Bobby Van's and Sleep

Yesterday was my first day at my new desk. I spent a fair amount of time re-arranging and everything. My desk looks cool----it's really cute and has lot so fun stuff on it. Does that even surprise you? I like that I can stare at myself out of the window when it gets darker b/c then it acts like a mirror and you know about my vanity problem. (read: my staring at every reflective surface problem)

I had some quality time with my girl Bridget last night when we went to Bobby Van's to have a drink (or two). It'd been a while since we caught up. The last time was before she went to Rome and sat down with her and went through all the places that she had to see while she was there. We were in high need of a get-together. Anyway---when we first got there, it was really packed, but slowly as most people end their happy hour excursions, we just stayed and eventually got a seat. We chatted about everything. I have a full knowledge of what's going on with her and that's always nice. I'm giving her a shout out even though she doesn't even know I have a bloggy.

Speaking of blogs, CK is doing a HW assignment on blogs. She has to layout a magazine page for one of her classes and she's doing her part on blogging. I have to answer some of her questions about blogging and how I started, etc. If any of you have insight---feel free. I'm probably going to try and get it out to her today though since it's relatively time sensitive.

MLW is getting into full swing. Jackie and I are working away at planning everything and getting everything organized for our bomb staff.

The reason that this is titled "sleep" is b/c I went to be at like 9:15 last night. Jake called and I was already in my like 2nd REM cycle. Sorry buddy.

SHOUT OUT'S:

Chris Druhan: You RULE dude. I'm psyched about my adult readership and that you totally like barly rissoto. One day I'll actually make it. I want to try it again with the right kind of barley. I hope I can see you this summer and you can feed me and let me hang out in your backyard. Word. :)

Amos & Liz: I'm sorry I've been out of touch. I got the adorable announcement card and I promise I'll write you an email soon. How is Kate?

Kimmy: Again, I'm such a delinquent when it comes to keeping in touch sometimes. A lot has been going on. I swear I'm writing to you soon. I'm excited for you to come to NYC.

Courtney: I'm boosted we are sitting near each other now. More fun for everyone!

Jess: Let's hang out this weekend dude? Movie or something? Poss a matinee? Jake is coming up for this camp thing and going out I think on UES----you should come! I think LB and Beth want to. :)

Becca: How are you? What weekend are you coming up with the boy? Sorry i'm the worst correspondent ever. Love you.

I'm out! Have a great day everyone!

Love,
Lauren

Mouse Story and Randomness

Mouse Story (second hand from my sister): I talked to her around lunch time today and she was saying that she has mice (it must be a sister thing)** in her garage. She was cleaning up some of the poop. Which by the way, is revolting. Mouse poop is repulsive and also like so pervasive. SHe noticed that on this one bookshelf there was a pile of poop and then shredded paper. I think she was keeping some books outside on a shelf. Although I'm not really sure if that's true because why would you keep books on a shelf in the garage? But I possibly could have not heard the garage part right. OK, anyway---she got really annoyed that one of her books had been chewed up. She looked to see which one it was and guess what book the little guy ate up?

Stuart Little.

Classic right? I love cute stories like that.

Last night was great! LB, Beth and I decided to hang out (shocker) and I decided that I was going to make dinner for them at 238. I brought pasta and pesto and a greek salad. Lindsay bought vino and Beth, the bread. It was delicious. We ate outside on the patio b/c it was so glorious outside. Molly came over, she's moving out soon, which is really

Bora Story: Bora has a quarter collection that my dad helped him start. He found the South Carolina one and he kept yelling-- "Mom, it's the one with the Lehman Brothers on it! Come and look!". My sister looked at the coin and saw two guys standing next to a bi-plane. He meant the Wright Brothers. He's so cute!

Stupid A-Hole President Bush is landing his stupid helicoper in Central Park and there are all these street closures. How come he has to inconvienence everyone? You know---with his helicopters, his bad policies, etc. Go away!

I have softball tonight. We are going to get crushed. I'll write about the smack down tomorrow I promise. It's really annoying how Coly signed us up for this uber intense league and we uber suck.

I also have to move desks this afternoon. It's annoying.

But---I'l off.

Love,
Lauren

Barley and Wine

Last night, Jess came over for dinner. We had a blast. I was making Barley Risotto with Asparagus and Parmesan that I got out of the May issue of Real Simple. I was really excited. I picked up all the ingredients from the magazine.

Dear Real Simple,

I was so excited to make your recipe for Barley Risotto on page 310 of the May issue. I invited my friends over for dinner and we made it together. I bought all the ingredients for the recipe and planned on serving dinner around 7:30 pm. I was horrified when after an hour we had only added half a cup of the chicken broth. Basically, it's been 3 and a half hours since we started cooking this recipe and we are resigned to eating a flavorful, but very crunchy, version of your risotto. Please note: there are two types of barley, hulled and pearl. Hulled barley pretty much never cooks, and pearl barley is what was needed for this recipe. There was nothing "real simple" about this recipe at all. Next time you suggest a recipe with barley, please be sure to specify what type of barley is required to make this a 45 minute recipe and not an all night endeavor. I love your magazine! But you have to make you idiot proof it for your readers!

xo, SimplyLauren, NYC
------------------------------
We drank bunches of wine and had a blast.

I woke up this morning to my alarm. I thought it was Saturday.

Love,
Lauren

Costa Rica and April Updates

It's just sad how bad I've been about posting. I have such good intentions but they never materialize. It's kind of like when you get an email from someone and have all intention of writing back to them right away and you sort of compose an email in your head about what you are planning on writing back to them---so much so that you actually believe that you wrote them an actual email. You act all surprised when they are pissed at your for not writing back and you stand there an insist that you did----you can even tell them specific points that you mentioned in your very real email to them. But this is clearly besides the point.

I guess I should highlight a little of my vacation for all of you since there are a few comments asking about it and plus, it will make me feel better about this being somewhat of an update entry. I think it's going to be more list like---which is whatever----but it gets the job done.

Costa Rica with Jake:

• laying out at the pool every day, remembering to wear sunblock, drinking costa rican beer: Imperial all day long
• having the freshest fruit ever every morning for breakfast, also the fruit juice, the coffee, and "el tipico" the rice and beans breakfast that Jake and I devoured every morning.
• taking a tip in the pool when it would get too hot to stand in the chairs
• eating the fries from the bar, or some other delicious sandwich from there
• talking with Ronni---the cool bartender/waiter
• talking walks on the beach, drinking beers at the beach bar at sunset
• going sailing on the catamaran, snorkeling and seeing cool fish, swimming and jumping off the boat, eating delicious food, drinking yummy beers, and watching the sunset
• watching Jake fall when he tried to get back on the boat
• the live music at our hotel a lot of nights
• going surfing: getting a black eye from getting hit from a board, standing up, actually being decent at surfing, watching the intense waves at tamarindo, eating the delicious fresh seafood.**
• getting burned a little bit---ugh, i couldn't reapply when I was surfing
• Ginger restaurant---the yummy tapas
• meeting Joe and Kate from MN---having dinner with them up at Finnesterra and surfing with Joe
• reading a lot of great books
• waking up to a rooster, hearing howler monkeys, seeing little lizards all over, seeing an iguana walk across the road, also seeing a dead ant eater on the road
• being and relaxing with Jake the WHOLE time and not getting sick of him!

**the same delicious seafood that gave both me and Jake the runs at the end of the week. Nice huh?

Anyway, it was a fantastic trip and I'm super glad I went. I heart vacation.

Ever since, work has pretty much been a whirlwind, which was nice b/c it kept me not focused on the fact that I wasn't in Costa Rica anymore---but also b/c I was getting some nice overtime, since I spent so much money on CR anyway!

The first game of the EMS softball league starts on Thursday. I'm pretty boosted about it although I think the league is pretty competitive. I think we'll be ok. I guess the first game will be a test. Whatever, I'm just there to have fun. I have to break in my new mitt. The one I was borrowing from Becca I had to give back to her b/c she was playing in a league in the fall.

My GRE class was cancelled because the a$$holes from ETS decided NOT to change the exam in the fall. I had to register for a new class, which isn't that bad and I'm just being whiney and stuff---typical.

So there is a whole bunch of drama right now with Leah---at first I wasn't going to write about it on here, but it's just a real pain in the ass and also----I don't think she even reads this blog. Besides, even if she did---I don't care. It's a public blog and anyone they want can read it. It's just really hard b/c I think what she did (write me a really mean, hurtful and judgemental email) will really impact the dynamic of our group of friends, but more importantly, us. Not sure how much she actually realizes this. I'm inclined to say that she didn't realize this, or if she did, she didn't care. I don't know. It's a shitty shitty situation that I don't even really want to be a part of---but I was sucked in by the power of pressing send. You know what? I'm going to put this on the backburner right now, I can't deal with any more issues. "Peace" I love it Lindsay.

I haven't caught any mice recently, which is clearly a good thing...but also Ollie died. It's just BC left, he's a trooper. I think I might wait until this weekend when Jake comes to visit----he wants to help me pick out a new fish. I think that might be a cute romantic thing we can do together when he's in town. I still need to figure out what the hell I'm doing with him this weekend. All in due time I suppose.

Jackie and I are starting to flesh out our theme for the summer and all the different ways it's going to be incorporated into the summer, the schedule, the staff, etc. Very exciting. One of the most fun parts of directing. I also just found out that Mary Alex is going to be onsite! This is very exciting news!!!

I'm getting pretty sick of this cold weather. It's royally vexing me and I'm absolutely ready for real spring, not this winter bull shit. Although---I think the people tend to forget how cold and relatively miserable April usually is. Hurry up May! Bring us flowers!

Alright, I should really get back to work.

Love,

Lauren