I Open at the Close

Book Expo ADVENTURES!

Remember how I used to write here? Oh, those were the days!!

I'm planning to HOPEFULLY get back into that groove very, very soon. Very. But for the moment, I want to tell you about my travel adventures!

I attended Book Expo America in NYC this past week for work, and while I find flying to be one of my least favorite activities, I do have to say I did have an entertaining time.

My job was to tend to our booth, answer questions, direct people where they need to be directed and give/take business cards. Well, a gentleman sidled up to the booth looking for international distribution of his novel, but unfortunately, we do everything internally, and don't work with outside authors. Well, it was towards the end of the day, and I was curious so I asked him about his novel and learned that it is a western romance novel. And then? He gifted me with a copy.

AND THEN? I asked him to sign it, and he graciously complied.

So now, I am the proud owner of a signed copy of my very first western romance. And I'm gonna read the SHIT out of it.

Other than that the show was mostly uneventful. I enjoy attending trade shows and conferences, it makes life a little more interesting and I do end up learning a lot.

I was all set to fly home on Wednesday. My flight was at 10am (NYC time) and arrive home 2ish hours later, well I got to the airport WAY too early (which is fine, I prefer that) at 7:30am, and when I looked at the board a TON of flights to Chicago were delayed/cancelled, so I texted my mom and found out Chicago was being beaten on by terrible weather. At that time my flight was still on schedule.
Nervously, I kept checking, and it stayed on schedule. So I made myself comfortable.
20 minutes before boarding, I checked again. It was delayed an hour.
And then another hour.
And then another hour.
And then another 15 minutes
And then the fire alarm in the airport went up as I was dozing off. And then I had a heart attack, and died. Not really, but I might as well have.
And then I was delayed another half hour.
I finally got on the plane at 1:45pm NY time.
And then we sat on the tarmac.
Then we taxied to the runway.
And then we sat.
And sat.
And then the captain said that we were waiting for a reroute.
And THEN we took off, and the captain told us that we were going to have to go up through Canada (I waved!) and come to Chicago from the north. So the flight was (I THINK) an hour-ish longer than it should have been.
I landed, life was good, and I got on the monorail-y tram that takes me to my parking lot.
AND THEN the tram comes to a stop, in the middle of the tracks, and they make an announcement that we're having technical difficulties.
At this point I am just laughing and laughing, because this can't be real!
And we sat there for about a half hour waiting for a technician to board and fix it.
All the while, I'm stuck on this tram with a guy in real estate who is having a screaming match with his office.
AND THEN I got to my car at about 5pm, and had to drive home in rush hour traffic.

It was a ridiculous ending to a hilarious trip.

Upcoming San Diego Trip!

As usual, it's been many moons since I've last updated. But, like I said before, I've been totally entrenched in to-dos, git 'er dones, and, you know, things.

BUT! Here I am, on the home stretch. In 1 week Mike and I are traveling to San Diego to visit our longtime friend, Cam, and his awesome girlfriend Dawn.

A visit in October 2008

Chicago, October 2008

At a wedding in October 2010

After the October wedding

Cam and I have been friends since...7th grade? We met in band. So we've been friends for, LITERALLY 13 years? Oh, sweet lord.

Thanksgiving break 2006

After me and Mike's wedding ceremony, May 2009

Probably one of my favorite pictures. Ever.
Me and Mike's reception, May 2009

When Cam moved to San Diego in 2005, I promised I'd visit. I think I renewed that promise every year. But this year! This is the year. Plus, Cam is moving soon, so this is my last opportunity. They are opening their home to us for 5 nights, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Cam and Mike from our wedding, May 2009

Mike and Cam after a wedding, October 2010

Gazing deeply at each other, Christmastime 2010

Embracing lovingly, Christmastime 2010

Friends, and warm weather (when we arrive on the 28th, it will be sunny and 69°!) and a trip to the beach and not working and food. I cannot wait!

This also means that I have 1 week to wrap up my massive lists. You see, at the end of March, I took a calendar and filled in the dates with all the tasks I needed to complete before this trip.
And it ended up being an insanely huge list. There are still many small things I need to check off - but in one short week, my list will have to be done.

And after San Diego? I have 3 days to prepare for a party. And after that? All my to-dos will be to-done, and then I can focus on enjoying my summer! And maybe blog more? I have so many house makeover related things to show you!

Already planned:
1 May birthday celebration
2 June cabin trips (one of which is a birthday celebration)
1 July cabin trip
1 Renaissance Faire Trip
HP and the Deathly Hallows FINAL MOVIE
HP tattoo?
1 trip to New Buffalo, Michigan for a birthday celebration

AND IT'S ONLY APRIL.

Updates on my boring life.

The last time I wrote was on March 1st. And since then:

- I went to a Boobie Bash to raise moneys for a friend who will be walking in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Chicago. Mike and I bought a shitload of raffle tickets and consequently won 4 raffle prizes.



- Put this on my Facebook, and am now extending the invite here:

Via Rachelle- Pay it forward 2011!
I pledge to send a handmade something to the first 5 people who comment on this post (and specify that they want to play) and who update their status/Twitter/Facebook/blog with this same offer (please link back). The rules are that YOU have to make it with your own hands and that you must send it sometime in 2011.

- Saw Rango and thought it was delightful. A wonderful change of pace.

- Started listening to Girl Talk, and physically felt my cool quotient increase exponentially.

- Got EXTREMELY excited for St. Patty's Day. Seriously, it's my favorite holiday because it's about food and drink, and there are NO obligations. However, in prepping my corned beef and cabbage, my garbage disposal clogged. I spent the next 2 hours elbow deep in drain sludge and pieces of cabbage. Luckily my mom is EXTREMELY handy, and Mike was dedicated to freeing up the plumbing.

-Fell madly in love with Rebecca Black's Friday. Seriously. I don't care what anyone says, it's a festive song.


- Have been debating canceling cable. I'm planning to write a whole post on that, but it's an ongoing saga.

- Started re-reading all 7 Harry Potter books again. I want to finish them just in time for the 2nd installment of Deathly Hallows.
- Watched the Leo DiCaprio and Claire Danes version of Romeo and Juliet and remembered HOW INSANELY AWESOME IT IS.

- Had some out of town friends visit! Had people over (then fell asleep on my own couch, because I'm cool like that)

- Had the roof and siding replaced on my whole house!

- Started painting my stairs - dark treads and white risers, like this. Quickly found out that this is not as fun or easy as I thought. Currently, the half finished staircase is giving my hives.

- Started thinking about the Derby Party
And I think that brings us about up to speed.

I've been terribly unmotivated to write, and absolutely SLAMMED at work and at home.
April is the beginning of lots of things to do, and birthdays and Spring CLEANING! So I'm up to my eyeballs in to-dos and obligations. I feel like I'm totally spinning out of control, but then I remember that all these obligations and events and whatnot are fun and awesome, and I'll figure it out.

Accidental Drunkenness

Yesterday, I had a crappy day, so I called my mom and told her about it.
She then offered to make me a Bloody Mary. It was delicious.

This is not the Bloody Mary in question

Then Mike came home, and we had a beer.

After that, we left to go to Mike's parents' house to celebrate the engagement of his brother. I somehow ended up with two beers in front of me. I drank both of them.

Champagne was poured, and I had myself a little glass to toast to the newly engaged. Then I had another glass, because someone didn't want theirs.

No family gathering is complete without a tequila shot to honor Papa.

Then I had another beer, you know, to chase it.

Through all of this? I forgot dinner. Mah bad.

And THAT'S the unfortunate story of how I accidentally got drunk last night and want to cry today.

I'm an embarrassment

I'm so lazy.

Today I should have:
Cleaned both the bathrooms
Done all my laundry
Changed my sheets
Unloaded the dishwasher, and loaded dirty dishes
Bought my sister a birthday present
Vacuumed
Swept and mopped

Today I:
Made waffles and coffee
Watched an episode of The Office
Watched an episode of Jump City Seattle
Watched an epidoes of One Born Every Minute
Watched an episode of Jersey Shore
Put sheets in the washer, forgot about them until now
Ordered and ate Jimmy Johns
Crept around on Facebook
Chatted on Facebook
Reopened my 20SB account
Read about the Help Nathan Buy Firefly movement - which I wholeheartedly support.

Happy Valentine's Day!

In light of Valentine's day, and Brittney's adorable post, I shall do my own!

I love...

• That most of the women in my office are wearing red today
• Fresh flowers. No matter where they come from.
• Talking future stuff with Mike.
• Going out to dinner and eating like a fat kid.
• An hour or two alone on weekend mornings.
• That point in winter where you can start to see hints of spring.
• When the pets play together.
• Bloody Marys at my mom's house.
• Knowing Jeopardy answers.
• Immediately changing into slipper boots and leggings when I get home.
• Mid-week movies.
  
• Weird, punny and inappropriate vintage Valentines.