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What, You Thought it was Someone Else?
I've gotten some e-mails and IMs about it, so let me clarify something. In one of my answers on the survey I posted a few days ago, I indicated that I had fallen in love "a couple of times" this year.
No fear, legions of Michael-Rachel supporters.* There's no other man in my life besides Michael, and there hasn't been in the last four years. Though I am loathe to do so, I must refer you to the episode of "Dawson's Creek" where the gang takes a purity test, and on the question that asks how many times she had been in love, Joey answers "twice." Drama ensues until we are clued in to the fact that it wasn't with two different people, but once with Dawson before they were involved and once with him after.
I think one of my favorite things about our relationship is that, despite its constancy (being able to count on the person), it's always changing (not being bored by the person). It's hard to fall out of love with someone like Michael, but it's very easy to fall in love multiple times over.
*I'm being silly about the "legions of supporters," but there are certainly a few people I've never met who read this site and whose interest in our relationship exceeds that of our own families. I choose to be flattered rather than weirded out, though I must admit, it's a fine line.
12-20-2004 2:16 PM - comments (0)
And God Called from the Heavenly Volcanic Goo.
Michael alerted me to this, which made me laugh so hard I almost choked on my cherry pie.*
*The cafeteria downstairs had its annual free holiday lunch for our building, where I doubled up on desserts because I weighed myself today and I'm only two pounds from my goal. Despite the sound logic, I gave away my second dessert to a passerby.
12-16-2004 12:23 PM - comments (0)
Everything Looks Perfect from Far Away.
They didn't ask me about this in the survey:
The first time I watched the trailer for "Garden State" and heard the opening notes of "Such Great Heights"? My heart sank, and I was consumed -- only momentarily, of course -- with that empty feeling I get every now and then. Sort of like heartbreak, but not as good. Not nearly as rewarding.
I got over it. I'm getting good at that.
12-15-2004 9:12 PM - comments (0)
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Spent a couple of nights at a resort for swingers (I was working! Promise!).
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yes and no. I lost some weight, but not until the end of July. I grew my hair out. I became more tolerant. I grew up a little. For 2005, I'd like to have more money and take up a new hobby or something.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes, my grandmother.
5. What countries did you visit?
Mexico and Jamaica, both for work.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A live-in boyfriend; a savings account; a dog named Roy G. Biv.
7. What date(s) from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 18, the day my boyfriend and I got back together after a very short hiatus; the entire month in between when we broke up and got back together; the week the Cardinals played and beat the Astros in the NLCS; Feb. 24, my three-year anniversary with Michael/dinner at Cafe Provencal.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing 25 pounds. I will never forget Jaman, the Indian waiter at Rasoi, ask me, "Did you lose your weight?" (Of course, that just happened last week.)
9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably one of my miscellaneous failures of conscience. Or racking up more credit card debt.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
A cold here and there. There was that one Saturday I went to a Cards game with my mom and ended up getting sunburned on my hands and forearms. That night, I woke up around 3 a.m. and was in horrible, horrible pain — it was as if I had burned the bones in my wrists (which, of course, is impossible), and no amount of ibuprofen was effective. Then there was the time I had outpatient surgery (let's just be nice and call it that, shall we?) and I had to consume an entire bottle of wine because the pain I was in surpassed anything I had ever before felt. I probably should have asked for a painkiller, but pride (and the desire to partake in some of Big Sky's great wine) prevented me.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I'll feel guilty if I list an article of clothing, so I'll go with my subscription to The Week and that feather pillow thing that makes being in my bed such an immense pleasure.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The St. Louis Cardinals'.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
George W. Bush's.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent; food; clothing; moving expenses.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Massages on Michael's birthday; my birthday; Christmas; the time before/during/after my trip to Jamaica; the Old Newsboys Day gala (click on Online Ordering and then on the 12-07-2004 Old Newsboys Day link. The password is 100. I'm in a few photos, the best of which are 0004 and 0040); Mexico with my mom; spending time with Sally, who finally moved to St. Louis; wine dinners at Harvest with Amy and Sara; Saturdays with Michael.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2004?
"Let Go" by Frou Frou; "I Believe You But My Tommy Gun Don't" by Brand New; "Float On" by Modest Mouse; "Overnight Celebrity" by Twista; "One Call Away" by Chingy; "What Reason" by Deckard; "What You Waiting For?" by Gwen Stefani
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? All things considered, richer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Called/visited my friends in Spring and Columbia; more lucrative freelance work for my old job (alas, they finally hired someone with talent who stayed); exercised; played video games.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Drink; spend money.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spending time with my family in Spring; visiting old friends.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
A couple of times.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
"America's Next Top Model"; "Arrested Development";"Chappelle's Show"; "The Daily Show"; "Lost"; "The O.C."; "Saturday Night Live"; "Sex and the City."
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.
26. What was the best book you read?
I'll tell you what it wasn't: "The Da Vinci Code." Probably "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" and, to a lesser degree, the many James Patterson and Jonathan Kellerman books I read while lounging on a Mexican beach and drinking daiquris. (I'll be honest, I could have been reading a manual on John Deere tractors and been happy.)
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
This is the one big disappointment for me — I didn't really branch out too much in terms of music. I discovered I liked Modest Mouse after all. I listened to a lot of '80s music; new music meant to sound like '80s music; Britpop/British ballad-y bands; rap; and the same albums I've been listening to for years.
28. What did you want and get?
A promotion; a new apartment.
29. What did you want and not get?
Too many to count.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"I Heart Huckabees"; "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I haven't had my 2004 birthday yet, but I will be 24 (eek). I will be window-shopping with the boy, watching fireworks and recovering from a dinner the night before at The Melting Pot
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A TiVo; a dog named Roy G. Biv.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
More color than usual; better jeans; more high heels; better underwear. (Lots of Express and bad pop music, as someone once noted.)
34. What kept you sane?
Michael, my friends (occasional visits to Christie/Nas helped) and Elliott, for his utter lack of sanity makes me feel better about my own precarious mental situation
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Besides John Kerry, probably Josh Duhamel or Adam Brody.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war; the election.
37. Who did you miss?
Christie, Jen, Tiff, Chase, Amy, Sara, Bruce, Kaity, Melissa, Dan, Rachel D., (we need to hang out), various people from college, Nissa, my family.
38. Who were the best new person you met?
Jamie; Dave; Ryan (all work people — weird!)
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
• In your life, many people will care about you, but only a few would do anything for you. Never forsake the latter for the former.
• It's hard to fake true passion, but it's even more difficult to disguise it if you feel it.
• Boys can be a lot of trouble, but they're usually worth it.
• Wear sunscreen. Especially on your right leg, because your left leg is already covered in it, and you're going to look ridiculous with one really, really burned leg while the other one looks normal.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I never felt alone until I met you
I’m all right on my own, and then I met you
And I’d know what to do if I just knew what’s coming.
I would change myself if I could
I’d walk with my people if I could find them
And I say that I’m sorry to you,
I’m sorry to you.
And I don’t want to call you,
but then I want to call you
'cause I don’t want to crush you,
but I feel like crushing you.
And it’s true,
I took for granted you were with me.
I breathe by your looks,
and you look right through me."
12-14-2004 6:04 PM - comments (0)
Re: Scott's Haircut/Wednesday Night.
I've made up your mind:
The more you ignore me,
the closer I get.
You're wasting your time.
Beware,
I bear more grudges
than lonely high-court judges
When you sleep,
I will creep
into your thoughts
like a bad debt that you can't pay
Take the easy way and give in
Yeah, and let me in
12-13-2004 9:38 PM - comments (0)
Am I the only one who's become totally obsessed with the Kinks song "Picture Book" after seeing those nonstop HP commercials?
(This is the one downside to TiVo.)
12-13-2004 9:32 PM - comments (0)
Movable Type Does Not Like Gushing.
AGAIN: He's the best boyfriend in the world. And he looks hot in a tux. And we are going to the aquarium with a mini T-rex and there's nothing you can do about it.
12-10-2004 2:43 PM - comments (0)
Dog Next Door, this whole barking from 5:45-7 a.m. thing had better not be a daily occurrence. Otherwise I'm gonna borrow a bike and go Miss Gulch on you.