So about a year ago around this time, I would arrive home with the brisk autumn-turning-winter air still chilling my bones. It was usually late, after rehearsal, and I wanted a nightcap to round out the evening. For the turning of the seasons I had recently purchased some brandy (not that it matters, but specifically this brandy) and while rummaging through my cupbaord full of tea I found some Swiss Miss hot chocolate packs. A match made in heaven.
I'm not sure how many I made last night, but at some point I was pouring almost 50/50 hot choco to brandy.
So I think I'm getting sick again. I thought I had thwarted The Sickness, but The Sickness is a tricky fellow. He lies dormant for days or even weeks then suddenly explodes in a volcano of congestion lava flows, explosive sneezes, and ash plumes of sinal pressure. In my brief 20-some years on Earth I have basically developed two defenses; one of which I copletely abandoned.
The first is denial. One can see how this might prove ineffective. Essentially I would just pretend I didn't have any sort of cold or flu symptons and try to live my life as regularly as possible. If things got bad, I would try to not go out or maybe grab a nap during the day. If things got especially bad I would drink some tea, maybe have a lozenge (maybe), try to eat an orange or two, and in extreme cases take some sort of decongestant or something along those lines. I employed this technique mostly in college, particularly around Dead_Week. It never really worked and as soon as I "let my guard down" whatever bug was in me had it's disgusting, muscous-y way with me.
My new technique is a little something I like to call Preemptive Strike. Basically when I feel a scenario which may even closely resemble some form of The Sickness I pop an Airborne every 12-24 hours, suck 3-4 Coldeze a day, drink anywhere from 16 to 40 oz. of tea, eat oranges like they were going out of style, and (if I have access to any) chug 1 or 2 Emergen-C or some similar Vitamin C packets. I can't tell you how well this works. Seriously. A lot of times I'll do this for 2 or 3 days tops and whatever symptons I may have had are gone never to return again. Presumably sent where all germs eventually go, to that great petry dish in the sky.
This time however, The Sickness caught me at the worst of times. In the middle of my move, where my supplies are mostly packed away or otherwise inaccesible, right during a transition into a cold, semi-drafty house. The Bastard. And to make matters worse things really hit hard today. When I have a professional audition.
11/4/07, 12:25 am Subject: It's cold. It's fucking cold.
So, a lot happened tonight. Well, today and tonight. We'll start with the day. It's less exciting.
I had an audition for my "Retailtainment" job. I felt like I did a fantastic job on the monologue. And considering I thought it was an excellent choice. I mean I really felt liek I nailed it. My only confirmation to this idea is that one (of the maybe six auditors) laughed. However point in my favor, she repeated one of the jokes back laughing after I had finished. Just sayin'. So anyway, that part went well. I got the callback for tomorrow and that's when I figure out if this job will work for me. Interesting. I keep looking for a "job that will work for me," rather than the other way round.
Nintendo is still on the horizon.
---
In other news, tonight worlds collided. I met Regan. I dated Regan's former best friend Katherine, of whom I previously spoke anonymously. Damn. We were introduced and I looked at her and she looked at me.I said, "I don't even really think a handshake is appropriate. Shall we just forego the formalities and..."I held out my arms for a hug."Yes. Yes, I think we should. It's been too long.""We have some catching up to do.""Yes. Yes, we do."
***
Strange how that all works.
11/4/07, 11:54 pm
It is night #2 if I'm counting correctly. While I was out I think my roommates turned the heat up slightly because it has risen from just colder than sweater weather (inside our house) to slightly warm. Or at least, I find it slightly warm. On the whole, I tend to prefer it cooler. Whatevs. Internets come not tomorrow but the next day. They couldn't get here any quicker. There's some decent connections nearby but they all have passwords. And the ones without Don't have strong enough signals.
I did the audition and callback for my "Retailtainment" job. It actually sounds ok. If it's as good as they say it is, I will take this job and shove my other two. And I will pay off my credit card debt and really start pounding away at my student loans. Also, I'm going to plan a trip with Edna. I want to show her Europe. Granted I've only seen a little but I think first thing I want to take her to Paris and London. London more to see as many old friends from Hull as possible. Paris because I loved staying there. And I think she will too. But first I have to get the job. And it has to be as good as they say. It's always tough to trust testimonials because the bad stories don't stick around to testify. And the good ones are the ones trying to hire you.
I have so much to figure out.
If I get this job it will be my 7th* since I graduated 16 months ago.
*This does not count a few one-day temp jobs I did.
11/5/07, 11:35 pmSubject: Settling.
I'm settling into the new house nicely. It's by no means perfect (for God's sake it's a rental). It is however close. So many thing to tell you about. I'll just do the pro/con thing, I was always somewhat of a fan of that.
Pro: It's a house. Which basically is to say there is lots of room to move around in. It's not one of those houses with tons of crazy, werid storage spaces (I'm talking weird hall cupboards and linen closets in strange places; although there's something to be said for the upstairs closets...), but the rooms are large which is very nice. There's plenty of windows which brings me to...
Pro: We have the most spectacular view ever. As soon as I get a damn digital camera (Santa I'm counting on you for this one), I will show you in pictorial form. Here's basically where the house is located. We can see the freeway, but we're high enough on the hill to have a sweeping panorama which includes (left to right) downtown, Space Needle and Seattle Center, the West side of Queen Anne Hill, Lake Union, Gas Works Park and more North Seattle/U-District/Fremont cityscape. It's seriosuly unbelievable. I'm totally stoked for the two firework holidays. (1 & 2)
Con: The house is chilly. Ok it's downright cold. But to be fair we refuse to turn up the heat. If it's especially cold and we're all home it goes up to 65 for the evening/night. Otherwise it's like 50 or 55. The largeness of the rooms allows for some draftiness, plus there's the basement and front door which seem to afford the most chill. We're still learning the in's and out's of the house and I must say our learning curve is quick to discover where heat can be saved. Everyday is a little bit warmer.
Pro: It definitely has that used old house charm.
Con: It definitely has that used old house charm. Too much charm in some places. There are areas that seem to be falling to bits. Our stove and upstairs bathroom in particular. I'm not sure how much work are landlords actually do.
Pro: It is a major party/post-party or bars crash house. The setup is perfect with plenty of places to sleep and more to come. I'm so excited about the housewamring party you have no idea.
Pro: I was worried about two things while moving out of the old apartment. 1) Losing the view. Which was particularly trying since I felt like I never really enjoyed it all that much. In the mornings it was too bright cause the sun was right in your eyes. And in the evenings it was too dark to see anything. For the record I can't help but appreciate our current view, even when I'm just running out to my car for something. That seriousy happened earlier today. 2) Losing the seasons. When I first moved into my old place it was summer, the surrounding trees were in a flourish of blooms. As fall appraoched, the great big maple leaves floated to teh ground and were carried up and down the block by the wind. When winter came around it generally turned to brown much but the snow looked absolutely havenly in all the foliage which lined the streets. Then spring rolled around again. The streets seemed to have sleared themselves and the bright green leaves surrounded us in shadowy canopy once again. Can you blame me for not wanting to lose that? We stepped out side the other day Mercedes, Jacques and I discussing something abotu the house when suddenly all six of our eyes were pulled upward. The wind was cascading a shower of helicopter seeds, large and small leaves, and twigs which seem to come from all directions. There is really only one way to relate it to you:
No, seriously. Go to 2:40. That's what it was like. Mercedes and I broke out into song.
Con: I can't go fifteen minutes without realizing I need something, that I haven't packed up and moved yet. This con shall repair itself by the end o' the month.
Pro: My room is awesome. I was worried because originally I wanted the other upstairs bedroom. The big one. The big one with the view. Jacques tells me however that the howl of the freeway is too much. And I imagine all those large windows make it colder in the winter and pericingly bright in the evenings, espcially in summer as the days lengthen.My bed also fits in my closet. Which allows me to turn the bulk of the room into a place to entertain, or play video games, or to work, respectively. Most importantly, without the distraction of my bed. My sister Amanda said she might even buy a futon for me to put in there because she's staying with me during her spring field study in Seattle.
Pro: Mini-bookshelf in the bathroom. 'Nuff said.
That's all I can think of for the moment. I'm pretty tired so I think I'll go to bed, but rest assured there will be more to come as far as house updates go.
So about a year ago around this time, I would arrive home with the brisk autumn-turning-winter air still chilling my bones. It was usually late, after rehearsal, and I wanted a nightcap to round out the evening. For the turning of the seasons I had recently purchased some brandy (not that it matters, but specifically this brandy) and while rummaging through my cupbaord full of tea I found some Swiss Miss hot chocolate packs. A match made in heaven.
So about a year ago around this time, I would arrive home with the brisk autumn-turning-winter air still chilling my bones. It was usually late, after rehearsal, and I wanted a nightcap to round out the evening. For the turning of the seasons I had recently purchased some brandy (not that it matters, but specifically this brandy) and while rummaging through my cupbaord full of tea I found some Swiss Miss hot chocolate packs. A match made in heaven.
