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

Finding it hard to motivate myself to do much these days, including writing posts.  I think I’ll take a break until I’m more inspired to write.  I just can’t keep up this grueling 2 or 3 posts a month schedule.  =)  I’d like to blame it on the weather, but I live in LA and we’ve really only had a few fall days so far.  

I couldn’t let this month pass without a post though, since this month marks this blog’s 5th anniversary!  I can’t believe this blog has been around that long.  I started writing it not long after I moved to LA and started working.  Back then, I was sure LA would be temporary.  Like most of my northern Californian classmates, I didn’t particularly like this city when I was an undergrad.  I certainly never expected to move back, but when I realized I didn’t want to practice in NY after all and the opportunity came up to work in LA instead, I had to take it.  Now, 5 years later, it looks like I’ll be here for the foreseeable future.  Fortunately, I’ve found my little nitch in the city, one that runs right along the ocean.  Our condo is a 10 minute bike ride from the beach, my office building overlooks the ocean, and my running group meets steps away from the Santa Monica pier every week.

I can’t believe it’s been four years since I started this blog. Unfortunately, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’ve been running out of material so I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to keep this blog up. The only thing that keeps me posting semi-regularly anymore is the knowledge that at least some of my far-flung friends still rely on this blog to keep up to date on my life. Although, truth to tell, there’s not much to keep up to date on these days.

For example, T and I were in the grocery store this weekend when my phone rang. We both looked at each other and decided that since we’d both just talked to our families and we were both there, it must be a wrong number. When it turned out we were right, T noted, not unhappily, “We live very uneventful lives.”

It’s true. We live very uneventful lives. However, they’re uneventful lives filled with great friends, wonderful families, supportive coworkers, an adorable pet, and each other. I don’t think either one of us would change a thing (well, maybe kids one day, but that’s another story). I love my uneventful life and am thankful every day for it. The only down side is that it doesn’t make for a very good blog! So for those who continue to follow this blog, be forewarned that it will likely consist of posts like the following:

We had a productive weekend cleaning up our place and recovering from the wedding mania. Per my family’s request, we bought a new flat screen tv with the money they generously gave us as a wedding gift. Once we get the tv mounted, rearrange our furniture, and put up our pictures, hopefully our condo will look more homey and less barren!

We also hung out with our friends S and K. S used the electric mixer T’s mom had give us to make us a chocolate loaf. We can now officially say the mixer’s been used. The chocolate loaf was yummy and S showed us how easy using the mixer is. Hopefully, we will actually use it ourselves one day.

We did use a panini maker we’d received as part of an attempt to replicate the Sourdough Jack at home. It was only semi-successful. The hamburger patty was too thick to make the burger as squishy as we like. Back to the drawing board.

When not cleaning, entertaining, and trying to make Sourdough Jacks, we played Spore. Spore is this new computer game that lets you create your own characters and decide their traits and how they interact with the world around them as they evolve. It was surprisingly fun. T’s original character was warlike and died quickly, but thanks to my influence, our new character is cute, cuddly, and friendly and has thrived making allies! She belongs to a race we’re calling the Stubbians.

Speaking of dorky things, I read the Inheritance Cycle while in Maui. It was okay, but I’m incredibly frustrated that, although portrayed as a trilogy, it didn’t end with the third book. Instead, it’s being dragged on as a series. The books were decent beach reads, but not a series worth waiting a year (at least) to finish! Sadly, since I’m incapable of just letting things, I’m settling in for the long wait.

Remember me? I don’t know if you’re still out there, but I use to post on this Blog occastionally. I realize it’s been even more sparse than usual lately. Work’s been really busy and with the holidays and wedding planning (by which I mostly mean looking at pictures of stuff online and in magazines) and updating MySpace, Facebook, Friendster and my wedding site, this Blog’s been a little neglected. Sorry about that. I can’t promise that’s going to change any time soon, but you know you can always email or call me right? Cause I’m just saying, I’ve noticed a lack of such emails and calls recently. I know, I know, I haven’t been particularly good at instigating those either. However, T and I did order our cheesy Christmas cards recently so you can expect those in the mail sometime. . . hopefully before next Christmas.

So yes, all is good. We’ve been filling our days with lots of friends, family and food. We’re heading up to northern California today for a belated Thanksgiving dinner with my family, which I’m really excited about. I’ll also get to see some friends I haven’t seen in forever. My sisters are coming to town the following weekend to help me try on wedding dresses. Then one of my best friends, the Frog, is back in California for the holidays, so I’m looking forward to seeing her.  Hope your holidays are all going well too and would love to hear from you! =)

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!

Sorry that this blog appears to be on its last legs.  I have a couple of posts I’ve been working on and a few ideas for some others, but haven’t been able to execute anything recently.  I’d like to blame it on being too busy, but I think I’m just a little burnt out.  The long and short of it is that this blog will probably be on hiatus for a few more weeks, but I hope to be back up and running soon!  You all are always welcome to shoot me an email for a personal update of my latest purchase, my most recent run, my attempts at dieting, and…uh…well, I guess I don’t write about much else.  =) 

It’ll be okay everyone.  Yes, it’s a new look, but not to worry – it’s the same old content.  =)

Hopefully this new page, although not as pretty, is easier to navigate.  I’m still trying to get things organized and sorted (um, ’cause I’m sure my five readers are dying to read my archived posts) so bear with me. 

In looking through some of my old posts though, I’m coming to realize – I’ve gotten hideously, depressingly boring in the last year.  What happened?!  I use to be an interesting person, I swear!  My old posts were actually about stuff, had interesting titles, discussions on current events.  My latest posts are generally just me whining.  And lately, I haven’t even had time to post those.  I’m turning over a new leaf with this new look.  A new and improved me.  Just you wait.  I’m going to be awesome.  =)

Or not.  Don’t forget I’m lazy. 

Sorry about the lack of updates recently.  I keep sitting down to write something, but end up doing more online shopping.  Latest purchase?  These incredibly cute, but horribly impractical wedges:

Yes, they’re teal, and seude, and too high to be comfortable, but aren’t they adorable?

Aside from the distraction that is online shopping (speaking of which, now that Roomie’s no longer home to sign for things, I’m getting an embarassing amount of clothing/shoes/purses shipped to my work address), I’ve just been having an “eh” couple of weeks.  I’m in the midst of reassessing some things, which is making me a bit cranky.  I’m very bad at reassessment / introspection.  I’m much better at shopping.

I’ve also been suffering through, as the Frog so aptly stated, some Awkward Body Days (“ABD”).  I’ve found that there’s no rhyme or reason behind when ABD’s hit.  Sometimes, you just wake up to discover that overnight, your body’s been replaced by someone else’s.  And unfortunately, that other person’s body doesn’t quite fit right, that other person has bad hair, is breaking out, is pudgier than you are, and can’t seem to dress in anything flattering.  I don’t know if this situation is unique to girls, but I’m happy to report that the stranger has vacated (for now) and I’m back.

I think I’m going to celebrate my return by going to Disneyland this weekend! =) 

I know, I know.  I owe y’all a new post.  I actually have one in the works which started out as a cute concept but proved to be too difficult to execute.  So, like everything else difficult in my life, I’ve decided to give up on it.  At least for now.

In the meanwhile, you, my loyals readers, will just have to bear with yet another ill-conceived, stream-of-consciousness, random hodgepodge. 

Since I’m sure you’re all dying to know what purse I currently covet, here it is. 

Isn’t it great?  Can’t you just see me walking along the beach with it at sunset?  I showed the purse to my sister, who first scoffed at the notion that I was contemplating yet another purse purchase, then drooled when she saw it and started emptying out her piggy bank (she’s a student). 

I also really like these shoes:

I see these resting on my feet as I sip a latte at a cute European cafe.

When not dreaming of trips to the tropics or a life of leisure in Europe, I’ve been working.  Work’s been a little crazy recently, everyone’s stressed out and slightly on edge, and I’ve been much busier than I’d like.  (Sigh.) 

Managed to sneak away from the office long enough to see the Ashes and Snow photography exhibit in Santa Monica this weekend.  The photographs were fantastic.  The rest of it was…interesting.  There were some great video images (mostly humans in repose next to wildlife – elephants, orangutans, and cheetas, etc.), but the accompanying faux-deep running commentary was kind of crap.  To paraphrase, “In the beginning, elephants used to fly and would sleep with one eye open to watch over us.  When you look into the sky, that’s what you see…”  (Seriously.) 

The marathon’s this Sunday.  (Yay!)  I’m super excited.  I just have to avoid injury for the rest of the week!  Being tied to my desk should help with that…

Diet’s going okay.  (Eh.)  I actually managed to wear my thin jeans for an extended period of time and not die though.  Admittedly, I may have blacked out for a few moments from lack of oxygen.  Whatever.  Breathing’s overrated.

Oh, and if you haven’t tried it – Starbuck’s toffee nut latte.  (Yum.)  Get it.

I know I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I don’t do diamonds.  Mostly because it’s easy.  They don’t really tempt me.  I’m too practical to be deeply enamored of jewelry and I don’t like being manipulated by DeBeers (the blood diamonds thing aside).  I don’t advertise it, but anyone who knows me well knows I won’t buy and don’t wear diamonds.  Anyone who doesn’t know me well certainly wouldn’t be buying me diamonds.  Or so I thought. 

Today, SP, the best boss and possibly best person in the world, surprised A1, A2, and I with diamond earrings.  I seriously love this woman.  Anyways,  I just hope she never notices I never wear them.

So I know I promised to keep this blog relatively content-free (which is why I’m not linking to any articles or discussing Robertson’s resignation), but I have to ask –  at this point, if the New York Times broke the news that Bush ate babies for breakfast, would the nation even blink?

My Roomie’s pointed out that my posts of late have been slightly more academic…more intellectual…more content filled then usual.  I half-heartedly protested, but was convinced when Rommie said, “Listen, I like them too much, okay?” 

When your brilliant, academically bent, seven year grad student, PhD candidate, former Harvard Law roommate tells you she likes your posts too much, you know it’s time to worry.  So I apologize.  I apologize for venting about the direction of the Supreme Court.  I apologize for raving about words I love.  I apologize in advance for the uber-geeky (but hilarious!) Christmas cards I bought and may or may not actually get around to sending out. 

I try to contain my inner geek, but sometimes she sneaks out.  Like at the holiday party I was at today – where I jealously eyed someone else’s white elephant (gag) gift:  a DVD documentary of the 1893 Chicago’s World’s Fair.  After having read Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City, I find the 1893 World’s Fair fascinating.  Enough so that I ended up stealing the DVD at the end of the night, forcing me to face a fair* amount of derision from the other guests.

* Um, no pun intended.  (Okay, okay, I intended to make the pun – I’m sorry – I need help.)

P.S.  In an attempt to get my posts back on track, I should note that I spied this beautiful Michael Kors bag at the party.  I saw it in the bag room but never did find out who it belonged to. 

Blogger Bash ’05 was a smashing success.  Finally got to meet G and Vitatwin last night, as well as spend time with KQ, KA, the Frog, and some non-bloggers (J and Arm Candy).  =)  Thanks again for hosting G – it was fantastic!

The night was off to a good start when I managed to navigate my way to and through G’s (WOTWIFLI) Byzantine* apartment complex with a minimum number of detours (3).  It got even better when I arrived at G’s apartment and was greeted with hors d’oeuvre, or yum-yums, as my dad calls them, and cookies.  G, Vitatwin (G’s brother) and KQ proved to be even more charming in person than in cyberspace.  We played a terrific game of Taboo (honestly the BEST game EVER), invented inside jokes (most of which aren’t appropriate to repeat on this blog) and picked up new nicknames (Snort and Squeak were probably my favorites).

I must have used up my dose of navigational know-how getting to G’s place though because I managed to get loss on the way back home from his place (despite the fact that his apartment is less than a mile from my office).  At one point my car was at the corner of the street I take to get home and the street where my office is located and I could SEE my office, two blocks away.  I still wasn’t quite sure which way to go.  I actually had to drive back to the office, which, again, I could see from where I was, and start from there.  I seriously think whatever part of my brain controls spacial stuff is defective.  Seriously, seriously defective.

Oh, and per everyone’s request, here’s the article (and picture) of the alligator eating exploding snake.  This sad snake gives new meaning to the phrase “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”

*Byzantine and Kafkaesque are two of my favorite words.  Mostly because they’re complicated and slightly obscure words which are somewhat ironically used as adjectives to describe things that are complex and, perhaps needlessly, intricate!  =)  (*hanging head in dorky shame now*)

Off to Chicago this week for a firm training event.  Hopefully, I’ll see some of you when I get there!  I’m sure I’ll come back wanting to move there (again).  Unfortunately, moving to Chicago necessarily involves not living in California anymore and I’m not quite ready to leave just yet.  Plus, it’s cold there.

Also, on a blog-keeping note, I’ve finally figured out how to post pictures.  For those of you who requested a picture of the retro-y dress I alluded to in an earlier post, I actually found an occasion in which to wear it (to celebrate one of my best friend’s being done with his PhD!) and have pictures to post.  As soon as I figure out how to strategically crop it to maximize anonymity and minimize my waistline, I’ll post it.  =)

Updated:  See below!  (If this headless photo creeps you out, let me know.  I’m not sure about this including pictures thing yet.)  How cute would this dress look with any one of the green bags I’ve been eyeing?  It would also look great with this exorbitantly expensive, but gorgeous, chocolate bag or this much more affordable, and eminently more purchasable, brown bag.

P.S.  Happy Birthday Bud!  Love you!

Sorry for the lack of updates.  I’m going to trial in about three weeks, so I’m deep in the trenches.  The “war room” is all set up and we’re getting ready to settle in for the long haul.  Sigh.  I probably won’t see the light of day again for the next few weeks.  Pray for me!  (Speaking of which, I was kneeling next to a box on the ground, looking for a document the other day when the MP walks by.  Noticing me, he stops right in front of me silently until I looked up.  He then placed both hands on the side of my head and said, “Heal my child.  Heal!”, smiled and walked away.)

WOTWIFLI, compliments of CH although not necessarily apropos of anything in my life at the moment, is schadenfreude. 

I have nothing interesting to say today,* but my friend the Frog has a really good post up.  You should read it, and then, if you are a lowly male, take a minute to appreciate the women in your lives (gifts would help).  We (I) have it hard.  Woe is us (me).

*And yes, this is premised on the assumption that interesting things do occasionally find their way onto this blog – although usually because they got lost on their way somewhere else.

Off to lunch soon.  I hope.  Waiting for one of my co-workers to talk to the senior partner, who’s been MIA recently, before we head off.  Feels like I’ve been waiting forever.  I hope said co-worker can track down said SP soon as my stomach is ready to consume itself. 

Sorry postings have been rather sparse lately.  I’ve been out of town and work’s been busy.  I finally threw my hands up in the air and went home at 9:30 last night when I kept coming up with dead-ends and couldn’t find an answer to a question I thought needed to be addressed that night.  Of course, I spent the rest of the night anxious (well, the hour I was awake anyways) that I was going to be fired today, only to find out it wasn’t a big deal at all.  And this is why attorneys have ulcers.

And now the moment you all have been waiting for (the moment for which you have all been waiting?).  My WOTWIFLI is pulchritude.  It’s not as exciting as last week’s (yes, I find words exciting, leave me alone) but it’s a word I’ve been coming across a lot recently, as in “Angelina and Brad are a pulchritudinous pair.”  After having seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I’d have to agree.  (FYI, the movie was semi-entertaining as long as you suspend all disbelief and moral qualms.) 

*Um, and yes, the title was a not-so clever reference to Waiting for Gadot. 

I got an interesting email from a good friend of mine the other day pointing out a drawback to my blog, namely that it makes it all too easy for others to not write since they already know what’s going on in my life.*  (“So that explains it!” I thought, nodding wisely, slightly relieved.)  

Yes, I write because I’m self-involved.  But I also keep this blog in the hopes that my friends will read it and occasionally write me…or at least post a comment so I know they’re alive.  So, start your own blogs (come on, everyone’s doing it!), drop me an email,** post a comment, send me a text message, come visit, or call and leave random messages on my phone when you know I won’t answer (because, as most of you all know, I’m not much of a phone person, so unless you like pulling teeth, that may not be the best method of keep in touch with me).  I’m not picky.  Don’t make me beg.  Pretty please?  (There, are you happy now?)   

* To my unnamed emailer, you know I appreciated the message and loved hearing what you’re up to!  *hugs*  Don’t hate me.  =)

** To future emailers, I promise not to post the email on my blog and publicly berate you for it. 

Here at last is the long awaited COMPETITIVE POST…

A few qualifications before you start judging though.  First, I’m writing this from work after a very long couple of weeks.  Second, I’m a little strung out on coffee…well, tea lattes actually, but being strung out on tea lattes doesn’t sound very cool.  Oh, and my brain hurts a little.  You know.  From all the thinking and whatnot.  Or maybe it’s the cell-phone induced tumor.  Also, the dog ate my homework.  In any case, I know there’s no way that whatever I write will live up to the build-up.  The best I can do is hope you’re not too disappointed by the backstory to this blog.  With all those things in mind, here we go: 

Imagine it.  Cambridge, circa 2004.  I’m graduating from law school.  My friends and I are scattering to the far corners of the world.  And by that I mean California, Chicago, DC, and New York.    

This blog actually started as a series of emails that I sent to close friends (read, “anyone who I thought would remember my name after graduation”) in the summer of 2004 (because anything is better then studying for the Bar).  It eventually dawned on me that my close friends may not want to receive daily emails about what I had for lunch, the state of my hair, or the purse I was currently coveting.  This epiphany came about after I received comments from my friends about how they did not want daily emails about what I had for lunch, the state of my hair, or the purse I was currently coveting.  At that moment, a blog was born.  (*Cue music*)

Throughout the many months of maintaining this site, I’ve learned a lot of interesting things.  For one thing, people are oddly fond of cartoon sheep.  More importantly, I’ve learned that I really like writing this blog and, somewhat surprisingly, there are people out there who actually seem to like reading it.  Clearly, my narcissism is now totally justified.  =)  Strangely enough, I’ve also come to develop an unexpected sense of responsibility towards y’all.  Sometimes I write when I’m disinclined to just because I haven’t in too long and occasionally, as I go through my day, I think, “Hmm.  I should write about that.”  (Although this doesn’t happen all that often as my life is woefully uneventful.)    

I started writing as a means of keeping in touch with far-flung friends.  Or at least keeping them informed of what’s going on in my life (I can only hope they do the same).  Having moved multiple times over the past decade, and inevitably leaving good friends behind, I’ve come to realize that it’s the day to day interactions that keep friendships alive.  I get phone calls or emails when someone’s engaged, pregnant, moving, or graduating, but between those moments are vast stretches of silence.  Those silences make up a life moreso then the noisy defining moments though, and it’s in those silences that friendships and relationships are lost.  So that was the real reason I started this blog and the real reason I love reading blogs in general.  I find the minutiae of my friends’ lives fascinating because it makes me feel like I’m still a part of their existence, despite the distance, and that they’re still a part of mine.  I hope you all feel the same way reading this blog. 

(Frog and Wombat, consider the very long-winded gauntlet thrown.)  =) 

You’ve probably noticed, but the blog looks a little different today.  While I loved the old green pallet, it wasn’t super user-friendly.  This new blue one is a bit too “girly” for me, but allows me to put up links and has a calendar for archived posts (in case anyone really, really wants to know what was going on in my life on December 11, 2004 – answer:  nothing).  Also, I’m fickle and was getting bored of the old look.  Anyways, enjoy the links!  Some are fun.  Some are informative.  Some are just dumb and truly nothing more then a waste of time.  None are billable. 

Also, keep an eye out for the first in what may be a new feature on this blog:  Competitive Posts.  Two of my friends, ML and CH (aka Frog and Wombat), and I have decided to liven things up on our respective blogs by participating in a posting contest (because nothing’s worth doing unless someone loses).  Once a month or so, we’ll all write on the same topic to see who comes up with the best entry.  Our first topic – the wonderful world of blogging (what we think of it, why we do it, what we write about, etc.).   It’ll be a tight race, as they’re both wonderful, witty writers! 

Which is my way of saying no, this blog is not dead.  I’ve just been too busy to write much of anything lately.  Now, usually even when I’m busy I find plenty of time to waste (I firmly believe wasting time is actually a valuable endeavor), but lately it’s been the kind of busy where things have to get out the door quickly.  Don’t think I’ve managed to have this thing people refer to as “lunch,” even at my desk, in the last two weeks.  I also think I may be developing an ulcer.  Of course, I’m somewhat of a hypochondriac and am convinced my microwave is giving me skin cancer and my cell phone is slowly causing a brain tumor to develop, despite the fact that there is absolutely no evidence or symptoms of any of the above happening.  (Note that despite my belief that modern day conveniences are slowly killing me, I am making no attempt to decrease their usage.  Because that would be actual work and therefore anathema to my deeply held belief that the easiest route is the best route.) 

Stay tuned for upcoming posts.  Future possible topics include:  nonsensical nicknames, my perplexing ability to get lost driving even the most familiar of routes, why women love shoes, future travel plans, the trauma that is swimsuit season, more office stories, and maybe even what I had for lunch (when this lunch thing starts happening again). 

I can’t even fake a title or a direction for this post.  I’m only posting because all my friends with blogs (and yes, that’s the kind of cool crowd I run with.  Do the kids still say that nowadays?  “Run with”?) posted something today and I feel pressured to do the same.  I realize I lead my life under weird pressures.  I feel pressured to post some inanity because all my friends have posted, but I don’t feel particularly pressured to finish this important project I’m working on, even though it’s 5pm and I have a work dinner to go to today. 

Eh.  What are you going to do?

So something that has come up this week, on several occasions, is the fact that I don’t post any really personal information on this site.  My response was along the lines of, “Well, duh.”  Most of my friends know this already, but I’m actually a rather private person (this public forum aside – I’m an enigma like that).  Somone recently commented that if this law thing doesn’t work out, I should consider a Sex in the City type column.  But without the Sex.  And while it was flattering, considering that the only parts of the City I really see are the inside of my apartment and the inside of the office, there probably wouldn’t be much City either.  I’m going to venture a guess that it wouldn’t be a terribly exciting column all around.  Somewhat like this post probably. 

Maybe I should just stop now.