grate typo

meant to write:

see you next Friday,
Jenni.

actually wrote:

see you next frienday,
Jenni

jedi mind trick

I was doing my thing at work, using all the stuff I normally use, when I hit an odd combination of keys and mouse clicks and managed to pop up some useful windows and toolbars. It was kind of cool, I was very impressed that these capabilities already existed - sometimes the developers can't predict the ways in which the users are going to be using things and I often request features like this after the fact. But here they were, already there, like they were reading my mind! I emailed the developer in charge of the program to ask how long these features had been there and to tell him how cool and useful I found them. (I believe in positive reinforcement). Here is his response:

A few months at least, since right around the time that you requested it!

I guess its like I was reading my own mind.

not what i meant

*part of a conversation I had with this very sweet 22-year-old girl that is new at work while we were out at a bar last night.

me: "I always said I would never dance in front of people I work with."
her: "I know, I'm a bad dancer too!"

i'm a bree

my downstairs neighbors have been expecting a baby - she was due on Nov. 8th, but was late. The plan was that if she didn't deliver by the 15th she'd go in and they would induce labor. I happened to see her on Tuesday night, so we spoke a little bit about how excited and nervous they were. She said "I'm getting less and less nervous for the labor and more and more nervous that we are going to come home with a baby!" On Wednesday I thought of them at one point...wondering if they had a new daughter yet. Thinking how exciting it would be to bring her home with them. And my next thought was -- and I don't know where this came from, really...I don't -- I wondered if they had cleaned their house before they went to have a baby. Not cleaned their house in the baby-proof-set-up-a-nursery-buy-baby-furniture way, but like, do the dishes and the laundry. I'm not sure why I thought this was important, it's not like they are having a house guest...they are having a daughter - and she certainly wont care if they are a day or two behind on dishes.

oops!

I just emailed my boss to ask him something and he answered me, and added in an extra line at the end. A sentence whose information confused me (however it was of a very trivial nature, along the lines of which free desk someone was going to use, it was the choice that confused me). So I stood up and asked my nearby-cube neighbor if it made sense to her. Our other cube-neighbor stood up and said it didn't make much sense to him either. We had a little conversation about it. I sat down and there was another email from my boss:

p.s. don't spread it around - it's still a bit of a secret :)

a secret??!?! I'm blown away that this topic is a secret. And more shocked that my boss didn't realize he needed to tell me that sooner...

misunderstood

At work today I was on my way back to my desk when three of my co-workers who I haven't seen in a little while were all standing around the hallway chatting. The conversation started with "Jenni, you look like you are in a hurry" (which I was) so I said, "ya, I didn't get here until 11:30 this morning because I had a doctor's appointment, and now there is just so much to do." And then someone made sure to ask if I voted. To which my response was "Yes, I was up early, I went to vote, and then I went and got two shots." The conversation continued for a little while about the elections and then one co-worker interrupted with "what shots did you get?" and another co-worker further questioned "bourbon?" and the third replied "no, tequila?" to which I said - "No, flu!" I guess they all thought that I was slamming them down after voting at 8am.

I'm less concerned that they thought I was at the bar at 8am, and more concerned with the fact that at least two of them thought this was fine and could go unquestioned...

infiltration

This morning I had messages in my work Inbox, and I wanted to share them.

From: Gilda Farmer
Subject: needle girder multiple-disk clutch


and the two housemaids.dared not believe it, and could not help saying so.


From: Carey Hansen
Subject: paper-palisaded nut palm

an embarrassment impossible to be overcome. had his first appearance, or his resemblance to the

From: Francisca Baca
Subject: never-ending ordeal tree

amiable feeling; that had his actions been what mr. wickham represented them, so gross a violation of and extensive patronage. yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousin elizabeth, and


From: Edmond Mckay
Subject: nipa alcohol night-fly

and i do not think it of light importance that he should have attentive and conciliatory manner towards

deranged

I know everyone has a moment, or even a whole day, where they just do completely asinine things. You know, nothing huge or earth shattering, but a "where is my head" moment. I seem to have a day like that at least 5 times a week.

I pulled out the tupperware to put my leftover dinner in it. After filling the tupperware container with said leftovers I promptly put it away. Back in the tupperware drawer.

unprepared

Last night I went out to see my friend Chris' band play a Halloween show. (Miles From Land 4eva!) It was a Sunday night, kinda late, and even though I hadn't taken a shower all day I convinced myself to brush my hair, put on a clean shirt and some nice shoes (not sneakers). We get to the place and, after showing our IDs and getting purple ghost stamps on our hands, we make our way into the bar. The first 6 faces I see are familiar ones. But eerily familiar. Familiar in the way that at first glance you think it's bad.

I went to college in another Massachusetts city and I had a boyfriend for, what some would consider, a very long time. He grew up in a small town about 20 minutes outside of our college city and has 4 best friends from - well, from forever. They all ended up going to college in the same city, or one very nearby, so needless to say, we ALL saw a lot of them. It's been a long enough time that we've not been together where I'm not upset about it at all. But, it's still one of those things you try and not think about too often.

So I walk in and see 1, 2, 3, 4 of them. And like I said, at first it made me cringe. But I went over and said "Hi!" and we all chatted for a while. And one of them told me that their friend was in the band who was playing right before my friend Chris' band. I looked up, and yes - in fact, it WAS their friend. A 5th person I knew. And his parents were there to see....and I knew that because I've met them and been in their house. It was only then that I realized I did know the name of the band that was playing, because we used to go to all their shows. How quickly you forget (or block out) these things!! From where I was standing at that point I could see only half the bass drum, a tom, a crash cymbal and one drum stick. And I'll admit to peering around the corner to check out the drummer to see if it was my ex-boyfriend. It wasn't.

The shows went on, and they were great. But the weirdest part, that I was most unprepared for, was that it wasn't weird to see these guys. I was actually very glad to see them. And maybe even realized I kind of missed them. Turns out they are all living up here, so maybe the other weird thing is that I haven't run into them yet. But, it was nice to see them and catch up for a bit.

and I was totally glad I put on nice shoes and brushed my hair!

things i didn't know i'd need to know...

I'm applying to grad school for admissions in Fall 2007, and I'm right in the middle of trying to get everything ready. Each application asks for a different set of crazy things. The worst so far, one hoity-toity school requires me to list, in order of relevance, grouped by subject, all the classes and their text books, that I've EVER TAKEN.

seriously. they are asking me to fill out this form. it clearly says a transcript can NOT replace this. But they ask for the transcript too.

seriously - TEXT BOOKS. (and I'm thinking - "the yellow one with a strand of DNA on it" will not do. I'm also thinking that neither will "I DON'T FREAKIN' KNOW!")

where i get sentimental

I never cease to be amazed at the flood of emotions that I feel when I am standing in the driveway at my parents house looking up at the night sky. There are so many stars, stars just keep peeking out from behind other stars the longer you look up at it. It can be summer, fall, winter, spring; it can be hot, cold, raining or snowing. And there seem to always be hundreds of millions of stars out. When I lived there I had no idea how amazing the stars were. I didn't even miss them when I first moved out of the house and went to college in Worcester. I probably didn't even notice that I missed them until I came home for a visit. I got out of the car, and I looked up. And it was paralyzing. I remember suddenly being filled with a billion memories, standing in the same driveway and looking up. My dad and I trying to locate the big dipper, or my mom and I following the belt in Orion to find Taurus. I remember being out there coming home from a vacation, or walking the dog, or coming in from playing with friends, or getting back from a school dance. I never really noticed that every time I come home I get out of the car and look up. But I do. And I don't think about it ever. There are no stars to speak of in Boston, and I certainly don't stand outside staring at an empty sky. It doesn't ever cross my mind, until I turn into that driveway and get out of my car and look up at the star-filled sky. And remember every one of the million times I've done that before. And that's when I am back home.

odorific

I spent this past weekend in NYC. I decided to risk the Fung-Wah, which goes from Chinatown in Boston (south station) to Chinatown in NYC. Yes, this is the same bus that has flipped over, caught fire, and other unheard of accidents, but it's only $15. Awesome. Now, I was heading down there on Friday the 13th, really, a gamble with my life. The night before I laid out my bubble wrap suit, my helmet, mouth guard, and other protective attire. But - I suppressed the urge to actually put it on in the morning.

I had purchased my ticket and was on the bus within 5 minutes of arriving at South Station, and off to NYC I went. The right down was great. I slept, I read, I listened to music. We stopped at a rest stop where I ate my packed lunch on a picnic table. The whole ride took about 4.5 hours. Super!

On Sunday, I made my way from the Upper West Side down to Chinatown, and had to first walk past the Lucky Star stop. This is also a Chinatown-Chinatown bus, and $15. They were boarding as I passed, so I bought my ticket and got on. This time we stopped at a Chinese Buffet for a rest stop. Which sounds great, because you could buy lunch. But - a bus load of people eating Chinese take-out - that? that is a HORRIBLE idea.

boxers or briefs?

I would have always said that I would prefer a guy to wear boxers instead of briefs. Every fall/winter when I go play field hockey I always throw a pair of sweat pants over my shorts so I'm not cold on the way to the game. And every time I do this I am all bunched up and uncomfortable...and I'm wearing SWEAT PANTS. For forty minutes. How does anyone think it's comfortable to wear boxers under their pants everyday?? So now, I think I say I prefer a guy who doesn't wear boxers...Because the ones that can stand that everyday are obviously whacked.

it never changes

I just got this email from a friend of mine at work:

you just have to be quieter i guess. which for you is probably a good idea anyway!

My parents, and any teachers from lower school who might be reading this are laughing already. You see, when I was younger I was something of a talker. I mean, I like to talk, what's wrong with that? Apparently what's wrong with that is that when you talk when someone is trying to teach a class you are being "disruptive". I think that the teaching was disruptive to my conversation, but I suppose we are splitting hairs with that, I do see that both can't happen at the same time comfortably. So, after all the years of getting in trouble for talking - comments at parent/teacher meetings, being exiled from my friends during class(this never worked, sit me next to a stranger, my worst enemy, i was a-talkin'), etc. - I tried to stop. Overcompensation ensued and middle school began with comments like "Jenni needs to participate more in class". I remember being so confused as to what they wanted me to do, until I figured out the difference between talking to my friend and answering the teachers questions. That was the key!

Apparently I am back to my old ways. For a while one of my friends at work was in the same general area as I was. People referred to us as the giggle twins, and some even went so far as to make comments that they couldn't get anything done while we were together. They were kidding, of course, but I'm sure there was a little truth in there. Well - she up and moved into an office, leaving me all alone. I've, of course, found a new giggle twin - but it's gotten MUCH better. With my new bose headphones and a subscription at emusic.com I'm all plugged in and quiet, most of the time. But apparently thats not enough...the one who sent me this email works on the floor below me.

what can I say...I'm kind of a talker.

camouflaged

I've been to Museum of Science twice in as many weeks with two of my friends. Since the summer Gunther von Hagen's Body Worlds 2 exhibit has been there and I've been dying to see it. "Dying" - in a half extremely curious, half extremely disgusted sort of way. Two weeks ago the museum had it's annual "College Student Night" where any local college student is allowed entrance into the museum, all of its exhibits, and the IMAX movies for free. And well...I have three college IDs, none of which have an expiration date, so...that makes me a college student, yes?! YES!

We arrived there with the masses, I've never seen so many college students in a museum before. I had, in fact, just come over from MIT where I am auditing a class this semester - so I AM a college student! I was wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt of some sort, nothing fancy, and I fit right in. We waited in this chaotic line for a few minutes, then realized we had to push passed the line to get these stickers (which indicated we were students) and then get BACK in line to wait for our free tickets. Such a process. But, I got a sticker and had passed the test as a true college student.

Before we went we had tried to pick an IMAX movie we wanted to see - it was narrowed down to 2 choices, "The Human Body" and "Stormchasers". In reality, I've never seen a bad IMAX movie, so I didn't care. But when we got to the front of the line, "The Human Body" was sold out - so we got tickets for "Stormchasers". A little twinge of remorse hit me, perhaps now I knew that I really did have a preference, and "Stormchasers" wasn't it.

We saw the Body Worlds 2 exhibit, which was amazing. I mean, really. It was gross - some of them had skin and hair and faces and if you stopped to think about what it really was....ewww. But if you stopped to look at the innate beauty of what you were seeing. It was truly awesome (in the actual, awe-invoking meaning of the word and not the 'like, totally, eh-he!' meaning). I mean, you saw everything - muscles, nerves, fat, bones, organs, all healthy and unhealthy. Really, truly, awesome.

Now, the IMAX we saw. Well, I've now seen a bad IMAX. It was called "Stormchasers" so you think, wild crazy footage of these horrible big storms - pretty cool. Nah, it was wild crazy footage of meteorologists watching computer radars and predicting storms. Then the obligatory bolt of lightening and a plane or two...but, I was unimpressed. (and I fell asleep). But Body Worlds 2 made up for it.

Last week the Museum of Science had its "Educators Night" where teachers can go for free. One of my friends who I went with before is actually an educator - he teaches chemistry and pre-algebra at a high school. He had registered for this. When he registered his girlfriend and I also registered, because, well, they weren't doing anything obvious to verify that we were educators. And when you come right down to it, I teach math to high school kids, just not in a school - and Allison, she teaches lots of things, to lots of people. The day after College Student Night we got email confirmations to say that we were registered for Educators Night. Allison and I had the same exact thought - "we can see The Human Body IMAX!" So, we went back.

Apparently the Museum of Science trusts educators more. There was no chaotic line, no need for a sticker proving I was an educator, nothing. I just walked in. This time I was wearing a nice pair of dress pants and a top, and again I fit in nicely. But there was no test to pass - I had nothing to prove. The difference between the two nights was shocking. College Night had a DJ and dancy-club music pumping throughout. Educator night had veggies and dip and grilled sandwiches. We also snuck into a demonstration on the Sky Lab, a mobile planetarium that can go to schools for special programs. I guess this was the one test, when the guy said to the crowd "what ages do you all teach?" I felt myself freeze...oh god oh god, WHAT AGE DO I TEACH??! Until I remembered I could just say ANYTHING! First grade, that works. I look like a First Grade teacher.

The Human Body IMAX was worth it.

food pyramid

I was standing in front of the vending machine, getting ready to leave work for my field hockey game, and I tried to decide what in there most resembled dinner. Almond joy? no! doritos? no! I decided that the Peanut Butter crackers and a granola bar I have in my desk was my closest option.

off to the game!

listening

Paper Bag - Anna NalickShe don't run from the sun no more
She boxed her shadow and she won
Said, "I can see you laugh through these bottle caps
And this wire around my neck ain't there for fun

But someday we'll all be old
And I'll be so damn beautiful
Meanwhile I'll hide my head
Here in this paper bag
Cause if I can't see you then you can't see me
And it'll be okay
Fly little bee away
To where there's no more rain and I can be me"

Yeah, they talk about her
She smiles like she's so tough
She says, "Hey, can you talk a little louder?
I don't think my heart is broken enough.

But someday we'll all be old
And I'll be so damn beautiful
Meanwhile I'll hide my head
Here in this paper bag
Cause if I can't see you then you can't see me
And it'll be okay
Fly little bee away
To where there's no more rain and I can be me"

Some days I wade in the indigo
Singing that song on the radio
I blame these puddles on the rain
You know I gotta keep these cheeks dry today
Gotta keep my cheating strategy
And baby I'm gonna have it made


But someday we'll all be old
And I'll be so damn beautiful
So I'll hide my head
Here in this paper bag
Cause if I can't see you then you can't see me
And it'll be okay
Fly little bee away
To where there's no more rain and I can be me

And I'll hide my head
Here in this paper bag
Cause if I can't see you, then you can't see me
And it'll be okay
Fly little bee away
To where there's no more rain and I can be me

Where I can be me . . . yeah
I can be me
Ohh
Where I can be me

confessions

I've been harping on all y'all for not commenting - it was getting really annoying and lonely thinking no one cared to read this lovely bit of randomness...But, I owe everyone an apology. The fault was mine. Apparently I had set a setting which required me to click this other tab and "publish" the comment (clearly I am not one of those people who blindly clicks everything). It's been months and I never did that. So, now I have. Your comments are there. I'm sorry. And more importantly - THANK YOU!!

and now with that out of the way...Here's the answer to the Labor Day Errands Challenge:
the GAS. The GAS was most expensive. Good job hol!

picasso

I've taken today off from work and will be painting my room. I'll post pictures of my progress, because I think there are some discrepancies out there as to how long this will actually take me.
This here is the paint chip I have taped to the wall.


UPDATE: 7:45am
I'm emptying my room of furniture.

UPDATE: 9:15am
I have taken all the furniture out of my room (except my bed). In the process I found 3 missing socks, 1.36 in change and discovered my latest business adventure. I am going to go into the animal-toupee business. I found enough cat hair to fashion 8 or maybe 9 cat toupees. When I was a child we had a dog, Coco, and she was bald. I will name my new business Coco's Mission, after her.
















I have spackled and taped off the entire room. Now I'm finishing up the sanding and then I will do the first (of many) washes of the floor! And then.....PAINTING.

UPDATE: 11:30am
I have finished the first coat on the first wall - pretty much event free. I of course freaked out that I didn't like the color, it seemed too purple and I wanted it to be more blue...But it's drying bluer and I do like it.

UPDATE: 1:30pm

Walls 2 and 3 are done. And now I'm going to eat lunch!

UPDATE: 3:35pm

The first coat is done on all the walls. I think I've decided to just do the one coat, and simply touch up some spots that need extra rolling. I've done the touch-ups on three walls, but the last one needs to dry more before I get to that. Then I will let it dry for the night, and re-assess the situation in the morning. So, I'm done for day 1!

errands

I went out today, Labor Day, and I made three different stops - 1. I stopped for gas; 2. I bought new running shoes; 3. I bought paint at home depot.

Now each stop had it's own set of issues. At the gas station, all the self serve pumps were full, so I pulled up to the correct side and waited near the guy who was paying. When he left, the guy behind him also left. I backed up to let them out, and some lady drove forward and blocked me out of the pump. Now, she only needed one pump, but she certainly pulled up more than she needed, making it impossible for me to get my tank near the pump (we were nose to nose). So I asked her to pull up and take the one I was in front of and I'd pull back and take the one she was in front of. After a small display of annoyance, she complied. thank god.

Then I arrived at the New Balance outlet. one word. ZOO. There were a zillion people there, including everyone's full set of jewish grandparents who were sitting on every conceivable surface to sit on - NOT trying on shoes mind you. In fact, I'm not sure that some of them were even there with anyone buying shoes. I grabbed about 17 boxes and then, having no place to sit, I piled them up and planted it on my shoe boxes. Trying on pair after pair after pair, multiple questions to the salesman and a few phone calls for help. One would think I could reasonably buy a pair of running shoes without such a hassle. nope.

Then, Home Depot. Ok, all of the people who owned the jewish grandparents at New Balance had snuck out and jetted across town to Home Depot. Apparently New Balance has more seats for the grandparents. And everyone seemed to be buying paint. I had already decided on the color (Romantic Isle) and I knew I needed a gallon. I also knew I needed: rollers, paint tray, paint brush, drop cloth and tape. I was amazed at the wide variety of rollers (that all looked the same) that varied so drastically in price. They had rollers for rough surfaces, smooth surfaces, clean surfaces and dirty surfaces. It made me wonder - if I used a roller for dirty surfaces on my dirty wall, will it clean it and THEN paint it so that I end up with a clean painted wall. Or will I just end with a dirty painted wall, because if that's the case...whats the point?? Luckily for me, I am the worlds best eavesdropper and heard some girl say to her roommate (ya, I found out later they were roommates) "you'd be better with this kit I found, it's got everything and so much cheaper." I was intrigued, so I nonchalantly put down the roller I was holding and slyly followed the roomies to said kit. Amazing - paint tray, three differet sized rollers, brush, tape, drop cloth all in one. Then I got my paint and headed to the register.

Of the three purchases I made - gas, running shoes, paint & supplies - which do you think cost the most?? Place your votes.

**the answer will appear in a future post if y'all post your votes!