crying over spilled enchiladas and dirty forks...

Ugh. Friday hasn't brought me the relief it usually does. My weekend started with a messy plop when my left-over delicious enchiladas fell to the ground as I was leaving work late. I'll be honest, I dropped an F-bomb, that's how good those enchiladas were.
Once I got home, I called my boyfriend to lure him to hang some curtain rods for me by suggesting we "veg-out" at my place (he doesn't have cable, I do.) But, his phone was acting up, as every phone he's ever had seems to....  There was a lot of, "what?" "I saaiidd..." "I didn't hear any of that!" and "arrggg!!!" We both got totally irritated and, well, I'm blogging instead of hanging curtains. Stupid.
Then, just to embrace the moment, I started getting depressed about my life. Where is it going?! What am I doing?! What do I want?! I have no idea! Pout, pout, pout, pout.
I'm getting the growing impression that my BA in Sociology might be completely worthless to me. There is nothing I can do with it, that I want to do with it. Pout, pout, pout, pout.
I decided to empty the dish drying rack a few minutes ago. Yet again, I found dirtied, disgusting and completely unwashed dishes sitting on the rack, the clean dish rack. They're like little dirty rats trying to blend in amongst clean white mice. They are the strike of an oblivious, or defiant, roommate. I haven't figured out which it is. I stashed some of the particularly dirty dishes in my cupboard as evidence to back up my argument when I address her. Last time I brought up the issue, she looked at me like I was crazy and I had no proof to offer her. That won't happen again!
I'm hungry now. I've got to find something to replace my left over enchiladas. I think some frozen Trader Joe's pizza, a glass of red wine and a sewing project might be just what I need.

Please share your plans for this weekend, I'd love to hear if you're doing anything fun, inspiring or creative! Or just anything! I'm really tempted to go to IKEA...

Oh Mr. Darcy!!!

Things have been looking up!

Not to worry, my main squeeze and I have reconciled, through tears (mostly his) and frustration (mostly mine) we have, as hoped, come out stronger. Those of you who know that our break was just barely over two weeks may be cynical about what could possibly be accomplished in such a short amount of time. And let me stop you before you dismiss us as weak or pathetic for not holding out longer - not speaking to the person that you call multiple times a day to say, “I was just wondering, do you think I'd look good with bangs,” or “I’m on my lunch break, yup that’s it,” or “I think one of my teeth feels wiggly,” is incredibly hard! Not to mention that is 14+ days of not knowing if you’ll get back together! Given the topic, I would like to apologize to my friends that had boyfriends in high school or college whom I would roll my eyes at when they’d heave an I miss him sigh while on a girls weekend away. So, my Hunka-Love and I are back on and it was just in time for Valentine’s Day, thank God! In the words of Mr. T, I pitty the fool who takes a break right before Valentine’s Day. Duh! Oh the Stupidity!

We celebrated Valentine’s on Saturday by going to one of our favorite restaurants in town, Opal. If you are in the Santa Barbara area consider this restaurant on high recommendation. We love Opal because…

The food is amazing, every time

The atmosphere and location are great

We get V.I.P seating and they treat us like royalty!

Although, on this occasion the highlight of my night came just before dinner. As all Santa Barbarians know, the S.B. Film Festival has been going on and none other than my absolute favorite, Colin Firth, was in town accepting the Performance of the Year award at the Arlington right next to Opal!!! When we were headed to dinner he was arriving at the venue. He graciously went around to all of the fans spilling over the barricades. I was springing on my toes like a mechanical rabbit, gripping my camera in ready position, I can’t believe it’s him!! Mr. Darcy!! Normally, I am much too cool to lose it over a celebrity but for him I made an exception. I shakily asked him to take a picture with me and slipped my arm around his silky suit jacket and thought, am I allowed to touch him - I'm touching him! I think my expression in the photo says it all:

(don't know who the creepy photo crasher is on the left, don't let her ruin it for you)

After the photo was taken I realized our moment was up, so before he could move on to the next crazed fan I blurted out, "You're my favorite!" He gave me one more priceless Mr. Darcy smile. I'm sure he'll remember me.

Rx: Eat Chocolate As Needed...

As I write this, I am burrowed in my huge down comforter on my bed. My hair is pinned back the way I used to wear it in Junior High. Beside me is a one-pound box of See’s Candy - given to me, that is the only redeeming aspect of it. It has been a rough several days. I have had the house to myself this past week, which turned out to be unfortunate timing. My boyfriend and I decided to take a break, for various reasons, hopefully amounting to the strengthening of our relationship. We have not spoken or seen each other for what feels like an eternity. As our time apart grows I feel like the island I am on is slowly floating further from his shore and I am becoming accustomed to being alone. I wish a roommate would come home so I could hear their shoes taping around the house!  My dad offered his support, all though not in the way I'd hoped, suggesting I date around because he feels getting married before thirty is a good way to ruin your life. In addition, there are the usual culprits: work has been chaotically busy, all my pants have mysteriously shrunk, my neck pain is taking on a life of its own and today I sent freshly brewed coffee cascading across my desk full of papers.

So, what does one do in a time like this? I bought a hair brush - the first one I have ever purchased. I have always argued that hair brushes are unnecessary, conditioner does the job. Maybe my hair has gone through a change recently, because after leaving work late, nothing sounded better than combing out that baby dreadlock on the back of my neck that’s been showing up towards the end of each day. Sitting in my car, I brushed my hair with my new brush. It felt so comforting, like I was nursing my tired self. It reminded me of when my mom used to brush my hair when I was little and pull it back into a neat ponytail with a frilly hair tie. I brushed for awhile, slowly, feeling the pin points of the brush rush over my scalp, working through the knots, making my hair calm and soft. I finally understand why those girls in school would have their hair brush in hand at the start of each period and run it through their hair like a nervous tick. If I’m not careful, this could become a dependency. I think I’ll give my hair just a few more quick strokes… again. Can you brush too much? Should I be concerned?
For tonight, along with the See’s candy, I will put away my daily nagging stresses (beat them off with my hair brush actually) and let go of my uncertainties. I know they’ll be right where I left them tomorrow. I’ll have my hair brush ready.

So I'm one of those girls.... oh.

I never thought I'd say this but, being in a relationship has made me realize that I, in fact, am... needy. I never imagined, okay, well, I kind of suspected, but hoped I would never succumb to the whiny and pathetic habits of one of those girls. But here I am arguing with my dude because he's been too busy painting his apartment for the past what feels like forever to be spending time with me! Boo! Even as the words escape my mouth I know I'm not being fair, but I just can't get over it. Yes, I know we'll spend time together soon, but that doesn't cut it. The quota on hang out time zeros out at the start of each week! (Clearly I sound crazy.) So we discuss it, he's very sweet yet rational, I reluctantly agree and then I realize I still feel dissatisfied and reinstate my original argument. He lets out an aggrivated sigh and now I'm sure he's going to dump me. I am doing what guys hate, I tell myself, even I hate it! But it's no use, Needy girl is behind the wheel and there's no telling how far she'll go to have her needs met. Lets just hope my man sticks around long enough for me to Buck Up!

Speak French to me...

No Girls Allowed! I have just been rejected, generous charitable help refused, turned away at the door, shoo-shooed. I offered enthusiastically to help my boyfriend and his roommate paint the living room walls of their apartment. “I have painted a room before,” I informed him.
“Um, nah, it’s okay. We got it.” was his reply. I assured him it would be to my enjoyment and he assured me right back that my help was not only unneeded but unwanted (in only slightly kinder words.) Meaning, he and his roommate were going to have some quality beer drinking, grunting, burping, and spitting time; no place for a gal like myself. Instead, I reluctantly returned home in my ready-to-paint outfit, darling Geraldine Doyle hair band ‘n all, and comforted myself with a bowl of mint-chip ice cream and fun French music. Tisk, tisk, those boys!

But you shall reap the benefit. Here are a few songs, so fun and lovely, they make it impossible not to feel quite splendid while listening to them:

*So Nice (Summer Samba) - Astrud Gilberto
*Samba De Mon Coeur Qui Bat - Coralie Clement
*Que Reste-T’il De Nos Amour - Charles Trenet
*Assedic - Les Escrocs
*Je Cherche Un Homme - Eartha Kitt
*C’est Si Bon - Eartha Kitt
*Brazil - Django Reinhardt
*La Vie En Rose - Louis Armstrong
*Remember Me - Heitor Pereira

These songs are actually all from the movie “Something’s Gotta Give.” It seems I am the only person that loves that movie. Most people laugh at me when I share that nugget of info. Still, it currently holds a spot on my Christmas list.