It's rainin', it's pourin'

I can tell you why it's pouring in Chicago right now. A) I wore my crocs mary-janes today. They are soaked. My feet are soaked. They are drying on the filing cabinet and I have my ugly slippers on. But, the actual reason B) It's May Fest weekend! Last year we had the exact same weather on and off all weekend long. Never fear. Nothing deters people from coming out for beer and brats at the first street festival of the summer! I remember last year's fest, Friday night, major down pours. I was working in the food tent. I was wearing the DANK issued WHITE t-shirt. I noticed that the tent roof was sagging under the weight of the rain water between the posts. The Girl Scout in me sprung in to action. I dashed over to the saggy area and moved everyone out of the way. I pressed up on the sag - and proceeded to dump the water all over myself. In my haste to save the fest-goers, I didn't step in far enough to save myself from the deluge. Everyone stared. "Look! May Fest wet t-shirt contest!" That statement came from my brother-in-law. *shudder* I'm so excited it's May Fest weekend, I don't think I'll be able to sit through these tough 4 hours of work today (GOd Bless summer hours!!) I'm guessing the weekend review is going to be pretty interesting!

Wednesday Free Form

I will admit, I formulated today's blog in the shower. I have some random things I want to share:

• For the love of GOD - History Channel is bringing the world a new season of Ice Road Truckers. I can hardly wait!! Ice! Semis! Grizzly guys with bad teeth and even worse grammar!! It's like I won the lottery!!
• People in my family like to mess up lyrics to songs. A lot. Some of my favorites come from VonMom and VonSis. VonSis used to like that one song "Unbelievable" by, um, Jesus Jones? Or EMF? Hell if I can remember. There were two lines she messed up pretty good. The first: "You shoe-frou, believe you" and the second "Your bur-ba-bur justs gives you away" VonMom just removed entire lines from a Shania Twain (bleh!!!) song. The song's title is also the line VonMom didn't quite get. Instead of "Who's bed have your boots been under" VonMom sang "Who-be-doo-be-doo-be-doo". I can't remember who sang this line, but it slays me every time. From AC/DC's "Shook me all night long", we get "She was a sass machine, she kept her mother clean".
• I tried to buy some fantastic plaid shorts today at an ok yet convenient clothing store today. I was told NNNNOOOOO because I had no monies left on my magic credit card. Boo hiss. I came home from work and took a look around at my closet and dresser. How? How did I max out my card? I was going through drawers and I realized the culprit. My drawers. Or draaaaws. Oh yeah, those 3 pairs of panties I bought with the blue polka dots on them. Yep. I must have really needed those. I must have had a buyer's remorse black out, as I have no remembrance of bringing home not one, but three pairs of polka dotted panties.
• Some Craig's list people came over to the Commune (the phenomenal apt. building I live in) to see the front unit that will be up for rent soon. I happened to come home from the gym and was parking as they were getting out of their car. I was all excited, and started rushing to get out of my car to see them, and be all like - 'Look at me! I live here too! I am very cheerful! I have a dog! I don't smell, and am not weird!', at which point I realized that in that moment I was smelly, and looked pretty weird with my mismatched workout clothes. So I hung out in my car and pretended to gather things. I'm planning on not being around the next time people come to see the place. I like to be the pleasant surprise. Kinda like - upgrade! Cool neighbor who likes to drink and sometimes will blog about you!
• Today's post is goofy on purpose. There are a couple of people in my life going through really hard times right now, and the levity is specifically for them. I hope they got a little chuckle out of something I wrote here today. To the one of you who will not ask for help no matter what - you should. You have no idea how well I can take care of my own, and don't mind doing it at all. Ask and you shall receive. I'm here for you, even when you think no one else is. To the one of you who did ask for help - I admire you all the more now for being awesome enough to ask for help. I am going to be there for you whenever you need. Probably to the point where you'll get sick of me, but at least hopefully with the hint of a smile or smirk on your face.
• If I don't see Indiana Jones SOON, I'm going to kill someone. So, any takers?

Decent

Time for the weekend in review. It was a pretty good weekend, two hang-overs and all. Friday I spent all day in PowerPoint class. My dumb ass thought that an all day class was a good idea the day before a long holiday weekend. The class was good, I learned a lot. No, I will not be using PowerPoint here. Friday night I met VonStepBrother1 for his birthday dinner. We met at a Peruvian BYOB place. It was f a n t a s t i c. All total, there was 8 of us, and 12 bottles of wine. Yummy. VSB1, his g-friend, her brother, her two friends, VSB2 and VonStepSis2. We all had a great time. The food was to die for, the wine was perfect. It was one of those 3 1/2 hour dinners. They had a guy there that played classic rock on this pan flute thing and a drum. I was full and tipsy and went home after dinner. I opted out of the after-party at VSB1's house. At 3:30 am I got a text from VSB1 that said "yay" - I guess the after party was still raging! Saturday I had a wedding to go to. It was one of those weddings where I wasn't sure why I was even invited. It was the older brother of one of my oldest friends. The wedding was at a hotel in Schiller Park. I opted to get a room, so I wouldn't end up with a DUI at the end of the night. The wedding was very cookie cutter. I have to say that the bride's dress was gorgeous. Other than that, nothing much to say. I got tipsy on bad wine. I went solo to this wedding. The reason I did that is because a lot of my oldest/closest friends were there, so I knew I'd be ok. I was. The music was really really bad after a very promising start. The happy couple's first dance was a beautiful song from Rob Thomas that I'd never heard before. After that it was all "Celebration" and "We are family" and blah blah blah. Just plain BAD. I hate that. So, I just sat there and got myself tipsy. Good times. Sunday I had breakfast at the hotel with those of my friends that were able to make it down to the restaurant (there were a few who were way to hung over to join us). Sunday afternoon I was heading over to John and Toni's for dinner. I stopped at the store to pick up dessert. Well, don't shop hung-over. I got 2 desserts, a big tub of spinach dip, chips, and Hawaiian bread. Oops. John grilled up some ribs and hot dogs. We watched Cartoon Network. It was a good time. I like to just chill out sometimes, and John and Toni are the people I like to chill out with the most. So, while not the most exciting of weekends, it was good. I'm back in the swing of things. This weekend I will be at Mai Fest all weekend long. So, if you're around on Saturday, come on over to Mai Fest and see me and Shannon - The two fastest stein pourers in Chicago!

Lemme 'Splain

Yesterday, I got something that made me all giddy and stupid, and I actually squealed. At work. I got my New Kids on the Block tickets. Now, now, let me explain before you just laugh and point. I know, The New Kids are actually not talented singers, or songwriters, or dancers. I also know that they average age of the "kids" is like 42. There is, at least in my opinion, a very good reason I am going to this concert. When I was a teenager, I actually didn't have any New Kids stuff. I had a Jordan Knight doll someone gave me, and this picture book someone else gave me. The posters on my walls were actually of The Cure, and Killing Joke, and Morrissey, and Metallica, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I knew about the New Kids, I dug them as much as any other teenage girl did at the time, I guess. Most of my friends were really into them, and went to all of their concerts. Here's the thing - I NEVER got to see them when I was a kid. VonMom and VonDad are and were awesome, and actually really indulgent of me, but on this topic they did not budge. There was no way they were going to fork over the cash just so I could get some cool points for going to the 19th NKOTB show in 1990. I didn't really push the issue, because they were so cool about almost everything else. But, I did feel like I was missing out. Interesting side note though - I think my mom is behind a lot of my love of music. My first concert was Heart. I approached her nervously about buying the tickets with her credit card. She said "Heart, huh?" and handed over the card with a sly little grin on her face. I feel she was holding out until I picked a quality band to spend my money on. Anyway, back to the New Kids tickets: So, I bought these fackin' tickets for one reason: Because I could. It's really as simple as that. LB1 and I were having lunch, and I told her that there was this pre-sale for American Express cardholders. She said "I have an American Express." There. Done. The following week we went online and bought the tickets - pretty damn good seats too. I bought 3, one for me, one for Laura, who I'm pretty sure is so excited she may not sleep until the concert - which is in October, and one for SIL1X. I had no idea she even liked the New Kids until I was telling the story of how I was getting tickets. She got all excited too. Turns out she was a big fan back in the day too. Just another reason why I heart her big time. So, October 4th, I'll be oh-oh-oh-ohing, with an arena full of thirty-somethings just like me.

Good Monday

Friday night I worked another show at Old Town. My evening started out very well. It was a lovely day, and the radio had this Friday thing, one hour of Flip Siiiiide, or flash back dance music. I can sit in traffic to a little Dangerous on the Dancefloor any freakin' day of the week. I picked up a pizza and went to the DANK Haus and ate with VonSis, who I've been not seeing much of lately and missing. The DANK was getting ready for their monthly Stammtisch (open house). I hung out for a bit, and headed over to Old Town. I was 15 minutes early, or so I thought. Not.So.Much. I walked up to head volunteer D and said "Hi. I know, I'm early..." she says, "No, you're late - you're hospitality." Um. Ok. Didn't know that. Usually, that's a task you find out ahead of time. I was pretty excited though, as I've been trying to learn that function. So, my evening took a little turn. The hospitality volunteer is responsible to/for the artist. This would be the second time I've done this job. I'm flexible, whatever. Alice Peacock was the artist. Her opener was very nice, damned if I can remember his name, but had a great voice, and was lyrically a treat to listen to. Anyway, Alice couldn't have been nicer. She was kind, and not at all demanding. I brought her a glass of wine and that's pretty much it. A nice lady with quite the voice. Again, I will rave about Old Town. Best Vibe Ever. That's the one thing I hear over and over again from the artists. But, to be honest, the best part of Friday night was when K taught me a new crochet stitch. I am really digging my new hobby. Y'all are getting scarves for Christmas/Hanukkah. UPDATE: The almostfriend that pissed me off bad last week was there Friday night. I was cautious at first, wanted to see what she would do. She was normal, nothing to indicate one way or the other where we stood. Well, I'm not that person. The first chance I got, I approached her. "So, are we talking? Friends? Just curious here." "Did I say we weren't friends?" "Well, we had that argusation last week...." "Refresh my memory. What happened?" So, I refreshed her memory. She thought about it a second. Then she said: "Yeah, I probably should have said something to that other person instead of you." "Yep, well, are we fine?" "Yeah, I didn't even remember it til you brought it up." So, safe to say I got all upset over something that was nothing to her. But, as I said previously, she's mostly awesome, so I'm keeping her on the nice list. I have no good reason to update the rest of my weekend. L A M E But: I did make up the term "vonocracy" this weekend. The sentence was "This is not a vonocracy, please speak up". I like it. I'm keeping it. It works. I painted my nails Really Red today. I'm feeling sassy. It's going to be a good week. I can just feel it. I am currently listening to "The Best of Morrissey" loudly (ok, really unacceptably loudly). I can only hope the neighbors hate it when their friends become successful.

Like an animal

The other day I was driving, and I was flipping through the stations hoping to hear something worth listening to. My car is woefully ill-equipped for my musical demands. After a few button pushes, I heard the very beginning of a song. I was so excited. I could barely stand it. The song was "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. See, I have this thing about music. I am addicted to it. I love music. I have a song for every thing, and every person and every important moment. A song can bring me right back to a memory. This particular song, this particular memory is strong, and awesome, and makes me smile. When I was 21, my friends and I hung out at this bar/club every Friday. I mean Every Friday. We were such regulars that if we were late, no one would take our table, which was prime real estate, right next to the dj booth and dance floor, and the closest table to the bar. The place was called Shadows. It was so bad that it was good. Black walls with Neon bright paint everywhere. Friday nights were flash back dance parties. No cover befoe 11, and Miller Lite was $1.50. Rediculous good times were had there from open to close, every week. We weren't the only regulars, so after a while all regulars became familiar. These were people that if you saw them by the light of day, on, say, a Tuesday, you would give each other a knowing nod - a 'see you Friday' tilt of the head. One of these regulars was a guy we referred to (unbeknownst to him of course) as Chisel Face. His features were so perfect it was like he was chisled from marble. We had encountered Chisel Face for the first time during our teen-aged years when we hung out at this other club, a goth/punk/alternative playground of a place called Medusa's. CF was a regular there, and so were we. He was hot. We were chubby, but at least we could dance. He didn't know we existed back then. We encountered CF again somewhere between high school and twenty one. He was a host at Baker's Square. Again, he didn't know we existed. By the time we got to all being regulars at Shadows, we kind of knew each other. Chisel Face had dated some girl I knew, we knew the same people, it was a comfortable getting along. Of course, my friends and I all wanted to fack him. He was the epitomy of HOT. He was also very goth. He was a fantastic dancer who only danced to very particular songs. We all watched him when he danced, with his hotness and great moves and such it was one collective sigh. One night, I was walking across the dance floor, and "Closer" started to play. I was about to pass Chisel Face when the song began. All of the sudden he turned to me, put his hand on my arm, and jerked his head behind him, in the direction of the middle of the dance floor. I couldn't believe it - he was indicating that he wanted to dance with me. I gave it about 1/2 second of thought. I knew what to do, and how to do it. I had grown up on dancing to this kind of music. I knew how to mosh. I mean really mosh - in a Black Flag kind of way. The moshing that meant a nice look of bent backs, bent arms, twirling legs. None of this let's just jump up and down running into each other kind of moshing that people do today. Real moshing, in a circle, like it's supposed to be done. So, I danced. I danced and danced to the whole song. Not near CF, but WITH him. I didn't even bother to look if anyone was watching. It was my moment. I didn't care. To my 21 year old chubby brain, it was everything. After the song was over, and "Karma Chameleon" came over the speakers, CF leaned over, kissed me on the cheek and said "Thanks". I turned to go back to my table and noticed that my friends had been watching, and were waiting for me to get to the table to fill them in on the how of the whole event. They probably would have clapped had they not known better. After that CF and I went back to our comfortable we-kind-of-know-each-otherness. But that moment will forever belong to that song.

I did something I don't normally do

Now that I have your attention - But really, I did something I don't normally do. I was reading this book "The Worst Day of My Life So Far", and I didn't finish it. I got about half way through it, and I gave up on it. See, it's a really really bad read. I mean, I'd rather rip my eyelids off with rusty pliers than finish that book. I read all the time. All the time. I've read quite a few books this year so far, I'm keeping track this year just out of curiosity to see how many book I generally read. I was just telling people last weekend how even if I dislike a book, I'll finish it. Nah, not this time. It was that bad. It's basically the story of some ugly skinny middle-aged chick who's marriage is falling apart, her teenage son doesn't talk to her. Her dad died and her mom has Alzheimer's and she's got to take care of her and blah blah blah. Every few pages I found myself flipping to the back to see how many more pages I had to go. I so didn't care at all about this lady, or her husband, or her mom, or her brother Rocky (really? Rocky? bleh!) or any of it. It got so bad that last night on the train home I was actually upset because that's all I had with me to read, and didn't have my iPod. Thankfully, VonSis is a part of this paperbackswap.com thing, and I just gave it back to her to get rid of. I emailed VonSis this morning and said I hated the book, didn't finish it, please get rid of it. VonSis wrote back 'Stupid book'. I assume it will be off to some unsuspecting fool sooner rather than later. My next read is "The Memory Keeper's Daughter". I'm suspicious about it already because I know they made it a Lifetime movie, but I'll give it a chance. The best book I've read so far this year is "My Boring Ass Life" by Kevin Smith (*sigh*) It's basically his blog put to pen and paper. Admittedly, I was way not digging the parts about him facking his wife, but overall, it's a good read, especially if you're a fan of his. I read all types of books, and am open to any suggestions. Care to share your favorites?

Sorry, but I'm pissed

I'm not going to give the weekend in review today. I'm kinda pissed off about something that seems to be a recurring theme in my life of late. Friends - stop treating me like shit. If you're too busy to answer the phone, then don't answer the phone. If your life sucks, don't treat me like it's some how my fault. I'd like to think that you treat all of your friends equally, but you don't. You have different rules for different people, and I'm sick of it. A lot of people that don't know me very well think I'm a bitch. That's true. I can be. I'm outspoken, honest, and self-confident. A lot of people that don't know me tend to be a little be afraid of me. This is all ok with me. The problem lies with my friends, those that do know me. These people have the ability to hurt my feeling more than other people. Lately, it seems they do - time and time again. A recent example is someone that I've been trying to become better friends with lately. She's awesome, and I look up to her. The other day she went off on my for something that should not have been a big deal. Don't fucking yell at me, when the person who is truly wrong, who really screwed up, is standing right next to you. I've been mad for a few days about this incident. I'm conflicted, because I'm not sure what I'm going to do about this one. Up until the incident, I feel that we had been making good progress to actually becoming friends. Now, I don't know what I want to do about it. She's someone I see on a regular basis at one of my things, so avoiding her is not an option. I'm waiting for her to blog about what a bitch I was, but it hasn't happened yet. I'll have to see how this plays out. I'm going to push it out of my mind (or try to) until Friday, when I have to see her again. I think I'll let her take the lead on this. If she is still a bitch, then game over. I have enough friends, I don't need another one treating me badly. If she's nice to me, I'll just let it go. Like I said - she's cool, and someone I thought would make a good friend. I don't want to get more specific, as some of my friends read this blog, and I'm not in the game of hurting feelings. I know that I told Shannon I would never be in the practice of blogging about people without naming them. I am taking exception here to not hurt feelings, or have a fight/discussion on the internet. I'll just say this - If you are reading this, and you think 'Maybe she's talking about me, and I've been kinda a shit friend lately.' then you're right, I probably am. Just know, friends, that I have feelings. I have a life. My life, my topics of conversation, my problems should be as important as yours. Yes, I have strong opinions, but sometimes, I'm right. I don't always understand what you do, and why. Don't say things you don't mean. **FYI - I just wrote this to vent. I feel better now. I do NOT want to discuss these issues further. If you think you might have been a shitty friend to me recently, then just fix it, and let's move forward.

Zoe Zombie

So, the above is Zoe (rhymes with NO). Zoe is a zombie that my friend Krista makes and sells. I got Zoe Friday night while I was learning how to crochet. Zoe's pretty awesome. I brought her to work so Charlie won't eat her. She has found a home under my monitor, with my shot glass I got from Team NY, and my Obama/Morrissey 08 picture. I love my desk. I have a cubicle (at my old job I had my own office for 10 years, so I'm still getting used to this cubestyle) and I'm trying to be myself while also trying to be understated. It's a work in progress. I don't think LB2 has even seen Zoe yet. Good thing. Zoe is not a toy - she's more of a statement. You may see Zoe from time to time here on the blog. She's learning to say more than "Brains! Feed me brains!" and growling.

Some purdy pictures

Today, I'm offering you all a glimpse via my awesome purple Kodak easy share into my pretty great life. This first picture shows you the building I work in. I work in the one that's kinda behind the one that's all flat. Mine is the cool pointy one. Pretty awesome.


I've mentioned before how much I love this city, and love where I work. At lunch yesterday I went over to the park to take some pictures to help explain why I dig this place so much:




I am very very new at taking pictures. Or, what I consider to be "good/real" pictures. Photography classes are on my list of things to do before the end of the year. Shannon and I went to Ireland a couple of years ago. At the time, I didn't have a digital camera, just this crappy 35mm I've had since high school. I took lots and lots and lots of pictures in Ireland. I'll never forget when I was showing them to people, I had more than one person say to me "Huh, Von, some of these are actually good....". Inspiring words, really.

Slightly less lame weekend in reveiw.

My weekend was kinda less than. Friday night was good. I went to First Friday at Old Town, where I learned how to crochet. I was in a horrible mood when I got there, but after learning how to chain and turn, and drank a bit, and ate a brownie or two, I was in a much better mood. I really like crocheting. It did a lot to improve my mood. There's not a lot of thinking to the act of it, and it's just calming. I've been practicing whenever I've had some down time this weekend. Whenever I've had the t.v. on, I've been practicing crochet. I think I'm getting better. This first effort will probably end up being a blanket for Charlie. Who knows. Saturday was my god-daughter's First Communion. I don't go to Mass, like, ever. My parents were there, as was Laura and her family. (Laura's my best friend, has been for 19 years.) We laughed and laughed all through the 1 1/2 hour mass. It was great. Kinda creepy though - I'm not really down with Catholicism much any more, and all of those little brides of Christ lookin' kids with their up-dos and fancy white dresses. Creeped me out, that's all I'm saying. VonMom got annoyed with Laura and I and our chatting and laughing. I'm sure God was just happy I was in the hiz-ouse. Saturday night watched Juno. Eh. Good movie, funny and all, but the music made me want to rip out my ear-drums with my pinky nails. Sunday First Communions of both Niece and Nephew. Didn't go to Mass. Two days in a row is w a y too much for me. Polish banquet hall food after. I do think it's really funny that when I mention to my step-siblings that I learned how to crochet, and I love it, they ALL think that's code for something drrrty and bad. Hm. I know they think I'm some bad-ass rocker chick and all, but c'mon people. I had to explain to them that I am a diamond - all multi-faceted, and one of the new facets is that I crochet. I also love that VonSib Peter and I took the phrase "pure as the driven snow" and made it all drrty and hilarious, with Zamboni references, and plowing, good times. Ok, maybe I am a bad-ass after all. I also grocery shopped this weekend. I wouldn't mention it at all except that I wanted to mention that I really dug the Muzak this time. We went from James Taylor, to Jon Secada, to Backstreet Boys/N'Sync or whatever. Here's me, singing in the aisles (loudly, I don't care.) "I don't care who you are, where you're from, oh crap, I have to go back for refried black beans, as long as you love meeeee!!!" Yeah, I'm a lot of fun out in public. Oh, and I'd like to mention I came upon something at said grocery store that creeped me out - they now have these Slow Melting Popsicles. WTF?!? A)How many chemicals do you think are in those things that they don't melt the normal way? B) Really? Part of the fun of Popsicles is the brain freeze, and the sticky hands, and now you are taking that all away? Bleh. No thanks.

James Lipton R O C K S

Sometimes on the weekends, I'll stumble upon that Inside the Actors' Studio show with James Lipton. He's fun. He's cool with a capital C. My favorite part of the show is at the end, when he does that question and answer session with each guest. Some people give great responses, some are eh, but it got me to thinking. Two of my favorite questions in that segment are: What is your favorite word? and What is your least favorite word? So, I've come up with a little sampling of words that I love and words that I hate. *Disclaimer: This list is about ONLY the Word. Not what the word means, or represents, or anything. Just the word, so please don't get all word defensive in my comments. Thanks.* Words I Love: Bubble, Kiss, Smooth, Meander, Crystal, Klavier, Tryst, Skyscraper, Torrid, Clandestine, Bramble, Fire, Tramp, Vaudville, Smirk, Beatific, Harmony. These words make me smile and I like the sounds of them. Words I Hate: Kitchen, Fresh, Hook, Jejune, Trip, Smudge, Bus, Purse, Tangerine, Diner, Park, Pigeon, Spit. These words get tangled up in my mouth and I just don't like them. I could actually go on and on and on with both lists, but then this would be the post that never ends. Any words that any of you feel strongly about?