I went to see The Magnetic Fields last night for aflamingstar's birthday. Holy moly - they were awesome! It was hipster central, too. If there's one thing to be grateful for, it's that I came of hipster age in a skinny jean free time. There's just no hope for a fat girl in fashion like that. I did see a feathered headband that I liked, though. That led to Etsy shopping, which led to this, which is of course the coolest thing EVER.



I think I could wear it to the opera.

It has been a rather exciting week in entertainment for me. I've been to both the Orpheum and the State - how's that for fancy pants? Kathy Griffin on Tuesday, choir and cocktails on Wednesday, dinner and shopping with the extended family on Thursday, The Magnetic Fields last night and tonight a birthday party. All of it grand and all of it exhausting. Getting up this morning was - ugh. It didn't help at all that I hit my head on the treadmill (don't ask).

Next week promises to be equally busy, but in a more staying home way (which honestly, is much more my speed and budget). I have choir songs to rehearse and a audition song to memorize and I really want to listen to some of my brother-in-law's music on Soundclick and ponder vocals. And sketches. I have to fax the sketches. Gah!

I got the e-mail about and responded with a request for an ENCORE! audition. I guess we'll just see.

Crap, now I have to learn a song.

Encore is the smaller, auditioned subset of the Twin Cities Women's Choir. I think I would like to be a part of it, and I have always kind of known that eventually I would want to audition. My original plan was to get to know the choir for a year, work on my site reading (at which I am miserable), practice singing and maybe go out for it next year. As auditions draw close, however, I feel really excited and kind of want to go for it now. I'm trying to sort through those feelings, but it's difficult. I think that I primarily want the validation, which I'm not at all sure that I would get. I am not ready. I haven't even tried to be. Even if I was ready, there are a lot of great singers in the choir. I can think of plenty of reasons not to audition. There would be an additional time commitment, both for rehearsals and practice. There would be more pressure to be visible within the choir, which of course scares the tar out of me. And what if I auditioned and didn't make it? Would I be resentful and embarrassed? Probably. But maybe all my rationalizing and cautiousness is just a manifestation of fear? You would think by this age, I'd be better at handling my own ego.

BTW, I'm selling raffle tickets. They're two dollars each, and the first prize is a seven day timeshare vacation! Second prize is $100 Target gift certificate and third prize is a $50 gas gift certificate. The drawing is at the wine tasting, but you don't need to be present to win. Let me know if you're interested.

Happy Birthday aflamingstar!

I thought it was Friday. But I see that's just birthday observed.

Happy Birthday, zinniz!

If you have to ask yourself - cute outfit or fat lesbian pirate? It's probably not a cute outfit.

ETA: I feel kinda cute, though.

Pink accidently woke me up this morning and now my movie doesn't start until 1:55. Now it's like I have to be productive.

It's my Friday - woot! I know I already said this, but I'm pretty damned excited. Monday as a Friday is a delightful little juxtaposition.

Things could go one of two ways this weekend. Tomorrow I should work in the yard, do laundry, practice my songs for choir, send sketches and grocery shop. I'll probably go see The Duchess. I suppose if I got up early enough I could do both. Bwahahaha!

My sister is back and this makes me greatly happy. Also, I'm going to get my head shrunk that that's good news.

So much to say. So little of it meaningful.

01. Think of the first word that comes to mind when you think of me.
02. Go to Google Images and search for that word.
03. Reply to this post with one of the pictures on the first page of results (don't tell me the word).
04. Put this in your own journal so that I can do the same.

It seems impossible but after over a week of at least two pieces of cake a day - I think I'm done. Not forever, by any means, but for a little bit. My body is hating me a little bit.

It's Monday and also Friday (if your me, which I am). I've got a busy, busy week planned including Kathy Griffin, The Magnetic Fields, choir and a birthday party. I agreed to shift hours again just for this week. Meh.

It's United Way hat day and I didn't know! That just sucks.

I'm thinking rich people must eat a lot of poached pears. I always see them in catalogs and cooking magazines - elegant and simple on lovely white plate. I, myself, have never had a poached pear. I have had a canned pear, though, and I imagine it tastes about the same.

I want a new dining room table. I have visions of a behemoth Amish creation with leaves enough to seat 24. Those crazy Amish actually sell the tables pretty cheap - a couple thousand for a 60x72 table with 13 leaves (slightly more for cherry, which would be oh so dreamy). The chairs, however, are 300 dollars (or more) a pop. Even if I supplemented with a couple of mission trestle benches, that's a whole chunk o' change. Insurmountable, I think. Although perhaps I won the lottery last night and don't yet know it.

It's time to start making a plan for Xmas. A serious, financial plan. Less fun.

It started to get light but it went right back to being dark again. I wish I were in bed.

On Friday, November 7th, the Twin Cities Women's Choir (to which I belong) will be hosting their 5th Annual Wine and Beer Tasting. The Twin Cities Women's Choir is a diverse women's choir that sings, performs and affirms the voices of women. The choir is 501(c)3 non-profit that receives some grants but is mostly supported with fundraising and donations.

5th Annual Wine & Beer Tasting
Chocolate Fountain and Hors d'oeuvres
Benefiting the Twin Cities Women's Choir
Friday, November 7, 2008
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
DeGidio's
425 West 7th St., St Paul, MN

Sponsored by
The Cellars Wine & Spirits

The two-hour tasting will include upscale wines and artisan brews. Learn about wines and microbrews from all over the world. It's a great time to taste something new in the company of good friends. Includes light appetizers and a chocolate fountain.

Tickets are $40.00 per person.
You must be 21 to participate in the wine tasting.

Purchase tickets online:
http://www.twincitieswomenschoir.org/events/winetasting/

What a crap week. Work has been feeling... I don't even know. I'm exhausted and stuck. I know my inaction creates rotten luck but I cannot motivate myself - even to do the things that I enjoy. My immediate co-workers continue to be toxic. My special projects (which I rely on for positive feedback, sense of purpose and to make me happy) languish and create more trouble for me. Then there's guilt and negative feedback. I just want to win the lottery. And sleep.

I went to the cabin this weekend which was fine. I had a pretty good time while I was there, despite the GPS giving me directions that turned a two and a half hour drive into a four hour drive. Despite feeling bad because I know my parents were entertaining me instead of doing housework that really needed to be done. Despite feeling bad that supporting them in their dream means that I don't really ever get to have them be a part of my life. Despite the knowledge that they plan on living there which means that visiting my parents is going to become a huge sticking point in my marriage because Pink hates it. Parents are ungrateful wretches. I continue to be endlessly disappointed in adults.

I accidently blew off my husband yesterday. He took a half day off from work to go to the Home Remodelers Showcase with me and I totally forgot. I suck. I'm discovering that guilt makes me feel angry. Nice, eh? Not only did I forget about my husband and waste precious vacation hours but I got mad at him about it, too. Worse wife ever award goes to me this week.

I went to choir tonight because god damnit I'm doing this. I must constantly fight my urges and be a shower-upper. I need a silver ID bracelet that says "Ninety percent of success is showing up." I should hurry up and make that. Heh.

Cabin tomorrow. Mom made homemade meatballs for me. It will be bitterly cold up there, but that probably means I can break out my new winter jacket. Every cloud has a silver lining.

The Good: It's Friday!
The Bad: I have to go to the dumb cabin.
The Ugly: I have to work twelve hour shifts on both Saturday and Sunday.

Today I made up something new and fun at work then convinced all my bosses it should be part of my job. Good times.

ETA: My new red boots look like kidney beans. It's pretty cool. I feel like Frito Bandito that hanker for a hunka cheese guy.

I accidently got Bread and Butter pickles for my PB&P. It's disgusting.

They've posted several large signs around the office that read Your choice of words matter.

That is all.

1. Jax Cafe remains my favorite restaurant. The food is great but the vibe - it's just out of this world. It's like stepping back in time.
2. The Normandy continues to climb the list of dinnertime favorites. It's a small quiet bar downtown with good drinks and great food. In other words, it's Oz with popovers.
3. Béarnaise sauce two nights in a row.
4. Birthday cards
5. I was exceptionally well gifted. I got the bitchin' coat and some equally bitchin' red ankle boots, plus beautiful vintage linens and a 1950s luncheon set and dresses and a leopard towel and flowers. Awesome.
6. Red cake
7. A day to recover. Pink and I lay in bed this morning for hours watching a Paul Newman movie and eating chili omelettes. No obligations whatsoever.