This picture is for you, Lauren

I was in Chicago for Allan's wedding this weekend and I'm still slowly recovering from the madness. I'm hoping to get some more pictures later because I didn't really take any - I was too busy achieving Level Five. The wedding was on Friday so we went to an Ohio State alumni bar on Saturday night to watch the game against Penn State. A lot of people were in costume and there was a girl in a Girl Scout uniform (Junior, not Brownie) that I was totally coveting. There were the usual slutty cops/schoolgirls/cheerleaders, etc., a really frightening man-baby, lots of Dicks in Boxes, and a couple penguins (I couldn't stop laughing at the penguin flippers). My favorite costume, though, was spotted at Navy Pier during the day. I couldn't get a great picture, but the costume was definitely better than anything at the Natural History Museum exhibit on mythical creatures (I wrote about it somewhere before but don't have the energy to look for the link). I would totally buy this for Lauren if they made it in adult sizes.


Posting has been light lately, but don't worry. I'm saving up for NaBloPoMo!

It would be kind of funny if it didn't suck so much

I decide I'm going to leave work early today and get a run in before it gets too dark or cool. I change clothes, shut down my computer, and gather my assorted belongings to head out the door. At the office front door I start looking for my keys. Not in my purse, gym bag, or computer case. Definitely locked in the backseat of my car. Shit.

I come back to my office and turn the computer back on to kill some time until Jeff can drive me home. The headline at Yahoo? Tips to Deter Car Theft. I'm guessing "Do not leave keys in car" is right up there at the top of the list.

Irrational Fears

1. Intentionally driving off a bridge. I'm okay on overpasses but long bridges over water kind of freak me out because I'm afraid I'll drive off the side just to see what it's like. This has gotten worse over the past couple years because I don't drive over water as much as I used to. Similarly...
2. Opening an airplane emergency exit. I really can't sit in an exit row because I get kind of anxious and jittery looking at the door the whole flight. There's just this tiny temptation to pull the handle that doesn't go away.
3. Turning on the dryer with a cat inside. I seriously have to check and make sure I know where the cats are before I start a load of clothes in the dryer. I've also been known to stop the dryer after a few seconds just to make sure.
4. Lockjaw.

Editors are always worth the extra cost

I totally got the Spellcheck gene from my dad.
ETA: And now "decide on" doesn't sound right. Maybe "choose"?

Losing My Mind

So I've been running a lot lately and I don't know if it's just me or if this is common but intense exercise makes me incredibly stupid. It's like I only have so much brainpower and when I'm spending it on limb coordination there's not a whole lot left to use for other purposes. This morning I spent the whole drive to work behind someone going 55 on I-40 because it never crossed my mind to change lanes. It's like mouse brain that never stops. Also, because there isn't a whole lot of thinking going on my brain tends to latch onto a word or phrase and repeat it endlessly. I was in the shower this morning and I kept thinking "IDK my BFF Rose" - now it's "kthxbai". I've become a walking lolcat.

Let's do a round-up, shall we?
Reading - I finally finished Nicholas and Alexandra. I've also finished Train Go Sorry and The Little Friend. Train Go Sorry was fascinating if a little out of date. I can't even imagine how the internet and related technologies have changed the deaf community in the 15 years since the book was written. The Little Friend was wonderful but ultimately disappointing. I have a love/hate relationship with Donna Tartt after this book and The Secret History, and I really can't figure out how I feel about her books. I read The Secret History five years ago and I still couldn't tell you whether I liked it or not.
As part of Operation: Read The Books You Own I'm not buying anything new until I've made a sizeable dent in the books I already have. I'm partially through an MFK Fisher one now and I think I'll tackle some Dickens after that.

Watching - Dexter and the fourth season of 24. I can't even describe how much I love Dexter, especially Michael C. Hall. He is so incredible as Dexter and I have a hard time believing he's the same guy who played David Fisher on Six Feet Under. I'm also super excited for the return of Friday Night Lights tonight. I've finally given up on Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy and I'm having a fight with Prison Break but we all know I can't give up on Scofield/Burrows brothers. LINCOLN AM NOT THE DUMB! ...And my brain has latched on to a new phrase.

I was going to write about some crafty projects and weekend plans but I think I've emabarassed myself enough for one day. See the post below and go vote for Pam!