STFU (and NYE Redux)

STFU
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

Exhibit A: Before leaving for Denver I left this note. "TJ's back on the 30th (unless there's another fucking blizzard)."

Sure enough, two days before my return a flight, Denver gets its second blizzard in a week. The storm dumped close to two feet of snow at my mom's place. Frontier cancelled 30 percent of flights on Friday. I was stressing my Saturday flight big time. I made it home without any problems, but still ... I'm convinced if I hadn't written that parenthetical sentence the snow would have stayed away. Yeah ...

Exhibit B: While in Colorado, prompted by my mother's annoyance over the fact that two or three of her watches needed new batteries, I bragged that my nice watch had not needed a new battery in the four years (!) I'd had it. Sure enough, the day I left, I went to change the time and realized it had stopped ticking.

My 2007 resolution: STFU!

I have others, of course. Healthier lifestyle, more risktaking, less drama. That last one is a big one.

I don't think it's possible for this NYE to be any more ridiculously dramatic than last year's, when I learned that my fairly recent ex was dating again. And not just anyone. A really good high school friend (with whom I had hung out a few times). Who is not a gay man, but rather a woman. Who was totally lesbionic previously. That's enough of a shock to the system, but then there was the effed-up timeline of how everything ended and began, not to mention the sitcom-style (but not really funny at all) misunderstandings leading up to the actual realization that my ex boyfriend now had a girlfriend who previously had girlfriends (and all this on what would have been our fifth anniversary).

I think the most interesting thing about it all was that it made me really question my openmindedness when it comes to sexuality. I basically rolled my eyes at the idea that these two people could be truly bisexual. And talking to other people about the situation (it makes a really great brunch anecdote or icebreaker when interacting with strangers), I realized how common my new belief was. I think I'm over it, for the most part. But it was really interesting to me how quickly an idea I held changed when it touched me personally. Bisexuality in general? Sure! Of course. But with those two? Oh hell to the no! They're so ... gay.

So that's another one: I wouldn't dare pledge to be less judgmental. It's what makes me me, really. But I do want to be more willing to really consider new ideas without balking right away. And if that's not possible, at least STFU a little more often.

WTF?! Is this a joke? I am so frustrated.

An Inconvenient Truth, anyone?

What. The. Fuck.

Dear lord baby Jesus,

Please allow my flight, which is scheduled to arrive just two hours after the earliest estimated reopening of Denver International Airport, to land as planned. I will, like, totally be your BFF, OK?

Yours (unless you dis me tomorrow and then I will most definitely become a Scientologist),

T.J.

I love Christmas. On account of because of the presents. Chickity check it:

I had another of those San Francisco moments yesterday. Well, the whole day was quintessential San Francisco, from brunch with the gays to the gorgeous views from atop one of the city's innumerable crazy ass hills to drinks with the gays in the center of the gay universe.

But the real San Francisco moment began after drinks, while three of us were waiting for the old-fashioned F Market streetcar to stop taunting us and actually start moving. This seemingly normal woman approached and asked (without even saying "hi" - how rude), "What do you call a deep-fried Santa? Crispy Kringle." Then she quickly realized the word crispy didn't begin with a k, she cursed old age for stealing her ability to spell and she said something about the KKK - I'm not sure what.

At this point I wasn't sure whether she was batshit crazy or just a Berkeley-style eccentric. But once she sat down next to us on the train and started talking about her HOME PLANET of Zontar, I realized she was truly special.

She taught me many things. She taught me that there are two Zontars - Zontar 1 and Zontar 2 -- and she taught me that new pal Todd is one of the greatest straight-faced bullshitters of all time. I'm pretty good at lying to someone's face, but I was in awe of his ability to engage her in crazy talk. At one point he was doing his gay snapping and the woman, Anna, laughed and asked, "Why are you doing the castanets. Without a moment's hesitation Todd said, "I was a flamenco dancer in Buenos Aires in my last life."

Don't you know, Anna was just dying to hear all about that.

This is my new favorite video:

Kathy Griffin talks so much more smack live than on TV; it's amazing. Among the celebrities she dished on last night at the Warfield:

Star Jones - Upon being canned from "The View" she apparently told Barbara Walters, "I don't care who replaces me as long as it's not Kathy or Rosie."

Star's gay husband, Al - "He is so gay when he walks by you hear snapping."

Ryan Seacrest - "Tell that bitch he can suck it."

Clay Gaiken - "I don't know if he's gay. But I know he likes to sing Celine songs. And he likes cock."

Michael Richards - "If I were him I'd get my ass into rehab so fast. I don't care if there's no drug or alcohol problem. Make something up and get to rehab!"

She even took on Critical Mass and the crazy homeless people in SF. And she was on for a super long time - almost two hours nonstop. Kick-ass performer.

Ernie turned 30 and a veritable gaggle of adoring fans trekked to the Richmond to get him as drunk as it is possible for him to get and to keep him in front of the karaoke machine for as long as possible. The music stopped long enough for Ernie to blow out candles on two cakes (man, Ernie so old he need two damn cakes to hold all them candles - what!). Here's a video of that. Among the things to pay attention to: Something caught on fire on the cake MJ is holding. Also, who's busting out the harmony to the birfday song and showing off a strong vibrato? Oh yeah, that would be moi.

(As always, this is very dark. Deal with it.)

This is pretty freaking rad. I have no idea where the "Thomas" came from, but the East Bay Express has embraced my Silly Putty Jesus.

It's official: Babies singing about poop is HIGHLARIOUS.

Exhibit A. (The Mariah/Christina hand waving kills me.)

Exhibit B:

(Let's pretend it's 2000, shall we?)

After a long and seemingly unproductive day at work I went to a tech event thrown by the French Trade Office. The last one attracted 150 people, but 45 minutes into this one, when I walked in, about 10 people were milling about a large space near the new mall. It was bizarre and, frankly, a little smelly (cliche, I know, but really...).

After a short visit, I left with a new contact and Adriana for the St. Regis hotel, where we chatted over drinks and a cheese plate. Then, as I headed to BART to begin the increasingly annoying journey home, I realized that Stephen was working nearby, so I went to say hello. I didn't see him on the floor -- I figured he was in the back but I didn't want to be a 16-year-old and ask if he was there. I was about to leave but my mom called, which rarely happens on a weekday. I decided to stick around since I couldn't head to BART while talking. Just as I was telling mom where I was and that I hadn't seen Stephen he appeared! And, hey, he was just about to take his break.

So yay. Free coffee and conversation before heading to the East Bay.

But my good fortune didn't last. I missed the train by just a few minutes once again. How fucking annoying. WHY GOD, WHY?!

(We will now return to a series of totally impersonal entries consisting nearly entirely of embedded videos and photos.)

MJ reenacts her dad's difficulty mastering the double click. @ the Web 2.2 afterparty at Fluid.

POPOZAO!

GUBA cosponsored the first Vloggies, which went off with a few hitches but also a few fun surprises last night in SF. Among them: the attendance of uberfamous director/writing/producer Jerry Zucker. I whipped out my camera in time to capture his remarks:

Lauren is 27. TWENTY-SEVEN! That means we've been good friends for NINE years. I clearly remember checking out her brand-spankin'-new Jeep Cherokee (which would become our second home in 2004) in the senior parking lot in 1997. Oy.

Our paths had crossed in high school (I remember saying a slightly awkward goodbye freshman (?) year when I learned she was moving back to Pennsylvania ... temporarily, it turned out) but we didn't become friends until senior year. We really had no choice -- we had five classes together that year. But luckily, we meshed insanely well. Ying and yang in some ways (approach to school work, for example), really similar in others, we became super close. I think my favorite senior year memory is the first time we hung out outside of school, at a game of some sort (football?), right after her breakup with Chap. What a DOUCHE.

Lauren and I would not be as close if we hadn't lived together after freshman year at Rutgers. And, of course, the quintessential Louis St. story is when the toilet was out of commission and both (her) Ben and I had to crap. Hilarity ensued. But I'll just leave out the deets this time, thankyouverymuch.

Between then and our latest stint as roommates in Rahway, we sang along to the Dixie Chicks as we drove to Smith, where the infamous haircuts took place; I watched her take in two animals with gender-identity issues and we even shared Ben issues. During the past nine years I have been shocked by her intelligence, her compassion and her belching.

Loving who? Loving Lauren M. Duffy, ya crazy biatch!

If you missed the email or MySpace bulletin (overkill):

The creatively named GUBA Blog is live at last, so chickety check it:

blog.guba.com/tj

Funny videos, snarky writing - what's not to love? So go, pay careful attention to yesterday's entry and follow its instructions.

Danke.

I love this:



Shoeth.

The best part is 2:38, when the chick does the running man.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!1111111

Just got tickets to see Julieta Venegas play the Fillmore. Sooooo excited to bond with my rock en espanol brethren.

I'm also seeing Kathy Griffin later in the month.

Oh to be young and have disposable income!

I worked on my first promo video here this week. I'd never had any experience with any production work, but I had fun editing the script and sitting in on the shoot. I also took some behind-the-scenes clips that I'm hoping to turn into something cool for GUBA's soon-to-be-launched blog. Here's a taste of the fun we had, though. Adriana, our director of PR, is in the chair. I'm the "crazy for GUBA - blaaah" voice. And Thomas, the super nice and patient director, is the voice desperately trying to rein us in.

Jesus!

Jesus!
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

There is a lot of silly putty at the office. There also is a copy of the East Bay Express, which features Jesus on this week's cover. INSPIRATION!

People in the office were SHOCKED when I said I hadn't seen this, so I'm passing it on. It really is quite funny, especially the killing British children bit. Stupid British children.

Another reason to love the new office:

During this morning's BART ride my eye was itchy and my nose become super congested. Allergies? Beginnings of a cold? Doesn't matter. Upon entering the office I walked straight to the kitchen, opened the first aid cabinet and found both allergy pills and Airborne. DON'T MESS WITH ME, SNIFFLE MONSTER.

OK, my mini-obsession with the former "Voice of an Angel," Charlotte Church, continues. Here are two other examples of her duets with hot pop/rock acts. I LOVE both of these songs (especially the first one) yet had never heard of them or the bands before. And I have to say, the addition of Char doesn't hurt the songs at all. Remarkable, that.



And this one also is a good example of the tone of her chat show overall (well, from what I've seen).

I dig Nelly Furtado's cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," which made the rounds a few months back. So I was psyched to find a TV performance, but it's a duet. With Charlotte Church!? Who, apparently, is now 20 and a bad-ass with a husky (!!!) chest voice, a foul mouth and her own variety show in the U.K. That, my friends, is crazy.

GUBA's Tech Circus

GUBA's Tech Circus
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

Second week on the job and we're already throwing a party. Mmmm, free drinks. I like.

Anyone wanna go? Just let me know!

My new favorite thing ever:

Hell to the No

Image002.jpg
Originally uploaded by Furry Li'l Fucker.

This is what happens when you pull out a camera without my permission. That look has served me well since childhood.

Work is going pretty well. I'm still not completely set as far as equipment, software, etc. go, but I scored me a good chair, brought in my first framed photo (loving who?) and I ain't complaining about the daily catered lunch or kitchen full o' snacks. Pistachios. Mmmmm...

So, speaking of work, I have a question for youse: It drives me crazy when an embedded video on a webpage I visit starts playing automatically. For example, when I go to a Myspace page and a Youtube video is among the comments, I have to hit play for the video to load. Some other videos, though (cough see below cough), start playing automatically. Does that bother you too? Leave a comment or email me (anything at tjdegroat dot com).

Merci.

Just another day at my mom's house in Colorado:

Do You Guba?

Do You Guba?
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

You should. Because I'm heading to the big G, an old fashioned San Francisco dot-com. Bring on the stock options and the mid-afternoon ping pong!

Creepy: Waking up in Manhattan on Sept. 11 to an extraordinary number of honking cars and the wail of a fire truck siren.

Creepier: Looking at a clock and seeing 9:11 a.m.

Anyway, I'm peacing out this afternoon, after 12 days in the NYC area. Back to the Berk and a cool new opportunity.

Twenty-one years of my life were spent just outside of Manhattan and the only celebrity I saw was Matthew Broderick, outside the theater where "How To Succeed In Business..." was playing. (My friend's mom had taken us to see "Les Miz" and when she realized the dude in full-on cycling attire stepping through the door was Broderick, this middle-aged woman screamed: "We love you Ferris!"

Anyway, 21 years with just the one sighting, but within an hour of being in NYC I've not only seen Brad Gilbert (a former top tennis player, Andre Agassi's former coach and current coach of Scotland's Andy Murray) but I'm currently sitting at the table next to him, totally eavesdropping (hee hee, he said "fuck"). And trying desperately to get a cameraphone photo without being totally obvious. Alas, I think I'm too close to him to snap that pitcha.

Edit: Brad just said "morning" to someone who walked in looking all sporty. Perhaps a player or coach? I'll try to get a better look. This is ace reporter TJD signing off.

I just jaywalked in front of two police officers. I didn't notice them until I was about halfway across the street. As soon as I spotted them I looked down, as if my not being able to see them meant they couldn't see me. But they could. Every time I glanced up I locked eyes with one guy who could. not. believe. that I was continuing to walk toward him. (It wasn't a particularly safe place to jaywalk -- not only because it was right in front of an Oakland police building but also because it was a street used as a freeway offramp.)

As I approached the two men in blue I said, "Sorry, guys. I'm from the East Coast. That's just how we roll, yo."

Not really. I actually mumbled a soft "sorry" and looked at them all earnestly and lied, "I'm late for a job interview. I really have to run."

They nodded me away, the disgusted look still on their faces.

What a douche that Napoli is. (Via Robycakes)

Here's the thing: I can't really write much about what really matters. A few veiled references, maybe, but nothing substantive. Maybe at the end of the year I'll become really reflective and pound out a tome about the good, the bad and the motherfucking ugly of 2006. But right now I still feel like most of what I'd like to say would either hurt/offend people or just make everything super awkward.

So what to use this SIX-YEAR-OLD blog for? Well, lots of little photo entries. Those are fun. An occasional meme. And right now, a little list. I was listening to music that reminded me of a friend and I started thinking about some of my favorite memories of her. So here's a handful of 'em. I think I'll do it for all of my peeps. But right now, five of my favorite moments with Allison:

1. Driving to Spring Valley (or somewhere near there) with Alli, Larissa and someone else (can't remember) to pick up alcohol for Allison's big hotel party during the second half of senior year (of high school). It was my first such soiree and it was fun. And eventful. Before staying up all night talking to Eileen and Jason, I talked lots of smack about a close friend, who heard all about it. A mostly silent but super dramatic war began and lasted the rest of the spring and beyond. But back to the drive to Spring Valley, I think that was when I realized Alli and I had become close.

2. Fifth grade! There's not one particular moment, but this was when I first met Allison. We weren't friends. I had only two friends, really. It was a terrible year. Good in a lot of ways, in retrospect. I spent just that one year in Upper Saddle River. It was seven years later when Allison and I really became good friends.

3. New Year's Eve, 2003. I had just moved back to NJ. My teary goodbye at Oakland Airport was still in my head as I walked around the roof of Alli's apartment with a bunch of old friends, eyeing the TV in the gym to find out when, exactly, to run around shouting "Happy New Year." I was back, spending the big night in The City (the only one) with my favorite people, but after three consecutive NYEs with Ben, it was a rollercoaster of a night.

4. New Year's Day, 2005. Back with Ben, we, along with Lauren and Alli, had done the Times Square thing. It was one of two perfect NYEs with him (the other three were spent at Minna with Terri, in a fight at our apartment, and in the midst of the strangest moments of my life in Berkeley). The best part of that trip, though, was waiting around to get into a fabulous brunch place on New Year's Day. Waiting on the stairs with Angela and Bryan, eating the best bacon ever, chillin' with my favorite ladies.

5. Rent (the movie) during one of my last days in NYC before moving back to the Barea at the end of last year. It was November, the scent of burning wood was in the air. I met Alli and Lauren up by Columbia, an area I had not really explored, for the perfect NYC diner meal and a movie that all of us were so geekily connected to.

Fin.

Dear Sally,

I just busted out a "hellbitches 10,000." Not 2,000, but TEN THOUSAND! Why? I downed one too many graham crackers and felt a little bloated.

Love,
Felicity

(And so ends a post no one will understand or find funny except one Sue Logris. Suck on that, Internets!)

Kelly Singing Breakaway 10 Feet in Front of Me

Kelly Singing Breakaway 10 Feet in Front of Me
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

She surprised the audience by coming out to perform Breakaway and the beginning of Since U Been Gone. Where did she wind up? TEN FEET IN FRONT OF ME. The best part: the two snarky gay dudes sitting next to us missed the whole thing. Right before this she did a new song, so they scooted past us saying something to the effect of "new song, eh, time to hit to bar." Fast forward three minutes. Hahahaha. Suckas.

The highlights of the show: Kelly was in great voice, the people watching - from the little girls in their homemade shirts to the bitchy gaybois - was first-rate, and Kelly covered a Marc Broussard song, which Ernie and I thought was pretty damn cool.

Here's Ernie's dead-on description of the night.

And here's a video of Because of You - courtesy of my little camera, which previously had only filmed baby cousins crawling around the room.

And here's a snippet of Breakaway, sung, once again, TEN FEET AWAY FROM ME.

Genius

Genius
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

I think everyone I know should either create their own adult middle-school yearbook photo or recruit someone to make one for them. I'mma start it off this weekend.

(Or not. I'm quite fickle and lazy. But really, I think this is ace!)

Saw The Fray last night at the Fillmore. They are greeeeat live. Sort of Ben Folds meets Coldplay. The lead singer has a fantastic voice and the lead guitarist, who also sings really well, is HOT. Alas, I think the drummer might be retarded (and by retarded, I do not mean gay).

The highlight, though, was nonmusical. After the singer of the opening band, Augustana, announced that the bassist was Asian, a girl walking in front of me and my friend Pha looked at Pha, who is Hmong, threw up her hand for a high five and said, "YEAH ASIAN!"

"That's the first time I've ever gotten props for being Asian," a laughing Pha said.

That is sooooo going to be our new greeting.

Goodbye my precious little angel. You will be missed.



Kisses.

Yes, that's right, I think I shall be attending the prom.

On a related note: Have you seen that episode of Sex and the City in which Carrie attends some homo hop prom with Stanford after he finds out that his beloved boyfriend was an escort in a past life. The music, the reconciliation, the dancing by herself. It made me tear up the first (few) time(s) I watched it. Love.

I'm in Colorado, visiting the fam. On the drive from the airport, I learned that a man broke into my uncle's house. When he and his wife went downstairs at 2 a.m. to investigate a noise, they found a middle-aged man just standing, frozen, in the middle of the living room. They freaked, screaming at him and ordering him to leave. He just stood there. CREEPY.

My uncle finally dragged him out of the house and he ran to a car. The next day they found out that he'd done the same thing to some neighbors. It turns out that the guy's wife recently left him, setting him off. Now totally bonkers, he breaks into people's houses looking for her. CREEPY.

Free public transportation coupled with freakisly warm and fogless conditions along the coast made this the perfect day to head to Ocean Beach. I told my roommate I was going and she asked if I had sunscreen. I totally lied to her, as if she were my mother. "Uh ... yeah!" I said, rather unconvincingly. Next thing you know I'll be grabbing a $20 bill from her lady purse.

A couple of months ago I did something truly crazy: I bought pre-ripped designer jeans.

Here's the thing. When I shop, I don't like to buy just one thing. I feel like if there's not more than one item I covet, I shouldn't whip out my check card. So I was at Macy's and I finally found a denim jacket, something I'd been looking for for ages (and subsequently have decided is not that great -- boo), but I couldn't find anything else I wanted ... until I strolled into the super trendy young men's section and spotted 65 percent-off jeans. The only problem: the holes! Still, I bought them, mostly so I could get the jacket. And I'll tell you something: Holy jeans are really nice on hot days like today. A nice breeze up your drawers will cool ya down. For reals.

Also, on a related note, I never thought I'd be a flip-flop person, but I totally am becoming one. Look what California is doing to me.

The two days were completely different. Wednesday was doomed from the start. I was awake at 5 a.m. to make it to the airport for a one-night cross-country trip I didn't want to take -- and didn't think I'd have to take! But alas, there I was, on a nightmare Delta flight that was delayed at SFO for more than an hour for the most insane reason: There was a backup at the check-in counter. WTF? I was on the plane on time, a full 30 minutes before it was to depart, but had to sit there for an extra hour as passengers slowly trickled in. The atmosphere was super tense because a dozen people wound up missing international connections in New York. Boo. (Also, as much as it pains me to admit this, I left my ipod on the plane -- FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A YEAR. Please shut the hell up about it.)

The delay meant I had to haul ass to the rental center and immediately book it to Westchester County, fighting rush-hour traffic. I arrived one minute before the meeting started (at 7 p.m.) and wasn't even given a chance to eat or put my things in my room. Instead, I sat for three and a half hours -- after sitting on a plane for eight hours and in a car for another hour and a half.

After the meeting, my only food option was a $20 lunch box (read: sandwich and snack). Then, finally in my room, I tried to get online to do work but my company email denies access after a certain hour. I was SOL.

The next day was fabulous, though. Free buffet breakfast, made it online to get a few things done, got to see a good friend, had a traffic-free drive to JFK (despite warnings that the U.S. Open would screw me), expensed some airplane grub and had an entire row to myself on a Song plane, which I loved. The first flight was in some Soviet-era contraption with crazy shaking TV sets screwed to the ceiling. The Song plane, on the other hand, had leather seats with more leg room and even better TV screens than Jetblue. These are touch screens that allow you to watch free TV, pay for new movies or listen to free radio (Sounds Eclectic even) and CDs. Love, love, loves it. Song even serves signature drinks, such as a mojito. Cool, no?

Anyway, I'm back in the Berk and am desperately trying to finish up a couple of stories and make it to a booze-filled weekend. Good times.

Stolen from Tim:

Sort of. I saw this a little while ago and thought about snatching it but these questions are all so hard. There is a constant soundtrack in my head so I always have loads of songs that remind me of certain things and people. Anyway, with nothing new here in a while and no desire to write about the CRAZY changes I'm in the midst of, this will have to do:

Name a song....

...that reminds you of an ex:
"Both Hands" by Ani DiFranco and "These Are Days" by 10,000 Maniacs.

...that makes you cry:
There's no song that typically makes me cry, but one that could if I were in the right mood is "Baby Hold On" by Dixie Chicks, even though it's really about having trouble conceiving.

...that reminds you of your childhood:
"Gloria" by Laura Branigan. Reminds me of the local bar (not even kidding).

...that reminds you of high school:
So many! Let's go with two: Paula Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" and Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" simply because these were played on the radio every five minutes when I first got my license and started driving around aimlessly ... because I could.

...that mirrors you too closely:
"You and I Both" by Jason Mraz

...that makes you laugh:
"My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada" from Avenue Q

...that will always get you up to dance:
These days it's the MTV Unplugged version of "Suenos" by Diego Torres.

...that you used to hate, but now love:
"Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani. I thought it was redunkulous but it really grew on me. It helps that I don't hear it every five minutes now. Damn you, Z100.

...that you love but wouldn't know of if it weren't for a friend:
"And Then You Kissed Me" by The Cardigans. Thanks, Tim!

...that you like from your parents' collection:
My mom tends to like the Top 40 stuff that I like. Also, I'm one of the only people who buys her CDs (she certainly doesn't buy her own). Let's go with "Let Go" by Frou Frou, which is on the Garden State soundtrack I gave her when she moved from NJ to Colorado and which was in her car CD player for ages.

...that makes you think of sex:
"Breathe on Me" by Britney Spears

...that is your anthem:
"Me Voy" by Julieta Venegas

...that is your ultimate love song:
"Runaway" by The Corrs

...that reminds you of something nasty:
"Gasolina" by Daddy Yankee

...that reminds you of a break-up:
"Who Knew" by Pink. The new break-up anthem.

...that makes you think of your friends:
"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson

...that is held between you and a friend:
The theme song to Roundhouse, a weird Nickelodeon show from the early '90s. Love you, sugar booger!

...that would be your choice for a national anthem:
Uh ... I have no freaking idea. How about "I Hope" by Dixie Chicks. Because.

...that changed your life in some pragmatic way:
In a pragmatic way? OK, let's go with "Before the Goodbye" by Britney Spears.

Pantoll Hike

Sausalito, Tiburon, East Bay
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

A true comedy of errors. First, we went to a spot in Ross that had a crazy small parking lot, so we headed south toward Mt. Tam. The second spot was lovely, but a 4.4-mile hike turned into a 7- or 8-mile trip complete with 3 miles of wrong turns and uphill backtracking. We made bad decisions to the very end. By the time we reached the car, my feet were dead, my calves were tight and as soon as I sat down in the car my stomach went crazy. I was "hecka" naseous all the way. After an hour in a coma, I got up and was fine, but I was quite worried for a while.

Lessons learned: Always buy the map, always have a backup and never go more than 6 miles or so.

I just interviewed the president and CEO of of the U.S. division of a large company about corporate America's responsibility to fund education initiatives and it went well -- he was nice and pretty quoteable. At the end of the call he said, "I'm looking at a photo of my two-year-old grandson ... " and I thought he was going to go all Whitney on me: "The children are our future ... must educate ... blah blah." But instead he said, "His name is T.J. He's in great company with you."

How cute?

(Snip snip ... yeah, that was dumb.)

Great. Just great. As if pushing me into an on-again, off-again love affair with America's Next Top Model (I loves me some Joanie) isn't bad enough, now I'm downloading episodes of BB UK. But, oy, searching mininova brings up like three shows a day. Those Brits sure love their imploding drama queens (I need bottled WATAH!).

Baby Boom

Baby Boom
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

After a two-year period that saw all of my mother's siblings have babies (for a total of five), Eileen has become the first of my high school friends to give birth. This is Isabel. Cute, right?

But jeez! We're old enough to get married and have kids? What the hump?! I guess this is fine -- Isabel is OK -- but no one else can have babies for several years! You hear me, punks?

Last night, as I approached BART, I realized I had forgotten my iPod. WHY GOD WHY?! I thought to myself. I lowered my head and whined for a bit because, seriously, I'm never without those wonderful voices in my head. But later, as I was walking around downtown Berkeley, I realized how nice it was to hear cars passing by, people laughing, crosswalk signs beeping.

I always knew how closed-off I seemed, with my serious facial expression and my headphones in my ears. It's nice to open oneself up to the world every once in a while, expecially one as bizarre and interesting as the Berk.

At Starbucks, I was doing what I do (namely, staring inappropriately at others), when I was interrupted by a barista offering samples of some breakfast sandwich. I passed (eggs, yuck) but watched as she offered mini-sandwiches to everyone else. One guy, sitting across the store, raised his arms when she came by. Both were prosthetics with hooks. She put one down for him instead of having him grab it, as the others did. I was curious about how he would eat it, so I tried to discreetly watch. The effort it took to get that sandwich out of the small paper cup literally (literally!) made me tear up.

WTF? (Or as I might say to those who know, what the hump mutter mutter?)

I listed Julieta Venegas, whom I discovered last year while watching MTV's Spanish-language video channel, among my top 15 artists a few posts back. Well, I have to amend that post as I have a new favorite song: "Me Voy." I first heard the song, the first single from her upcoming CD, "Limon y sal," a few weeks ago and, frankly, wasn't super impressed. But after a couple of subsequent listens, I fell in love with it. And the video! Absolutely charming -- precioso, como escribi en su myspace, de verdad -- and beautiful, totally matching the spirit of the song, which is about a breakup but is also decidedly optimistic.

I love the beginning of the chorus for two reasons: It sounds so beautiful in Spanish (the rhythm, the rhyming of merezco and por eso) and is so touching in meaning. "No voy a llorar y decir que no merezco esto porque es probable que lo merezco pero no lo quiero por eso me voy" translates as "I'm not going to cry and tell you I don't deserve this because I probably do deserve this but I don't want it and that's why I'm leaving."

I don't know. I just love that.

Check out el video:

Standing in line at the Espresso Roma in Northbrae, just after a woman came dangerously close to cutting in front of me and a few others to join her friends, who were paying (she backed off when we made eye contact -- I was obscenely wide-eyed), I overheard another woman telling someone the cheesepuff she had just purchased was for her dog. "Oh, yeah, he eats everything humans eat," she said matter-of-factly. "All organic and free-range. I guess this is a little treat. It's not very healthy."

Then I squinted, raised my right arm, and discreetly squished her head.

Something you don't want to hear people working on your house say to each other: "You are an IDIOT!"

Scary coming from the people who mistakenly began knocking down a beam the supports one corner of the house.

Thank God Almighty, Spring At Last

Arboreal
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

Four random memories dredged up during the sweaty walk from Shattuck through the Berkeley campus to Café Strada:

My first day at Rutgers: After dropping off my bags at my dorm, mom, Earl and I drove back over the river to explore downtown New Brunswick and the College Ave. campus a bit. I remember being impressed by the cobblestones and freaked out by the prospect of living with some random dude. The real memory revolved around parking on a side street off of College Ave. and trying to cut through a building next to the Theological Seminary, which is affiliated with but not technically part of Rutgers. This was a library of sorts (I don't think I ever stepped foot in that building again in my four years on the banks) and we were immediately reprimanded and forced to go back and around to College.

Nearly a year later, I randomly received two tickets to a Cranberries concert, I think from Stephanie. No one wanted to go with me, so I mentioned it to Kris, with whom I had been exchanging emails and maybe one or two phone calls during the previous two months. I totally mentioned it in the hopes that he would volunteer to go without me having to ask. Mission accomplished. Thus began one of the most bizarre but interesting friendships of my (not so short) life.

Standing on the corner of Sixth and Mission in San Francisco, a really seedy area, I was early for an interview at Greatschools.net. It was just a few days after landing in Oakland for my pre-move summer in the Barea, way the hell back in the summer of 2001, when everything was possible and on track. I was dressed up and realized as I was talking to Lauren (I think) that the prostitutes on the corner across the street thought I was looking for action. I took off.

Finally, sophomore year at Rutgers, fall of 2000, I was at Menlo Park Mall with Kris when I got a call from Melissa. I don't know if she was early or if I had lost track of time, but I needed to haul ass back to the Louis St. apartment to meet her. She was visiting from UConn, which stole her away from me that summer. I was actually visiting her in Rhode Island when she got the call offering her all sorts of perks to join their track team. That night in NB was bizarre because I was leaving this guy with whom there were some definite sparks to hang out with this girl with whom there had been definite sparks. I'm happy that I remain in touch with both.

There are 1,000 things on YouTube I want to post, but I restrain myself. So what is fabulous enough to join the ranks of Jesse Spano's techno freakout? Ms. Sarah Silverman. "I wish the retarded could be resmarted." Her show is going to kick ass.

Flashback to 1995: Just saw a guy with a walkman clipped to his back pocket and making a call ... on a pay phone.



In other news, I am embarrassingly excited to have secured tickets for Kelly Clarkson's Addicted tour. I almost had a heart attack when I realized I had not received my text message reminding me tickets had gone on sale. Hellbitches! Anyway, I got me some seats after selling my future children to pay for Ticketmaster's ridiculously exorbitant service fees.

I saw Kelly last year at NJPAC (her first of 13,452 tours supporting this album) and she was really, really good, totally on point and vocally stronger than even I expected. Can't wait to see her at Shoreline, with fellow pop-culture junkie and future roommate in the dormatory in Hell, Ernie.

From Ernie:

Get the Top 15 artists from my Last.fm page (or in my case, my iTunes playlist) ... The first song I heard by the artist, the song that made me fall in love with them and my current favorite song:

1. Alexz Johnson (sigh: star of Canadian show for teenagers BUT A REALLY GOOD SINGER.)
First song: 24 Hours
Fell in love with: Let Me Fall
Current fave: 24 Hours

(Alexz with a Z! -- Gayest sentence ever.)

2. The Fray
First song: Over My Head
Fell in love with: Over My Head
Current fave: How to Save a Life

3. Kelly Clarkson
First song: A Moment Like This
Fell in love with: Just Missed the Train
Current fave: Gone

4. Carrie Underwood (how did that happen???)
First song: Some Hearts
Fell in love with: Some Hearts (I guess)
Current fave: Some Hearts

5. Julieta Venegas
First song: Algo Esta Cambiando
Fell in love with: Lento
Current fave: Lento

6. El Canto del Loco
First song: Puede Ser
Fell in love with: La Madre de Jose
Current fave: Puede Ser solo version

7. Dar Williams
First song: What Do You Hear in These Sounds?
Fell in love with: Iowa
Current fave: Echoes

8. Shakira
First song: Donde Estan Los Ladrones?
Fell in love with: Ojos Asi
Current fave: Dia Especial

9. Ben Folds
First song: Brick
Fell in love with: Brick
Current fave: Zak and Sara

10. Gwen Stefani/No Doubt
First song: I'm Just a Girl
Fell in love with: Don't Speak
Current fave: Cool

11. Rufus Wainwright
First song: April Fools
Fell in love with: In My Arms
Current fave: Poses

12. Jamie Cullum
First song: Get Your Way
Fell in love with: Catch the Sun
Current fave: Catch the Sun

13. La Oreja de Van Gogh
First song: Puede Ser
Fell in love with: 20 de Enero
Current fave: 20 de Enero

14. Lisa Loeb
First Song: Stay
Fell in love with: Alone
Current fave: Garden of Delights

15. Jason Mraz
First song: The Remedy
Fell in love with: You and I Both
Current fave: Geek in the Pink

Muir Woods

Muir Woods
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

I turned 26 (GASP) this weekend. To celebrate teejaymas, Mom and I went to Muir Woods. Also on the agenda this weekend: Muir Beach Overlook, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Beach Chalet and Lap-POP. After a four-day weekend, I'm back at my desk tomorrow. LE HUGEST SIGH EVAR (as the kids say).

I have nothing to say, but I'm slightly disgusted by the previous post and I want to push it down the page, so here's what I'm working on right now: a Web story about Wal-Mart's decision to publish EEO data on its Web site, a Web story about how shareholder resolutions can push companies toward more inclusive policies and a magazine feature on how corporate America has advanced gay rights through inclusive policies such as including sexual orientation in nondiscrimination policies and offering domestic-partner benefits and why if companies don't continue protecting gay workers, the entire movement could grind to a halt. That's in addition to 17,890 other things, of course.

DO YOU LOVE IT?

A few days ago my roommate mentioned how impressed people are when she tells them she lives with a journalist. (Incidentally, she works in retail but her photography career has gone from zero to 60 in a couple of months.)

I kind of got off on that. But then I went back to work on a story that was kicking my ass and my shoulders slumped. Sure, it's impressive, because it's annoying and difficult most of the time.

My main issue: I am a perfectionist, albeit a slightly lazy one. And I hate the editing process because I hate being told to change things or that some sections of my stories are weak. I really do not enjoy having to revisit a piece, which is quite common and necessary for magazine features. BUT, two things: 1) I almost always can identify weak sections or problem areas before receiving comments, showing that I'm very intuitive but just lazy and 2) it actually is nice getting feedback that helps you create a better story.

I understand that editing is key to creating a good story and making someone a better writer. But still ...

Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of my on-again, off-again love affair with Blogger (which actually included a trip to Ev's apartment in Noe Valley for an interview -- damn it!). Here's a link to the first entry. Read and mock. That's what Jesus would do.

Speaking of Jesus, teejaymas 2006 is quickly approaching. Not so sure what I think about that!

Answers to questions I've been asked lately:

1. A tenor. Really, a baritone, but that's usually not an option.

2. Pretty good, actually. I mean, every once in a while I gag a little bit when I think about certain things, but other than that, everything's great, all things considered.

3. I'm still kind of ambivalent. Things have gotten a little more interesting in the last few days, but I'm still not sure. If nothing else, I've got a new good friend, you know?

4. Ugh. Same as seven months ago, when I made the big decision. It goes from being a total nightmare to great to OK. But would anything else be any better?

5. Me? I'm not a bitch, YOU'RE a bitch, bitch.

Ha! Finally I get in on the Yahoo! Mail beta -- about five minutes after paying for the upgrade to Yahoo! Mail Plus. Coincidence? I think not. It really is sweet, though -- a lot like Outlook Web Access. Gmail can eat it.

Here's a blast from the past (stat logs bring up old memories!), February 2000 to be exact. That was the Targum/Kris/Louis St. era, pre-Ben, pre-internship, pre-blog (just barely -- oh yeah, I think the blog is is about to turn six) even pre-Snickers, I think.

Anyway, here is my little personal photo project (taken with my big Christmas gift that year, my first digital camera) documenting my typical walk to class and work during the spring semester of my sophomore year at Rutgers:

The apartment @ Louis Street Leaving said apartment, normally I shield my eyes from evil sunlight as soon as I open the front door. Big photo! Click!

Louis Street Make a right and head down Louis Street, toward Hamilton Street. Big photo! Click!

Ale 'n 'wich Continue around the corner of Louis and Hamilton, passing Ale 'n 'wich. Big photo! Click!

Hamilton Street Walk down the ugly (uglier) section of Hamilton Street, past the cleverly-named Ta-Ta's Pizza and White Lotus Futon. Big photo! Click!

Hamilton and Easton Continue through the intersection of Hamilton Street and Easton Avenue. Big photo! Click!

Easton Avenue The section of Easton Avenue, heading toward George Street and the downtown area, is where the majority of bars, restaurants and stores frequented by the college kids are. Big photo! Click!

Hamilton - College Ave. Keep walking down Hamilton, onto the beginnings of official University property. Big photo! Click!

Frat Row A left onto Union Street would lead toward the raucus fun of Frat Row. Big photo! Click!

Old Queens After crossing College Avenue, Old Queens Campus, which houses a lot of administrative buildings, will be on the right. Big photo! Click!

Old Queens Gate Old Queens is the original Rutgers Campus. The school was originally called Queens College when it was founded in 1766. It's definitely the most beautiful part of Rutgers. Big photo! Click!

Vorhees Mall Across the street from Old Queens is Vorhees Mall, where all of the academic buildings on the College Avenue campus are. It's a huge, beautiful lawn with paths, the buildings lay along the perimeter. Big photo! Click!

Scott Hall My class, Theater Appreciation, was in the lecture hall at Scott, one of the Vorhees buildings. Big photo! Click!

Murray Murray Hall is across from Scott, and to the left of the Art History Library. Most of the English and Comparative Lit. classes are in this building. Big photo! Click!

Silent Willie From class, it's usually time to head to Targum ... I walk across Vorhees Mall and past Silent Willie, named so because legend has it he whistles at all virgins who pass, but at Rutgers the population is full of sluts. Big photo! Click!

College Avenue Make a left out of Vorhees Mall and a right onto College Avenue, where Frats and churches coexist, peacefully? Big photo! Click!

RSC The Rutgers Student Center is on the left. The Targum's offices are on the third floor, in an annoyingly small suite that doesn't fit our needs. Big photo! Click!

Not a good start to the week. My cable modem (which also affects my phone line) was down this morning (just for a few minutes, but still) for the second time in a week and I accidentally sprinkled garlic powder in my oatmeal instead of cinnamon. Let's hope I got all of the nastiness out of the way first thing.

Here's a little advice: If your good friend and date for the night comes to your place and says something like, "Yeah, let's go to the movie! We just need to make one little stop to pick up some Gas X and Pepcid AC," just say NO. Show him or her to the door immediately. If you're feeling very nice, point the poor fool toward a drugstore, but do not go with.

I did that last night, going with Jen to 7-11, where she picked up some goodies and told me a really cute story about her friend's IBS. Then we went to the movies (Failure to Launch, very good, I thought). No!

About halfway through she got up to go to the bathroom. I thought it was just a girl-bladder issue. But when she came back in and was rubbing her stomach, I thought I realized what was up. Two burps with in the next five minutes confirmed my fears. Once again, she jumped up and headed out. Ten minutes later, she returned, only to tell me she needed to haul ass out of there because she was sick. Did I want to stay and watch sexy Mr. McConaughey and lovely Ms. Parker or go with?

It was like Sophie's Choice. I didn't want to miss the movie. I also didn't want to force Jen to drive me north before she headed south. And I certainly didn't want to risk being in such a confined space in case of some sort of ... gaseous explosion. But I also didn't want to deal with finding my own way home from Freeway Central.

So I stayed. And, long story short, wound up sitting in the freezing cold for an hour and 15 minutes waiting for a cab because potential rides were MIA and drunk and the Go-Round bus had stopped running (at 10 p.m. on a Friday. WTF?)

This, added to my late-night BART battle a month and a half ago, makes the score: Bay Area public transportation, 2; TJ, 0. Of course, if I were living in SF and dealing that evil beast Muni every day, the tally likely would be much higher, so I can't complain too much.

How's this for pathetic? I was so into Project Runway that I need to decompress for a while before trying to go to bed -- I was so amped for tonight's finale (and I love, love, love Chloe). Hey, at least I admit (and celebrate) my ridiculousness.

Memo to Berkeley residents: I understand that walking around with a cane might make you feel older than you are, but using a gigantic ski pole-like walking stick makes you look INSANE.

A few weeks ago, I saw two people walking toward Berkeley High (so, right downtown) with these urban ski poles and camelbaks. As Meredith Grey might ask, seriously? Seriously?!

"Jessie's Song" = GENIUS! (Thanks, Robyn)



I'm of a certain age, an age that heard Dustin Diamond died of an overdose, that will laugh until tears start flowing when someone does "the sprain," mentions the possibility of getting a 1502 on the SAT and certainly when someone shrieks, "I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm so ... scared!"

Wow. There was an earthquake this morning a few miles west of here. I totally felt it but didn't realize what it was until I saw this story half a day later. Just like the last time, I assumed the noise and shaking was some major wind rattling open windows or something. As much of a threat as "the big one" is, earthquakes seem to be way in the back of my mind.

Edit: Another earthquake at 10:10 p.m. WTF?

Starfish

Starfish 4
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

Crazy tide pool action in Moss Beach today. Also on the agenda: Lunch in Half Moon Bay, a drive to Santa Cruz and dinner (Thai, even) in Palo Alto. Good times.

Three things:

1. Sue Logris is dead to me. ¡Muerta!

2. I am so mourning the loss of this long weekend. Please, dear God, allow me to wake up in some sort of time warp, a la Groundhog Day.

3. Take this article, flip it, turn it 180 degrees, and there I am.

Hmmm. That is some clever self-spoiling, sir. I wonder ...

What am I gonna do when my girls are gone? Lauren (or should I say Sue?), you knowhaImsayin', right?

Let's rewind four years. Valentine's Day 2002 was a rough but sweet one for me. I was still a baby at 21 and was spending the actual day with someone I loved for the first time (the previous year things were long distance). I also was flat broke. No joke, I could have demanded that the homeless people accosting passersby for change actually help me out.

Anyway, I had finally landed a freelance gig and was able to save about 20 bucks for the big day. I was so pitiful! I typed out a budget in Notepad, as if I were putting together some fabulous soiree. Reality: I was buying delicious honey wheat bread from Einstein's, the divine sandwich shop in Inner Sunset (that, seemingly out of nowhere, went out of business), some deli meat and sprouts from Safeway, some drinks and some Kettle chips, I think. Thanks to the Safeway card and the choice of day-old instead of super fresh bread, I came in under budget.

Oh, I also put together a little basket of candles and other goodies ... thanks to my mother's Express card. Yup, I had a card linked to her Express account so I could do some shopping at Structure, the sibling store, while at Rutgers. I saved that sucker and realized during my early, unemployed days in SF that I could use it at Bath & Body Works, which offered sweet-smelling candles in addition to lotions and potions. I may have been dining on potatoes and PB&J, but at least my room smelled lovely.

Four years later, I gotta say, love would be nice, but at least I got me some money!

Le super sigh.

This is the unluckiest lucky woman in the world. Seriously, what's the point of watching now? An Olympics without Michelle Kwan is like a forrest without trees: confusing!

I feel kind of guilty. This all went down as I was calling Sasha Cohen a whore at the Flickr Turns 2 soiree. Did my words mame Ms. Kwan? My bad.

Things that are trippin' me out today:

1. Kelly Clarkson, two-time Grammy winner. Loves it.

2. Yet another 70 degree, sunny day in February.

3. The Olympics? Already? WTF?

4 . "I was only six months pregnant and I went to the restroom and the baby is in the toilet."

Ben made me do it.

Four jobs I’ve had:

1. "Senior" journalist, the magazine (Google is a biatch)
2. Data-entry/IT assistant, California Pacific Medical Center
3. Online editorial intern, San Francisco Bay Guardian
4. Campus editor, The Daily Targum (Rutgers)

Four movies I can watch (and have watched) over and over:

1. 13 Going on 30
2. L'auberge espagnol
3. Sixteen Candles
4. The Sweetest Thing

Four places I’ve lived:

1. Middletown, NY
2. Upper Saddle River, NJ
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Berkeley, CA

Four TV Shows I love:

1. Gilmore Girls (Lorelai + TJ foreva)
2. Grey's Anatomy (I heart McDreamy)
3. Project Runway (Heidi is the new Tyra)
4. Globetrekker (Where in the world is Justine Shapiro?)

Four places I’ve vacationed:

1. Long Beach Island, NJ
2. Los Angeles
3. Daytona Beach, FL
4. Montreal

Four of my favorite dishes:

1. Chicken parmesan
2. Chicken tikka masala
3. Chard/kale puree
4. Cake

Four sites I visit daily:

(You lazy biatches can find the links yourselves)

1. Flickr
2. Yahoo! News
3. Craigslist
4. Kelly Clarkson Express (Sadly, this is not a joke)

Four places I would rather be right now (but just for a little while):

1. The deck of an ocean-front house on LBI
2. LA, getting ready for Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party
3. Hanging out with baby counsins in NJ and Colorado
4. In bed, watching a new episode of The L Word on my laptop

Four bloggers I’m tagging:

(There are four people who haven't done this already?)

1. Lauren
2. Terri
3. Tim
4. Rosie O'Donnell

WHY? Why would God send me a nasty sore throat the minute I finished my work on Friday. Why not Wednesday?!

I had made plans, so I left the house around dinner time and slowly but surely I got worse and worse (and drunker and drunker). When I got out of the car around 1:30, I was shivering to the point where I couldn't walk straight and my throat was nasty. Sleep did nothing to help. But my roommate handed me three nasty, smelly supplements, so those have to help, right?

It's gonna be one of those days (quick, someone bring me some cheese).

After two months of hot floor-mattress action, I now own a bed frame. It was cheap and it matches my other bedroom furniture perfectly. But it's from IKEA. And now I have to put that bitch together. I love/hate you, IKEA.

Update: Holy mother of Christ, IKEA is going to be the death of me.

Wowza. The last five minutes of Gilmore Girls: Classic. BUT, if Rory is preggers, I will seriously question my loyalty to the show. A little tip: If you're going to go with a cliched story line, make Logan gay. That would be much more enjoyable for me. YaknowI'msayin'?

New Phone

New Phone
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

Loving who? Loving you, you beautiful blue Razr. Which I almost didn't get, btw. I missed the DHL guy by five minutes. I called the 800 number and after some begging and pleading with Jesus H. Christ, he redelivered. Amen.

Imogen Heap really impressed me. I saw her last night at the Great American Music Hall and, boy, could she kick it live. When I saw the piano and laptop I figured she would do some solo numbers and then rely on the laptop for the more developed songs in her set, but she had a host of cool gadgets she used to create loops, layer her voice and throw down some beats (she also played an entire song on a thumb piano). Very impressive.

Also impressive was the opening act, Zoe Keating, who played cello through a sampler to create full songs. But after a while ... the word is soporific (four years of high school Latin - represent!).

My one problem with Imogen was the closing number. People should almost always end with an up-tempo song, I think, but it seems like encores always start with a fast song and end on a (relative) downer. That slight transgression was balanced, though, by her encore disclaimer. Finally a performer who actually says, "This is my last song," while make air quotes and then explaining that she will leave, we will beg for more and she will happily oblige.

Also, saw Ernie for a second (I think) but couldn't make my way over. And Ben was trying to haul ass after it ended.

I leave him and you with two words: Glow stick.

Dear Felicity,

Jan. 4 was was 18 days ago, you lazy biatch. Mono (at age 26) or no mono, I expect an update!

Your inappropriately older (and probably imaginary) friend,
Sally

Speaking of food, there's an interesting article about calorie restrictors in the latest issue of the East Bay Express. Some of the ideas were intriguing, but really, who wants to live until age 120 if the Cheesecake Factory's Chocolate Mousse Cake is never on the menu?

I've been obsessed with pan-roasted potatoes lately. But white potatoes every other night? Not so good. So I've been experimenting, making frequent trips to Monterey Market. Last week, I tried jicama and turnip. No. Absolutely not. Yesteday, I picked up a couple of sweet potatoes. Now, I always pass on the sweet potatoes (even those with the little marshmellows) on holidays. Just not a fan, ya dig? I thought maybe it would be different if I parboiled them and threw them in a pan with some olive oil and my go-to spice mix. Not so much. Just too SWEET. I still don't (really) understand how they're healthier than bland white potatoes.

Magazine/business acronyms I have used today (and I've only been at my desk for 30 minutes): FOB, BOB, COB.

Good things:

Sunday afternoons at the beach.

Two-for-one drink specials.

Coffee cup cardboard cooler thingies with Altoids attached to them.

And, once again, the Crate & Barrel Outlet.

Long Beach Island

Overlooking the Bay at Shipbottom 11
Originally uploaded by lorenzodom.

Yes, I love it:

New Jersey: Come See For Yourself

Sometimes, I'll be walking around with my iPod, bopping my head like a ROCKSTAR, and I'll think: If anyone knew what I was listening to, they would shake their head in disgust.

But lately been really into Jamie Cullum. Much like the faux magazine cover, I'm a bit behind the trend, but I got his latest CD for my mom for a Christmas stocking stuffer and have been listening to it ever since. Loves, loves, loves it!

(Also: Waking up at 9 on a Sunday is not super fun, but leaving the house at 10 and hanging outside until 4 is quite enjoyable. I should tear myself away from my laptop and Tivo more often.)

Pros and cons of working from home (Day 1):

+ Working in my own set-up next to a window in a room with tons of natural light beats sitting in a cluster of identical desks under fluorescent lights.

+ Stealing 45 seconds here and there to throw a loady of laundry into the washing machine.

- Ready to work by 7:30 a.m. because company is based in NJ.

+ Non-existant commute.

+ Can listen to music without destroying ears with cheap iPod headphones.

+ Speakerphone is actually usable, unlike in an office where it annoys everyone.

- No free coffee.

- No coworkers to go to lunch with.

+ Lunch can include a quick trip to the grocery store, use of the stove, etc.

+ No one sees you roll your eyes or yawn during meetings.

+ It's always casual Friday at home.

My New Year's experience can be summed up in three words, all caps: SERIOUSLY FUCKING RIDICULOUS.

And that is all there is to it.