Finally

by Donna on August 31st, 2004

Lisa’s plane finally arrived. She sat in Philly for hours and hours. I am fighting the urge to sleep. After work I rented Rules of Attraction from the hotel’s interactive menu. It reminded me ever so slightly of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson DF masterpiece, Lover Come Back. The main difference was Lover Come Back was fun and interesting. I love DF movies. Of course I also recognize that they have screwed up my life with their bent logic. Act like a bitch and men will beat down the door. Stay virginal, men prefer chaste women. Have a successful career, men aren’t intimidated. Yes, I aspired to be Doris Day in all her hard to get, virginal, successful advertising exec/interior designer glory and all it got me was a big fat nothing. So what does DF stand for? Delayed F***. Little did I know, I was the one who would find herself f***ed.
Goodness, where did that come from? I guess I am just a little depressed by what the next few days hold. If you don’t get it, you will shortly.

I am getting so good

by Donna on August 29th, 2004

I am getting better at packing although it is still an ordeal. Lisa is coming with me to Chicago this week. She’s taking a later flight since she wasn’t too keen on waking up at 4. Should be a fun week.

weekend review

by Donna on August 29th, 2004

Lisa picked me up Thursday evening at the airport. At home I could tell she really missed me. I told her I was going to bed and she followed me into my bedroom and sat on my bed. Next thing I know it’s 1:00 in the morning and we are in my bed listening to The Pirate Movie Album and giggling over Christopher Atkins. Some things never change.

Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Steady navigation;
shirking devastation;
Let’s vary piracy
With a little lechery!

The next morning I arose with one aim– get me a cuppa joe. I went into the kitchen and found the coffeemaker ON. The bottom of the coffee pot was black and the heat in that area of the kitchen was intense. I ran up to Lisa’s loft: “Lisa did you make coffee sometime this week?” “No, I don’t drink coffee.” That means I left the coffeemaker on when I left on Monday morning and it stayed on all week. Lisa later admitted that she felt heat in the kitchen but didn’t think anything of it. The mere fact that the house didn’t burn down is a testament to our luck. Thank You God for watching over us! I will be so much more careful in the future.

Friday afternoon Lisa and I left for Baltimore. We used Priceline to book a hotel room near the Inner Harbor. $100.00 for the Hyatt Regency! Not bad at all! Upon arrival, we unloaded our duffelbags and immediately took a water taxi to Fell’s Point. John Stevens is our restaurant of choice and we ordered scallops, shrimp, california rolls, and beer (of course). It was so yummy! The rest of the evening was spent walking around and people watching.

The next morning we went to Bubba’s Tex Mex for breakfast. The portions were huge! I told Lisa that if we ever open our own restaurant, we should allow people to order by number of servings. It was so hot out that we went to The Gallery to escape the beating sun. We went to J. Crew, Coach, Banana Republic, etc… All shops that I love to browse but will never buy because the prices make my inner scrooge squeal. Then we went to the Gap. A fellow was there handing out contest/coupons. “Win a free pair of pants!” he said. I opened my coupon and I WON A FREE PAIR OF PANTS!!!” I rarely win anything and I was overjoyed. He said I didn’t have to pick the pair today but could go to any Gap store until September 15th and use the coupon. I can’t wait to pick out my free pair of pants. Too bad the winter line isn’t in yet because I would pick a pair of black leather pants. And on my ass I would wear a sign that reads: PETA BITE ME!

After the Gallery we went to Barnes & Noble. Unbeknownst to Lisa, I remembered that B&N has a Gelato bar on the second floor and I subtly steered her up that way. “Oh look, Lisa! They have Stracciatella!” I ordered Stracciatella and Chocolate Hazelnut. It tasted like creamy cool NUTELLA!

Last night, I watched the movie, Die Mommie Die. The leading lady was Charles Busch. It was weird although I kinda liked it.

Tomorrow I leave for Chicago.

Three Bean Salad*

by Donna on August 29th, 2004

1 Cup kidney beans (canned or cooked)
1 Cup white kidney beans (canned or cooked)
1 Cup chickpeas (canned or cooked)
3/4 Cup onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
1 green pepper, chopped finely
1/3 Cup cider vineagar
1/4 Cup corn syrup
salt and pepper to taste.

Mix all the ingredients; refridgerate several hours or overnight to blend the flavors.

Lisa and I made this last night. It was so easy to make and it tastes incredible! Don’t tell anyone but I had a bowl for breakfast this morning! In terms of the recipe, we didn’t have a pepper so we just left that out nor did we have fresh parsley so we just used the dried parsley from our spice rack. In terms of flatulence associated with eating all these beans, I wasn’t affected. Of course, everyone knows, girls don’t fart. Or if they do, they just blame it on the old person in the room. (Hiya Daddy!)

*The Natural Laxative Cookbook

Ms Manager

by Donna on August 25th, 2004

I am not out having dinner with Erin’s parents. At 5:01, after everyone went home, I discovered that not only did the second shift not show up, but Telecom screwed up the phone lines and the calls weren’t going to voicemail. As the manager, I couldn’t just leave so I logged into the loop line and took calls. Gosh I feel bad that I missed dinner with Erin’s parents but I am in Chicago to work and that had to come first. Now I am watching Drew Carey and eating room service chicken caesar salad. Tomorrow I go home. Lisa mentioned that maybe after work on Friday, we could go to Atlantic City or Baltimore for a little mini-getaway. I am all for it. I need to get away.

I remember now…

by Donna on August 24th, 2004

I am meeting Erin’s parents for dinner tomorrow. They are vacationing here in Chicago and asked to meet me for dinner. It should be fun. I hope they don’t bring up any of the crazy things Erin and I did back in school. That would be terribly embarassing.

This afternoon I went to Au bon Pain for lunch. On my way, I saw two morbidly obese people reclining on a bench eating popcorn. It shocked me. I am struggling to lose 5 pounds and here are two people practically rejoicing in their corpulence. It is strange what some people accept and others reject. My hotel has a workout room and I brought exercise clothes and sneakers yet I have not worked out once. Am I tired or just lazy?

I went to the dentist last Friday. It’s been 3 years since I last saw him and I figured my teeth could use a good polishing. Well, Mr. Dentist scrapped and scrapped and poked and prodded. I left with an aching mouth. Now one of my molars is hurting like I have a cavity. My teeth were fine before the visit!!! I think he planted something in my mouth.

Thursday I leave for home.

Tuesday in Chicago

by Donna on August 24th, 2004

Darnit. I thought I had something to write. I was certain I had stuff to say. It’s gone. Whatever it was, it is gone.

Ugh

by Donna on August 23rd, 2004

Gosh, it’s early! I have a plane to catch. Instead of doing the late flight, I thought I’d try the real early one. Seems no matter what I do, it is still a pain in the butt. At least I got to sleep in my bed an extra night.

Not a Weak end

by Donna on August 22nd, 2004

I never mentioned that on Wednesday I interviewed 2 women for an open position in my department. This was my first time conducting a job interview. It gave me a new perspective. When I have interviewed in the past, I was always so focused on me and my answers that I never really gave thought to the person across the desk. They are human. No better or worse than me. They’re doing a job. The one woman I interviewed was so terribly nervous. She called me Miss Donna and then Ma’am. Little does she know that I run around in Wonder Woman underoos.

This weekend has been wonderful. It helped that I got home on Thursday and not Friday midnight. Lisa, Audra and I met in Manayunk on Friday. Lisa and I gave Audra her belated birthday gifts: A Poncho Knitting kit, a Rolling Stone magazine from 1980 with Lennon on the cover, and the DVDs Last Unicorn, Little Prince, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and West Side Story. (Aren’t they kick ass presents?!) It was so hot out that we went to a bar for a drink. I think it was Audra who mentioned the Spiderman movie and suddenly the bartender said: “You like Spiderman? Take a look at this!” and he ripped off his shirt to show this elaborate Spiderman montage tattoo across his chest. My reply: “Do you like Spiderman, too?”

Yesterday afternoon Barbara and George put in a call for help and I went to their house to rid their Dell of viruses and spyware. Oh my goodness, their computer was in bad shape! George said, “How could this happen?” I was going to be cheeky and say: “This is what happens when you surf porn sites!” but I didn’t. Somehow, after 2 hours, I was able to get the ‘puter back to its original condition. When I was finished, I stood up, dusted off my hands and said, “My work here is done!”

Last night, Erin, Pete, Kathy, and I went to The Inn of the Hawk. It was so nice seeing all of them. Best of all, Lisa bartended and she bought us a round and then a very nice couple that I am friendly with bought us a second round! When it was time to cash out THERE WAS NOTHING TO CASH OUT. I told Lisa she could take her tip out of the rent she owes me.

What does it say about me that after listening to 98.1 WOGL’s Elvis in the Morning show that when it ends, I put on an Elvis CD? I also just noticed, I am drinking my coffee from an Elvis mug. Elvis fan? No, NOT ME!

Wine at midnight

by Donna on August 20th, 2004

I am home. All went well in Chicago this week. This afternoon I realized that the first time I stepped outside all week was when I caught the El to Midway. It is too convenient that my hotel is attached to the office. At night I watched La Femme Nikita episodes and ordered a bowl of chili from room service. In fact, this week I worked really hard on not overeating. I resisted the sweet potato fries and chocolate bars. I ate salads and other healthy foods. I also realized that people who work in Collections are innately evil. On the plane ride home, there was a man who seemed to suffer from an intense fear of flying. He kept breaking out into song during the flight. As the plane leapt from the tarmac, he sang, “I will survive, as long as I know how to *fall*, I know I’ll stay alive!” As we touched down in Philly he sang, “I survived the crash. Survived the burn. Survived the worst, yeah baby, but I learned.” It was strange. Very very strange. Almost as strange as one of the people in my department telling me he lost his ability to swallow.