Bitch and you shall receive

I am moving to a smaller, more crowded, much less nice office. But hopefully it will be quiet. And child-free.

Aaaargh!

I am going batshit crazy! A lady I share an office with has dumped her ill behaved, noisy, contentious kids in the office and taken off, for the third day in a row!

Time is Relative

That time drags on when you want it to fly by is unfortunate. That time flies by when you need to stretch it is frustrating. I came in to work at 7 am this morning, I can't believe it is already 11.

Boring

Owing to the fact that I felt kind of terrible all week, and I'm a little on the poor side right now, I didn't do anything but work, read, and watch movies all weekend. So sorry but no good pictures this week unless something really cool happens during the week. Pretty unlikely though, considering I don't go out during the week, but instead go to bed at 9 pm like a ten year old.

Aspen: Part 2

Once the rain abated, after the shopping and the drinking, we stopped at the liquor store to pick up provisions for the evening (champagne) and for the next day (cans for tubing). That's right. Yeah, that's a picture of the cat puke inside Erin's handbag. And Mak's near fatal wound. Please bear in mind that we had been drinking all day. Kate's Irish flush. Drinking all day. Ezra rocking my girlie hat. Which is actually a men's hat. And then things fall apart. Jill's hot new boyfriend Jared. Did I mention we'd been drinking all day? I actually don't remember any of this, how nice that we have photographic evidence of our shenanigans. In the morning, after a delicious breakfast at El Jebreakfast in America, we tied the tubes to Jared's truck, and headed out for some tubing. We usually inflate the tubes when we get there. But this was definitely funnier.

Me, Simpsonized

Rant

Before I put up more pictures from the weekend please let me vent a little. I am having the worst day at work. I woke with a headache again this morning and fearing that it was the start of another migraine took some medicine straight away. The medicine has made me unbelievably groggy, and kind of nauseous all day. I almost lost my cookies when my office mate ate his lunch. I can't get any advice from anyone about what kind of resolution we really need for the spectrometer I am supposed to order, except that it should be the cheapest one out there with the highest resolution. No kidding, but what is the minimum resolution necessary? This is an important question! I have spent the greater part of my day trying to match XRD peaks manually, I'm not really getting anywhere, and I'm getting increasingly frustrated because there is a software package installed on the computer downstairs that would do it for me in about thirty seconds! The professor in charge of said software package just won't let me have access to it for god knows what reason. Bear in mind that my research group pays for access to the software because the raw data is kind of useless. Shenanigans! I'd say I was looking forward to the weekend, but since I was out sick on Tuesday, and my boss just told me he wants a report by Monday, it looks like I'll be working all weekend.

Aspen: Part 1

Sorry to keep you hanging, but yesterday I had a wicked migraine and stayed in bed all day. Now to get on with it... Our first stop, after picking up some McDonald's, was the Sky Bar for $12 cocktails and some fun in the sun. I love a bar with a pool. Or a pool with a bar. Whichever. They dragged me away from Harry Potter for a little swimming. But not for long. Kate's friends rolled out to meet us for cocktails. The weather turned nasty, but we had packed it up and left just in time. Headed around the corner for a little bar food and some light shopping. Stay tuned for part 2.

Friday Night:: A Little Cirque

On Friday Jill and I met the Ladies and went to see Cirque Du Soleil's Corteo. Here is what they have to say about it:

"Corteo, which means "cortege" in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality."

Like always, it was unbelievable, flawless really. There was an act that involved one man and a ladder, and all I can say is that I am still amazed at what some people are capable of.

After the show we had dinner at the Wazee Supper Club. I have always heard great things about this place, and I am sorry to say I was a little underwhelmed. I will definitely give it another shot, but with many fewer people. It was awesome of Suzie to organize this night out, if she didn't, we would never be able to coordinate these kinds of outings. I called it an early night, I was home before ten. I watched a movie (Hackers, delightfully cheesy) and then at half past midnight I made my way to the store and procured my copy of the final Harry Potter. Showing what is for me amazing restraint I only read it until three in the morning and then went right to bed so I could get up at 6am to go to Aspen. But more on that later...

What a Weekend!

First off, Aspen is not cheap. At all. Not that this came as a surprise, but I thought I'd reiterate that here. Mak and Kate are awesome, and it was awesome to see them. The thing that happens when you hang out with them, is that you laugh all the time. It's not only that they are both hilarious, but all of their friends are too. So much laughing. Harry Potter was awesome, I am going to start re-reading it tonight and I can't wait. I thought it was great, and say what you will about this children's book, I was loathe to put it down. In fact I was harangued all weekend for reading here and there when I got a chance. I have to go home for lunch today because I left my flash drive at home, and I need it to continue some research this afternoon. While I am enjoying my lunch (probably lasagna again, I can't wait to finish it so I can eat something else) I will try to upload a couple of pictures for your entertainment.

Statements

Today at work is kind of weird. I am doing some test work that involves a lot of waiting, and as I have lots of fun plans this weekend I am antsy to get to the end of the day. Well the waiting juxtaposed with the antsy-ness is making time absolutely crawl by. I know, I know... I had planned on doing absolutely nothing this weekend except reading and lounging and eating good foodstuffs. Well here's the thing, I forgot we had tickets to Cirque u Soleil's Corteo tonight, and then dinner reservations at the Wazee Supper Club after. After that I'm heading home instead of hitting the town so I will be ready to hit the store at 12:01 to pick up the new Harry Potter (I know I've mentioned that once or twice lately). Well, now I have talked to Kate and I have decided to head up to Aspen on Saturday morning (early) to spend the day poolside with her at Sky bar (she-she) while Mak goes and climbs a fourteener with his (our?) buddies, followed by some tubing on Sunday. And then I talked to my mom about going to my folk's house for the weekend because she wants to go to the fair and then see Hairspray. So I need to decide. All I know is that I'm not spending the weekend at home like I previously stated. Statements.

Welcome to my Garden

Last night I spent finishing up HP:HBP so I would be ready to go at midnight tonight for HP:DH! Weee! I'm so excited I actually a little hyper. Murph, Kitty and I chilled out on the patio, and I grilled up some supper. Check out my pretty garden, I have kept these flowers alive for almost a whole week now! Ate lots of tasty blueberries, and a glass of nice cold chardonnay. I don't usually care for chardonnay, but this one wasn't really oak-y, and not too buttery.

Patio Furniture Update

I love it, it might be more comfortable than my couch! Yesterday was so hot, but in the evening something rolled in and outside it was cool and breezy. I sat outside all night eating dinner, drinking wine, and re-reading HP:HBP in anticipation of tomorrow nights (midnight) HP:DH release. It was so pleasant, and now I am really glad that I took the plunge and got the ottoman because Murph and Kitty piled on and relaxed with me. It was so nice that I ended up sleeping outside on the porch! What a lovely sleep, and what a nice way to wake up this morning to the sunrise!

Flimsy Resolve

Using leftover dough, sauce and cheese, I grilled up some zucchini and made this huge pizza, I had enough for lunch the next day. When I was at the farmers market on Saturday, I came across these green tomatoes, and I remembered a recipe for grill fried green tomatoes I have been wanting to try. Simple and delicious. Coat the tomato slices in olive oil, dip in cornmeal and grill 5 minutes a side. Results are tangy and crunchy if not traditional. Last summer when I bought all my new furniture, I decided to leave the patio until I had some more money, and until now had been sitting on folding camp chairs. Well, they aren't that comfortable to sit in and read all day, and I have been meaning to get some comfy chairs, but patio furniture is so expensive, I just hadn't taken the plunge yet. Well yesterday I resolved to stop spending money on things that weren't necessary, at least for a couple of weeks, and no sooner do I make this decree I come across this set of 2 patio lounge chairs for $49.99 on clearance at Target. Now I have been keeping an eye out and this is a better deal than I have seen at wal-mart or K-mart. I decided to but them, but I was on the fence about the ottoman. It really is too big for the patio, but would give Murph a place to sit, and me a place to relax and stretch out. And at only forty bucks, it's a steal! I decided to get them both, and after a little assembly, I now have a patio I can't wait to spend time on. A few flower pots and a couple of hanging plants, and it really is a tiny bit of paradise. And all for less than $130.00!