26 x 365: Featured Every Friday (sometimes I cheat)

26 x 365: Day 104, Joey (2007)

We seemed destined for unexplainable fate—perhaps slightly too perfect,

And a little “too good to be true.”

Cause it just didn’t click face to face.


26 x 365: Day 103, Steve. B (2005 to Now)

“Waiter, one glass of milk please!” ;)

A little quirky, very smiley and extraordinarily talented.

I’ve only known you through Sarah, but always enjoy your company.


26 x 365: Day 102, Troy (2006 to Now)

Something about you is just so dang sexy.

Now you’re moving in with one of my best friends, down the street from me.

That spells Trouble.


26 x 365: Day 101, Caitlin (2007 to Now)

I enjoy getting to know you, better and better.

And love how happy you make Josh.

I wish you the best in your blossoming publishing career.


26 x 365: Day 100, Nancy L. (1992 to Now)

I blame you for the way your daughter turned out.

The pressure to be popular, and always perfect.

It's enough to drive a person crazy. Clearly.


26 x 365: Day 99, Darcy (2000 to 2004)

We hung in the same social circles for years at Western.

I saw you today, pregnant and working at Starbucks.

You couldn’t even remember my name.


26 x 365: Day 98, Dave M. (2007 to Now)

“Boy,” I can’t express how happy I feel about you meeting, “Girl.”

You two are perfect compliments.

I feel that someday you’ll be my Dolphin Brother.


A Year-Long Journey Through My Life
... x365 Project ...

Ding dong the Witch is dead

The Worst Mother in the Universe and her evil screaming child have vacated the building after only four months.

I don't care to know why they're breaking their lease so early. I'd like to think that my loud music, feet stomping and, "SHUT UPS!" ran them out. All I know is that there is nothing like the silence of a child-free house. I'm just disappointed I didn't get to have very loud, inappropriate sex in our bathroom, which has a direct vent to their apartment. I was really lookin' forward to that revenge tactic...

Currently Feeling: Only slightly worried. I'm probably overreacting.
Currently Anticipating: Getting out of this company!
Currently Loving: Curried chicken, onions and apples with yogurt sauce.

I'm coming out of the closet

I am slightly buzzed from wine this evening and have been cruising the Net while watching reality TV. (A favorite pastime of mine.) I happened upon a Facebook group titled, "I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar," which led me to a Web site that has cute little T-shirts available for order.

Because I'm thinking in the midst of a wine haze, a little because I often impulse shop but mostly because the shirt is SO ME, I ordered one.

I can't wait to wear it around and openly judge everyone's grammar.

Sometimes it gets really exhausting to be a Closet Grammar Judger.

Okthnxbai.

I feel driven, hear me roar

I've never been able to deal well with being bored. In fact, it's safe to say that boredom is one of my least favorite human emotions. I think I used to (probably still do) drive my biological father crazy when I visited him in the Podunk town he lives in. One pizza parlor, one grocery store, one bowling alley and one theater that boasts documentaries on the Mt. St. Helen's eruption every hour, were never my idea of a good time. "Can't you just relax?!" he'd say when I wanted to go to dinner, shopping "in town," or anything that got me out of the trailer he lived in on three acres in the middle of nowhere. Collecting caterpillars in a jar grew old after age 10. Life at my mom's and life at my dad's were always night and day.

Perhaps I learned it at a young age, but when I start to feel a little bored, I think about all the things I can do or change so I DON'T feel bored. This last part of winter has been so mundane, so I started searching for anything and everything to keep me busy. Now, I've suddenly found myself with quite the list:

• Teaching myself Adobe GoLive via two tutorial books that I bought off Amazon.com, so I can design my own portfolio Web site
  
• Assembling a portfolio to apply to the Academy of Art in San Francisco
  
• Beginning a pro bono copywriting project through the Taproot Foundation, where I will be copywriting a brochure project for Page Ahead—a local nonprofit advocating child literacy
  
• Two job interviews this week and continuously trying to push out three resumes and cover letters a week
  
• Staying after hours at work to spend a couple hours trying to finish Vanessa and Larisa's uber-late, two-year birthday project I've been designing (it's a surprise)

I feel DRIVEN to SUCCEED right now.

Currently Feeling: Nervous about all this WV application stuff coming through.
Currently Anticipating: The interview I have with a rad ad agency on Thursday.
Currently Worrying About: My boyfriend. I haven't heard from him in nearly two weeks! Yikes.

Another single bites the bullet

Congratulations Winston and Tara Evans!

I brought out my boobs, just for you, to celebrate your day.

Feel special.

26 x 365: Featured Every Friday

26 x 365: Day 97, David H. (1992 to Now)

In 5th grade , you were one of the cutest boys.

9th through 12th grade, I was intimidated.

It’s great to laugh together now at bowling.


26 x 365: Day 96, Shannon P. (1994 to Now)

Growing up, I admired your athleticism and personality.

In high school you blossomed into a buxom blonde.

Despite some differences, you’ll always be a lifelong friend.


26 x 365: Day 95, Phil D. (2007 to Now)

You married Shan last year.

We all joke that you’ll be gardening without a shirt, and we’ll watch.

I hope I find a husband like you.


26 x 365: Day 94, Megan B. (2003 to Now)

In journalism, you stood out to me as someone I’d get along with.

I befriended you, and we lived together junior year.

I miss our friendship.


26 x 365: Day 93, Lisa G. (2003 to Now)

You were the roommate I didn’t really connect with.

We butted heads.

Now, I think we all realize and cherish the bond we shared that year.


26 x 365: Day 92, Jillian W. (1994 to Now)

You’re my longest friend.

We never hang out and took different paths.

You’ll always be there to pick right back up with. And me to you.


26 x 365: Day 91, Josh S. (1997 to Now)

I’ve almost known you as long as Jill.

As high school sweethearts, I didn’t used to approve.

Now I think you actually might make it. Hopefully.


A Year-Long Journey Through My Life
... x365 Project ...

Writing is a whole way of life

During my lunch hour today, I was enjoying my rather hearty salad and reading an article I found on The Seattle Times titled, "'Old Friend' offers help with writing a memoir." Since it is my dream to someday turn these 20-something ramblings—or perhaps what my life has to bring—into a memoir, I jumped at the chance to read advice on writing one. The author of the book, Natalie Goldberg, is a writer who considers herself an expert in the topic of memoirs. Her Q&A with The Times' reporter contained some great advice that I'll file away in the ole' memory bank. When I reached the end of the interview, Goldberg said this:

"I don't have to write, but I have to live as a writer. Receiving the world. Noticing some things. Having some time for dreaming. Caring about detail. Because writing isn't just writing. It's a whole way of life. It's a way of seeing and caring. A desire to have intimacy for your life and for the world."

That. That is me.

Out with February, Hello March!

Dear February and March,

I loathe you. You are the worst two months of the year. Nothing exciting ever happens in February—who actually looks forward to Valentine’s Day, even if you do have a significant other? And does anyone ever really think to him or herself, “Oooh! Leap year is this year! The only thing I’ve ever liked about you, March, is St. Patrick’s Day (heart!), and the downhill slope to longer days and a warmer spring.

Usually by the time the two of you come around, I’m so sick of the Seattle grey that I’m ready to move— your weather is cold, and your days are dreary, dark and boring. You also force me to realize how many winter pounds I’ve put on over the holidays. With the onset of spring and summer mere months away, and my pants fitting slightly tight, my hate for the two of you grows. I am obligated to kick into extreme workout and healthy-eating mode—boor ing! And you know what February? You snatched my boyfriend away this year and snowed so much that I missed my cabin weekend away to Leavenworth. Damn you!

Oh but March, you’re finally treating me right this year. You’re only one week away, and I can’t wait to bid February adieu. I am looking forward to wrapping myself in you, March. Not only have Sarah and I planned a fun girly party at our apartment (sex toys and fondue. That’s right. I said sex toys and fondue), but you will be delivering my boyfriend back to me. Oh, how I count the moments. To top off the gifts you are bringing me, I also have a girl's night planned to see Mamma Mia at The Paramount, will finally be getting vacation and sick pay through work with possibly a significant raise, AND I will be taking a crazy and sexy little trip to Vegas.

If only you could be this good to me every year…

See ya February! And hello March!

Your Fair-weather Friend,
20-Something

Currently Feeling: Sexy in my new sparkly cardigan I bought last night.
Currently Anticipating: Seeing what this volunteer copywriting thing is all about tonight.
Currently Listening To: "Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison..over and over and over again. I can't get enough!

I JUST BOOKED TICKETS TO VEGAS!!

I'm so excited!! I will be heading to Sin City with Baby Daddy and a group of my friends at the end of March. I've wanted to go back to Vegas ever since my first trip, right after turning 21. I fell in love immediately—I really don’t know anything better than a single destination that allows extreme partying, dancing, gambling and sunbathing for days on end. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the luxury of having work meetings there two or more times a year like a few of my lucky friends. Since I haven’t made it back in the last five years, I figure I’ve been more than overdue.

In the last week that I’ve been researching hotel and flight packages, I’ve realized that I’m slightly neurotic and very indecisive. I mean, I stayed up till 12:45 last night, researching package options, and still didn’t buy anything! I was, quite literally, losing sleep over booking a vacation. Doesn’t that seem like an oxymoron?

You name it—I couldn’t decide on it. Did I want to pay a little more for a little nicer hotel? Did I care that the pool sucked at that hotel? Did I want a Deluxe or Standard room at this hotel? Did I want to upgrade to a better flight, or take the cheaper flight and add on two VIP tickets to a nightclub? Should I book something super cheap and sorta lame, and save my money for entertainment, or should do we want to stay in the middle of everything? Aaaah!

Luckily, I have amazing friends who love me, even if all I harp on and on about for four days is HOW. STRESSED. OUT. I. AM. about booking a package to Vegas. God, really, Jeanna? Life could be so much more difficult. My wonderful friends have coaxed me through making decisions on our trip without the other half of my “our” here to give me the okay on vacation plans, such as purchasing $90 show tickets on his credit card. What’s a girl to do? I finally just closed my eyes and clicked “Proceed with Package” today on Expedia. I knew that if I really spent anymore time changing dates, checking different Web sites, and researching pools and rooms at each hotel, I was going to go quite crazy.

So, I opted for The Sahara—the most luxurious and spacious hotel in Vegas! Right. But, it is one of the most inexpensive hotels on the Strip. Even if it is a little old and more north than I would have liked, but the recently installed Monorail down the Strip solves that problem. Plus, the pool is pretty decent, and it’s one of the only hotels in Vegas with $3 Black Jack! Hello lover! Since it only cost us $300 each for flight and hotel (!!), I’m saving my money for VIP tickets to Tao nightclub and tickets to a fancy show—Le Reve at Wynn Hotel.


The last time I went to Vegas, I drove there with my boyfriend on $300 for the entire week. So, you could imagine there weren’t too many fancy dinners, shows or nights-out for us. I think opting for a crappier hotel, and splurging on the nightlife is a far-better option this time. Someday I might be able to actually see the inside of a hotel room at the Bellagio, MGM Grande, Venetian, etc. But right now, I’ll just live the pseudo four-star lifestyle…

Any restaurant, nightlife, or must-do suggestions, friends? (I still haven't necessarily made up my mind between Le Reve and Stomp Out Loud.)

Currently Feeling: SUPER excited for that King-sized bed. Whoops. TMI?
Currently Anticipating: Getting this contract crap figured out at work—and hopefully a raise?!
Currently Loving: Shrimp cocktail and BLTs.

Man, did I need a weekend like this

Since Christmas, I’ve been in sort of a boredom funk. Part of me has been trying to save money to pay down my credit card balances (I’m halfway there thanks to my tax return and recent frugality!), part of me is feeling a little body conscious after my holiday and new boyfriend eating binge, therefore trying to trade drinking and eating out for staying in and cooking healthy, and the other part of me is just hibernating during my least favorite months of winter. I’ve been especially low-key since Baby Daddy has been gone, and haven’t spent too many crazy nights out during January and February. So unlike me.

I more than made up for it this weekend. I said to myself toward the end of last week, “You know what, Jeanna? I think it’s time for you to binge drink this weekend.”

And so I did. I make a point to stick to my goals.

One of my besties from college, Justin, aka Big J aka Lawdy aka Big Lawdy Style, flew in Thursday night from L.A. Every time he arrives, it’s like partying is kicked in full force, and we try to make up for all the other days a year that we can’t party together. It makes my liver hurt. But, it’s oh so reckless and fun.

Big J and I rocking the party that rocks the party

We spent Valentine’s Day night at Sunset Bowl, with a little karaoking and bowling. I had a little beer buzz going since I rarely drink the stuff anymore, but also caused me to wake up with a raging headache the next morning. No fun. The beer buzz certainly helped my bowling game, however. Vanessa, Sarah and I were knocking them out of the park (or down the lane, I should say). I bowled a 134, Vanessa a 135 and Sarah scored an unbelievable 187 thanks to five strikes in a row. Of course, we can’t ever do that for our Lucky Strikes bowling league on Sunday nights. Go figure.

Can you believe how awesome our scores were! (And our bowling names!)

Saturday I hit the town again with Big J and two more of my good college friends, Kelly and Adam. I happened to fall head first into a bottle of VikingFjord vodka I had at home. I swear, that stuff is like water. We headed to Merchant’s Café for a few more stiff drinks and pool, then finished out night off at Fado. And then Justin, Adam and I stayed up till 3:30 a.m., eating and playing Super Nintendo at my house.

All of us hanging out at Merchant's Cafe getting super silly time

Of course, to round out my weekend, I was ready to do it all again Saturday night for my Dolphin Sister’ birthday. After some champagne and the rest of my vodka, we headed to Marcus’ Martini Heaven, where Larisa and Vanessa had rented out a portion of the bar for their birthday. I’m not a huge fan of the place; it’s a little dark, small and dungeony to me. But, I couldn’t complain when I ordered a tall vodka diet and they charged me $4. Whoo hoo! I mixed, ate and mingled until Justin, Adam and Kelly showed up from a going away party they were at, and we again headed to Fado. (It must have been a Pioneer Square and Fado weekend. Strange, since I rarely ever frequent those places.) Apparently I was doing some dancing at Fado (memory relapse) and took a nasty little spill on the sidewalk (everything is still unscratched and intact).

Happy Birthday My Dolphin Sisters! May we have another 13 years together!

Celebratin birthdays at Marcus' Martini Heaven


Barely making it through the end of the night...so nice of Justin to make fun

I don’t know how I did it, but I managed to wake up with enough energy to not shower, throw on a hat and hang out with the fam since my lil’ sis was in town from WSU for the weekend. It was a beautiful, sunny Seattle day, so we headed to Greenlake for lunch at World Wraps and a little jaunt around the lake. We wrapped up the day at Bottega Italiana for Gelato, and then I rushed off to Sunset Bowl (again) for our fifth and final season as The Lucky Strikes. I bowled like crap, but wrapped up my wonderful weekend with a quick grocery store trip to pick up a few things (where some guy told me I had a mighty fine walk. Thank you mama!) and I bought possibly the best purchase in a long time: a microwave omelette maker for $2.99. I have been perfecting my omelette skills all week at work, and I think I might write a microwave omelette cookbook—I’m that good. Trust me.

My wonderful, amazing and cheap new microwave omelette pan!

So, I had crazy weekend filled with awesome friends, family and omelettes—that’s all folks.

Currently Feeling: Super indecisive about the Vegas package I want to buy.
Currently Anticipating: Using my new $7 weights in exercise class today at work.
Currently Loving: The beautiful sea green bag I just purchased from Nordstrom’s.

Magic Love Chocolate

I realize now, looking back, how surpy my Valentine's Day post was. How embarrassing. I think I really let the romance, hearts and chocolate go to my head, and then I just ran with it. After all, it was directly after I inhaled two chocolate hearts and a little baggy of candy hearts that were left on my desk at work.

Cynicism! Sarcasm! Being blunt and a little sassy!

This is ultimately what you want, right? And what I usually like to deliver.

My sincere apologies. Let this be a lesson to everyone: don't eat extreme amounts of chocolate heart candy, with a side of boyfriend, in front of a computer. It leads to lovey dovey posts that are just tacky. Friends don't let friends blog sappy on Valentine's Day. Come on! Where were you on that one!

Currently Feeling: A little groggy and headachy, but ready to go back out and do it again tonight and tomorrow!
Currently Anticipating: Booze with the boys tonight and champagne, dressing up and cocktails with the girls tomorrow.
Currently Loving: Three more weeks! Only three more weeks, I tell you! (Then I'm not leaving my bedroom for 48 hours.)

Love is in the air… well, for me at least

Happy Valentine's Day!

I feel sorta silly happy today, which is quite the change from my usual complacent attitude in years gone past. I have to say, Valentine’s Day when you’re single really sucks. You can’t help but to feel slightly down about not having someone to spend the day with. Even if you’re completely satisfied and content with your relationship status, there’s just something about Valentine’s Day that puts singles in a 24-hour funk. Trust me, I’ve lived it for at least the last four years.

But, I guess life is always in a constant state of ebb and flow. And this year it’s my turn to have a special someone on Valentine’s Day—someone who’s gone above and beyond to make me smile. Not only did I receive a more than generous birthday present, which was supposed to be “half my Valentine’s Day present cause he wasn’t going to be here,” and a cute Valentine’s Day card in the mail (a couple week early), but I had a beautiful vase of red roses delivered to me last night. Baby Daddy is officially the first man to send me flowers on Valentine’s Day, which is all I’ve ever really wanted. To top things off, my phone rang late last night and his cell phone number in Dutch Harbor popped up on the screen. He finally arrived back in port last night after three weeks at sea. And boy have they been a long three weeks—no contact, nothing. Only two brief 15-minute conversations. I’ve felt distant and disappointed every time we hang up. It’s really hard to maintain a long-distance relationship when you can’t even talk to each other to stay up-to-date on the little things that happen daily. As cheesy as it sounds, it was just really nice to be able to wake up and hear his voice this morning. So, I get to talk to him all day today and for the next three days, and he’ll get to pick up his Valentine’s Day package and letters I’ve sent him. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

To round out my reasons for feeling silly happy—I’m spending tonight with a group of some of my very best friends, including a great friend who’s flying in tonight from L.A. All of us will be heading to Sunset Bowl in Ballard for inexpensive drinks, trashy karaoke, free bowling and cheap thrills. I’m very excited to celebrate with a group of people I love from the bottom—stretched to every inch—of my heart.

So, Happy Valentine’s Day, my dearest friends. If you’re feeling a wee bit down, read my post here, and it should uplift you just a bit. And if you’re feeling loved, well, there’s really no better feeling in the whole wide world.


Currently Feeling: SO relieved that Mike has already caught 2/3 of his fish quota and should be back early March instead of late March!
Currently Anticipating: Going out tonight with all my dates, and spending the weekend with big J and my lil’ sis.
Currently Loving: Being really cheesy and wearing red hearts and lipstick today.

I'd like to think this will all pay off someday...

I'm whoring myself out.

That's right.

You knew it was only a matter of time.

I'm offering my writing skills up for free to the masses!!

I've been contacted to be a volunteer for the Taproot Foundation. I found a posting they had on Monster.com for a copywriting position they needed--volunteer only. In my obsession with breaking into the copywriting world, I applied to work for them for free. The commitment will only be three to five hours a week (supposedly), and I will be working on projects that will include copywriting for brochures, Web sites, reports and perhaps product copywriting. This will hopefully end up being the chance to gain copywriting experience that I've been waiting for...too bad it's for zero income. I seem to be a magnet for nonprofit work. But, such is life.

This will either provide excellent clips for the online portfolio I'm creating to apply for the MAF in Advertising program at the Academy of Art in San Fransisco, or it will allow me to skip that 45K grad degree all together. (Although I'm still leaning toward the degree.)

I'm attending an orientation next week, and then will be able to start working on some projects. Hopefully this little volunteer endeavor I'm embarking on won't include any more underage teenagers and strippers. I'm not sure that will do much for my portfolio...

Currently Feeling: Productive for the first time in months. Terrible.
Currently Anticipating: Tanning, pilates and Cashmere Mafia. It's a low-key Wednesday.
Currently Loving: My plans for VDay tomorrow! But, I hope I get to hear from my boy too!

From Canned Food and Probably Back Again

Since for the most part I’m constantly trying to watch what I eat, I find it much more exciting now that I know how to make a few recipes and shop for tasty ingredients at the grocery store. Today I enjoyed white bean chicken chili I made in my crockpot last night, (recipe courtesy of good ole mom and listed below), with a walnut, dried cranberry, apple and chicken salad with raspberry, walnut and Gorgonzola dressing. That sure beats eating things like plain chicken, soup out of a can, a jar of spaghetti sauce poured over noodles, or boxed meals. Watching your figure is less boring or daunting when you’re actually eating stuff that tastes good AND is healthy…

Do you remember the days of grocery shopping in college, or when you first lived on your own? I went into that big grocery store and had NO IDEA what I was doing. For years I wouldn’t go grocery shopping until everything was gone in my cupboards except half a bag of instant rice and a box of pudding, and nothing was left in the fridge besides pickles and mustard. My grocery-shopping trip always ended up costing way more than what I could afford as a college student who made $350 every two weeks. And I still only bought boxed or canned stuff—Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Top Ramen, Au Gratin potatoes, Spaghetti O’s, Chef Boyardee Ravioli. I even went through a phase of eating green beans out of a can for lunch at work. It wasn’t that I was trying to starve myself—it was just easy and inexpensive.

Since college and moving out on my own, I’ve actually experimented with recipes, bought some cookbooks and even ask for practical things for Christmas like a crockpot, knife set and spice rack. (These things make cooking soooo much easier!)

My mom would like to think that this new foray into the cooking world will improve my chances with finding a husband and getting married. She’s totally a “cook for your man, and he won’t ever leave!” type of woman. I think she used to believe that she failed as a mother cause I wasn’t interested in cooking or cleaning—ever. She probably thinks now that I’m learning to cook, she’ll have grandchildren on the way soon. She’s been bugging me to pop out a couple grandchildren for her since 2002.

I suppose being able to cook for my significant other can’t hurt…But I sure hate to think that domesticating myself a bit more is leading me on the path of getting knocked-up soon. Cause learning to cook for myself is fun, but I imagine cooking for a family every night is a whole nother ball game. I'll probably have to revert back to Spaghetti O’s and Chef Boyardee Ravioli. They say life always comes full circle, right? Enjoy that can of beans, kids!

Hey, look! It's a printable recipe card for you! Just click on it...and print!

Currently Feeling: Positive about this workout program during the week at work. It’s so much easier to go home and not have to worry about it…and it’s free!
Currently Anticipating: Getting my Adobe GoLive tutorial books in the mail so I can teach myself how to create a killer Web site for my resume and portfolio.
Currently Hating: No Sex. Weeks, days, hours and months with no sex. Boo. Hiss.

A Slow But Steady Decline

Today I’m wearing light-colored work pants, and while primping and admiring myself in the bathroom mirror, I noticed that the small dimple that has formed in my left butt cheek is visible through my pants. SICK. Is there anything grosser than those old ladies whose legs and butt are noticeably lumpy? I’ve walked around all day, tugging at my camisole in the hopes of covering my imperfection. My days of wearing white pants might be coming to an end if I don’t do something about trying to get rid of this little dent! Running?! Increased exercise? Magical, miracle cellulite cream?! Butt lifts at the gym?! I’ve heard that cellulite is hereditary, and I’m lucky to have escaped most perils of the cellulite world. I’m thankfully, for the most part, curvy but muscular. But, since I was not graced with big beautiful breastesses, I MUST PRESERVE MY BUTT. It’s the only man magnet I got!

This little dimple on my left cheek has formed some time between college and now. It could have something to do with sitting on my butt for eight or more hours, Monday through Friday. I’d be sour too if someone squished me into a pancake, numbing all sense of feeling, for that long each day. I think my butt has boycotted this office job by puckering.

This whole dimple thing really stresses me out. Mostly because it’s all downhill from here…

Don't you love the visual I created for you?! I just happened to have this photo lying around that someone took last summer. God bless Photoshop! LOL.

UPDATE: I'm feeling very vocal about my work day today...When you have nothing in your lunch bag besides squash soup, a small dollop of cottage cheese, a small dollop of tuna fish and a small dollop of Rosemary Chicken Salad from Trader Joe's, you really wish it was 5th grade again and you were sitting next to someone who might want to trade lunches with you.

Currently Feeling: Disappointed that both passes were closed this weekend, and we missed out on our Leavenworth cabin trip for Larisa’s birthday. I was really feeling the need to get away for a weekend.
Currently Anticipating: Starting this new walking aerobics class at work.
Currently Wanting: The new Vampire Weekend CD.

Just what the doctor ordered

Despite my attempts to lower the amount of money I’m spending on dining out and groceries ($350 last month!), I enjoyed two very satisfying sushi dinners out this week with two of my girl friends from college.

On Tuesday I met up with my old college dorm roommate, Sarah. We were two peas in a pod freshman year of college. We drank like fish, snowboarded together in the Winter and stayed up late, talking in the dark about our high school days and aspirations for our future. I have funny college party stories with Sarah that still make me laugh to this day. Once, we went to a random house party together, got really silly of Bush Light in a can and ended up having to run from the cops. Sarah had put our 24-pack of Bush in a bush outside the house, and we couldn’t stop laughing and saying in our cheap beer stupor, “The Bush is in the bush!” I think that is something you can only find funny after six cans of watered down beer in college. I also shared my first 40 oz. with her during Thirsty Thursday parties a guy we knew would have at his off-campus house. I had never drank a 40 before, so I didn't know that it wasn't really necessary to drink twoooo. Oh lord. The night went something along the lines of her driving my car 50 mph down the middle of campus with me hanging out the sunroof, making out with some guy, and eventually getting pulled over by a cop. Sarah quickly explained that I was teaching her to drive a stick—even though it was 3:30 a.m.—and we got off Scott free. These, my friends, are only things I would attempt during my dumb college days. Now, I’m much more mature and safe with my drinking. Or something.

I have a lot of good memories with Sarah. But, we went our separate ways after a bad roommate situation when we lived in a house with three other girls our junior year, and then we had busy separate lives once we were both involved in our major. During the last couple years, she’s been in the Peace Corps in Mali and just moved back to Seattle in November. She found me on Facebook, and we set up a dinner date for this week. Immediately, it was easy to talk to her and laugh together just like we did in our early days of college. She shared some of the pictures and videos with me from her time in Mali, and then we ventured onto Chiso, a sushi restaurant in Fremont. I am always talking about my need to expand my horizons with restaurants, specifically sushi because I tend to find myself always falling back on my favorite sushi staple—Wasabi Bistro. I was very impressed with Chiso—a laid-back and warm atmosphere and an eclectic menu with unique sushi rolls. We ended up splitting two rolls, and continued our five-year catch up. The two of us have taken very different paths after college, but it’s nice to feel like neither of us have changed that much. I left the restaurant and dropped her off, smiling at the opportunity to connect with a really good friend from my past.

AND because I seem to drift in and out of sushi-obsession phases, I had been thinking about Wasabi Bistro all week when I received an email from my good college girl friend, Bri. We planned to meet up last night, and she made reservations at Wasabi. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on their decadent rolls—and a glass of white wine after work. Bri and I enjoyed an awesome girly dinner together. We talked about my current obsession—getting a Masters degree in Advertising—because she works in advertising at Microsoft and currently is pursuing her MBA. Of course there was a little boy-talk too. What dinner with girl friends is complete without it?

So, that was my week. A little dreaming about grad school, a little sushi and a lot of girl talk. Can’t complain, really.

Currently Feeling: Disconnected from my boy. Argh!
Currently Anticipating: Drinking all weekend and playing in the snow with my Dolphin Sisters.
Currently Wanting: A volunteer trip to Africa, and a vacation to somewhere tropical. If only I had a million dollars.

26 x 365: Featured Every Friday

26 x 365: Day 83, Stacey (1990 to Now)

You and Richard seemed like two peas in a pod.

His death and drug addiction baffles me.

I hope you get a third chance at love.


26 x 365: Day 82, Lacey (2005 to Now)

You’re a disgusting girl.

Abortions and jumping from one trashy guy to the next…

I’ve never liked you; I’m glad I don’t have to pretend anymore.


26 x 365: Day 81, Shawn (2005 to 2005)

You hurt my BFF so much, her only solution was to move away.

You would have been lucky to have her.

She’s so much better off.


26 x 365: Day 80, Doug (2006 to 2007)

We all thought you were perfect—handsome and charismatic.

Sarah was smitten, and you threw her away.

Now you’re obsessed and beg for her back. Karma!


26 x 365: Day 79, Lisa F. (2001 to 2004)

I used to hate your big annoying laugh.

Took me awhile to learn you had a big, bottomless heart to go with it.

You were great.


26 x 365: Day 78, Wenarto (2006 to Now)

You’re a social butterfly with tons of friends all over Seattle.

And you always throw huge, fun parties.

I wish I didn’t associate you with Tre.


26 x 365: Day 77, Ellie (2001 to 2004)

You were such a snot and terribly unfriendly.

I hope you and your Canadian boyfriend broke up and your fake acting career failed.

And you’re miserable.


A Year-Long Journey Through My Life
... x365 Project ...

No Stank You!

A couple weeks ago, a very nice new reader emailed me to congratulate me on my cold-turkey quit off the ole' nicotine, and then she very graciously offered to send me a free T-shirt from the No Stank You tobacco prevention/cessation campaign. Never one to give up an opportunity for something free, especially if it's something like a cute new T-shirt, I accepted and sent her my address.

My new No Stank You T-shirt arrived in the mail last night, and I immediately pranced around my apartment with it on. It's oh so pretty and comfy, kinda like my new shiny cigarette-free self. And what better way to boast a new, healthy me, then with imparting my anti-cigarette beliefs on everyone else?! Who would have thunk it.


Thanks, Arielle, for the gift!

If any of you want to send me free, cute gifts for anything else, I'll send you my address too. No questions asked.

Currently Feeling: A little bit more shiny and happy than the last two days.
Currently Anticipating: Dinner and drinks possibly with Bri tonight? Email me back girlfriend!
Currently Wanting: To get the hec out of dodge, at least for the weekend.

I want to be smart and successful, or something

I'm thinking about pursuing a Masters Degree in Advertising with an emphasis in copywriting.

I don't know where I'm going to go with this, and if it'll actually come to fruition. But, I will say that I'm extremely interested in the Advertising industry. It's always seemed so glamorous and swanky. I think I fit right in...artistic positions in artistic offices. And, the salary options aren't bad either. I would love to be able to qualify now for copywriting positions. The trouble is, they all want you to have copywriting experience and a copywriting portfolio. Where does one gain this said experience if no one is willing to give it to you?

That being said, I've researched a M.F.A. in Advertising and there's basically one expensive school in San Francisco that offers the degree... but online! So, I don't necessarily have to choose to move away just yet. The little packet of information is on its way to me in the mail right now.

Who knows. This is me thinking about being 26, getting a new job and wanting a grad degree.

I guess it's always good to have goals...

Currently Feeling: Starvin Marvin.
Currently Anticipating: Vanessa and Larisa's birthday weekend at a cabin in Leavenworth.
Currently Wondering: When that tax return is going to magically appear in my bank account, so I can pay off some bills!

26 x 365; Featured Every Friday

26 x 365: Day 76, Jesse R. (2000 to 2001)

My first crush at Western—

You wooed and pursued until we hooked up.

I shake my head and laugh at what I ever saw in you.


26 x 365: Day 75, Jerry L. (1991 to 2000)

Your smile and laugh rings throughout my childhood.

I remember all the times you did the Moonwalk in our dugout.

You seemed like an amazing dad.


26 x 365: Day 74, Keenan (1997 to Now)

You called me pale and stumpy with frizzy hair—

During the years that are hardest for girls.

It’s taken me so long to forgive and forget.


26 x 365: Day 73, Richard (1990 to 2007)

You were like my Neighbor Dad, growing up.

I don’t know what happened; my heart breaks to think of you.

I’m sorry I missed your funeral.


26 x 365: Day 72, Cailin (2002 to Now)

I always thought you were ridiculously stylish.

We became really close, but I couldn’t handle your abusive boyfriend.

I hope life treats you well, former friend.


26 x 365: Day 71, Hubba Hubba (2005 to 2006)

Ah. My Russian friend from Tully’s.

I miss our banter and inside jokes during my days as a barista.

Hubba, hubba, baby! You made my workdays.


26 x 365: Day 70: Jamie (1991 to 2000)

We dated for a minute after my first love.

You tried so hard, but you were the worst kisser ever.

You told everyone I was! LOL!

A Year-Long Journey Through My Life
... x365 Project ...