My Life, As Told Between (Baby Cakes') Naps

Inspired by this word’s use in a NY Times headline, I’m resuming my Word of the Whenever I Feel Like It (“WOTWIFLI”) posts.  Today’s word is sybaritic. 

I love it when headlines use creative and seldomly seen words.  I still have fond memories of seeing onus used in a headline several years ago in the Sports section of the San Jose Mercury News! 

Back from my all too short trip home to SJ.  The office closed early on Friday so I was able to get home by 3:30.  Little Sis had come over earlier in the day and was hanging out with T.  We spent Friday night hanging out, wrapping presents, and not doing much of anything.  

Little Sis and I drove to SJ Saturday morning.  Arrived home around 3pm.  The Parents were glad to see us, although they persisted in asking why T didn’t come with us.  Apparently, the fact that he wanted to spend Christmas with his own family wasn’t good enough.  They reluctantly accepted that he wouldn’t be making a surprise visit – but only on the condition that he visit during Lunar New Year in February.  Presumably they want me there too.

Went for a 7 mile run Sunday morning.  I had meant to do 14 miles but slept in too late.  As is, I still scrambled afterwards to meet up with 3/4ths of the Quad for our annual Christmas gift exchange.  We had lunch at J’s beautiful townhouse (see picture below), decorated cookies, exchanged gifts and caught up on each other’s lives.  (T had noted that my gifts for my Quad friends seemed rather impersonal.  I pointed out that after some 15+ years of friendship and gift-giving, one runs out of personal gift ideas.) 

Did dinner at home with the family, including Little Sis and Littlest Sis’s boyfriends.  I think the Parents were thrilled that their nest was full again.  I should make it a point to visit more often.

Went for the remainder of my 14 mile run Monday morning, dodging ominous looking clouds and praying it wouldn’t rain all the while.  Realized again how great the weather was in LA.  Finished just in time to indulge in the feast Little Sis’s boyfriend prepared for the family (he’s studying to be a chef and the meal was his Christmas gift).  Left for LA Monday night full and happy.   

T:  So my new partner’s dating this 22 year old.

Me:  Really?  How old is he?

T:  30.

Me:  Wow, I can’t even relate to 22 year olds anymore.  I wonder why men are attracted to younger women? 

T:  I’m sure I have no idea.

Me:  No, seriously.  I know they’re pretty to look at and all, but don’t you want someone you can at least talk to?  I just don’t feel like I’d have that much in common with a 22 year old.  I’m in such a different place in life right now than I was then. 

T:  Yes, well, I told him I didn’t know why he would want to date a young, attractive woman when he could . . . [trailing off, look of panic starting to form in his eyes]

Me:  [Laughing]  Gee, I’d love to see where that compliment was going.

T:  Um, you’re beautiful and I love you?

Me:  Yeah, maybe it’s best we just leave it at that. 

T:  Just dodged the bullet there, didn’t I?

Me:  Only cause it’s the holidays Hon, only cause it’s the holidays.

T:  [Makes funny, vaguely insulting comment directed at me.]

Me:  Hey!  [Said in a mildly insulted tone.]

T:  Kidding, kidding!  You know I think you’re beautiful, smart, funny, kind and all around wonderful!

Me:  [Looking at him expectantly.]

T:  What?

Me:  You forgot thin.  You always forget thin.

T:  ——  [Crickets chirping.]

Me:  Hey!

T:  I just don’t think “thin” is necessarily a complement . . .

Me:  You think I’m fat don’t you?

T:  Maybe I’d better stop talking now.

Me:  This is going up on my blog.

Friday: Went with (poor) T to a friend’s (all-girls) cookie decorating party on Friday. (Thanks HB – we had a great time!) Decorated many a cookie. Realized I am a cookie decorating genuis. (See below) Nearly cried when babies were eventually eaten. Happy they were fullfilling their cookie destiny though. I guess.

Saturday: Woke up at 5:45 a.m. to volunteer at a water station for my running group’s 20 mile run. Suffered through four hours of standing in the cold. Felt very proud of martyr-like self. Brunched with some felllow martyrs afterwards. Relatively painless shopping trip. Tea at the Peninsula Hotel. Friends over for wine, cheese, and soak in the spa.

Sunday: Woke up at 6 a.m. for 20 mile make-up run. Beautiful weather, great run. Lunch with T before he headed to work. Headed to another cookie decorating party. Lots of eating, left before the actual cookie decorating. (Very tired.) Wrote post. Going to sleep.

I’m totally egocentric (surprised?) and love online quizzes about myself.  I especially like the results of this latest one, sent to me by Roomie.  It’s a short, fun quiz.  If you want to take it, it’s on this site.  (Click on “Extras.”) 

This is a brillliant idea!  Let me know if you submit anything!

I must have been in a daze the last few months.  Did you all know Christmas was coming?  I didn’t.  T and I innocently ventured out to Target this weekend to buy some household items, not realizing that we would be heading into the heart of Christmas Chaos.  After navigating the masses, we were able to escape with a few items on our list…as well as a cute little table top Christmas tree and miniture penguin ornaments.  Miniture penguin ornaments people!  My head is about to explode from all the cuteness.  

Realized today that I need November back.  Maybe if I had started Christmas shopping then, rather than today, I wouldn’t desparately be trying to convince myself that yes, everyone on my list really wants socks for Christmas.  Sigh.  I hope everyone’s expectations are sufficiently low as far as their gifts are concern.  Although, judging from my previous record of unspectacular gifts, I’m assuming that this won’t be a problem.  =)  

As for the apartment and the move, it’s slowly coming together.  We even had several guests over this weekend who didn’t run away screaming.  Mostly because Roomie was stuffing them full of yummy food.  As for T and I, we’ve unpacked most of our stuff and started serious negotiations about which of our (respective) remaining stuff makes the cut and which of it has to go.  I think I’m winning.  =)    

I’m back! Cruise was great. Gained a zillion pounds. T has taken to “affectionately” calling me Butterball. Yup, that’s right. Butterball. He came up with it on Thanksgiving and justifies it by saying, “But everyone loves a Butterball!” Sigh. My life is sad.

Still settling into my new apartment and new job. With all the traveling and transitions, I feel like I haven’t seen many of you guys in forever though! Let’s do something. Email me!

Sorry, gotta get back to work. No time to write and no internet at home still. More detailed updates to come though. Promise.

Friday was my last day at my old job…although I have a standing offer to come back, so it may not be the last I see of my old firm.  It was a happy sad day.  We had a little office party to mark my departure.  I absolutely love the people at that office.

T and I have been on the road for this week.  We went up to visit my parents in San Jose.  T was a hit.  Then we headed to Fresno to spend some time with his mom, whom I’d already met, and hung out with some of his old high school friends.  I was a hit.  =)  In the meanwhile, Roomie supervised the move to our new place in Marina Del Rey.  We’re heading back to LA tomorrow to spend a few days with R and her boyfriend, who are visiting Roomie and I from DC.  During this time, I need to unpack, drop by my new office to fill in some paperwork (since I had volunteered to do so in order to “hit the ground running” when I actually start in a week and a half), and help T move his stuff in.  Then it’s off to the Caribbeans on Sunday for a 5 night cruise.  I get back the day before I start work.  Emails and post updates will probably be sporadic until I settle down and get my internet all hooked up, but feel free to call and check in occationally! 

Happy Holidays all and hope to see everyone soon!

I have a new job!  I’m nervous, excited and sad.  I gave my two week notice at my current firm on Monday.  It was the most emotionally exhausting and difficult thing I’ve had to do in a long time.  I, who am adamantly not a crier, cried all day Monday as I told people.  I love the people I work with now, particularly my litigation team and can’t help but wonder if I’m making a big mistake.  The move is to a small firm with lower billable requirements.  I hope it’s really a lifestyle change, but I won’t really know until I start working.  It’s a risk – I could work just as hard if not harder than I do now. 

The next few months are bringing a lot of change.  Since I’m changing jobs, and my lease is currently month to month, T and I decided it would make sense to try and live together.  Neither one of us want to leave my Roomie though so it looks like the three of us will be living together for the next year.  It’s a temporary setup.  Roomie is thinking of moving away from LA and T wants to buy a place sooner rather than later so who knows what will happen a year from now. 

So, yeah, that’s the latest.

I love this post and wanted to share.  In case you bypass the post (despite my insistence that you read it!), this is my favorite line:  “Prettiness is not rent you pay for occupying a space marked ‘female.'” 

I write this of course as I’m putting on makeup, worrying about my upper arms being flabby, and wondering if I should get a haircut soon!  =)

Just got back from the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco.  The weather was perfect on Sunday and it was a beautiful, scenic run.  If it wasn’t for all the hills, it would have been perfect marathon conditions.  There’s a tradition in the L.A. Leggers to post a race report following a race, so here’s mine:

Woke up at 4:30am.  Arrived at SBC Park at 5am and took a free shuttle to Union Square, where the race started.  The race didn’t start until 7am, but I was meeting a friend at her hotel so we could walk over together.  We hung out in her room for awhile before venturing out at 6:15am.  I’d forgotten to pack my jacket but fortunately it was an amazingly mild morning.  Union Square was packed with women.  We all cheered and made enough noise to raise the dead…or at least those poor unfortunate souls who had rooms in Union Square this particular weekend.  

I crossed the start line approximately 6 minutes after the start time, at 7:06am.  The sun started rising as we approached the Embarcadaro and the first six miles brought us a beautiful view of Golden Gate Bridge swathed in fog (and a surprisingly familiar face – Miss C., it was such a nice surprise to see you out there!).  The next couple of miles were spent climbing a hill up to an elevation of 295 feet.  Much of the run was on asphalt cutting through forests of fog covered trees.  At mile 10 or so, we hit Golden Gate Park and a stretch of sunshine.  We ran past the Bison fields in the Park and looped back out to run along the Bay, circled Lake Merced and came back up the Bay to finish at Ocean Beach.  Finishers got cute necklaces and baby blue dri-fit shirts.   

Along the way, I downed a few packets of GU Energy Gel, half a banana, several Clif Shot Bloks (which are my new favorite running treat) and a Red Vine.  My friend and I lost track of each other around mile 9 but found each other again at mile 25.  Another friend of mine showed up to cheer me on at mile 25 and ran alongside us  for the last mile (thank you thank you thank you).  Runners call it “towing” someone in a race. 

Aside from a weird quiver in my right leg which developed at mile 24 and general exhaustion which started to set in at mile 20, I felt pretty good crossing the finish line.  I finished this marathon in 05:03:56, about 13 minutes slower than the LA marathon.  I missed my goal time of under 5 hours by almost 4 minutes, but overall it was fun race and I’m already looking forward to the next one (having conveniently forgotten the pain and agony of the last six miles of the marathon)!

[Update:  I forgot to add the funniest sign I saw while running.  Four guys held up a sign that read, “You’re beautiful.  We’re lonely.  Please call (###) ###-####.”]

Sorry all, no excuse for the lack of posts lately.  I’ve managed to keep this blog up and running for the last two years and have entertained tens of people, but work and life is getting the better of me so my posts have sadly taken a beating.  Plus, I’m putting myself on a budget so no new pretty things for awhile. 

Things are really good overall, but I’m currently finding myself in some sort of odd (for me) nesting mode.  I’ve recently decided I really want a house, a yard, and a dog.  Considering that I’m more of an apartment, even-cats-are-too-much-responsibility person, you can see why this is all kind of a shock.  Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve actually, officially been working for two years now and am coming to realize that I’m probably never going back to school full time again (sad).  Maybe it’s the fact that I actually have some money saved up and some decisions to make about where I’m going to live.  Maybe it’s the fact that I am only two freaking years from thirty (ack!).  Maybe it’s T.  Whatever it is, I’m at an odd, contemplative moment right now that doesn’t really lend itself particularly well to posts – since I don’t generally like posting anything with any actual substance. 

Anyways, as soon as I get it all sorted out, I hope to have some fun, interesting things up again!

What I did this weekend:

• Met T’s mom. Tried to be charming.
• Ran 10 miles.
• Played frisbee and paddle-ball in the park. Found out am very bad at frisbee and paddle-ball.
• Watched Open Season. Cute.
• Ate at Shutters in Santa Monica and The Terrace in Venice. Yummm.
• Watched the first few episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Awesome.
• People watched on Third Street.
• Bought Christopher Moore’s The Stupidest Angel.
• Worked.

What I didn’t do this weekend:

• Laundry.
• Grocery Shopping.
• Get an oil change for Toby Too.
• Clean apartment.
• Buy dress for friend’s upcoming wedding.
• Wake up on time Saturday to run 13 miles, as planned.
• Start/finish any of the books on my to be read/am reading list.
• Eat less.

So I learned something new this weekend.  Throughout college, my friend D would jokingly say “They know not what they do” whenever he was feeling slightly slighted.  I loved it and incorporated it into my own repertoire.  This weekend, I learned that apparently D did not make this phrase up.  It turns out some guy named Jesus beat him to it.  Who knew? 

My amazingly talented friends Miss J and the Frog have started a photography blog.  You should go check it out!

Had an interesting, irrational moment late Saturday night.  Ordinarily, I pride myself on my almost boy-like rationality.*  I’m not easily angered, am definitely not ruled by my emotions, and am generally very logical.  There are very few instances where my heart and mind aren’t in accord.  Saturday was one of them.  A perfect confluence of factors – tiredness, discomfort (my eyes and contact lenses are apparently mortal enemies), and rare moodiness on my part – lead to my first fight with T. 

Poor T didn’t see it coming, didn’t recognize it when it was there, and certainly didn’t know how to deal with it.  Especially as my response to everything was, “Yes, I KNOW I’m being irrational!”

Luckily, we weathered the storm, T was great, he apologized, I apologized, and all is well.  Guess I’m more of a girl than I give myself credit for.  =)

*Not to play too much into gender stereotypes or anything, but come on, y’all know exactly what I’m talking about!

I just ordered these (which I first spotted on this site).  Aren’t they gorgeous?  Won’t they look great with t-shirt and jeans or a black pencil skirt and cardigan?  I ordered these despite the fact that all the reviews I read on Zappos indicated they are horribly uncomfortable.  And despite the fact that I actually own another pair of canvas peep toes which are indeed horribly uncomfortable.  So much for being rational.  They were just too pretty to resist!  Plus, I have to work today, so I totally deserve them…right?