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Thursday, September 17th, 2009
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The Rules: a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search (http://www.flickr.com/). b. Using ONLY the first page, pick an image. c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Mosaic Maker. Change rows to 3 and columns to 3 (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php). d. Save the image and post it on this note!
The Questions: 1. What is your first name? 2. What is your favorite food? 3. What is your favorite color? 4. Favorite drink? 5. Dream vacation? 6. Favorite hobby? 7. What you want to be when you grow up? 8. What do you love most in life? 9. One word to describe you?
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
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So a few weeks ago, Britt backed into my car...again. This would be the second time in about four months, so we (he) decided not to submit it to insurance. Probably wise, but given that I'm driving a Benz, I figured repairs were not going to be cheap. Last time they fixed the front bumper it ended up being >$2K.
This time I figured we would forego the paint repairs since the bumper looked structurally intact. However, the car was vibrating slightly at high speeds (70-80 mph) so I figured I would take it in to be balanced. Of course, of the only two places in Nashville that work on Mercedes, one is incompetent and the other is the dealership. Which is also incompetent, but I'll get to that in a second.
I took my car in and they fixed all the things wrong with the suspension. I guess that's the problem with taking a hit--chances are, things on the inside are going to be compromised. The engine mounts had snapped, car needed balancing, there were some leaks in the engine, etc. So $2100 later, I picked up my car.
As I was pulling away from the dealership, the car started wildly bucking. I should have stopped then and there but I figured it was secondary to routine maintenance, flushing fluid lines, etc. I drove away and surmised that it would work itself out...except it didn't. It continued all weekend and so I called first thing Monday and brought it back in for them to check out. Clearly this was something that had happened while it was in the shop, because my car had never done this before. I figured it would be something they had forgotten to reconnect, or sync, or whatever.
Two days later, they finally come up with a diagnosis. Bad torque converter, and the entire transmission needs to be replaced, for $6,000. What, are you kidding me? I am getting married in little over three weeks, I don't have money for this shiznit, and THEY BROKE IT DAMNIT!
I took my car to a transmission workshop for a second opinion. Today they came back with the diagnosis and estimate...rebuild the transmission for $3K. At least it's better than what the dealership would charge, but still. It should be ready for me to pick up on Friday. In the meantime, I'm driving Britt's 2006 Passat, and he and his mom are sharing a car.
This whole weekend Britt and I worked on getting him packed and ready for the move to Nashville. Yesterday, I was exhausted and ready to come home to start all the work I needed to do at my place before the start of the workweek. (So much for a labor-free Labor Day.) Unfortunately, at about the time I was getting ready to leave, the Passat wouldn't start. For real. We spent several hours driving around looking for a new battery, which no one seemed to have (WTF?). Finally located one and I drove back home, pissed but grateful the car was back in working order.
This morning I left for work early because I had a dress fitting at 10a, and I wanted to get some stuff done beforehand. Not three blocks from my house, some moron pulled right out in front of me and slammed on the brakes. I narrowly missed hitting him, but spilled an entire pot of coffee on my lap in the process. (All over the brand new cream-colored, now latte-colored skirt.) Cursing, I turned around and drove home to change into an alternative outfit. Got back in the car, cursing some more because now I was late, and--care to guess? Anyone?
THE F-ING CAR WOULDN'T START.
After some repeated attempts it rallied, but there seems to be some massive electrical system failure. Two new engine lights are on, some of the dashboard readouts aren't coming up correctly, the entire sound system is out, and the car is making a weird buzzing noise (which has nothing to do with the speakers. It continues even after the car is shut off, following my exit and subsequent lockup.)
OK. What old lady did I beat up to deserve this karma? All the ones I have smacked down previously totally had it coming. Am almost afraid to ask...what next? Seriously?
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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So I'm up to 120+ miles this month so far, but I had to skip running today. I have a feeling I am seriously overtraining...or at least, that seems to be what my right ankle is screaming at me. I am sure this has something to do with running in my Complete Trail 100 Pumas, which are adorable but lack arch support. I normally run in my asics, which offer better support, but gave me a blister on the arch of my foot last weekend. I am sure THIS was due to poor choice of socks (no padding), but learned too late the necessity of having good socks on a 6 mile run. Also? Getting a blister on the bottom of your foot, 3 miles into a 6 mile loop (otherwise known as the point of no return), is not a good way to spend a Sunday morning.
Or maybe my sore ankle is merely a result of my getting old? I have been lying to everyone and telling them I just turned 31 27 but perhaps my joints know better.
In other news, I am absolutely determined to maintain my Weight Watchers-induced loss before wedding time this October, and must straighten up my act accordingly. Lest you all think I am just being vain, the gauntlet has been thrown by my dress tailor. She tucked that corset so tight when I took it in for alterations that I kept expecting her to say "Now, suck in!" ala Mamie-style. And since I got measured for this thing at my tiniest, I need to maintain...or else. I fell off the wagon entirely last week (it was my birthday, and my friends took me to a dinner and a fabulous brunch...there were cosmos, and smores, and creme brulee french toast involved). With deep fear and trepidation, I forced myself to the weigh-in last Thursday because I knew I needed the number to shock me back to my senses, and it did just that. I have been stellarly good all weekend though and have discovered the best, lowest-point dinner EVER. Vegan Boca burgers, on a low-cal wheat bun, with grilled red/yellow peppers, portobellos, and sliced cucumbers is quite possibly the best burger substitute I have ever come across. And I'm not even a hippie vegan!
No offense to hippies, you have obviously been eating better than I for years. But now I am on to your secrets!
Also accompanied this with baked sweet potato fries, and grilled yellow squash-in-between-cucumber-slices-sandwiches. Both of these were teh awesome. I am so glad I gave up butter, which I am now convinced blunted the taste of vegetables so that I was unable to properly enjoy them before. The squash had a delicious buttery flavor all its own, anyway. And baked sweet potato fries? OMG. I am totally having that for dinner again tomorrow night!
So, great dinner! But my ankle still hurts. :(
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
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There is nothing like relaxing on the couch after a long run, with a little dog substituting as a hot-water bottle on your knees. :) Poor Bella was not very interested in running with me today. She kept pulling at the leash as we were passing our exit path in the park, and when we passed it (I wanted to go another mile), she looked back at me as if to say "You have GOT to be kidding." Poor Bella. I eventually dropped her off at home and went back out to finish my run.
Am so jealous of everyone at Comic-Con! Can't wait to hear all the stories.
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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So here's a quick and dirty top 10 guide to what has been going down here in Nashville!
1. Britt and I are still dating. In fact, we will be getting married October 3rd! Here's to wedding planning shenanigans! (It's going quite well, actually.) We just picked out our wedding rings this weekend and finalized our contract at CJ's Off the Square in Franklin (you can see pretty pictures from other weddings at their website, http://www.cjsoffthesquare.com).
2. I joined Weight Watchers on a whim when some co-workers started a group in January. Since joining, I have lost 35 lbs and am now down to my best weight ever, in the 1-teens. I haven't been down to this since 7th grade! Am still a little giddy over actually fitting into a size zero...although at 5'2, perhaps that is not much of an accomplishment. :P It does, however, drive me mildly crazy whenever someone chalks up my weight loss to fitting into a wedding dress. (This conversation comes up often.) I was half-way to my weight loss goal before even getting engaged, people!
3. Have also gotten super fit and have just reached my goal of running 6+ miles at a time. Finding that I can do this without dying is a definite plus. It's also nice communing with nature. Of course, yesterday I got pooped on by a bird, but what are you gonna do?
4. Bella is doing super fantastic. She has taken up running with me and is actually much faster than I am, much to my chagrin.
5. Am on Facebook! You can visit my profile here: http://www.facebook.com/people/Anne-Zichterman/1620350978#/profile.php?id=1620350978. Still haven't migrated to Twitter.
6. I still love shoes.
7. I still love Project Runway. Are we ever going to get a new season?
8. I still feel dirty listening to Britney Spears music. But I listen, nonetheless.
9. I changed jobs and now work full time for my previous consulting gig.
10. Britt and I have tossed around the idea of moving after the wedding. My primary reason for wanting to do this is for a bigger closet.
That's about it, I suppose. Is it sad that I can summarize a year and a half in ten points?
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(6 Schnoogles | Schnoogles for all!)
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I haven't been on here in over a year! I'm so happy to see others haven't abandoned it...I have been wondering how all my LJ friends were doing. I'm so tickled you all are still here! It's like catching up with old friends...
How are you all?!
xoxo-a
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(7 Schnoogles | Schnoogles for all!)
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Sunday, December 30th, 2007
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I haven't done one in a while.
1) Where did you begin 2007? At Natalie and Adam's as the only single at an all-couples party. (It was supposed to be Britt's and my second meeting, but he couldn't make it.) Had a great time despite the heartache of finding out I had spent two weeks searching for the perfect New Years outfit for nothing. Natalie and I spent a romantic evening stargazing and spotting constellations. :P
2) What was your status by Valentine’s Day? As the girlfriend of the Best Boyfriend Ever, who surprised me with the best V-day in the history of V-days and completely made up for all the ones I had spent alone. :)
3) Were you in school (anytime this year)? Thank God, no.
4) How did you earn your money? Baby works hard for the money! I paid for shoes by working as a clinical specialist, pain consultant, writing journal articles, and giving talks at meetings.
5) Did you have to go to the hospital? Very nearly EVERY FREAKING DAY. Then again, at least I wasn't a patient for most of them.
6) Did you have any encounters with the police? Not one! That's unusual!
7) Where did you travel this year? Oh geez. Sumter/Columbia/Seabrook Island (SC), St. Louis (MO), Kansas City (KS), Research Triangle Park (NC), Louisville (KY), West Palm Beach (FL), Chicago (IL), Las Vegas (NV), and camping and rafting at the Ocoee River in TN. Probaby more...that's just for the past three months.
8) What did you purchase that was over $1,000? More things than I want to admit. The most fun would have to be my favorite Chloe handbag which I finally broke down and purchased from Bluefly. And my least favorite--Mercedes maintenance (which totaled $1443.49 just yesterday). Pft.
9) Did you know anybody who got married? There were so many weddings this year! Four of my friends got married in the same month. Britt was the perfect boyfriend as ever and accompanied me to all the ones I could get to, which included Susanna's at Seabrook Island and Sam's in Kansas City.
10) Did you know anybody who passed away? Very sadly, yes. An old friend, this summer.
11) Biggest surprise? That I can be this crazy in love with someone.
12) Did you move anywhere? No.
13) What concerts/shows did you go to? I'm going to forget a bunch. My favorite would be the one I played in, with Tennessee Valley Winds at the Schermerhorn Center in Nashville (I did the solo work for Gershwin's 2nd Prelude in F!) But I also saw the Nashville Symphony, Lisa Lampinelli, that "Hot Pockets" comedian whose name I can't remember, a theater production of The Full Monty...that's all I'm going to even try to remember at the moment.
14) Are you registered to vote? Yes.
15) Who did you want to win Dancing with the Stars? I personally couldn't give a flying rat's--well--you know. I still have never seen an episode of this show.
16) Where do you live now? In a lovely three-story townhouse in Nashville.
17) Describe your birthday? It was one-part suck, because it took place two days after my surgery, and three-parts awesome, because I spent it with my parents and Britt.
18) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2007? Date someone for almost the ENTIRE YEAR. And even bring him home for Christmas!
19) What has been your favorite moment? There were many, all too close to my heart to share. :)
20) What's something you learned about yourself? I may be capable of actually writing up a budget. We'll see if I am also capable of holding to it through 2008.
21) Any new additions to your family? Yes, I think so.
22) What was your best month? All of them!
23) What music will you remember 2007 by? The Bittersweet album...and Rogue Traders.
24) Who has been your best drinking buddy? Natalie, Adam, Karla, Boggs...and Britt. And Stephanie! Girlfriend knows how to throw down!
25) Favorite night out? It's hard to decide...meeting Britt for the second time at the trendy new restaurant downtown, Radius 10? Our first date at the small, intimate Italian restaurant Cafe Nonna? Going to Britt's work awards dinner, where he was honored and we made out in the coat closet? Picnicing with Britt's friends from high school at the Jazz on the Lawn at the Beachhaven Winery in Clarksville? Dressing up and joining high society at the Highballs and Hydrangeas at Cheekwood in Nashville? Getting rained out of the Full Moon Pickin' Party at Steeplechase and having to flee to Natalie and Adam's for drinks and laughs? Going to the Cardinals game and exploring the stadium with Britt? Or hanging with my peeps from the Johnny H in Las Vegas? Too many to pick from...what can I say? 2007 was a great year!
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(1 Schnoogle | Schnoogles for all!)
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Sunday, December 9th, 2007
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Last week: trip to LV was lots of fun. Only gambled at one sitting (at Roulette), putting in $40 and walking away with $83. I think it's my hard and fast rule--if I double my money, I'm out!!
Britt actually did more shopping than me at the start, which was horribly, horribly wrong. He got a great coat at Hugo Boss (after he tried to pass it up, I convinced him if he won at roulette, he should go back and get it--he did win, and we did go back) and promptly started feeling buyer's remorse. I was all, "what is this buyer's remorse?" Following this, I went shopping with the girls and regained some ground in BCBG with some great going-out outfits. Unfortunately I did not have much time for other shopping (and we actually do have a BCBG in Nashville), so no exotic purchases for me this time around.
Gave my talk on pipeline drugs, which turned out to be fun but slightly more intimidating than I thought. My session was on the last day of the meeting, so I figured most people would have hared off--after all, my own flight was shortly after my speaking time and I had to leave directly afterwards--so I was expecting about 20-30 people. I swear, when I walked into the meeting room, I can't tell you how I felt when I saw the room was the size of Fort Knox and there were already a few hundred there forty minutes early. By the time the session started, there were almost no empty seats left and people were actually sitting around the sides of the room. WTF! Also, my talk was the only one to get questions. Perhaps not such a bad thing, since I hate losing the audience's attention, but maybe some people were just interested in new pain management drugs.
Last night Britt and our friends Natalie and Adam went out to see the Christmas lights at Opryland Hotel. This outing was fairly uneventful until dinner afterwards, which is going to make a great story even though at the time I was ready to wet my pants.
( Click here for the crazy story...come on, you know you want details! )
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(4 Schnoogles | Schnoogles for all!)
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Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
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Alright, I think I may be overdue for checking on my LJ friends. Everyone still alive? I've been MIA for so long that I have no idea what's going on with anyone anymore. :( Sorries! I'll have to check my flist pronto and catch up on...oh...six months worth of life!
Things in Nashville are great...just busy! Work's been crazy, although going well despite the busy-ness. Going to Las Vegas next week for the ASHP meeting, and giving a talk on pain management pipeline drugs. Several friends from the Johnny H are making the trip and/or speaking as well. Am really looking forward to hanging out with my girls! I think Karla already has our shopping course planned.
(Of course, Britt is coming too, and escaping for a few days with him is going to be fantastic.)
Speaking of the boy, spent Thanksgiving in Clarksville with his family (I really love them!) and playing Lego Starwars on the Wii. Has anyone played this game? You can play different Star Wars characters, but I think my favorite is Episode IV Leia. Her weapon is a blaster but up close she just starts bitch-slapping the hell out of everyone. Britt and I didn't advance very far through the storyline, because when we couldn't figure out how to clear the screen we just started attacking each other (in the game, in the game!) because the animation was just so darn funny.
Other than that, nothing new to report. What's going on with you all?!
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(4 Schnoogles | Schnoogles for all!)
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OMG, it has been like two months but I have been entirely too busy to post...or do much of anything outside of juggling work/social life! *blows off dust*
Let's see, what has happened in the interim? I am officially published. ^_^ Check it out! Mine is the feature article for this month and is listed as the first story under "Latest CE Lessons."
Just got back from a speaking engagement in Fort Lauderdale this week...and am still trying to catch up on sleep. The presentation was fun but coming back was so not. Getting up at 4am to fly back to work? Bleh. Although Britt did send me a beautiful bouquet of tulips upon my return, so maybe it was worth it after all. :) It looks like next month I will be doing another talk for my umbrella hospital company and later, one for ASHP midyear, which is being held in Vegas this year. Rock on! Maybe I will get to hang out with Hugh Hefner and the girls next door (like some friends a few weeks ago).
Getting ready for a cookout tomorrow...I have made key lime and lemonade pies. Happy Memorial Day everyone!
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(1 Schnoogle | Schnoogles for all!)
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Thursday, March 29th, 2007
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Some whore just stole my D&G sunglasses while I was shopping in BCBG today. I was fully aware that I had them perched on my head. I sat down to try on a pair of shoes, which took the floor salesgirl forever to go get. (Seriously. Ten minutes? To get an f-ing pair of shoes?!) While I was waiting--and mind you, I would have left if I hadn't really, really wanted those shoes--I tried on a few pairs of sunglasses. In doing so, I took of my D&Gs and laid them on the bench next to my purse and bags.
When I went back to get them, they were gone. WTF!!
Oh, and by the ways, my beloved Christian Dior sunglasses spontaneously combusted last week. I had them sitting next to my purse at a dinner out, and when I leaned over to pick them up afterwards, one of the arms was sitting under my friend's chair. Again...WTF!!
That's both pairs of sunglasses, gone within a week of each other. Now, I know in the grand scheme of things, they are...well...sunglasses. And I also fully realize that some people just simply buy their sunglasses at Target. I, however, do not. I LOVE my sunglasses. I feel naked without them! And they were COUTURE DAMNIT! The only places I have ever bought sunglasses are expensive designer boutiques or Neimans/Saks, and we don't have any of those anywhere in the entire state of Tennessee!!
*cry*
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2007
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| Time: | 6:35 pm. |
| Mood: | cheerful. |
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More flowers! This time he sent a bouquet of Asiatic "sunset" lilies, which are seriously beyond gorgeous. Had dinner with his parents on Saturday...they are so nice! We ended up taking a stroll by the small pond behind his house and we fed the ducks there. Lots of fun.
Now I am craving chicken tenders like nobody's business. It is enough to make me venture out to O'Charley's curbside delivery, something I rarely do, but I'm getting desperate and I'm entirely too tired to cook anything.
The post office finally delivered all my mail (a month's worth!) on Saturday. It took me several hours to sort through but everything is in order. Honestly!
Am very glad my consulting firm is going to get me a laptop. My computer woes are not as serious as requiemart's...but they are getting close.
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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Britt sent me another delivery of flowers (pink tulips) last week at work. I took them home on Friday and they are currently beautifying my kitchen. He is awesome.
My life is extremely full at the moment. Lots of stuff going on at work...hanging out with new friends...hanging out with old friends...and getting back $4K from the U.S. government. Yes, that's right. Baby needs a new pair of shoes!
Okays, off to go do nothing in particular. Everyone going to catch tonight's encore presentation of South Park? (Hilarious!)
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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Saturday, March 17th, 2007
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They just up and decided to not ever deliver my mail again, apparently, despite my personal appearance at their office on Monday. As far as I can tell, they have either thrown away or sent back every piece of mail sent to me over the past 17 days, rather than just delivering it to my box.
WTF!!
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(3 Schnoogles | Schnoogles for all!)
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--in not "I hate the post office" news:
Still sick with this darned respiratory thing. I got two weeks of doxycycline to treat it, but started having intractable nausea and couldn't keep the doses down. I managed only just over a week of treatment before having to stop, as I kept getting violently ill while at work. Unfortunately, after I stopped the antibiotics, I started relapsing. Went back today and got scripts for a Z-pak and a steroid taper. We'll see how it goes. Ech.
Not all things are bad...still enjoying having a social life (and still adore Britt by the way). Am otherwise, besides the illness, having fun at work. Have a great student from UT this month on rotation. Am having much fun with a good friend who is also in the throes of the beginning of the dating scene with a really great guy (who, coincidentally, was also a set-up by a mutual friend). Whee! Cute boys for everyone!
OK, off to get my tax forms ready for tomorrow's appointment.
And am still really, really hating the post office.
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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I hate the post office. They are not delivering my mail, and instead sent it all back to senders. I have no idea how many tax forms I am missing now, but I am definitely missing my February paycheck from my consulting job. I have no idea what their problem is. I haven't gotten any mail delivery for over a week.
Hate them. SERIOUSLY. And when I went to [politely] inquire about it, the manager was rude! She has got to be kidding!
*fumes*
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(1 Schnoogle | Schnoogles for all!)
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Sunday, February 25th, 2007
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| Time: | 7:34 pm. |
| Mood: | content. |
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I'd say I'm overdue for an update on this thing.
This month could only be described as awesome but crazy. Work has been a little nuts and I have been frantically trying to pull together my journal article as the deadline is March 1st. I had been putting it off because I was worried about how I was going to write about opioid pharmacology for 5,000-6,000 words. I shouldn't have freaked out about the quota and just started writing, as I had over 8,000 before I was even close to being finished. I had to cut a considerable amount of material, but I kept the longer rough draft. At least I have a book chapter ready should I ever need to submit one.
I found the hardest thing about writing the lesson was finding references for each individual statement. It would have taken infinitely less time if I could have just written the article and used bulk references at the end. Of course, that's not how medical writing works. At least I finished with the rough draft. I'm submitting the manuscript tomorrow a few days early.
Britt surprised me with an awesome Valentine's Day that included a dozen red tulips (my favorite, he knows how much I prefer them to roses), champagne and chocolate ice cream. I think he has successfully managed to turn around my intense hatred of all things Valentine's Day. He even brought treats for Bella! He really knows what he is doing. Bella now loves him, and lavishes him with way more attention whenever he walks through the door than she does me when I come home. Can't say I blame her, though...
And finally, I have a terrible cold that has been going on for the better part of a month. Everyone at work plus Britt has been sick too but at least they have already started on antibiotics. I am going to the MD tomorrow and I hope to come back with something. I swear I feel like I either have pneumonia or TB.
That's all for this update! Off to see what Bella is tearing into. I haven't seen her for a while and that is usually indicative of imminent destruction.
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(1 Schnoogle | Schnoogles for all!)
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Saturday, February 3rd, 2007
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| Time: | 9:38 pm. |
| Mood: | disturbed. |
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Animated, talking smileys (for use with AOL...? or what?) scare the hell out of me.
...That is all.
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(1 Schnoogle | Schnoogles for all!)
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What a week! It was taken up almost entirely by rehearsals for our concert yesterday. David Gillingham guest conducted, which was a lot of fun for me since I'd played some of his works before in high school and university. Britt called me on the way down to wish me good luck. (He's so sweet!)
Also made dinner for him on Wednesday, which required me skipping church orchestra. "Glad I can contribute to the half-assed way of doing things!" was his official statement...hehe. It took some bravery on his part but the dinner actually turned out fairly good. I made chicken crescent wreath, caprese salad, and chocolate truffles (which I learned to make from the head chef at Mad Platter here in Nville). All in all, a tolerable success!
Have a spa party tomorrow, followed by a superbowl party. Off to go do weekend things!
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(Schnoogles for all!)
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Monday, January 29th, 2007
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So I got back from visiting the girls in Cleveland last night and went to work today, to find this on my desk:

The card said "Can't wait to see you tonight" and was from Britt. Of course, I realized, this was supposed to be delivered before our date at Ruth's Chris last Thursday. Apparently the flowers had been delivered late Friday after I had left to go to the airport, and so I had missed them. I figured Britt might be working with a client today but I called him immediately anyway to thank him. Seriously, what a sweet thing to do. (And the flower has tulips, which are my favorite!) Most of them survived the weekend and still looked beautiful today.
I felt awful for not realizing they were sent earlier...after all, I had talked to him over the weekend and again last night without realizing he tried to send me flowers. He just figured that they hadn't been delivered, and called the florist who redelivered these:

By this time, the flowers were attracting attention and several people did double takes as they walked past my office, stopping to ask what the story was. Seriously, this guy is too much!
Then, THESE showed up:

...With another card, this one saying "Looking forward to Wednesday." (Our next date. I am making him dinner.) These ones were sent via a different florist.
At this juncture, may I just point out: I adore this guy? Seriously!
Leaving you all with a final shot of my office (messy papers and all):
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(2 Schnoogles | Schnoogles for all!)
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