enough

After being on the verge of sickness for over a week, I'm officially achy and head-achy...a sitution not improved by the bawling baby in the building next to ours (which I swear they prop up against the open window so as to project the sound--along with the sound of the dogs that inevitably start barking because of the crying--to the whole neighborhood.) I'm just lying in bed all day watching Drop Dead Diva, loving Mouse for bringing me soup, and still taking care of Gold Line issues via email.

when work gives you lemons, squeeze them into random open wounds

So annoyed that getting Heather's chapbook to the public for purchase is this frigging difficult, and our press/distributor is not helping at all. Spent the whole day getting that dealt with, plus driving Jilly to the airport and getting Jeff's site live.

jillybean and pot lucky

Jilly came back to LA before her flight to Austin, and I got her to like eggplant and advised her on makeup purchases. Before that, YSF had a head mentor pot luck, and I got to tell my tales of uncooperative school and missing mentor woe.

brother-in-law

I built a website for my brother-in-law Jeff's business, and it was my first time doing so. It doesn't look amazing or anything, but I'm proud of it, and I wish he'd call me with his cc number so I can get it up live.

fuck breast cancer

I spent four hours today in the Cancer Center at USC because my family history of breast and ovarian cancer on both sides warrants early testing and a genetic screening for mutated genes. I cried in the office because I'm a wimp, and the mammogram was fine, and I'll have the genetic results in two weeks to find out whether I'm like the worst X-man character ever.

congraduations mouse!

We attended Artur's graduation luncheon today, which was adorable and made me and his family super proud. After I took his mom to the fabric store, and then Fun Thursday was chill, but I successfully got Joanna into SYTYCD, which is WIN.

blahdee blah blah

Literally nothing exciting happened today. Unless, of course, you count getting an electrolysis touch up....which I don't.

the spesh is alright....

Took Spoo to the vet today because there's another lump on him, this time on his temple. They poked it and it seems okay so far, so fingers crossed.

poetry for everyone

Today we met to send out all the copies of Heather's winning chapbook, Memory Future. I'm really proud of her.

a tale of two restaurants

It's Mouse and my seven moth anniversary, and what a weird day. We met Jessica Hollander and our friends for brunch at Doughboys and I got sick as hell, then later that night I had to take it easy at Gyu-Kaku with Winnie, Seth, Greg and Mouse.

two for two for two dollars

Winnie and Greg are here! We're staying in tonight because they didn't get here until 9:30pm, but I'm making chicken cutlets and cauliflower and some other business and we're going to drink wine and catch up for serious.

flicks and friends

I'm glad Artur is working for Fong on the Debbie Reynolds auction, and even gladder he could meet me, Alexis, Crystal, Karen and Danielle for a movie. X-MEN FIRST CLASS WAS AWESOME!

jillybean

I'm happy to see Jilly and we always have a great time, but she worries me. I'm making her eat corn and beans and the world's best granola, and only half-managing.

anticipation of friends past and present...

There's a whole lot of stuff happening soon. Jill comes for a day, then Winnie and Greg for two, and Jessica Hollander will be in town, and just a lot of rigmarole of the good, friendly sort.

busy busy work and friends

Started the day by meeting the Gold Line Press staff at school and stuffing/labeling envelopes full of Heather's new chapbook. Ended the day on quite the fun note with (MRB's home town friend) Sarah Engles who was visiting from South Bend, and we all went to the as-always lovely Getty Center and the Venice Boardwalk.

monday monday

After a very socially busy bunch of days, today's Memorial Day was just a day for watching Sherlock Holmes and Battlestar Galactica. I love my boy and our date days.

game night, bitches!

Nothing beats a good game night with friends, playing Apples to Apples and Cranium and getting Stewart Grace cranky when you stop him from berating your boyfriend about red card choices. And especially when there's pot luck involved and the pot luck includes chili, chinese broccoli galette, cheeseburger casserole (on the fly because the cheeseburger pastries didn't work out), orzo, salad, and other deliciousnesses.

the most magical world

Artur, Joanna, Fong, Alexis , Crystal and I were hosted at THE MAGIC CASTLE by the wonderful and magical Ruben Padilla and his lovely lady Carrie Specht, where we spotted my girl-crush Christina Hendricks. After enjoying a lovely dinner and an evening of insane, mind-blowing magic (which was especially mind-blowing for Mouse, who was "upset" because his scientific mind couldn't figure out the tricks), I can now say that the amazing Magic Castle is now tied with the Museum of Jurassic Technology for best place in LA.

the pretty inside the ordinary

Bryan and Mari's wedding was so lovely, especially the delicious organic catering by Auntie Em's and the amazing location (the Smog Shoppe) that looked like an abandoned auto-garage from the outside but inside was an amazing garden setting with living walls full of cacti and succulents. The ceremony was the quickest I ever attended, but heartfelt nonetheless, and I was so happy to hang with my friends, my love, and the always lovely and fascinating Aimee Bender.

terry terry bo berry

It's Terry Winningham's birthday, and we love him, and thus we don't mind dragging ass ALL THE WAY downtown to celebrate at a bar/pool hall where the patrons are patted down by security and which is decorated with mug shots from famous celebrities throughout time. Strangely, though most of the innocuous-looking dudes were frisked, Terry--carrying a pool cue in a case that looked like it held a rifle--was not.

fun wednesday

OMG: Bridesmaids was a really funny movie, and surprisingly had a few pretty slick moments of actual heartstring plucking. Well chosen, Joanna Jaroszewicz, on this substitute Fun Thursday.

ay caramba!

I went to my cousin Mike the chiropractor in the afternoon and I made fish tacos for dinner at night. Artur said they were the best tacos he's ever eaten in his life, and I don't think he was just being nice.

miscellany

I went to yoga and felt strong, then wrote a writing sample for Shmoop, hoping to get a freelance writing gig. At night, Artur and I ate pizza, mooned over each other in the restaurant, saw Diane Lane, and went to the Landmark to eat popcorn and watch "Everything Must Go" with Will Ferrell, which was quirky and heartfelt like I like my movies, but depressing like I don't like my movies.

polish mother's day

It's Polish Mother's Day and Artur's with his family while I catch up on Glee and send my mother flowers in solidarity. I'll be happy to see Muppet Danger Pants (aka Ania) later, though sad we're taking her to the airport to fly DC-ward.

beginnings and no endings

The Meghan Davis and Jason Mercer wedding in Palm Springs was very lovely, very stylish, very hip....hand-crafted cocktails (mmm) and Mexican buffet and a beautiful laced-and-leaf-haired bride and very hot sun and very intimidatingly cool video montages abounded. And while I'm unpleased that Artur and I didn't get to stay in the rented house with most of the USC people, what with the awkwardness of my ex-boyfriend staying in said house...I am EQUALLY pleased that the scheduled rapture / end of the world didn't happen.

weirdest wedding ever

So we went to Artur's sister's godmother's daughter's wedding, and while it was WONDERFUL hanging out, dancing and loving on the Flying Jaroszewicz Family, the whole event was perhaps the weirdest nuptials I've ever attended. The priest kept getting the groom's name wrong during a ceremony in which he constantly talked about how terrible marriage is, then the reception was TINY yet the J family--who is close but not SO close to them--made up a good fifth of the guests, plus the father of the bride basically forced me onto his lap and started playing with my ear until I literally slapped his hand away.

switcharoo

Fun Thursday this week turned into Fun Thursday with Sara Johnson and a homemade lamb stew, which was delicious, and which I made her out of gratitude that she'll be watching Special for a day while I'm away this weekend. In other news, I lost three pounds AND I'm back on track with cousin Mike at the chiropractic center, which is helping my terror-neck get somewhat less terrible.

i get by with a little help...

Another really annoying and unsuccessful round of dress shopping led me to beg Danielle for help, and she lent me three great dresses....but all of them are black, of course, despite my desperate attempt at integrating colors into my wardrobe. In news of my home life, Special has been a little allergic and upchucky, and Artur is my heart.

crash and earn

Every time I hang out with Josh Rivkin, I'm happy that I did. I'm proud of myself for convincing my tutoring client's parents that three hours driving around LA with their daughter and taking photographs for her final project is good use of their money, since it'll actually be fun.

spare

It's weird not having a schedule and being lazy on a Monday. Luckily I we at least went to yoga and took care of some errands.

who

Shopping for a dress with Jessica (Who) Ettman was cool, except for that whole not finding a dress thing. Also, Artur and I went to the Unitarian Universalist church to find some not-god spirituality, which was interesting--if not as hip as I'd hope--and plan on going back.

not a good money day

Artur got fired from his restaurant server job by his douchebag boss who screams and curses in the kitchen, which is so uncool. Also, four weddings to attend in one month is an unacceptable ratio, especially when three of the weddings will have many of the same attendees, thus necessitating new dresses.

friday the 13th

It's Friday the 13th, an all around bad day. Artur has a hangover, bad...one of those migraine type things, I'm worried about Lisa's marriage, and Jessica (Who) Ettman didn't pass the California bar.

all around thursdays

Fun Thursday was even more fun because Joanna, Artur ate one of my favorite fish dishes for dinner and then went to see the Groundlings (and I love their all improv shows on Thursdays.) Afterwards, Joanna and I watched America's Next Top Model while Mouse went drinking with his buddy.

hump

Im not looking forward to going to the vascular surgeon tomorrow, is all I'm saying. So I'll drown my sorrows in watching Veronica Mars, wishing there were more books of the Hunger Games series and eating healthy, WW approved meals and snack....which doesn't really sound like drowning anything, when you think about it.

aftermath (subtraction)

Kris called me about losing the Malibu money, and I'm upset about it, true, but not at him and Josh....they tried their best and it all just came up suck. Eun Jee came over sad, though, and we had better things to do than worry about money because she needed some relationship cheering up in the form of heavy drinking and dinner (which was fish again, but this time with fennel and olives.)

growing up is expensive

I suppose you're not really an adult until you and your family lose $25,000 and get fucked by a local government all in one sitting. Fuck you, City of Malibu.

sundays are for relaxing and not for traffics

Driving back from Elizabeth's wedding in San Diego, I was struck by several things, including that she looked lovely in her vintage wedding dress and that listening to Moth podcasts and TED talks while driving are potentially the most dependable ways I know to feel like a smart, good person. I also realized that when I'm away from Special for more than 24 hours (ok, honestly 12 hours) I miss him like crazy, if Artur and I have children we intend on teaching them at least as much (if not more) than the education system does, and that I really like traveling with my Mouse because we have fun everywhere.

CANCOX!

Elizabeth Wilcox got married today, and I'm so happy for her and Chris Cantwell. Our trip to (almost) San Diego to attend the wedding went well, even though we shared a room with a very drunk--though characteristically awesome--Terry.

solvang problems

Today Artur and I went on a day trip to Solvang, which should have been a two hour drive but--since we meandered and back-tracked and scenic-viewed--actually took five hours. Luckily, it was awesome driving with him, and awesome hanging out with the tattooed winery chick, and awesome eating an ice cream sampler and generally awesome being in love.

the return of Fun Thursdays

I'm so glad Artur's sister Joanna is back from Poland so we can resume Fun Thursdays, during which we do things like watch America's Next Top Model, drink copious amounts of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc and cook sauteed rock cod over spiced broth and jasmine rice. Also, it was Artur and my six month anniversary, and I love him a lot...which is why we're kind of officially moving in together soon.

world's largest violin

I have post-exam confusion, which includes not knowing what to do with myself and worrying too much about everyone else's worries. Also, I miss my dad like crazy tonight: damn Biggest Loser episode with a proud father and his daughter, like, ruined me.

telling...

The Young Storytellers Foundation Big Show at Beethoven Elementary school was a startling success, not in small part due to the awesome actors who came out....but mostly because one kid ended his play with this lesson: "Never help a girl unless you know what her problem is." On the down side, though, the whole experience kicked my ass, and hard.

The good with the bad

Osama Bid Laden is dead, and people are acting like hateful, war-mongering fools...inviting retaliatory attacks.

Also: ABD!

Desire

I've given up starchy carbs and sugar for a while, and am only craving starchy carbs and sugar, which isn't a shock. Tomorrow I want to be able to post a Facebook status update that simply says: ABD.

You can't always get what you want.

I had fun swinging by Artur's best friend Tom's party, but wish I'd been with Sara Johnson on her birthday. I'm also really sad about the crazy tornados in Tuscaloosa and the rest of the South, and wonder if there's anywhere left to live sans natural disaster.

Anxiety

I'm still nervous about my oral exam on Monday. When you're anxious about one thing, everything else seems to have the potential to be disastrous.

What a boring blog....

A very nice lesbian named Cindy from the LA Department of Water and Power came to check my breakers in an attempt to stop my electricity bill from going haywire constantly. Also--while I'm happy that I wrote a poem after an Andy Warhol painting--Fun Thursdays are simply less fun without Artur's sister Joanna around.

Of the week? I'd say of the year....

The Missouri Review blog has posted a piece of mine as Poem of the Week. It's here.

Obsession

I continue to be obsessed with following the progress and sometimes deaths of NYC shelter dogs. Also, I continue to be obsessed with not studying enough.

Countdown

One week to go before my oral qualifying exam, and I should be studying, but instead I'm hanging out with all the Ettman siblings, complaining about rampant cell phone use and discussing cuts of brisket. Oh well.

PassEaster

It is Easter at Artur's parents' house, and I cooked everyone pork chops. Sadly, the side of my mouth is still burned from making chocolate- and toffee-covered matzoh with sea salt for Josh Rivkin's Passover seder the other day.

Gathering

A large group of friends and I celebrated my birthday with dinner at C & O Trattoria, where the waiters stop the whole restaurant to toast the patrons and sing "That's Amore" every hour, and where there was apparently some kind of armed conflict outside. Later, at "Saints and Sinners," there were more friends and tequila cocktails, and my reserved party space was almost (but hell no, not) stolen by another girl named Jessica who insisted the space was saved for her birthday party.

Animal

The Scandinavian-themed amusement park was closed, but my very generous love and I did get to eat a fancy dinner at a restaurant called Animal. The joint's name is appropriate because 1) there's a lot of meat on the menu, 2) we were starving and ate like ravenous non-humans and 3) they must expect, like animals, that the patrons aren't too particular about their food, since half the items we ordered were disappointing.

Birthday

On my surprise birthday camping trip in Joshua Tree, Artur insisted that "trails are just a suggestion." Here's my suggestion: one's birthday is not a good day to die while hiking up a small mountain / large hill.