Molly likes you.

Well well well....

2008-03-06T15:47:00.000-08:00

Here's a new one folks:

mollsyanna.blogspot.com

Now that didn't take very long, did it..:)

The End

2008-02-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

for now.

Hey, in case you hadn't noticed I haven't updated my blog.

The truth is I can't right now. I have a lot going on (all good!) and I don't have the energy to keep up my blog (obviously).

Right now as I type this I'm convincing myself that I DO have enough time...Molly, come on!

But I just don't right now.

Maybe someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.

I leave you with this:

I like you.

Ladies...

2007-12-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

I like the fact that I know this movie will be bad and I will love every minute of it.

Snowsuit Babies!

2007-12-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

I like babies wearing snowsuits. I don't really like babies that much, they frighten me. Sometimes they're cute to look at, but mostly I just feel awkward.

But when I see a baby in a snowsuit I giggle gleefully at how adorable they are.

3 fun facts about babies and snowsuits:

1. I worked in a nursery for almost a year and was amazed that parents actually fed they're 20 month old children pasta with meat sauce for lunch, knowing the kid doesn't know how to use silverware, let alone even hold it properly.

2. I have no babies of my own, nor do I desire babies of my own at this moment in time.

3. I don't own a snow suit but I did own a pair of those awesome jumper ski pant things at one time. I've skied. Cross country and downhill...and I've fallen and done that little roach move, who knows what I'm talking about?

Finlay-regular doesn't mean daily, or hourly. It can mean weekly, or monthly, or yearly....or a combination of any length of time. Does that makes sense? Cause it totally makes sense to me.

Blog Re-do

2007-11-27T12:19:00.000-08:00

So I haven't blogged in over a month I think...well at least a month.

Here's the thing. I work a lot more and have more responsibility now....and I get very frustrated when trying to get pictures onto my computer because I lost my camera cord and have to use my printer, but don't have enough outlets to plug in the printer and the computer so I have to unplug eight things and a blog without pictures is boring* blah blah blah.

Lately I've been on a positivity kick. I'm a pretty positive person on the whole, but I've been more stressed than usual so I've been trying to lower the stress and up the laughter. Then today, I had amazing bus luck and my iPod picked the greatest shuffle ever.

What does this all mean Molly?

It means this. I'm going to start blogging on a more regular basis...but only about things I like. Friends, family members, food stuffs, websites, videos...whatever. I'm no longer going to rehash my life (it makes me too tired to blog about it, then journal about it, then call my mom and talk about it) or complain about the unfair ways of the world (which I don't do often anyway, or do I? I don't really know)...

I will start with this:

I like my mom.

She is amazing. She would also kill me if she knew I'd chosen this picture. My mom is my angel. She knows things. She also puts me in my place and supports my love of expensive make-up (probably not a plus for my bank account). She sends me love when I need it and scolds me when I need that too. Three things you should know about her and one Fun Fact!:

1. She loves tequila. Drinks it on the rocks at times.
2. She was a twirler in high school. Nowadays she can do some tricks with a ball-point pen that are unbelievable.
3. She sings jazz beautifully and is an amazing writer. She got those traits from me of course....

Fun Fact!: "[She] is the former coach of Ugly Betty star Michael Urie." You might think I'm bragging (which I am, cause I'm proud of him and her) but my mom is an amazing speech coach. That's also a direct quote from a blurb about my mom by the NFL (National Forensic League). She has had many national champions because she's so freakin' goooood at her job.

If you haven't met her I'll give you her e-mail address, cause she's awesome, amazing, and beautiful.

*If your blog doesn't have pictures....well, I still read it. It just takes me longer. This does not count the Sexy 2008 blog which I read relentlessly to up my sexy quotient.

Trick or Treat or Win...

2007-11-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Mavericks won last night.

"The Mavs made Quicken Loans Arena their personal trick-or-treat cul-de-sac, filling up their candy bag with enough 3-pointers, steals, layups and blocked shots in the 92-74 blowout to make any sweet tooth happy"

This is the best metaphor Art Garcia could come up with. Halloween is cheesy. So is Art Garcia's metaphor. What are you gonna do?

Go Mavs.

It's Almost Time...

2007-10-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

Another reason why Texas is awesome. High school football is televised. You might think that's excessive. Welcome to Texas. I think this is reason number 3 but I'm not sure...I've lost count.

I haven't been posting a lot because I've been in out of town, hosting house guests and being all together a busy bee. My day job also requires me to stare at a computer for hours at a time clicking "yes" and "no" over and over. So staring at my computer when I come home is not my favorite.

I had a birthday recently. I wanted to say, to my friends who attended the birthday feast, thank you for coming. It was really cool to see all of your faces in a room together laughing and eating. Y'all make me happy...and that makes me tear up a little bit. I'm lucky to have met such amazing people in this lovely city. Thanks for being my friends.

Enough sap.

Exactly one week from today the Dallas Mavericks' season will officially begin. One week until opening night y'all! I might pee my pants with excitement... My dear friend Joe, who is a Rockets fan (Lord, please forgive him. He knows what he roots for), and I made a little $20 wager on this season. He thinks the Rockets will go farther than the Mavericks in the playoffs. I think the opposite. If neither team makes it to the playoffs then the winner will be dependent on which team has a better record for the season. That part doesn't really matter though because the Mavs will go farther. They just will. Period.

He also made the following prediction for the season:

Rox (his abbreviation, not mine) will be 61-21
Mavs will be 42-40

That's laughable. Come on Joe...for realz...

From Dad,

2007-10-22T12:58:00.001-07:00

With love.

Why Texas is awesome....again...

2007-09-29T11:58:00.001-07:00

Okay. I'm fully aware that McAlister's Deli is also in North Carolina. But their sweet tea reminds me of sitting on my mom's porch during tornado weather*. So therefore, McAlister's Deli is Texasy to me.

On that note, I'm actually on my way to North Carolina tomorrow morning for another wedding. This one is my friend Melissa's. Congratulations to Rod and Melissa, two of the most awesome people in Southern California. See you tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS I haven't seen Melissa in over a year. This is big time y'all.

*Tornado weather is when the sky turns an olivey green color, the wind suddenly stops and the air is so thick you could you cut it with scissors. It's amazing.

Dear Self,

2007-09-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

Why do you always blink in pictures that would be perfect if you hadn't blinked?

Signed,
Self.

Texas Our Texas.

2007-09-24T18:52:00.001-07:00

I just got back from Texas. I was there for about a week to celebrate the marriage of my sister Shauna to a wonderful man named Greg. There are a lot of pictures but I don't have them yet. So I will tell you all about the wedding once the pictures are in my possession.

While I was home for such a long/short while, I started noticing all the things that make Texas great. So I took pictures, because why not? I'll share them a little at a time because too much of a good thing will just make you jealous you aren't underneath that Texas sky.

Numero Uno reason why Texas is great:

The Mambo Taxi

Whoever thought to combine a margarita with sangria just gets life. These lovelies are available at Mi Cocina. A restaurant. That is good.

Word to the wise: Never drive a car after even ONE Mambo Taxi. They are potent people. I'm not kidding. Potent. The good kind of potent.

It Feels Like Fall...

2007-09-13T17:12:00.001-07:00

This made me laugh. I didn't find it on my own though. I stole this video off of a blog I love to read.

The author of this blog is my favorite blogger ever. His name is Scotty Crowe. He used to write the tour journals for John Mayer back when John Mayer played small little clubs and people like Jessica Simpson wouldn't date him if he paid them too. I loved his blogs. They were intelligent and witty. I used to come home from work or school and immediately check to see if Scotty Crowe had updated his blog. Then John Mayer got big and Scotty disappeared. Afterwards I used to search Google for postings of his old blogs just for the memories.

Thankfully someone in the Mayer camp wised up and gave Scotty a blog on John Mayer's website. He mostly writes about college football these days, but I read it anyway.

I also made my blog white. Know why? I can't wait for snow. I'm smiling just thinking about it. Some call me sick, others...well, they get it.

SRYTIMF ANNIVERSARY!

2007-09-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

The most important part of my fabulous one year anniversary weekend was knowing that I've officially known my Stop Rubbing Your Theatre In My Face girls one year. It's actually one year ago today I walked into my second week of level one class at iO and met T and A. I bought them cards to celebrate.

The cards play music. I've never seen someone jump so high and scream so loud when hearing music from High School Musical. Except for maybe myself, in my apartment, when I watch High School Musical and jump so high and scream so loud.

Stop Rubbing has a show next week. September 10th @ Ginger's Ale House @ 9pm. We haven't done a show in almost 5 months. Huge span of time might I say. I really only have one thing left to say my girls:

We're soaring...

Flying...

There's not a star in Heaven that we can't reach...

If we try...

Yeah...

We're breaking free.

Spa Day Ya'll!

2007-09-01T17:19:00.001-07:00

My sister and my mom are visiting this weekend. A "Girls weekend in Chicago" was my mom's mother's day gift and really an excuse to get my sister to take time off and come visit me. She is an attorney and works/travels A LOT. And she never gets to travel to fun places, like Chicago.

Today our big event was a day at the spa. I used to make fun of people who spent time in spas until a former boss of mine gave us employees a spa day for Christmas a few years ago.

I get it. I love the spa. I love it. I love to get a massage and bake in the sauna. Drink the fancy water, eat the special fancy food. Sit in a steam room and hack up a lung because of my allergies. It feels so good.

I just had the best spa experience of my life. My first spa experience was at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas. That one was good. The Bliss Spa....the one we went to today. Words can't even describe it. And the view tops it all. The Spa is on the 8th floor of the W hotel which is right on Lakeshore Drive. I tried to get a picture of the beautiful view of Lake Michigan....I had to be discreet though. It is spa and people are mostly running around in towels.

Yum.

Happy Chicago Anniversary!

2007-08-31T15:22:00.000-07:00

Today is my one year anniversary in Chicago. Celebrate by drinking cheap champagne with friends while watching High School Musical. Once that's over go to the airport to meet your mother and sister for a weekend of girly fun. Because that's what I'm doing. :)

Oh Elena...

2007-08-30T13:00:00.001-07:00

Elena is really the glue that holds this thing together.

Goodbye Coffee Life (Pt. Dos of the weekend that rawked)

2007-08-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

I officially don't work at unamed coffee shop that I will now call Starbucks because that's it's name. Now if I use the word Starbucks on my blog, I won't be fired because I don't work there. Starbucks.

My friend Katie is done working there as well. Last Saturday was her last day so we said good-bye with a little pre-celebration evening extravaganza. That made sense in my head. Look at this Starbucks gear that I can put on my blog because I can't be fired for putting it here because I don't work there anymore:

In truth working there was great. I loved working for Starbucks....that sounds so corporate, but it's true. They've always been good to me. The part that sucks is the early mornings and...the customers. I am one and I know I suck. People don't realize what they do to the poor Barista's behind the counter. All I ask is that next time you purchase coffee at any coffee establishment...smile, ask how the Barista is doing, and remember that even putting only a nickel in the tip jar does count for something.

My Weekend Rawked...Pt. Uno

2007-08-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

Friday night I had a date with a group of talented writers I am writing a show with. Isn't that funny? Writer's writing a show....the comedy and timing is amazing. Dinner and a movie. How romantic. Griggs and Brett Lyons came along too. We saw King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. That movie is really good. Like, maybe one of the best movies I've seen in 6 months or so... Afterwards we did our best Steve Weibe impression.

You know what's not funny? Louie telling us all to wear sweater vests and then not wearing one himself. Nevermind that Curt and Brian didn't wear one either. Jeannie and I wore one. It's okay though. We had a nice family dinner to make up for the lack of sweater vest. Lots of fun was had by all.

Curt and Brett shared their hopes and dreams.

Brian and Griggs laughed at people being funny and the fact
that pizza parties are just plain fun.

I'm not really mad about the sweater vests. Louie is moving and all of his are packed, so it's understandable. Brian and Curt both wore fun pants so that's equally as fun.

Yay Funnn!

Fun With a BMW

2007-08-23T13:07:00.001-07:00

I have Zipcar. I love Zipcar. I don't really use it often, but I like knowing that I can rent a car at any given moment for whatever I please. Like this Tuesday I rented a BMW to go to Trader Joe's. Why a BMW? Because why not.

My love affair with the Beemer started when I first got to drive one on a course with my dad several years back. If you've never driven one, you've never truly driven. For serious folks. This one had a start button.

My friend Katie accompanied me. We kept piling on groceries until our cart actually started veering to the left at every push because it was too full. We would worry and then remember, "We have a car." The answer to every problem and situation Tuesday was, "We have a car." I even bought a filing cabinet because, "I had a car."

Zipcar Zipcar Zipcar. BMW BMW BMW. Both companies are totally paying me for every time I use their name in this post.

Also, yesterday...I found $50 lying on the ground in front of an abandoned warehouse. Not kidding. Pretty awesome.

On Hold...

2007-08-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

I finally have a decent picture of my Dirk Nowitski. Isn't he handsome?

Last night was my first 5b show at iO. It's crazy to think that I've almost lived here a whole year and classes at iO are officially done. Over. Finite. You know what else? The show last night was a lot of fun. My class was the first of the night and I went in the first group. Then I got picked for the Grasshopper show.

The best part of the evening was watching my girls. Tahnee and Alexandra are both in the 9 o'clock group. I was like a proud mamma watching my girls perform. And they were so good. So lovely. So beautiful.

At this moment I'm on hold with RCN. I've been on hold with RCN for 50 min. I've been on the phone with them for 53 minutes, but 3 of those minutes were actually spent talking to a live human. I'm hold again and the first thing I thought to do was blog. Blog blog blog.

A Fun Little Saturday...

2007-08-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

Tahnee and I signed up for a free Shakespeare/Stage Combat workshop. Didn't make it to the workshop. I went to the wrong building and Tahnee was almost late to the right building, but not early enough to figure out how to get me to her. So, we met up on a streetcorner, did some window shopping and ate some lunch.

We got fortune cookies. Our fortunes were terrible.

Tahnee's read, "Face any problem with dignity."
Mine read, "Be tactful, overlook your own opportunity."

Really? Really? Whatever happened to things like "You're kindness and generous of spirit will be returned to you tenfold," and, "A smile is the shortest distance between two people."

Those are uplifting. I did find a dress for my sister's wedding finally. It's pretty awesome. Once I get some pictures of me rockin' the little black dress there will be pictures posted all over the damn place because that dress is my new favorite thing.

Saturday night I went to watch The Wizard of Oz in Oz Park with James, Katie and Sherman. Tahnee had to work. It was fun. There were so many dogs. We did not sneak in wine and I definitely do not have a spider bite that looks like a hickey. Actually I do. I have a spider bite on my neck that looks like a hickey. I can't wear my hair up because I think people will whisper and point at my hickey looking spider bite. Boo...

After the movie, Katie hit James in his lower heart. She swears she didn't do it. Pictures don't lie K. Clady.

These guys are funny.

2007-08-10T13:33:00.001-07:00

They were also my first improv teachers. The one with the boxers and the beard at the beginning, he's the reason I moved to Chicago. Thank him. Actually, I should thank him because moving here has been pretty awesome.

I will warn you the video starts playing immediately and there is a shrill scream at the beginning. If you're in your cubicle, you might want to turn the volume down.

Click here cause you like me.

I had a lot firsts while taking classes at Four Day. It was the first time I did improv, the first time had a boyfriend, and most importantly the first time I smoked a cigar. Wait...my dad doesn't know that. Now he does.

A Very Rotic Evening...

2007-08-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Let me give you a quick explanation of the word "rotic:"

rotic - romantic, without the man.

I believe it was my friend Melissa who coined that phrase a few years ago. A rotic evening is usually spent with close girlfriends. They are awesome. It's like a date night without the date.

My friend Heather is moving back to Ohio for a few months and we spent last night sipping champagne and listening to jazz in a candlelit club downtown. We dressed up and did our hair. It was fabulous and quite rotic indeed. I'm going to miss Heather, but alas we all must do what we have to do sometimes. Hurry back Green.

I would also like to introduce you to the newest edition to the Molly household:

This is Dirk Nowitski. The fish. He's pretty awesome. So awesome that in the only picture I have of him (the one above) he lets off a brilliant glow and looks as though Heaven itself is summoning him for great things...or something of that nature. Come by and say hi to him, he likes people. And if he really likes you he will blow bubbles at your face. I call them kisses.

What Goes Around Comes Around...

2007-08-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've always sort of believed that. Really. I got an e-mail from my good friend Melissa a few days ago. It proves this little saying to be true.

A few years ago I went on a mission trip with my church in Los Angeles, along with Melissa. We flew to Albania for awhile and played with kids. It was amazing. What was not amazing was the travel experience. It was awful. The only thing that didn't go wrong was us not dying on the way there. Pretty much everything else frustrating and weird happened. I would love to tell you the whole story, but we'd need a bottle of wine and a few long hours to sit and chat about it.

The cause of most of our problems getting to Albania and back home again was Alitalia Airlines. They were terrible. Even the Italians hate them and they're an Italian airline. This is the e-mail Missy sent me:

I was reading The Economist at work today (I know, I'm lame), AND guess who is desperate for someone to buy out their company as they lost over $785 million last year?

ALITALIA

Ahh, that is music to my ears.

Miss you and love you!

I don't relish in other peoples pain. Except for right now. Sweet sweet revenge, victory, whatever you want to call it, it's sweet.

By the way, I miss you and love you too Melissa.

Bye Bye Wii...

2007-07-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

My friend James bought a Wii a month or so ago. He didn't have a TV at the time, so it got to live at my house. See the fun we've been having:

James bought a TV last weekend. He took the Wii away.

My fun naked-ferret-dancing-naked-picture-taking-webcam neighbor also moved away last weekend.

Too much sadness. Too much.

Bye bye Wii. Bye bye Melanie. You know what they say, out with the old, in with the new. Hopefully the new is just as fun.

I'll let the video speak for itself...

2007-07-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

This is a Big One Guys...

2007-07-21T09:36:00.001-07:00

The new Harry Potter came out last night. Yes I was here to buy it at midnight. After the show (Unaware, Donny's Skybox 9pm, Fridays) Tahnee, James and I went to buy the book. We all pre-ordered it at the same store. So sweet you guys.

Sherman came along for moral support.

Yea Happy....

2007-07-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

So the week I was supposed to start temping my parents came in town. I also got hired to work a day at the casting office.

The second week I was supposed to start temping I landed a gig from my day working at the casting office. I impressed some people with my ability to read aloud (who knew that was such a skill) and was hired to read an off-screen voice for a series of commercials shooting this week. This means by the end of tomorrow and I will have spent 5 days in Oak Park being a "crew member." It's been awhile since I've been one of those. I love it. I wish you could do both acting and "Crewing" (my made up word) but that's not an option in this world.

I have also taken the Green Line. Who does that?

Fun facts for the week:

- I like sitting in the front of the train because it has the best view of downtown AND is like riding the Runaway Mine Train at Six Flags Over Texas.

- I left for the shoot Monday and my parents left later that day. I came home to discover they had washed my towels, Swiffered my floor, bought me new detergent, a microwave (I've been without since I moved here) left me a bar of dark chocolate (my favorite) and $40. I like them. I think I'll keep them around.

Good Days...

2007-07-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

I have had some really good days and some positive things happen in the past couple of weeks. To make things even more great and wonderful, my mom and dad are visiting for the next few days. I like them. They like me. It's cute.

One good thing that happened is that I finally got to hang out with my old friend Tim. We went to high school together and did improv together back in Texas, but since we've moved here really haven't seen each other in awhile. Ten months to be exact. Look at Tim and his iPhone:

Tim and I vowed not to wait ten months before we hung out again. I then stole is book on Coldfusion to ensure this would happen.

Also, Monday was first official Funday (or Nerdnight if your name is Kate). We played board games. Mainly Catch Phrase. Two notes on Catch Phrase:

- Iraqi Spider Hole is actually a phrase in the game.
- This game is WAY more fun in the dark.

It was also Sherman's birthday. My friend Katy and I surprised him with cake. We couldn't find candles so we substituted toothpicks. Crafty, I know.

Fun Fact: Meeting people at the airport is one of my favorite things to do. It makes me happy.

The end of an era...

2007-07-08T12:42:00.000-07:00

This is the last morning I will wake up 4:3o and walk through drug deals and tranny hookers to serve coffee to grouchy businessmen and waspy mothers. My smile is way to big right now. :)

Something even better then the Twilight Zone...

2007-07-06T12:41:00.001-07:00

I got Police Tickets. Yep.

It all started around 7am when a regular at my coffee shop said his friend had some to sell. I got the cash from a handy dandy little ATM next door and when I returned the friend had sold them.

A few hours later I arrived home and proceeded to sit down, relax and cry for awhile. I got a call from work that another regular had some tickets for sale. This one worked out folks and for HALF of what I was going to have to pay the other guy. Seriously, I got a good deal from a very nice man and his very nice wife.

So I got to see my favorite band ever play Wrigley Field and it was amazing. Did I mention amazing? Because it was amazing.

That's me being happy. This was one of my favorite things since I've moved here. The Police! At Wrigley Field! Oy.

Happy 4th!

2007-07-04T08:43:00.001-07:00

What better way to celebrate a holiday then with a Twilight Zone marathon? I live for days like this. :)

This show is one of my favorite things.

So Happy...

2007-07-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

I have today off. Can I tell you how amazing I feel? I just had two giant bowls of chocolate Lucky Charms and am happily trudging through my DVR. I am three weeks behind on most of my shows. In fact, I just got around to watching the Lost season finale last Saturday night.

I also finally loaded all the pictures I've taken in the last few weeks onto my computer. I want to share this one:

Unnamed coffee shop had us doing some mandatory volunteer work a few weeks ago. It was fun. We participated in the Chicago Cares volunteer day and painted a school on the south side. This was the bulletin board in our room. I know the teacher used "da" instead of "the" on purpose...but it still...it still...just gets me.

OMG you guys....

2007-06-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

This is for real...right?

Yum.

2007-06-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's cloudy, rainy, breezy, and cool. I like that. Yum.

I haven't been able to blog much lately, mainly because my schedule is this: wake up around 4:30am, go to work (sometimes at the coffee shop and sometimes at the internship), then either class or rehearsal, then around midnight I arrive home only to go straight to bed and wake up at 4:30am all over again.

That is one reason (among many others) that I have officially put in my two weeks at unnamed coffee shop. I just can't do it anymore guys. I need my beauty rest, I'm starting look like an old woman.

While I was working this morning, I began making a mental list of things that occur on a regular basis while serving Chicago coffee and smiles. Note: Some of these things I enjoy, some of them I hate. It's up to you to divide them accordingly.

1. Every Saturday morning there are the walk-of-shame folks. We've all been there, but when you're serving them coffee it's fun to see who will act like they just woke up in smeared mascara and party clothes, and who flat out gives you that, "yes...I know what you're thinking...and you're right" look.

2. Poop ON the bathroom floor. Not in the toilet. On the floor. Not kidding. At least once a day, if not more.

3. The work-out moms. Every morning they come in straight from working out and order non-fat lattes. When we run out of Splenda, they seriously get pissed and yell. They yell. Over Splenda.

4. Joanne. Joanne is a regular. Ask me about her. I just can't type it.

5. Tourists. I love the ones from small towns especially. I actually had one man become frightened at the fact that we have to buzz people into the bathroom.

There are so many more, but that's enough for now.

Interesting note: In my 8 hours working this morning, there were at least around 5 or 6 people from North Carolina in two hours, half of which were sporting UNC-Chapel Hill gear. None of them came in together. It was strange....there's a North Carolina convention...or something less cheesy.

Knocked Up

2007-06-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Forget Pt. 2 of my Texas stories for the time being.

Saw Knocked Up last night. I know everyone else has seen it already, but it's so good. I you haven't seen it go now. It's funny. For some reason my friend Alexandra (who saw it with me) and I both had tears in our eyes through most of the movie. Not from laughing...we did laugh...but from the sweetness of it all.

Also, a drunk Cubs fan gave me a new nickname on the train. I was wearing my Dirk t-shirt and he decided that "Debbie Nowitski" was a fine name for me to take on. Drunk people make me crazy. And they smell.

One last thing, whoever decided to play Champagne Supernova by Oasis before the movie started last night is my best friend, they just don't know it yet. :)

¡Rameras de Tejas! Pt. 1...

2007-06-07T10:16:00.001-07:00

I went home last weekend. It was great. I ate a lot. Drank a lot of sweet tea. Sipped some margarita's and a little sangria. Slept. A Lot. I slept so much my sister actually got annoyed with me. I went into this odd little coma where every time I sat down, I fell asleep. I was perfectly fine with it though. Here are some highlights:

At the airport: For some reason I like to buy really expensive upscale travel magazines, especially when traveling. I like to think that in five years or so I will have enough money to travel to all these expensive places AND be able to afford for my friends and family to join. In order for that to happen, I need to learn to save a little more and cut back on some purchases: The magazine, smoothie, and bagel (not pictured) cost me total of fifteen dollars.

I brought my niece and nephew an official MLB gear Cubs dog toy. It plays a Cubs chant when you squeeze it. Nowitski really liked it. No. Seriously. He did. He freaked out over it all weekend. Nevermind that he does that with every new toy he receives. I like to think he loved it so much because I gave it to him. Maybe he did....

Had some amazing food, and equally amazing dessert at La Madeleine. One of my favorite places to eat. You wouldn't think that Texas is the place to find good French food, but it is. La Madeleine rocks.

This is when Carrie Underwood pushed a chair into our waitress who was trying to take our picture. That's my sister, her fiance, Clint, and me...well half of me. Carrie had a very important picture to take with a little girl. Our waitress, and family picture, was a causality of her serving her public of course. Yes Tony Romo was there too. He's tall. She's short. Go figure.

C-Ya

2007-05-31T22:21:00.000-07:00

As of ten o'clock tomorrow morning I am gone until late Monday afternoon. I cannot be reached by cell phone or e-mail because I will be too busy sitting on my parents back porch drinking sweet tea and margaritas. Don't even bother trying. Know that it's nothing personal, it's just vacation. Even the dogs are excited:

Mommee! Daddee! and Mollee!

Grandmaw said ant mollee is kuming hom tumorow. We get to see ant mollee. YAY! Mommee, when will we see yu? Daddee, when will we see yu? We miss yu gize a hole, hole bunch.

Yesterday morning was krazee. It stormed bad. Reel bad. The sky wuz blak and the trees’ branchiz wer tuhching the ground. It haled and rained and thunderd and litening lit up the sky. We wer so skared, but Grandmaw held us klos. I wuz shaking a little, but she made us feel better. The day started skaree and ended in a bunch of fun. We helped Grandmaw all day while she did stoopid human stuff like kleening klosets and such. We helped by bringing toyz and keeping her entertaind. It was hard werk, but she likd it.

Guess what? Grandmaw wayd us this morning. I am 3 and ½ lbs. Sorree, but I’m tu tired to figyer metric wate tunait. Du yu think I luk fat? Novitskee is 8 lbs. and about 1 oz. Granmaw said mommee should be happee. Are yu happee, mommee? Humanz weri uhbout wate tu mutch. Mabee its all those anorexik aktrisses on television. We did not take a nap all day. Granmaw had so mutch kooking to du and we had to go to Grate Granmaw’s twais taims. And ther wuz a long, long walk. We are so sleepee!! Novitskee has been sleeping on hiz bak with hiz feet up in the air between Grandmaw’s and Grandpaw’s pillos. Sillee boy. Grandmaw made homade kalzone for dinner. What’s kalzone? Is it laik green beens?

See ju reel soon,

Herms and Novits

Love you. Mean it. Peace out.

Dogs That Blog...

2007-05-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

You may remember a post from a couple of weeks ago that was a blog written by my niece and nephew, the Yorkie's. There have now been six blogs written by the dogs while they are staying at grandma's, aka my parents house. This may be the best one.

Helo evribadi,

Wel, tuday started off intresting. Novitskee’s sessive kumpulsiv disorder kickd in. Win grandmaw left for skul we wer sad. She had to go giv exams. I wanted to go and git an exam, but she said I wuldn’t like it. After she left, Novitskee klimbed into a pillowkas waiting to be washed. Win grandpaw kam hom from a pointment he kudn’t find Vitskee….

This is Nowitski speaking. I took the keyboard from Hermione because she is not getting the story quite right. I was not; I repeat – I was not suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder this morning. I was simply exercising my first amendment right to free speech and protesting Grandmother’s departure. Some people protest by wrapping in a flag. I was using a pillowcase. That’s all it was. I repeat. That’s all it was. I repeat. That’s all it was. I repeat. That’s all it was. I repeat. Now that I’ve said that four times, I will take Hermione into the other room for her spelling lesson. I think we can all see she needs it.

Tuda, wuz krazy. Grandmaw went to give exams, but she got sick and had to come home. We were sorri she felt bad, but wer glad to see her. She went back to start a nuther exam and then came home earli. We lade on the sofa with her all afternoon and helped mak her better. Vitskee is giving me spelin lessons. Ther he gos, being all misogynistic. Just bekaws I chus not tu use spelin men invented to keep us in our plas. Boyz!!

Luv,

The uhdorable wunz

Nowitski is the male dog who is also extremely feminine and obsessive, and Hermione is the female dog who is stubborn, always right, and playful. Like her mother. And grandmother. And great-grandmother. And Aunt. I'm noticing a trend...

My Public Apology and Also, Celebration.

2007-05-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

I finished my second screenplay! Writing this one was different, I don't know why. I've even already started revising it. The first one I haven't looked at since I finished. I was a little bummed out to tell you the truth. In Grigg's writing class, the last class (when we've all finished...well, come close anyway) is really exciting. We get to hear how everybody's wraps up. Of course, I had to work during our last class and didn't make it until the last hour. We barely had time to read through mine, let alone the fact that I didn't get to hear the end of everyone else's. But....it's done folks. :)

Here comes my apology:

While writing this script I have uttered this phrase to one too many people:

"That's sounds fun! I shouldn't go out tonight though, I really need to work on my screenplay."

I have missed a lot of parties, shows, dinners, breakfasts, and movies in the last few months. I should make apologies individually, but there are just too many phone calls and e-mails I would have to make in one night.

So Tahnee, Alexandra, Shauna, Mariana, Mom, Michael, Sherman, James, Tahnee (again), Thomas, Tahnee (again...), Alexandra (yes, again...), Rachel, Dad, several of my unnamed coffee shop partners and my sketch show buddies, I'm sorry for missing so many things. I'm sorry I came to rehearsal very unprepared (that's to the sketch show peeps). You'll be happy to know that my script is finished and no longer takes priority (although it is still around). I promise to try and manage my time better in the future. :) I love you all dearly.

As for today, I'm sick, sitting my butt on my bed and watching the Sopranos. I Netflixed the first season...it occurred to me after the second episode that I've actually seen the first season. I didn't even remember that I watched it when it first came on, but apparently I did.

ALSO, random event of the day: A man came into unnamed coffee shop today. He had just traveled to Texas. I asked him whereabouts in Texas. He said, a smallish town...named Rowlett. That smallish town is my home town. What are the odds????? Freaky...

One of those days...

2007-05-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

We all have them. You don't know why, but you just get in a funk and everything stinks. Well, today was one of those days for me. Until...I came home to find this e-mail from my mom:

Helo mommee and dadie (and ant mollee who deserted us two go two shicago)

Novitskee and I wanted to start a blog, but grandmother says its too danjerus for yorkees to bee on the internet. Wee miss u of kors, but we are having funn. Wee promis to keep this short for dadee cause we kno he dusn’t like to reed too much words.

Saterday was fun. We playd and walked 3 milz. We lik green beens. Will u git us sum? Sunday granmaw and granpaw wer home all day. Thay took us walkin and two grate granmaws house and to pet smart. Peepol luvd us. We saw 2 big rackoons on the back porch.

Yesterday thay wer both veri busee, but thay playd when they kud. We kept the kats kumpany. Today we went tu get byootiful and thin sat in granpaws lap and helped him with inshurans. Wat is inshurans? Granmaw came home erlee just for us! Weer playing and playing and playing!!!!!!!

Luv,
us

My sister's dogs are staying with my parents for a few weeks while she is out of town. My mom decided to update my sister and fiance on the progress of the dogs...she sent it to me as well. She knew it was one of those days. So sweet my mother is. And a little cheesy :).

This is the only picture I could find of the pups. My mom is in the picture too, obviously:

Dogs make me happy :).

A Very Chicago Weekend...

2007-05-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

I think I may have just had one of the most Chicago themed weekends...ever.

It started off Friday at Looptopia. Most everything we tried to go see was packed. We caught some bands and spent some quality time discussing paintings at the Art Institute.

Saturday, Tahnee and I went to neighbor day at Wrigley Field. We got to eat hot dogs and picnic on the field. We even took pictures on home plate. It was mucho fun.

The whole weekend culminated in a Sunday filled with improv, and Chicago is a very improvy sort of town as you know. My Sundays are always filled with improv. I don't stop until about ten Sunday night.

It was also Mother's Day. Hope you wished your mom well.

As for today, I just finished watching the Office from last Thursday. Usually I call Thursday my date night. It's my permanent date night with John Krasinski. As of late, I've had to Tivo him and reschedule his loving. Thank God for Tivo. Thursday was so good. Two words:

Go Pam.

Say how you feel girl. People don't do that enough, including myself :). I cried at the end of that stupid episode. I'll admit it. Maybe I'm a little crazy or just super tired, but It was a heartfelt little speech. I'm sad that next week is my last new date with John until next season. Good thing I bought him on DVD. That way, even though we both have tremendously busy schedules, we will always be able to make a little time for each other. That's how relationships work.

Dear Foot Goddess,

2007-05-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

How are you? I hope you are well.

Look, I know I have flat feet. I know that I wear shoes that are horrible for my feet including flip-flops, ballet flats, and raggedy old running shoes. I know these things.

I'm writing you to ask that you please take away the swelling and bruising on my left foot. I really don't think I deserve it. I have been very good about jogging every other day and because of this annoyance I had to give up my healthy routine this morning. Why and how can you cause me so much grief?

Please consider my plea. I like to exercise. It's sick. I know. Please don't keep me from the one thing I love. That and trashy reality television.

Yours Truly,

::insert signature::

Molly

P.S. I bought some good new tennis shoes last night to help the situation. See, I am making an effort!

Trivial Pursuit is Fun...

2007-05-04T22:34:00.001-07:00

Even though I never know the answer, I like to consider myself at least a little savvy when it comes to trivia fun. We played in teams Friday night, and believe me, even though there is power in numbers, it was still difficult. In conclusion, I've decided that the answer to every question in Trivial Pursuit is Wilt Chamberlain.

Is it Wilt Chamberlain?

Yes, Johanna, I swear it is Wilt Chamberlain. Who else could it be?

Molly, I was actually the first one to suggest Wilt as an option. I'm beginning to doubt. Ef it, It's Chamberlain all the way....maybe.

Well, guess who got a pie for guessing Wilt Chamberlain? We did.

Pick Me Up...

2007-05-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

When you're feeling low,

When you have nowhere to go,

When things are blue,

When work and improv (or your drug of choice) have finally gotten the best of you,

Just do what I do.

Drop a few of these...

...into a glass of this...

...and think of your grandmother (or whoever you like the most). I promise a smile will cross your face.

This post was inspired by a very not-so-awesome, but somehow still productive and pleasant few days last weekend.

Go. Mavs.

'Twas a Good Night...

2007-05-01T22:21:00.000-07:00

Well, after a semi-good, semi-crappy last several days and a level 4 iO show that...well, happened ;), a very wonderful thing happened tonight. The Dallas Mavericks decided not to lose and go for one more game. It's the first round. They made the right decision.

I had made friends with a girl named Julie who works at another location of unnamed coffee shop. Just yesterday we discovered we had a Dallas connection, and more importantly a Dallas Maverick connection. I very happily spent the evening on her couch with her friend Eric, also from Dallas, and cheered on our boys. Yea for random connections and good basketball.

Also, this is my one hundredth post. Whoa.

Go Mavs.

2007-04-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

The play-offs started last weekend. Here's to going all the way this year.

I should say, I have this huge fear that since I blogged about my boys, we'll lose horribly in the first round. I'm this close to deleting this post...I just can't get enough of this damn song though. I know. It's embarrassing. Really embarrassing.

Look Ma, I live in the city now!

2007-04-26T17:10:00.001-07:00

I had an audition this morning and then had to run to my internship. Because of the locations of all of the above I took a cab to my audition and then to work. I felt all "city." I then got all "touristy" and had to take pictures.

Look at all the happy Oprah people leaving Oprah! They look so Oprah, don't you think!

Look, semi-tall buildings!

Look, me in a cab looking "thoughtful" and "reflecting" on what all this concrete really means!

Look, me with a double chin!

Look, I made it to work!

Phew!

Buy This CD...

2007-04-24T14:52:00.002-07:00

Jessie Baylin - You

This is her:

You can buy it on iTunes, but not Amazon. Otherwise I would link it directly to Amazon so you could go ahead and purchase it.

I can't stop listening to this CD. I bought it last Friday and it's been on rotation ever since. Go buy it NOW.

The best songs that I keep singing over and over are, "Tennessee Gem," "By Any Rules, " "See How I Run," "Lonely Heaven," and "Never."

So good. Just go buy it. You know I probably won't burn it for you because that's cheating. She isn't making any money ya'll, help a sister out. She's Scarlett Johansson's bff after all.

Oh Sunday...

2007-04-22T15:52:00.001-07:00

I could not sleep last night. I woke up around 8am and watched a show I really don't like, Inside the Actors Studio. I don't know why but I can't stand that show! And it was a best of! Even worse!

I realized I was up early enough to make it to church so I jumped up and got dressed very quickly.

I caught the train.

The train got stuck underground with the electricity off. The only person in my car brave enough to try and talk to the train driver/conductor whatever...was this homeless guy. There was a shouting match.

I did manage to make it to church 30 minutes early. I had to leave fifteen minutes early to be able to make it to my writing class.

I caught the train.

Oh wait, no I didn't. The train wasn't running northbound underground until 3pm. I was instructed to catch the Orange Line. Because I understood this concept the CTA worker told a very large crowd of people to follow me to the Addison Red Line stop (they were going to the Cubs game...you probably guessed that). Yep. Me and some other dude who disappeared. By the time I made it to the Orange Line the only person left following me was a little Asian woman. Very nice woman. But very small and much older than I.

About the time the train came it became clear that this wasn't an Orange Line train, it was a Red Line train running above ground through the Loop since the subway was shut down.

At this exact moment Frank Sinatra's Christmas Waltz came on my iPod.

I could keep going, but then my writing class would realize why I was really late to class this week and it wasn't because the train was delayed. I actually made it in plenty of time. I just needed to take care of some things. I hate being late, but sometimes you have to do some things for yourself...don't get dirty people. I was hungry. So I got some breakfast.

There. I said it. Are you happy? I was late because I needed to pick up some food. For my health people.

Just a Thought...

2007-04-21T15:36:00.001-07:00

The advantage of having really large sunglasses is that you can watch people intently, I mean stare at them, and they never know.

One must always remind them self that when you aren't wearing the really large sunglasses, you can't watch people that intently. Because they can see you.

Welcome to My Life...

2007-04-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

I like it when stuff that isn't related, or may be slightly related but not, comes together. You might call them coincidences. For you fortune cookie lovers they are instances when, "God chooses to remain anonymous." You might also just not think twice about things like this. I do.

I have started interning at a casting office. I checked the written messages from yesterday and there was one from a "Susan." (That's her real name). This "Susan" owns a certain talent management office in Los Angeles. She was also my talent manager when I lived in LA. She is very good at what she does even though our relationship was very strained. She never forgave me for not booking the very first audition she sent me on. Not kidding.

I originally was moving back to LA when I decided to move to Chicago instead. In fact, all of my furniture was still in LA at the time...that's a fun moving story. :) It was very odd to see "Susan's" name and number written on a piece of paper here in Chicago. In an office I work at. Very odd indeed.

In other news, I hated the way this blog look so I changed it. Love it.

Courtyard Lovin'...

2007-04-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Around 2am this a morning some guy came running into the courtyard of my building. He yelled, "Melissa is the GREATEST!"

I knew he was talking about my neighbor across the hall. I just knew it. I've never met her and I don't know her name. I left her a note once, along with someone else in my building, asking her to clean up the cat poop she left on the back stairs and she once told me I had cute shoes. I do however hear and smell her most weekend evenings. She has drunk friends who like to argue, smoke weed, set off the fire alarm, smoke cigarettes, argue some more and then run up and down the stairs several times which usually ends around 7am. Yep.

I knew this man was yelling for her. I waited and sure enough I heard the security door open, heavy steps up the stairs, and my lovely neighbor's door open and her voice talking to the man.

I knew he was coming to see her. It all reminded me of this picture I took when it was snowing several months ago. I walked outside and saw this:

Both Melissa and Amanda have been shown some love in the courtyard. I wish someone would boost my self esteem by writing my name in snow or yelling at the top of their lungs at 2am waking up the whole building. Oh wait, I really don't. But good for Amanda and Melissa. Good for them.

It's Been Awhile...

2007-04-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

I haven't been posting because my picture library and blogger have been fighting. What good is a blog without some sort of visual aid? Like this one:

Those spotlights are pointing to Heaven T...just like you.

I put my Christmas decorations away today. I am fully aware that it's April, you don't need to remind me. My motivation to put them away was not because they were bothering me or because I really felt that it was time for Christmas to be over...oh no. I want to move my keyboard out of my closet so the only logical place is my dining area aka: Christmas Central.
Now if I can only find some strong, handsome, tall, and hilariously kind man to help me move it. Hmmmm...do those types of boys exist in Chicago? They just might.

A Case of Bad Luck...

2007-04-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning, after a mostly restful weekend, expecting to feel better. I ran some errands and quickly realized that I didn't feel better at all. The doc had said to call back on Monday if I didn't feel better so I did. Another doctor in the office finally called me back this evening. He was rude. He claimed I wasn't sick and that the other doctor hadn't told me to call back. He was patronizing. I hate that. He was describing sinus infections to me, which I'm no stranger too. I used to get them eight or nine times a year. I snapped at him. I don't snap at anybody! Ever! The best part though? When I was describing my symptoms he told me I was suffering from, "bad luck." Really? Did you learn that in Merck's Dr. Gong? Yes, his name is Dr. Gong.

Happy Eastover!

2007-04-08T21:02:00.001-07:00

Tahnee and I were walking by a candy shop that had signs for passover and Easter in the window. I went to proclaim, "Happy Easter!" and ended up proclaiming, "Happy Eastoever!" I'm sure I'm not the first to say that, but I like it.

Easter question: How come everything closes here on Easter? I ended up eating at my neighborhood diner twice because nothing else was open. What the eff people?

I mad an easter basket for T:

I would have a picture right here but my camera and computer are fighting. So use your imagination...

Sick on a Saturday...

2007-04-07T11:31:00.000-07:00

And bored. Very very bored. I tried to clean a little bit and then got dizzy, so I sat back down at my computer and thought, "I'll write a blog." About what, I didn't know. I thought. And thought. And thought some more. I got nothing. Then I remembered that my dear friend Tahnee had e-mailed me some pictures a few days ago that I love. So I'm going to share them.

Happy Good Friday...

2007-04-06T08:25:00.000-07:00

It is Good Friday, right?

I'm sick. In fact something very unusual is taking place today. I'm going to the doctor. I never go to the doctor. Whoa.

I pulled up my e-mail this morning and this had arrived from my "dad's" e-mail address:

Molly,

It’s too darn cold for me to make my rounds in Chicago this weekend, so I talked to your mom and pops. They gave me your account info and as luck would have it, the Bunny uses ::insert bank name here:: too! Small, small world…so I deposited 50.00 bucks in your account. Enjoy! Buy some carrots for me. You know you want to.

Love,

The Bunny…Easter that is….

Ugh...my parents are the coolest. I mean that. Wait, I mean the Easter Bunny is the coolest. That's what I meant. Totally. :)

Slightly Under the Weather...

2007-04-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up for work this morning at 4:30 am. It's funny because I got home pretty late last night and when I got in bed, I propped myself up a so I could watch T.V. I never actually turned the T.V. on. I woke up still propped up in the same position with the addition of a sore throat. Smart little me left the window open and it was chilly last night. The cold breeze sent my sinuses into a tizzy my friends.

I've felt pretty poopy all day. I thought I would get a chance to rest, but I really didn't. I had a lot of things to catch up on. I was supposed to attend a Seder at my friend Johannah's house but I have a late rehearsal tonight and I start my internship tomorrow so I want to be rested. I'm sad.

Can I tell you what just made me the happiest person alive? Seriously? Can I?

This place: Duck Walk.

Every time I order food to be delivered, the delivery man shows up with the biggest smile and the happiest, friendliest attitude. It's so refreshing! Yea!!!!!!!! For happy people who serve Thai food!

I'm Old...

2007-04-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (Sunday) was maybe my favorite day in months, weeks, years even. Okay, maybe just my favorite day in a few weeks. Surprising my parents by coming home after Christmas is still my favorite day ever.

Yesterday morning I went to brunch with a bunch of girly friends.

My food was so yummy. It even had edible flowers. I also had some delicious freshly made juice and a really yummy cup of coffee. Oh yeah, and there was good conversation too.

Then I had my Project Writing class with Jeff Griggs. (It's actually required by Griggs that we use his name when talking about the class for "publicity." We had to sign a statement.) I love that class. This is a half new/half returning group of students . We read the first ten pages of our scripts today. I love it when we start reading them out loud. It's so much fun.

After class I went to book club.

Alexandra had macaroons and hot dogs in honor of the book we read, A Confederacy of Dunces. It was fun and full of wine.

I told my friend Thomas that I had brunch and book club and he made the comment that my day was that of a middle-aged woman. You're a little right Sir Thomas III...and I like it that way. Tahnee likes it that way too.

I Have Cash...

2007-03-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today I went to lunch with my friend Johanna. I hadn't really talked with her in almost a month so we had a lot to catch up on. Mainly with me because the last month has started this snowball effect in my life...stuff just keeps happening. It's all good, so it's fun to share. When it came time to pay I realized that for the first time since I moved to Chicago, I had cash on me. I never have cash. Ever. Johanna also had cash. It was truly exciting.

I do need to remind myself of one thing: to quit planning shopping trips so that when I'm all done I have to ride the train in rush hour with bags. I always do that...such an inconvenience.

When I Retire...

2007-03-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

I will be living here:

With two of these:

Who's with me?

Hope You Had Fun...

2007-03-26T20:20:00.001-07:00

This time my parents visit felt really short. I usually am okay when they leave, but today I was a little sad. I think it's because I know I probably won't get to go home for awhile unless I decide to say, "Screw you job, improv, music, class, and internship..." I might just do that now that I think about it...at least for a weekend.

We had fun. They got to meet Tahnee, which was a big deal. They met some other people too. They always like my friends...I don't know why. I barely like them.

Oh I jest. :)

They came to see the final night of All the Way to Chicago. They loved it. They haven't seen a lot of longform improv so the fact that they got what we were doing was cool. While we were on stage I could hear my dad laugh and it kept making me smile. A lot of my friends came to the show which was nice.

My parents stayed for the musical improv show and, as always with my family (including me), we seem to be the kind of people screaming to be picked on by the performers. They pulled my dad on stage and asked why he was here, and he said to see me. They asked if I was funny. He said, "She's the funniest one I've seen all night." Good dad. Very good. :) They proceeded to sing a song about my dad and me. I missed the entire thing. Heard it was fun though...

I will say one thing about my parents visits, they always leave me with stuff. They bought me a new shower head, did the dishes and cooking all weekend, and my mother left me with tons more gift cards. I should say that her speech and debate team sells gift cards for a fund raiser. Walgreen's, Gap, Barnes & Noble and Starbucks are going to see me soon. One of them sees me a lot anyway...wonder which one?

Welcome to Chicago...Again...

2007-03-23T17:35:00.001-07:00

My parents got here today. I cleaned. And cleaned for them. It got to where late last night, I hated cleanliness. So, I left dirty dishes in the sink.

I figure my parents need to feel wanted so I'll let them do some dishes.

It occurred to me today that this is the fourth time my parents have come to visit me since I moved here 6 or so months ago. My mom has actually been here five times, once was for a school trip (she's a teacher). That is the same amount of trips they took to visit me while I lived in LA. I lived in LA for almost two years. Even my parents like it better here.

The last time my parents were here was Christmas. My mom made the comment this morning, "Her apartment looks exactly the same, except for the Christmas tree." My dad politely told her to turn the corner and look down to where my Christmas tree is still proudly displayed. One of these days I'm going to pack it up. And pack the stockings hanging on the wall too. And the wrapping paper lying on the floor. Maybe I'll pack it away when it comes time to pack my coat away. If the weather stays like this that will be soon. Yipee.

Cleaning Day...

2007-03-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

I have been cleaning ever since I got home from work today. My parents are coming to visit for the weekend and I want everything to look nice and cleanly. I'm currently washing all of my towels and my sheets. It feels so good to clean, or is it just me?

I had to work this morning for nine hours. Working nine hours at a coffee shop is torture. Seriously. I will say one thing though, the time passed so quickly. And what a beautiful day it turned out to be! I woke up this morning to a horrible rainstorm...and now it's so nice and sunny.

Have you seen these two people?

If not, you're sure to see them this weekend if you run into me.

Happy Cleaning Day.

Here's to making your parents believe you keep a well organized apartment when they're not around.

Who am I kidding? They know I'm scrambling to make this place look good.

Dear Me,

2007-03-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

Please stop reading this book before bed:

It only freaks you out and gives you nightmares.

Sincerely,
Yourself.

P.S. You can blame Louie for the desire to read this book in the first place.

Freakin' Tinseltown...

2007-03-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is Hollywood.
This is uncomfortable.
Hollywood is uncomfortable.

I love you Chicago. Have I said that enough lately?

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...

2007-03-19T22:57:00.001-07:00

Tonight My Project Writing class had a farewell dinner. Because I am tired, lazy, and need to save some time to clean my apartment since my parents are visiting this weekend, I will let you read all about it here.

We've now celebrated our end with a party, a last reading, and a dinner. That's a true Midwestern goodbye folks.

Come See Our Show!!

2007-03-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the next to last performance of All the Way to Chicago aka: best show ever. (Sunday 8pm Donny's Skybox) You'll learn in time that I say a lot of things are the, "best ____ ever." This one really is though.

We're sweet, kind, and can't wait to get to prom.

In the show last night people laughed more than they have been. James and I both assumed that maybe all these friends we have been pestering to come had shown up and they were laughing at us being idiots. Not true. Only two of my dear lovely friends had shown up. Thank you Michael and Alissa. :) Maybe we're actually funny. Or, more likely, we look like big dorks. But we're having fun guys, and that's all that matters.

I Had No Idea Today Was So Special...

2007-03-17T20:36:00.001-07:00

I really didn't realize St. Patrick's Day was such a big deal. Not only in Chicago either. Apparently my parents were surrounded by lots of drunken people in large green hats while on the train down in Texas. Dallas is far from Irish my friends...

It was a fun day. I went with my Stop Rubbing girls to see the river get dyed green. Unfortunately I can't get those pictures off of my camera. I can't find my USB cable and the one Tahnee gave me to use isn't working.

Someday, long after St. Pat's has left your thoughts, the pictures will appear on this blog. And you'll be happy about it.

Laundry Day Fools...

2007-03-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

I'm doing laundry today. I actually just realized that I usually do laundry on Fridays. I have a habit! I was on the phone with my dad this morning and he is also doing laundry today. He made me a little sad:

Dad: Hey wait a minute, wait a minute...listen to this (dad holds the phone up to some unknown object, silence ensues) Can you hear that?
Me: No, what is it?
Dad: That's the sounds of a washing machine running in my own house that I don't have to pay to use.

That was mean. He was kidding of course. If you know me and know anything about my family, you know that we kid most of the time. All the time actually. We like to tease each other. Because we like each other. Speaking of, a week from today my parents will be visiting. I like it when they visit because we usually go shopping. And they pay. And of course I like their company as well.

I'm still pissed that I have to walk down two flights of stairs to a crappy washing machine that sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. When I first moved into my apartment I saw this sign on the laundry room door:

I've never told my dad about this sign because I don't want him to worry about me. Of course he probably does anyway. That's what dads are good for.

I'm Learning New Things Dad...

2007-03-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Learned a new word today:

vexatious [vek-sey-shuhs]

–adjective

1.	causing vexation; troublesome; annoying: a vexatious situation.

2.	Law. (of legal actions) instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant.

3.	disorderly; confused; troubled.

—Related forms

vex·a·tious·ly, adverb

vex·a·tious·ness, noun

—Synonyms 1. disturbing, provoking, irritating.

—Antonyms 1. delightful.

Thought you should learn it to. Who needs a degree when you have Schott's?

Sweet Sweet Endings...

2007-03-12T22:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight was our last read through for Project Writing Reader's Theater. Friday is our last reading. :(. I'm pretty sad guys. I love this class. I really lucked out with this one. Everyone in the class is so funny and talented. Seriously. Every person in the class is great.

After the read through, Greg drove a gaggle of us to our respective places of dwelling. I think it might have been the most fun car ride I've had in a long time. Greg really showed off his amazing driving skills. He's a bit of a daredevil. I thought we were going to crash several times. Right as Louie was about to get dropped off, we almost did crash. Into another car. But we didn't. We all made it home in one piece.

We all got kind of sad that this was our last read through. Last Saturday was a celebration of our six or so months together. I think we're also going to have a dinner next week to say goodbye. Again. Maybe we'll just keep saying goodbye to each other forever. There's this great song that says, "If you never stop when you wave goodbye, you just might find if you give it time you will wave hello again..." I'm so sappy.

Beano.

Screw Daylight Savings Time...It's a Partyyyyy!!!!

2007-03-11T21:30:00.001-07:00

My Project Writing Class had a party last night to celebrate the end of our 8 months together...and Louie's Birthday. It 'twas fun. There was a lot of karaoke. I think some people drank, some people ate pizza, and some people...well, hung out with an old man in a vintage, red Hugo Boss sweatshirt.

Louie really enjoyed the music. He should have. After all, it was his birthday.

Curt really doesn't want you to cry for Argentina.

Jeannie really wants you to know that Texas was not part of the Lousiana Purchase.

Griggs gave some "superlatives." Trey and I won the Most Likely to Play a Couple in a Movie title because we very frequently get cast as love interests in our readings. Except for in my script where Trey played my dad. Hmmm... I also won for Most Southern. Not Trey. Even though he is from Georgia. The Texas gal took it.

These guys are fun.

Future screenwriter's of America ya'll. For real. Pardon my red scary eyes. Believe it or not, they looked scarier with the red-eye reduction.

It was the second week for All the Way to Chicago tonight
(8pm everysundayinmarchdonny'sskybox$8).
Come see it next week. Please.
The first week felt like recess...last night was, let's say "abstract."
You never know what you're going to get with us.
For serious.
It's a fun time.
For serious.

Sunshine...

2007-03-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful day in the city ya'll. Enjoy.

This Weekend is Starting Off Nicely...

2007-03-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

So I count Friday as my favorite day. I like it because it has the anticipation of the weekend being so close but not there quite yet. It's freeing or something. I don't know.

I went to lunch with my friend Alexandra today. I had an interview for an internship near her office. If I ever find myself near her work (or not near it actually...) I try and have lunch with her.

Today I brought her a little gift. Alexandra can't have gluten or lactose so it's fun to try and find desserts she can eat. Tahnee and I found a gummy make-your-own-ice-cream-cone kit at Walgreens last night. The A-lady was very excited about her gift.

The kit included sprinkles, tart sugary delights, and chocolate sauce that looked like gel and tasted a little like vanilla.

Yum.

P.S. I got the internship. I'm officially an "intern" guys.

P.P.S. There is a fire alarm in someone's apartment in my building that has been going off for three days straight. I'm not kidding. I'm not exaggerating. Three. Days.

A Wee Bit Strange...

2007-03-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

So...I'm at work at the coffee shop this morning when my supervisor comes in and tells me I have a phone call.

I go to the back room to answer and it was a woman. This woman claims to have been in a class at iO with me for only a couple of weeks and mentioned the name of another girl in the class. I sort of recognized this woman's, mainly because I think my friends mother-in-law shares the same name, but I didn't recognize the name of the other woman we were supposedly friends with. The woman knew my full name though.

Even stranger, she was at another branch of my coffee shop and had the manager there find my name, what store I work at, and then had him call my store to see if I was there...hence receiving the call at work.

I didn't have the heart to tell her I couldn't remember who she was or what class she was referring to. I also couldn't think fast enough to get more info from her without making her feel bad. She was really excited to have found me.

I gave her my e-mail address. We'll see what happens...maybe I have some crazy identity stealing stalker or something. Or there is another Molly Wilbanks running around doing improv in Chicago who also works at my coffee shop. Creeeeeepy.....

Rushing Water Rodger...

2007-03-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

This creek is in Richardson, TX where my parents live, but it's known as Rowlett Creek. Rowlett,TX is where I grew up.

Parallels, Parallels, PARALLELS!

Okay...I'm fully aware that's not quite an example of a parallel, but I just really wanted to type it.

This post might make you have to pee. Promise.

Morning at the Oasis...

2007-03-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

I'm cheesy before I've had my morning coffee.

Sometimes I forget how great this album is:

Then, something always reminds me. At the piano bar lat night, one of the pianists (is that what you call them?) played an incredibly sped up horrible version of Wonderwall. They speed every slow song up in those places. Except for Karma Police, which Brian requested. They played that surprisingly well.

There was also a very high birthday girl named Anna who got on stage and sang. I was in heaven. I love it when people sing bad live. That might be mean...I swear I'm not mean. I just love it when people think they're really good and they're not...well, actually, I start to feel bad for them after awhile. The thing was, Anna knew she was bad. She gave up after awhile and just sat at the piano while they pianist sang a song about her "boobies."

I think I need some morning music to get me going. I'm off to my Oasis...get it? I need some breakfast...

Welcome Back Weekdays...

2007-03-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to up the quality of my web page browsing, along with trying to inflate my knowledge of current events, I've set up Slate.com as my new homepage. It's a three day old experiment that already isn't working. The minute Slate comes up I immediately switch to MySpace, then Perez Hilton and then Arnie's blog. What? You read it too. Don't lie. Some habits die hard.

I've gotten into a lot of habits since I've moved to Chicago...the best one is...being really busy. Is that even a habit? I don't know. I've never in my life had so much going on...and it feels great.

Back in L.A. I attempted to make myself busy. I had no job and went on auditions once a week. I would make lists of things I needed to get done daily. I've reverted back to that because I have a lot going on improv/writingwise that requires outside work...and since I'm scheduled an average of two days a week at the coffee shop...I need to manage my time wisely. I made a list for today and though it had to be tweaked slightly, I'm sticking to it pretty well. I'm proud of myself.

I also had my first slip-and-fall-on-ice-on-the-sidewalk-in-front-of-that-stupid-building
-who-never-salts-it's-sidewalk experience. I don't even have a bruise. Awesome.

Also,

Last night was All the Way to Chicago's first show.

So.

Much.

Freakin'.

Fun.

Those people are the best. We played hard and it was good times. Thank you if you came...if you didn't...come next time. You don't want to miss the fun. I know it. Because I know you. Maybe.

Good Morning...

2007-03-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

I woke up to find white "something" flowing from the trees visible from my kitchen window.

What is it?

If you say giant jellyfish you'd be so wrong. I'm sure.

Thunder and Lightning and Grandmas...Oh Yeah!

2007-03-01T10:37:00.000-08:00

Aren't those the three coolest ladies you've ever seen?

Yep.

They are.

Last night I was sitting in Starbucks and a man walked up to me and said, "You make those glasses look smart."

So do my glasses look dumb on their own? What does that mean?

This morning at around 5am I was awoken by a thunder crash so loud that it shook my bed. At first I got a little freaked out which is a little odd because thunderstorms are my favorite thing. For the next thirty minutes I laid there counting the seconds between the lightning and thunder. It was like I was 10 years old again. It was fun.

I talked to my Grandmother for 30 minutes today. I love her. She is amazing. Simply amazing. I also like talking to her because somewhere the conversations always turns to, "I remember the day you were born..." It turns into a little ego-boost session where she tells me how proud of me she is. Always a nice thing to hear.

I'm watching The Hills right now. Spencer is a tool. A jerky tool.

Rehearsal Is The Best...

2007-02-27T12:20:00.001-08:00

Or at least everything that happens up until rehearsal...I kid. I kid.

Today before rehearsal for All The Way To Chicago (Sundays in March, 8pm, Donny's Skybox), James made dinner for Tahnee and I.

::insert picture here::

I took a picture of it with Tahnee's camera because I forgot mine. I suspect I'll receive the picture from her sometime next week or the next week.

I went to go see a friend's show at the Playground after dinner and hopped in a cab to rehearsal. I have always been pretty fortunate to have interesting cab rides. This one was no exception. My cabby was extremely talkative...I found he has been driving a cab for 30 years, he has to renew his chauffeur license next month, he is an astrologer and his moon is in Libra therefore he should work one day and rest the next. Earlier that day he had helped a blind man up the stairs into his apartment. He told a lot of jokes. The best joke he told was, "I don't want to buy a cab. I don't want to be married to a cab, too hard to get through the bedroom door." As I exited the cab he apologized for not having any jokes about coffee shops.

Strobe Parties Are Back Ya'll...

2007-02-26T14:56:00.001-08:00

Sooo...this weekend was a lot of fun. It started off better than I could ever have imagined.

For those of you who know about my neighbor "Melanie," you know the only word for her is: amazing. She runs around nude frequently, hosts a naked picture night, hosts naked dance parties in front of her computer (did somebody say webcam?) and her world famous strobe parties are an event not to be missed.

After Reader's Theater on Friday, I went straight home because I had to be at work at 5:30am the next morning. My neighbor above me was having a party so my rest was disturbed. Then I began to notice the flashing lights, the loud screams of joy and pain, and the extremely loud top 40 music. There was only one explanation. I looked through my window, across the courtyard, and there it was: the strobe party back in full glory. It had been since December when she had a holiday themed party complete with red and green strobes. This time she had also purchased a spinning disco light. I have no idea how many people she fits in her tiny apartment. My record is 8. Some might think that I would be upset by her strobe parties because they are loud and the lights bling right through my window, but I love them and I don't know why.

Tonight my friend Brian and I had our second Piano Bar night. It was even better this time because both of my songs were played. Both. I will not comment on the fact that I was chastised by the piano player for requesting Hold On by Wilson Phillips. Besides, he knew every word.

That picture is from our first night. I just wanted to give a visual. The staff at the bar had to dance for everyone for part of the evening. Brian and I then composed a list of jobs we would never want to work on a napkin. I lost the napkin. So this list is from memory:

1. Server at Howl at the Moon
2. Planned Parenthood
3. CTA worker
4. ?
5. The puppet guy on State St.

I can't remember #4. Damn it. And that was one I came up with. I know that napkin is around here somewhere. I'll find it and get back to you.

Why Saturday is the Best Day...

2007-02-24T19:10:00.001-08:00

I have Project Writing Class with Jeff Griggs every Saturday. The past two weeks our class was kicked out of our happy writing room at iO because of "scheduling conflicts." This is why class should be held in a classroom:

This is also why I look forward to Saturday every week. You guys rock my socks off.

Miss T...

2007-02-23T13:34:00.000-08:00

Like the song...get it? I have another question...Is it just me or does anyone else get really annoyed when they sleep in, wake up, turn on the T.V. and iVillage live is on? Am I the only person who really hates that show? Please say no...

Tahnee gave me a flower last night. We were in Walgreens and I saw her pick up a gigantic fuzzy flower. I asked her who she was going to give it to and she became rather coy. I thought maybe she was buying it for a boy. As we left the store...she gave it to me. Isn't that sweet? I love flowers. People don't buy them for each other enough. They always wait until something bad or something wonderful happens. Why not just buy people flowers because you can? Because you can...anytime.

P.S. Don't start watching Grey's Anatomy. Don't be like me and get sucked into it. Please. I was happily rolling along with my Thursday night date night with John Krasinski, and then I decided to expand my horizons. I have now spent three Friday mornings in a row crying in front of my television...damn Grey's.

Yikes-a-bee...

2007-02-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

Am I the only person who has seen Win A Date With Tad Hamilton on multiple occasions and enjoyed it? It's okay to say yes...

It is beautiful outside. My apartment is especially sunny because, since it's winter, the tree outside my window is leafless causing tons of the happy sun to filter through it's branches. It feels great. I can wear a light jacket. It's so preeetty.

Do you want the truth? It's making me a little uncomfortable. I'm not ready for winter to be over. New seasons/weather means change. I'm not ready for change. I am very comfortable in my little wintry cave. I want to still be dreary and bundled up. So hurry back winter. Hurry.

Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday...

2007-02-21T10:48:00.000-08:00

was yesterday. Before rehearsal for "All the Way to Chicago" (Donny's Skybox, every Sunday in March @ 8pm), some of us got together to watch the Blues Brothers. We didn't actually watch much of the movie, but the boys got to experience my tea and blanket love.

We really spent a lot of time discussing and observing my across the courtyard neighbor,"Melanie." Three words: naked, ferret, dancing.

Wish you were there.

801...

2007-02-20T12:04:00.001-08:00

On my way to delivering a box of chocolates to my partners at unnamed coffee shop last week, I ended up giving the box of chocolates to the employees of my favorite pizza place. The guy working the register wrote the number 801 on receipt paper and slipped it to me. I don't get it. Do you?

You want to know what else I don't get? How in the world my time in Chicago has become such a...flashback? It all started a couple of weeks ago when I heard that someone was hating on me at a bar because I went on a date with their friend and didn't ever call him again. I will say right now, the date was great. The guy is a very nice guy and not too bad to look at either. There just wasn't anything there...can't be helped. I would have been more of a jerk if I'd kept going out with him. After this "bar" conversation I proceeded to get dirty looks and whispers from some of these people. What did I do?

Again, yesterday I ended up in a stupid ninth grade-style argument with someone I really don't want to fight with. I care about this person and it was stupid. It was all because of some conversation that, once again, I wasn't there for but apparently was about me. It's not my fault my friends open there mouths sometimes and give too much information on things that don't matter anymore. I had nothing to do with it and it somehow ended up being my fault. It's over now and everythings fine.

Even this blog is sounding ninth grade. I give up.

On a slightly lighter note: I put a post up a while ago, that no longer exists, with a video of me making fun of people asking people out on MySpace. I took it down because...well, I had been drinking and no one needs to see that side of me. Ever. In truth I have no problems with people asking people out on MySpace or e-mail. It's kind of cute actually. I was having a discussion with someone about this on the phone yesterday. I logged on to my space (your welcome...) and a total stranger had put the moves on me in a MySpace message. It wasn't creepy or anything by any means...but the timing was...pretty perfect.

Can I just say that it is warm outside and it's February? I beginning to think all you people who took such time and care to warn me about Chicago winters were just trying to fool me. Either that or it still rings true that I bring heat.

It's a beautiful day. If you don't have to work get outside NOW. I did. I feel good.

God is Laughing at Me...

2007-02-17T21:52:00.000-08:00

I don't blame Him really. I don't.

I have been very out of sorts lately. The most random things keep happening, and they all keep connecting, and I feel like the universe is playing some huge game with me. Really. I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way either. I don't. I happened to come across my horoscope in the new Vanity Fair. It struck me as strangely accurate, so I e-mailed it to my friend Tahnee. My mom and I had a long talk this morning about everything and the kitchen sink, two hours later she calls me and says:

"I just happened to read your horoscope in the new Vanity Fair...have you read it?"

Oh mom.

Here it is:

"The ancient Greeks had at least three words for love, and considering your odd emotional state, it would be wise to look them up and see which one best describes the way you've been feeling. Not that it would do much good to analyze what's in your heart. Fifth-house transits of outer planets and asteroids make it impossible to be rational. Fortunately there are people around you to distract you from your goofy reverie."

Yep.

I should note that my mother never reads horoscopes. I don't read them often either.

To read the above is to know me right now.

Does that make sense?

Let's do lunch.

If I break out into hysterical laughter mid-meal, don't judge. Just love.

Happy Thursday To Me.

2007-02-15T11:39:00.001-08:00

Today was my day off. I took myself to breakfast to refresh myself. It was marvelous.

Happy Heart Day...

2007-02-14T20:29:00.001-08:00

That is me on Valentine's Day. I worked, handing out candy all morning, and then went straight to work at unnamed coffee shop until 10:30pm. It was a long day. I was forlorn for most of it because it was cold, snowy, my feet were wet and my back hurt. I'm not much of a complainer though. I made it through in one piece.

I came home to watch Lost and then ended up watching Oprah. Did anyone see Oprah? I taped it so that I could see the rest. I love happy couples...they make me cry. I took two Benadryl (to attempt and curb the sinus problems I have suddenly become plagued with again) watched Oprah and cried at all the happiness. The good kind of cry. And it was fantastic.

On a slightly different note, is is just me or has everything been couple/romance/engagement/marriage related for the past month or so? Almost since Christmas really. I swear, every time I turn on the T.V. it's something about one of those topics OR I run into someone or talk to a friend and every conversation relates to the opposite sex and some huge event. Whatever happened to work woes and family troubles? Why is everything suddenly love-related?

Boo love.

I'm only kidding. :)

The 13th Was My Unofficial V-Day...

2007-02-13T17:27:00.001-08:00

I worked all freakin' day out in the snow. I handed out chocolate to people because I am a whore for money. More like, I am broke. Poor. All that. It wasn't so much cold as it was windy and snowy. My eyes were stinging. I gave some chocolate to a family and then took their picture for them. A few moments later the dad came back and told me to put my hand out. He put a small piece of chocolate in my hand that read "Kiss Me." He wanted to make an exchange. Then he told me I was pretty. Ego boost #1.

#2 came when a man asked me if I was handing out kisses. Since I was so brainwashed by Hershey's at this point, I said, "No, but this Cacao Reserve is better than a Kiss!" Thinking of Hershey's Kisses. Nope. He was thinking of real kisses. Once I became aware of this I politely declined.

#3 was when the Otis elevator repairman checked out my ass. I don't have much of a booty, so when it gets checked out I get excited. If only the cute, wealthy businessmen with good health benefits had been checked out my rear. I'm a sucker for a cushiony 401K. I joke. Sort of.

I finally got home around 8pm to find a gigantic box from my parents. My parents have always been my Valentine. I've only had one "real" Valentine and it was last year. Honestly, I remember nothing about it. I might be a jerk or it might have been uneventful. Who knows. Anyway, I couldn't wait until Wednesday to open my gift, so I didn't.

It's a basket filled with a Gingerbread Loaf pan and two Texas-themed cookbooks. I started to cry. I'm not sure why. I love to cook and bake by the way. I'm cheesy.

Apparently I have some perfume coming too, but my dad forgot to mail it.

Grammy Day...

2007-02-12T21:06:00.001-08:00

I had rehearsal for an improv show last night, which meant I would be missing the Grammy's. I decided to tape them so I wouldn't miss the most important event of the past decade: The Police. On Stage. Together. Again. I was too young when they were originally together to ever remember watching them as a child. Plus my dad had a thing against Sting until last year...so I'm pretty sure much of the Police's music was discovered later in my life anyway.

My friend James (also in my show and formerly of the best level 2 class iO has ever seen) came over and watched them with me. Before we started we had to do what all music lovers do when they get together for the first time:

Hold an iPod Party.

We watched all of the Grammy's and some of the Red Carpet. I love the Dixie Chicks, but they didn't deserve all the awards they received. Also, Carrie Underwood beat Corrine Bailey Rae for best new artist. Bull Shit. I demand a recount. And the worst part? Carrie didn't even cry when she gave her acceptance speech. She acted like she deserved it or something. For realz?

Quote of the day was made by me (is that narcissistic?). Yesterday morning, on my way to breakfast, I was excitedly telling my friend Adam about The Police performing together.

Adam: I had no idea you were such a big Police fan.
Me: I want The Police to gang-rape me.

I really have no desire to be gang-raped. It's a horrible, real event that no one should ever have to go through.

That being said...The Police rocked the house this evening. It was too short, yes...but if only I could get them in the same room as me...

Oh I'll stop.

Oh Friday...

2007-02-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and couldn't breathe. I also woke up with a headache. You know those dreams you have that are so real you have to convince yourself they didn't really happen when you wake up? I also had one of those...and I wish it had really happened. Oh boo. I'm done complaining. I have the whole day off after all...top that. I'm also on my second episode of Living Single...top that. Last night I went to see Lily Allen with Alexandra and her friends who are visiting from New York. This is the only picture I have from the actual concert.

Lily had band geeks in polo shirts. I want my own band with band geeks in polo shirts. It always frustrates me to go to a music show, especially those of people who are younger than I, because I can't help but think that I could be doing that. Eventually the frustration turns to motivation and the world is happy again.

The show was great. She's adorable. I wish I could wear a pretty peasant dress and a shiny gold blingy gun around my neck and still look sweet. Maybe I could...

There was this one guy standing next to us who smelled like cheese. Smelly cheese. Gross. There also was this guy with an eye patch in front of us. I think he thought since he had a patch he could get away with pushing, butt rubbing, foot stepping on, and personal space invasion. Later in the evening his friend had the nerve to ask me to move because I was bouncing his butt with my bag. I don't start fights. I was this close. What's happened to me? Chicago, why are you making me violent?

On the way home, I took this picture. Alexandra was cold...if you look you can see her New York friend in the background taking a picture of Wrigley Field. A picture with someone taking a picture in it. How cute.

The best part of the evening was the fact that the venue is smoke free because of that 'ol Chicago clean air law of some sort. When they announced this the entire place erupted into....cheers. That's right. The crowd was happy about the clean air we were going to consume. That made me happy. I smiled. I hate smoking. I really do. I hate it because I have never forgiven my grandpa for dying on me as a baby. The other one died long before I was born so this one was my only hope. Unfortunately, he smoked too much and drank even more. Unless you are driving drunk, drinking doesn't normally harm the people around you. You light a cigarette and you have also harmed the guy standing next to you. My grandpa had emphysema. It eventually killed him. I've never had a grandpa for that reason. Damn ciggys stole my only chance. You're an idiot if you smoke. It's true. I will still love you though. One thing I should mention is I steal them. If I know you smoke, and you bring me anywhere near your cigarettes...I will snatch them when you are not looking and throw them away. I will. That costs you more money and makes me laugh when you get pissed because you can't find them.

Be warned.

I Hate To Admit It...

2007-02-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

I still think that for some reason I don't need glasses and my eyes are going to magically get better. My eyesight isn't really that bad, but it has been really tough for me to admit that I can't see far away. I just can't. Especially at night.

Now is about the time I should make a formal apology to everyone in Chicago and especially at iO. I lost my glasses a few weeks ago and I really need them when I go to shows. Since I haven't had them lately I have basically been squinting my way through the theater trying to make out who is on the other side of the room. This can be a good thing sometimes. People who I don't want to say hi to I don't have to and when they give me hard time I can just simply say, "That was you! I lost my glasses...I can't really tell who's who from far away. Sorry!" Now...the one thing I have to remind myself is not to stare at someone for too long. Eventually if I stare hard enough I can figure out who is across the room from me...but by that point if the person catches me staring they find me creepy. I know it.

I went to the eye doctor yesterday and got new glasses finally and yes, contacts once again. When I walked in the door to my building, my old glasses were sitting on the floor beneath the mailboxes.

I have no idea where they came from or how long they had been there. Or how I missed them sitting there for so long. Boo. Oh well. At least I can watch Amelie from the comfort of bed now and not while standing directly in front of the T.V. And I have two pair of glasses, so now if I lose one (which will happen) I won't be so squinty.

The Friends That Keep On Giving...

2007-02-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

My friend Aimee sent me a gift. There was really no reason. She had received some items from a friend that she couldn't use and also found a bunch of make-up that she didn't want. She then sent it all to me, along with some Valentines Day themed candy.

Again I have to ask, what I've I done to deserve such thoughtful friends?

Anyway, it just goes to show...my friends are the coolest. Now if only I had money I could afford to spoil them back. One of these days...

I read somebody else's blog (who I don't know...but I've read their blog...) and this person pointed out how important having girlfriends is to a lady. It really is one of the coolest bonds a girl can have. There is nothing like walking down the street with your best girlfriend(s). There is also nothing like ranting, going crazy and totally over analyzing to your best girlfriend(s) because they will look at you like you are the sanest, most logical person in the world while you talk...and still love you.

Like, Ohmigod Guys...

2007-02-05T13:36:00.000-08:00

I'm supposed to be working on an essay for an internship I'm applying for. I'm supposed to be finding a quote to start it off with, making up some crap about movies, send it to my mom so she can proofread it, finish my resume and mail it off. I am actually having a hard time doing this. I am actually really full from lunch and don't know why because I didn't eat that much. Perhaps I need some water.

I got to thinking this weekend which is never a good thing. Well...I was about to type something about how thinking is actually a good thing, but for me I don't think it is. This group of thirteen year-old girls came into my work this weekend. They were loud and extremely obnoxious. Their conversations went something like this:

13yr old girl #1: Ohmigod, Nathan iiiisss going to ask you out at the party. He told me.
13yr old girl #2: Ooohh...It's almost Valentines Day.
13yr old girl #3: OH migod, do you even want a boy on Valentine's Day?
13yr old girl #1: It can be so much fun to have a boy on Valentine's Day.
13yr old girl #3: Oh it sssoooo can be. So what are you going to say to him?
13yr old girl #2: Yes. Duhhh....Jesus, where is my mocha?

From this one little conversation my head went in about fifty different directions. I either had consumed way too much coffee or really needed a nap.

First I started thinking, "Was I like that in 8th grade?"
Answer: Yes. I think so. By that I mean, I did have a tendency to get loud in public. However, I was not ever the girl getting asked out by the boy except for the time Jason Riley followed me to my locker after class. When I said no, he asked why and I said it was because he was, "blech." As in...gross. Mainly because I thought of him as a friend. He thought I said no because he was "black," which he was. Talk about awkward...

Second I began thinking, "If I was thirteen and someone told me my "#1 crush" and I were not meant to be together forever and that in fact I did not know how to go about a "real relationship" at 13 anyway, would I have listened?"
Answer: No. I would have screamed and cried telling that person they were, "so wrong" and that I was "different and mature for my age, duh." It would probably be similar to the time my parents wouldn't let me ride in the car with my friends older brother who had just received his license. They claimed he might be a reckless driver and that we could get in an accident. I screamed, and this is a direct quote, "Well, if I get in an accident and die at least I know it would've been my fault." I really thought that would change their mind. I think they made me leave the room so they could laugh.

Third I began thinking, "Did I know what a mocha was at 13?"
Answer: Nope. Didn't have a Starbucks in Rowlett. Actually, we didn't have anything remotely close. No coffee shops whatsoever. I think there was a bakery on Main Street. How cute...a bakery on Main Street.

Fourth I began to wonder about the elderly people who come into my store. Not sure why... Most of them come in pretty regularly, and some I haven't seen in awhile. I always wonder when an elderly patron suddenly quits coming if maybe they didn't pass away. That thought always makes me sad.

Somewhere along the lines of the "Nathan" conversation I realized that boys never really get less complicated with age. I always thought they would.

There is one thing that has become less complicated: Me.

I'm sssoooo kidding right now.

Dear Boys of Chicago...

2007-02-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

The following pick-up lines will not get you a date/get you laid no matter how amazing the delivery may be:

#1. Boy: So, you went to the doctor today? Everything okay?
Me: Oh yeah...everything's fine.
Boy: One of those take a pill for a couple of weeks and everything will clear up just fine? Huh? Huh? (then he chuckles at his own cleverness).

#2. Boy: (whispers very seductively while walking past me on the street) Go Bears.

Both happened. Recently. The second one took place while walking across Diversey. I should also note that not only was the line whispered "seductively" into my ear, but he attempted a little sigh that I think was supposed to be sexy. Key word: supposed to be.

If you respect yourself and your mother, please don't try these at home. If you don't respect yourself or your mother, please don't come near me.

That is all.

Johanna and Molly Sitting In a Booth...

2007-01-30T20:08:00.000-08:00

While most of the world was working hard or hardly working (I couldn't resist...) Johanna and I decided to get a little lunch. What could have been a nice, sweet girly get together became a wonderful afternoon of tipsy ladies ordering way too much food. See...we took pictures.

Johanna wondered if it was okay to order a cocktail in the afternoon. I said it was. We then both ordered cocktails. In total, she ordered three and I ordered two. Together we consumed and average of two and a half.

We at a lot of food after the cocktail consumption. Most of it was fried. We even made friends with our waiter Matt, who is going into the Peace Corps. Good luck Matt.

Soon after this picture was taken, Matt gave us the check. The following faces occurred:

How big was this bill you might ask? Well, for three appetizers, one entree and five cocktails (plus tax) it was:

That says $97.90 in case you were wondering. That's right, two only slightly employed women spent a little too much. Oops.

Johanna realized she had to call her husband Adam and let him know about our irresponsibility. She was also a little more than tipsy by this point. Johanna had not consumed alcohol in four months...so two and a half cocktails was...well, a lot.

In her lovely state, she thought it only appropriate to leave her side of the bill equal to $69...because she could.

After lunch we were very full, very happy, and very woozy. I am embarrassed to admit the wooziness....however it was fun. It was like we were in Vegas for the day. Oh Vegas. We even made another friend on the train ride home. This one is a chef. He knew Anthony Bourdain...or he was trying to get in our pants...which would not have happened. Tough luck for him. I do have one tip for anyone who might want to have a day as awesome as this...don't schedule a Bikram Yoga class the evening of your cocktail and fried food afternoon. Suddenly the one hundred and ten degree room becomes a little less relaxing and a little more...nauseating.