Imitation, Flattery, etc.

So a young man (the former HSBF) who has always claimed a dislike of tattoos was asking me about my tattoos a couple weeks ago.

In the course of the conversation, I mentioned a "tribal dr@g0n thing" that I had in mind for a possible new tattoo at some point.

Now, he has a tribal dr@g0n tattoo.

Creepy?

Sweden Sounds Fun II

In our last lesson, we learned how to invite someone home, as well as the term for "venereal disease".

Now we may need some additional phrases.

Jag tar p-piller.
"I'm on the Pill."

Var snäll och ligg ner.
"Please lie down."

Öppna munnen.
"Open your mouth."

Jag behöver ett urinprov.
"I want a specimen of your urine."

Det smittar.
"It's contagious."

Hur mycket är jag skyldig?
"How much do I owe you?"

All of the above phrases may come in handy if you need to visit the doctor in Sweden. Obviously.

Sweden Sounds Fun

I hope to visit Sweden some day, and therefore have a Swedish travel phrase book.

So today let us learn a very important Swedish phrase:

Vill du komma hem med mig? (pronounced: vil deu komma hem mehd may)

Translation: "Would you like to come home with me?"

Oh, and you may need to know en könssjukdom, or "venereal disease".

Bon Jovi

So the concert last night kicked. ass.

Richie sang "I'll Be There For You" while Jon snuck into the middle of the arena for his next two songs.

"I'll Be There For You" is one of my favoritest Bon Jovi songs.

In completely unrelated news, I've decided I can still marry Richie Sambora after all. Rawr.

The opening act was Daughtry, and I have to say it was a snoozefest. Not because he sucked or was low energy or whatever. But because I don't really know his songs and he was the only thing standing between me and BON JOVI, so FINISH YOUR SET AND LEAVE ALREADY. Seems like a nice guy, though.

Bon Jovi sang all the old faves, some of the new stuff, and totally rocked my face. Everyone should go.

Just a Game

Sheesh, the team loses and suddenly people are biting your head off.

We have two conference champions, and no one could really expect a third.

Stupid money sports, sucking this year.

Yeah, I'm talking to you, football and men's basketball. Making (male) people grumpy with your colossal suck.

Indulging in the Crazy

I haven't forgotten you, Matt...

I should really be studying something...else...

This is my desktop wallpaper. For reals.

Click for supah-size.

It's a Damned Shame

That this show (Pickett Brothers alert) apparently never got picked up. I'd have watched it just for the outfits...the schoolboy outfits slay me.
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Alright, kiddos, I am off for the weekend. Going to visit the fam, so my internet capabilities will be severely handicapped until Sunday. The parents still have dial-up, and who can be bothered waiting for that crap? (Asks the girl who kept dial-up until about 2 years ago.)

Someone Prettier Than Angelina

It took me a couple minutes to decide who was prettier in this picture, but I have to go with the marine. Rawr.

(click to supah-size if you wish)

Cue the SQUEEEE!

Seriously, you guys. I am completely unable to help myself.

(click to enlarge, if you are so inclined. which you are not.)

The bf is becoming less inclined to watch reruns of Trick My Truck...don't know why.

New Love

So, I was watching tv with someone who is a chronic channel-flipper*, and CMT's Trick My Truck came into view. For some reason, it stayed on the screen for more than a split second.

It was enough to pique my interest, and the channel-flipper was instructed to turn it back. "What is this?" I inquired. Apparently they take big rigs and trick them out (a blatant ripoff of Pimp My Ride, I'm sure, but who cares?) for drivers who are down on their luck.

I was intrigued.

Not necessarily because of the premise**, but because of a towering, tattooed, freakily-goateed vision. One Kevin Pickett. Yowsa. I'd link to a picture, but none of the 3 pictures online of him do him justice. You can check out short PSA vids if you are so inclined.

Anyway, he wears a wedding ring, so feh. Still might have to watch the show, though. ;-)

* Actually, I wasn't so much watching TV as trying to read a book, because I am not into the whole channel-flipping thing. Plus the Big Ten sucked yesterday.

** Not at all because of the premise.

UPDATE: Pickett Custom Trucks website.
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Anywho, Happy New Year, all!

Twenty Years Ago...

Well, twenty years next spring, anyway...I was wooing my first "real" boyfriend with an a capella version of "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and a giddy fearlessness in regards to jumping in muck.

Never underestimate the value of being the only girl willing to get down and dirty.

Also, camp is fun.

Google Alerts Work

Happy birthday, Matt Stone. Iay illway avehay ouryay hildrencay henway ouyay aysay hetay ordway. Nytimeaay. Vulatingoay extnay eekway. Ustjay ayingsay.
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Suppose I oughts to explain myself while I'm on here.

Taking a 3-week class because I'm a sadist, and it's killing me. Not the class itself, but the class combined with working every single day.

Have to write a paper. Want to nap. Which will win?

My money's on the nap. Paper's not due until Tuesday morning, after all.

Query

A poll...you married men...do you wear a wedding band? If not, why not?

Je t'adore

The guy on the left. It's so rare to see a picture of him not making a goofball face. Yay, sincere smile!

The guy on the right, while entertaining in his own way, is not really my type.
;-)

Reason 839 Boys Suck

Back in the day, I would actually chat on AOL and meet people (i.e., guys) that way. Then I was cured of that little activity by a particular guy. He said he was single, so I talked to him in a way different than I would talk to a married/involved guy. Well, a year or so later, turns out he had a girlfriend the whole time. I got over it and still talked to him, but in the way I talk to married/involved guys. He kept talking to me in what I felt was an inappropriate way...not all the time, but he'd lapse.

Like when I thought I'd met someone really great, and he acted all hurt and told me he always thought I'd end up with him. (How can I end up with you?! You have a girlfriend and no interest in breaking up with her, not that I asked you to do that, but shut up with your f'ing mindgames and let me be happy, a'hole.)

Anyway, eventually you get sick of the mindgames and move on with life. But boys like to resurface now and then...like when they hear songs on the radio that remind them of you. Then they have to let you know about it. So you can have more mindgame fun when you hear it on the radio and almost start crying before thinking to yourself, "He's a manipulative a'hole you dropped almost two years ago and why are you thinking about crying over that mess of a human being?!"

So boys suck. Even the older ones.

Not just for the mindgames, but for making you associate songs with them. Can't hear it without the trip down memory lane. Melissa Etheridge's "The Only One" is still tied to someone I would have forgotten otherwise. But he bought the CD for me, and pops up in my memory for at least a moment every time I hear the song.

I'm Nothing If Not Loyal

Sigh. Look at those lips.

Happy birthday, Richie. I've loved you for 20 years, and remain--as always--ready to be your whore. Call me.

Unbridgable

The hsbf hates Shrek. He also hates history and museums.

I told him we can no longer be friends.

No more boyfriends for me.

Until Septemberish. I like getting birthday presents.
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The former hsbf has a tendency to follow me around work, and the most recent time I walked into the back room and he followed me, leaving the store unattended. So I asked what the hell he was doing (probably in so many words), and he said, "I've been following you all day."

So he knows. And now he knows I know. And I know he knows. And he knows I know he knows. And I know he knows I know.

No point, really. But everyone knows.
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For the love of God, how long does the World Cup last?! It's not even the end of the first round! I. can't. take. it. anymore.
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Go, Sweden!

The Graduate

Well, kids. Not all graduates can stay in Iowa City forever. Some of them have to move away and get jobs and grow up. They have gazillions of dollars in student loans to pay off, and can't do that by keeping a part-time student job.

So they leave. And it's not something to be sad about. It's exciting and it's good. It's Life.

But some of us left behind will miss them.

Preaching to the Choir

Amen.
_____

Bob: I'm so sick of life. I'm going to kill myself.
Fred: How're you going to do it?
Bob: I'm going to go to Iowa and die of boredom.
_____

"A recent police study found that you're much more likely to get shot by a fat
cop if you run."

-Dennis Miller

Disturbing Quote of the Day/Week/Month...

Clearly my dreams about Steve were misplaced at best:

I am ready for bed. I will think about W.C. Fields when I get between the sheets.

Horrifying visual, that.

*I'm* going back to bed, and will pray not to have any nightmares.

Shiny

The Boy: "You have a lot of jewelry."
Me: "Define 'a lot'."
The Boy: "I never see you wear the same jewelry twice."
Me: "That's not true."
The Boy: ...
Me: "I wear my gold hoop earrings, my gold spiral thread-through earrings, and those silver artsy earrings all the time. Or at least frequently enough that you've seen them more than once."
The Boy: "Which ones are the 'silver artsy earrings'?"
Me: "They have the blue and white stones...they're kind of curled around the three stones?"
The Boy: "Okay. But you still have a lot of jewelry."
Me: "Hmm."
The Boy: "Where did you get all of it?"
Me: "Is that really a road you want to go down?"
The Boy: "No."
Me: "Thank you. And for the record, my mom bought those three pairs of earrings. Well, I guess not the silver ones, but she was with when I bought them."

So, like all boys, he had to replace some of the offending jewelry. (That's why I have so much. Boys be competitive.) And I have new sparkly earrings, a bracelet, and a pendant. Nothing over-the-top, just silver. And he did really well on the pendant--it has daisies on it. Yay, daisies.
_____

There is just one degree of separation between me and the mumps. And if I get the mumps between now and Finals Week, someone is going to die. And it won't be me, I'll tell you that much.

The Key to Good Reviews

Is to say something complimentary about the reviewer first. Then you get lovely compliments in return.

Reaching Out and Touching...

...Paul. He sounds about like I thought he would. Even-keeled, pleasant, maybe attractive. I might be projecting on that last part, though. He also sounded surprised. Like I was going to say I'd call and then not call. It's not like he's Shank or someone else I don't really want to talk to.

I kid.
_____

I am so freaking tired, I can't stand it. I've been hanging out at the library entirely too much lately. Practically had the 5th floor to myself this evening, though, and got lots done. Now I have to transfer my written notes to Word. Bleh. I'll get up early and do it tomorrow.

Love is...

...raspberry sherbet delivered to my door.

Some boys are useful.

Update to Previous

I didn't hear anything from Shank, so I text-messaged him to tell him where we were at. (Calling was difficult, as it was LOUD.) Didn't hear a peep out of him, so I must conclude that he blew ME off. Or he doesn't have text-messaging, but who the heck doesn't have text-messaging?!

I'm insulted.

Killing Time

I'm all packed and ready to boogie. However, I'm not actually leaving for a few hours yet.

In no time at all, I'll be avoiding too deaf to take Shank's calls, and then he'll be all pissed off like I blew him off on purpose, and then I'll be all like, "Bitch, you didn't even invite me to your wedding." Then he'll be all like, "Women are evil and blah blah blah."

I'm just guessing. :-)

Like it's my fault half my family is in Vegas this weekend, and there's a race going on. People make plans, man. I mentioned this Vegas thing like months ago, and did anyone say they were going to be in Vegas? The answer is no, no one did.

How I'm Like Michael Jackson

My mom's take on the Original Boyfriend situation went something like this: "Isn't college enough to recapture your youth? Now you're going back to high school, too?"

Of course, Mom was never a big fan. Original Boyfriend was non-caucasian and significantly older than me. Plus very talented at pinning people to a mat. He was a big hit with the folks. I wouldn't let a daughter in the same situation date the guy. (Not that I'd care about the racial aspect.)

Anyway...even if it's not some attempt to relive my childhood/young adulthood, but rather curiousity about the past and how it would translate to the present...isn't that self-indulgent? I do have a fairly serious boyfriend who treats me very well, and we don't have any major issues. If O.B. wanted to come for dinner, that would be a non-issue. He, the current bf, and I could go to dinner together.

Coming for a weekend is more than just a friendly meeting. It's more of a testing-the-waters kind of thing. So I have to decide if allowing that is something I would regret not doing more than I would regret doing.

Asking For Trouble

So like, let's say your first boyfriend ever, from like 100 years ago, wants to come visit you--3 hours away--for a weekend. Okay, not 100 years ago. You broke up when your family moved away when you were 16, but have stayed in touch off and on over the years. So like 15 years ago. But when you've actually seen each other since then, there have been sparks. And when you met his girlfriends, they hated your guts as soon as they heard your name, and you're pretty sure that's not just your imagination. And like all of your boyfriends since have heard his name, because it's pretty sexy sounding.

So like let's say he's never been married and you've never been married, and he's in a job where he wears a cool uniform and carries weaponry. And let's say he also coaches little kids in a particular sport for which he won the state championship back in the day. And let's just say his bod is looking as good as it did when he was 18 years old. You know, back in the day. From what you can tell in the pictures. While he's wearing clothes, because they're not those kind of pictures. And he now enters karaoke competitions, and that cracks you up, because you still can't hear "Pour Some Sugar On Me" without imagining him singing it...for reasons no one else needs to read about.

Anyway, you have a boyfriend. So telling the original boyfriend he can visit--even as a friend--would be wrong, don't you think?

Big Plans

I got out of my last class early, huzzah. My prof was anxious to check the news on the Cheney situation.

Now I have to get dolled up for the casino.

That's right, the boy and I are going to a casino for Valentine's Day. We already did the nice dinner and all that a few days ago, and now we're avoiding the crazy V-Day dinner crowds by going to a casino. We're practicing for our trip next month. He thinks I need to learn table games, even though I already know the gist. And I don't really care about table games anyway. But it'll be more fun to play table games together in LV than to have him doing that while I shove money in the one-armed bandits.

Besides, Valentine's Day is a day of romance. And nothing says true love like, "Hit me, baby!"

Or something.

Why Me?

There is a whole campus full of young, hard-bodied, naive co-eds. Some of them even paid the $20 to attend a recent "Girls Gone Wild" party/taping thing. Paid. To flash their breasts. $20. Didn't get paid. Gave their own money. And I'm the one getting weirdos stopping their car in traffic (and nearly getting rear-ended by a city bus) to hit on me.

Even I'm not deluded enough to think I'm smokin' in my winter coat, so I'm at a complete loss. But for the record, I do *not* need a ride. In any sense of the phrase. Thank you.
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Didn't mean to concern anybody with my entry yesterday. There is a method to my madness. You just don't know what it is. :-) Thanks to everyone who showed me some love. I love you too. And to everyone who didn't show me the love, well, duly noted.

Fast Learner

My nephew, age 4, has found a way to lessen his punishments when he gets in trouble. He looks you straight in your eyes and says, "I love you." If he's close enough, he might try to give you a hug or kiss as well.

Lord help the girls of his future.

Arrested Development

The world is growing up while I'm stuck at 19.

I was sitting on some steps, minding my own business, enjoying the spring-like weather, when a guy came up to me.

Guy: "You look familiar."

Me: "I get that a lot." (I really do, one of my professors is determined she knows me from somewhere and keeps trying to figure out where.)

Guy: "No, really. Is your name [my name]?"

Me: (Now suspicious.) "Yes..."

Guy: "You used to date my brother, [his brother's name]."

Turns out this kid is the little brother of the guy I dated last time I came to this university. When this kid was like 8 years old.

Babies (Not Mine) and Underwear (Mine)

The Boy: "The Gerkens had their baby."

Me: "A mini-Gerken?" (stifled laughter from me, because I laugh at my own jokes...someone has to)

The Boy: "What?"

Me: "Nevermind."

My sense of humor is completely unappreciated in this country. (mini-gherkin? no?)
_____

I finally gave in and bought some of those boy-shorts underwear (possibly NSFW). Not sure I care for them, but they've gotten rave reviews from the one person who has seen them who is not me.

And no, that is not my picture. That is a Victoria's Secret model. Obviously, I think.

Jet Setter

Ugh. Must sleep.

Running from work to airports to airports to work...with a little NYC time thrown into the middle.

The boy's parents don't hate me, so I have that to report. I might remember more later.

Beddy-bye now.

I Ain't Messing With No Broke...People

Who is going to turn down a free trip to Manhattan during the Christmas season? A fool, that's who, and mama didn't raise no fool.

I've already done the Rockefeller tree and all that kind of stuff, but it's an experience anybody should be willing to repeat.

Lesson: Christmastime in NYC is an effective inducement to meet The Parents.

All Over Except the Leftovers

I'm back in my own home, with a Ziplock full of turkey and a Tupperware full of stuffing. Mom got a 21 pound turkey this year (for 7 people), so Dad wouldn't let me leave without taking some home. It kept for the 2-hour drive in my trunk, nicely refrigerated since it's about 19 degrees outside.

Had to come home tonight, because tomorrow I have to go to the store bright and early. No, not to shop with the other fools. To work. Yay. Hopefully it will be dead, because we're not having any sales. Everyone should be at the mall. We're hoping. Please, God, let them stay at the mall.
_____

Being a poor college student and all, I don't do a lot of retail therapy anymore. But sometimes it can't be helped. Whenever I break up with somebody, for example, I have to buy new clothes and/or makeup. In the last week or so I've bought all-new makeup, a new pair of boots, and some pretty blouses. Not because I broke up with The Boy, mind you, but because I unloaded some previous emotional baggage.

Two years ago (almost to the exact day, if memory serves), there was another boy. Let's just say my attachment lasted longer than his. But I finally got with the program, and now I can pretty safely say all attachment is severed. So I've spent the last week getting lots of compliments on my looks, which I am shallow enough to thoroughly enjoy.
_____

Victor: Gerard Butler.

Meet My Future Husband

I have decided. He will be mine.

Oh, yes. He will be mine.

Scottish accent, definite plus. If he was American, he probably wouldn't be half as attractive. Click to enlarge either one. Especially the first.

It's Not All Dancing on Library Tables

It's also going to assorted art student friends' shows. Luckily, they were all on the same night. Friday, to be exact. One friend had an installation piece on display in one building, and one friend (well, the gf of a friend anyway--she hates me) had several paintings on display at the art building.

I took my high school boyfriend with me, because my actual boyfriend was unavailable. And the hsbf overheard me talking about it, made some noises about wanting to go, so what the heck. I picked him up and everything to make it a proper date. LOL

The paintings display was a reception with food, so we did that one first. Very abstract, but nice. Then we walked to the other building to see the installation piece. It was curled ribbon filling a glass-enclosed space. Looked like a lot of work to me.

I dropped off the hsbf (and there was not a goodnight kiss, tyvm), then went home to make a bunch of truth tables. I've stopped railing on about how useless it is long enough to actually get the hang of it.

Costumes

Hmm. Only one person even attempted a guess at my Halloween costume. I'm going as South Park's Wendy. Sheesh, people. I mentioned barf!

The Boy will be Stan. It's sickeningly cute. I had to be talked into it, to be honest.

Jailbait!

There is a 17-year-old high school student who I've suspected is crushing on me (much to my puzzlement, as a 17-year-old should be chasing after his own age group...guys in every other age group chase after 18-year-old girls all the time, so it stands to reason).

Today I publicly (and jokingly) berated him for calling me "Jenny" and he looked heartbroken. I apologized and made sure he knew I wasn't actually mad.

Kids are cute.

Halloween

For Halloween, I'll be wearing yellow pants, a purple jacket, and a pink/purple hat. Guess what I'll be.

The Boy (it has been narrowed down to one) will be wearing blue pants, a brown jacket, and a red and blue hat. Hopefully there will be no barf involved.