Ugh. Part Two.

Seriously, is it Friday?No?So you know your day is going well when your first thought upon waking is "Is there any way I can get away with calling in sick today?" Now, I'm not sick. I'm tired. I need more sleep, and I need to have all my belongings in one place, and that place needs to be my new house, and it would be nice if I had furniture, like a couch or something, and everything neatly put away. These are things I need. These are things I cannot have right now, and that sucks. I keep telling myself, soon. It will all be settled again soon. Actually, my biggest problem today is one of the total head-desk variety. I forgot to put on deodorant. And unlike most weeks when I'm onsite, I can't just run back up to my room and fix it - I'm onsite in Atlanta this week, and home is a 30-45 minute drive each way. So I'm smelly girl today, yay.

Second Annual Valentine's Day Music Fest

I liked the idea that I had last year so much that I thought I'd do it again! Of course, last year I shared 30 songs with you and this year I came up with 8, but hey! I'm busy! :D Oddly enough, I'm working for the exact same client this year that I did last year, so it's like deja vu in a way. Just thought I'd share that.Anyway, here are some love songs, and not-so-love songs, for you for this Valentine's Day!All The Fish In The Sea Are Stupid Sluts Anyway - Big Japan: Oh how I wish we were the kissing kind of fish, cuz you are always on my mind! But I feel like a fool waitin' round for you, I must just be the sucker kind. I love this song a)for the title, b) for the hoppy little tune even though the lyrics are a bit sad, and c)because anyone who tells you there's plenty of fish in the sea ought to have to walk the plank.A History of Lovers - Calexico & Iron&Wine:Coddle some men, they'll remember you bitterly. Fuck 'em, they'll come back for more. I asked my Louise would she leave and so cripple me. Then came a knock at the door. A lollapolooza of a song, once again disguising the not-so-happy ending. Listen to the horn section, love it!The Last High - The Dandy Warhols:I am alone but adored by a hundred thousand more. Then I said when you were the last. And I have known love like a whore from at least ten thousand more. Then I swore when you were the last. Dandy Warhols for President! Tiny Vessels - Death Cab for Cutie:This is the moment that you know, that you told her that you loved her but you don't.No matter how many times I listen to this song, and I listen to it a lot, that first line never fails to punch me in the gut. It's one of the reasons I'm very careful about who I say those words to - it's something you can't take back without crushing someone.Under the Surface - Marit Larsen:When suddenly I’m back at the core, thinking of her who had you before. Were you as good, as good as we are? Do you remember? I could quote the whole song, actually. knightette gave this one to me, and I have to admit, I dismissed it the first couple of times through, til I really listened to the words. I so connect with the idea of not trusting something good, of waiting for the other shoe to drop, and the reality of not being someone's first love, of knowing that the person you're with already found the person they wanted to spend the rest of their life with and it didn't work out. Say that you love me, say that it’s true, I know that I want to believe you. But somehow silence speaks louder than words, I’m worried she’s still on your mind.Coffee, Tea, and Sympathy - Robbie Williams:Don’t feel small when I don’t call - if I could talk I’d tell you. If I ever did, don’t answer, kid - I’ve only lies to sell you. I’ll be your stranger (I don’t want your love). If you’re in need (It’s not your love that I need). First off, any song that actually has the phrase 'walk of shame' in it? LOVE. This song makes me smile no matter how bad of a mood I'm in, because it's playful and probably more honest than I'd like to think about. And it's a different view, from the bad boy who knows he's the bad boy.I Don't Fall In Love So Easy - Trisha Yearwood:I don't give my heart to just anyone, I don't even know how to do it. I don't give my hand to just any man, I don't wanna put myself through it. Okay, so yes, it's the requisite country song. But this one's here for a reason. I've always thought this song describes perfectly how I feel about falling in love - it's not an overnight thing. I've never understood the 'love at first sight' phenomenon, I don't get why people run off and get married when they've just met. So I like this song, because it gets that, and it also gives you just that bit of hope, that glimpse into what it feels like to move over that edge and let someone into your life.Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol:If I lay here... if I just lay here... Would you lie with me and just forget the world? I am a sucker for a good epic song - the heartswell song, if you will. This one has grabbed me since I saw it on Grey's Anatomy, and if part of that is a love for the Izzie/Denny, then so be it. :D Also, I love the line about finding your own grace. Okay, and bonus song, because by now you've probably all heard Chasing Cars, since it's all over the radio lately: Shut Your Eyes - Snow Patrol:And when the worrying starts to hurt and the world feels like graves of dirt, just close your eyes until you can imagine this place, yeah, our secret space at will... shut your eyes and sing to me. If any of the links die, just let me know and I'll re-do them.Much love,Beth

Is it Friday yet?

Ugh. Long, long day. First off, I'm working at a client site in Atlanta this week, when I was supposed to be working on a remote project. The upside is that I'm at home, so I can do stuff in the evenings, but the downside is that I have to deal with Atlanta traffic, which can mean taking up to two hours to drive what should take twenty minutes.Then to top that off, I go to air up my tire, which has looked a bit low all weekend, and discovered that there's a nail in my tire. So I then got to spend close to three hours waiting at Pep Boys and to shell out close to $300 on a pair of new tires. Fun, fun.So now I'm home, and in my jammies, and watching a bit of tv before I have to go do more moving stuff. So not getting all the things I meant to do done tonight. C'est la vie.

It's Official

I am a homeowner.We had the walk-through this morning, and the closing started at 11:15am and was done by noon! I thought it would take ages, but wow did it ever not! And I didn't have to pay a cent over my final closing cost estimate, which was a relief. So I've spent the whole afternoon in my house, making up the aerobeds so that namaste_atlanta and I can have our sleep-over tonight, and making rudimentary efforts at cleaning. We're having a picnic here tonight to celebrate, Scott & Jon are bringing the food and wine and we're going to sit around my empty house. Ah, good times!

Birthday Greetings

Happy birthday, sparktastic! Hope it's a great one!

30 True Things

I'm not usually much for self-help books, but a friend sent a link to this one on Amazon, and I like the table of contents. Maybe one day I'll actually read the book! :DToo Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know Now by Gordon Livingston1. If the map doesn't agree with the ground, the map is wrong.2. We are what we do.3. It is difficult to remove by logic an idea not placed there by logic in the first place.4. The statute of limitations has expired on most of our childhood traumas.5. Any relationship is under the control of the person who cares the least.6. Feelings follow behavior.7. Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid.8. The perfect is the enemy of the good.9. Life's two most important questions are "Why?" and "Why not?" The trick is knowing which one to ask.10. Our greatest strengths are our greatest weaknesses.11. The most secure prisons are those we construct for ourselves.12. The problems of the elderly are frequently serious but seldom interesting.13. Happiness is the ultimate risk.14. True love is the apple of Eden.15. Only bad things happen quickly.16. Not all who wander are lost.17. Unrequited love is painful but not romantic.18. There is nothing more pointless, or common, than doing the same thing and expecting different results.19. We flee from the truth in vain.20. It's a poor idea to lie to oneself.21. We are all prone to the myth of the perfect stranger.22. Love is never lost, not even in death.23. Nobody likes to be told what to do.24. The major advantage of illness is that it provides relief from responsibility.25. We are afraid of the wrong things.26. Parents have a limited ability to shape children's behavior, except for the worse.27. The only real paradises are those we have lost.28. Of all the forms of courage, the ability to laugh is the most profoundly therapeutic.29. Mental health requires freedom of choice.30. Forgiveness is a form of letting go, but they are not the same thing.

Meme

Create your own visitor map!

Greetings from Canadia!

I get to go home today, cannot wait! I always feel so isolated when I come up here, because I can't use my cell phone. Plus it's freaking cold! I've been sick this week, but thanks to a Canadian miracle drug (ColdFX) I seem to be getting better.thefridayfive 1. How far back can you trace your family tree?Personally, to my great-grandparents. But my mom's gone farther back than that, so if I asked I'm sure I could go farther back.2. What is the most interesting (or strange) thing you've heard about one of your relatives?My great-aunt on my mom's side was on the Johnny Carson show playing bones (it's a hillbilly thing). I have never seen proof of this, but my mom has told this story for years.3. How do you feel about legacy names like John Henry Smith IV or naming children after other relatives?I think naming someone in honor of someone, yet not exactly like them, is better. It gives a sense of tradition while maintaining uniqueness. For example, I am named for my dad's Aunt Janie - Beth Janelle. If I ever have a daughter (highly unlikely), I would like to name her Rose, after my best friend and her family - it's their last name.4. Would you consider yourself and/or your family to be traditional?Fairly traditional, yeah. I guess it depends on your definition, but we do have traditions. I like it, it gives a sense of continuity.5. What is one tradition you have passed on to your children and/or plan to pass on to them?Again, not planning on it, but if I did, it would be the importance of getting together with your family regularly. My dad's family gets together four times a year, and I think that's been the cornerstone of my family life.fridayfiver 1. American football: good times or couldn't care less?Couldn't care less. I don't mind to watch it on tv if someone else wants to, and I know the rules, but that's about it.2. Do you have a favorite sports team?Nope. I'm genetically required to root for the St. Louis Cardinals, but other than that, I don't get into it.3. What's your favorite junk food?Hmm... nachos.4. Are football players paid too much?Yes5. Who do you think will win this year's Superbowl?I don't know, who's playing?

Question Time

So who uses Vonage? Or any other VOIP provider? What do you like, what do you hate, what's annoying?

God is Not a Four-Letter Word

On my flight today to Seattle, the in-flight movie was The Queen. I was happy, because I had wanted to see it but hadn't made it while it was in the theater. I thought it was quite good, except for one bizarre moment with a deer, and really enjoyed it.Except apparently Delta thinks the word God is a curse word. They bleeped it out every time. I find this quite upsetting, because no matter what your faith or lack there of, God is not a curse word. Neither is Buddha, or Allah, or Zeus, or any other deity. I don't think anyone would have been irreparably damaged by hearing the phrase 'for God and country' in this movie, considering it's a tenant of the monarchy of Great Britain. I don't get it. That Delta would waste time and money on such an unnecessary exercise.

Wasting time...

Oh, yeah, I went to a Christian college :DGacked from juweldomYou know the Bible 88%!

Addiction

For some people, it's heroin. Alcohol. Sex. Gambling.For me, it's craft stores. I should so not be allowed inside Michael's without supervision.

This week's fridayfiver

1. What did you eat yesterday? Um. Oatmeal, a Lean Cuisine meal, and a salad from Willy's Mexican Grill.2. Are you more likely to yell or give the silent treatment? Give the silent treatment, although really it's not what it sounds like. I learned how to fight from being around my mom, because she's the only person in my family who yells. And she fights dirty. So when I get mad, the first things that come to my mind are really horrible things to say, things that I don't mean but are designed to deliver maximum hurt in a minimum amount of time. I don't want to be that person, so it's better to hold it in, let myself calm down a bit, and then deal with it more constructively.3. Who did you last grieve? A woman who would completely understand why I need to edit this question. For whom did I last grieve? That would be my grandmother, who taught me how to read.4. What feels good today? It's 9:30 in the morning, it's too early for things to feel that great. :) Seriously though, I managed to install the NAS drive last night all on my own on my work computer. I had to create it as a network place before I could map the drive to see the files and the instructions so did NOT mention that as an option, so I feel quite clever for figuring it out.5. Friday fill in: Thank you ___ for ___. Thank you all for always taking the time to comment and let me know you care about the things that are happening in my life.And now I must go work out, for I have been a lazy bum this week. Later on, there will likely be updates from the car dealership - try to contain your excitement.

Previously on Beth's Journal*...

*I've been watching Grey's Anatomy all dayWhen last we left off, I was having a bad week at work, but I'd bought a house.Over the weekend, I spent four and a half hours with a home inspector having him show me every single thing that's wrong with my new house. Ugh, talk about depressing! The major thing is that the house needs a new roof. I thought this would cost about $8K. I spend the rest of the weekend talking about this, making everyone around me wish I had multiple conversation topics.Sunday, I talk to my dad. He says the majority of the stuff on the list, he can fix. So now my parents are coming to visit the first week of March, and I am going to learn how to caulk. It's all very exciting. My friend Hazel gave me a roofing contractor recommendation and the estimate? $3,400!!!! Color me relieved :D So I am trying to get the seller to pay part of it, but I ain't holding my breath.The rest of my days are filled with exciting things like appraisals and home insurance quotes, so I won't bore you with that. The hardest thing is keeping myself from buying things for the house, but I am NOT JINXING my closing.

thefridayfive

1. favorite cereal and why?Hmm. Mostly I eat Special K for diet purposes, but my favorite cereal is Cocoa Pebbles, cuz they turn the milk to chocolate milk. Yup, I'm 3.2. what is the best thing about summer?Hot summer nights and lightning bugs.3. would you rather have a slurpee or a milkshake?Milkshake. 4. If you could be a member of any band/musical group, past or present, what band would it be and why?Oh, god. I don't know. The Dandy Warhols. Because I think they probably have a fucking good time, no matter what they're doing. 5. Who is your idol? What are they famous for? I don't think I have an idol right now. Usually there's some celebrity that I have a huge crush on and am idolizing, but right now I'm pretty well based in reality - I'm too busy living my life to be hung up on anyone right now, which I think is a good thing. Previous crushes have included Eddie Izzard, John Cusack, Jon from New Kids on the Block, and, uh. Rick Springfield. (in my defense, I was five.)

Erf.

Have completely wasted the morning doing work-type things (what was I thinking?!) and now do not have time to work out before Scott home. We are going out to lunch so I need to get myself in gear... and out of my pyjamas. Now I will just have to convince myself that I can still work out this afternoon, even though I'll have already taken a shower. Even though it seems incredibly inefficient to take two showers in one day.Yup, I've got issues.

Happy New Year!

In the year 2007 I resolve to:Have at least one orgasm per hour.Get your resolution here.Hey, I won't make it, but this is one time failing would still be a lot of fun :)I'm back from the Black Hole of Technology™ - a.k.a. southwestern Missouri. I had a great Christmas with my family, very low-key. I got back to Atlanta in time to celebrate New Year's Eve with David, which was lovely. They say that whatever you do on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is what your year will be like... let's hope!Anyway, a look at 2006 in retrospect: January: I went back on the road after 6 months of working from home. February: I spent most of this month focusing on learning a new product for work. March: And then teaching other people how to install it, after two weeks of learning. Also, I started taking an online class on 'How to Get Published.' April: Went to London to visit my better half, knightette, for the first time. May: My work sent me to Dublin and to Paris, where I got to see the Catacombs and the tombs of a lot of famous dead people. June: My sister and I went to Chicago to see the Tutenkhamen exhibit and the musical 'Wicked.' Went sight-seeing in Venice Beach, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina - my first visit to South America. July: Spent the 4th at home with my family. Went for a drink at the Viper Room in L.A. August: Trained at the hotel where they filmed part of "Little Miss Sunshine." My work sent me to London, so I got to help knightette celebrate her birthday as well as meeting anatsuno. September: I took a four-week sabbatical from my job, which I spent in a language immersion program in Toulouse, France. October: Started working on a project that would keep me home for the majority of the year. David and I started dating. Saw the Scissor Sisters in concert. I decide to buy a house. November: Tamii and Deb came for a visit. I voted! Saw Death Cab for Cutie in concert. Went to England with my parents and my sister to spend Thanksgiving with Brad and Lucy. December: Started looking for a house. My parents came for a visit to help me. I don't really make New Year's resolutions... I think it's a bad idea to start out the New Year out setting oneself up for failure. I usually set myself one resolution, with the caveat that it has to be both easy and positive, but if I did this last year, I've forgotten what it was. What I do as well is make a short list of things I'd like to accomplish in the New Year. This year's list: *Finish Edinburgh and 2002 scrapbooks - done! I've got one picture I need to print and put in the 2002 scrapbook, but other than that it's done so I'm counting it. *Write a proposal for "Waiting to Fall" and send to at least 3 agents - I did write a proposal, as part of the 'How to Get Published' class I took, but I haven't sent it anywhere. *Work on abs and stomach - I didn't really do this, although I did go to the gym pretty regularly all year. *Organize iPod playlists - I know this sounds silly, but when you consider I've got 2500 songs (at least) on my iPod, it's a daunting task. I am currently at 1327. And now on to 2007!Resolution: To try to relax and not schedule every minute of every day. Goals: Buy a house. Finish 2003 scrapbook, France and England scrapbook. Finish my short story, The Sultan's Wife, and try to get it published. Finish my iPod playlist organization.