lucky me. i didn't have to pay to see a sucky movie.
a (soon-to-be former) coworker gave me two free passes to see a pre-screening of MI3, so court and i went. i probably wouldn't have gone once it came out, but if the price is right (e.g., $0), then i'm game. i tried to go with an open mind too; i may be nauseated by tom cruise's antics (to put it mildly) by now, but hey--every film deserves a fair shake, right?
yeah, not so much. the best performance in the cast was given, no surprise here, by Philip Seymour Hoffman. *insert applause here.* the rest of the cast was pretty okay, except that laurence fishburn has not aged gracefully. ouch. oh and jonathyn rhyss-meyers? :) anyway, there was lots of blowing up and shooting and and jumping over/off of ridiculous gaping holes or treacherously high buildings. oh and there was the helicopter dogfight.
&*!&@^#!)*&@#^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as the daughter of a helicopter pilot, it was particularly hard for me to suspend my disbelief on that one, especially since it focused on the good guy huey (the kind my dad flew for over 20 years) and the bad guy apache (armed to the teeth, and actually my dad knows how to fly its cousin, the cobra). three things: first, a huey canNOT pitch and roll like that at the portrayed speeds and stay airborne. it's plain physics. second (and related), flying through the windmill blades is just plain stupid because, again, hueys do not have the kind of speed to make that kind of timing and maneuvering. last, in real life, an apache would DESTROY a huey. every daughter of a pilot knows this. the huey is outmatched by the apache in basically every respect--maneuverability, speed, and firepower. the huey is made heavier by more people aboard (although it was flying with its doors off--smart! no, that really is done. that was a good touch.), and the apache would *almost* be equalized by adding a butt-load of fire power, way more than the "one missle left!" shouted by the really hot pilot/jonathan rhyss-meyers. the apache didn't use its machine guns which could have ripped the fuselage apart and thus downed the huey in no time flat. or, it could have used its various weapons to take out the tail rotor, again sending our hero(s) to meet his/their doom. to a girl raised in the aviation world, this was simply unacceptable.
oh, and as far as the hero(s) part, i get the idea that there is a definitely protagonist with his scooby gang. no biggie. it's been done. what i do object to is the fact that this was a tom cruise tom cruise tom cruise tom cruise tom cruise tom cruise tom cruise tom cruise movie. i guess that's what you can do when you star in the same movie that you're co-producing. in nearly every scene, our *hero* is either running, jumping or having his eyeballs pop out of their sockets. our *hero* ethan hunt turns into tom cruise, and sadly, MI3 simply becomes another tom cruise vehicle. barf.
oh and fyi--this plot has been done before. spy tries to quit super secret life of saving the world, family/friend/lover gets kidnapped by bad guy/evil organization, he has to help said villains in order to rescue said villains even though everybody KNOWS that said villains are planning to kill everybody anyway, but he still manages to rescue said loved ones, and he eventually triumphs through spectacular feats of daring-do. BORING. try coming up with something intellectually inviting next time. not that i was expecting that, but still.
this message will self-destruct in five seconds.
4.28.2006
4.26.2006
omelette, part 2
semi-feeling better. well, not really, but oh well.
anyway, i was reading maria's blog and found a lot about clara. i miss that baby girl. according to my brother, she and i "worked" when she was with me. go figure. i wonder how big she is now and how much she gurgles and crawls. granted, i saw her less than a month ago, but still. i really wish i could see her more often.
and tasha,
it's STILL NOT FUNNY.
things are going pretty well, except for the fact that i will be JOBLESS come saturday. well, not entirely true, since i'm tutoring again. but you know what i mean. oh well. i've got a few nibbles out there. i'm going to throw some more lines out, and hopefully i'll get something. despite all of my bitching about moving yesterday, it would be fun to be living nearer chris.
oops. gotta go. again. but not to throw up.
anyway, i was reading maria's blog and found a lot about clara. i miss that baby girl. according to my brother, she and i "worked" when she was with me. go figure. i wonder how big she is now and how much she gurgles and crawls. granted, i saw her less than a month ago, but still. i really wish i could see her more often.
and tasha,
it's STILL NOT FUNNY.
things are going pretty well, except for the fact that i will be JOBLESS come saturday. well, not entirely true, since i'm tutoring again. but you know what i mean. oh well. i've got a few nibbles out there. i'm going to throw some more lines out, and hopefully i'll get something. despite all of my bitching about moving yesterday, it would be fun to be living nearer chris.
oops. gotta go. again. but not to throw up.
do you know the omelette man
today is 'thank you, administrative assistants' day. or something like that. our firm was going to throw a nice breakfast, complete with an omelette man. dude didn't show. people are cranky because they were depending on this for their breakfast. especially since a bunch are signed up to give blood. damn the omelette man.
last time i donated blood, i felt okay, if not a little woozy. it took twenty minutes to give just one unit, so maybe my body was pacing itself. this time, WHAM BANG, just five minutes. and that sucks. i feel completely nauseated. after describing it to a coworker, she said that it sounded like morning sickness.
NOT FUNNY, TASHA.
actually, i read my sister-in-law's blog today, and it made me miss my niece. ... brb... i have to go throw up... :(
last time i donated blood, i felt okay, if not a little woozy. it took twenty minutes to give just one unit, so maybe my body was pacing itself. this time, WHAM BANG, just five minutes. and that sucks. i feel completely nauseated. after describing it to a coworker, she said that it sounded like morning sickness.
NOT FUNNY, TASHA.
actually, i read my sister-in-law's blog today, and it made me miss my niece. ... brb... i have to go throw up... :(
4.25.2006
job hunting. again. and maybe moving too.
:(
i am so damn sick of this. but that's what happens when you're a pure literature scholar who hasn't gotten her teaching certificate. and to complicate matters, 99% of the nibbles i've had so far are in the metro dc area. so if any of those panned out, i'd have to move. again. barf. don't get me wrong. i love dc, i love a lot of the job possibilities, etc., etc. but the job hunting can be so depressing, and moving can be such a bitch. chris is no help either. he's hyped up because if i move, then we'd be nearer each other. "yay!!!" he says. i say "yay!!!" too because it would be mad convenient and 10x the fun, but i'm not going to move just for a guy. sorry, babe. in the meantime, before i know for sure where i'll be next year, i'm going to try and wait tables or something like that. i know that's not easy, and the pay is small, but it's a job. and job = paycheck. so whatever.
other than that, sunday and monday were blah-de-blah blah blah. saturday was AWESOME. chris and i went to adams morgan with two of his close friends from raleigh and some other friends from school. i wish everybody could meet konicki. except for my female friends. he's a great guy, but he's also a slut. he knows and freely admits this. anyway, konicki always knows where and when to go to find the most fun, and we ended up at this place called millie and al's. to tell you the truth, i have to learn to loosen up. i danced some but for some reason was pretty self-conscious. i haven't been that way in a LONG time. perhaps i was very aware of konicki and some other guys trying to get a free peek under my top. yeah. not going to happen. at all. ever. even if i'm a little ripped. which i don't do. because i get sick. especially after car bombs. much to my chagrin.
i've always been a little tightly wound, and i think in the past year or two, i've relaxed a lot. i still have a little ways to go, but i'm FAR more comfortable with myself than i used to be. it helps to have gone for some substantial achievements and sometimes succeeded. awesome. one of the things that i really enjoy about chris is how comfortable he and i are with each other. i think we see and get excited about each other's ambitions, and understanding what the goals are really helps us to be supportive of the other. it's not to say that my confidence is improved just because the two of us are dating, but it's been really nice to have him standing behind me. maybe moving closer to him will be even better than i think. YAY!!!
oh, and look up matt konicki (umd math) on ratemyprofessor.com. you'll see what i mean by slut.
i am so damn sick of this. but that's what happens when you're a pure literature scholar who hasn't gotten her teaching certificate. and to complicate matters, 99% of the nibbles i've had so far are in the metro dc area. so if any of those panned out, i'd have to move. again. barf. don't get me wrong. i love dc, i love a lot of the job possibilities, etc., etc. but the job hunting can be so depressing, and moving can be such a bitch. chris is no help either. he's hyped up because if i move, then we'd be nearer each other. "yay!!!" he says. i say "yay!!!" too because it would be mad convenient and 10x the fun, but i'm not going to move just for a guy. sorry, babe. in the meantime, before i know for sure where i'll be next year, i'm going to try and wait tables or something like that. i know that's not easy, and the pay is small, but it's a job. and job = paycheck. so whatever.
other than that, sunday and monday were blah-de-blah blah blah. saturday was AWESOME. chris and i went to adams morgan with two of his close friends from raleigh and some other friends from school. i wish everybody could meet konicki. except for my female friends. he's a great guy, but he's also a slut. he knows and freely admits this. anyway, konicki always knows where and when to go to find the most fun, and we ended up at this place called millie and al's. to tell you the truth, i have to learn to loosen up. i danced some but for some reason was pretty self-conscious. i haven't been that way in a LONG time. perhaps i was very aware of konicki and some other guys trying to get a free peek under my top. yeah. not going to happen. at all. ever. even if i'm a little ripped. which i don't do. because i get sick. especially after car bombs. much to my chagrin.
i've always been a little tightly wound, and i think in the past year or two, i've relaxed a lot. i still have a little ways to go, but i'm FAR more comfortable with myself than i used to be. it helps to have gone for some substantial achievements and sometimes succeeded. awesome. one of the things that i really enjoy about chris is how comfortable he and i are with each other. i think we see and get excited about each other's ambitions, and understanding what the goals are really helps us to be supportive of the other. it's not to say that my confidence is improved just because the two of us are dating, but it's been really nice to have him standing behind me. maybe moving closer to him will be even better than i think. YAY!!!
oh, and look up matt konicki (umd math) on ratemyprofessor.com. you'll see what i mean by slut.
4.21.2006
today's news
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/060419_brain_wiring.html
WHEW!!!!!! now that we know this, the battle of the sexes can finally come to an end!!!
and in other news, lance armstrong is going to take on a beast of the running world: the marathon.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=2414546
are we particularly surprised? no, this running junkie isn't. we all knew that he wouldn't be able to give up some form of highly demanding athletic competition for long. he even says it himself--retiring from cycling left a void in his life. i'm not looking for him to be a major competitor though, not unless he starts an incredibly rigorous training program and has a few races under his belt. even then, he'll have to deal with the likes of today's powerhouse nations--kenya, ethiopia, russia, and sometimes china and japan.
i'll give him the fact that he's already beaten his body into submission through his unprecedented success in cycling. but, i would have to say that, although i know very little about training regimens for cycling, it has to be different in some key ways. first, with running, you have no opportunity to coast. even downhills can be a bitch because you either have to consciously control your stride, or you have to let your body go and deal with some wicked turnover speed in order not to go head over toe and die. second, drafting strategy is very different and much more individual. while the frontrunners generally shift and allow somebody else to take the headwind, there is no team-based unity, and the best runners will break away at any time, without having had the fortune of teammates allowing him or her to do less work via drafting. third, body type is quite different. lance certainly has to have something like 0.5% body fat, but his most powerful muscles are in a very different place: his legs. it seems counterintuitive to say that a runner's most powerful muscles are not in his or her legs, but it is also true that a runner's build has to be very balanced. i'm wondering how lance will do, having been so used to using his arms for stability and aerodynamics as opposed to sustaining and propelling the body forward.
i have no doubt at all that he has the endurance necessary to do well; the man won a 2000+ mile race seven years straight, for pete's sake. but how long will it take for his body to transition from the biomechanics of cycling to those of running? how quickly can he retrain muscle memory? people might say that it's silly, the idea that running and cycling can be mutually exclusive. i'm not saying that they are. but i do posit that, as he's been training for extreme long distance on a bike for a very long time, it will be a significant physiological adjustment for him to be a competitive marathoner. he says he hasn't decided if that will be his future, but i am convinced that the man is addicted to sport, to competitive sport, and he won't be able to trot amidst the crowd for very long.
i'm certainly not disparaging the man's ability. lord no. he is my favorite athlete. and to be honest, have you SEEN him?! yum. but seriously, i'm excited about his new goal. it's great to see everyone reaching for something that has the capacity to improve his or her life. and if lance does for marathoning (and distance running in general) what he did for cycling, perhaps my sport will gain more appreciation in the u.s.
that can only be a good thing.
WHEW!!!!!! now that we know this, the battle of the sexes can finally come to an end!!!
and in other news, lance armstrong is going to take on a beast of the running world: the marathon.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=2414546
are we particularly surprised? no, this running junkie isn't. we all knew that he wouldn't be able to give up some form of highly demanding athletic competition for long. he even says it himself--retiring from cycling left a void in his life. i'm not looking for him to be a major competitor though, not unless he starts an incredibly rigorous training program and has a few races under his belt. even then, he'll have to deal with the likes of today's powerhouse nations--kenya, ethiopia, russia, and sometimes china and japan.
i'll give him the fact that he's already beaten his body into submission through his unprecedented success in cycling. but, i would have to say that, although i know very little about training regimens for cycling, it has to be different in some key ways. first, with running, you have no opportunity to coast. even downhills can be a bitch because you either have to consciously control your stride, or you have to let your body go and deal with some wicked turnover speed in order not to go head over toe and die. second, drafting strategy is very different and much more individual. while the frontrunners generally shift and allow somebody else to take the headwind, there is no team-based unity, and the best runners will break away at any time, without having had the fortune of teammates allowing him or her to do less work via drafting. third, body type is quite different. lance certainly has to have something like 0.5% body fat, but his most powerful muscles are in a very different place: his legs. it seems counterintuitive to say that a runner's most powerful muscles are not in his or her legs, but it is also true that a runner's build has to be very balanced. i'm wondering how lance will do, having been so used to using his arms for stability and aerodynamics as opposed to sustaining and propelling the body forward.
i have no doubt at all that he has the endurance necessary to do well; the man won a 2000+ mile race seven years straight, for pete's sake. but how long will it take for his body to transition from the biomechanics of cycling to those of running? how quickly can he retrain muscle memory? people might say that it's silly, the idea that running and cycling can be mutually exclusive. i'm not saying that they are. but i do posit that, as he's been training for extreme long distance on a bike for a very long time, it will be a significant physiological adjustment for him to be a competitive marathoner. he says he hasn't decided if that will be his future, but i am convinced that the man is addicted to sport, to competitive sport, and he won't be able to trot amidst the crowd for very long.
i'm certainly not disparaging the man's ability. lord no. he is my favorite athlete. and to be honest, have you SEEN him?! yum. but seriously, i'm excited about his new goal. it's great to see everyone reaching for something that has the capacity to improve his or her life. and if lance does for marathoning (and distance running in general) what he did for cycling, perhaps my sport will gain more appreciation in the u.s.
that can only be a good thing.
4.20.2006
minor miscalculation
okay, so i thought that waiting until 6:45 was good enough to go running with the tobster. apparently not. it wasn't blazing hot, but it was very humid, and i felt bad for the little dude. he's wearing a fur coat that he can't take off, afterall. so, the run was all about him. i made sure that we ran 99.9% on the grass and trails, and we also stayed in the shade as much as possible. i also made him run slower than usual, and if he felt like slowing down or stopping, then we did. we did 1.75 miles or so, which was nice. then i let him take a long dip in the stream, which he loved, of course. there weren't that many other doggies there, but he had a great time jumping and splashing in the water. i contemplated joining him, but i was wearing a white shirt and white sports bra. draw your own conclusions. overall this was a relaxing little run. yay!
toby's going to be the fastest dog at the VA fun run. excellent.
toby's going to be the fastest dog at the VA fun run. excellent.
dj question of the day
what is the farthest distance you've ever traveled for a date?
the morning show tidbit was about a young woman who had been introduced to a guy and, after that one meeting, flew to tokyo for their first date.
i had to think about this one, and at first i considered pensacola, fla to be my answer. but then i thought, "no, i'd already been dating the guy for about two years," so that didn't count. then it hit me. the farthest i'd traveled was from lebanon to philly. granted, that's only a two hour drive, but it was pretty damn interesting.
i met steve (the bastard, not the handy) at the end of my senior year at the state quiz bowl competition. because both of our teams had lost at the hands of my bitter rivals, there was much cause for commiseration. so steve and i talked quite a bit. later, both cedar crest and wc east were invited to nationals, and we relished watching manheim township get destroyed by some ridiculous team from california. much celebration ensued, and, as i'd been eyeing (sp?) steve that whole weekend, i now had an excuse to exchange email addresses. what better reason to get someone's digits than the utter crushing of a mutual enemy. (notice the drama inherent to quiz bowl...)
so the two of us chatted a lot, yada yada yada, emailing almost everyday over the course of the summer. we talked about everything, and conversation seemed to be getting a little more ... interesting. he came to hershey for a golf tournament, and we met for lunch. pretty fun. finally, in august, he invited me to glen mills, located very closely to my grandparents' house. SCORE! a night of ice cream and putt putt--it couldn't have been better. the two hour drive was seeming more and more worth it.
he took me back to my grandparents's house, and we sat on the porch. sun had just set, crickets chirping...very romantic. talking, talking, talking, and then out of nowhere, he asks, "where would you like 'this' to go?" gulp. i couldn't say anything. i was way too nervous because i really liked this guy. so after some silence, he said, "well, i'm glad we can be friends because i have to tell you about my fabulous girlfriend Ali."
the night went downhill from there. i kept it together, but it was really disingenuous of him to lead me on and then drop a huge bomb like that. surprisingly enough (or not), when Ali discovered his daily emails to me a few months later, she dumped him. And a few months after that, he professed his love for me, and i fell for it, and we ended up dating for about a year. and that was interesting.
so the 2 hour drive for a date was a total bust. that was the LAST time i ever did that.
now i'll just ride to raleigh and new jersey and meet a passel of family all at once. tell me that that's much smarter...
the morning show tidbit was about a young woman who had been introduced to a guy and, after that one meeting, flew to tokyo for their first date.
i had to think about this one, and at first i considered pensacola, fla to be my answer. but then i thought, "no, i'd already been dating the guy for about two years," so that didn't count. then it hit me. the farthest i'd traveled was from lebanon to philly. granted, that's only a two hour drive, but it was pretty damn interesting.
i met steve (the bastard, not the handy) at the end of my senior year at the state quiz bowl competition. because both of our teams had lost at the hands of my bitter rivals, there was much cause for commiseration. so steve and i talked quite a bit. later, both cedar crest and wc east were invited to nationals, and we relished watching manheim township get destroyed by some ridiculous team from california. much celebration ensued, and, as i'd been eyeing (sp?) steve that whole weekend, i now had an excuse to exchange email addresses. what better reason to get someone's digits than the utter crushing of a mutual enemy. (notice the drama inherent to quiz bowl...)
so the two of us chatted a lot, yada yada yada, emailing almost everyday over the course of the summer. we talked about everything, and conversation seemed to be getting a little more ... interesting. he came to hershey for a golf tournament, and we met for lunch. pretty fun. finally, in august, he invited me to glen mills, located very closely to my grandparents' house. SCORE! a night of ice cream and putt putt--it couldn't have been better. the two hour drive was seeming more and more worth it.
he took me back to my grandparents's house, and we sat on the porch. sun had just set, crickets chirping...very romantic. talking, talking, talking, and then out of nowhere, he asks, "where would you like 'this' to go?" gulp. i couldn't say anything. i was way too nervous because i really liked this guy. so after some silence, he said, "well, i'm glad we can be friends because i have to tell you about my fabulous girlfriend Ali."
the night went downhill from there. i kept it together, but it was really disingenuous of him to lead me on and then drop a huge bomb like that. surprisingly enough (or not), when Ali discovered his daily emails to me a few months later, she dumped him. And a few months after that, he professed his love for me, and i fell for it, and we ended up dating for about a year. and that was interesting.
so the 2 hour drive for a date was a total bust. that was the LAST time i ever did that.
now i'll just ride to raleigh and new jersey and meet a passel of family all at once. tell me that that's much smarter...
4.19.2006
getting there... sorta...
since my hours have been cut in half at work (*sigh*), i have more time to get back into running. i just hope that i remember all of the different loops, out and backs and point to points that i did all the time last year.
today was a nice, rambling route. i took roland up to wyndhurst and found the head of the trail. i took the trail all the way down to remington and turned around and came back all the way up to the doggy park. i came back up to the higher end of the park, went over to 36th, and ran to elm. that was ~50 minutes, more than 5 miles.
i made myself start out slow again because i'm really trying to keep myself from getting injured. the precautions were good because i was having a little bit of trouble with the heat and humidity. it's a good thing i'm getting out now. it'll help acclimatize me in time for baltimore's summers from hell. it was smart to get onto the trail for two reasons: i got out of the sun, and the earth surface was sooooooooooooooooo beautiful for my shins and knees. i could run that trail a million times for the sake of my joints. plus, i got to jump across the stream. wheeeee!
:)
so far this week, i've done 12 miles. i might do 2 miles with toby tomorrow, later in the evening of course as it gets hotter, and then another easy day on friday. i have pike's peek on sunday, and i'm not trying to get a PR. i'm not in good shape for that. but i just want to have fun with it, see some terprunner friends and chill w/ my guy.
as of 4/24, it'll be TWO races down, with four to go!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
today was a nice, rambling route. i took roland up to wyndhurst and found the head of the trail. i took the trail all the way down to remington and turned around and came back all the way up to the doggy park. i came back up to the higher end of the park, went over to 36th, and ran to elm. that was ~50 minutes, more than 5 miles.
i made myself start out slow again because i'm really trying to keep myself from getting injured. the precautions were good because i was having a little bit of trouble with the heat and humidity. it's a good thing i'm getting out now. it'll help acclimatize me in time for baltimore's summers from hell. it was smart to get onto the trail for two reasons: i got out of the sun, and the earth surface was sooooooooooooooooo beautiful for my shins and knees. i could run that trail a million times for the sake of my joints. plus, i got to jump across the stream. wheeeee!
:)
so far this week, i've done 12 miles. i might do 2 miles with toby tomorrow, later in the evening of course as it gets hotter, and then another easy day on friday. i have pike's peek on sunday, and i'm not trying to get a PR. i'm not in good shape for that. but i just want to have fun with it, see some terprunner friends and chill w/ my guy.
as of 4/24, it'll be TWO races down, with four to go!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
as if i haven't stolen enough surveys.
1. Worst damage you ever took in a fight?
no fights.
2. Most money you ever owed a utility company?
well, i don't know about utilities, but i once had a $150 cell bill
3. Last time you got kicked out of a bar?
never
4. Longest time you slept in a car?
six hours
5. Most f'ed up nickname you've ever been given?
tie: pookie and boo boo kitty fuck. those two exes may burn in hell for that. (well, not the second one. but kind of.)
6. Worst job you ever had?
playground director in Avon. i could handle the shitty adults at my one other job, but in avon, the kids were so bad that i had to call the cops on them. several times.
7. Shortest job you've ever had?
library assistant
8. Longest romantic relationship?
me and the man responsible for bbkf. surprisingly, that lasted 3 1/2 years. almost engaged in fact. yikes.
9. Shortest romantic relationship?
10th grade, brian marquette. 2 weeks.
10. Food that you would eat til you puked?
i can't even think of eating that much. barf.
11. Food that even looking at makes you puke?
eel. vomit.
12. What music saved your life?
third day- 'love song'
13. Person you miss the most in the world?
my grandma. we were really close. it's hard to believe that it'll be three years in august...
14. Worst movie you've ever seen?
rob roy, only because it was a horrible end to a chance to really one-up steve. story: when steve and i were dating, we made a bet as to which flavor was the gatorade original. he said orange, i said lemon-lime. whoever one won got to pick the movie. so i picked rob roy because it seemed like it'd be a fun adventure period piece. yeah... not so much. it was so bad that, not only did i not get to lord my intellectual win over steve, but i also got made fun of for so incredibly botching my chance to pick a chick flick and torture him. D-.
15. Best movie you've ever seen?
that's tough...i can't decide.
16. Craziest shit you've ever done sober?
marathon, hands down. i must still be insane because i'm doing another one this year...give me a white jacket already, will ya?
17. Ever almost die?
i don't want to talk about it.
18. Ever fistfight a member of the opposite sex?
no, but i've given a guy one hell of a bitch slap. left a red handprint on his face.
19. Best place you have ever lived?
cardiff, maryland. it's a pretty depressed little town these days, but it holds some of my best memories from childhood.
25. At your poorest, were you a ramen noodle or Mac and cheeze aficionado?
umm... still am a ramen girl...
26. Most money you have ever spent on a single meal?
i don't know, but the most i've ever been a part of was two weeks ago, at spezie's, when joy & lanny treated me & chris to this amazing dinner.
27. Best gift you ever got?
my first cabbage patch doll, jenna belvia, when i was 5. apparently, my mom had to be at toys 'r us at 5AM to get her; that was the first year they came out. luckily she didn't have to get in a cat-fight with other moms. well, she would have won anyway.
28. Best pet you ever had?
had implies in the past, so of course it's lady. best dog in the world.
29. Ever run from the cops?
no.
30. Where were you when the ball dropped for 2006?
in chris's arms. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (puke).
31. How did you get the idea for your profile name?
joey--one of my favorite nicknames EVER, from josh miller, one of my favorite people EVER.
32. What song are you playing now, or wish you were playing?
third day--love song
33. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
he wasn't a celebrity in the way people think of it, and i didn't cry, but the death of jpII made me think about a lot of things...
34. What color underwear are you wearing?
white vs v string with a little blue and green flower on the left hip
35. Do you own an ipod?
no :( :( :(
36. What did you do this morning?
walked toby, took a shower, went to work, got the bejeezus scared out of me when i looked at my checking account balance and then very reluctantly paid some bills.
37. What does your mom do for a living?
middle school math teacher--she's been teaching 7th and 8th graders for nearly 30 years. she's a saint.
38. Where do you work?
Reznick Group, but not for long. :(
39. What ended your last relationship?
being taken for granted and mislead, plus my own baggage. not fun.
40. What are the last 2 digits of your phone number?
51
41. What was the last concert you attended?
ainzlee, in march at fletcher's
42. Who was with you?
kate
43. What was the last movie you watched?
the million dollar hotel. huge disappointment. and mel gibson did a REALLY bad job.
44. Who do you dislike at the moment?
the asshole who tried to grope me on the metro. i screamed at him on the platform though and embarrassed the hell out of him. i feel better.
45. What food do you crave right now?
chris's sweet love. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (vomit).
46. Did you dream last night?
no, but i had some very unsettling dreams this past weekend.
47. What was the last TV show you watched?
the today show. we'll miss you katie couric. well, no not really.
48. What is your fav piece of jewelry?
the jewelry my grandmother left me.
49. What is to the left of you?
a garfield cartoon
50. What was the last thing you ate?
yogurt.
51. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex?
steve. always. funny how bad relationships can turn into best friendships.
52. Who last IMed you?
steve. duh.
53. Are you on any medication?
yes. enough to make me vomit.
54. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
at my house, i have a small bed, so i'm on every side. at chris's, on the left (farthest from the bedroom door).
55. What color shirt are you wearing?
black
56. What color is your razor?
blue
57. What is your favorite frozen treat?
tie: DQ oreo blizzard and Turkey Hill tin roof sundae
58. how many tattoos and piercings do you have?
standard ear piercings. i've wanted a very specific tattoo since i was 19, but i haven't ever had the money to get it because it's my own custom design.
59. What's your favorite store?
victoria's secret
60. Are you thirsty right now?
nope.
61. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
someday, but not anytime soon. like years.
62. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
my grandma and grandpa beatty
63. What did you do last night?
watched million dollar hotel
64. Do you care what people think about you?
sometimes yes. other times, screw them.
65. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
of course. what were you thinking?
66. Do you like your nose?
yes.
67. What color is your bedroom?
blue.
68. When was the last time you worked out?
yesterday. i did an easy run around the harbor to watch all the volvo ocean race hoopla. pretty awesome.
69. What are your font colors on AIM?
black
70. Where do you live?
hampden (northern baltimore)
71. Are you an aggressive driver?
maybe a little. but i never drive like i'm in the handy 500.
72. Who is your cell phone carrier?
Verizon
73. Do you like the person who posted this last?
yes :)
74. What is across the room from you?
BIG windows facing the harbor.
75. What is the thing you'd most want to change about yourself?
being able to relax and not have so many hang-ups. i'd like to just take things as they are.
76. What color is your car?
silver
77. What do you smell like right now?
vanilla
78. What is your favorite color?
oceany blue
79. money or health?
Health.
80. Where was your last kiss?
my living room
81. What are you listening to right now?:
random office noises. it's pretty quiet though.
82. Whats your favorite number?
3
83. When was the last time you smiled?
this morning, to the coffee lady at boheme cafe
84. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
my dad
85 What is your worst habit?
getting overly anxious about even good things. really good things...
86 Do you drink?
not very often. i get sick very very very easily.
87 Do you smoke?
eww, no.
88 When was the last time, if ever, you blacked out?
i've passed out after races. is that the same as blacking out?
89 Girlfriend/Boyfriend?
boyfriend
90 Your Hair color?
i'm a brunette with some natural golden highlights (esp. in the summer)
91 Eye Color?
oceany blue
92 Do you wear contacts?:
yes
93 Favorite Holiday?
probably memorial day. i do a great race at the VA with my dad every year, and then we usually have a great bbq afterward.
94 Favorite Month?:
june
95 Have you ever cried for no reason?:
of course. we're talking about me here.
96 Favorite Day of the Year?
Good Friday. very meaningful for me.
97 Are you too shy to ask someone out?:
not really. apparently, i was kind of aggressive with chris, even though i didn't really realize it.
98 Last advice you received?
get myself into a classroom. chris's half-brother's mom told me that i'm a born teacher, and i think she's right.
99 What was the highlight of your weekend?:
going to NJ with chris. probably the best easter in my life.
100 Chocolate or Vanilla?:
if it's softserve, then both.
101 What is the last text message you received?
i don't remember
102 What is the last text message you sent?:
"they're cutting my hours in half" :(
103 Who was the last person to call you?
my dad
104 What was the last sports game you watched?
ncaa women's bball championships. md beat duke!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!
105 When was the last time you slept in someone else's bed?
in NJ this past weekend
106 Favorite movies
amelie, phantom of the opera, pirates of the caribbean, the spanish prisoner, troy (for less than honorable reasons)
107 Favorite football Team?
eagles! eagles! eagles!
108 What were you doing before this?
crying while paying bills
109 Any pets?
toby (neurotic 3 year old pup)
110 Favorite Drink?
vino verde: crisp, dry and cheap. i love the portuguese. :)
111 Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn?
plain
112 Dogs or cats?:
dogs
113 Favorite flower?:
lily, right chris? **cough cough**...
114 When was the last time you got in trouble?
when i skipped work to go to the ER. yeah. my ex-boss screamed at me for having a bad infection and needing urgent medical attention...
115 Have you ever loved someone?
yes
116 Are you still friends with people from kindergarten?
no, but i have very fond memories.
117 Have you ever fired a gun?
no
118 do you like to travel by plane?
sometimes, but i LOVE traveling by train.
119 What websites do you go to frequently, besides myspace?
drudge report, washington post, baltimore sun
120 How many pillows do you sleep with?
2
121 Are you missing someone?
yes
122 How was your day?
jury's still out
123. State your name:
Joanna
124. age:
26
125. height:
5'6 3/4"
126. favorite food:
most anything pasta
127. favorite color:
oceany blue. we went over that already
128. current profession:
none, really. i want desperately to be a literature professor though.
129. where are you right now, physically?
in my cube at work along the harbor.
130. if you are listening to music, what is it? If not, what's the last song you heard?
500 Miles by those scottish dudes
131. what are you wearing?
black and white swirly skirt, black sweater & white top, black boots.
132. Given that straight in front of you = 12 o'clock, name an object at:
3 o'clock: accountant's calculator
9 o'clock: garfield cartoon
133. Describe the wall covering (paint/wallpaper) of the room you're in:
utilitarian white
134. Does your chair squeak?
No
135. Are you currently drinking/eating? if so, what?
vienna roast coffee. mmmmmmmmmmmm.
136. Is your desk/working surface clean or messy?
generally clean. i'm clearing it out for when they're done with me here. :(
137. Aside from yourself, is there an animal in the room?
no. pets are personas (?) non grata in the workplace.
138. Did the implication made in question 138 offend you in any way?
umm...?
139. If you are listening to music, hit pause for a second. Sit quietly, without typing or doing anything.
Just the fan on the furnace.
what's the question?
140. In general terms, how are you feeling today?
fine, except my back hurts. i'm an old lady.
141. Can you see a window (the outside kind, not the computer kind) from where you're sitting?
no. it's behind the wall of my cube
142. Name 3 words to describe yourself:
passionate, genuine, loyal
143. Name 3 words you think other people would use to describe you:
listener, loyal, giving
144. What do you do for fun when you're not on myspace?
run, read, write, play with toby, hang out with chris
145. Wallflower or Party Animal?
quasi-party animal
146. Describe your perfect date (the events, not the person):
sitting in the car after a late dinner at bennigan's, listening to music i've never heard before
147. Describe your perfect evening alone:
jazz after hours on wypr, lounging in my fuzzy blanket with toby curled next to me, reading a really good book
148. For each of the following sets of 4 words, put a B by the one that BEST describes you and an L by the one that LEAST describes you:
a. EXPRESSIVE B
COMPLIANT
FORCEFUL
RESTRAINED L
b. CHARMING
POSITIVE B
LENIENT
EXACTING L
c. RESERVED L
OUTSPOKEN B
STRICT
ELOQUENT
d. HIGH-SPIRITED
TALKATIVE
GOOD-NATURED B
CONSERVATIVE L
e. TIMID L
DEMANDING
PATIENT B (maybe not, but more than the other two)
CAPTIVATING
149. Clear your mind. Now type the first single word that comes to mind when you hear the following words:
a. angel : grace
b. guilty : fun
c. pants : off
d. dolphin : tuna
e. naked : comfortable
f. live : well
g. good : food
h. pasta : running
i. birth : new
150. What do you consider your best quality? i give very good advice. it's a wonder i don't take my own...
151. What do you consider your worst quality? i'm afraid of something that could become really amazing.
no fights.
2. Most money you ever owed a utility company?
well, i don't know about utilities, but i once had a $150 cell bill
3. Last time you got kicked out of a bar?
never
4. Longest time you slept in a car?
six hours
5. Most f'ed up nickname you've ever been given?
tie: pookie and boo boo kitty fuck. those two exes may burn in hell for that. (well, not the second one. but kind of.)
6. Worst job you ever had?
playground director in Avon. i could handle the shitty adults at my one other job, but in avon, the kids were so bad that i had to call the cops on them. several times.
7. Shortest job you've ever had?
library assistant
8. Longest romantic relationship?
me and the man responsible for bbkf. surprisingly, that lasted 3 1/2 years. almost engaged in fact. yikes.
9. Shortest romantic relationship?
10th grade, brian marquette. 2 weeks.
10. Food that you would eat til you puked?
i can't even think of eating that much. barf.
11. Food that even looking at makes you puke?
eel. vomit.
12. What music saved your life?
third day- 'love song'
13. Person you miss the most in the world?
my grandma. we were really close. it's hard to believe that it'll be three years in august...
14. Worst movie you've ever seen?
rob roy, only because it was a horrible end to a chance to really one-up steve. story: when steve and i were dating, we made a bet as to which flavor was the gatorade original. he said orange, i said lemon-lime. whoever one won got to pick the movie. so i picked rob roy because it seemed like it'd be a fun adventure period piece. yeah... not so much. it was so bad that, not only did i not get to lord my intellectual win over steve, but i also got made fun of for so incredibly botching my chance to pick a chick flick and torture him. D-.
15. Best movie you've ever seen?
that's tough...i can't decide.
16. Craziest shit you've ever done sober?
marathon, hands down. i must still be insane because i'm doing another one this year...give me a white jacket already, will ya?
17. Ever almost die?
i don't want to talk about it.
18. Ever fistfight a member of the opposite sex?
no, but i've given a guy one hell of a bitch slap. left a red handprint on his face.
19. Best place you have ever lived?
cardiff, maryland. it's a pretty depressed little town these days, but it holds some of my best memories from childhood.
25. At your poorest, were you a ramen noodle or Mac and cheeze aficionado?
umm... still am a ramen girl...
26. Most money you have ever spent on a single meal?
i don't know, but the most i've ever been a part of was two weeks ago, at spezie's, when joy & lanny treated me & chris to this amazing dinner.
27. Best gift you ever got?
my first cabbage patch doll, jenna belvia, when i was 5. apparently, my mom had to be at toys 'r us at 5AM to get her; that was the first year they came out. luckily she didn't have to get in a cat-fight with other moms. well, she would have won anyway.
28. Best pet you ever had?
had implies in the past, so of course it's lady. best dog in the world.
29. Ever run from the cops?
no.
30. Where were you when the ball dropped for 2006?
in chris's arms. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (puke).
31. How did you get the idea for your profile name?
joey--one of my favorite nicknames EVER, from josh miller, one of my favorite people EVER.
32. What song are you playing now, or wish you were playing?
third day--love song
33. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
he wasn't a celebrity in the way people think of it, and i didn't cry, but the death of jpII made me think about a lot of things...
34. What color underwear are you wearing?
white vs v string with a little blue and green flower on the left hip
35. Do you own an ipod?
no :( :( :(
36. What did you do this morning?
walked toby, took a shower, went to work, got the bejeezus scared out of me when i looked at my checking account balance and then very reluctantly paid some bills.
37. What does your mom do for a living?
middle school math teacher--she's been teaching 7th and 8th graders for nearly 30 years. she's a saint.
38. Where do you work?
Reznick Group, but not for long. :(
39. What ended your last relationship?
being taken for granted and mislead, plus my own baggage. not fun.
40. What are the last 2 digits of your phone number?
51
41. What was the last concert you attended?
ainzlee, in march at fletcher's
42. Who was with you?
kate
43. What was the last movie you watched?
the million dollar hotel. huge disappointment. and mel gibson did a REALLY bad job.
44. Who do you dislike at the moment?
the asshole who tried to grope me on the metro. i screamed at him on the platform though and embarrassed the hell out of him. i feel better.
45. What food do you crave right now?
chris's sweet love. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww (vomit).
46. Did you dream last night?
no, but i had some very unsettling dreams this past weekend.
47. What was the last TV show you watched?
the today show. we'll miss you katie couric. well, no not really.
48. What is your fav piece of jewelry?
the jewelry my grandmother left me.
49. What is to the left of you?
a garfield cartoon
50. What was the last thing you ate?
yogurt.
51. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex?
steve. always. funny how bad relationships can turn into best friendships.
52. Who last IMed you?
steve. duh.
53. Are you on any medication?
yes. enough to make me vomit.
54. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
at my house, i have a small bed, so i'm on every side. at chris's, on the left (farthest from the bedroom door).
55. What color shirt are you wearing?
black
56. What color is your razor?
blue
57. What is your favorite frozen treat?
tie: DQ oreo blizzard and Turkey Hill tin roof sundae
58. how many tattoos and piercings do you have?
standard ear piercings. i've wanted a very specific tattoo since i was 19, but i haven't ever had the money to get it because it's my own custom design.
59. What's your favorite store?
victoria's secret
60. Are you thirsty right now?
nope.
61. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
someday, but not anytime soon. like years.
62. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
my grandma and grandpa beatty
63. What did you do last night?
watched million dollar hotel
64. Do you care what people think about you?
sometimes yes. other times, screw them.
65. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
of course. what were you thinking?
66. Do you like your nose?
yes.
67. What color is your bedroom?
blue.
68. When was the last time you worked out?
yesterday. i did an easy run around the harbor to watch all the volvo ocean race hoopla. pretty awesome.
69. What are your font colors on AIM?
black
70. Where do you live?
hampden (northern baltimore)
71. Are you an aggressive driver?
maybe a little. but i never drive like i'm in the handy 500.
72. Who is your cell phone carrier?
Verizon
73. Do you like the person who posted this last?
yes :)
74. What is across the room from you?
BIG windows facing the harbor.
75. What is the thing you'd most want to change about yourself?
being able to relax and not have so many hang-ups. i'd like to just take things as they are.
76. What color is your car?
silver
77. What do you smell like right now?
vanilla
78. What is your favorite color?
oceany blue
79. money or health?
Health.
80. Where was your last kiss?
my living room
81. What are you listening to right now?:
random office noises. it's pretty quiet though.
82. Whats your favorite number?
3
83. When was the last time you smiled?
this morning, to the coffee lady at boheme cafe
84. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
my dad
85 What is your worst habit?
getting overly anxious about even good things. really good things...
86 Do you drink?
not very often. i get sick very very very easily.
87 Do you smoke?
eww, no.
88 When was the last time, if ever, you blacked out?
i've passed out after races. is that the same as blacking out?
89 Girlfriend/Boyfriend?
boyfriend
90 Your Hair color?
i'm a brunette with some natural golden highlights (esp. in the summer)
91 Eye Color?
oceany blue
92 Do you wear contacts?:
yes
93 Favorite Holiday?
probably memorial day. i do a great race at the VA with my dad every year, and then we usually have a great bbq afterward.
94 Favorite Month?:
june
95 Have you ever cried for no reason?:
of course. we're talking about me here.
96 Favorite Day of the Year?
Good Friday. very meaningful for me.
97 Are you too shy to ask someone out?:
not really. apparently, i was kind of aggressive with chris, even though i didn't really realize it.
98 Last advice you received?
get myself into a classroom. chris's half-brother's mom told me that i'm a born teacher, and i think she's right.
99 What was the highlight of your weekend?:
going to NJ with chris. probably the best easter in my life.
100 Chocolate or Vanilla?:
if it's softserve, then both.
101 What is the last text message you received?
i don't remember
102 What is the last text message you sent?:
"they're cutting my hours in half" :(
103 Who was the last person to call you?
my dad
104 What was the last sports game you watched?
ncaa women's bball championships. md beat duke!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!
105 When was the last time you slept in someone else's bed?
in NJ this past weekend
106 Favorite movies
amelie, phantom of the opera, pirates of the caribbean, the spanish prisoner, troy (for less than honorable reasons)
107 Favorite football Team?
eagles! eagles! eagles!
108 What were you doing before this?
crying while paying bills
109 Any pets?
toby (neurotic 3 year old pup)
110 Favorite Drink?
vino verde: crisp, dry and cheap. i love the portuguese. :)
111 Butter, Plain or Salted popcorn?
plain
112 Dogs or cats?:
dogs
113 Favorite flower?:
lily, right chris? **cough cough**...
114 When was the last time you got in trouble?
when i skipped work to go to the ER. yeah. my ex-boss screamed at me for having a bad infection and needing urgent medical attention...
115 Have you ever loved someone?
yes
116 Are you still friends with people from kindergarten?
no, but i have very fond memories.
117 Have you ever fired a gun?
no
118 do you like to travel by plane?
sometimes, but i LOVE traveling by train.
119 What websites do you go to frequently, besides myspace?
drudge report, washington post, baltimore sun
120 How many pillows do you sleep with?
2
121 Are you missing someone?
yes
122 How was your day?
jury's still out
123. State your name:
Joanna
124. age:
26
125. height:
5'6 3/4"
126. favorite food:
most anything pasta
127. favorite color:
oceany blue. we went over that already
128. current profession:
none, really. i want desperately to be a literature professor though.
129. where are you right now, physically?
in my cube at work along the harbor.
130. if you are listening to music, what is it? If not, what's the last song you heard?
500 Miles by those scottish dudes
131. what are you wearing?
black and white swirly skirt, black sweater & white top, black boots.
132. Given that straight in front of you = 12 o'clock, name an object at:
3 o'clock: accountant's calculator
9 o'clock: garfield cartoon
133. Describe the wall covering (paint/wallpaper) of the room you're in:
utilitarian white
134. Does your chair squeak?
No
135. Are you currently drinking/eating? if so, what?
vienna roast coffee. mmmmmmmmmmmm.
136. Is your desk/working surface clean or messy?
generally clean. i'm clearing it out for when they're done with me here. :(
137. Aside from yourself, is there an animal in the room?
no. pets are personas (?) non grata in the workplace.
138. Did the implication made in question 138 offend you in any way?
umm...?
139. If you are listening to music, hit pause for a second. Sit quietly, without typing or doing anything.
Just the fan on the furnace.
what's the question?
140. In general terms, how are you feeling today?
fine, except my back hurts. i'm an old lady.
141. Can you see a window (the outside kind, not the computer kind) from where you're sitting?
no. it's behind the wall of my cube
142. Name 3 words to describe yourself:
passionate, genuine, loyal
143. Name 3 words you think other people would use to describe you:
listener, loyal, giving
144. What do you do for fun when you're not on myspace?
run, read, write, play with toby, hang out with chris
145. Wallflower or Party Animal?
quasi-party animal
146. Describe your perfect date (the events, not the person):
sitting in the car after a late dinner at bennigan's, listening to music i've never heard before
147. Describe your perfect evening alone:
jazz after hours on wypr, lounging in my fuzzy blanket with toby curled next to me, reading a really good book
148. For each of the following sets of 4 words, put a B by the one that BEST describes you and an L by the one that LEAST describes you:
a. EXPRESSIVE B
COMPLIANT
FORCEFUL
RESTRAINED L
b. CHARMING
POSITIVE B
LENIENT
EXACTING L
c. RESERVED L
OUTSPOKEN B
STRICT
ELOQUENT
d. HIGH-SPIRITED
TALKATIVE
GOOD-NATURED B
CONSERVATIVE L
e. TIMID L
DEMANDING
PATIENT B (maybe not, but more than the other two)
CAPTIVATING
149. Clear your mind. Now type the first single word that comes to mind when you hear the following words:
a. angel : grace
b. guilty : fun
c. pants : off
d. dolphin : tuna
e. naked : comfortable
f. live : well
g. good : food
h. pasta : running
i. birth : new
150. What do you consider your best quality? i give very good advice. it's a wonder i don't take my own...
151. What do you consider your worst quality? i'm afraid of something that could become really amazing.
4.17.2006
trying to run
so today i was really bouncing off the walls emotionally, so i went for a hard run.
and by hard, i mean slow. i'm serious.
if i'd run on pure adrenaline, i would have gone too fast and probably hurt myself. so, i made a conscious effort to run more evenly and relax my entire body. i did my out and back on roland, up to northern parkway (5 miles) in about 45 minutes. roland is one of my favorite, most soothing places to run. it did, in fact, calm me down.
yay.
and by hard, i mean slow. i'm serious.
if i'd run on pure adrenaline, i would have gone too fast and probably hurt myself. so, i made a conscious effort to run more evenly and relax my entire body. i did my out and back on roland, up to northern parkway (5 miles) in about 45 minutes. roland is one of my favorite, most soothing places to run. it did, in fact, calm me down.
yay.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
chris and i need a vacation from our vacation. we're both thoroughly exhausted, him moreso than me. BUT. it's one of the best kinds of exhaustion in the world.
we went up to his brother Jay's house in NJ for his nephew's 3rd birthday. Tommy turned 3 yesterday, and Chris had never met him. The last time he saw his niece Julia was when she was 2. so we both knew that this was going to be a big weekend for him. what we didn't know (and weren't prepared for) was the legion of children that showed up at Tommy's various birthday fetes. Julia and Tommy's cousins came over and were swarming around the house. six of them are under 7, and 5 of them are little girls. everywhere. a plague of locusts, if you will. BUT, these are all very sweet and fun kids, so Chris and I happily threw ourselves on the grenade and played with them while the parents and grandparents got to rest. well, to be truthful, it was mostly Chris who took one for the team. i've never seen anything like it.
those little girls were climbing all over him (Chris Mountain) forthe whole of Easter weekend. he played with Tommy and had so much fun watching his nephew figure out how trains work. i think he really surprised himself--he'd never been around little kids much in his whole life, and here he was, having a blast and relating to them so well. all of the kids adored him, especially Julia. she would NOT let go of him for three straight days. at both the bbq and Easter brunch, when all of the other kids were called to their table to eat, she would tie herself to Chris's arm until one of the adults would invariably let her eat with him. and, for three straight days, i was almost entirely supplanted. but that was fine by me.
this was perhaps my favorite Easter ever. and i can't think of what else to say.
we went up to his brother Jay's house in NJ for his nephew's 3rd birthday. Tommy turned 3 yesterday, and Chris had never met him. The last time he saw his niece Julia was when she was 2. so we both knew that this was going to be a big weekend for him. what we didn't know (and weren't prepared for) was the legion of children that showed up at Tommy's various birthday fetes. Julia and Tommy's cousins came over and were swarming around the house. six of them are under 7, and 5 of them are little girls. everywhere. a plague of locusts, if you will. BUT, these are all very sweet and fun kids, so Chris and I happily threw ourselves on the grenade and played with them while the parents and grandparents got to rest. well, to be truthful, it was mostly Chris who took one for the team. i've never seen anything like it.
those little girls were climbing all over him (Chris Mountain) forthe whole of Easter weekend. he played with Tommy and had so much fun watching his nephew figure out how trains work. i think he really surprised himself--he'd never been around little kids much in his whole life, and here he was, having a blast and relating to them so well. all of the kids adored him, especially Julia. she would NOT let go of him for three straight days. at both the bbq and Easter brunch, when all of the other kids were called to their table to eat, she would tie herself to Chris's arm until one of the adults would invariably let her eat with him. and, for three straight days, i was almost entirely supplanted. but that was fine by me.
this was perhaps my favorite Easter ever. and i can't think of what else to say.
4.12.2006
irs
contest of the day: turn IRS into another acronym and give me as many meanings as possible. why am i doing this? because i can't think of anything myself. bonus points for humor and/or originality.
so i'm really proud of me. i completed my taxes ALL BY MYSELF. you don't understand. i have a sizeable math/money inferiority complex. the last *real* math class i took was in 11th grade, ten years ago. and even though the 1040EZ doesn't exactly call for a graduate degree, i'm still very wary that i'll miss a dollar or ten or misunderstand some directions. i think what made it manageable is the fact that i, in a sense, have no major assets besides my car. i'm not married either. woohoo for the bigger deduction! the only thing is that if i had a kid, i could get the dependent's deduction as well. it's very tempting, but i won't name Toby as my dependent. getting arrested for tax fraud would be a major downer.
of course, tasha's answer is to just have a kid anyway.
umm.....
no.
having kids will be extraordinarily complicated for me anyway, as it is for most women on any long-term medication. my psychiatrist said that he would want to send me to Boston, to the Perinatal Psychiatry Program at Mass. Gen. already, it sounds a bit intimidating. the big question is which option will have the most effects on the child--the mother getting off medication (in which she would be subject to her condition AND her raging hormones, which can stress the child) or staying on the mediction (which would expose the child to some pretty powerful chemical compounds). there is, of course, also the consideration of the mother's health. i know that when i've been off meds or on a lower dosage than i'm supposed to be, i spiral down with considerable and sometimes alarming speed.
then there are the people, including some physicians, who lecture women with any mental health condition about the selfishness of trying to have children. why subject a baby to such medical dangers just to satisfy your desires to be a mother? why allow for the possibility of bringing a life into the world that could get the damning gene and have to exist with the hell that is _X_? to those folks, i pass on a friendly *fuck you.*
for one, we don't hear of women with other health issues (e.g., high blood pressure, thyroid issues, hereditary heart conditions, previous miscarriages) being disparaged for their attempts to have children. why is mental health any different? it is a neurological issue! two, the argument that because the child might have to live with condition _X_, a woman should not even think of trying to conceive, is offensive. would mental illness make a child any less of a human being? are we saying that mentally ill people don't deserve to give life a shot, to have the chance to live the fullest life, just like anybody else? could the individual promoting this argument tell me to my face that because i have this condition that i shouldn't have been born, that it's better for me not to exist? that line of reasoning unequivocally sidelines my identity and accomplishments and labels me as a diseased individual bound to wallow in misery and die. so many brilliant artists, lawyers, business people, politicians, teachers, etc., etc., have had and do have bipolar disorder, and are people going to dismiss their amazing contributions to society? are they going to say, "you're better off dead?"
personally, i'm lucky that i know only one person who denies the validity of bipolar disorder, and i've just accepted that he's going to live under his rock no matter what i say. so many people have held me up, given me strength, pushed me forward and opened my eyes to the amazing things that lie within me. steve, courtney and chris have been especially important and supportive. interestingly, it's because of their support that i can be independent and stand on my own two feet.
and do my taxes.
so i'm really proud of me. i completed my taxes ALL BY MYSELF. you don't understand. i have a sizeable math/money inferiority complex. the last *real* math class i took was in 11th grade, ten years ago. and even though the 1040EZ doesn't exactly call for a graduate degree, i'm still very wary that i'll miss a dollar or ten or misunderstand some directions. i think what made it manageable is the fact that i, in a sense, have no major assets besides my car. i'm not married either. woohoo for the bigger deduction! the only thing is that if i had a kid, i could get the dependent's deduction as well. it's very tempting, but i won't name Toby as my dependent. getting arrested for tax fraud would be a major downer.
of course, tasha's answer is to just have a kid anyway.
umm.....
no.
having kids will be extraordinarily complicated for me anyway, as it is for most women on any long-term medication. my psychiatrist said that he would want to send me to Boston, to the Perinatal Psychiatry Program at Mass. Gen. already, it sounds a bit intimidating. the big question is which option will have the most effects on the child--the mother getting off medication (in which she would be subject to her condition AND her raging hormones, which can stress the child) or staying on the mediction (which would expose the child to some pretty powerful chemical compounds). there is, of course, also the consideration of the mother's health. i know that when i've been off meds or on a lower dosage than i'm supposed to be, i spiral down with considerable and sometimes alarming speed.
then there are the people, including some physicians, who lecture women with any mental health condition about the selfishness of trying to have children. why subject a baby to such medical dangers just to satisfy your desires to be a mother? why allow for the possibility of bringing a life into the world that could get the damning gene and have to exist with the hell that is _X_? to those folks, i pass on a friendly *fuck you.*
for one, we don't hear of women with other health issues (e.g., high blood pressure, thyroid issues, hereditary heart conditions, previous miscarriages) being disparaged for their attempts to have children. why is mental health any different? it is a neurological issue! two, the argument that because the child might have to live with condition _X_, a woman should not even think of trying to conceive, is offensive. would mental illness make a child any less of a human being? are we saying that mentally ill people don't deserve to give life a shot, to have the chance to live the fullest life, just like anybody else? could the individual promoting this argument tell me to my face that because i have this condition that i shouldn't have been born, that it's better for me not to exist? that line of reasoning unequivocally sidelines my identity and accomplishments and labels me as a diseased individual bound to wallow in misery and die. so many brilliant artists, lawyers, business people, politicians, teachers, etc., etc., have had and do have bipolar disorder, and are people going to dismiss their amazing contributions to society? are they going to say, "you're better off dead?"
personally, i'm lucky that i know only one person who denies the validity of bipolar disorder, and i've just accepted that he's going to live under his rock no matter what i say. so many people have held me up, given me strength, pushed me forward and opened my eyes to the amazing things that lie within me. steve, courtney and chris have been especially important and supportive. interestingly, it's because of their support that i can be independent and stand on my own two feet.
and do my taxes.
4.11.2006
sunshine...on my shoulders...in new jersey
actually, i don't even know for sure if i'm going to newark this weekend. but if i do, you will definitely hear about it on monday.
so the sun is finally coming out. for those of you who don't know me well, here's one of my defining qualities: i hate the cold. snow is fun and pretty and useful for playing. for about a day. and then it becomes dirty and gross and a major impediment to jobs (re=money) and transportation. the dissipation (sp?) of fun is what kills it for me because then there's no buffer to the drippy noses and the wet and the freezing and the i have to walk the dog at oh my god o'clock and when i come back my butt has frozen over. so, draw the obvious conclusion and realize that i am absolutely thrilled at the spring thaw.
another reason why i'm ecstatic at the weather change is the requisite wardrobe switch. slowly, the heavy coats, fuzzy scarves and worn out gloves find their way into the giant tupperware in the basement, and all the "mis/inis" (camis, bikinis and minis) leap into my walk-in closet (score!) in all their not-there-ness. don't get me wrong. i'm not an exhibitionist. most of the time. but i love being able to let my skin breathe and get some sun. it also works for running and workout because i hate heavy sweat on clothes and sleeve chafing. hate. so, in this our beautiful spring weather, i can run around sans shirt (avec bra, of course, you sicko). and on the beach or by the pool? who doesn't love eschewing the towel and instead letting the sun and warm air slip the water drops off the skin?
and you know the BEST part about it? i don't care about the cosmo covergirls or whatever society fantasy about women and summer wear. it's awesome. i get to enjoy how natural everything feels and how (after the increase of good running weather) fit my body feels and how fun the family bbqs are. i'll go so far as to say that the family reunions are even fun. sort of. they're the best in the summer. anyway, instead of being a visual pleasure, it's so much more an internal pleasure provoked by the physical world around me.
so, if you see me this spring and summer, i'll probably be wearing my aaron chang swimwear or sandals or the sundress i bought in spain... all because of the sunshine.
if you break into a john denver chorus.... i kill you.
so the sun is finally coming out. for those of you who don't know me well, here's one of my defining qualities: i hate the cold. snow is fun and pretty and useful for playing. for about a day. and then it becomes dirty and gross and a major impediment to jobs (re=money) and transportation. the dissipation (sp?) of fun is what kills it for me because then there's no buffer to the drippy noses and the wet and the freezing and the i have to walk the dog at oh my god o'clock and when i come back my butt has frozen over. so, draw the obvious conclusion and realize that i am absolutely thrilled at the spring thaw.
another reason why i'm ecstatic at the weather change is the requisite wardrobe switch. slowly, the heavy coats, fuzzy scarves and worn out gloves find their way into the giant tupperware in the basement, and all the "mis/inis" (camis, bikinis and minis) leap into my walk-in closet (score!) in all their not-there-ness. don't get me wrong. i'm not an exhibitionist. most of the time. but i love being able to let my skin breathe and get some sun. it also works for running and workout because i hate heavy sweat on clothes and sleeve chafing. hate. so, in this our beautiful spring weather, i can run around sans shirt (avec bra, of course, you sicko). and on the beach or by the pool? who doesn't love eschewing the towel and instead letting the sun and warm air slip the water drops off the skin?
and you know the BEST part about it? i don't care about the cosmo covergirls or whatever society fantasy about women and summer wear. it's awesome. i get to enjoy how natural everything feels and how (after the increase of good running weather) fit my body feels and how fun the family bbqs are. i'll go so far as to say that the family reunions are even fun. sort of. they're the best in the summer. anyway, instead of being a visual pleasure, it's so much more an internal pleasure provoked by the physical world around me.
so, if you see me this spring and summer, i'll probably be wearing my aaron chang swimwear or sandals or the sundress i bought in spain... all because of the sunshine.
if you break into a john denver chorus.... i kill you.
4.10.2006
saturday
FYI-make sure your boyfriend grabs his track pants before he meets your father for the first time.
anyway. yeah, that was a big thing for me this weekend. after making plans at different times (weeks apart), i suddenly realized that chris and Dad would cross paths at my house. you have to understand--it was great when he met my mom. they clicked a lot. as for my dad, i wasn't as confident. Dad is pretty protective of me and wants to destroy any guy he thinks is going to hurt his daughter. chris is also increasingly important to me, and i didn't want him to budge either. i felt like the planets were about to collide. fortunately, i'm just overanxious all the time. chris and Dad got along very well, the whole pants issue went unmentioned, and, while chris was upstairs looking for said pants, Dad said, "i can see why you like this guy." that's all he had to say.
that evening, we got together with Lanny and Joy (chris's parents) for dinner in DC. they treated us to a fantastic meal at spezie's near farragut (sp?) north, and when i say "treated," oh lord do i mean 500x more than anybody ever treats anybody. what strikes me was how eagerly Lanny and Joy did this for us, how they even invited me to join them, and how warm they are to me. at the end of the night, it wasn't a surprise that Joy gave me a hug, but even Lanny hugged me! it amazed me. i've only spent time with these people only once before, but maybe it's something different this time. maybe they, especially Joy, can read me and understand how much i care about their son.
and they didn't find out about the pants.
anyway. yeah, that was a big thing for me this weekend. after making plans at different times (weeks apart), i suddenly realized that chris and Dad would cross paths at my house. you have to understand--it was great when he met my mom. they clicked a lot. as for my dad, i wasn't as confident. Dad is pretty protective of me and wants to destroy any guy he thinks is going to hurt his daughter. chris is also increasingly important to me, and i didn't want him to budge either. i felt like the planets were about to collide. fortunately, i'm just overanxious all the time. chris and Dad got along very well, the whole pants issue went unmentioned, and, while chris was upstairs looking for said pants, Dad said, "i can see why you like this guy." that's all he had to say.
that evening, we got together with Lanny and Joy (chris's parents) for dinner in DC. they treated us to a fantastic meal at spezie's near farragut (sp?) north, and when i say "treated," oh lord do i mean 500x more than anybody ever treats anybody. what strikes me was how eagerly Lanny and Joy did this for us, how they even invited me to join them, and how warm they are to me. at the end of the night, it wasn't a surprise that Joy gave me a hug, but even Lanny hugged me! it amazed me. i've only spent time with these people only once before, but maybe it's something different this time. maybe they, especially Joy, can read me and understand how much i care about their son.
and they didn't find out about the pants.
4.06.2006
still stealing kim's surveys....
grab a survival pack b/c this puppy's LONG!!!
1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? big oval on my knee from taking a dive on wet asphalt.
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM? a map of Baltimore with the marathon route traced on it, a bulletin board with lots of pictures, a Happy Bunny calendar, and a chain of race bibs & my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer sash
3. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE? snug its leather cover, since i drop everything ALL the time
4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO? lots of different kinds. i guess i DON'T like to listen to hard core rap or metal bands.
5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? 8:20AM, i think
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? to teach
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? 90s music
8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? the piano my grandmother left me
9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL? Clean
10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Yes, usually at church. figure that one out.
11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? Yes, mostly in museums/cathedrals that have sepulchres, etc. gives me the CREEPS.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME? not really up for that all the time, but i do like strawberry champagne body spray from victoria's secret
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX/SAME SEX? same sex-hair that best compliments and shows off a girl's face; men-not a big deal, just keep it neat
15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO AT? now that's a bad idea if i ever saw one. ain't no way am i planning that. besides--why steal a guy's thunder if he's trying to do something he thinks is special?
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?neither. COKE CLASSIC!!! :)
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? veggie supreme (sans olives)
18. IF YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? some of mr. legaspi's pansit
19. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?Rachel
20. DO YOU SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE? sort of. i speak middle school.
.21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU (OF THE OPPOSITE SEX)? Adam (amazing high school bf) gave me Achtung Baby for my birthday. i <3-ed>
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? Already have
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? swallow your pride and be honest. oh, and do it sooner than later.
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED: three
31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?brunettes
32. WHAT IS ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN? mom & dad
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? when other people expect me to clean up their own damn mess
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY?Yes.
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES? running shoes, red shoes and swim suits
37. FIRST JOB? babysitter. rah.
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL? no.
39. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY? chatting about when i got bitch-slapped
40. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE? i wouldn't. i really really like my body the way it is.
41. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?Because it's what i do.
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? my politeness & other various manners
43. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL? be an expatriate in Spain
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? a relaxing getaway where i don't have to think about or plan ANYTHING.
45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? ummm...two. but i could be persuaded to have three or four. depends on what's going on.
46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? my aunt, except she spells it with an H.
47. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? not really anymore, but nature often fosters prayerful meditation for me.
48. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE FINGER? index: i like pointing at things
49. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? a little while ago when i was REALLY wrestling with emotions about people
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes. it's pretty. :)
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? chicken breast
53. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF? Xtina Aguilera
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? HELLS yeah. i'm a big freakin barrel of fun.
56. DO LOOKS MATTER?Yes
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? running, walking toby, chatting with chris, court, steve, mom or dad (all depending on the reason why i'm pissed)
58. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME? Second Pres.
59. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY? Yes, sometimes blindly...
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Y-O, my blue teddy bear that i've had since birth
63. DO YOU USE SARCASM? uh, ya think?
64. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT? yes, and i would have been crushed if joe hadn't have saved me
65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL? similar beliefs, intelligence, humor, wit, a healthy lifestyle, and an adventurous personality
66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES? Toots, Tootsie (both courtesy of mom), fred (thanks, dad), jo/joey, pookie and boo boo ( i could kill BOTH of those exes for giving me those respective nicknames), catherine [the great] (think of some of the more... unorthodox things she's reputed to have done...not that i've done them... i'll shut up now), and, my all time favorite-- kitten
68. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? my running shoes--yes; all other shoes, no
72. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS? ocean blue and blood red
73. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE? i don't think mine have come in yet. my mom didn't get hers until she was about 40.
74. WHO/WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST RIGHT NOW? i miss my niece clara. i have to admit--she really makes me want to have a little girl.
BUT NOT RIGHT NOW, CHRIS! don't have a heart attack!
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? sometimes. i thinks it's a fun way to learn about somebody. but sometimes, some people DEFINITELY give TMI.
76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? "Romeo and Juliet" (Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits [sp?])
.77. LAST THING YOU ATE? a sausage breakfast burrito from McDonalds. it's just about the only thing i'll ever eat from there.
78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Chris, to plan our weekend
79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX? eyes
80. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? ghetto Maryland General in Baltimore
81. SCARIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU? i refuse to talk about it.
82. FAVORITE DRINK? N/A-coke classic; Alcohol-mai tai or Carlsberg 75
83. FAVORITE JOKE? i can never remember jokes, so don't ask
84. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? track & field ( i love both distance running and throwing javelin)
85. HAIR COLOR? brown with natural blond highlights
86. EYE COLOR? ocean blue
87. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES? yes. i'd like to get lasik some day
88. SIBLINGS? yes, an older brother
89. FAVORITE MONTH? may or june, i think
90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI? yup. my favorite is the maryland roll at chiu's sushi in fells.
91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED? NCAA women's bball finals. YEAH, MARYLAND. i hate duke.
92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? this might sound weird b/c it's not a super happy "holiday" or anything, but a rather somber day of meditation: Good Friday. to me, it's the most poignant day on the Christian calendar, and it reminds me of the depth of Christ's passion for us.
93. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? i haven't been, but i never really realized it in the moment. chris told me that i was a go-getter when it came to him, and that surprised me. but then again, i always go after (and usually get) what i want. ;)
94. SUMMER OR WINTER?Summer.
95. KISSES OR HUGS? hugs, b/c you can hug ANYbody. kisses are nice too, but the good ones are more exclusive.
96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE-NIGHT STANDS? Relationships.
97. WHOM DO YOU SECRETLY LOVE? Nobody. I always tell them.
98. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU MACKED IT WITH IN THE PAST YEAR? are we back in middle school? seriously.
99. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? complete works of christopher marlowe
100: WHERE DO YOU WORK? Reznick Group
101. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? *I love my hair*
102. How much cash do you have on you? zero. i have a bad habit of not carrying cash.
103. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR"? more
104. Favorite planet? Hollywood. just kidding. i hate that chain. um... i like... saturn. it feels sneaky and like it could all of a sudden bust out and destroy jupiter. it's subversive.
105. Who is the 4th person on your received call list on your mobile? i'm not completely sure because i left my cell in my room, but i think it was courtney
106. What was the last good movie you saw? i liked a lot, but the most ... memorable was The Libertine
107. What shirt are you wearing? fitted white sweater with 3/4 sleeves.
108. Do you "label" yourself as anything? hot
109. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing? i dunno. payless?
110. Bright or Dark room? daytime: very sunny. sleepy time: pitch black. that seems like a very obvious question...
111. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Kim's really fun. the surveys she does reveal a lot about her, and i like getting to know her. maybe we can be running buddies some time. :)
112. Look to your left. What's the first word you see? a sign that says "This is no time to COME UNGLUED."
113. What were you doing at midnight last night? IMing jimmy
114. What did your last text message you received on your mobile say? i can't remember
115. Where is your mailbox?next to the front door
116. What's a phrase that you say a lot? really? (heavy sarcasm)
117.Who told you he/she loved you last? Dad
118. Last furry thing you touched? toby :) i adore my dog.
119. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? 12. it's a daily thing, and i have no choice, unless i want to be suicidal. seriously.
120. What color is the blanket on your bed? beige. and it's furry!!!
121. What was the last meal you ate? sausage breakfast burritos
122. Your worst enemy? my mind--see #119.
123. Current image on your desktop? chris, with morilla on his shoulder
124. What was the last thing you said? something about work to tasha
125. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? flying
126. Do you like someone? again, are we in middles school? but yes, there is someone special to me.
127.what was the last song you listened to? "Feeling Love" (Paula Cole)
128. If the last person you spoke to was getting shot at, would you jump in front of the bullet? i would like to think i would, even though i haven't known tasha very long. but that's a very hard thing to promise about anyone.
129. If you could punch one person in your life right now, who would it be? i wouldn't just punch him. i would destroy him. chris would too, if he ever met him.
130. What is the closest object to your left foot? the wall to my cube
131.DID YOU SLEEP IN TODAY? i tried not to, but for once toby didn't bug me to wake up for his AM walk.
132.LAST TIME YOU ATE MEXICAN FOOD? i haven't had real mexican food in a very long time. but i had AMAZING cuban food at little havana's a few weeks ago.
133.WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING TOMORROW? being there when chris and my dad meet for the first time (yikes!) and then going out in DC with chris, his mom and step-dad. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (i get WAY too nervous about this sort of thing)
134.WHO DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR LAST TEXT MESSAGE FROM? chris
135.LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED ON DVD? i think Phantom of the Opera. the guy who plays him is kind of intoxicating. :)
136.DO YOU LIKE CHINESE FOOD?Yes.
137.WHAT'S YOUR POISON? love
138.LAST GIFT SOMEONE GAVE YOU? a philly college shirt
139. AT WHAT AGE DID YOU MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE? not counting college, 22.
140.LAST CONCERT YOU WENT TO? to see Ainzlee at Fletcher's about a month ago
141.WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? the MD/Navy lax game tonight.
142. WHICH OF YOUR FRIENDS DO YOU HANG OUT WITH THE MOST? courtney and steve. i guess chris doesn't count because he's more than a friend, but if he did count, then he'd win hands down.
143. LAST TIME YOU WENT TO A BAR? for a friend of chris's birthday, w/ all of his math PhD candidate friends. it's a lot more fun than it sounds. ;)
144.NAME A SONG YOU DESPISE: i hate "total eclipse of the heart." HATE!!!!!!!
145. FOOTBALL OR ICE HOCKEY? i'll enjoy hockey, but i love football
146.DO YOU HAVE JUNK IN THE TRUNK? some, but i think it's pretty sexy, especially when i've been running regularly for awhile.
147. WHO IN THIS WORLD LOVES YOU THE MOST? probably my mom and dad
148. WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE SEXIEST PERSON? chris. duh. but aside from him? lance armstrong. i have a definite weakness for athletes.
149. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO HAVE STITCHES? no, but i've broken both ankles and my head.
150.HAS A BF/GF EVER WRITTEN YOU A POEM? not that i'm aware of. but i've been sung to on several occasions.
151.HAVE YOU HAD SEX IN THE RAIN? i don't share those details with anybody.
152.RAP OR ROCK?Rock
153.DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS? yes
154. LAST TIME YOU WERE ON A BOAT? i can't remember. probably on a harbor tour a few years ago.
155.LOVE OR LUST?Love, but lust isn't always a bad thing.
156. LAST TIME SOMEONE MADE YOU FEEL SPECIAL: a few weeks ago, i had the plague. chris took care of me for three straight days, gave me soup and OJ when i couldn't eat anything else (i lost five pounds because i could barely eat), held me when i was lying on the couch and watched movies and tv with me, made me stay in bed when i didn't want to rest, walked/watched/fed/played with toby. i was so grateful to him when i got better, and i was thanking him profusely when he interrupted me. he said he had fun and didn't mind at all. that was SO sweet of him.
157. DO YOU WATCH THE T.V. SHOW LOST? a little this season, but when they had the living black smoke being with images in it, it was a little too ridiculous for me.
158.WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? silver. but i WILL get an electric blue G6 or solstice.
159. DO YOU VOTE? of course.
160.WHO IS YOUR PERSONALITY MOST LIKE, YOUR MOM OR YOUR DAD? i'm very much like both of them, but i'm also my own person.
161.WHAT DO YOU DESIRE? right now, to teach
162.MOST EXOTIC PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED? culebra, puerto rico
163.LAST TIME YOU WERE AT A BOOKSTORE? a few weeks ago. i work across the street from a B&N. that's BAD for a financially strapped bibliophile like myself. :)
164.LAST PERSON TO BREAK YOUR HEART? derek
165.WHAT COLOR SHEETS ARE ON YOUR BED? white with teeny pink flowers
166.NAME 5 ITEMS YOU USE DAILY laptop, cell, face wash and lotion, leash for toby and car
167. FAVORITE CLOTHING TO WEAR? bras and underwear
168.HOW MANY OF THESE SURVEYS HAVE YOU TAKEN? too many ;)
1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? big oval on my knee from taking a dive on wet asphalt.
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM? a map of Baltimore with the marathon route traced on it, a bulletin board with lots of pictures, a Happy Bunny calendar, and a chain of race bibs & my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer sash
3. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE? snug its leather cover, since i drop everything ALL the time
4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN TO? lots of different kinds. i guess i DON'T like to listen to hard core rap or metal bands.
5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? 8:20AM, i think
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? to teach
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? 90s music
8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? the piano my grandmother left me
9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SMELL? Clean
10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Yes, usually at church. figure that one out.
11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? Yes, mostly in museums/cathedrals that have sepulchres, etc. gives me the CREEPS.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOGNE / PERFUME? not really up for that all the time, but i do like strawberry champagne body spray from victoria's secret
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX/SAME SEX? same sex-hair that best compliments and shows off a girl's face; men-not a big deal, just keep it neat
15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO AT? now that's a bad idea if i ever saw one. ain't no way am i planning that. besides--why steal a guy's thunder if he's trying to do something he thinks is special?
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?neither. COKE CLASSIC!!! :)
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? veggie supreme (sans olives)
18. IF YOU CAN EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? some of mr. legaspi's pansit
19. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?Rachel
20. DO YOU SPEAK A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE? sort of. i speak middle school.
.21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU (OF THE OPPOSITE SEX)? Adam (amazing high school bf) gave me Achtung Baby for my birthday. i <3-ed>
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? Already have
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? swallow your pride and be honest. oh, and do it sooner than later.
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED: three
31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?brunettes
32. WHAT IS ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN? mom & dad
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? when other people expect me to clean up their own damn mess
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY?Yes.
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES? running shoes, red shoes and swim suits
37. FIRST JOB? babysitter. rah.
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL? no.
39. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS SURVEY? chatting about when i got bitch-slapped
40. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE? i wouldn't. i really really like my body the way it is.
41. WHY DID YOU FILL OUT THIS SURVEY?Because it's what i do.
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? my politeness & other various manners
43. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL? be an expatriate in Spain
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? a relaxing getaway where i don't have to think about or plan ANYTHING.
45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? ummm...two. but i could be persuaded to have three or four. depends on what's going on.
46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? my aunt, except she spells it with an H.
47. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? not really anymore, but nature often fosters prayerful meditation for me.
48. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE FINGER? index: i like pointing at things
49. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? a little while ago when i was REALLY wrestling with emotions about people
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? yes. it's pretty. :)
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? chicken breast
53. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF? Xtina Aguilera
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? HELLS yeah. i'm a big freakin barrel of fun.
56. DO LOOKS MATTER?Yes
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? running, walking toby, chatting with chris, court, steve, mom or dad (all depending on the reason why i'm pissed)
58. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME? Second Pres.
59. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY? Yes, sometimes blindly...
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Y-O, my blue teddy bear that i've had since birth
63. DO YOU USE SARCASM? uh, ya think?
64. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT? yes, and i would have been crushed if joe hadn't have saved me
65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL? similar beliefs, intelligence, humor, wit, a healthy lifestyle, and an adventurous personality
66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES? Toots, Tootsie (both courtesy of mom), fred (thanks, dad), jo/joey, pookie and boo boo ( i could kill BOTH of those exes for giving me those respective nicknames), catherine [the great] (think of some of the more... unorthodox things she's reputed to have done...not that i've done them... i'll shut up now), and, my all time favorite-- kitten
68. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? my running shoes--yes; all other shoes, no
72. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE COLORS? ocean blue and blood red
73. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE? i don't think mine have come in yet. my mom didn't get hers until she was about 40.
74. WHO/WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST RIGHT NOW? i miss my niece clara. i have to admit--she really makes me want to have a little girl.
BUT NOT RIGHT NOW, CHRIS! don't have a heart attack!
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? sometimes. i thinks it's a fun way to learn about somebody. but sometimes, some people DEFINITELY give TMI.
76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? "Romeo and Juliet" (Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits [sp?])
.77. LAST THING YOU ATE? a sausage breakfast burrito from McDonalds. it's just about the only thing i'll ever eat from there.
78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Chris, to plan our weekend
79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX? eyes
80. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? ghetto Maryland General in Baltimore
81. SCARIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU? i refuse to talk about it.
82. FAVORITE DRINK? N/A-coke classic; Alcohol-mai tai or Carlsberg 75
83. FAVORITE JOKE? i can never remember jokes, so don't ask
84. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT? track & field ( i love both distance running and throwing javelin)
85. HAIR COLOR? brown with natural blond highlights
86. EYE COLOR? ocean blue
87. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES? yes. i'd like to get lasik some day
88. SIBLINGS? yes, an older brother
89. FAVORITE MONTH? may or june, i think
90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI? yup. my favorite is the maryland roll at chiu's sushi in fells.
91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED? NCAA women's bball finals. YEAH, MARYLAND. i hate duke.
92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? this might sound weird b/c it's not a super happy "holiday" or anything, but a rather somber day of meditation: Good Friday. to me, it's the most poignant day on the Christian calendar, and it reminds me of the depth of Christ's passion for us.
93. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? i haven't been, but i never really realized it in the moment. chris told me that i was a go-getter when it came to him, and that surprised me. but then again, i always go after (and usually get) what i want. ;)
94. SUMMER OR WINTER?Summer.
95. KISSES OR HUGS? hugs, b/c you can hug ANYbody. kisses are nice too, but the good ones are more exclusive.
96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE-NIGHT STANDS? Relationships.
97. WHOM DO YOU SECRETLY LOVE? Nobody. I always tell them.
98. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU MACKED IT WITH IN THE PAST YEAR? are we back in middle school? seriously.
99. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? complete works of christopher marlowe
100: WHERE DO YOU WORK? Reznick Group
101. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? *I love my hair*
102. How much cash do you have on you? zero. i have a bad habit of not carrying cash.
103. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR"? more
104. Favorite planet? Hollywood. just kidding. i hate that chain. um... i like... saturn. it feels sneaky and like it could all of a sudden bust out and destroy jupiter. it's subversive.
105. Who is the 4th person on your received call list on your mobile? i'm not completely sure because i left my cell in my room, but i think it was courtney
106. What was the last good movie you saw? i liked a lot, but the most ... memorable was The Libertine
107. What shirt are you wearing? fitted white sweater with 3/4 sleeves.
108. Do you "label" yourself as anything? hot
109. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing? i dunno. payless?
110. Bright or Dark room? daytime: very sunny. sleepy time: pitch black. that seems like a very obvious question...
111. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? Kim's really fun. the surveys she does reveal a lot about her, and i like getting to know her. maybe we can be running buddies some time. :)
112. Look to your left. What's the first word you see? a sign that says "This is no time to COME UNGLUED."
113. What were you doing at midnight last night? IMing jimmy
114. What did your last text message you received on your mobile say? i can't remember
115. Where is your mailbox?next to the front door
116. What's a phrase that you say a lot? really? (heavy sarcasm)
117.Who told you he/she loved you last? Dad
118. Last furry thing you touched? toby :) i adore my dog.
119. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? 12. it's a daily thing, and i have no choice, unless i want to be suicidal. seriously.
120. What color is the blanket on your bed? beige. and it's furry!!!
121. What was the last meal you ate? sausage breakfast burritos
122. Your worst enemy? my mind--see #119.
123. Current image on your desktop? chris, with morilla on his shoulder
124. What was the last thing you said? something about work to tasha
125. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? flying
126. Do you like someone? again, are we in middles school? but yes, there is someone special to me.
127.what was the last song you listened to? "Feeling Love" (Paula Cole)
128. If the last person you spoke to was getting shot at, would you jump in front of the bullet? i would like to think i would, even though i haven't known tasha very long. but that's a very hard thing to promise about anyone.
129. If you could punch one person in your life right now, who would it be? i wouldn't just punch him. i would destroy him. chris would too, if he ever met him.
130. What is the closest object to your left foot? the wall to my cube
131.DID YOU SLEEP IN TODAY? i tried not to, but for once toby didn't bug me to wake up for his AM walk.
132.LAST TIME YOU ATE MEXICAN FOOD? i haven't had real mexican food in a very long time. but i had AMAZING cuban food at little havana's a few weeks ago.
133.WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING TOMORROW? being there when chris and my dad meet for the first time (yikes!) and then going out in DC with chris, his mom and step-dad. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (i get WAY too nervous about this sort of thing)
134.WHO DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR LAST TEXT MESSAGE FROM? chris
135.LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED ON DVD? i think Phantom of the Opera. the guy who plays him is kind of intoxicating. :)
136.DO YOU LIKE CHINESE FOOD?Yes.
137.WHAT'S YOUR POISON? love
138.LAST GIFT SOMEONE GAVE YOU? a philly college shirt
139. AT WHAT AGE DID YOU MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE? not counting college, 22.
140.LAST CONCERT YOU WENT TO? to see Ainzlee at Fletcher's about a month ago
141.WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? the MD/Navy lax game tonight.
142. WHICH OF YOUR FRIENDS DO YOU HANG OUT WITH THE MOST? courtney and steve. i guess chris doesn't count because he's more than a friend, but if he did count, then he'd win hands down.
143. LAST TIME YOU WENT TO A BAR? for a friend of chris's birthday, w/ all of his math PhD candidate friends. it's a lot more fun than it sounds. ;)
144.NAME A SONG YOU DESPISE: i hate "total eclipse of the heart." HATE!!!!!!!
145. FOOTBALL OR ICE HOCKEY? i'll enjoy hockey, but i love football
146.DO YOU HAVE JUNK IN THE TRUNK? some, but i think it's pretty sexy, especially when i've been running regularly for awhile.
147. WHO IN THIS WORLD LOVES YOU THE MOST? probably my mom and dad
148. WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE SEXIEST PERSON? chris. duh. but aside from him? lance armstrong. i have a definite weakness for athletes.
149. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO HAVE STITCHES? no, but i've broken both ankles and my head.
150.HAS A BF/GF EVER WRITTEN YOU A POEM? not that i'm aware of. but i've been sung to on several occasions.
151.HAVE YOU HAD SEX IN THE RAIN? i don't share those details with anybody.
152.RAP OR ROCK?Rock
153.DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS? yes
154. LAST TIME YOU WERE ON A BOAT? i can't remember. probably on a harbor tour a few years ago.
155.LOVE OR LUST?Love, but lust isn't always a bad thing.
156. LAST TIME SOMEONE MADE YOU FEEL SPECIAL: a few weeks ago, i had the plague. chris took care of me for three straight days, gave me soup and OJ when i couldn't eat anything else (i lost five pounds because i could barely eat), held me when i was lying on the couch and watched movies and tv with me, made me stay in bed when i didn't want to rest, walked/watched/fed/played with toby. i was so grateful to him when i got better, and i was thanking him profusely when he interrupted me. he said he had fun and didn't mind at all. that was SO sweet of him.
157. DO YOU WATCH THE T.V. SHOW LOST? a little this season, but when they had the living black smoke being with images in it, it was a little too ridiculous for me.
158.WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR? silver. but i WILL get an electric blue G6 or solstice.
159. DO YOU VOTE? of course.
160.WHO IS YOUR PERSONALITY MOST LIKE, YOUR MOM OR YOUR DAD? i'm very much like both of them, but i'm also my own person.
161.WHAT DO YOU DESIRE? right now, to teach
162.MOST EXOTIC PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED? culebra, puerto rico
163.LAST TIME YOU WERE AT A BOOKSTORE? a few weeks ago. i work across the street from a B&N. that's BAD for a financially strapped bibliophile like myself. :)
164.LAST PERSON TO BREAK YOUR HEART? derek
165.WHAT COLOR SHEETS ARE ON YOUR BED? white with teeny pink flowers
166.NAME 5 ITEMS YOU USE DAILY laptop, cell, face wash and lotion, leash for toby and car
167. FAVORITE CLOTHING TO WEAR? bras and underwear
168.HOW MANY OF THESE SURVEYS HAVE YOU TAKEN? too many ;)
seriously? SERIOUSLY?!!!
http://johns-hopkins.bkstore.com/default.asp?m=0303&p=7847&cat_id=237
cheap steal, you bastards.
get ready for a throw-down on the 15th. it's on.
cheap steal, you bastards.
get ready for a throw-down on the 15th. it's on.
djs' daily nugget: women and their post-break-up metamorphoses
once again, jojo and regan ask the probing questions to uncover the core of the human soul. this time, it's "why do women try to drastically change their appearance after a break-up, especially when they are the dump-ee?"
the origin of their question is that when regan met up with a female friend, she'd lopped off most of her long, gorgeous, blond locks and dyed the remaining short 'do black. when asked why, she said, "because of a break-up." ladies, we all know of a gal pal who has (or we can admit that we personally have) chopped/dyed/buzzed/mangled/transformed hair, gotten piercings and/or tattoos (sometimes in unconventional places), bought an entirely new wardrobe, often comprised of a radically different style than before (e.g., if we once were ralph lauren preppy, we're now british glam). so, regan's friend, don't look back. that's right, sister. 99.9% of all women out there don't need further explanation; we feel your pain.
to illuminate the situation, let me tell my story. as a junior in college, i was in a lovely relationship that i felt was really going somewhere. imagine my dismay when it ended up not. after i got over the initial teary-eyed nights, i took my thick, shiny brown hair that reached below my shoulder blades and did a personal chop job. by the time i was done, it was a reasonably clean/neat chin-length 'do. and, like regan's friend, i colored it a bit, although i went the less drastic route of only applying blond highlights.
why did i do this, especially when everybody else LOVED my hair as it was? truth is, it's not a self-destructive move at all. instead of being weepy and confined to the past, we ladies like to think of ourselves as shedding a former identity, redirecting our lives in a new and fulfilling direction, and reincarnating ourselves as confident and liberated women. we're molting men, if you will.
so ladies, blaze your own trail without any fear, and grow into yourself. you'll never regret the new heights that you reach.
and gentlemen, if you see a recent ex sporting a new look, realize that she's moving on.
she has erased you from her cell phone.
the origin of their question is that when regan met up with a female friend, she'd lopped off most of her long, gorgeous, blond locks and dyed the remaining short 'do black. when asked why, she said, "because of a break-up." ladies, we all know of a gal pal who has (or we can admit that we personally have) chopped/dyed/buzzed/mangled/transformed hair, gotten piercings and/or tattoos (sometimes in unconventional places), bought an entirely new wardrobe, often comprised of a radically different style than before (e.g., if we once were ralph lauren preppy, we're now british glam). so, regan's friend, don't look back. that's right, sister. 99.9% of all women out there don't need further explanation; we feel your pain.
to illuminate the situation, let me tell my story. as a junior in college, i was in a lovely relationship that i felt was really going somewhere. imagine my dismay when it ended up not. after i got over the initial teary-eyed nights, i took my thick, shiny brown hair that reached below my shoulder blades and did a personal chop job. by the time i was done, it was a reasonably clean/neat chin-length 'do. and, like regan's friend, i colored it a bit, although i went the less drastic route of only applying blond highlights.
why did i do this, especially when everybody else LOVED my hair as it was? truth is, it's not a self-destructive move at all. instead of being weepy and confined to the past, we ladies like to think of ourselves as shedding a former identity, redirecting our lives in a new and fulfilling direction, and reincarnating ourselves as confident and liberated women. we're molting men, if you will.
so ladies, blaze your own trail without any fear, and grow into yourself. you'll never regret the new heights that you reach.
and gentlemen, if you see a recent ex sporting a new look, realize that she's moving on.
she has erased you from her cell phone.
4.05.2006
come on lemme hear ya say 'way-oh!'
WAY-OH-OHHH!!!
daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn that was a good game. the lady Terps got the job done by slamming the Blue Devil's own arrogance down Duke's throat. i'll admit that the Terps had me in pain during the first half, when Duke was able to build a ridiculous lead of 13 points, and they have to be careful because games like that can really get away from anybody. but, at the same time, this is basketball, where anything is possible, and that's exactly how Maryland rolled out in the second half. as was expected, this was a very physical game where push literally came to shove, especially when williams (D) basically body-slammed shay doron onto the court. that should have been grounds for ejection, i think. but doron was the iron woman for the Terps, as she withstood a number of catastrophic trips to the floor, falls that would have broken most other players.
as Maryland closed in on Duke in the second half, the Blue Devils started to panic; anybody could see the mounting anxiety on their faces as they were realizing that this game was in fact not in the bag. that was their downfall. while currie, bales and harding played their hearts out and kept the game close, they also started to commit desperate fouls that gave the Terps the perfect opportunities to gain some ground on their opponents. i have to give a lot of credit to bales, a 6'7" presence that can overpower almost anyone right at the basket. she played with confidence, and while she wasn't as emotionally explosive as currie and williams, her game was loud enough to keep the Dukies in it.
as far as the individual Terps go, i have to say that i really like toliver. as a freshman, she certainly had something to prove to every kind of audience, which for any athlete is wicked pressure. although her first halves were as nerve-racking as her ball-handling mistakes, she 99% of the time regained her poise and made numerous clutch plays, the most mind-blowing being, of course, her three-pointer to push the title game into OT.
my favorite player though is shay doron. that girl throws her whole body into it and plays through pain, to the point where her opponents are rattled by her resilience. she kept getting to her feet and hustling back down the court, to smack the ball away and again get thrown on the ground. and she got up AGAIN. normally, during regular and post season, you don't want your player to possibly wreck herself to the point of major injury, and you would tell her to cool off and sit on the bench for awhile. but both coach frese and doron knew that the players could rest today and have months before needing their bodies for games again. ultimately, doron put forth an entire team's worth of effort, and for that, she is my pick for an MVP.
Terps fans have a lot to look forward to with this squad, and they're only adding to the increasing prestige of Maryland athletics. with men's soccer and women's field hockey championships already won and men's and women's lacrosse looking to go all the way, this former student-athlete is thrilled to wonder how far the Terps can go.
daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn that was a good game. the lady Terps got the job done by slamming the Blue Devil's own arrogance down Duke's throat. i'll admit that the Terps had me in pain during the first half, when Duke was able to build a ridiculous lead of 13 points, and they have to be careful because games like that can really get away from anybody. but, at the same time, this is basketball, where anything is possible, and that's exactly how Maryland rolled out in the second half. as was expected, this was a very physical game where push literally came to shove, especially when williams (D) basically body-slammed shay doron onto the court. that should have been grounds for ejection, i think. but doron was the iron woman for the Terps, as she withstood a number of catastrophic trips to the floor, falls that would have broken most other players.
as Maryland closed in on Duke in the second half, the Blue Devils started to panic; anybody could see the mounting anxiety on their faces as they were realizing that this game was in fact not in the bag. that was their downfall. while currie, bales and harding played their hearts out and kept the game close, they also started to commit desperate fouls that gave the Terps the perfect opportunities to gain some ground on their opponents. i have to give a lot of credit to bales, a 6'7" presence that can overpower almost anyone right at the basket. she played with confidence, and while she wasn't as emotionally explosive as currie and williams, her game was loud enough to keep the Dukies in it.
as far as the individual Terps go, i have to say that i really like toliver. as a freshman, she certainly had something to prove to every kind of audience, which for any athlete is wicked pressure. although her first halves were as nerve-racking as her ball-handling mistakes, she 99% of the time regained her poise and made numerous clutch plays, the most mind-blowing being, of course, her three-pointer to push the title game into OT.
my favorite player though is shay doron. that girl throws her whole body into it and plays through pain, to the point where her opponents are rattled by her resilience. she kept getting to her feet and hustling back down the court, to smack the ball away and again get thrown on the ground. and she got up AGAIN. normally, during regular and post season, you don't want your player to possibly wreck herself to the point of major injury, and you would tell her to cool off and sit on the bench for awhile. but both coach frese and doron knew that the players could rest today and have months before needing their bodies for games again. ultimately, doron put forth an entire team's worth of effort, and for that, she is my pick for an MVP.
Terps fans have a lot to look forward to with this squad, and they're only adding to the increasing prestige of Maryland athletics. with men's soccer and women's field hockey championships already won and men's and women's lacrosse looking to go all the way, this former student-athlete is thrilled to wonder how far the Terps can go.
4.04.2006
oooooo interesting
1. i'm so sick of tom cruise. and steve, you must be distraught at the fate of katie holmes. anyway, i'm not trying to give the crazy man too much attention, but this particular quote of his caught my eye:
""First the baby, then the film. Then, in summer, we want to get married. I won't let this woman get away."
ummm... MI:3 before love? wow. talk about your priorities. and it sounds like katie is going to be imprisoned for the rest of her life. yikes.
2. tom delay. WOW. this is probably the smartest move he's made in a few years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040400513.html
and you know, it probably does help the increasingly bedeviled (sp?) Republican party save face at least a little bit. now it just remains to be seen if the federal probe that is inching closer and closer will actually result in another criminal indictment.
3. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!!! we're all about the lady terps winning the national championships. we all know what duke can do with themselves. here's some of the hype about Maryland's best basketball team in years:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/bal-sp.ncaawomen04apr04,0,6921895.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
4. last, but not least--
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060404_jesus_ice.html
maybe he was hoping to land a spot on "Skating with the Stars"...
""First the baby, then the film. Then, in summer, we want to get married. I won't let this woman get away."
ummm... MI:3 before love? wow. talk about your priorities. and it sounds like katie is going to be imprisoned for the rest of her life. yikes.
2. tom delay. WOW. this is probably the smartest move he's made in a few years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/04/AR2006040400513.html
and you know, it probably does help the increasingly bedeviled (sp?) Republican party save face at least a little bit. now it just remains to be seen if the federal probe that is inching closer and closer will actually result in another criminal indictment.
3. TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!!!! we're all about the lady terps winning the national championships. we all know what duke can do with themselves. here's some of the hype about Maryland's best basketball team in years:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/bal-sp.ncaawomen04apr04,0,6921895.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
4. last, but not least--
http://www.livescience.com/othernews/060404_jesus_ice.html
maybe he was hoping to land a spot on "Skating with the Stars"...
4.03.2006
Lady Terps go for the jugular
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/bal-sp.2maesecol03apr03,0,728118.column?coll=bal-home-headlines
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/bal-te.sp.terps03apr03,0,5578947.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/02/AR2006040201393.html
YEE-HAW!!!
The Lady Terps know how to get it done moreso than any Maryland basketball team in the past few years. Last night's game was sloppy, ugly and dangerously physical. In fact, a huge turning point in the game was Ivory Latta coming down from a lay-up (which I think she missed) and jamming up her entire left leg. Understandably, that completely blew out the Tar Heels' momentum and also was a bit of distraction; the team had to go deep to compensate for the even momentary loss of their star player. Kudos to Latta for having the courage to come back into the game minutes later. That definitely requires a champion's spirit, and I believe that she recognized that she carried the team on her shoulders. Not to be forgotten by any means is Erlana Larkins. She took on the lion's share of the Maryland defense and came up with great penetration. She began to assume the mantle of team leader, so ultimately you can't fault the Tar Heels for their guts and effort.
But it was Maryland who had more endurance, and, despite the obscene number of turnovers, they were able to utilize their physicality to their advantage. They were able to cut inside and convert, especially as they ran away with the game in the remaining few minutes of the game. The poise that those girls had throughout was especially strong as the game was reaching its climax. This was by far the most riveting women's game I've ever seen (and yes, I have watched some), and I'm very excited about what this can do for women's sports overall. The Maryland women have brought a very tangible passion to the game, to the degree that fans of primarily men's games could be impressed.
Tomorrow night, the Terps take on the Dukies. Even if our girls weren't in the title game, we all know where my loyalties lie. That said, it's certainly not an open-and-shut case as to which team is going to win the whole she-bang. To blow out another #1 seed like Duke did to the Tigers last night was, in some senses, a surprise, especially with the Tigers having one of the nation's top scorers. Then again, Duke hasn't had a national championship for a long time, if ever (I don't know), and that could mean one of two things; 1) they could really dig deep with a powerful thirst for the title and come out on top. 2) OR, they could fall victim to their identity as Blue Devils, almost expecting the title for themselves, especially in light of last night's rout. They have a lot on their plate, considering how the men's team bowed out in their sweet-sixteen game and also how they might be relied upon to take the spotlight away from their men's lacrosse scandal. On the other side of the coin, the Terrapins have these possibilities; 1) their sloppy play could continue into tomorrow night, largely due to their inexperience. 2) OR, they could ride the wave and play some gritty ball, reaching as far as they possibly can to bedevil the Blue Devils, simply because they have nothing to lose.
I'm never good at picking the game, and to be truthful, I have no idea who'll take it tomorrow night. So, I'll wear my red shirt and be on the edge of my seat for what I expect to be another benchmark game in college basketball.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/basketball/bal-te.sp.terps03apr03,0,5578947.story?coll=bal-home-headlines
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/02/AR2006040201393.html
YEE-HAW!!!
The Lady Terps know how to get it done moreso than any Maryland basketball team in the past few years. Last night's game was sloppy, ugly and dangerously physical. In fact, a huge turning point in the game was Ivory Latta coming down from a lay-up (which I think she missed) and jamming up her entire left leg. Understandably, that completely blew out the Tar Heels' momentum and also was a bit of distraction; the team had to go deep to compensate for the even momentary loss of their star player. Kudos to Latta for having the courage to come back into the game minutes later. That definitely requires a champion's spirit, and I believe that she recognized that she carried the team on her shoulders. Not to be forgotten by any means is Erlana Larkins. She took on the lion's share of the Maryland defense and came up with great penetration. She began to assume the mantle of team leader, so ultimately you can't fault the Tar Heels for their guts and effort.
But it was Maryland who had more endurance, and, despite the obscene number of turnovers, they were able to utilize their physicality to their advantage. They were able to cut inside and convert, especially as they ran away with the game in the remaining few minutes of the game. The poise that those girls had throughout was especially strong as the game was reaching its climax. This was by far the most riveting women's game I've ever seen (and yes, I have watched some), and I'm very excited about what this can do for women's sports overall. The Maryland women have brought a very tangible passion to the game, to the degree that fans of primarily men's games could be impressed.
Tomorrow night, the Terps take on the Dukies. Even if our girls weren't in the title game, we all know where my loyalties lie. That said, it's certainly not an open-and-shut case as to which team is going to win the whole she-bang. To blow out another #1 seed like Duke did to the Tigers last night was, in some senses, a surprise, especially with the Tigers having one of the nation's top scorers. Then again, Duke hasn't had a national championship for a long time, if ever (I don't know), and that could mean one of two things; 1) they could really dig deep with a powerful thirst for the title and come out on top. 2) OR, they could fall victim to their identity as Blue Devils, almost expecting the title for themselves, especially in light of last night's rout. They have a lot on their plate, considering how the men's team bowed out in their sweet-sixteen game and also how they might be relied upon to take the spotlight away from their men's lacrosse scandal. On the other side of the coin, the Terrapins have these possibilities; 1) their sloppy play could continue into tomorrow night, largely due to their inexperience. 2) OR, they could ride the wave and play some gritty ball, reaching as far as they possibly can to bedevil the Blue Devils, simply because they have nothing to lose.
I'm never good at picking the game, and to be truthful, I have no idea who'll take it tomorrow night. So, I'll wear my red shirt and be on the edge of my seat for what I expect to be another benchmark game in college basketball.
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