'm proud of myself. I've been running a TON---which leads me to the point in explaining the "Cold" part of the title. Last night was the first time where I was kind of cold when I was running. Luckily I only was chilly for the first mile or so. Then I started to warm up and being cold wasn't an issue any longer. I'm running in the 5M Poland Spring Marathon Kickoff on Sunday and I'm trying to get good mileage in after work and (eeek!) in the mornings. Supposedly I'm running in the morning with my friend Laura from work who runs in bunches of marathons. I think it'll be around 5miles tomorrow but who knows. (read: who knows if I'll be able to wake up)

I seriously need to get some winter running gear. Courtney and Kerri said that they would both help me figure out what the hell I needed to buy. I want to be able to run outside for as long as possible in the winter time. I hate treadmills, and I especially hate them when I'm trying to run long distances. I get so bored, even with an iPod and TV. It's just not the same as looking at the ground or the trees and the park outside. Get my drift? Plus, training for races on a treadmill is really not practical since all of the races are outside on real ground and paths, not on a moving belt in a disgusting gym.

Yesterday after work----well right after the market closed, I had to hustle over to our other building in Times Square. And as most of you know already---I HATE Times Square. Anyway, I had a meeting: Diversity Awareness Training. Or something like that. It was actually not bad, but when push comes to shove----I am probably the least likely person to be a candidate for needing Diversity training. I mean, between me growing up in SSMD, going to Blair, TEACHING Diversity at MLW and like----just my general love of HipHop....I am diversity qualified.

I didn't really eat dinner, it's a bad habit I've developed since running extensively after work. Sometimes I make eggs...but like---last night I had a few bites of the pumpking bread that I made for the girls last week.

My chapstick fell into the bathtub as I was putting in my contacts this morning. I hope it doesn't roll down the drain. I didn't feel like reaching in and getting it out.

Oh---I almost FORGOT to tell you something??!?!?!!?

ADRIAN Myspaced me! It's so random. He even told me he reads my blog sometimes. Which I think is awesome. :) Anyway---i was excited. Yeah, Adrian if you are reading this I was excited that you messaged me. :) Hope we can hang out soon!

Ok, work calls!

Love,
Lauren

J Stew and Policy Board

First I want to extend my congratulations to all those appointed positions yesterday at the (very long) Policy Board meeting. Annabelle and Jackie especially b/c they are my GIRLS and are going to rule school in their new positions. Yay! I am in the process of applying to assistant direct SEL, we'll see what happens. I'm excited at the prospect and if I end up working with Jackie---it would be absolutely amazing. :)

Congratulations to Beth who did AMAZING on her LSAT!!! Harvard Law here she comes! Just kidding, I don't think she wants to go there.

It sort of reminds me that I should think about the GRE class that I want to take in the spring so I can get the test out of the way and focus on MLW in the summer and then the actual applications/essays in the fall. Why does time fly. I remember when I thought about starting grad school in 2008 it was like AGES away, but now it seems right around the corner. Funny how that works.

This weekend J Stew came to visit me! It was super fun. She reminded me of all the new slang/Blake words that I have to catch up on in order to keep my Silver Spring street cred. Friday night we went to chinese and it was amazing. Then we rented Kicking and Screaming and watched it with popcorn. It was hilarious. If you haven't seen the movie---then you should walk to the video store and rent it right now or put it in your Netflix queue. Another Will Ferrell favorite.

Saturday morning we woke up relatively early---for me at least, and went to the diner for breakfast. It was so delicious. We got a seat by the window so that we could people watch. Jess is obsessed about how "trendy" people are in NYC, compared to Silver Spring, or DC. I kept telling her it was nothing, but she was pretty insistent. Ah well...then we went home, watched part of "Stick it" because I told her that she would become obsessed with it like me and I was right. We watched the first half and then we took the subway down to Soho to do a little bit of shopping and walking.

Things I bought:
1. cute black pin stripe wool pants from H&M for like $20. Word.
2. cute brown and pink vest from Old Navy
2. HOT new shoes that match my pink and brown vest.

Things Jess bought:
1. cute headband from a street vendor
2. earrings to match her oh-so-cute homecoming dress

Then after all that shopping, we were starting to get hungry for lunch. We were walking more uptown and it wasn't that great of an idea b/c it was getting too businessy and there were less and less cute places to eat. We ate some sandwiches at Lenny's finally b/c we were both about to die of starvation. (exaggeration much?!) Then we WALKED ALL THE WAY FROM UNION SQUARE TO MY HOUSE. For those of you that know where I live---it's not a short jaunt. It was a good long walk. We even took a detour through the park, b/c we were actually more on the west side than Union Square actually is.

We rested. Then we watched the rest of Stick It. And for those of you that care, Jess LOVED it! Then we got pedicures and ate our leftover chinese and watched Harry Potter! Holla'! WE both passed out and woke up early only to pretty much guarantee us missing the train. Good thing I thought to take a cab at the last minute. :)

MLW MEETING:
Long. Brutal. Though very productive. It was really great though b/c we are heading back to Washington College in Chestertown. It's really exciting in my opinion. Dirctors got appointed and all that jazz. :) I ran home and inhaled a pizza my mom made for me, chatted with the rents for a bit and then it was off to NY again. I'm not as tired as I should be this morning.

Running tonight after this crazy meeting I have over at my company's other building. I REALLY don't want to go, but I have to. Then, I may or may not make dinner and then go to bed early.

I gotta run.

Love,
Lauren

Online Banking and PAR-TAY

I was in a FINE mood when I woke up and got here and now I'm in the most pissed off one EVER. Let me explain why. So I got paid this morning. I have direct deposit and everything so it went right into my checking acct. Then what happens is that I go in and move some money into my savings account so I make sure I have money for rent at the end of the month. Something weird happened I guess I pressed the transfer funds button twice or something but like three transfers happened and the way the online system worked was like....there wasn't enough money in checking to transfer that much into savings and so like the accounts (like my inner accounts) kept like overdraft protecting each other until i had no money. Right now if I look at "My Accounts" on the page it says zero. The money I transfered (or didn't mean to transfer on the fucking system that duplicated my fucking transfers) is like sitting in purgatory until tomorrow. I'm 180% annoyed by this. WTF Chase? So, all the money will be in my savings by tomorrow. Which is fine and I'm not losing money or anything but like I wanted money for tonight and now I have to use my credit card and I didn't want to use my credit card for tonights activities with Jess. I'm just SO annoyed. I know that I shouldn't be freaking out that much, but it's the biggest pain in my ass. Like are you kidding me? The accounts can't tell that the tranfers are like inter-account?! And the thing is that they wouldn't let me reverse any of them! The lady on the support line had to. It is the most asinine thing I've ever heard of. Like thousands of dollars just poof! In money limbo until tomorrow or some shit. The ONLY thing I'm worried about is that like----what if a check clears today or something---there is no money so like wtf is going to happen? This is so obnoxious. I can't even tell you. How come shit like this ALWAYS happens to me? I never hear about people having this sorts of fucking up issues with like online banking. I hate today.

I have to try and stop thinking about the whole thing or it's going to ruin everything about everything. Ok, I'm already feeling better. Bounce back Lauren.
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I guess we should talk about the dinner part last night. It was great! I left work a little bit early to scramble and get ready for everything. The menu included:

• Pomegranate Champagne Chillers
• Bruschetta with Homemade Artichoke Dip or Tomato Topping
• Mixed Green Salad with Cucumbers and Grape Tomatos with Fresh Parmesan
• Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Hazelnut Butter
• Homemade Halloween Sugar Cookies
• Mulled Apple Cider

Delicious! All so good and really all the recipes were relatively easy to make, esp. the ravs depite their complex name. :)

We had a great time pigging out and talking. Thanks for coming ladies!

Jess comes tonight! Whoooooop!

TGIF!
Love,
Lauren

Bonus Lists: -guys thanks for letting my plagerize***--start from the bottom and move upwards. cause Jose started it***

Jaxx's LIST
Things I hate:
*Waking up early Friday morning because you didn't stay out late Thursday night even though you had Friday off (loser).
*Cat barf
*Rain and dreariness on your day off - WTF Mother Nature...

Things I love:
*Dunkin Donuts coffeee ("the world runs on dunkin")
*Not working a five-day week in the last month
*Halloween swiftly approaching - (yo voy a ser una pirata!!)
*K Street Lounge (even though my lame SAT-proctoring-ass didn't go last week...)

Charlie's LIST
Things I hate:
* bitch ass non driving-in-the rain mo'fo's who cause accidents and delay my timely arrival to work
* wakin up Friday morning after staying out late Thursday night (word up)
* being invited to a "Biggie/Tupac" party where they don't play any Biggie or Tupac songs
* Black Tom Cassidy

Things I love:
* Jamaican Colors
* A fully employed IC* crew
* K Street Lounge
* Lauren/Jose lists
* IC* hang out sessions
* Ketchup

SimplyLauren's LIST
Things I Hate:
- Wakin up friday morning after staying out late Thursday night (word to that Jose)
- when you are so tired/overworked that you feel like MLW
- when you realize how much your weekend is going to consist of zero rest.
- when homeless people get on the subway and start talking like that crack magazine seller in OfficeSpace and are like, "Good morning. I'm sorry to disturb you. I am homeless and I just am looking for some food and a place to sleep. Any money will help me. Even if it's just a penny. Please help me out. God bless all of you." and then proceeds to shake a cup in the crowded subway.
- raining and cold weather like now

Things I love:
- thinking about Jose driving with a trashbag over his windown like a hooptie.
- the outfit I have on today
- the IC*
- that it's Friday
- the cookies I baked last night

JOSE's LIST
Today, I hate...
- People who dont know how to use the Metro gates
- People who STAND on the LEFT side of the escalator, instead of the right, and make me miss the next train leaving
- People who take up the entire 2 seats of a crowded metro car aisle
- People who smell on a crowded metro car aisle, esp. in the morning when they should still be clean
- People who don't hold elevators
- Wakin up friday morning after staying out late Thursday night
- My car window because it broke in the open position, and I had to drive soaking wet last night, and i had to put trash bags over the window and i looked ghetto

What I love,
The IC.*

*If you don't know what this is. Too bad for you.

Overworking and To-DO

I'm beginning to feel that burnt out feeling today. I'm working too hard on this crazy dinner. Thank god it's tonight!

I feel really bloated this morning b/c of my period. It's totally annoying. It's not like I can't deal with it or anything, but it's an added nuisance to my everyday lifestyle. It's totally obnoxious right now too. Neither of my co-workers are even here yet. Leaving me to man the fort until they get here. Ah, they both are here now. Phew!

Let's go over my To-Do list for today after work:

• pick up pumpkin ravioli and peeled hazelnuts at Citarella
• set table
• finish putting cookies away, organize all dinner foods
• quick last minute shopping
• go to Le Pain Quotidien for bread
• vacuum living room floor
• clean bathroom

Tomorrow Jess Stewart comes to visit! I'm so totally excited! I still haven't figured out what exactly we are going to do or anything but I think it be a wise idea to begin thinking about it. Ok. Lauren stop. Must. concentrate. on. one. thing. at. a. time. As soon as the dinner party is over I will then commence thinking about weekend plans. Tomorrow after the party I will write about the party (of course) and also----give you a weekend update.

Ta-Ta for now!

Love,
Lauren

Sugar Cookies and Good Mood

I'm in a really good mood today. Not really sure why but I am. I think it has something to do with how awesome my life is. I just am at this point right now where everything seems to be falling into place and anyway---things are finally working out.

Again, another really busy day. Work was busy b/c I was doing a ton of different things and afterwork was no exception. I finished up my Norwegian homework and then headed off to class---in the pouring rain. by the time I got to class my pants were soaking wet. Class went well, we started a new chapter, "Familien Min". The chapter about the family. I like talking about the family, it is more interesting than talking about "Huset" (house) b/c my family is more interesting than my house/apt.

I walked to the subway in the pouring rain. Yes, it was STILL raining and it was still totally disgusting outside. I walked home and immediately took off my pants and changed into my baking clothes. I ordered chinese and sat down to watch oceans 11 while I ate. Once I was done----I began the cooking baking extravaganza. It was great! I made TONS of cookies. Pressing and cutting like it was my job. We are going to have PLENTY of cookies for Thursday night. I am going to have to bring some into work on Friday. This again, will hopefully put my in the high ranks with all the hotties that I sit next to. :)

My legs started to hurt a lot from standing and slaving away over the oven all night after a long day of work. I also quickly made some salad dressing before I went to bed. I was REALLY tired. Finally at around midnight, I passed out.
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Since so many people leave comments, I have to begin a comment response section. Just kidding Jess asked a question that I think deserves answering from yesterday's post:

• Did the beaver tail have little bits of debris in it? Yes, but mostly there was just a BUNCH of matted hair and some bobby pins. Why that woman needed bobby pins is beyond me.
• Could you detect an odor? No odor thankfully.
• How much money would I have to offer you to use it as a pillow for a night? A lot of money.
• Would you do it for $700? Ew, but I'd probably have to say yes. $700 would help me out a lot.

So much to do in so little time.

Happy Hump Day!

Love,

Lauren

Commuting and Beavers

So---one thing I've noticed recently is the difference in my commute depending on what time I'm out the door on any given day. I really try and get out the door by 6:40am. This generally enables me to catch the local bus that stops RIGHT outside my apartment. I get on said bus, along with about 5 other people (it's even a double length bus) and then arrive at work at aprox. 7:02 or something. However, if for some reason, I over sleep and I get out the door at 6:45am instead of 5 minutes before...forget about it! I either see the local bus pulling away from my stop or it just is none in sight. I walk down the few blocks where the limited stop is to wait for any bus to stop. The funny thing is that the bus stop is full (unlike my empty local one) and the next bus that comes is a Limited bus. This is fine b/c since I'm running late I like to hop on the limited only to have to walk an additional two blocks to work. But---check this out. Just 5 minutes after my normal leaving work time----the bus is practically full. I mean not 86 crosstown bus during rush hour full, but I had to stand. This is crazy. What is the deal with people commuting hard core at quarter of 7?

I think that there must be some dichotomy between those that leave at 6:40 and those that leave at 6:45 and after. I mean, there just MUST have to be because I have no other way of explaining the tripled amount of people on the street and on the bus. Anyway, it really aggrivates me too b/c the traffic is also worse within this five minute window getting me to work at like 7:15am. It's like a strange New York commuting anomaly.

Next to the word "productive" in the dictionary should be a picture of me. Last night was the perfect example. You know how I was explaining yesterday all the stuff I had on my to-do list from yesterday's post? Well---guess who did practically ALL OF IT? If you are thinking SimplyLauren, then you are RIGHT!!!

After work Courtney invited me to drinks at the Bull and Bear with Tommy G. It was great! I had two, but then they had to go to the Women in Sports dinner and I had to go all the other things on my list. I hopped on the bus home and then went grocery shopping for my dinner party on Thursday. I got practically all the things I needed with the exception of a few that I'll get today or tomorrow. Then, I unpacked and put everything where it needed to be and threw on running clothes and headed out for a 3.5 M run. It was really nice. There was practically no one out and it was a beautiful night. Maybe because it was like 9pm on a Monday. I came home, ran out to get some stuff from Duane Reade. I needed some last minute things for later on that night.

While I was standing in line, which I have to say I hate doing---there was a woman in front of me who looked pretty normal right? Except for one thing: SHE HAD ONE BIG DREADLOCK. IT LOOKED LIKE A BEAVER TAIL. It was horrific. In fact, it was one of the most horrific things I'd ever seen in my life. I was in one of those moods, like a giggly one and I really couldn't stop laughing. I was trying my best not to laugh too loud or too obviously at the woman with the beaver tail for hair, but like---I couldn't help it! Then, a couple got in line after me and were whispering about it and that just set me off even more. I totally couldn't hold it in. I was convulsing in line trying not to drop all the stuff I had in my hands. Anyway, it was so funny/disgusting. You had to be there I guess.

Then I went home and made cookie dough for Halloween cut outs that I'm having for my party. I made a double batch. I even did the dishes!! (A feat in and of itself!) Then, I took a shower b/c I was so disgusting and covered in sweat from my run and also covered in flour and other things cause of baking.

The only thing I didn't do was my Norwegian homework, which I'm going to try and do today at work (shhhh...).

I'm busy today.

Happy Tuesday!

Love,
Lauren

Almost Skins and Surprise

Friday night was nuts. Let me explain why. I am walking home after work, excited to get back to my apartment and relax for a bit. I get a call from Courtney. She tells me that she has four tickets to the Redskins game on Sunday but she can't use them b/c JMan is sick and she can't easily travel down to DC from Philly. I tell her that I wasn't originally planning on going home but that I would seriously reconsider since she had these tickets. She said she would UPS the tix to my parents house. So I frantically called my dad on his cell asking him if that would be OK. It was Stephanie's birthday on Sunday so I thought I could kill two birds with one stone, come home, play games with the fam, play with the nephews and see my sister, and then also go to the Skins game in a box with friends of my choice. It was a perfect situation. I booked my flights down there and I was really excited to go. I asked Alex and Jim if they wanted to go. Along with a slew of other people but most of them couldn't go. (Why don't I have any friends in DC anymore?!)

Friday night I met up with Beth at Jack Russels pub, right by mi casa. It was very convienent. Her co-worker and friend Paula was having a birthday thing after work. She also happens to live in my building---it was really fun. Mostly chillin' and chatting with Bethy. Then, I went home and read and then went to bed early. I was planning on going for a long run on Saturday morning.

When I woke up on Saturday morning, it was really cold. Like, stay in bed, under the covers and read cold. So that's exactly what I did. It was great. I ate breakfast and relaxed. I did a few errands, but I really was mostly doing nothing. I packed for home for the night and then headed uptown to the west side for my Pure Meathead Posse football game. It was def. sketchy up there and when I arrived, Michelle, Coly and Chad were already there. Soon GT came and then we made 5 so we could play. It was rough in the beginning with only 5 on 7, but then the rest of our team showed up and we dominated. We won 34-28 or something like that. It was awesome! Then we stuck around for a while after the game to wait for Justin to finish ref-fing for the game after ours. There was a fight b/t this fat kid and then his older brother who looked like Charlie Sheen came into it to try and break it up. It was quite a sight. The fat kid was apparently throwing elbows if someone from the other team got a touchdown. What an ass.

I had to head home, Michelle, GT and I took the 86 crosstown bus home and I finished up last minute packing and inhaled a slice of pizza before walking back to the subway to catch my flight. On my way my mom called to tell me that the tickets never arrived. I got a bad feeling and I called Courtney. She said she was just about to call me and tell me that she messed up. She said that she gave the wrong UPS number for our work code and that it never even left Philly. I was like really bummed, but I didn't want her to know how bummed I was cause I didn't want her to feel bad about it. She has enough stuff to feel bad about now and so I didn't want to make her feel worse. So---then I had to make a decision. Should I STILL go home, despite no Skins game? I didn't know what to do? I would totally save money if I didn't fly home, but then I was in a really bad mood about it and thought that I might just end up moping around the apt. for the rest of the weekend if I didn't go. So then, my dad said that he thought I should come home anyway b/c everyone would be happy to see me. I took his advice.

I got home and....oh I forgot to mention that it was a surprise, my sister had no idea that I was coming. Cem and my dad came to get me saying that they had to go get sodas. But obviously they were coming to pick me up. They came in first without me and my sister started yelling at Cem asking why he didn't have any soda and why he took 45 minutes to buy nothing. I started to hear her yelling so I came and and surprised her. She was totally shocked. Then I made her apologize to Cem for giving him such a hard time about it. I played and said goodnight to the boys and then I hung out with the grown-ups until pretty late. Sunday morning I had waffles with everyone and then played more. Ate more, played more. I even took a nap. After my sister left my mom and my dad and I drove out to Michael's to get some stuff for my Halloween dinner party. :) I'm super excited about it. It's going to be awesome.

Last night flew home, unpacked, tidied up and passed out. My room is really cooooooold b/c of the air conditioner that I installed poorly in the middle of the summer. A lot of excess air gets in and makes me freezing at night. I think that tonight I'm going to attempt to remove it and then find SOMEWHERE to store it. I also have to bake some cookies and do food shopping for dinner on Thursday. I almost forgot, I have to fun 3.5 miles tonight to be on schedule for training for my race at the end of the month. So much to do and so little time!

Keep in touch!

Love,
Lauren

P.S. Of course, Lil Court just called me and asked if I wanted to come out for drinks with big Court before the Women's sports banquet. Of course I said yes...should be fun to try and pack that in with all the crap I have to do. Wish me luck!

Yagermeister and Photo Hunt

So yesterday was REALLY busy at work. It was good busy, but I was being spread a little thin during the morning, but it all worked out fine in the end. Today not so much.

I've discovered a new obsession: mini muffins. I really really love them. Does anyone remember that episode of FRIENDS where Ross really wants ugly naked guy's apartment and to try and win the apt. he sends him a basket of mini muffins. Anyway, I just thought of that.

Last night I went to HH with Lindsay at Kates---our usual hangout. Devin my hot bartender boyfriend was there. Oh Devin. LB and I sat at the end of the bar, as usual and ordered our usual Bud Lights and wings. We asked for a small wings, half medium and half spicy (for LB of course). Devin brought us back two larges, one medium, one large. Devin was getting off at 6 and sometimes he stays and drinks with his buddies or something and we were hoping we'd do that. He did. Pretty soon we were staring at a Yager shot. And then another. We had started to play PhotoHunt at this point and there was nothing stopping us. It was all downhill from there. PhotoHunt practically kicked us off b/c we were doing so badly. Anyway, we both stumbled back to Lindsay's house and then I got in a cab home.

I chugged a HUGE thing of water and ate some Advil and I was good to go this morning. That trick works miracles. Life is good.

I love Devin. He's going to be my new boyfriend. I just decided that.

Shout outs to Gina, Simon (the other hot bartender with an irish accent, and the cute blonde one I forget your name) for dealing with us the whole night.

Liquor fun fact: Did you know that "Yagermeister" in German, means "Hunt Master"? Well, it does. That fact is courtesy of Jason Miller (holla!).

Love,

Lauren

Rain Running and Mentoring

Yesterday was really busy. Well---it just felt really busy I guess. :)

Work was fine. It was busier than normal but still manageable. But still----nothing exciting to report. There was a plane crash around 2:45 up on the upper east side (where I live). One of the Yankees pitchers died in the crash. He had just learned to fly and obviously made some sort of mistake. Anyway---it was big news over the tape for a while yesterday afternoon.

After work I ran home to change my clothes b/c I was sort of cold and I didn't want to be cold all night. Mostly b/c I had to over to the Upper West side for training for this new mentoring program I'm going to be a part of. That starts next week---like when I get my kid and everything.

***written on Friday***

I decided on Wednesday night that I would go for a run at night even though it was pouring rain and dark outside. Jess convinced me that I should try it. So I did. It was a great run. Althought I was thoroughly soaked when I was through. Anyway, just thought i'd share.

I'm going to go now and write today's post.

Love,
Lauren

Fillings and Norwegian Class

So I woke up EXTRA early this morning. No....not to get to work earlier so I can stare at the cute boys-----it was to go to the dentist to get my last two cavities filled. It was a joyous experience. Actually, I was being sarcastic just then but really it wasn't that bad. At this point I'm used to it. And the sad fact is that I shouldn't be used to getting cavities filled. I have to say that this time was markedly better than the last. I didn't cry. I wasn't shaking. I was not hysterical. In fact, I remained quite calm, if you can imagine me being calm about someone drilling in my precious teeth...

I am sitting at my desk now and half my face is numb. I knew that it would be a bad idea to get these filled so early in the morning. My dentist comes in SO early. My appointment was for 7am.
It's 10am now and I feel like I've gone through so much already this morning...

One MAJOR problem I'm having right now is that I'm starving. I can't really eat anything cause my face is numb and they don't like you to eat so early when you are still all numbed up b/c you might bite your cheek or something. It's very frustrating. I haven't eated a thing and I'm going to die of starvation any minute. This is horrible.

Last night I had Norwegian class. It was great. There are some really great people in the class but then there are some totally annoying people in the class too. I don't like these three girls/women in the class b/c they are like really elitist. I hate people that aren't nice and seem like they are better than everyone else. Ironically enough, they are the three worst people in the class. Not that I'm amazing or anything, but I'm in the middle ground, better than those stupid three. I hate annoying people.

I can't really concentrate much to keep writing b/c I can't deal. My mouth also hurts where they shot me with novacaine. I'm miserable.

Love,

Lauren

SHOUT OUTS:
Mike---got your message. I'll call you back soon I promise. I hope you are well. :)
Bethy/China/Cam: Sorry I didn't come last night. It was a pain. I'll come this weekend to catch up on the episodes I missed.
Derryck: Do you still read this? Sorry I've been MIA.
Susannah: Hey, did you get my msg? Are you reading this still? I hope so. I miss you.

Court and Headaches

I know, I'm out of practice. My title sucks, and already I'm overwhelmed with the amount of things that I have to write about on this thing today! Let's start with the most current and then do backwards, mostly b/c I have the weekend in my memory and the other stuff I have to pull out of the Lauren brain vault and that could take a while.

This morning (being Monday) started off rough I think----my alarm went off and I wanted to die. It was ok though. I hit snooze and then rolled out of bed only to then immediately get dressed, etc. I got to work early and I knew it was going to be a good day. So far, it's been a good but busy day. I'm supposed to meet Edu and Leah somewhere for coffee at some point although not sure it's going to happen b/c Leah is waiting for some other girl to call, etc. Anyway, today is cool. ***

Ok. So the weekend was totally 100% boring. Let me tell you why. On Thursday afternoon I started to get these horrible flash headaches. They would come on really strong, in my left temple and then be unbearable for a few minutes and then all of a sudden go away. This went on all afternoon. I went home early b/c I REALLY wanted to participate in the "Light the Night" Walk with my company. I raised $1,500 for it and I really wanted to go. So, I left early and took a nap and then I went to the walk. I felt fine the whole night until I was going home, then the headaches started up again.

I felt them in the morning and then I went to the doctor. The doctor told me there was a lot of "stimulation" in my brain and that I needed to lay off the stimulants like coffee, alcohol (even though it's a depressant, still) and gum, which often irritates heads or something. So---I decided then that I would take it easy this weekend and not go to Baltimore. Hope you girls had fun though?! I'm sure you did.

**writing on Tuesday***

The weekend was totally relaxing. I did normal dorky Lauren stuff like buy cards at Papyrus, get halloween decorations for my apartment, clean, organize papers, and sit around and watch movies. Oh---I also ate some stuff too. It was a nice weekend at home alone. The only person I saw was Beth and that was for 5 seconds on Sunday when she came over after dinner with Jeff. No big news really. I skipped my football game b/c I wasn't feeling well that morning and I didn't want to get sicker or something or exacerbate my headache. So I just laid around and read instead. Tessa told me yesterday that we won, which is great!

Last week a bunch of stuff happened too. I guess I should totally talk about court and my experience down there.

So---I flew home on Monday night and there were all kinds of flight delays. I was so frustrated, that I pretty much started to cry on the metro platform. My mom came and got me from Silver Spring and we drove home. It was good to be home. I ate a delicious pasta dinner, even though it was really late and then passed out. We left the house at 10:30 the next morning to drive to Westminster, MD----where the hearing was. It was the traffic court, but it was like the serious traffic court, not the place where you go and appeal a ticket, it's more like DUI's and other relatively serious vehicle violations. The lady that helped me after the accident was there, Sherry. We had lunch with her. I was in such a bad mood about this whole thing---I really just wanted to be back in New York at work (if you can imagine).

My case was called---I pretty much had an idea about who Francisco was (the defendant). I saw him and he was with his laywer and a translator (he didn't speak english). He pleaded not guilty. Not only that but in his police statement, he said that I HIT HIM! Can you believe that? Anyway, neither Sherry nor I had to technically testify. The judge found him guilty and then he asked me my opinion about his sentence. His laywer kept talking about how difficult jail would be for him and how it would affect his family, etc. etc... The thing is....I did feel bad for him. He made a BIG mistake and now his poo family has to pay. Actually, I feel bad for his family mostly. So I recomended that he be taken off the road and also that he go to jail. He got both. His license was suspended and also he went to jail, but only on the weekends or something. So---that was that.

We drove back to SSMD and then I took a nap, I was tired. Then my mom made dinner and she dropped me off at the metro. It was great! I got home with no problems except for minor delays. I mean seriously, what would traveling back and forth to MD be without flight delays and major annoying inconvienences!?

Tonight is Norwegian class. I'm FINALLY going to another one! It's going to be totally fine from here on out b/c I have no more conflicts. :) I can't wait for the class so that I can get back on track. Anyway, I'm like 95% finished with my HW for this evening, but I have some time after work to finish up the workbook pages that I didn't do.

Yesterday I signed up for a 5Mile race at the end of the month. I realize that I now have to train for it. I mean, it's not a marathon or anything, but I still have to make sure I'm comfortable with the mileage and that I can finish easily without killing myself. Last night I ran 2.5 miles. Tonight I don't have time to run b/c of the Norwegian class but tomorrow after mentoring, I think I'm going to run on the road---that way I can run outside (which I LOVE doing) and also be where it's light and not sketchy. I think that running at the resovoir is a bit sketchy when it's like pitch black at night, that is the kind of place where people get raped so....no thanks. :)

Ok, I promise I'll get back on the blogging track this week!

Love,
Lauren

***btw---I never did meet up with Leah and Edu. I'm never going to meet the Kenyan suitor am I?!

Sorry Sorry! I know, I know!

I swear I'll post tomorrow---about:
1. court
2. my running aspirations
3. my candy abstention
4. norwegian
5. general SL observations