What is WRONG with people

I thought my list of annoyances with folks I work with would tap out.  I mean, I hope it WILL.  Eventually.  It has to, right?  Oh sweet jeezus, please tell me it will end eventually. 

But for now,  we have to add two more to the list:

• Whoever thought it was a good idea to bring their Costco CASE of chobani yogurts to keep in the fridge.  Seriously?  You need to keep all of them here at work??  
• The woman who is a good 4 office away from me (really more than that if you consider one of those 4 is an exec's office, so it's double the size) has taken to CRACKING her chewing gum.  All.  Damn. Day. Long.  

Sigh.  Is it Friday yet??

Monday, Monday

Things have been feeling a bit like Groundhog's day for me lately.  Same issues, same problems, same worries each day.  Lather, rinse, repeat. 

Right now, I just kind of desperately needed a break from them and am borrowing an easy-peasy blog post from my friend MCW. 


Favorite Movie?  Too TOO many to list.  Those that know me know of my deep love for Say Anything.  I think I also need to note Breakfast Club.  My sentimental self would like to add Meet Me in St Louis.  And my inner film school geek needs me to also list Dr. Strangelove and High Noon -- two movies I wrote countless papers on yet still enjoy watching every single time. 

Wearing?  Work clothes....very blah

Dinner?  Last night for dinner I had an incredibly good cheeseburger from the diner near the apartment....that then had me feeling sick about an hour later and for the rest of the night. 

Feet?  VERY MUCH in need of a pedicure. 

Hands?  I started prepping to give myself a home mani (and pedi) last Friday night and never got to the actual polish part.  Maybe one night this week....

Worries?  Too many to list right now.  Wishing some of them could go away so I could feel a little more even-keeled.

Wondering?  How it's all going to work out. 

Biggest Pet Peeve?  I am going to go off of MCW's line of thinking and say people who overshare on FB.  I'd feel more comfortable if you declared your undying love for your S.O. in a touching face-to-face moment, not announcing it to FB.  I'm sorry you aren't feeling well, but reading about every doctor visit and prognosis is a little much for everyday consumption.  And yes, I have started to remove folks from my FB feed because it gets under my skin so much. 

Work?  I don't even know how to describe it lately.  Lonely.  Confusing.  Sometimes depressing. 

Looking Forward to?  Hopefully getting to see L sometime this week after having to unfortunately cancel our plans this past weekend. 

Why?  Because I haven't seen her in forever.  For-ever-ever!

True Confession? I wish I didn't feel so isolated at work.  I left my last job mainly because I wanted to have face-to-face colleagues and feel like a real part of a team.  To maybe have a work friend or two to grab coffee with or step out for lunch once in awhile.  But I often feel like I was more a part of a true "team" at my last job, when all my colleagues worked in other offices.  Kinda sad, huh?

Thoughts on Thursday

I have too many thoughts today...all over the place....not-so-hot of a feeling.  So I am going to steal borrow a post from my lovely bloggy buddy MCW -- hopefully it'll perk me up and quiet my mind a bit. 

Currently I am.....

Listening...to person talking on the phone in the office next door.  With my other noisy next-door-neighbor out of the office this afternoon, it has been a little bit more peaceful. 

Eating...nothing.  But I did escape the office for a bit today to have a lovely lunch with a lovely friend in DC. 

Drinking...iced tea.  But I made it this morning so it's more lukewarm than iced at this point....

Wearing...black pants and a purple twin set.  I have a collection of Jackie shells and cardigans from J Crew, they are my faves. 

Feeling...tired, anxious, stressed, distracted, stuck. 

Weather...warm but thankfully not a bazillion degrees anymore.  I could walk outside without totally melting. 

Needing...a manicure.  And another vacation.  And maybe a new job.  Or a sense of direction.  Clearly I need to make a LIST of all the things I think I need right now. 

Wanting...for the week to be over already. 

Thinking...that I don't know if it is really worth fighting my fights at work anymore.  Maybe I should just let things be and if this isn't meant to be, then it isn't meant to be. 

Enjoying...listening to Pandora while getting work done. Having a soundtrack to the day makes things JUST a little bit easier. 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linking up for What I'm Loving Wednesday.....

 I'm loving....that as I type this, my fabulous former roomie L is on her way back to DC -- FOR GOOD!!!  Back when she moved, I had a bit of a sobfest.  Actually, MVP took me out for dinner immediately after we had to say our goodbyes and I cried during dinner.  And told him people probably thought he was breaking up with me and he said "yes, so please stop crying."  Well L is transferring back to her company's HQ here and I am beyond thrilled!!!  It's going to be very different to have her back here, but not in the same apartment...but it is still better than having her alllllll the way on the other side of the country!

This pic is not me...or L....it just accurately captures how I feel about her moving back

I'm loving.....the new ice cream maker.  I even went so far as to purchase Dole Whip mix from a distributer in Hawaii.  Made some over the weekend and it was AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE to the real thing.  Deliciousness.  I am also anxiously awaiting the arrival of an ice cream recipe book I ordered. 

I'm loving.....air conditioning.  Seriously, it is a bazillion degrees outside.  I will take delight in a simple pleasure like AC and be content.

I'm loving....that last Friday, after I had been secretly thinking about pizza all day long, I got home and MVP had ordered us a Nino's Pizza from The Italian Store.  Best.  Surprise.  Ever. 

I'm loving....that this week is half over.  It's been another one of *those* weeks and I need it to hurry up and end ASAP. 

I'm loving....this buffet table I saw at Costco.  Dragging MVP back to look at it tonight.  I have been on the look out for-what-feels-like-EVER for a piece like this. 

I'm loving.....this article that my friend sent me.  I had so many feelings...I died laughing, I cringed, I worried about the negative stereotype it perpetuates.  And then I KICKED MYSELF for not coming up with this business myself.  For reals. 

I'm loving....when good things happen to good people.  The same friend who sent me the article just completed her PhD program and is now a Doctor.  She has worked so hard and managed to do so much for other people during that the time I have known her and I can't even begin to imagine how she juggled it all and made it all work.  She rocks (and I would love to take her out for a well deserved Margarita soon if she is reading this!!!)

I'm loving....the blog Pintester that is dedicated to one woman's Pinterest fails.  It is both totally hilarious and totally relatable for any of you out there that have completely bit it on a Pinterest project.

Lost Weekend

This past weekend, MVP and I had *almost* no obligations or plans.  I had to put in a bit of face time at my company's summer picnic, but aside from that we had nothing on the agenda.

So we decided on Friday night to tear into "Mad Men" on Netflix.  I used to watch it back in the day, but fell off some time back and never caught myself back up; MVP had never seen any episodes. 

Needless to say, we were up until 1am on Friday night and then again on Saturday night watching back-to-back-to-back episodes and then again all day on Sunday.  Watching full seasons of TV via Netflix is a total time-warp.  You keep saying "wanna watch another one" and next thing you know, six hours have gone by :)

At this rate, we should be caught up to the current season in another 1-2 weeks and can then probably rip through that on OnDemand.

What should we watch after "Mad Men"??

"Meh" Monday -- or something else?

I find myself having a serious "meh" kind of Monday.  Very sluggish, very apathetic, very distracted.  No motivation, no energy, no drive.  I don't know if this is just a more lackluster than normal sort of Monday, or if it is something else altogether.

I have had bouts of anxiety throughout my adult life.  Some for longer periods than others, but never permanent.  I feel like I am in one of those periods of my life again.  Feeling overly anxious too much of the time.  Letting worry -- often worry over minor and unimportant things -- consume much of my days and thoughts.  I can't really pinpoint when it started, and not that I really think that would enlighten me on the topic or solve anything.  It is troubling because it takes away my focus and makes me really unproductive.  I can't seem to focus on work because I am thinking about or worrying about a million other things.  And when I am home later tonight, I am sure my mind will wander off to things work related.  It's like I can't get my body and mind in the same place at the same time. 

When I was working in law firms there were really two modes -- insanely, crazy, working 60-hours a week busy...and totally dead.  It was mostly the former and very rarely the latter and I was always able to get a fire under my butt and get things done.  Now, I have a much more sane pace and a more regular/reliable schedule.  And I feel like I am just drifting around.  Working on projects, responding to requests, addressing issues....but nothing feels like part of a plan.  I don't feel connected to any team -- I am just sort of off on my own, doing my own thing.  It's not a good or bad thing...it just isn't ideal for me.  I feel really disconnected and isolated, and I think it makes it harder for me to feel engaged or motivated about my work.

I don't think there was a real beginning-middle-end to this post...or even a point, really.  I just needed to come some place and mentally dump in an effort to get it off my mind and hopefully celar it out of my head.

Thoughts on Thursday

There are many things at work that irk the hell outta me.  And I realize more and more that they are not all job-specific....there is just some seriously weird and odd stuff/people around my office. 

The guy in the office next to me.....wow.  I don't even know where to begin.  

• He burps.  Loudly.  Many times throughout the day.  Making no effort to conceal it or lessen the gusto with which he belches. 
• He yawns and sighs a lot.  Like ALL.  THE.  TIME.  We are talking huge, dramatic, can't-cover-my-mouth-because-I-am-stretching-my-arms-above-my-head-which-I-think-amplifies-the-sound-of-the-yawn kind of action.  
• He is exasperated by EVERY SINGLE email he receives.  Like he talks back to them and yells AT the email.  "Jesus Chirst!  You have to be kidding!"  or "GodDAMNit!!!"  
• He clips his nails at his desk.  The sound makes me CRINGE.  

The Ladies Room on my floor.

• Why do people hang out in there to have a conversation??  I can think of twelve other places that would be better suited for a one-on-one chat.  
• I notice a few ladies (at various times throughout the day) with full makeup kits spread out in there, "touching up" their faces.  Why?!?!   Once, even spotted someone in there with a curling iron doing some mid-day touch ups.  
• About a week ago, I noticed that a few of the stalls had air fresheners dangling off the hook on the stall door.  We are talking LITTLE TREE air fresheners for your CAR.  I honestly have never noticed some strong need to put up air fresheners in there, but if I did, I don't know that a shopping trip to Auto Zone would be my first choice to solve the problem.  The kicker?  They don't even smell nice.  They are overpowering and almost make me choke, the scent is so thick in the air.  I also may have gotten so fed up with this that I took it upon myself to throw them all away earlier this morning.  How long you figure before someone runs to buy new ones and put them up??

The small kitchen on my floor.

•  So everyone has gripes about the common kitchen areas at their offices, I know.  I even fumed about the topic once before.   Okay....maybe twice.  But I have noticed here that people put stuff in the fridges and then leave them there, INDEFINITELY.  While there is a sign on the fridge door that says that all things should be removed by Friday at 5 as the fridges will be cleaned then....it's clearly an empty promise.  I don't even want to bring my lunch anymore because I can't bear the thought of opening the fridge door and being assaulted by all the awful sights and smells from the sh*t that has been left there and forgotten.  So disgusting.
• There is a bulletin board in the small kitchen that has work related posts -- info about what to do in case of an emergency, company blood drive, changes in employee policies...things like that.  And then this random picture.  It's been up there for months.  WTF?

 

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Linking up for What I'm Loving Wednesday.....

I'm loving.....that we are getting a little reprieve from the blistering heat.  Even if it is only for a day or two, I'll take it!

I'm loving....my S'Well water bottle.  I am sure it sounds pretty silly to rave about a freaking water bottle, but these are nothing short of awesome.  These stainless steel water bottles keep your drink cold for 24 hours, no joke.  They are absolutely fabulous and I have easily upped my water consumption thanks to S'Well.  Love.

I'm loving.....my latest shipment from Birchbox.  For those of you that have not yet gotten on the in on this fabulous service yet, Birchbox is the best way to discover new grooming, beauty and lifestyle products. Each month, a little goody box arrives in the mail with generous sample (and sometimes FULL) sizes of new products.  For only $10 -- it's the cheapest therapy out there.  This month's box had a "Five Senses" theme and I seriously loved everything that was in there. 


I'm loving....that the week is half over.  This week really seems to be dragggggggggging and needs to end. 

Target and....Neiman Marucs?!?!

I am going to start out by saying that Blogger has gone a teeny bit NUTSO on me this morning.....posting, then inserting bullets all over the place, then deleting, then reposting.....seriously ridic.  I am gonna try this ONE MORE TIME before I completely give up. 

Have you all heard the news that target is teaming up with Neiman Marcus??

The two retailers have partnered with the Council of Fashion designers of America (CFDA) to enlist designers to create a collection of more than 50 eclectic gifting products—from apparel and home décor to pet products, sporting goods and more. Just in time for holiday shopping, this one-of-a-kind collection hits all Target and Neiman Marcus stores on December 1.

Ranging in price from $7.99 to $499.99, with most items less than $60, the collection boasts an impressive designer roster, including:

• Alice + Olivia
• Altuzarra
• Brian Atwood
• Carolina Herrera (SWOON)
• Derek Lam
• Diane von Furstenberg (what girl couldn’t use a little more DVF in their closet, amirightladies??)
• Jason Wu
• Judith Leiber
• Marchesa
• Marc Jacobs
• Oscar de la Renta
• Proenza Schouler
• Robert Rodriguez
• Tory Burch
• Tracy Reese

Anyone else marking their calendars to be at Target bright and early on December 1^st??

Weekend Recap (AKA how the hell is it Monday again??)

For real, this weekend went by way too quickly.  Or maybe it is just that work feels so blecccccchhhhhh lately that NO amount of weekend would sufficiently prepare me for another 5-day stint.  I'm thinking it's more of the latter.

I spent the better part of the weekend indoors somewhere, as it was still 100+ degrees here in the DC area.  I mean, this morning when I went out to the car and it was near 80 degrees, it almost felt *chilly*...THAT is how accustomed I have gotten to the blistering heat we have been experiencing here as of late.

One of my favorite ways to escape the heat is a trip to the movies.  MVP and I saw "Ted" and "Spider Man."  Both worth seeing, although "Ted" might not be everyone's cup of tea...but if you are a Seth MacFarlane fan, you will not be dissapointed.  Also, I may have a new girl crush on Mila Kunis -- I think we would totes be friends in real life. 

Spiderman was SUPER crowded.  I was saving a seat for MVP as he was out getting our soda and popcorn and had to fight off what felt like 47 people who came asking if his seat was available.  Best part of the movie?  When Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy kiss for the first time....a little boy down near the screen yelled out "EWWWWWWWW!!!"  I could not stop laughing. 

I also managed to squeeze in:

•  a trip to Ulta (SUPER sale on Redken shampoo & conditioner liters right now)
• TWO different Homegoods, where I exhibited an almost superhuman level of restraint and only got two new cutting boards and a new flatware organizer
• a stop at BJ's Wholesale for a snazzy new fan (because AC can only do so much when it is a billion degrees outside)
• 2 trips to Wal-Mart, because when you don't make a good list for the first trip, you are bound to be going back for things you forgot the first time around
• and a lunch at Chipotle

The only upshot to the heat?  You can feel totally justified in having ice cream for dinner -- really wanted peanut butter cup, but MVP and I compromised on Edy's Slow churned Drumstick flavor.

And while it is only mid-afternoon, I am already salivating at the thought of putting on pajamas and going to sleep tonight. 

Post-vaca blues and getting back in the swing of things

Just some random thoughts and whatnot.....I feel like this day should be over already but it is only lunch time. *Sigh*

I am back at work and suffering a bit from the post-vacation blues. Thankfully this is a short week, broken up by the 4th of July holiday. I can't imagine how much worse this would be if I was staring down a full 5-day work week!!

Thankfully, we had power (and most importantly AIR CONDITIONING!!) when we got back to the apartment on Saturday afternoon. We were lucky enough that our only inconvenience was not having cable/internet and intermittent cell phone problems. Nothing to complain about in the grand scheme of things for sure.

Getting away from work and out of DC for a week was freaking fabulous, even if we did have to contend with tropical storm Debby for the first half of the week.

I was nervous for the trip since I didn't think MVP was going to be really into the time spent at Disney. Now, I am not a Disney freakazoid fan, but I do love me some Walt Disney World. I feel like you can have so much fun there, whether you are 8 or 80. To my surprise, MVP kept telling me over and over how much fun he was having. I may have created a bit of a monster though, as he keeps singing songs from Finding Nemo at the drop of a hat. I can be a bit of a grump in the morning, so him telling me in song to "Just keep swimming...." before I have had a cup of coffee may get him a swift kick in the shins pretty soon.

If any of my friends need a Mommy's helper on an upcoming trip to Disney, let me know! Not only do kids love me, but I am an ACE at navigating those parks and know all the secrets, tips and tricks.

Right now, I am in serious Dole Whip withdrawal. Have you ever had one? Completely a-mazing. I practically salivate at the thought of them. I may spend some time today researching what I need to do/buy to make it at home.

Slowly trying to get back in to the swing of things at work. Not gonna lie, things feel a wee bit different now with no end-goal of a vacation to look forward to. Trying to bribe myself to get work done with promises of end of the week manicures and quiet time at night to enjoy a glass of wine and reading a book. I'm currently enjoying Andy Cohen's "Most Talkative" and pondering what my next read should be -- any suggestions?