Month: July 2011

A Proper Update (Pictures)

Hello! So, it’s not as if there are tons of people reading this anyway, but just in case you are, I’m actually posting an update rather than a meme. Miracle, right?

Hmm, let’s see.

Some Stuff:
– Apartment is a fall down mess. I have no energy to bother cleaning it at this juncture. But I need to very soon.
– Hoping, praying, and working for a major change in my life. Some positive and supportive vibes from you awesome folks would be much appreciated. 🙂
– I’ve discovered the most amazing cookies from Hearts & Flour Bakery. They’re vegan cranberry chocolate chip. I get them every week at the Daley Plaza Farmer’s Market. I pay $2.50 for four or five cookies AND I REGRET NOTHING. They’re sooooo delicious.
– We got a new cat. Well, he’s actually an OLD cat, as he was my cat when I lived in Ohio before Chris and I separated. Yes, Fi is back in my life. He’s living here in Chicago with me, and he’s a LOT more affectionate than I ever remember him being. Adam’s pretty sure he remembers me. I think Adam might be right. I also think Fi is happy to be with me again, but he’s not so happy that he has to share the attention with Helena and Crookshanks! He and Helena get into it all the time. Crookshanks tries to be Fi’s friend, but Fi isn’t having it. I hope they all get along very well soon, and not just when they’re in the kitchen eating treats or joining forces to beg for my dinner.

Hi Fi!

I am totally pumped to have a black cat in the house again! 🙂

– I’ve been LOVING the weather. Absolutely loving it. Mostly everyone I know hates it. But honestly, give me the choice between this and the blizzard we had in February? I’ll take this IN A HEARTBEAT. I like wearing tank tops and shorts outside and feeling the sun warming my skin. I like sucking down water because it tastes so good and refreshing. I feel like these precious warm days are slip, slip, slipping away.
– Movie score music. I can’t get enough of it. Especially anything by Hans Zimmer. Did I already tell you this? I feel like I have already.
– Lastest song obsession: COURTYARD APOCALYPSE from the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 soundtrack. I can’t get enough of it. It’s so haunting and pretty.
– I straightened my hair last weekend. It’s gotten REALLY long. Just to give you an idea of the shrinkage I deal with, here is a picture of me with the straight hair alongside a picture of me with my wash-and-go curly hair:

I Have Long Hair! Hi!

Crazy, huh? I just wish it would stay straight for longer than 20 minutes when I actually straighten it. You can see in the photo that the humidity is already getting to it. Friday morning, I had the top of my hair in a curly ponytail, and the back amazingly straight and long. Seven minutes outside, and eight in a crowded non-air conditioned train car took care of that really quickly. I had curls the rest of the day!

Oh well.

– I bought a djembe! I love the sound those drums make and they’re fairly easy to play (or at least fake). I bought it person because I wanted to try it out, hear it. I also knew I wanted a rope-tuned one because they have a better sound. I love my djembe. I’m not sure Adam likes when I get the urge to bang on it at 1am.

Here she is:

My new toy!!! :)
My djembe!!

I’ve not named her yet. Usually, everything I own that’s huge to me is called some form of Little Ronica. My car and my computer are both Silver Little Ronica. I know, it’s weird.

Despite what this entry blog may suggest, it seems that all I’ve been doing is working. Working, working, working. I work long days at the office, then I come home and work all evening on freelance projects. I’m usually pretty “meh” about it, but lately it’s been taking its toll. I’m stressed and cranky. I haven’t done yoga in ages. I barely make it onto my bike. It takes me forever to read a book when I used to tear one in days if not hours. I’ve not been eating exceptionally well, and I rarely do anything I really enjoy doing, like taking photos. I feel like the summer’s ending and I’ve barely seen Aidan at all. I want need my life back.

I feel the need for a real vacation. Don’t get me wrong, I love Disney World, but I want to go somewhere I don’t feel obligated to do a thing except lay on the beach, bake in the sun, read books, and get a tan.

I’m a member of Living Social, which is basically a Groupon clone. But they have Living Social Escapes, which are amazingly cheap deals for resorts. I’m talking a seven day trip to a Mexican resort for two (and kids free) costing around $500, with some meals and drinks included. Of course, I’d have to pay to get there, but $500!

I get those deals about once a week or so. And every time I read them I want to book RIGHT NOW. But there are reasons keeping me from clicking that mouse button, the main one being that I don’t have a passport. So, Friday, we were very slow in the morning at work. (I know, right? That could only mean trouble for the evenings and the poor sap who’s stuck coming in over the weekend–this week it was me.) But anyway, I took advantage of the empty racks and headed out to the Secretary of State’s office to finally switch my license from an Ohio one to an Illinois one. It was a relief to finally get that errand done. Plus, these people were very friendly, which I suppose is a rarity when it comes to driver services. Back at my desk, I got the itch to go ahead and apply for my passport. Fortunately, I work in the Loop, and the place to do so (photo included) was a block and a half away from my office. I went on my lunch break. Took me less than 30 minutes, and in 4-6 weeks, I’ll have a real life passport! I’d been meaning to get one for years!

Soon, I’ll be able to leave the United States. FINALLY! Now the question is: Where should I go first?

‘Til next time….

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Sunday Stealing (8)

SUNDAY STEALING: The Fifteen Movie Questions Meme

1. Movie you love with a passion.
Stick It
Mean Girls
Clueless

Notice a theme here?

2. Movie you vow to never watch.
The Exorcist or Amityville or any of those types.

3. Movie that literally left you speechless.
I really was blown away by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2. But before then, I think The Boondock Saints did it.

4. Movie you always recommend.
The Boondock Saints.

5. Actor/actress you always watch, no matter how crappy the movie.
n/a

6. Actor/actress you don’t get the appeal for.
The melting pot of blondes. I just don’t get it. There is such a need for more diversity in Hollywood.

7. Actor/actress, living or dead, you’d love to meet.
Aaron Lohr
Adam Brody
David Tennant
Karen Gillan
Drew Barrymore
Rosario Dawson

8. Sexiest actor/actress you’ve seen. (Picture required!)
Do you mean in person?

Meeting LL Cool J Meeting Mario Lopez

Why yes, those are pictures of me posing with LL Cool J and Mario Lopez.

9. Dream cast.
I’m going to say that list I put above of the actors I want to meet. I have no idea what sort of movie they’d all fit into, but it would be cool to see them all together.

10. Favorite actor pairing.
n/a

11. Favorite movie setting.
Scotland. (*cough*HOGWARTS*cough) Now I must say that I am really tired of seeing New York City as the setting for so many movies. I mean, really? I know it’s a cool city and all, but there are so many cool places out there. Mean Girls was set in freaking Evanstan, you know?

12. Favorite decade for movies.
I don’t really have one.

13. Chick flick or action movie?
Chick flick. I admit it. 🙂

14. Hero, villain, or anti-hero?
Depends on the movie! For example, in Sleeping Beauty, Maleficent is SO AWESOME looking, right? So I like her. It really depends.

15. Black and white or color?
Again, it depends on the movie, but on the whole, I tend to prefer color.

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Sunday Stealing (7)

SUNDAY STEALING: The Twenty-Fiver Meme

1. Tell us about something that made you laugh last night.
Something Aidan said or did.

2. What were you doing at 8 PM last night?
Eating dinner with my family and my luvie Jen.

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Reading web pages.

4. What happened to you in 2006? (Feel free to republish an old post from ’06.)
I met a lot of people in the writing world. I got an agent. I met Adam. I went to The Grand Canyon. Got my first DSLR camera. 2006 was a pretty good year, actually.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
“Eleven oh two.”

6. How many beverages did you have today?
Well, I’ve had loads of water. And one lemonade. So I guess two.

7. What color is your hairbrush?
Hot pink. I don’t use it unless my hair is straightened, though.

8. What was the last thing you paid for?
Dessert.

9. Where were you last night?
Jen’s place, a pizza pub, and then The Purple Cow for dessert.

10. What color is your front door?
Brown.

11. Where do you keep your change?
A Little Miss Matched change purse. It looks like a sock! 🙂 Also, my Mickey Mouse wallet.

12. What’s the weather like today?
Hot. 😀

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Chocolate.

14. What excites you?
Anything that inspires me, especially good music and good books.

15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Hell plus No.

16. Are you over the age of 35?
Yes.

17. Do you talk a lot?
Yes.

18. Do you watch Franklin and Bash?
No.

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
I used to.

20. Do you make up your own words?
Oh yeah.

21. Are you a jealous person?
Sometimes.

22. What does the last text message you received say?
“On way!”

23. Where’s the next place you’re going?
Probably nowhere. Lots of work to do from home today.

24. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
Anyone could win that title at any time with me.

25. Are you crushing on anyone that you shouldn’t be?
Negative.

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Saturday 9 (3)

Saturday 9: White Wedding

1. Tell us about the most recent wedding you attended.
The most recent wedding I attended was my own in July 2008! It was on a beach in Chicago. Perfect day.

2. Do you enjoy attending weddings, or do they bore you to tears?
I enjoy weddings.

3. Does marriage in general make you feel confident and good inside, or skeptical?
Good.

4. Do you have a photo blog? (If so, feel free to share the link with us.)
I don’t have a photo blog, but I have my photos all listed on my Flickr account (http://flickr.com/lilrongal)

5. Do you find yourself driving less due to the high gas prices?
I drive less because other drivers in Chicago are batshit and I’m terrified of them.

6. What’s the high temperature today where you are?
The high today was 90F.

7. “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” Agree, or no?
Definitely agree. I LOVE the heat. I like the feeling of it baking my skin. It’s like a huge hug. The humidity is what makes it hard because it thickens the air and makes it hard to breathe. But the heat? As long as I am hydrated and have shade, I’m totally happy.

8. What’s the hottest you’ve ever been in your life?
I’m going to go with Tuesday. I was in an infrared sauna with temps upwards of 150F. Heaven.

9. Non-temperature related last question: In your opinion… who’s hot?
Oh gosh. Lots of people. Adam’s hot when he’s all cleaned up and shaved and his hair is awesome. All three of The Traveling Fates (and they can sing too!). Adam Brody. There are loads of people that I genuinely never get tired of looking at. But I can’t think of more of them at the moment, unfortunately!

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Sunday Stealing (6)

SUNDAY STEALING: The Honesty Meme

Right now I’m feeling…
…worn out.

When I’m alone I feel…
…relaxed.

When I’m surrounded by people I feel…
…energized if the people I am around are fun and energized.

One thing I hate is…
…feeling hopeless and out of control.

One thing I really like about myself is…
…my eyes.

When I’m feeling sad I…
…cry and mope.

When I daydream it’s usually about…
…living in a warmer climate, working at a job I really love, being rich, winning powerball, building a house, doing gymnastics or really hard yoga poses, dancing in disney parades, being in movies….

I’m afraid of…
…Hell.

I’m happiest when…
…I have a stack of new books to read, a pillow, a cat to cuddle, my Pandernoodle to cuddle, a glass of juice and something yummy to snack on, I’m warm, and no where to go or nothing to do but relax.

One thing that really worries me is…
…how I’m going to survive fourth quarter without having some sort of breakdown.

If I could change one thing about myself it would be…
…less fear and more commitment to chasing my dreams.

If I could be with anyone right now I would be with…
…well, I’m with Aidan and Adam and my kitty cats. But I’d like to see my mom.

The family member I am closest to is…
…Adam and Aidan.

If I was really honest with my father I would tell him…
…a lot of things.

One thing I regret about my life is…
…not pursuing much more in college.

If I only had one more day to live I would…
…spend it with my family.

If I was really honest with my mother I would tell her…
…nothing she doesn’t already know, really.

One thing about me that nobody knows is…
…a secret.

I hope that someday in the future…
…I get the courage and commitment to chase and catch my dreams.

When I think about my family I feel…
…like I don’t see them nearly enough.

Something I’m really embarrassed about is…
…being so sensitive all the time.

One thing about me I never want to change is…
…my loyalty.

One thing I feel really proud of is…
…Aidan.

Blogsville has helped me to…
…meet loads of new people and friends.

One thing I like about blogsville is…
…reading about all sorts of people’s lives.

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