Connecticut: Not so bad after all.

Maybe. I'm not willing to concede defeat over the entire state of Connecticut just yet. I know I've said some not so nice things about Connecticut in the past (you know like that time I said I would blow up the entire state and build a bridge from Massachusetts to New York, or that time I said the Hartford Civic Center's beer selection was the only good thing the state had going for it...) but it seems that my work travels will bring me to Waterbury, CT at the end of February. What this means to you, my friends residing in the states directly above or below Connecticut is that you're hanging out with me. What? No, you don't have a choice in the matter.

Do you live in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New York City? Do you want me to kiss your baby/drink a beer with me/cause a ruckus in a rental car between February 25th and March 4th? Hit a girl up and we'll work out dates and times.

Unrelated, but Awesome:
This would be amazing to have on my wall.

Sunday morning, 9am

So here I am, at a coffee shop in a college town. Most of the college kids are still drunk from last night's debauchery. I woke up to a craving for pastries and coffee with milk. And a coffee shop with free WiFi. So here I am. Avoiding the fact that I have to go into work on a Sunday. A Sunday. So I guess this is growing up.

The new Arcade Fire album, "Neon Bible," is good. Arcade Fire made an album where they sound like Arcade Fire. What's that you say? They made an album where they sound like themselves? Astonishing!

I've been thrown out of orbit lately- death in the family, physical sickness, depression. Not in that order, but moreso, concurrently happening in layers, depression on top of death on top of sickness.

More and more each I've been wishing for spring/summer/warmth. I walked outside yesterday and the texture of the snow looked different- not so smooth, but as though I could see each individual snowflake that made the piles of snow outside and I thought to myself, "Maybe this means it is melting away for spring time..." Snapped back into reality, its January, Jennifer. Spring is still months away. Open toed shoes and windows rolled down/music turned up is still months away.

I am headed to Houston this week for a work conference. It would seem I'm the only one among my coworkers who is a) excited to go and b) excited to learn what's new in my field. Its weird and full of pressure to be the It Girl of the Moment at your company- among your coworkers and customers. So many of the people I talk to weekly becoming real faces. So many mouths saying, "I can't wait to meet you!" and "You've done amazing things." I feel excitement, but I also feel keenly aware of the enormous pressure mounting.

And then to my granny's house in Florida- post work conference. I need some centering right now. My Granny and I are one in the same, so the long weekend will be spent at flea markets and cocktail hours and riding bicycles. Hopefully the Florida sunshine can hold me over until spring arrives...or at least until the snow melts.

"My Superbowl Shuffle will set you free."

Hey my friendlies. I'm at home sick-ish today...well, I threw up this morning at work and they sent me home (and I went willingingly!) I am a wimpy and when I throw up I want my mum. No lie. I wish she were here to watch movies with me. Right now. I've also got a wicked fever, but mostly I feel okay, so long as I don't eat or drink anything at all. Ever again. Which is really unfortunate since I love food. (Speaking of people who love food, Kevin Smith director, actor, and funny man started a new series on his blog. Every Monday he talks about his diet. And the foods he wishes he could eat. Its really hilarious. And if you haven't had the chance to read his 8 part series about helping his friend, Jason Mewes (Jay of Jay and Silent Bob) kick his heroin addiction, I strongly recommend. Its truly compelling to read such a sad story of addiction make an amazing friendship even stronger....read it and you'll wish all your friends were like Kevin Smith.) Anyways, I'm sick....

Maybe I just have a case of SUPERBOWL FEVER.



I have big boisterous love for the Superbowl Shuffle. And Mike Ditka. And the Chicago Bears.

Yay! Superbowl!



Movies I am enjoying while I am in quarantine at home:
+Stick It (Bring It On but with gymnastics)




+Material Girls




+SherryBaby

I <3 Maggie Gyllenhaal.



+This Film Is Not Yet Rated





Also, yesterday my cousin and I watched movies since its cold in Minnesota:
+Bring It On: All or Nothing

They talk in IM speak in this movie. "Oh-em-gee!" I just love a good racially motivated comedy with a happy ending and a celebrity cameo. Seriously you guys, I secretly like this movie. A lot.



+The Last Kiss
Zack Braff is highly overrated. I hope he googles his name and reads this. I was reading Pitchfork's review of the new Shins album and the review talked about how the new album was trying to combat the Brafflash of Garden State. Hilarious. Speaking of, has anyone heard the new Shins album? I'm antsy to hear it. Basically, The Last Kiss is The Last Zack Braff movie I watch.

I bet MLK Jr. would know the answer to this Grammar Quiz.

What is the correct name for the long, dry document I am writing for work:

a) User Manual
b) User's Guide
c) System Guide
d) Users Manual
e) Loser's Manual
f) Boozer's Manual
g) Software Bible
h) Software Koran (alternately: Software Q'oran)
i) Giant Book Containing Instructions on How to Use Our Software
j) Magical Book with All the Answers to Life's Mysteries


Culturally Insensitive Quote of the Day:
"Of course the Mennonites are working today, they don't believe in black people."

!!!

In between working and working out and generally avoiding being outside (hello, 4 degree weather, what's up buzzkill?), I had time for the following this weekend:

Watching Veronica Mars Season 1 on D-V-D
Oh that Veronica Mars. Always getting herself into trouble. I love this show.

Reading "Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas" by Tom Robbins
Slow to start, but picks up in classic Robbins fashion. Still not as epic as Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and Still Life with Woodpecker.

Watching a documentary on Al Capone and the St. Valentine's Massacre on the History Channel
Did you know Al Capone was let out of Alcatraz because he suffered from dementia caused by untreated syphilis? Federal officials deemed him a threat to no one. The people that took over his South Side Chicago gang while he was in prison let him continue to believe that he was still in charge after he was released from prison because he was so far gone. Near the end of his life, Capone would spend most of his time fishing in his pool talking to all the people he had murdered in his past.

Listening to all the archived "This American Life" podcasts I could find
Ira Glass, I love you.

Buying a new dress for my work conference in Houston
Its fun to buy things (you can buy many things at the mall!), its even easier on my pocketbook when I have a legitimate reason to buy said items.

And analyzing the Harry Potter books from varying literary criticism approaches (Archetypal vs. Structuralist/Formalism)
I stopped short of writing a 3 - 5 page paper. Lots of research. As proven before: I am a nerd. And Harry Potter is the archetypal hero, like the Baby Jesus. And I'm intrigued by the underlying modern day reflections on our own society JK Rowling is presenting in her fantasy based series: the corruption of government, the media's falsification and sensationalism of the truth, blahblahblah.

Basically, this is what happens when its so cold out that I get stuck indoors all weekend. Nerdy nerdism abounds all over the place. I am so S-M-R-T. And I get very productive on the working and not so productive on the laundry, like I should be.