the closest my toothbrush has ever been to a toilet

The last day of July. What do I have to show for this month? Well I put a little effort into dating, even if nothing came of it. I started a 401(k), which I should have done a year ago. I didn't write for EG's blog enough though. I researched a new car battery, even if I haven't bought it yet... Wow I'm even boring myself.

This morning I woke up and stumbled into the bathroom. I was a little more awake than usual. Usually I run into walls with my shoulders, but that didn't happen. I washed my face and put my contacts in. There was a brown grasshopper on the bathroom wall above my toothbrush. But really high up, so that there was no way I could reach it. I don't possess the willpower to care before 7am, so I just shrugged and took a shower. When I got out of the shower, not only was a tiny spider dangling from the air vent in the ceiling, but the grasshopper had disappeared. I knew the spider had to die before I left for work. I went through the rest of my facial routine and was mainly looking for the grasshopper, which had mysteriously disappeared. Right after I'd finished putting on this facial cream that is supposed to diminish the "dark spots" on my face in 8weeks, I saw the grasshopper. It was perched on top of my toothbrush. All in the bristles. I very calmly picked up the toothbrush. He jerked, but didn't jump. Then I hovered past the sink and over to the toilet. That is - to my knowledge - the closest my toothbrush has ever been to a toilet. And I flicked the grasshopper in. Poor dude. How did it get to the 2nd floor? And then I got dressed and bided my time until the spider went back up its web to the ceiling, where I killed it in a piece of toilet paper.  Bugs, stay out of my apartment.

After that I walked out to my car, saw a penny on the ground. I walked past it. Then I walked back and picked it up. I needed the good luck to not see another bug inside. So far it's all good. Knock on wood.

I talked to EG on the phone today for a little while. Love her. I swear, there are few friends who you don't talk to for a while, but you pick right up where you left off. Even if I'm incapable of maintaining a romance with a dude, I'm good at keeping these girl/girl friendships. Love all those ladies!

everybody loves somebody - not talking about dean martin

I've been in a book-reading binge all July. Yesterday I finished the memoir "Lucky" by Alice Sebold. I should have known it was going to be rough.

It took me 3 days to read the book and for 3 days I've had trouble falling asleep (it usually takes me less than 5 minutes) and dreamed bad dreams about hiding and darkness. I should have known what I was in for after reading her novel, "The Lovely Bones," in high school. But high school was a long time ago.  Sebold is a fantastic writer.
Then today I was stuck on the parkway on the commute home, so I listened to NPR. Yeah, NPR can be pretty pretentious, but I was thoroughly entertained by a segment about Sharknado and Sharknado 2: The Second One. And then the news came on and I learned that almost 20% of women who attend college will be sexually assaulted or raped during their undergraduate years. The average American woman has a smaller chance of being raped if she doesn't go to college. That's 1 in 5 women. This is wrong. What can I do to stop this?

In July, I read:
Jonathan Rosen's Joy Comes in the Morning
Anne Lamott's Blue Shoe
Suzanne Finnamore's Otherwise Engaged
Norah Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck
Alice McDermott's The Bigamist's Daughter
Joanna Scott's Everybody Loves Somebody
Alice Sebold's Lucky

This is a mix of novels, memoir, and short stories. My favorite book was Joanna Scott's Everybody Love Somebody.  It's short stories. I hadn't actually read a book of short stories in a long while. But this collection, I love an recommend. You don't have to be a romantic to enjoy it, although I admit I am a huge sap or I wouldn't have kept this 7+ year Korean drama addiction sustained for so long.

Also, my Ocean City, MD trip is official. Booked the hotel last night! I have a few weeks to find the perfect sunhat. The perfect sunhat will fit on my giant head - thanks, genetics. Also, I should own a non-one-piece bathing suit that I can stand by now. I have one that makes me look horrible, but that's it.

My officemate is leaving us all - retiring at the end of September. She taught me everything I need to know at that job. She deserves to retire after working for 42 years. But I'll miss her.

soaking strawberries

Got a letter from EM yesterday. Of all the people I know, she writes the best letters. They're like presents. They're written on old vintage paper with a real pen, like she dipped a quill in ink. And she always includes a little card or note that she found in a thrift shop. And they're looong! I love them. I love her.

Other things I love are the drama Marriage Not Dating, which has replaced Seo In-guk's drama only because that drama has gone the way of angst, so I'm going to leave it alone for a few weeks until the story comes out of the doldurms and back to it's original zippy pace. Kdrama angst draaggggs. Just when you think it's over, it hits a snag and unravels so slowly, never to end until the last episode. Or the episode before the last episode. Marriage Not Dating I enjoy because it's got angst and zip built in, so I don't think the story will rocket towards that angst pit of despair. I won't gush about any of the actors because although I like the main lead, Yeon Woo-jin, he's not that pretty. Unless he really pulls out the acting chops, like Park Ki-woong in Gaksital, he's not going to make me gush. He's more winning because of his energy, which I'm hoping he gets to express in this drama. He sure was depressing in Arang, that's for sure. And how is he not serving in the military right now? Did he already go? No clue.

Also, I think I have to go to the doctor about my knee. It's been sore off and on for the past year and refuses to get better. I miss running, and I can't be serious about it when I can't really run. I used to go 4 miles every other day, and then I'd develop shin splints problems. But now I can't even run long enough to develop shin splints. Boo.

Last note: soaking strawberries in vodka just makes them mushy. No flavor explosion.

not the turkey money!

My stomach hurts in a very specific place, so I googled to see if it could be appendicitis. But it's a mild hurting so definitely not.  I guess I waited too long to eat all of those Amish biscuits and they went bad again. Every time I eat a carb, I think about how I don't need it and would rather be eating meat and veggies, but meat and veggies take longer to cook. I should heat up a turkey meatball. Can't have those going bad too. That's a whole lb of turkey money.

not the turkey money!

Kind of excited that my one coworker likes LOTR. More than me, since I only read the books once and have no intentions of reading them again. I'll just watch the movies over and over. It was a chill Friday at work and I like them like that.

Oh miracle of miracles, SH called me the other day to make promises about meeting up this weekend or next weekend, but I don't even expect it to happen. He's like my brother and my brother makes a lot of promises about when he'll be places too, and then he of course isn't in those places when the time comes. I guess everyone's finding themselves these days and those selves are located nowhere near me.

Planning the Ocean City, MD trip because I just need to go to the beach. I'm going to try on a bunch of pairs of jeans tomorrow and buy some that make me look good. I need some blue jeans. I'll sleep in, which means like 8am, and then head to the outlets. I should be out of there by the time the crowds start.

I think RA is going to start that tour soon. 6 months.

too much sugar and too much salt

Whining is not flattering in anyone. No wonder that never worked on my mom as a kid. A grown man whined to me over the phone today and I had to listen to it for a half an hour because it's my job.

smh. i wanted to go back to sleep

Also, I managed to fail epically at life by 9am - I didn't realize I forgot my work ID until I was 5 minutes away from work, so I had to turn around and drive home. I did the commute twice today guys! And I slept horribly so I was exhausted from the moment I woke up. I did stop for food at the grocery story on the way home, but I didn't have it in me to do more than cut up the fruit I bought. Tomorrow I'll make EG's turkey meatballs again - at least then I'll have something to eat off of.

i always want more protein and veggies. tired of carbs

I thought my facial blemish problems were solved, but I had too much sugar and too much salt yesterday and it's back. Drastic measures are needed.

i want to go to peru

Reporting in - I fail at this dating app. If only 98% of the guys on it weren't white. The last 3 guys I dated were white; I think it's time for some color. Anyway, the app feels sorry for me - it now gives me 20 people a day instead of the advertised 10. I dutifully scroll through them after I get home from work. How much longer do I have to do this? The novelty wore off fast.

you and me are both too cool for this

Having this job is fine and all, but long term, what are my goals? Something. I need some goals. Half the time I decide 'no' to the PhD and half the time I say 'yes.' Right now I'm in yes mode. Can I possibly save up enough money to quit my job in a year and a few months and go into the PhD program, but in the middle of those two events go on an overseas trip? I want to go to Peru.

i'll brush up on my Spanish

engaging

I went to an engagement party where I am only friends with the bride, and I rocked it! Meaning that I didn't stand around awkwardly and I talked to everyone in the room. I had a slow start, but I was talkative enough by the end. As you probably know, I'm on a quest to find a gay male best friend. There was only one gay guy there, but we hit it off well enough. He dresses well and I like that. We'll see if I ever see him again though. Anyway, it may have been easy to hit it off because most of the people there were nerdy scientists. I do love the nerds. But who doesn't? They're easier to talk to because I went to undergrad at the school they're attending now, so we have something in common. And then they're all physics people and some of them work with NASA people so I know people they know.  Anyway, my friend looked gorgeous, she had a great time, and the venue was only 10 minutes from my apartment. Yay! I also wore a cute black and white skirt that I got thrift shopping with my mom a few weeks ago. I was searching for something to wear when I found it - I'd actually forgotten that I owned it. And my hair was freshly done - I looked cute! Well, I try to attract potential dates whenever I can - I know I definitely don't get out enough.

men... so pretty. this is Seo In-guk

Before the party, I woke up at 8 (because I went to sleep at 9pm... just like a grandma) and went to the Amish market, then to Walmart. I only go to Walmart around here on weekend mornings because otherwise I spend 20 minutes waiting in the checkout line. I now have Neutrogena skin care stuff that is supposed to get rid of my brownspots and even my skintone in 8 weeks. September 6th I'll let you know how it went. I wouldn't have to do this if I didn't suddenly become allergic to peanuts and then breakout with lasting scars. Peanuts! Oh the betrayal.

Harry Potter weekend on ABC Family. We all know I'm an addict.

i laughed so hard

seo in-guk appreciation

Going back to work wasn't so bad. I was caught up by about 2pm. At least it was constant work so I didn't get bored. Is any job going to be one that doesn't bore you, at least some of the time?

High School King of Savvy is really hitting all the right notes with me. I appreciate Seo In-guk a lot more now. This is the 3rd drama I've seen him in. He's 26, so practically my age, and playing a high schooler who has to fill in at work for his older brother who's 28.  All I see is when I look at him is the adult in beautiful suits. Wow, he's growing on me :-).

Source: weheartit

He looks so young and modelly here! Can I have my own makeup team to give me a makeover? I'd be so gorgeous. Guess I'll just have to figure it out myself.

Oh, also I tried the hinge app and nothing much has happened yet. I think it's because I only have 5 facebook friends who use it and they're all from undergrad so I keep getting all these preppy white guys. I had a great experience in undergrad but nowhere in the great part of that experience was preppy white guy included. Out of 20 guys, only 5 of them were some type of minority. Doesn't bode well...

4th of July Retrospective

Had an awesome 4th of July in Pittsburgh with my dad's side of the family. On the way to Pittsburgh, my dad decided not to take the turnpike, so we took 322 instead and got to see the Statue of Liberty in the middle of the Susquehanna River - Dauphin, PA.  Who knew?

It was cold in those mountains! By the time we took a break and got out of the car at a Sheetz, both of my sisters and I broke out the sweaters. I love road trips. We were even pulled over by a cop for speeding down a mountain, luckily he let us off with a warning when my dad told him we were going to his mother's 80th birthday party.  

We got to Pittsburgh an hour early and bought her a Pandora charm for her bracelet - those things are expensive! The party was in a Golden Corral, where we had a room reserved. Pretty cake, a bunch of pictures, cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents that I hadn't seen in years! Loved it. It's only the Pittsburgh side of the family that has older cousins, so I got to feel like a little sister. And of course I've lost like 25lbs since the last time some of my family saw me - my uncle told me he didn't recognize me at first! Sometimes I forget that I lost so much weight and am still losing it.  Then fireworks with my sisters and cousins in downtown Pittsburgh were pretty. And there was a furries convention - got our pictures taken! I even saw a Wilfred flurry (you only know about Wilfred if you're an Elijah Wood fan). He was smoking and looking unhappy, just like on tv. 

The fireworks were exciting after they were over because there were large groups of 8th-10th graders there and they were fighting - the police even had to get involved. And then a firecracker went off and people weren't sure if it was a gunshot or not. And then the bus was super crowded and a fight to get on. If it hadn't stopped directly in front of us, we wouldn't have gotten seats. The most crowded I've ever been on a bus. For the first time, I appreciated one of my cousins a lot more because of her street smarts. Wow, I must be a country person because I just typed "street smarts" and I can't think of another word for it, so "street smarts" is staying.

The next day was a bbq, so a lot of eating and drinking was done and my grandmother had a lovely time. I love seeing family! We drove back Saturday night, Darcy greeted us and we all slept in. Then today I bought the oil and filter from Walmart, where I must just look lost because a random man helped explain oil filters to me. I basically just let him. I already know what to buy, but a woman can't really walk into the car section and not have a man offer to help. And since half the time I need the help, letting him do it for me is ideal. Traffic was fine on the way back to my apartment, and now here I am, with the laundry in the background and lunch for the first part of the week cooked and ready (lentils and sourdough bread).

On the dating front, S pissed me off and I need to just be done with him. I offered last week to meet up Thursday but he wasn't sure. I wrote him off then, but he waited until Wednesday night to say he had other plans (just tell me straight! I don't have time to wait around on you). And then Thursday night he texted me that his plans fell through so then he had time to hang out with me. Oh. Please. Who does he think I am? So yeah, I'm done. Again. I just forgot what it was like dealing with him apparently. He's all talk and no action. I only considered him because I was sad it didn't work out with RA. Not that I was super attached to RA, I just wanted something to work out.