Some laughs before going back to the grind

I went to a comedy club last night and saw Finesse Mitchell (a former SNL cast member) do standup. Standup comedy is something I've wanted to go see for awhile, but haven't found the right opportunity and interested party to go with. We sat in the front, which I wouldn't have chosen, but we didn't really get much of a choice. I did my very best to avoid audience participation, but did somewhat interact when one of the comics spotted me whole-heartedly and proudly agreeing about the expanding size of white women's rears. And I think at some point Finesse asked me if I was enjoying my night. Matt did his best to participate/be picked on, which he accomplished. You can read about it on Matt's blog. He also writes some other interesting bits about subjects like Captain Crunch, but I guess you'll have to see for yourself.

I'm enjoying my last day off of work before truly going back to the grind. I did work an extended day on Tuesday, but other than that it's been a PTO party for me. I'm both sad and excited to go back. You know how it is.

I had an apple martini for the first time last night. Two thumbs up. Wish I would have known I could take it from the bar into the club, because then I would have sipped it a bit more slowly.

I was on campus for a little bit today. I officially miss college life.

My weekend in Winona (and "the weight issue")

I had a lovely weekend home. I now have a car that runs well, with ac/heat, good brakes, and shocks. Yay!

I also got to spend some quality time with the fam of course-- among other things I watched a movie with my little bro (Year of the Dog), went to an art museum with my parents, and went through some old boxes filled with my writings from grade school and had great laughs with my mom. I'm not very good at getting together with old friends when I'm back in Winona, but I did manage to have dinner with my friend Sheena, who I haven't seen since high school. We had a great time.

On another note, I've gained a bit of weight since high school. In the past, it has made me a bit self-concious when I see people from way back when. On the other hand, I've gained a much more healthy relationship with food since high school. I won't go into detail, but the ways that I maintained and lost weight back then were not the healthiest. So over the years I've had to make a choice between being on the thin side of average and driving myself insane and being on the thick side of average and having a healthier relationship with food. I choose to be a little bit chubby. And even though I've been criticized in the past for making this blog too personal, weight is something that I will speak out about because I think that it's important.

I'm not perfect, and every so often I wish I looked like Jennifer Aniston. But the majority of the time, I'm thankful for every aspect of who I am. I'm encouraged by beautiful women like Mia Tyler and Joy Nash. I'm thankful that I have health, and hips, and curves. I'm thankful that I can eat a donut and not feel like my world is going to end. That I can exercise but focus on enjoying myself instead of worrying about my waistline. I've come a long way.

If you have a few minutes (7-8 to be exact), you should watch this movie. It's a bit cheesy, but the message is good.

I has no monies, but I has bills

I'm sitting here with my Eggo waffles and my coffee this morning contemplating how truly broke I am. Broke broke broke. Brokedy broke broke.

I'm pretty much living at my means, which is all fine and dandy until your car's brakes decide to give you the finger and spurt fluid everywhere. To top it off, my AC/heating is pretty much permanently gone, which would make defrosting my windows a bit of a challenge this winter. But hey, at least it starts (thank you, new battery).

So I'm probably getting a new (used) car. And a new bill to pay. How much do kidneys go for on the black market these days? I don't need two, right?

Oh, apparently the word I should have used a few posts ago was superficial, not vain. Oh well.

Hardware, sleep, and PTO

I've had a $25 gift certificate to Home Depot sitting in my purse for quite awhile. Today, I went and bought a toolbox, and of course some tools to go with it (a hammer, box cutter, screwdrivers, wrench set, tape measure, level, and a flashlight). I'm very proud of my toolbox. I've wanted one ever since high school, when I worked at Menards and became convinced that every single woman should have one. Of course, I had access to my dad's tools then so I never needed any of my own. Now that I have my own place and my own car, it's an actual necessity. But of course, my toolbox has it's limitations. For instance, none of the wrenches in the 7 wrench set that I bought fit the bolts that I need to undo to change my car battery. I'm kind of pissed about that. I keep running into delays in changing my battery, and I just know I'm going to end up stranded somewhere.

Last night I discovered that I like Cabernet Sauvignion. It's pretty tasty. I got a bunch of little samples of wine I've never had, and so far it's the only one I've really liked.

I'm very, very in love with my new bed. A thousand thanks to JMo for helping me move it. I would describe the way I feel towards it similarly to the way new parents feel towards their child-- I want to spend all of my time with it, I can't imagine my life before I had it, and I never knew I could love something so much. Okay, maybe that's a little overboard. But it's fairly accurate.

In actually unrelated news, I've been dealing a bit with insomnia lately. It seems to happen about once a year for a few days at a time. Last weekend I slept about a total of 12 hours over a period of 4 days. I was not a happy camper. But it's been getting better, so hopefully it will pass. Is it possible that it has something to do with seasons changing?

Next weekend I'm taking off to go home for the first time in a long while. PTO is a wonderful thing! I've managed to accrue enough already to take off three days. I'll be happy to see my family, and the great fall colors on the bluffs :)

UPDATE: I borrowed the correct wrench from JMo and changed my car battery by myself. I'm feeling very "I am woman!" right now.

Hilarity

For some awesome laughs.

Not exactly NSWF, but a couple of swears nonetheless.