Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Grant and I spent the day at IKEA today. Phew! It's over. We left here at about 9:15am and returned around 6pm--or about $770 later. All told, that's not bad. We bought 42 items with an average cost (including delivery of the big stuff) of $18.32. Most expensive item was $99.99; least, 99 cents.

Sudoku on the train was followed by a little conversation with the shuttle driver. We were the only ones on so early in the morning, so we thought he was making small talk when he said, "Have you all ever been here before?" "No," we replied. Out comes the cell phone... "Yeah, George, I'm on Turnpike Drive, was I supposed to take a left or a right at the light? Yeah, Ok, Thanks." This was followed by a U-Turn.

Then, in one of the home storage sections, a man came up to me and said "You're not, I mean, you look like, well, is your name Gabby? Your name isn't Gabby is it?" "No." "Ok, I thought not, but you look just like, well this girl we know looks just like you. Did you hear me yelling 'Gabby, Gabby'?" "No. Sorry, that wouldn't have registered..." "Right, ok. Sorry." His wife/girlfriend looked embarassed. "Quite alright."

Grant and I continued on our way and much later in the day, after lunch in the cafe, another such incident occurred. I was looking at this dresser that I ended up buying when Grant came back to the room I was in and told me that he ran into that same couple again--only this time it was the wife/girlfriend with the interesting remark. She turned around and saw Grant and said, "Oh! I thought you were a mirror image of my husband!" When Grant came back to tell me about this interesting case of mistaken identity, I hit the floor. I was literally crouched down on the ground losing it. I laughed and laughed until I cried. I could hear people walking by commenting on the situation and I think some of them thought I was for real crying and gave Grant some dirty looks. The situation just built on itself and I was afraid that I was either going to pee my pants or never ever be able to regain control of my body. Eventually I did, but had several flashbacks to that moment throughout the day.

On our way back to the T, the bus was much bigger. Very fancy too. I was looking down at the speedometer and noticed that it registered up to 120mph. I thought that was pretty funny until I looked down while cruising along the highway and noticed we were going 100mph... then I saw all the cars whizzing by and realized it was kph--then I thought it was hysterical and almost lost it again. Of course a bus can't go 120mph. Not even a fancy one.

Then the T ride where I ran into the doppelganger of my freshman year roommate (I restrained myself from asking her if she was Jess Szeto for fear of ending up like that other couple). Cab ride home was uneventful and the rest has just involved putting things on the wall and putting other things together. All in all, a good day. I like IKEA.

Now, I need to study for Tuesday's Statistics exam. Oh joy.

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Monday, I accidentally spit on someone on the T. Then he put on his glove in order to avoid it in the future. I got a nasty look. Really, I was just yawning, and it just popped out. I had no control.

~*~*~

Grant and I tried to ride the CT2 home. We were cold. There was a "Limited: Out of Service" bus coming our way when I said "Can we just get on anyway, please?" in jest, but in hope. And then it stopped. The driver said, "CT2?". And we said, "yessir" and hopped aboard.

~*~*~

Met the shopkeeper of the local convenience store. They have "everything", but "you just might be able to see it". So far we've tested them on butter, cream cheese, lemon juice, and baking soda. They passed. Granted, I didn't attempt with the fresh parmesan, but I didn't want to end up with Kraft.

~*~*~

We keep trying to meet our neighbors and then the cookies either get eaten (Grant's) or they turn into rocks (mine). Good thing I like rocks. Chocolate chip rocks.

Working From Home on Thursday Morning...

...but I don't have to like it.

That was the email I sent out Wednesday at 7:30pm. Somehow I ended the year with 3.75 personal days to take and only 2 days in which to take them... which turned into less than 2 because I woke up to an hour of work and 3 calls from the office. And tomorrow I have to log in for at least a little bit--maybe an hour.

But that's the boring stuff. Since last I wrote, I've been to Indiana, Christmas happened, I came back to my lovely apartment with my fabulous roommate, and I managed to take some more time off. It will be very hard to go back to work on Tuesday--or maybe not. Maybe I'll have a new perspective with the new year. That's probably true, but maybe not the way everyone will think. We shall see.

Somehow I have little inspiration for this, so I will stop boring you and go to bed.

Wiretapping

On the Television: George Bush extolling the wiretapping practice used on suspected terrorists.

Olivia (6): Does that mean they can put video cameras in our house, mommy?

Mom: Well, they don't usually use video, but they can do things like listen to what you're saying on the telephone.

Amy (20, and a little surprised): Are you actually enjoying watching the news? (To Olivia)

Olivia: Well I hate it when they tell me George Bush is spying on me.

Clarification

The move was not bad. I was trying to be funny. Sometimes that doesn't come across in cyber talk.

Don't worry. I have lots of boys to help me and I am a princess. They know it. It helps. All I did was carry pillows and blankets and tell them what good job they were doing with the heavy stuff. And they liked it. Plus, I drove the truck.

Phew!

You know you're moving when...

1. You wake up at 6:30 on Friday and instead of making your bed (and some coffee) you disassemble your bed and make hot water with soymilk.
2. You have a ton of cargo an have left very little behind, but still can't find your purse.
3. Your friends start calling you "slave driver"
3a. Ok that didn't really happen, but Erik, Sam and Jeff really showed their mettle today and it was mighty, but not a hint of complaint.
4. You think that $40 for 2 pizzas and some soft drinks is reasonable because it was delivered.
5. You have a bruise the size of Texas developing in at least one part of your body.
6. You feel the urge to christen things.
7. You know exactly where the allen wrench is no matter what.
8. You get the feeling that U-Haul just might be out to get you.
9. You have to put a diaper on a truck to keep it from leaking on your futon (ok, maybe that's a stretch, but we have to get to 10, so bear with me)
10. The weather absolutely does NOT cooperate.

Sometimes Stalkers Aren't

Stalkers, that is. Sometimes they are people who for some unknown reason actually think you are interesting based largely on your pathetic blogging. Nice to have people like that around. Or at least within networking distance. Recently one of my "stalkers" was revealed to me, and you'll be happy to know that it wasn't Mr. Ramirez (you'll have to scour the comments from way back in the day to find the answer to that inside joke). In fact, wasn't even a Mr. It was a Ms. We had chorizo together once and her Spanish is WAY better than mine. This is not meant to discount her language skills, but rather to put my ability into perspective: most people's Spanish is way better than mine.

Question of the day:
Is it still an inside joke if you post it in a public place?

6 Random Babbles

1. The war on Christmas? Excuse me? Retailers responding to Jerry Falwell Christians?
2. "Christians" threatening not to buy stuff? Excuse me? Consumerism isn't what Christmas is about.
3. I saw Frodo shoveling snow today.
4. This morning when I walked outside, I was surprised to see 4 inches of snow on the ground.
5. 1point something million cards sent out by the Bush family? That's nearly 3 times what Clinton sent and he broke records.
6. Thank God it's Friday.

Move It!!

Ok, let's be honest. This post was created with the sole purpose of moving that terrible picture off the top of the page. This week has thus far been insane. It started with that picture (or the aftermath assumed therein) and hasn't really slowed down since. I somehow couldn't manage to finish my homework Sunday, so I ended up at the office doing it until 10pm on Tuesday. Tonight when I got home at 7:45, I realized I hadn't been home before 10 since the weekend. Luckily last night someone cooked me dinner and took care of me. But I lost an earring. I have some speculations about what might have happened to it, but so far none of those have turned up anything material. I need to decide what class to take next year. Or if I should take a class. One that has less homework would be pretty cool. My friend Erik is leaving me for Colorado. Pretty rad that he's decided to do it, but not for me. I just found out that one of the girls I went to Niger with is married and having a kid. Yes, she's my age. AND she's starting a church in her house. I grew up in a family full of ministers and weekly church goers and I still think that's weird. Another one is getting married in December to some dude. I am either out of touch (highly likely) or these people are really moving fast (also highly likely). Today at work was one annoyance after another and I am currently on a you-must-have-patience-young-grasshopper kick. I will be patient. I can do it. Most of the time I want to stuff cotton in my ears and sing la la la la I can't hear you la la la la . I have all these deliverables due like tomorrow. Only it's really "like". There's not a lot of pressure at my office unless you put it on yourself. And man do I lay it on. It's torture. Thank God I'm not someone's boss. Actually, I think I would be a reasonable boss. I like to talk to people about what they're doing and how they're doing it. I like teaching. I like learning. Positive feedback loops, you know. How do you like my stream of consciousness post. Par for the course?

Happy Birthday to Barrett

This is one of the things that happens when . . .


. . . this much champagne etc. is consumed.


We also found boxer shorts in every room including the kitchen, champagne bottles in the sauna, watches outside, towels strewn about, and that my socks had been left at the club. I would not be so self-centered about this post, but it happens to be one of the tamer stories and these people might not want to ruin their political careers on my blog... so I'll let them comment.