If I Had $25 Million Dollars…

Yesterday on Twitter a friend mentioned daydreaming about winning the lotto.  And lucky Kapgar (or actually his wife) recently had a cash-in on the instant tickets.
So, I thought it would make for a fun Friday if we daydreamed about what we would do with our winnings if we won the lotto.  Quite honestly, I would probably keep my job b/c two weeks out of work and I am climbing the walls.  And I don’t want to take this all serious-like about donations to causes, putting it into savings, and helping certain people in your life…all of that is of course important, but this is a fluff piece.  I want to know what YOU would use the money for too, and I want it to be all about YOU. 
As for myself…
I would get a nosejob.  Yeah, I said it.  Just like I’ve told friends I won’t judge you for fixing your teeth or taking Accutane for your acne.  If it’s in your power to fix something that causes you tremendous insecurity, good on you. 

I would take a few long vacations.  One with my girl friends, one with E., and one with my parents.  All would be to someplace warm and tropical.

I would go back to school and get a Ph.D. in some form of psychology.

I would schedule regular massages and pedicures.

I’d buy a deep blue Mini Cooper.

I would buy a big, beautiful house in Evanston by the lake. (and hire a decorator, I would redo this one MUCH more modern on the interior)

I’d upgrade all of my shoes.  No, seriously.  I would.

And since I’d have a big house, I’d finally get a puppy.  Or two.

R.I.P. Billy Budd

I found him.  He was stuck in his little fishy cave.  And he is no more.
Poor guy.  Flushing services T.B.D.

Missing, Presumed Dead

Billy Budd, my little blue Betta, is missing. 
I went over to his tank yesterday to check on him and couldn’t find him.  Usually he’s swimming around the top of the tank or hiding in his little fishy cave.  But I did not see him at all.  I even shook the tank a little and nothing happened.
Now, if he were dead, wouldn’t he float?  Do fish ever NOT float when they pass on? 
There were no signs of foul play so I know the kitties didn’t get to him.  Anyway, I kept him on the kitchen counter where they can’t even see him. 
I guess I am going to have to strap on the latex gloves and do some investigation CSI style over the next couple days.  Admittedly, if he’s gone I’m not sure I’m going to replace him.  I bought him to keep on my desk but I can’t do that on my current desk because the kitties COULD get to him.  Also there is just not room with my monster printer taking up the corner of the desk.  Last but not least, admittedly I wasn’t the best fish mommy.  I didn’t do so well on keeping the tank clean. 
But that wasn’t an admission of guilt, your honor.

I Could Be a Real Guitar Hero…

It’s funny to me that no one has pointed out the obvious fact that I bought my guitar back and instead of playing it, became engrossed in Guitar Hero.  Which, you know, doesn’t involve a real guitar.
Maybe the people in my life have just gotten used to how neurotic I am.
I’m finding that my guitar came back with a lot of angst attached to it.  While playing one particular song on GHII, I vividly remembered playing that song on my electric in the high school talent show.  Except–see, I was not cool.  And an electric guitar and piano accompaniment* was not going to make me cool.  So with the vivid memory of playing the song, I also vividly remember T.J. Hughes (popular) making a snarky remark about how awful I sounded and I must not have had my guitar in tune.  *sigh*
I know the only way to conquer these demons is to pick up the damn thing and just play now, being a grown up and not having anything to prove to anyone. At least in theory.  But I’m not there yet.  Maybe after I beat GHII on hard mode…
In related news, I think I am going to sign up for a beginner’s volleyball league at my gym in April**.  It’s Sundays from 6:30-9:30 which usually is time I should be doing something but am too much in weekend mode to do anything productive.  I played in junior high, and was a first string spiker, which is really funny considering how little I am.  I guess I could jump well.  My dad played in a league for a long time too, so he’s really excited to hear I might go back to it.  Those memories don’t really get horrific until I got cut from high school jv tryouts.  My overhead serve sucked.  Hopefully the league will allow for underhand serves…if not, maybe the 12 lb dumbbells I’ve been lifting will count for something!

*I must say, I even impressed myself being able to spell this on the first try.
**If anyone wants to join me, let me know.  You don’t have to be a member of my gym, you just have to pay a little more to participate.

Puppy!

It’s a tiny little Yorkie Poo! (yorkie poodle mix)  I’m really not a fan of poodles, but for some reason keep finding cute pups that have poodle in them.  Awwwww, I just want to pick this one up and nuzzle it.

Ahhhhhhhh

This weekend was absolutely fabulous for mind, body and spirit.  The only thing that could have made it better would be if I’d taken the time to enjoy the sauna at the gym on Saturday.
I’ve been trying to figure out why this weekend was so lovely, and it struck me that for once, neither E. or I had to rush to be anywhere.  That is a nice feeling and we need to make a point to live life like that more often. I know there are people out there who never pay much attention to time or showing up late, but I will just not ever, ever be that person.
Anyway.  Eating, watching movies, watching tv.  That’s most of what we did.  Saturday we did have a good workout at the gym, and entertained E.’s parents in the afternoon, but beyond that we were pretty lazy all around.  It was awesome.  And today we went to see In Bruges and got lunch with a wonderful group of friends which was also awesome.*
The only downside to all this is that I’m so relaxed and mellow that the thought of doing anything AT ALL is really difficult.  I’ve caught up on some e-mails and blog reading (anymore I am sooo far behind on blog reading that I am wondering if I need to trim my reader a bit) and played a bit of Guitar Hero.  I need to do taxes and invoices for work and sort the laundry.  Meh.  Perhaps I’ll go to bed early since I’m so relaxed, get up early, and deal with it then. :p 

*This almost became a source of stress only because some friends were meeting other friends they had never met before, and I spent entirely too much time worrying about everyone getting along–someone saying something that would offend someone else, no one saying anything at all, me looking like a flaming idiot, etc etc etc.  Everyone was fine and I know we are all adults, but as an only child I have lived my life as the great mediator.  The slightest hint of tension and I want to hide under the table!
ETA:  Here’s a Tiny Little Movie Review of In Bruges that pretty much sums up how I felt as well.

Q is for Quirky

Busy much? Like Kim, there’s not much exciting to report on here.  Work, gym, work, gym.  That’s my life.  With a co-worker going on leave tomorrow, I now have full responsiblity for the hiring for one whole division until June.  Not complaining, just explaining that if I become AWOL here or there, that’s probably why.
So, here’s a fluffy meme to fill space!
(lifted from Sizzle)

The rules:
1) Link to the person who tagged you.
2) Post the rules.
3) Share six non-important things / habits / quirks about yourself.
4) Tag at least three people.
5) Make sure the people you tagged KNOW you tagged them by commenting that you did.

Six non-important things about me:

1. I hate “creamy” foods.  I can’t eat plain fruitless yogurt, cottage cheese, pudding, or whipped cream straight up without gagging.

2. I have a scar on my right knee from losing a battle that took place standing in a canoe.  With oars.  On a band trip in high school.  No joke.

3. I love the feel of hair.  My own, other people’s, whatever.  As a kid I loved to run my hands over the little swatches of hair they had dangling under the hairdyes to show you the color.  But unlike a date I went on last year, I don’t automatically assume I have permission to touch someone else’s hair.

4. I can’t read books in bits and pieces.  If I can’t sit down and read for a long expanse of time (like a whole day, or late into the night) I’d rather just not read at all.  Which makes me sad, I love to read.

5. A complete lack of clutter makes me nervous and edgey.

6. I actually love pickles and try to keep them out of the house–otherwise I would consume a week’s worth of recommended sodium in one sitting.

I AM going to tag, but no pressure.  I’d be curious to hear what Amy, Stephanie, and Kim (when she has time) have to say.

Jammin’

Last night I went over to S.’s house to play Guitar Hero.  I mocked that game for a long time.  When I first played it in the store, I thought it was so dull.  Another case of over-hype ruining something for me.
But then I played Rock Band and got into the whole concept.  And last night S. and I had far, FAR too much fun playing and torturing her roommate with the most derranged version of “Slow Ride” you’ll ever hear ala Guitar Hero.
I woke up today daydreaming about getting an XBox 360 when it was brought to my attention that they make Guitar Hero for the Playstation.  Rawk!  Guess what I’m ordering today??
I needed something fun to distract me from bad weather, gruelling exercise, and bombs being dropped at work.  I felt like I hadn’t done anything fun just for me in awhile–aside from going to Target on Sunday.  I wanted something at least a little bit active–I don’t think I can sit still long enough to craft or knit and honestly I’m tired of just sitting so much.  This seems like a good solution for the time being.  
Oh, incidentally?  I had the most fun picking out little outfits for my guitar character. I’m such a girl.

This Week’s Pup!

I totally forgot to post this yesterday.  But it’s still the first half of the week, so we can use a puppy-upper, right?

 It’s a Bichon Poo, a blend of a Bichon Frise and a Poodle.  Are you seeing a trend here?  I’m a sucker for little white fluffy dogs, apparently.

Unrelated, I have been having repeated nightmares about getting fired and E. breaking up with me.  I have no reason to suspect either so…WTF?? 

Feeling Blue? It’s Not Just You

From the Chicago Tribune:

In addition to getting slammed with nearly twice the brutally cold and snowy days as normal, we had seven consecutive sunless days in February, which tied a 1986 record. From Feb. 1 through Feb. 12, we also received a record-low percentage of possible sunshine: 12 percent compared with the norm of 46 percent.

If you live outside Chicago, I can’t help you.