Fascinating

I find it fascinating this whole blogging community. Within my close group of friends, there are at least five other bloggers. All of whom are living much more interesting lives than I am right now.

It is incredible how easy it is to communicate with people without actually communicating. Passive communications. I love it, mainly b/c I am lazy.

I just got back from Slave Lake. I haven't been in over a year. I have no idea why. It is so quiet and peaceful, not to mention beautiful. My dad is helping a friend of his run this nice little restaurant right on the lake. I went for both lunch and dinner yesterday and today. The food is ok, but the view is to-die-for. Actually, dinner was REALLY good, but lunch was marginal at best.

I miss New York. I miss the action, the pace, the ... everything! Not that Edmonton isn't great, but with the uncertainty that is my life right now, I need a lot of outside help keeping me distracted. I am thinking about temping next week. My mom said if I drove her back to SL, I could have her car, which would make me having a short-term job more plausible. I am sorry, but the public transportation system in Edmonton leaves a lot to be desired.

Ok, enough is enough. I have to wash my oh-so-greasy hair and get ready for Ro Ro's b-day drinks. I do have a drinking problem, don't I??

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When the hell did we grow up?

I have started to wonder that lately. When did it happen? When did we jump from carefree, fun-lovin', living for the moment youth? When did we start to worry about our careers and money? When did we have to think about health care benefits and how we are going to buy a house or get married? When did these all become legitimate concerns in our daily lives?

I hate that I am now an adult. And I think it JUST happened. It really did feel like an overnight switch. I woke up one morning and my youth was dead. (Although, my youth did have a wonderful wake this past January)

We are now surrounded with "Be responsible. You have a job you might like, but will pay you more - stick with it." Forget that! I want to do the things that I LOVE!! So I crash and burn, at least I will wake up 10 years from now and realize that I gave it my all.

I have always thought that saying "You regret the things you don't do in life, not the things you do" is totally true! I don't regret buying those fabulous shoes, but let me tell ya' there is still regret about not buying a shirt five years ago. (I am a shallow puddle)

So that is my little rant for the day. Sometimes this shit just builds up and I need to vent. If you don't like it, well, stop reading this. Ok, no don't. I really like the blog counter going up.

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P.S. I think I did CONSIDERABLY better in my fantasy league this week. YAY ME!!

Annoying

I like music. Thanks, in big part to my friends, I like good music. What I hate is when I hear a band that I LOVE and a song that I LOVE being sold for a car commercial. Yuck! It makes me feel a little dirty inside. Is that weird? It probably is, but I can't help it.

I Wonder

I had a date tonight. It was a great date. One of my oldest girlfriends, Ally, took me out for sushi. I even got to order beer. Who needs a boyfriend when you can have a great date and not wonder about the awkward kiss afterwards. I love it!

We were talking tonight, and I was wondering this. Do you know how people are often judged by whether or not they liked high school? You know, usually, the ones that liked high school and remember it fondly are the weird jocks, or the people that just aren't cool people? Well ... Ally and I were talking and we both loved high school. And neither of us are weird, conformist, status-quo types of people. I consider us both people of some depth, with varied interests.

Are we the only ones that liked high school? Are we the only ones that escaped the years of adolscence unscathed? Are we maladjusts for escaping it unscathed? We were never the coolest kids in high school. Don't get me wrong, we were pretty effing cool, but we weren't the ones that people wanted to be like. We were the 'rebels' or as rebel-esque as you could get at Concordia. But I think the people we chose to associate with, even the ones I no longer talk to, were a pretty solid group.

So this is my shout out to all my old high school buddies. The people that saved me from hating my high school experience, and allow me to know reminisce fondly about the insane times at Concordia High School - Class of 1997. Holy shit I'm old!

My only saving grace is my friends from high school will ALWAYS be older and generally, not wiser. I LOVE IT!!!

Memories, misty, rose colored memories. Like the corner of my mind.

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On to Plan B

I woke up in the middle of the night last night and realized something. I can't sit around a let life happen to me. I have to take the bulls by the horns.

So my life isn't in the exact spot I was hoping for. I mean I haven't worked in over a month and I am sitting here wasting money. Who cares! I have to move on and get my life in order.

That is exactly what I am doing. Pull it together Iris!

I was thinking about this quote from the series finale of Dawson's Creek "Dreams come true, not easy" (Joey to Dawson)

Hahaha, I just quoted Dawson's Creek. I am a LOSER!

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So, how are you feeling today?

Like jumping off a bridge. First off, as I mentioned previously, my life is in limbo. Second, my favorite football team, the Oakland Raiders, are going down the drain. Third, I have no car. I am stuck at home a lot now because I sold my car, and it is too freaking cold in Edmonton right now to walk anywhere. (Ok, that is not necessarily true, but all of my wintery/warm stuff is in my apartment in NY) Fourth, I apparently suck at fantasy football. I am truly horrible. Every player I put in decides they don't want to do anything for that game! WTF!! A defensive battle between Denver and KC? That should never happen.

On the upside, I am currently tied for second in my picks pool, which makes me happy. I think I am the only girl in the pool, so at least I will be able to look back at this bleak period and think in my head, "For the first two weeks of the 2006 NFL season, I was in second place".

Wow! That really cheered me up.

Oh yeah, Paul sometimes comes up with some good shit. I was online and he sent me this link to this You Tube thing. The group is Ok Go. This is a good example of a really innovative marketing. I am now willing to go and check these guys out in concert and stuff. Here is the video. There is another one here.

Seriously, what is with this weather?

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I am the definition of

limbo n
1: the state of being disregarded or forgotten [syn: oblivion]
2: an imaginary place for lost or neglected things
3: (theology) the abode of infants who die before baptism

Hello! Number 1! I am in number one! Why does the world feel the need to torture me like this? I am far to rational to be shoved into a state of limbo. Not only is it driving me crazy, but it is driving my friends, family and random strangers I pass on the street crazy. Not to mention it is driving me to drink!

Where is my beer?

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Where am I??

Well, as of this moment, I am in Edmonton. I was driving myself crazy in NY. I have a job, a really great job, but I can't start that job until all the paperwork gets sorted out. That is depressing. I have not not worked for this long since back in tha day when I would only work during summer (high school).

What does a person do with herself when she has no money (well, very little of it), no friends (only one in NY) and no job (at least not one I can work at)? Well she retreats. She comes back to the people that are willing to pick her ass up should she need it, to the places that are comfortable - not to mention cheap - essentially, she comes home.

So that is where I am right now. Am I happy to be home? I am happy to see all of my friends, whom I miss after not seeing them for 3 days, but I am not happy to be home. Every day that passes stresses me out more and more. ARGH!

There it is. Now you know. Whatchagonna do about it?

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The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret - Queens of the Stone Age

I am not sure if you guys are aware of this, but I am incredibly shy. I have a problem making friends because far too often, I come off as snobby, when in reality, I am just shy. I don't like to waste my time talking to people, unless I have something to add to a conversation. I hate small talk and I hate responding to questions I know people don't care about the answer to. This being said, I think this is something I am going to have to get over. I have transplanted myself to a new city and unfortunately, small talk is a necessary evil.

Last night I went to a sports bar around the corner from my house. I cannot tell a lie. I was thinking I was going to talk to some people. You know, girl alone, at the bar, watching the game, drinking beer. All the makings of an easy talking. The first quarter and a half went by and nothing! WHAT! This is weird. So I continue to sit and watch the game and finally the guy next to me starts talking to me. Nice guy, there with a group of his buddies, all seemingly average nice guys.

We continue to watch the game and talk football. The joys of knowing something about the sport is that you can hold your own in a convo. I am not saying I know as much as say ... Tej, but I do ok. I have often thought of my love of sports to be detrimental to my getting men. Sure they like that I watch sports, but they immediately put me in the friend category. The great thing about the guys last night was that I wouldn't even want to date any of them! No seriously, none of them were dateable. Which is great, because that means I can just hang out.

Long story short, they invited me to watch football with them on Sunday. I might be able to make friends after all! YAY!

I'll drink to that!

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Are You Ready For Some Football?

I know I sure am! Me likey some football and tonight is the first game of the season! YAY! Now, I am hopeful that my beloved, but heart-wrenching Raiders will do better this year, but let's not lie. I doubt it. I have become one of those cynical people (weird, me cynical) who doesn't believe anything until they see the proof. Hopefully there will be some proof soon.

My biggest challenge this year is going to be watching the games. You see I am, for the first time in my life, cable free. That is right. I have no ESPN to watch Countdown on! Can you imagine!? This was my Sunday ritual of years past, go out Sat night, wake up at 9 AM to watch countdown, clean a little, then plop down on the couch with some beer and munchies for the rest of the day. No wonder I packed on the pounds in the past few years. But this year because I will be living on a fixed income, I will be having to choose which games are the most important to me (Raiders) and see where they are playing and watch only those ones. I can't be sitting in a sports bar all day spending money and drinking my life away. Can you imagine? Ok, I can, but I just can't do it! This is when you are supposed to hear violins playing in the background of my sob story. So sad.

Well I should go and get ready to watch this game! YAY!!! T-minus 140 minutes to kick-off!

Go LONG!!

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Idea Generator

I need your help. I am in the greatest city in the world and I am a little bored. I have run out of money and I am not working yet, so it makes life a little difficult.

I need ideas for cheap things to do. I am not used to this. As most of you know, when I want to do something, I usually just go out and do it. Regardless of cost, live your life and the money will usually work itself out. Well that was when I had an income (or savings for that matter) and now I have neither.

There are so many great shows in town or coming to town, but I can't really afford any of the tickets. Plus I have a drinking problem, so going to these shows will tempt me to drink, which is NOT cheap. ARGH!!!

IDEAS PEOPLE!!! I need some. I can't watch my Seinfeld dvds anymore. I now know everything there is to know about seasons 1 -6 of Seinfeld. Office season 1, Grey's Anatomy season 1, Entourage 1 & 2.

HELP ME!!!

Thanks!

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Forty Love

HA! No, its not the age of a new boyfriend of mine, so stop thinking you are all so smart. I reality it is a reference to the US Open.

Now to preface this posting, you all must realize that I LOVE TENNIS. I once woke up at 4 AM to watch an Australian Open final between Pete Sampras (my fav) and Andre Agassi. It was brilliant. There is something about tennis that puts it above ANY other sport for me. I love football and basketball, but with tennis, it is one person against the other. You don't have anyone else on the court trying to get you out of your head. Psychology plays such a huge role and let's not lie, it is physically exhausting. To be on a court, running your ass off for sometimes up to 3 or 4 hours, everyone I know would probably die. Including me. So in short, I LOVE TENNIS. And not to mention, it is just such a classy game. No beer being thrown on the ice / field, no one yelling profanities at the players and the other great thing is that because it is such an international event, the crowd cheers for everyone at some point. All anyone wants is to watch some more tennis.

So yesterday, I walk to the subway, get on the 6 train and transfer to the 7 at Grand Central Station. The US Open is held right across the street from Shea Stadium. So after almost 45 minutes on the train, I finally arrive at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center. Wow. It was amazing. Welcome to the US Open.

Since I was so hungover all day yesterday, I hadn't eaten anything. I go to the first food station I see, not really knowing the eating etiquette. Am I allowed to eat in the stadium (Arthur Ashe Stadium actually) and would the allow me to get food during the match? I decided to get a beer and a pizza and sit outside at watch me some tennis. They have big screens all over the place and you can actually buy tickets to just hang out on the grounds and do just that.

First match of the evening session was Serena Williams and Amelie Mauresmo. I GET TO SEE SERENA WILLIAMS PLAY!!!

I eat my pizza and rush to my seats. Sure the seats aren't that great, but hello! I am at the US FREAKING OPEN!!!

There was a definite leaning towards Serena going on. I think it has to do with the fact that she is American, but also because she was unranked playing the number one seed. This match went to three sets and it was great. Cheers were heard for every good point, not just Serena's. Serena ended up losing and a lot of people left.

The next match started at 9:20 PM. I knew that as much as I love tennis, I would not be staying for the whole thing. I didn't really care about either of the players, and I just wanted to see some big, man serves.

I left after the second set, when it seemed as though Lleyton Hewitt had it in hand. By the time I got home, they were in the fifth set. DAMN! But being on the subway that late at night is not something that I think is a good life choice.

Oh, how cool is this? They were selling crepes at the stadium! How random!

That was my day. I got to fulfill a dream of mine - I was at a major. Sure it would have been WAY better if it was Wimbledon, or if I was caught on camera with food all over my face, or dated the deaf linesman, or become a ball girl - but such is life and this was still pretty freaking great.

FAULT!

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Do I have a drinking problem??

I think I might. I mean, I drink all the time. Most times I am not getting drunk, but what is the definition? And does that definition apply when you have no job, and nothing to wake up to except your fantasy football draft?? If it does, well it shouldn't!!

So I am back in the Big Apple. I have to say, I am happy to be 'home'. This place is yet to really feel like home to me. I have to get it all set up, get some breakfast food so I am not hungover and hungry. (Not a good combo). Last night I was craving the French onion soup at Markt. Seriously, best ever!! I got there at 11 pm, and didn't leave till 2. The beer was flowing, thanks to Bizarro Jarod and there were just randoms chatting me up. I really do like being a single girl in this city! I met a couple of randoms and we went for some more drinks down the block. Not let me tell ya, this was SO not planned. I was in jeans, flippies and a black v-neck. I was sooo not dressed for going out, but I am a trooper and did so. And proceeded to get HAMMERED. I suppose that 8 beers on an empty stomach is not the best of ideas. Who'da thunkit??

And stop judging me! Harp got kicked out of Monkey's Island! That has to be worse!!

I am going to the US Open today, if I can scrape myself out of bed. ARGH!

Stop yelling at me!!

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Frustration

That is exactly what I am feeling. I am still in Houston, hanging out with the family. Thank god, b/c otherwise I would have been all alone in NYC, which normally, would be ok, but when you are obsessing about something, being alone kinda sucks. Holy run-on sentence Batman!

While I am really enjoying my time off and hanging with the family, I am ready to start work. I know my tune will change in a couple of weeks, when I am back at work, but right now ... I am ready for a regular schedule.

Oh, saw a great movie yesterday. Little Miss Sunshine. I thought it was really good. And not to give anything away, but there is a scene in it that is so funny. I don't think I have laughed that hard continuously at a movie in a very long time. AND I was sober! That is the real shocker, let's not lie. It was a little kooky, but a real feel good, funny movie. I highly recommend it.

Ok, that is all for now. I will check y'all later!

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