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Wednesday, April 25, 2007
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Monday night I went to the Red Sox game (v. the Toronto Blue Jays) with Corinne, Jen and Lindsay (all Dove people, or at least currently). It was nice to see them - I hadn't seen anyone (Corinne included) since I was laid off - and it was also a fantastically wonderful night to be at a baseball game. Seats were in the Infield Grandstand, but on the left towards the center, and they were awesome! Here are some pictures:
The Red Sox lost, but that's what happens sometimes. I'm looking forward to the other games I'm going to this season.
In other news, my roommate and I put down a deposit on the trip to Italy! One of the things I have on my list to do for next week is get a passport, because it appears this trip is definitely happening. Right now, we're booked on the trip that runs September 13th through September 24th, but there's a chance that trip won't happen (it might not fill up), in which case we'd hope to get on the September 20th through October 1st trip. The dates of the first trip are way better for me, though, so I hope that works out. I'm starting to get really excited. :-)
And... we apparently have a mouse. *sigh* Looks like some heavy cleaning/traps in the kitchen are in our future. I haven't seen the thing (my roommate got to see him scurry from the kitchen sink into the stove yesterday morning) but that could be what's been getting into some of my food in the pantry (it's easy to tell which food and I always just throw it away). Mice are not fun.
Back to work and daydreaming about Italy... :-)
- Lizzardie, at 9:55 AM
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Saturday, April 21, 2007
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Today it's 75 degrees, so I decided I had to get out of the house for a little while. I went to knit in my favorite outdoor spot, and get some sunshine. It was wonderful (though limited - stupid tailbone).
I also opened some of the windows in the apartment. It's nice to have some sunshine in here.
I have had more time for knitting lately (the past 2 weeks, really). And more time for sleeping. And that's all well and good, but it turns out I was much happier when I was having fun, playing poker and not sleeping. So I continue to be incredibly conflicted about my life. :-(
- Lizzardie, at 4:17 PM
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Friday, April 20, 2007
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Tulips!
Steph's friend Casey brought tulips when she came over for the wine tasting on Saturday. They are beautiful:
Here they are close up:
The best part, though, is that they really bring our living room together. Okay, so I was pretty buzzed when I first had this thought, but I still think that sober:
The picture is a little dark, so you may just have to trust me. :-P Hopefully, between Steph and myself, we can keep fresh flowers in there most of the time. :-)
- Lizzardie, at 10:49 AM
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
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I am conflicted. It's funny, because there are not too many things wrong with my life. And for the recent changes I've gone through, the common thread is that everyone is able to say, "You're better off without..." Maybe it my job, my things, my living situation, particular friends, activities.. whatever. And so yes, maybe everyone giving me advice is right. Maybe I'm better off without all of the things I've lost recently. BUT. I feel like someone is telling me that I've made mistakes, and that they can't trust me to fix them myself, so they are going to fix them for me. And I don't like that at all. I'd like to believe that I have some control over my life, that I can make my own decisions and I am responsible for the consequences.
The Virginia Tech situation has added a new wrench into the whole thing. Dan's girlfriend goes there (she's okay). PSP has a chapter there, and they lost an initiate and an alum's sister. I am so sad, and I want to do something - and at the same time, I am so proud of Phi Sigma Pi and my chapter for the outpouring of love that they have shown. I don't know why it is that every time something tragic occurs I am so proud - you'd think I'd come to expect it by now, but I'm always amazed. And yes, I want to do something to help. But again, just as I did in August when the chapter was going through a struggle (though nothing like this), I am forced to examine my own life, and consider what it is that I'm doing. What am I doing to serve? Also, is life to short to be mad, or is life too short to put up with certain actions? I don't have any answers right now.
- Lizzardie, at 11:21 PM
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Tuesday, April 17, 2007
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Does this picture look familiar to anyone?
It is NOT the picture I took in November 2001. My sister Christina took this either on her way home from school or her way back for Spring Break last month. Where did she take it? I-57 South in Effingham, IL.
My picture was taken on I-70 East in Effingham, IL, on the way back to Ithaca from St. Louis (PSP National Convention, for those that don't know).
I-57 and I-70 meet up for a short while in.... Effingham, IL!
Apparently taking photos of this cross is genetic.
Here's mine:
- Lizzardie, at 1:53 PM
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Sunday, April 15, 2007
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Everyone (okay, not everyone, but some people) keeps asking me how my new roommate is. I've thus far told everyone that she's fine, no complaints, loves wine, etc... BUT, I have a new answer - she's amazing. I really feel like I've found a new friend (or even more new friends in hers).
Last night she hosted a wine tasting. She found 3 Malbecs, which we tried blind and then unveiled.
They were:
2004 Sabato (95% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, Mendoza Argentina, $22)
2003 Le Petit Clos (75% Malbec, 20% Merlot, 5% Tannat, Cahors, France, $16-20)
2005 High Altitude (65% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina, $8)
She was really hoping to identify the French one, which most of us were not able to do! My favorite was the Sabato, which she's going to buy another bottle of (she works at a wine/liquor store in Beacon Hill, have I mentioned that?).
I also bought cheeses that were supposed to go well with Malbec:
Parmigiano Reggiano
Manchego
Reblochon
Epoisses
(The Parmigiano Reggiano and Manchego were fantastic, as expected, the Reblochon was pretty good and the Epoisses was... interesting.)
It was a small crowd - just her, me, and two of her friends, Angie and Casey. They were really sweet - they arrived at about 6pm, we ordered a ton of Chinese food, ate, drank, gossiped, had a great time (Casey works with Sara, who is Corinne's roommate's girlfriend and went to high school with Corinne, too). It was so much fun, and so necessary for me, given that I've been pretty down lately.
The best part: Steph (roommate) is planning on going to Italy in September, looking for travel buddies and is really pushing me to go with her. I am so excited. I haven't been this excited about a potential vacation (or about the vacation my parents gave me) ever. She wants to do an organized tour that would be just for 21-38 year olds and cover a good chunk of Italy - what do you think? Part of my is apprehensive about going with group, but if I'm with someone I know, that would help. Also, in planning a trip to Italy, I would be totally overwhelmed - it would be nice if the first time I went I got to have the trip planned for me (because I'm pretty certain I'll want to go back). Plus, she did this sort of thing in Greece last year, trusts the tour company and says you do get to have some time to yourself. This could be a lot of fun. :-)
So yeah, very happy with my new roommate right now. :-P
- Lizzardie, at 11:55 AM
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Friday, April 06, 2007
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Well... I had been hoping my life would calm down, and I could settle into a routine. Seems like the routine I will be settling into is... my old one.
I was laid off from my job on Wednesday. This may sound like it was a horribly traumatic event in my life, and while I would agree that the actual getting laid off part was a pretty big ego bruise, I would have to say that it's for the best. I was not happy there, and there was not enough work to go around. And with vacation time and severance, I'll be getting paid through the end of April.
On Monday, I will be returning to my old job at Cymfony (at the same salary, too). No, I wasn't happy there, either, but I was HAPPIER. And I'm hoping that now they know I'm serious about leaving if I'm not happy, they'll be more willing to address some of my concerns. Plus, they are absolutely THRILLED to have me back, and I'm happy to be working with my old friends again.
I am not sad that I took the job at Dove. It was certainly a learning experience, and I do not have that nagging wonder of "what if" going through my head. I know exactly what I had in store for me, and the worst thing that has happened is that I get to go back to the way things were before. While I'll miss knitting on the T, I am very happy to be going back to flexible hours (I was literally told to come in "whenever" on Monday). I am also hoping that I can go back to cooking more often, and whipping myself back into shape. I am committed to giving it at least 6 months - if after that time, I'm not happy being back, I will be more upfront with my boss about leaving. We'll see how it goes, but like I said, this is probably for the best (and I am extremely lucky to be in such a good position after being laid off).
There are some other things going on, but they are a little too fresh and a little too personal to write about. Also, I hope to go back and write about some of the more fun things I do with my life, but I just don't have the energy right now. My roommate is gone this weekend, so I'm looking forward to having a mostly quiet, reflective weekend.
- Lizzardie, at 5:01 PM
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