| | | | | | Thursday, August 30, 2007 |
a notice
| | Others things have happened that I'll tell you about tomorrow, because right now I'm very tired. but this is a post that says
AT THIS TIME ED TURNER HAS NOT POSTED
posted by Amber at 11:54 PM
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take on me!
| | Whoo! I just hung out with Sterling tonight! I dressed super cute, vertical striped black tights with long polkadot top over miniskirt (really regular skirt hoisted up over boobs under top). Sterling was handsome, as usual (also dressed nice, with slack style pants and linen dress shirt... wore althetic shoes, but at least they were black). We went to that French place I found last week, and had crepes (high quality ones, too), I had the ratatouille crepe, which is just what it sounds like stew wrapped in cheesy fried shell. Sterling's involved some sort of jam and cashews (it's the jam that's not jam, and it's not called curry, it has a word, I'll remember later). We hung out at the Fox and Goose (because it always seems to be close to where we want to go, and it's well lit and easy to talk in) for a while. Walked around, and then ended up at the Press Club. Which is -not- closed, is instead very much open. It was eighties night, and it was awesome. Of course, a good percentage of the music they played (while awesome to sing along to) had a beat you couldn't really -dance- to, but they made up for it with the ones you could. They played Aha, two Michael Jackson numbers (Beat it and Thriller), Daft Punk (around the world, anyone?), Dancing with myself and lots of other bouncy bouncy songs. The floor was packed for most of the night, meaning at times Sterling and I were just bouncing up and down in place (when it was really packed, we were very close to moshing on accident). Then the floor cleared up a bit and we got to glide around. I love how we twirl (we step and spin in complementary methods, gliding about the dance floor and whirling our arms around). I love dancing with him in general. I know someday I'll find a man who loves me and loves to dance. Finally, we left (the last song started slow, then turned into one of those Rock Ballads, which aren't fun to dance to). And we drove home. Here I am.
I'm so glad he's back
posted by Amber at 2:15 AM
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awesomeness
| | Man, I loved American Gladiators as a kid. I mean, I really loved it.
Maybe not as much as I loved Murder She Wrote, but I was a strange child (I had my own 'Detective's Jacket'). But back to the Gladiators. Oh man, what they did always looked like so much fun (also while being something I knew even at seven that I could never ever do). Running across the ceiling (with -Velcro-), using that handbike to pedal through the Eliminator, shooting at a tiny target while being shot with nerfballs by a Gladiator. Eighties style guitar, crowds that count down how much time you have left, very cheesy announcers. Being assaulted by men and women in spandex with names like Zap and Diamond, Laser and Thunder. Good times. Ed and I spent like half an hour watching American Gladiators on YouTube. In my opinion that is what Youtube is -for- showing me music videos and bits of TV shows that I loved but are not on anymore. It also has other junk, but really that's all I use it for.
PS. I started my vacation today! I do not have to be back at work until next Friday! Woo!
PPS I got my Music For TV Dinners Cd in, so I've been rockin' out to the awesome sounds of 50s propaganda. This perky music fights Communism with upbeat tempos and pure American Industry. Take -that- Soviet Union!
posted by Amber at 8:19 PM
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| | I like having guy friends. I like it a lot for a variety of reasons. The only thing I -don't- like about having guy friends is having to share them with their girlfriends. Although, it rarely feels like -sharing- so much as 'competing for his attention.' Why -is- that? I am not interested in competing, while I love my guy friends, with one noteable exception, I've never been 'in love' with any of them (and crazily enough, I've never competed with her, I mean, he loves her so much that there could be no other). And yet, it's there. I've actually -lost- friends because of their girlfriends (of course that doesn't say anything flattering about the -guy-, either). I'm pretty sure it's not unique to this particular dynamic (female friend competing with girlfriend over guy's attention), but to friendships in general, but it makes me feel all hissy.
In other news, today I went for a little adventure. I set off in search of some place to eat, and about twenty minutes later found this french place that had an -amazing- salad and a brie sandwich. Through doing this I was able to connect more streets in my mental map, which was nice (and hopefully useful!). I woke up this morning at six forty, but was able to convince myself to sleep in until 11am. Soon the last of my laundry will be done and then I'll watch a movie and go to bed. It wasn't a particularly -exciting- day, but I had fun.
posted by Amber at 8:14 PM
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suckitude
| | Well, that was a waste.
I went out to see Stardust on a date with Kris. And, the movie was -really- good, I was impressed. The company was less so. He stammered a little and said um a lot at first, which I found endearing. However, not only did he not hold open a door for me (which isn't necessary but nice), he walked through the door and then let it slam in my face (which is rude). Over "coffee" which he didn't actually buy any (I had a juice so that I didn't feel like a jerk for sitting on their patio), we talked a little. It was a -tad- stilted but not awful. However as soon as I finished my juice he sprang up and shook my hand and walked off while saying it was nice meeting me.
What the hell?
So, no second date, then.
I decided that since it was 10pm and I didn't have to be to work to go to the videostore. I talked to Momma Dawn (perfect lady to talk to about how dating sucks) outside the videostore, she really helped remind me that dating isn't like taking a test, if it goes poorly it doesn't mean that I failed in someway, it just went poorly. When I got out of the videostore I realized... damnit I locked my keys in the car. I called AAA, and had to resort to calling my mother (everyone else was out) while waiting. Which was a mistake, I love her, but she -really- doesn't know what to say to make me feel any better when it comes to dating (relationships she's good at), so I went from feeling fine to feeling like A Failure At Life. Which was... lame. I love my mother but MommaDawn is clearly the 'cool' mom.
So yeah, lame.
But the movie was really good (although it seems Ed and I have different taste in gay, which is a wording that amuses me).
posted by Amber at 12:02 AM
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well what does that mean? (that boy needs therapy)
| | Wednesday I called up my cousin Austin, and he invited me over for yesterday. Yesterday I drove down to past Stockton to the wonderful community of Lathrop (which has... nothing really to recommend itself to anyone. Lots o' farmland). He said he should be home around four pm, so I tore down there, and arrived around 4:30. The door was unlocked, but the house was silent. I wandered about and finally found him fast asleep in his room. He had spent the night in the company of friends and as such felt ill equipped for work that day. The house was... the best it's been in years. It was a little cluttery, there is only carpet in the living room all the other rooms have either linoleum or cement slab. and there are empty packs of cigarettes everywhere, but that's it. Which is amazing, truly. We hung out for a little while, before he decided that we should go pick up Nikki and go out to eat. As we were -nearly- out the door, my uncle came home. And there was a bit of a shout (where were you last night? Oh at ___'s house? So, is he your drug dealer?), so I went outside. Then my uncle Jerry came out and I made the mistake of asking how he was. I'll give you the short answer... not good. Just as I was thinking about going home Austin came out and we made a break for Nikki's. We went out to Japanese food (the kind of place where they set food on fire in front of you), and Austin picked up the tab, which was pretty damn amazing. Afterwards we went down to the UoP campus and hung out at a theatre. Then Austin picked up tobacco at a smokeshop, and we headed home. Nikki's leaving for Auburn in a month, which will make her closer to me, but much much further away from Austin (he told me "Amber I'm losing her." and we had a commiseration about what it's like to lose someone you love. Little things like what it's like to -not- have physically around every day who actually -cares- about your day, or how lonely a bed can seem when you're used to sharing). On the way back to her place she started sobbing in the backseat, which was... uncomfortable. Austin and her had a talk in her grandmothers driveway for twenty minutes. Austin was the most articulate he's been since puberty, and he was really mellow yesterday. While for many years he's rocked the teenage rebellion thing, yesterday I was able to see the man he could be (the reason I augment it with -could- is because he was very mellow today from shrooming the night before). I love my cousin. I had a good time.
PS Sterling called me! He's home from his trip, and will be in Davis for the next four months! Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
posted by Amber at 5:36 PM
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| | | | | | Wednesday, August 15, 2007 |
a Limerick
| | Let it never be said that no one ever wrote me poetry:
My bestest best friend's name is Amber,
And I know that some folks wouldn't stand her.
Neurotic, obsessive,
And manic depressive;
But I love her, 'cause ment'ly, I am her.
-Edward Turner
That's either sweet, insulting or true. Probably two out of three.
posted by Amber at 10:41 PM
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Hairspray
| | Wow, that was fun. I just saw Hairspray and it was pretty good. I like the original John Waters film (and where would the world be, if we hadn't discovered Rikki Lake? Don't answer that, just go see the move), but this was fun. Of course the only down side was John Travolta as Edna Turnblad... I mean, Divine was something else (like, a flipping force of nature), and Harvey Fierstein is incredible, but John Travolta? Seriously though, the first thing I'm going to ask John Travolta, after I've ascertained it's really him, is "What was it like playing the wife of -Christopher Walken-?" Oh Christopher Walken was great, he can sing, he can dance, he can scare the bejeezus out of tiny children by reading GoodNight Moon (or Three Little Pigs, really any kid's book), he's amazing (dreamy sigh).
What was I talking about?
Oh yeah, I had a fun time tonight.
posted by Amber at 12:28 AM
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not nearly enough songs use the word "roustabout"
| | Music is awesome.
I have a favorite dj (DJ David X, who, crazily enough is almost forty, my second favorite is Eddie Edul), and he mixes on KWOD of all places from 10pm-2am on saturdays. I do not tune in very often (mostly because I forget, and I lack a working radio in my house), but tonight I remembered that I can listen online. And now, the midnight mashup is playing. Oh man, do I -ever- want to go dancing.
Speaking of dancing. I saw the Dirty Vegas music video again (Days Go By), and it always makes me very sad. Which is silly, of course. But there is something beautiful about the idea of ritual. We don't acknowledge ritual too much, but it's important, especially self imposed rituals. The story is that this man dances one day a year from sun up to sun down, in hopes of bringing back a lady. As he dances, we go "back in the day" and see him dance for her. She left him, we're not sure why (people think she died), and he's here, something like twenty years later, still thinking of her. And in the end, we're allowed a glimpse of her (as she looked back then) offering him absolution. I can't imagine ever making enough of an impression in someone's life to have them give one day a year to me for years after we stop talking. Of course, it's a story, real people don't do that. But sometimes I wish they would. I think this desire is linked to my Why Won't Ewan McGregor Sing For Me desire.
Also, today at work, I was perusing the new Mo Willems book (Mo Willems who brought us the terrific Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Knufflebunny: a cautionary tale). I Am Invited To A Party, which is about Gerald (an elephant with glasses) and Piggie (a pig); most of the book involves the two main characters dancing and chanting "Party, party, party!" in various wacky costumes). More parties should be like that. I like Gerald and Piggie, I would like to think Ed and I are like Gerald and Piggie (Okay, I'm totally Piggie, the small spunky over-animated one. He can be Gerald the expert at Parties, who in another book freaks out about having a bird on his head).
Eh, I'm afraid I don't have much interesting to say, really. I have tomorrow off (meaning my check for next week is -really- going to blow). My little vacation is coming up, however I won't be going anywhere, so it will be me going to doctors appointments and the like. But I'll be -paid- to do it, so there's that.
When does school start again?
And more importantly, what will I do when I will have NOTHING but work (as in school is really over ever forever). I think the first few falls are going to be me being antsy for no reason. Or maybe my job will be so exciting and engaging I'll never notice, and just contentedly work all year.
It could happen!
posted by Amber at 12:44 AM
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How can it be that these things live in me?
| | Look! Pictures!
Pictures that -aren't- renderings of my department at work!
Hurrah!
I made an afghan, with my own two hands! That isn't the full length (had to drape it over the door a bit), but it's most of it.
Also zoo photos:
Things they do not teach you about Flamingoes: 1. they sound -just- like ducks, 2 They are actually a salmon pink not a flamingo pink 3. they are funny as hell to watch eat (they do it upside down)
This guy was one of the few animals in the outdoor pens to cooperate (the other giraffe stood with his rearend to the audience, all the cats were snoozing in their caves and it was feeding time for the chimps.).
posted by Amber at 2:52 AM
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Barnes and Noble Slumber Party!
| | Okay, so yesterday (my today, really), I slept 12 hours. I woke up at four pm, ate a leisurely lunch/dinner, went for a bike ride, showered, had a few cups of coffee, talked to Calen, and then at ten pm set out to work. Carolyn and I moved things around
here's what the department looked like prior to the move
here's what it looks like after
Now, I know on paper that doesn't look like too much. But think of it this way. Teens went from 13 bays (9 4' long bays and 4 3' bays) to 12 bays. Family and childcare went from eight bays to four. Education was absorbed into FPAT, as well as workbooks. FPAT is 11 bays long, 8 of those bays should have 2.5' cascading displays (which of course we do not have in), divided by -subject-. It's going to be very visual, right now it's a big fat mess. Also this whole shuffling about process happened like this. Caroly and I load up all the family and childcare books, IN ORDER, onto h-carts, WHILE we load up teen books IN ORDER onto other h-carts, push them across the floor and unload teen onto where family and childcare -used- to be. That got us to about 5am, right there. All this time, family and childcare is still on the carts, waiting for education to be split up into FPAT. Now we have help, seven people each with their -own- bay to do, are shunting books from workbooks and education trying to put them to plan in their individual bays, without the proper cascade fixture (which meant we winged it). Then we unloaded family and childcare (-highly- compacted) into it's new four bay home, putting the -rest- of education that -wasn't- split up into FPAT in the remaining two bays. And in between loading and unloading every shelf, we have to dust it, then wipe it down with handiwipes, then reset the shelves so that the proper number of shelves are in the bay (which often means hunting around for a spare shelf or fixture) and -then- putting books back on.
Did I mention that at the same time, booksellers are reorganizing the rest of the store AND cleaners are deepcleaning everything. Like seriously polishing floors and steamcleaning carpets.
This was a fucking BIG ordeal. But, it was actually pretty fun.
So now I'm home... and not all that tired.
I think I -will- lie down though after another shower.
posted by Amber at 7:30 AM
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| | | | | | Saturday, August 04, 2007 |
We're not in infinity, we're in the suburbs
| | Sigh.
I've been in a mood, I think. I've been staying up -far- too late, unable to fall asleep until I pass out from exhaustion. Which leads me to beelive I'm avoiding thinking about something, but I have no idea what it might be. In any case on Sunday I'm to take part in an Overnight, which I'm excited about. Ten thirty pm to seven am, regular clothes, no customers, our own music, and I expect pizza for dinner (although I have no idea where we'll get one at two thirty am). The hours don't bother me all that much. I'll be tired, I'm sure, but at least I'll be -doing- something productive. Instead of sitting about, crocheting in front of the computer. Speaking of which, I wish I could find my camera, I'm ridiculously proud of my work.
Hrm I have developed a little rash on the inside of my arm. A little bit of internet research implies that it might be something called "ringworm" which doesn't involve a worm at all, thank god (fungus, which isn't fun, but less -creepy- than a worm. Ugh a worm up my arm? I think I've seen that movie. It doesn't end well). Apparently with a little topical ointment it will go away just fine. Relieving, was afraid my skin was going to slough off or something, which would be -very- unattractive.
Okay, clearly I'm tired. Maybe my brain will let me go to sleep now.
PS I read a No Talking! today (by Andrew Clements). I -loved- it. I read it and thought, wow, if Ed wrote a book for children, it would be something like this (only this story was too closely connected to real life, Ed's would be wackier).
posted by Amber at 3:21 AM
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| | | | | | Thursday, August 02, 2007 |
Days Off are pretty darn amazing
| | See Above.
I got up today and went out with John (Opera Man), and it was a good time. It was a lunch/afternoon thing, which was nice and low key. We went out for Indian buffet and then saw Simpsons the movie. Which... was pretty alright, as in, hey I think it didn't suck.
I saw Ferris Bueller's day off, which I had never seen before. John Hughes really did something for the Teen Movie... I'm not sure if we should -thank- him per say, but he most definitely did make an impact on how teen films are done.
I found this pretty awesome techno version of Manfred Mann's Blinded by the Light. I like the original song, and I like techno, so it's a bit of a match made in... if not -heaven- then the same place where they created mole (pronounced mo-lay, not like the rodent) sauce (chocolate and hot peppers... who would have thought it would be so damn delicious?). Yes, this remix is a bit like mole sauce. I'm sticking by that description.
My mother and my grandmother are coming next week... I don't know what date yet, because they haven't made up my schedule for next week, but one day. Apparently my grandmother wants to buy me things, and I really don't need things! If she wants to spend money on me, I could use money for text books for next semester... or a small dining table and two chairs (people sized people have had difficulty eating off my coffee table). But neither of those are things that one feels comfortable asking a person on a limited budget to supply. Really, I have no desire to spend my day off going shopping anyhow. Argh, well I'll deal with that when I know, and I'll get a super good attitude by then, too! It's hard to tell with my family if some comments are cunningly crafted barbs, or poorly thought out comments. And I need some time to scrounge up all my good attitude so as to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. The goal here is to have a good time with my mother and grandmother, I -WILL- have a good time with my mother and grandmother.
Okay I just turned up Blinded by the Light really loudly. I think I'm done typing for tonight.
PS this is the cutest thing I've seen in a while... It doesn't even matter to me what they're selling.
PPS Raina of SMILE is BREAKING MY HEART
posted by Amber at 2:22 AM
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