lxforever

The state of Minnesota just gave me a $339 renter’s refund! HOTT. It’s all the more cherished since I am afraid that next year I will no longer qualify…alas.

The government wants to build a bridge that’s like super duper crazy. I get it, but that kind of frightens me. Shouldn’t we, like, spend any extra money (of which there is none, but that’s another story) on making, um, other bridges safer? Eh?

Anyway.

All of my Speedos are destroyed. As I was telling Angela today, they have come apart at the elastic and now sag and swish all around me when I swim. It’s sad. I might not be able to swim again until I get to Middleton Cycle and Fitness or something. Swimsuits are not cheap!

I went to Jim Lupient Waterpark tonight. It definitely creeped people out, because I have no kids, but it was fun to be there. I hardly swam – too chilly for me (hey, I like it hot) – but it was just really nice to be there. Now it’s storyboard time.

I think this new method of updating (i.e., no quotes) suits me.

So. I’m alive. For all you lurkers out there.

Diana and I were painting closet doors in her basement on Wednesday night when her neighbor breezed by telling us that the 35W bridge at University collapsed. Dutiful perfectionists that we are, we finished the door we were on and then hustled upstairs to see what all the fuss was about.

DAMN.

By that point I had voicemail messages I couldn’t get to and text messages galore questioning my state of being. My apartment happens to be less than a mile from that bridge so I guess it freaked a bunch of people out. Lucky for me I ride my bike in the summer and haven’t been tutoring anyway, so no issue. But after updating my facebook status and getting ahold of my mom and Jeff, everyone seemed settled. There were some scary moments where we couldn’t get ahold of D’s dad, but it worked out thank God.

It wasn’t until Friday morning when we drove our usual route to the gym that happens to go above the bridge that I really realized what that WAS. I mean, I knew, but I didn’t. That’s the bridge we’d drive above and I’d complain about when they were ever going to get it done (exits from my area were blocked). Well holy shit. Guess it won’t be ‘done’ for awhile now, and I can damn well quit my complainin’. Holy smokes.

It’s just a really freaky and horrible thing, and as Diana and Jeff keep saying, “things like this don’t happen in Minnesota”. It’s naive but it’s true; I mean, we have winter. Hello.

The destruction and devastation are unimaginable, and I am so so so lucky that no one I know was involved. Thanks be to God. That all said, here’s to the people that were and their loved ones, and to the people that have been helping them out. It just blows the mind.

…..

I’ve been riding my bike to work every day just because the other two bridges by me are totally overloaded with detoured traffic. We’ll see when it all shakes out but for now I am very very happy to be slipping by traffic jams on my little bike. Yipes.

On Friday I had another review (we have them every three months, they’re informal lunch-y type things) and there was a lot of discussion on my irrational fears about getting fired. I can’t help it. I work somewhere that’s a Big Deal in Minneapolis and I’m surrounded by super duper talented folk everyday. It’s awesome but also frightening, and while I know it will make me better it’s still somewhat stressful. Aaah. The good thing is one of my buddies got promoted so I’m really excited about that. He will make a great SENIOR Dznr. The other good thing is I’m doing a good job. Phew.

Time for the Gymnastics and Life Analogy. So I liken my lucky spot at my job to being on the sucky D1 teams I had thought I could be on or being a student at MIT like I had considered (but thankfully wasn’t, because I don’t have $100000). I would have spent all of my time just grateful to be there, happy to be amongst such talented people but realizing that my piece in the puzzle, while there, was minimal. And you know what? It would have been awesome (being a benchwarmer on a DI team, anyway; the MIT thing may have been horrible). And so right now I’m just trying to do good work and learn some stuff so I can help out at least a bit. I think I’m getting somewhere.

I also built a totally perfect homepage for one of our clients on Friday so that makes me very very very geekily happy!!! Yeah!

…..

In other news…..um what else. We’ve had a really weird/rare weekend for us (‘we’ being ‘Jeff and I’, sorry, I’m trying not to be a ‘we’-er but I can’t help it. Aah.). Weird in that we’ve gone out and spent money, ha. On Friday we hit up Angela (Hoover)’s surprise birthday party in MAPLE GROVE at DAVE & BUSTERS. I thought it would be horrible, especially since it’s up in the Middle of Nowhere IMVHO, but it ended up being really really fun. Dave was so happy that he surprised her, Angela was happy to see us, and Angela’s buddies were all nice. I played a little skee ball and watched everyone else go nuts. Pretty fun.

My freelance got put on a tiny hold so I’ve had a lot of time to read and eat jellybeans, pretty much one of my favorite things ever, while Jeff plays Zelda. He LOVES that game. On Saturday after dropping his car off (and not getting it back, and finding out they basically stole his car for the next few days because they never called us, those jerkfaces, but that’s another story) we went to Southdale for DOUBLE FEATURE SATURDAY. We saw Simpsons and The Bourne Ultimatum – woo! Simpsons was pretty good, Bourne Ultimatum was AWESOME and if you like those movies you should totally see it. I love when a sequel/whatever turns out to be g-reat. Had a nice lunch at CPK – that place never fails to disappoint. We also did some requisite Apple Store cruising (twice) and played with the iPhones. They are AMAZING! I didn’t think I’d love it so much but I do. Seriously those things are incredible.

Michael came and visited me at work on Weds and that was pretty cool! He was interviewing across the street. How cool would that be if he worked right there! Yeah!

OK that’s it. This is way too long. Hope everyone’s doing well and be careful out there. Happy (happy?) August!

…as the guy said to Jeff on the phone this morning. “WRONG NUMBER!” I’m tired of using the old format all the time since it hinders me from updating so here ya go – randomness.

First, some PERSONAL STATS (since I’m such a fan of PERSONAL STATS), mostly from my myriad of medical appointments and other technical scenarios as of late. I am very proud of (most of) these stats so bear with me.

Teeth: No cavities and that stupid wire is doing its stupid job.
Blood pressure: 108/66. I am very proud about this because it used to always be like 120/80 because I’m so stressy all the time. However I might have tricked the BP-taker because I spent 20 minutes before trying to relax, ha ha ha. 😛
Cholesterol: 170. Suckas!
Run a mile: in 7:47. But then I can’t run more that fast because I die (how will I ever do a 5k under 25??? I’m thinkin’ no :P).
My total bs ‘credit scores’ from those bs institutions that still matter even though it’s kind of bs: In order to not be a jerk, I’ll just say they’re very good, very good, and good.

WHAT? The ‘good’ one threw me because frankly I am a superstar (when it comes to certain things, mind you). Turns out they DON’T have like the only account I use on that one. Credit institutions are total BS! You have to pay them, in turn they don’t do their job right and YOU have to correct them. What a joke. Anyway I was happy about the other two and Jeff has stellar credit. So that was exciting!

Anyway stats time is over. So I totally bought a wedding dress off Craigslist. It was $125 and it fit me perfectly, even with my giant ribcage! It was amazing and obviously meant to be. I figure, if I decide I don’t want it I can always sell it on ebay. Rcady or my mom will teach me the way (not the Tao Way, still figuring that out, the ebay way. Rcady makes so much $ selling stuff on ebay it’s crazy). But it was pretty awesome. Gooooo Craigslist!

OK that’s it for now, it’s work time. Ci-zzzao.

ETA: Where the F did that smiley come from??? WTH???? Something is weird here.

“I am so smart, I am so f***ing smart. My brain is huge!”

—Jeff, at some point…’don’t quote that’

(10:47:47 AM) Diana: awwwww don’t be scared
(10:47:56 AM) Diana: sometimes they have treats and drinks inside!
(10:48:11 AM) Diana: just like hansel and gretel. ok i guess i can see why
you’d be scared.

—Diana via messenger about open houses

Christie (who is 27): “Knock knock.” Ian (who is 4): “Who’s there?” Christie: “Orange.” Ian: “Orange who?” Christie: “Knock knock.” Ian: “Who’s there?” Christie: “Orange.” Ian: “No no no, you’re supposed to say BANANA!”

—7/21/07…that’ll show ’em, Ian! ha ha ha

time 5:52 pm feeling frazzled wearing as little clothing as possible ready for clean dishes next get going on that to-do list!

I’m sitting here eating huevos rancheros and drinking a somewhat-acceptable Milwaukee’s Best (hey, I’m not my dad’s daughter for nothin’) and panicking about a multitude of things. This is ridiculous, because really there’s nothing worth panicking over but I can’t help myself. Despite trying to finish up the Te of Piglet (SORRY Bret it went on the back shelf, it’s back out now), I can’t keep my zendom, and crazy craziness creeps in.

I haven’t updated in forever which is super lame but you’ll have to deal. Other than the last million years since I last updated, what can I say. Last weekend was the Mason reunion which was awesome. There have been many emails exchanged detailing the events, but suffice it to say Tom and Connie are supremo hosts and Jeff, Megan, Matt and I ran a mean ‘madminton’ tournament. Christie and Mike were kind enough to play Blokus with us and Marc was kind enough to take everyone’s height and not hate me for not being able to hit anything with anything (hence we were one and done in the tourney, 10-1). Ian thinks I’m 19 and that Jeff’s my brother and he makes me wonder how he knows more about the family than most people in it? Ha! (Unrelated to the brother comment, BTW.) If only I could get the family to transplant up here, then my life would be complete.

(Madison’s still pretty cool though. Never can rule it out, as much as I love the TC.)

Things I have to do tonight:
-Angela’s storyboards
-dishes…MANY!!!!!!
-do something with the leftover black bean and corn salad
-balance checkbook
-write G&G
-call Stephie hopefully
-emails!!!! MANY!!!!

Things I am semi- or full-on-panicking about:
-I found a bug on one of my sheets in the closet and I am scared beyond belief. I want to do laundry immediately but I’ll have to wait…aaaaah!!!
-How can I have a cheap but not trashy wedding?
-How can I have a secular but not offensive wedding?
-WHERE can I have the above?
-What if there are bugs infested in the REST of my apartment?
-Should we look for a 2 BR apt or a house? Can we even afford that?
-Why am I so obsessed with houses?
-Am I going to get fired?
-Do I owe anyone anything freelance-wise other than Angela?

OK, I’ll stop there. Otherwise I’ll really lose it.

Anna turned 1 on Saturday and we sang happy birthday to her from Connie’s. It was awesome! I hope she had fun. I have pics to look through. Stella was 1 on Friday and Tiffany is due to have her baby anytime. Baby madness.

There’s a 5k around Nokomis on Saturday that we might run but we might not. It’s kind of lame to just run one without a goal (because I know it’s too early to meet my tentative 5k goal…not yet!), plus it will be super hot, but it’s NOKOMIS and we’re suckers for that. Hm. This weekend I’ve resolved to make no plans and then the next few weekends are chock full. Lots of excitement. The fair is coming up which makes Jeff very happy, and before that the annual Saints Game outing. That should be neat, and Diana and Magali will join us since JJ cannot. Nice.

I’m too hot and I’m done with my eggs. Time to tackle those to-dos. Adios!

“We can’t all be Girl Scouts, Millie.”

—Lindsey on Freaks and Geeks

time 1:36 pm feeling clean wearing cool clothes ready for anything next ?

This has been one heck of a week.

The weekend prior, my Dad came to visit, all my himself. We went to the Twins-Brewers game which was awesome. Sometimes the Dome isn’t as bad as I think. There was this one guy that my Dad kept saying was overpaid and basically worthless on the Brewers, then he proceeded to hit a GRAND SLAM holy smokes!! It was pretty exciting. Needless to say the Twins lost but it was really fun. Brats and beer for dinner (yes, they sell turkey brats) + cool baseball = good times.

Saturday we straightened out the Saints tickets situation and I showed off HAM + our cool Wii a little bit. Pretty fun, I’ll have to play golf again sometime. We took a self-tour of the Guthrie and chatted a bit with the guy serving drinks. The Guthrie is pretty incredible and I’m glad to finally check it out. We’ll have to take Mom there. Hit up Punch for a pretty intense but useful lunch and looked around the ‘art’ fair (more like a craft fair). Too hot = went home. My Dad left me with a book that I just finished yesterday. Very useful to not just work but life too. Now I have to finish the Te of Piglet and things will come together. Yeah.

This week was Flashbelt combined with random trips to the office to do work (because, you know, that’s what we actually do, ha ha!). Flashbelt was pretty awesome and the Cosmos thing on the last day blew my mind. Math is so amazing. I miss it. I need to get back into Flash/programming, because that’s the closest one can get to the magic of art and math together. That sounds super new agey but you had to have seen it to know! Pretty kickass. I can’t wait for Flashbelt 08. Dave puts on a good show and it’s so awesome that it’s here in Minneapolis.

I didn’t get enough done once we returned to the office on Thursday/Friday. Whoa man, that’s not gonna be good come next week. Oh well we’ll see what happens. Lots of good stuff going on so it’s pretty exciting around HAM.

Today I actually got everything done that I meant to and it’s making me a bit creeped out. Freelance is laying low for now…regular work is not necessarily something I have to do today…no events coming up, etc. It’s definitely weird to have my daily ‘to-do’ list done but once I make one for next week it’ll be clear that I should savor this. YEAHHHHH. On that note maybe I’ll go read. Woo summer! I love it!

—LX

“We only like things with Is…iPod…iRaq…”

—Rcady, a few weeks ago

time 11:04 am feeling gross wearing ? ready for another burrito! next find a reasonable fascimile of a burrito in this kitchen somewhere

This website creeps me out.

Anyway our party was totally awesome last night. Sadly a good deal of people couldn’t make it, and sadly I think there will be no sequel this time, at least for awhile, but many people dressed up (Alyssa! John! Susan! Diana! Melissa, oh I’m sorry, COURTNEY LOVE!) and Carrie Camaro from KOOL108 made an appearance. It was pretty frickin’ sweet. Even Oona and Brian managed to make it which was very cool. Our sisters aren’t best friends for nothin’!

Blokus was a big hit, bigger than Guitar Hero, and Brian, Susan and Peter were obviously meant to play that game. The downside is now I feel disgusting and have gold eyeliner and fake-eyelash-glue gumming up my face. Gross. That’s alright (“you’re an ‘alright chick'” -AC Slater via Nick Cagle) because it was totally worth it. Now if I could only find another burrito!

It’s going to be 90 this week. I am STOKED. I <3 the heat. (Sorry D, Katy and Jeff, I know you hate it.)(Well, Katy doesn't even live here, but still.) Next weekend is Carrie's party and my dad is coming to visit. So, good times ahead. My cousin Jesse graduated high school last night (I can't believe he is 18 - that is crazy) and he took time out of his busy day to text me. Pretty sweet. I gotta call him. The point is, way to GRADUATE, Jesse! Now I'd like to know: when the hell is Jenny going to come visit. Hurry it up JJ! Naw just kidding. But I hope you guys know you are welcome here in the TC anytime! I love it here and I love to show it off. Wisconsin is cool but I am pretty keen on MN. Unless there were an embargo on cheese, here I will stay (much to the sadness of my parents; sorry guys). OK this entry is stupid so I am OUT.

—LX

1. Biden – F yeah!
2. Edwards – made a comeback, however did not appreciate his stance on gay marriage
3. Richardson – he is super kickass!! but a little too mouthy
4. Obama – I like him but he’s so much the little kid eager to please that it makes me nervous
5. Clinton – milking that anti-Bushie stance (which is smart), but she’s still skeeves me out
6. Kucinich – although he’s #1 in terms of stuff I agree with, he’s too crazy and would never win. BOO to that.
7. Dodd – name is too much like ‘dud’
8. Grandpa (Gravel) – he’s too angry

[11:18] Diana: i forgot to tell you…before j decided to do vegas, she was planning a mpls wedding
[11:18] Diana: and one day she comes up to me and goes: theknot.com says i have 171 decisions left to make before the wedding.
[11:18] Diana: lol!
[11:18] Diana: and then like an hour later, she was like: 170 to go.

—5/31/07

“Hello Mommy.”

—Knocked Up

time 1:13 pm feeling stuffy wearing workout clothes ready for cleaning my car! next go work out?

Woo, so I feel the need to update since Diana refuses to say anything until I do. Jeff and I are engaged! I’m pretty sure everyone who reads here already knows this, but hey, might as well put it up there for the lurkers. We’re getting hitched sometime in 2008 somewhere in Minnesota.

So what else is new. Not too much, sorry to say. We got our asses kicked at softball, 14-4, game was called on account of pity. Whoops. I did some GG/GS stuff yesterday and lots o’ emailing today. Saw Knocked Up which was good, even if just to see the Apatow crew, and hope to listen to a debate tonight. That’s about it. Oh yeah maybe I’ll start sewing again soon.

It is really cool to be engaged but really uncool to have to plan stuff. Well not really but right now it’s way too overwhelming. One site said I should budget like $800 for my appearance alone. Are they f’in high? Seriously.

Um that’s about it. I think there are some things I need to tend to now…ehhhhh…ciao!

—LX

“GOD computers are SMART”

—Diana, 5/22/07

time 9:19 pm feeling hot wearing pjs ready for another great day! next bedtime

Today was such a great day. Thus I feel the need to record it.

I got up and rode my bike to the gym. It was absolutely beautiful this morning and the ride was very calming. Lifted and scurried back (late for work as usual; luckily few people mind). I hope I am getting stronger. Got to work, played Tea Xchange with Angela, and Brad showed us his Webkinz. It is SUPER awesome and I TOTALLY want one (hahahahaha) seriously those things are way cool. No wonder it’s addicting. Luckily for my parents the internet only existed as PRODIGY MESSAGELISTS when I was 10. Hah!

Spent a bit more time on ff0000.com (yes the hex for red) messing around with my work buddies. That site is so sweet, you gotta check it out. Cruised around for HAM and Groovy Girls stuff and explored RCady’s giant font library. Had a great review and Greek salad lunch that was very helpful (the former) and tasty (the latter). Then I got a message from Alyssa and a comment from Sarah and found out that we get Special Stephie Time on Friday. Yay.

Tiffany and I took a trip to rescue lemon bars from the coffeeshop and then laughed over the hilarious Onion article about EMPOWERING WOMEN lol! Later in the afternoon we went to see Shrek 3 as a company (our reward for…something). It was probably the least strong of the three but I still totally loved it (except the weird princess parts relating to EMPOWERING WOMEN). Raced out of there and headed to softball.

I was secretly hoping the game would get cancelled (who am I kidding, when do I not wish this – maybe not after this week), and it was totally dusty and windy, yuck, but it was an awesome game. Angela and Carolyn BOTH caught fly balls, Jamie caught a really good hit/got an out too, and Rachel hit two triples. (EMPOWERMENT lmao.) I got on base three out of four at-bats and got two runs. Good thing I am super fast because that really confuses people, LOL. I even scored the winning run and I didn’t NOT catch any foul balls (because none came to me, ha). It was pretty amazing. Jeff was a super first baseman and everyone was very happy after the game.

Came home and had a tasty eggplant-onion-garlic-pasta dish. Watched Al Gore and, again, people, he IS running. You heard it here first! Emailed my landlady because I totally destroyed my window trying to ‘patch it up’, so while it’s hot and stuffy in here, I don’t have any bugs and I know she will fix it somehow because she’s like that.

Now it’s bedtime which will be lovely. I was super duper crabby on Monday so this day was a welcome treat. HURRAH! Happy Tuesday!!!

—LX

“It’s like a teddybear, but a teddybear with sunglasses, because we’re badass.”

—Ryan Cady, 5/18/07

“Tiramisu!”

—weird guy at dinner last night, 5/19/07

time 12:35 pm feeling clean wearing whatever ready for a clean apt next procrastinate

Soooooooo yeah. I guess it’s not just ease of updating that holds me back but a remarkable lack of anything interesting to say. Yet here I am, writing…heh heh heh you are all so lucky.

Anyway other than knowing I really really should clean the rest of my apartment today (and not just little cleaning, either; I’m talking top-to-bottom, throw-stuff-out clean. I did this to my kitchen and bathroom last week and it was awesome. But now of course I just don’t wanna waaaah LOL.) it’s been a pretty nice weekend. Heck, a pretty nice past few weeks, for that matter, since I haven’t updated in a zillion days. WHATEVS.

So in the past few weeks, we did my mom’s 60th which was wonderful, went to Vegas which kicked so much ass, had HAMJAM which was superfun but BAD NEWS!, my cousin Michael broke his leg which sucked, and tons of other stuff I’m sure. Oh yeah Katie’s wedding shower. That was pretty great too. And last weekend kicked off outdoor running. I’m sure we could have started earlier but Jeff and I were in varying amounts of weird knee pain (unrelated).

Normally we start by running the 3 or so mile route around my apartment. Not so this time! We ran to, around, and back from the lake (Nokomis)(this is almost five miles I think). I felt great, and totally made it with even a sprint at the end. Wow! Until the next morning and the days following. I hadn’t been in that much post-workout-soreness-pain since….well since a few weeks before when I did some weird leg thing at gymnastics, but nevertheless! Yesterday we ran once more but this time it was like 85 degrees (we can only run about once a week without getting hurt, I think I’ve decided). HORRIBLE. I am in less pain today but yesterday was quite difficult. Death by sun!

Yeah so that was that. Then we took Jeff’s dad out (excuse me, JEFF took his dad out, I was just along for the ride) for his bday dinner and then met up with our UMN design friends for a few drinks. Everyone was so excited to see us that it was kind of pathetic, because they were only excited since Jeff and I hardly EVER go out, ha ha. We’re homebodies, people!

Oh yeah last week was pretty great too. Work’s been calm which is weird, but nice, because it affords us plenty of time to do things like go to the library and research and look at super cool old books, and it allows me time to drink and bowl with my little developer friends (not that they’re little). And I got a free lunch as a bribe to go to a meeting, and I had MJDWLX lunch which was lovely. They came to M&S and even as a director MJ made time for us! Yessssss.

Wow this is a really stupid entry about my weekend. Sorry guys.

I just realized when working out this morning that I am one of only two of my HS buddies (the “TGs”) to not have received or to be working on an advanced degree. Ha! Ha! That cracks me up.

Ummm what else. Next weekend is Katie and Bill’s wedding in Madison. It’ll sure be nice to have a long weekend in Madison; maybe we’ll do some MADISON TYPE THINGS like farmer’s market for example. We shall see!

I have a whole list of stuff I want to accomplish/do/eat (ha!) this summer… I should put that up if I ever find it again. Suffice it to say once I clean my car and apartment there is much fun to be had.

Oh yeah and now for a quick public service announcement…I no longer eat ground beef, and, quite likely, any beef at all. This is not meant as an affront to those of you that do, so please stop taking/do not take offense. But yeah, um, that’s that.

Happy Sunday! OH yeah and happy b-day Chloe!

—LX