Who carries a machete?

What a way to say goodbye to 2009.

My friend was a little nervous when she saw a homeless man sleeping in her hallway. She didn't want to call the police, so she called her landlord (who lives downstairs) to inform her. I guess the landlord called the police, because there was quite a scuffle in the hallway.. and my friend heard,

SIR. DO NOT REACH FOR THAT. DO NOT PULL OUT THAT MACHETE. SIR. DON'T TAKE THAT OUT... DO NOT RESIST! WE HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT YOU CAN'T BE SOMEWHERE YOU DON'T BELONG.

Um. Why was a homeless man with a MACHETE sleeping outside my friend's door!??? And where does one acquire a machete? It's not like there are specialty machete stores. Not here, anyway!

I don't think she's going to mind that 2009 is over now... Happy New Year, everyone!

No, I'm fine. Really. I'm fine.

Do you ever find yourself being unnaturally upset about something that in all honestly shouldn't mean that much?

My ex is engaged. Which is great. And honestly, I'm happy for him and I think that his fiancee is good for him. And really the problem isn't that my ex is engaged to someone else. It's that my ex is engaged before I am engaged. My ex who was terrified of committment and sabotaged our relationship by sleeping with someone else because we were getting more serious than he wanted to be. My ex who spend the following YEAR actively trying to sleep with me and get me back. My ex that I am still friends with, but there's that strange tension everytime we see each other because it's like I'm "the one who got away."

Should I be upset that this guy... mr. committment-phobe is engaged, and I, who has been in a very serious relationship for seven years, am not? Everyone is getting engaged and getting married before me. And every time someone else gets married or announces that they're getting engaged, I get more and more upset. Like actual tears upset. I don't know what to do. I'm never getting married.

I knew there was a reason I hated snow.

Saturday was actually very lovely. Even though outside was ridiculous, I basically didn't move all day. We ended up with 17 inches. Gene did go out in the morning, because he had to work at the station, but he got there and came home without incident. The party in Jersey ended up being cancelled, and probably for the best because my friend would have made his 1000 shrimp, and then he would have been left to eat them all by himself.

Sunday, the roads were still a bit scary, and of course I had to go to my retail job. God forbid they take the safety of their employees into consideration. This morning everything was okay though.

The worst part of this whole thing is that my best friend is now stranded in Ireland. Her flight from Dublin to Philly was CANCELLED. She was supposed to come in on Sunday, and the earliest flight she could get out of Dublin was on Thursday..Christmas Eve. And I don't know if her trip is going to get extended, so that means that I probably won't get to see her since she'll only be home for 5 days instead of 10. Needless to say, I'm a bit angry at Mother Nature right now. She's only home twice a year. If worse comes to worst, then I'll just go to her house after Christmas Brunch with Daddy Dearest and hang out at her house. I know her family won't let me kidnap her for the day. I really hope that it works itself out...

Snow comes up, Charlie Brown. It comes up!

You would think that living on the east coast, I'd be used to snow by now. I hate snow. People become stupid when it snows. Last weekend, my plans were ruined by snow. And THIS weekend it looks like they're going to be ruined by snow again. It's my friend's annual Night of 1000 Shrimp Party. This is the 4th year we've been invited (we've only known these people for 4 years) and it's the first time we've been able to go. And are we? Probably not if it's snowing.

The party is about 2 hours away... and after the fiasco driving to the Lehigh Valley last week, I'm absolutely NOT going ANYWHERE NEAR Jersey and their ridiculous drivers in this kind of weather. No thank you.

Don't get me wrong... snow is pretty. And when I was in school, I LOVED snow because that meant I got to stay home and play in it! But now? When it snows? I have to go to work. Because radio still happens when it snows. In fact, more people listen to the radio when it snows.. because we tell people what is closed. So I HAVE to go to work (unless it's a state of emergency I think, in which case that never happens here). If I got to just stay inside, drink hot chocolate, knit, watch movies, and LOOK at the snow... I'd be all for it. But instead, the snow is just going to screw up my weekend plans and then make me cry on my drive to work because everyone around me has completely forgotten how to drive in the snow.

This also makes me think of this one time Gene was pulled over last winter, and he had a shovel in his backseat. The police officer started grilling him about it... and I think he wanted to search the car or something, and Gene just said, "Um, officer? We live in Delaware. It snows here. I need the shovel to dig my car out, and last time it was in my trunk, the trunk was iced shut."

Eight more hours

That's how much extra time per day I'd like. Mainly do I can go for 24 hours, sleep for 8 hours, and then go for another 24. Honest to Pete... I have so many things that need to be done. I'm much farther along in my knitting (haven't worked on the sweater at all, though.. I'm pretty sure he's getting sweater pieces for Christmas). But my other Christmas PURCHASES I'm slacking on.

I also don't have a Christmas tree up. We did a major clean of the downstairs (I even cleaned out THE CLOSET) in preparation for the tree. And then life happened. So... no tree. And unless Gene can grade and I can knit WHILE we put up the tree, I don't see it happening anytime soon. Our first Christmas living together, I put up our tree BY MYSELF on Christmas Eve. I'm not doing that again!

I'm not baking cookies this year. Usually, I have a battle with my aunt. She always brings cookies. 24 cookies. For 30 people. I bring 300 cookies. And have little left overs. And she gets SO MAD when I bring cookies... and I think it's hilarious.

I also have to deal with Christmas with 3 families. We've never had a problem before this year. Since Daddy Dearest effed things up five years ago, we have 3 families to deal with instead of 2. Christmas Eve we spend with Gene's parents. Christmas morning we drive an hour to my mom's house, then I go to my dad's for dinner. Wonderful. Well, last year... we switched it up. We had Christmas dinner at our house Christmas night, and saw my mom on Christmas Eve instead so that I had all day to cook. Because of that, my dad, my brother, my sister, and myself got to exchange gifts by ourselves like we used to, instead of in front of our extended family. I think my dad really liked that.

Because of that, this year Daddy Dearest is trying to convince us to drive to his house (which is out of the way for everyone involved) Christmas morning. Well, that doesn't work. I'm not driving an hour away to go to dinner 20 minutes from my house and turn a 20 minute drive into a 2 1/2 hour drive. No. So then he wants us to come over on Christmas Eve. No. So now we've compromised. We're having Christmas brunch on Saturday (which is also my sister's birthday). It was dinner, but it became brunch because my brother has to work and blah blah blah. Seriously... this is getting to be way more of a hassle than it needed to be. But if my dad had thought of this, oh, SOMETIME earlier than 10 days before Christmas, then we could have worked something else out!

And in the midst of all of this, I'm trying to figure out when I can see Ireland Girl when she's home for all of 10 days. Of those 10 days, there are only two where I am available. But she doesn't know what her family has planned, so it's entirely possible that I won't see her at all while she's home. And then I will have a sad.

Nomination Time

I love Golden Globes and Oscar time. I love speculating who is going to win vs. who I want to win. And this year I have some very strong opinions. So I decided to break down those categories that I have strong feelings about.

Best Motion Picture - Drama
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air

The only film I've seen in this list is Up in the Air, so obviously I want that to win. Based on other buzz and reviews I've seen, however, I think that Precious is probably going to take it.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock, The Proposal
Marion Cottilard, Nine
Julia Roberts, Duplicity
Meryl Streep, It’s Complicated
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

I saw The Proposal. And I saw Julie & Julia. I am going to see It's Complicated, because apparently one of my friends from college has a scene with Meryl and Alec (HOW AWESOME IS THAT??), and I intend to see Nine because I love that musical. I haven't heard of Duplicity. But, again, based on what I saw and what I've heard.... I think (and want) Meryl Streep to win for Julia Child. It was just awesome.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Penélope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo’Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man

I LOVE ANNA KENDRICK. I love her. I thought she was hilarious in Camp... she's my favorite part of that movie. She's perfect as Jessica in the Twilight Saga (in fact if you ask anyone who knows me... I SQUEALED when I saw that Anna would be playing Jessica. Because I love her). She was great in Up in the Air. I really want her to win. She won't. But I really want her to. I think Mo'Nique is probably going to take that... or Julianne Moore.

It's not that I don't CARE about the other categories, but these are the categories that I have strong feelings about. I do hope Clooney wins for Up in the Air. I really thought that was a great film.

I also have strong opinions for the television nominations also. I hope Mad Men wins again for best drama. This season was I think the best yet, and if you aren't watching Mad Men yet, what is wrong with you? Mad Men is the awesome! But I'd be just as happy if True Blood won. I'm torn on best actress for drama... because I love Anna Paquin, Kyra Sedgwick, January Jones, and Juliana Margulies (not that I hate Glenn Close because I loves her, I just don't watch Damages).

The only thing that I will be upset if it doesn't happens... I love my NPH. And Barney Stinson is (wait for it) legendary. I think it's Neil's time.

Christmas Knitting check-in

We are 2 weeks from Christmas. And how's my knitting going?

People who are done:
* Sister
* Mom
* nuWife

People are are started:
* Brother (90%)
* Gene (60%)
* Colleen (50%)
* Future MIL (5%)

Not even started:
* Gene's gramma
* Gene's dad (if I have time...)

I had to do a few switcheroos. If you notice... Daddy Dearest is off the list, and Brother is in. Why? Because when I asked my brother what he wanted for Christmas he said, "But I thought you were making something for me..." in a very disappointed "but I was really looking forward to that" kind of way, and I melted. So my dad's scarf is now for my brother. So now my father is the only person in my immediate family who isn't getting anything handknit from me. But you know what? I've never IN MY LIFE seen that man wear a scarf or a hat. I think once I saw him wear gloves. And if he really wants something, then I'll make something.

I also changed the MIL's gift from mittens to a cowl. Why? Because the pattern I picked for the mittens is written in Dutch. I don't speak or read Dutch. There is an English translation, but it isn't written as clearly as I like patterns written... and I'm not doing math nor am I guessing. So cowl it is. It's still in the same yarn (white alpaca... very elegant and VERY warm) and I started it yesterday.

I finally found the sleeves for Gene's sweater. And even though his is my largest project, and I started his first... his is the last on my list. It's probably good anyway, because if I give it to him unfinished... I can have him try it on and make sure it's fitting. He really has no idea that it's coming, though. I think. I think he's tried to pry and SEE if I'm giving him a sweater, but I'm really good at the "I'm never making you a sweater, damnit" game.

I totally forgot that I told Gene I would make his grandmother something. Hers might not be done by Christmas. It's most likely not going to be done by Christmas. She's getting a hot water bottle and a lovely cabled hot water bottle cover.

Colleen's HAS TO BE FINISHED. Her mittens don't take me very long, but I also wanted to do a hat to match. But I don't feel like international shipping. She comes back to the States Dec 20 and is here for about 10 days... so hers needs to get done fairly soon. I want to be farther along in the MIL first.

WHY WHY WHY did I do this to myself!????

Why can't I just give it up?

We all know that I consider myself a "recovering" actor. Every now and then, I have a relapse (like when I did the 2008 NYC Fringe Festival) but then I go back to my regularly scheduled life. I do keep many actor friends. Most of my friends from college were actors... and most of them live in NYC or LA trying to make it work in "the business."

Then I have my poker friends who are also actors, but I met them post college (and I'm the youngest by I think only 5 years, but most of them are 10+ years older than I). One of these friends is an agent, and he's the agent for all these guys. Then I have my friend Kevin who lives in NYC and keeps trying to get me to give him my resume (both acting and professional) because he thinks I'd be "awesome" in New York. And I have a guy who works with me at the station who tells me every. day. how I have a great voice and a lot of talent (he's never seen me act before, for the record) and that he thinks I need to pursue it.

Ideally, I'd LOVE to be a voice over actor. I would love nothing more than to just voice things for the rest of my life. That's actually been my dream since I was young. Then, I wanted to be a Disney princess. Now I'll settle for whatever. I have the resources. I understand the business. I'm just a little bit chicken, and a lot overwhelmed. I didn't deal well with rejection, which was why I left acting. But a large part of me wants to ask my agent friend to maybe send me out on a few commercial auditions. Or ask my friend Kevin if he knows a voice agent who would work with me or at least listen to my demo.

I don't know... I'm torn.

Weekend SNAFU

I was so looking forward to this weekend. Gene and I were going on a date (out to dinner at this GREAT local restaurant we love, and then drove up to Philly to see Up in the Air at one of the limited release theatres--it's great. Go see it.). We were taking a trip up to see our friends on Saturday, and then I was getting my hairs did on Sunday.

Friday night, as I said, was wonderful. The food was awesome... the movie was great... I had a really nice time. I should date my boyfriend more often. Then Saturday happened. It snowed here on Saturday, and by snowed... I mean, snow came out of the sky and melted as soon as it hit the ground. So when we made our decision to still do our little day trip and go to our friends' house, we didn't know what we were in for. We felt a bit obligated to go. They just bought a house... and we're close with them, but don't see them often since they live an hour and a half north, up near where we all went to college. Before we left, I had a pretty nasty vertigo spell and thought about convincing Gene to stay home, but felt guilty and decided to suck it up.

As we're driving north, the weather is getting progressively worse... but we still think we're doing all right. We're driving slowly, taking our time, being safe. It's annoying, but it isn't dangerous. Then we get a few miles away from the college.. and there is easily 3 inches of snow on the ground, and no one around us knows how to move in it. They all accelerating quickly, then slamming on their breaks, and sliding all over the place. That's not how you drive in snow. When you're driving in snow.. you need to keep steady motion. If you stop, that's when you get stuck... so you just have to keep moving. Even if it's really really slow.. KEEP. MOVING. Gene is yelling at everyone around us... but we make it through. We're moving at a good pace (for driving through snow...) and then we get to the other main road in the area. This road is very VERY hilly. In fact, it's the only road that leads to the town we're going to, and it's up a giant hill, and then down a giant hill.

As we're approaching the giant hill, my GPS tells us to turn left. Okay. I probably should have looked ahead to see where it was taking us. Since we had never been to our friends' house before, we just thought maybe they lived behind the chinese place we used to always eat at. But no. The GPS brings us BACK to the giant hill. Only this time, we have to make a left turn at an awkward angle IN THE SNOW to go UP A HILL where people are sliding all over the fucking place. Luckily there are less people going down the hill... and we decide to make a right, go down the hill, and decide from there.

Except I just kept driving. We made the decision to just go home. If those people were having a hard time, us turning around and getting back in line isn't going to make things easier. And then we still have to get HOME a few hours later. We stop at the gas station with the big convenient store (not Wawa, sadly. I love me some Wawa) get some snacks, fill up the tank, and try to go home. I'm FREAKING out at this point, because the snow is getting worse, and I'm convinced we're going to have to sleep in an Econo Lodge or something and go home in the morning, or worse, sleep in the car in the middle of the road because we're stuck. We get back on the road to immediately stop. For 30 minutes. Because a sports car on the opposite side of the road is disabled. Twenty feet in front of him, another sedan and a jeep are disabled, and there are two tractor trailers that can't get by them. So we're at an impass.

The guy in front of us in camo WITH A GIANT ASS KNIFE storms out of his car and talks to the cop that's helping the sports car, gets back in his car, and drives AROUND the tractor trailers in the MIDDLE of the road. Everyone follows. Once we got past that little cluster, we were home free. The farther south we drove, the warmer the ground was, so nothing was sticking. By the time we got home, it was just raining. But I still had vertigo.

The lime... it burns...

After months of borrowing Gene's car... and being dependant on other people for rides and whatnot... I finally have a car of my very own. It's the second car that I've purchased for myself. All my other cars were hand-me-down or Daddy Dearest E-Bay Specials (my dad has a problem. He likes to buy cars off ebay. It isn't a good idea. We're pretty sure that one of my cars was hot..).

This is also the very first ever NEW car. Not new-to-me car. I've never driven a new car before, let alone OWNED one. Well. Technically I don't own it YET. Not outright anyway. But it's mine.

After three hours (God, that was a long day) at the dealership... I drove away with a 2010 Hyundai Accent... lime green. Why lime green? Because that's the one that they were knocking a whole shit ton of money off for me (because I'm awesome... or because car dealerships are desperate). I loves it. It's funny because when I test drove it, I drove a black one. I said to Gene when I got home "they are all really cute... and I really don't care about color, but there is this light green and light blue that I don't really care for." And what do I get? LIME GREEN. It is cute though. And I can mock the brightness of my car because it's just that... MY CAR.