Grown-up business.

Today was my first day of my new job. It went pretty well. The girl I am replacing is training me until Friday. Her name is Amanda and we hit it off really well. she too, was once a b&n slave, so we talked about that. I think I will miss her when she leaves. She took me out to lunch at the pizzaria, which was nice because we got to go outside and walk to it on this beautiful day. The downside about the job is, well other than staring at a computer screen all day, is that it's just me and my boss, Michael in the office, with about 6 or 7 people in the warehouse. Everyone seems nice though, so that's good. I just don't know how I'm going to handle not talking to people (in person, I am doing live support via chat) and not having someone to just bullshit with all the time. I will however have aim, so ummmm talk to me if you see me. I will probably appreciate it :)

I started my commute at 7:30. They asked m to get there at 10, and I didn't want to take any chances on the traffic. However, I left at a good time, arriving in Garfield at 8:40. Since I was obscenely early, I camped out at the dunkin donuts nearby. The 9-6 shift won't be bad, because I left early enough to beat most traffic, and leave late enough that the commute home isn't that bad. I got to Route 1 quarter to seven. I got home at 8 though, because I stopped at Target to pick up padded envelopes, post-its, a new tupperwear, and um cheese-its. I almost passed out from hunger though.

Another perk of the job is all the damn tea I get to drink. I had 4 cups of first flush darjeerling and it was delicious. I use the bathroom though. But, at least I can just drink tea all day, as opposed to snacking- no vending machine, but I plan to stash some granola bars and carrots and healthy junk like that. I have to figure out when I can workout. I don't want to exercise too late, but I don't know how I feel about waking up extra early.

Perk #2, I get another laptop. Sahhhhweet. It's an MacBook Pro. It's pretty sweet, and I only got around to customizing my widgets. I plan to add more when I'm bored. i need to clean it up a little, customize it more to me as the user. It sucks though, because I have to bring it home everynight (they don't want it left in the office). I plan to use it at home for alittle bit to get more familiar with all the stuff I have to do, but I don't want to turn into those people who do work when they are not. I do have to check emails on Sunday night, but only for alerts for the Monday morning shipments.

AHHH. What else? Vacay recap:

WEdnesday- my last day at work! Very nice, I didn't do much, because I realized, hey, I don't work here anymore (after six). My coworker Rana made me a chocolate cake, and Charlotte, another co-worker got me these pretty mugs from Villeroy and Boch. Very sweet. A bunch of us met up at Fridays, the favorite B&N store 2646 watering hole for drinks and fun. It was nice to hang out. Katie came, as well as Nick on his day off. I got emails and lots of hugs. I also bought a bunch of books:

The Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution (Caroline Weber)
The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette (Carolee Erickson)
The Slaves of Solitude (Patrick Hamilton)
The Good Solider (Ford Maddox Ford)
The Portable Dorothy Parker (Dorothy Parker)
Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier)
i Capture the Castle (Dodie Smith)
Catherine the Great (Virginia Rounding)
+a Moleskinne Notebook (for my job notes)
+some magazines. For the Vacay.

Anyhoo, I would have bought some more, but I did a lot of price-comparison shopping btw Amazon.com vs my store discount. Plus, I have a lot of books now, and not so much time to read, unfortunately.

Thursday and Friday nights were both spent in Manhattan with Nick, celebrating his friends' birthdays, which are on the same date. On Thursday we went out with his friend Brian and his father for Thai, a show at Upright Citizens Brigade, and drinks at a piano bar. Then on Friday we met up with Andrew and Nicole, and hung out in the East Village, ate more Thai, dranka lot.
Saturday, Nick talked me into going north with him to go pick up greeder, who was in Midtown. We had a couple of drinks and left. Sunday was nice, because Nick and I went out for breakfast, which we hadn't done in a while. We always go to this place on Church Street in Montclair, which has good brunch. We also went to the Montclair Book Center, my favorite bookstore ever, got cookies at Gimme Jimmy's, and then he drove me home. We took a detour to the driving range right outside of New Brunz. We bought a small bucket of balls to hit. It was the first time I've been to a driving range, and I had a pretty decent swing, according to Nick, by the end of it all. We also ran into Colin, a co-worker of ours (well, ex to me, hehe) who was also at the range. .

i cleaned on monday. exciting.

So other than hanging out, I was watching the American version of the Office, which I am so hooked on. I rented it off of netflix, and couldn't resist but to download them off of itunes. It has been the only thing I've been watching, except for a break Monday night to watch last week's Lost, and right now, where I'm watching the newest episode. Anyhoo, I've become a big Office fan. I heart BJ Novak. He's my temp. boyfriend. I'm also reading Mindy Kaling's blog (mindyephron.blogspot.com) she is such a pretty, smart, funny girl. Her blog is mostly about stuff she buys and how much she loves them. I love it.I love her too. her character cracks me up! She's my newest Indian Princess (I have several). i am all caught up in the whole Jim loves Pam business, and I can quote the show all the time. Rainn Wilson is in the new movie The Last Mimzy; the trailer just went on. My obsession has gotten to a point that on Tuesday night, when Nick was hanging out with me, he said I was acting like Dwight. Who is the best. I guess I have to watch the British original to get the whole picture.

"I hate so much about the things you choose to be". Casino Night. Season 2 finale. Oh boy.

My first day at my new job is tomorrow!

Wish me luck.

a real post will be coming soon.

So, in the midst of answering one of those stupid surveys on myspace bulletins, i came across a question, "Who was your crush?". it was one of those surveys 'how much you've changed in 5 yrs, 10 yrs etc' and this was the five years ago series, when I was 18 and at johnson and wales. I was wracking my brain for the answer to at least one of my crushes (the other two were mark from what feeds the fire who i nicknamed evil jay or hardcore jay, cos he looked like my boyfriend at the time but hotter and he was in a hardcore band and um, dude bro pat), so in my curiousity, i decided to check if my old live journal was still up from that time. I wrote in it up to my sophomore year @ rutgers, then stopped. I typed in the web addy, and lo and behold....


IT STILL EXISTS. omg. naturally, I had to scroll through it. It's so funny ! I was (well, still am) weird. And so different! holy shit, midtown is definitely not my favorite band anymore. Anyway, i'd post the link but it's incredibly embaressing- I have lots of entries where I LOVE JAY and how horny I am. woof. good lord. There's also this dude who was my lj buddy and for the love of god, I don't know who he is.

anyway, if you ask nicely, maybe i'll letyou see it, because I think it's funny. But perhaps that's because I'm a little too full of myself.

oh btw, I had a really STRANGE dream regarding the Guy from last May (Bro-Ham) and ...wtf? UGH.

I just had a late-night snack of my mom's famous chicken and chickpeas slow cooked in tomato sauce. YUM.

Some news on the front...


I GOT A NEW JOB!

yay!

I will be in charge of customer support for adagio teas, which is an online and retail gourmet tea business (www.adagio.com or google tea and we're the 3rd thing on the list!). I'll have to do the grudge work of answering emails, tracking orders, etc but I get to do some fun stuff too! I have to cultivate and sustain the loyal customer base by creating topics on the website's message board and I get to write articles- anything about tea! Woo-hoo! It's a small company and I'm excited by the fact that there's no huge bureaucracy if I want to pitch an idea. I had my interview with the owner and we talked for two hours. Sweet. I have creative freedom over my writing, which is cool because I can get those skills I got in college (I was quite the research machine) as well as let my inner Martha out. Oh, and they are paying me a LOT more money than i'd make a year at the bookstore. The kicker is that it's all the way up in Garfield, which is an hour away, and will prob. turn into a 2 hour commute each way. Whoa! But I think i'll be able to manage for a couple of months; I have family that lives up there and of course the boyfriend. In a couple of months too, I will be able to work from home, thus saving more money. I plan to move back up to Northern Jerz by the end of the year, if not sooner.

I can't express how happy I am! I've been on a cloud 9 of sorts, with some bum-outs, such as working a stupid busy President's Day. Man, do the crazies come out! Ugh, they were taking up the aisles, pulling every effing book off the shelf, screaming (the children), whining (the adults), and making a mess and not buying anything. Fer serious. I just kept on retreating into the back, where I was comforted by the thought that I will be here less than a month.

So, in prep. for my departure from B&N, I've started to order all this stuff I want. I found these awesome cupcake notecards and ordered a bunch. And a book on the world's most beautiful libraries. And 2 Filipino children's books. I had this whole thing where I was going to buy a lot of stuff before I leave, but I was looking at prices for the books I want on amazon and it usually is a dollar cheaper with shipping, or the same price. It's going to be very weird to have to pay for books at full price. In fact, it's going to be very weird and a bit disarming not to be working at the bookstore. I have to subscribe to the NY Times weekender to get the book review or i'll never know anything about books again.

I plan to buy a lot of Moleskins. Last week I bought Trivial Pursuit The Book Lovers Edition. Who's ready to take on me and Nick in a game?

ps: I forgot. If anyone with simple html knowledge could email me codes (christine.rillo@gmail.com) for like italicizing things, posting pics in the page, links, etc. My blogspot for some reason (maybe it's my browser?) doesn't pull up the typical editing bar on top.

I posted a new profile pic. I'm bring lobster back. Oh, and sexy.

happy valentine's day!

so I feel loads better. My work week is a total vacay: I ended up calling out early Sunday for my closing shift, then left early due to still not feeling well on monday, and today and yesterday we closed the store early because of the weather. SWEET.

I didn't do anything special today for v-day. I was pretty happy we were going home early (though the greater population of princeton was probably pissed bc where-am-i-going-to-go-on-this-snowday. go to fucking borders dudes or stay at home with the books you bought last week). I bought Marie Antoinette today (!) which I love. It's so frikkin girly; I love the costumes, the desserts, and I have allowed kirsten dunst to reenter my life since I saw it back in October (we were on a break during that whole oooh i'm with jake gylenhaal thing). Plus Jason Schwartzman, I mean does it get any better? I watched it with my mom over some weird paella thing she made tonight. Whatever, it was warm and gooey.

Nick was off today and because of the weather he wasn't about to come down here, nor would I let him. Tomorrow we celebrate. I ordered him abottle of wine offline which I should be getting on friday, hopefully. Note to you all, you can't order wine into nj or pa! Maybe it's only by a bottle, next time i will get a case.

I wrote some letters today, updated my book journal (for my Remains of the Day, Atonement, and Brave New World entries). I started About Alice last night by Collin Trillin; a damaged copy I got free from work. It's very short, and I like it. Trillin writes about his late wife (he's a staff writer for the Times, writer of other family-humor kind of stories). It's very cute-that's not really the word-very heartwarming, endearing, and even the in the few pages I've read, it shows he really loved his wife. A nice V-day read, indeed. Next up on the book list is The Cement Garden, by Ian McEwan. I think I've become a fan, but I shouldn't say that until I read another book of his (he wrote Atonement. SO GOOD).

Oh, btw, I have an interview on Friday. Wish me luck! You know what that means? Shopping! haha. I need a professh shirt. I honestly don't have one. Well, I have one but it won't match my black pants. And some shoes. Cos all my shoes have bows on them. Not very profesh.

sick day.

i bought these Stacy's pita chips with cinnamon and sugar. I ate a couple, and I would be better satisfied if there was some sort of dip, maybe a sweetened cream cheese kind of glaze. I thought they would be like churros. I put one in the microwave. They are not like churros.

I'm watching the food network, which is airing all chocolate related shows all day long in honor of st. valentine's day. i want truffles right now. i did buy dark chocolate with almonds, but champagne truffles would be better.

I want to leave my house very badly, but I know /should stay at home so I can feel better and go to work tomorrow. I don't know where I would go either. I would love to go shopping, but the mall I prefer is too far, and wait! I have no money. I was thinking about going to target. I wish I had bought some bad magazines to read, but I do have some reading to keep my occupied, which will allow me to utilize my brain cells in a better way.

I made some crafts yesterday. Though I was sick, I went up with nick back to his house. We went to michaels and bought craft supplies. He painted, and I made these little plushes. I only made two, which don't look very good. It's too cold in the basement to go sew, plus I have to get all my stuff together, since my mom scattered my supplies all over the basement since I've moved in. Built by Wendy has cute spring patterns; one is for this dress:http://builtbywendy.com/onlineshop/cart.php?target=product&product_id=16905&category_id=296. I think it's darling.

I'm going to read some of What Color is my Parachute?, get depressed, polish up my resume, and send it out to at least 5 places today.

I don't think people make churros anymore. In the latest food and wine, the back page recipe is for churros with hot chocolate- how lovely! I want to make those tonight.

What happened to being the type of sick where you dont want to eat anything at all and sleep all day long...?

LALALA.


So, my mini vacation was fabulous. It was only for a few days. Nick and I traveled to Portland, ME for a couple of days of cold weather, cheap lobster, and lighthouses. We're pretty corny. I got a good deal on a hotel room at the Inn @ St. John, which was like a victorian b&b. Upon our arrival, we got a complimentary upgrade to the superior room, which pretty much had just a bigger bed (wink, wink haha), a big screen tv, and some 'jets' in the tub. It helps to be probably the only people staying at the place. We got dinner at this place called Demillos on the waterfront, which was a converted yahct. I ate 2 lobsters for 20 bucks. Sweet and tasty. They gave me a bib, and I must confess it was my first time eating lobster like that. It was fun, somewhat messy, and I also sustained an injury to my left middle finger, a rogue spike on the lobster claw or something. We ended the evening watching the Top Chef finale, where I won the bet (Ilan won!) and Nick owes me a paperback of my liking.

Thursday, we got up somewhat early...well, no, we got up at 9 to go to the Twin Lights State Park. We saw the lighthouse that Edward Hopper used in his painting, Lighthouse at Two Lights. Afterwards we went back into the city to visit the Portland Art Museum, which wasn't so bad; a lot of NC Wyeth, a Hopper, Henri, etc. We made hte bad decision to eat lunch, and because we were so hungry we over ate- a plateful of bacon wrapped shrimp and mussels, and giant lobster rolls each with fries. It was quite Good though. The rest of the evening was spent walking around Old Port, looking into shops and stuff before everything closed at five or six (ahh, New England cities).

Thursday night's dinner was delayed, because we were still full, so we went back to the room to nap and sit around. I played online cos we had free wireless and watched tv. When we finally did decide on dinner, around nine, we were somewhat rushed, cos in Portland, kitchens close at nine-thirty. WTF? We ended up eating at the smae place we had lunch, which was good, but it was weird because they were ready for the 'nightlife' time of the evening. Apparently, this place had a DJ every night, which I could understand in any other city, or rather, a big city, but in Portland it didn't seem to make any sense. The poor waitresses/bartenders assured anyone who came into the bar (which weren't many to begin with, as they turned right around at the sight of about five people, two of which-us-were still nursing our dinners, sitting around watching a Disturbd video on the plasma screen above the bar) that the place did get crowded, but much later. But how much later? Shit, stuff closes at 1 in New England.

Anyway, we ended out the night and then went back to our place. We left Portland in the morning after some last minute walking around, and drove straight to Park Slope, where we had a 'couples' night with Dan and Keith, Andrew and Nicole, Nicks's friends. There was plenty of wine and booze, and lots of talking among the boys. It was cool, because I finally got to meet Nick's oldest friend, Andrew, who is like, for example, the Megha in my life. He was very funny, and his lady friend/date, actually was an old friend of theirs that they new since high school, and that Nick was fairly good friends with after high school and hadn't seen in ten years. It was a fun time, and we ended up crashing there.

Saturday, the two of us got brunch at my favorite place to eat in P. S. , the 2nd Ave Cafe, where I had the french toast with the fruit butter (!!!!! I dream of this stuff at night...omgomg) and the chicken apple sausage. Heaven. We headed back home, where I eventually got back to P'ton. Saturday night, to end the festivities, Mike, Carin, and Judi came down for dinner. We acted like fancy adults and got dinner at LaHiere on Witherspoon Street in P'ton. I got the scallops (so much seafood the past couple of days...not complaining) and creme brulee. Mike also brought some wine from his cache, so we had a glass or so each before heading out. After dinner, Judi wanted ice cream so we went to the Halo Pub, and then walked around the campus so Mike could check out any ivy league hotties. As it was almost zero degrees, no one was out, and we all were just very cold.

Judi left when we got back to my house, but Carin and Mike hung out for a while. We looked at pictures from our youth; high school and Providence ,and talked about how much we've changed. And we have! Looking back on the crew our pics, it's a bit of a startling feeling. Not to sound vain, but we all look good now! It's so funny how the teenage years, no matter how put-together you were, or at least you thought you were, looking back to it, it really was a trainwreck. Mike and I talked about my love of sweaters (pref from A&F or AE or AERO...geez) and this stupid black duster I wore everywhere. I was at least fifty pounds heavier, and didn't know my way around a makeup/grooming kit to save me. Our faces look so young, and though none of us have really gone through huge changes in our lives, it's interesting to see how we've matured, both on the surface and on the inside. We found plenty of blackmail fodder, believe me. It was a good time reminiscing about the past, stumbling across the 'oh, you remember the time __________________', pictures, providing lots of laughs over the stupidest things we used to do. Everything was so frivolous back then, though we were so certain we knew what we were doing. Good times, indeed, and finally ! someone(s) came to visit me in stupidbumpprinceton. yay!

**^&%^$ i can't wait for my vacation.

today i did something stupid at work and i'm still kicking myself about it. i basically let some choice words slip out of my mouth in front of kids, and yeah. i apologized like crazy because I don't want to be one of those people who are disgruntled and awful; the same people I don't like. So, i stepped out of line, and fortunately, the woman who complained was a beautiful, agreeable person, who understood that I was having a bad day.

I feel like I'm always having bad days. I'm not really happy with my life right now; aside from Nick, my friends, when I get to see them. I'm not motivated to do anything as of late. I drove through new brunswick last night after my cousin's birthday and really didn't want to be there. I feel so far away from that life; college and whatnot, but so faraway from anything remotely "adult". I don't know what's going on. All I know is that I'm ready to get out of NJ for a little bit, perhaps collect my thoughts, figure out what's going on, cuddle in the cold weather, and eat lobster. I checked the forecast for Portland and the good news is, no snow! yay!

Not everything has gone to waste though. I started working out a couple of days ago, and already I feel tons better.

So, I've been on a bit of a bender....

A READING BENDER! omgomgomg.

haha. well, not really, but I hadn't finished a book in a couple of months. In fact, the only thing I remember finishing was the graphic novel, The Last Man, #1, which I got for xmas from bryan. It was really good, and g.n. are pretty easy to get through in one sitting. Before that, I read Gabriel Garcis Marquez' Memories of my Meloncholy Whores, which was back when Nick and I started to hang out/dating. I guess with being busy working at a bookstore makes me not want to read a book when I get home (it's kind of like that gyno joke...who wants to see it after it's been in yr face all day long? yeah). I started Heart Is a Lonely Hunter back in the beginning of December, and finally was able to finish it this past monday.

It is an Amazing book. I loved McCullers' prose; somewhat simple and easy to read but so evocative and real. It's a very sad book, all about isolation, dreams lost, and failure. Right now I'm 20 pgs away from finishing Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro. I read his latest book this past summer, Never Let Me Go, which I wasn't a fan of. It was one of those books that had a huge build up, then when hit the climax, kind of fell short of my expectations. Esepecially since it was such an interesting, dystopic kind of plot. However, Remains of the Day is a little different. It's about a butler and his recollections of his past employer while visiting the English countryside for the first time (he never really left Darlington Hall, his place of employment). It's also about dignity and the 'old school ' of manners and the proper place for the Help. I like picturing Stevens, the narrarator and main character strolling around the countryside, reiterating the little stories that build up his past employer's character. There's a build-up, because apparently this Lord Darlington wasn't really all great as Stevens has made him out to be, etc etc. I just hope it's not a huge let down.

After Remains...I am going to start Ian McEwan's Saturday. More dark secrets. Hidden Pasts. Stuff....

On another note, I have vacation this time next week (!!!!!). Nick and I are going to brave the cold in Portland...Maine. We're going to eat lobster, go to the art museum, go to the lighthouse that edward hopper used as his inspiration in a couple of his paintings, etc etc. We're staying at this really cute bed and breakfast in the city, and I hope to do some crafty shopping. Exciting! I am looking VERY foward to this little excursion. !

Where the EFF is my Feb. issues of Lucky and Domino?!?!

Seriously, I got a frikkin subcription because I love reading these magazines and imagining all the pretty things that maybe in the future I can buy, but how can I drool over a new capiz chandelier or the hottest pair of gold Prada pumps if I don't get the magazines??? I got the special deal where it was both mags for 20 bucks, which is pretty cheap; less than a dollar an issue...but nooooo.

Speaking of magazines, where is my Food and Wine ANNND my Martha Stewart Living?? I need to get my glossy, irrelevent reading on...

In other litereary news, I picked up Heart Is a Lonely Hunter and am making my way through it. I hope to finish it by the end of the month, so I can say I finished a book already. Lately, i have been on a cookbooks Binge-fest, therefore not really reading, but imagining the tantalizing recipes I could possibly make, if only I had other people to cook for or was hosting a fancy event to serve my dishes. Weeelll, I cook for Nick on a frequent basis, and he's a fan, but otherwise, no one else. My mom cooks her own food, and usually doesn't eat my stuff, just cos there is all that already-made food. AHHHH.

My mom. Tonight when I got home from work she was in super nag-you-even-though-you-just-got-in-and-are-probably-very-tired mood. Nothing too serious:

- asking the whereabouts of my boyfriend last time he slept over. Nick works by me, and sometimes it's just easier if we're hanging out that he spends the night either on the numerous couches in my house or in the guest room and go to work the next morning. :You sure he didn't sleep in your room? His coat was downstairs. Do you sleep with him? (Ummm, what do you mean, mom? Like lay together in the same bed? Or like penis-in-vagina?) You can tell me. (No, I can't. Well, maybe in a couple of months, when you sort of realize I'm 24 and not a child. Not like writing this up in my blog is childish in any way. )

-"I looked in the paper today for some jobs for you....look, one is in customer relations...and the other is a personal assistant". AHHHH!!! I don't think I can be content with being a secretary or a personal assistant. I did a stint in it, and I didn't like it. I'd rather be working on something...I don't know how to explain it, but Mom, I'm working on it...

-"You should see if jen's mom wants to throw the wedding shower. IT's just going to be too much responsiblity if you and your friends do it....you and her friends should all split her cost when you have the bachelorette party (yes, I know)....(in regards to booking a hotel room the night after the wedding/reception) oh they opened a Residence Inn by The Manor? That'll be okay...you and all your friends could just split a suite (yeah, I don't think that'll jive well with me, Nick, Megha, Ryan, Judi, her date, Wendy, her man, etc etc etc...yeeeeah)....How are you going to get your hair done? (geez, I have no clue).

oh, and of course...

-"Oh, and what do you plan on doing with yr life?"

!!! However, I decided I'm going to bring her to afternoon tea, one of these days at this place called Tea WIth An Accent in Yardley, PA. My co-worker was telling me about it. They serve you tea sandwiches, mini desserts, soup, etc. Apparently, it's decked out Laura-Ashley, Shabby Chic, and there's a gift shop where you can buy teacup pendants strung on grosgrain ribbon and other useless stuff, that me and mom will probably end up buying a lot of. It's funny how we're so much alike, though.....of course.

-I feel like I'm getting sick. Had a couple of nasty airbournes...feel somewhat better.
-Bought some Bean-o for effing 11.00 and it only sort of works. I'm sure you guys needed to know I'm particularly gasy as of late (too many vegetables. Gaseous star, as megha would call me)
+I bought Elinor Klievas' Big Fat Cookies for 3.00 at work today. Normally 17, but it was one of those rare good bargain books.
-Not like I'll be making cookies any time soon- there's too much food in the frikkin' house.
+My ing.com account finally was confirmable. Yay for savings.
+I put up seven dvds to sell on Sunday, and today I went to the P.O. to send 5 that sold. Yay! I love extra money.
-I need to get rid of more shit
-Talked to Nisha last night for a long overdue phone date. I miss that chick. We talked mostly of dieting/losing weight/gettin' fit. I really ought to go out to California and visit her.
-/+Saw a job position at Holzbrink(?) publishing in sales. Gives me hope.
+Some ice cream place in Boston makes Sam Adams flavored ice cream. I'm not sure if that's actually a plus.


blah blah blah.

here's my obligatory new year's post....a few days late.


-So, another year has come down to unleash it's wrath upon us. Yay. I have the same old resolutions, and maybe this time I will keep some of them:


1. Lose weight.
Well, I've been doing okay with this. I dropped 15 lbs throughout the year due to stress, freakin', and the whole "My stomach feels like a giant knot because I don't know what to do about Gary or Patrick or my life, so all I'm going to do is drink venti iced non-fat caramel machiattos, smoke cigarettes, and get fishbowls at Stuff Yer Face" period i went through back in May. I'm getting better now; I'm considering adding yoga and exercise so I drop weight properly, all while gettin' fit n' shit. Though, I'm becoming more of a cook, I'm not going overboard with the crazy-bad-for you cuisine, and if anything it's better for me, rather than eating out and I can control the way my food is prepared. I just have to remember not to be all "creme-brulee-every-day" just because I have an awesome kitchen torch.

2. Quit smoking.
crap. I said I was going to quit back in november bc it would the 5 year anniversary since I picked up the awful, wallet-draining-stinky habit. But alas, I am still smoking. I've been successful this week with not smoking as much, due to the fact that my wisdom teeth on my left side are compacted with my normal teeth causing great pain. I plan to get them pulled asap, so maybe while I'm doped up on codeine, I can drop the habit once and for all.

3. Get fit.
This coincides with #1 (duh). But lately, especially being at work, I feel like my body is deteriorating. My back hurts every day (esp in the morning, as I sleep rather funny), I'm always craking my neck, and sometimes my joints just hurt for no reason. Perhaps my body is sending me a message: get in shape, bitch, or ELSE! Nick bought me a yoga mat, and I guess I can start the strip aerobics again. Oh, and there's that eliptical machine that's currently being used as a coat rack in the family room. Sigh. My ideal plan is to get up earlier each day and just do something for a 1/2 hour in the morning. I shall start that soon.

4. Get a new g-damned job.
The holidays have killed me, and I'm the point where i enter the store and I want to crawl under my FOS cart and hide. Frontlist makes me want to throw up, and I only like days when I am workgin 7 to 3, or 8-4. I hate the fact that I work late 2 days out of the week, and dammit, I need to make more money. For serious, guys. Wish me luck.

5. Um, save money.
Yeah. Whenver williams-sonoma decides to pay me, I'm going to start on that. I've opened up an ing.com saving thingie. Too bad there's no money in it yet. This will get easier if number 4 happens (the sooner the betteR).

6. Better myself/miscellaneous.
I have too many books that I haven't read. I've forgotten what umlats and proper grammar are. Spelling's atrocious. ANNND I had to ask Nick how the 3 branches of the government worked today. I've resolved to do a crossword puzzle a day, read something (anything, but preferably, something containing information that I can use when applying to grad-school, involved in a dinner conversation, or asking myself questions that I would know the answers too just in case I ever was on Jeopardy), each day, and watch the news more often.

7. Craft more.
Shit, I got my new sewing machine, and slowly the inspiration is starting to show. I wanna make aprons! Lots of them. And various cozies. I want to sell my stuff on etsy.com, and wherever, not even as a full blown business, but just to make an extra buck and make pretty things. It's good for the soul.

8. Be a better friend.
i know, I know. I don't call as often, I flake out. A big SORRY. I know I'm a good friend, and even in some circumstances a friend who puts in a lot of effort, where I don't even get a phone call or email to let me know that a package has arrived safe and sound, or what have you (Sorry, just a little vent. I get a little peeved when I dno't get any sort of message that a package i've sent has gotten there. Shit, shipping stuff ain't cheap). But whatever: I'l try my best to call more, to write more, and meet up more often. And when i don't keep my word, call me out, and if anything, give me a chance to explain myself. I'm going to try my best to understand where you're coming from, too. I LOVE my friends, and I know it's hard to KIT nowadays (even with the advent of email, myspace, cell phones, etc), but always know I'm thinking of you. For realz!

9. Do that culture thing.
Go to more museums, dine at nicer places, learn more shit. I guess this goes alone with #6, but it also can go with #8 or 7. I just want to see more of the world, and though I can't afford to go to Paris, Mumbai, Thailand, or Caracas, I guess I should try to do it more in the nearby-sort of way. I am afterall in between philly and nyc, plus there's some stuff to do around here (did someone say Drumthwacket?or rather, do they give tours there?). Yeah. One of my main goals is to learn more abotu food which is attainable seeing as one of my best friends works for food and wine. I want to be a conisseur of something, even if I can't spell it correctly. I plan to sample the world's best chocolate, an expensive hobby, but perhaps someone wants to join? Split a box of fran's from seattle? yes?

10. Stop being such a bitch.
I guess this corresponds to each resolution. Stop being a brat towards my friends, family, and boyfriend. Accept things for the way they are. Don't sweat the small stuff. Keep that temper in check. Don't lash out on unsuspecting books, belongings, loved ones. Stop rolling your eyes at a customer's (stupid) question. Stop putting deragatory adjectives in parantheses. Etc, etc.

Anyhoo, I told myself I wasn't going to write down my resolutions this year, so I guess technically this doesn't count because it's being typed. It's on the record, and feel free to hold me to them. I'll try my best.

In other news, NYE itself was quite hectic and fun. I have pics up in my flickr if interested. I don't feel like typing out the whole experience, but seeing all my friends is always awesome; I am truly grateful* to have you all in my life. It was my first NYE going out to celebrate, and it was a lot of fun, and even better because I got to spend it with Nick. Though we didn't get home until 5:30 am, bc who would've thought it would be that hard to get a cab back to Christopher from the Lower East Side at 3:30 am, and the fact we're abit sniffly from being in the rain all night, it was a fun time.

*for the longest time i was spelling that word 'greatful'. I dont' even know if 'grateful' is how it's spelt correctly, nor do I know if spelt is even really a word. Anyway, I used to spell grateful-greatful, because growing up I adored the Babysitters Club books, and when Claudia Kishi, who was somewhat dumb when it came to matters of spelling, grammar, math, etc (I also liked how Claudia broke that asians-are-supersmart- thing with her whole arty deal) spelled it 'grateful', I just assumed she was making a mistake. Longwinded explanation, I know.

I've discovered my new weakness: almond macaroons. Now, these are true macaroons, not the coconutty, round ones which are more common. These macaroons have a sugar, egg white, almond paste base, and are extremely chewy. And addictive.

Today was a nice, easy Friday, especially needed after a busy week of work. My boss said that this past week would be the week of all the disgruntled shoppers; those who don't want to be shopping, who think their time is running out. Not to say that this week won't be devoid of that; but people tend to get more pleasant as xmas nears. Also, Hannukah has begun, so a good chunk of present buyers will have been done with and will hopefully be enjoying that holiday with their families. But there is 8 days, right? A big Happy Hannukah to all those who celebrate!

Enough with work/retail banter. As I was saying, today was nice and easy. I woke up way too late and had to do some errends...ventured into the Nassau Park shoping center to see if Michael's had a heat gun. I was planning to emboss these moleskin paper wrapper notebooks for my friend Katie, but the stamps wouln't emboss with just my hair dryer. Alas, I could not find a heat gun for my life, so I went to Ulta to buy her a smashbox lipgloss instead. Aaaand a cup of hazelnut coffee at Wegman's. I was kind of bummed that I didn't get to make a lot of gifts for people this year; with my sewing machine on the fritz and not getting one before xmas, plus the lack of real time to handmade goodies. There's always next year. I have, however made a good share of edible goodies; peppermint bark, marshmellows, and these macaroons. Tomorrow is a big cooking day, as me and the gang are having our xmas party @ Mike's in Hoboken. A wine tasting and secret santa exchange- !!!!!

After the errands (which included a stop to the post office to send out xmas packages to nisha and tricia), Katie met me at my house. We planned to bake, go get sushi, make creme brulee, and of course gab. We exchanged our presents- I had gotten her the smashbox lipgloss in this pretty peachy color, which luckily flatters her well (I tested every shade there, on my skin , which is much darker then my dear pale Katie, so it was a bit tricky), a tashen calendar of pictures of shell and coral taken from the Alberto Sebus' Natural Cabinet of Curiousity (which I picked up myself, hehe), some Mirebelle aztec hot chocolate from W-S, and handmade marshmellows (which, I must say, beat those expensive ones at W-S...thx martha) and some homemade peppermint bark. She loved it. I was glad, even though I had to wrap her present right as she was at my door.

As for my first xmas present of the season, she got me this cool lamp from Ikea. It's slightly frosted white glass, in the shape of an orb- an orb of light. I'm going to put it on one of my higher bookcases that'll create a nice glow when all the other lights are off. I was thinking I needed more lamps anyway, because I don't have a normal light in the middle of the room.

Katie brought the almond paste, and we made said macaroons. The recipe only yield a dozen, and now only 2 remain...oops!
Afterwards we went to get sushi at Kanoko, by my house, and then decided on a whim to go to kmart to check out the Martha Stewart stuff she had for the holidays. Ahhh, so many pretty things! I love Martha soooooo much. I'm thinking about subscribing to her magazine...but anyway, Katie and I both have this 'nesting' instinct or whatever; she is truly my domestic equal, as most of our conversation always end up about cooking, baking, home design, etc, and we have no problem (nor think it's weird) to buy home goods that we'll probably keep in storage until we move out. If we ever moved in together, we would have, with no question the cutest place, haha. But we'd probably get fat, cos we'd make those goddamned macaroons every night after eating halibut pot pie....ahhh. She bought these M.Stewart giant mixing bowls in the sea green and sky blue (I have the green one), a new set of measuring cups, a set of snowflake tumblers among other things. I picked up a plastic snowflake charger and bowl (for the crab quesadillas and guacamole for tommorrow), a set of goody bags with a pretty blue snoflake print for my marshmellow party favors, and goody boxes with this red print that can be used year round (but are probably going to hold some more peppermint bark/cookies/truffles that I'm giving to my family as gifts). We were going to end out the night by making creme brulees, but silly me! I didn't know that my new kitchen torch didn't come with butane, so we planned on doing that next time we saw each other.

Tomorrow I am making the crab quesadillas w/ guac (from Nirmala's Kitchen cookbook), cheese straws (from Barefoot Contessa in Paris), and chocolate oatmeal walnut cookies (from the cookbook Tartine). the cookies are for the work pot-luck on sunday and the other two are my dishes that I have to bring for our party tomorrow. Yay! Pictures to come. I've gotten into the habit of taking pictures of food I make or especially pretty food I buy. I don't really know why, but they look pretty (and yummy). I'm also trying to keep notes on stuff I make, in case I make a variation, or find that a certain ingrediate works better, as well as what I think/others think of it. AHH. I should go to bed.

AH.

Today was a nice day. I opened at work and the hours flew by. It got so busy at one point, that I couldn't make it 10 ft without a bunch of old ladies asking me where christmas cards/home decorating/Snow Flower and the Secret Fan/the free giftwrap were. I got the spend the latter half of my day with my mom, which was nice because we haven't hung out in a while. We did the typical holiday ritual of shopping: picked up the xbox 360 for my brother, went to the mall, where I bought grown up clothes- a pretty silk top and new pair of hott jeans from Express, and a creme tank top and pencil skirt at the Limited (where GASP, i'm a size 4 in bottoms...hollla). I also got my xmas gift:

say hello to my new baby:
http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/6119_6141.htm

Any name suggestions?


I picked up some stuffers for my packages for nisha and tricia, and finally settled on my secret santa gift with my friends. Phew. I just have to pick up some stuff for the little cousins, the boyfriend, and all the baking supplies i will need to make my goodies. YAY.

Hmm..last night went to see the Evens with B. A. and Jen A. VERY GOOD! It was in the basement of the FU Church, in Philly, which I've never been too. I can say confidenttly that it was one of the best shows I've been to in a long time. It was in the basement, on a small stage, with just two standard lamps lighting either end of it. The atmosphere was so nice. Almost surreal. Like me and 50 or so of my closest friends were laying around the family room, listening to Ian MacKaye and Amy Ferina seranade us in between games of Trivial Pursuit and a 30 pack case of Pabst. The fan base was older, nicer, and generally all in awe of Ian's presence. I'm not a huge fan of Minor Threat, Fugazi, etc; I like them, but I can't say they're my favorite bands, but it was really cool because he was so personable and ready to take pictures with whoever asked, sign everyone's vinyl, and talk to anyone who approach him. Some older fans at the show had adorable kids, around the age of 4-5, who sat on one end of the stage, getting into the music. Fucking punk rock, right there. The people in front of us always asked if we were able to see. There was sing-a-longs and epic fade outs; overall a very good time.

Sad news: I had been somewhat following the story going on in the West Coast about the Kim Family. If yr not familiar with the case, the young couple and their two small children went missing after a trip during Thanksgiving weekend. I just read that the wife and her two kids, Kati Kim and Sabine and Penelope Kim are all safe and sound, but unfortunately James Kim, her husband and the father to the kids did not make it. Kati and James Kim were known in the San Francisco craft scene, as they were owners of two boutiques; Doe and the Church Street Apothocary. Apparently, the family had gotten snowbound on route home in Southern Oregon, and James died while hiking in the storm for help. After reading the story, I became overwhelmingly sad...I don't know why. Probably because it's one of those stories that you follow up with a , 'That's so sad...it happened so close to the holidays'. So, as I was getting my consumerism on today, I think the best part of it, was just hanging out with my mom. We didn't fight, she didn't rag on me for smoking, we talked about life and friends and family and eveyrthing else under the sun, and it was just a good ending to a long, tiring day.

hungry holidays

It's 1:30, and again, I am not sleeping. I am tired, but I always find a way to put off sleeping, despite the fact that my eyes are closing as I type this.

I've realized my spelling skills are going down the drain. Today at work I couldn't find a book via keyword search because I couldn't spell ENCYCLOPEDIA for the life of me. Also, I don't think the title existed and it wasn't completely my fault. I just now had to go back through the past two sentences due to the the excessive amounts of comma action going on. I need to be stopped! (comma comma comma comma comma). I am somewhat in the mood to write again, but I haven't installed Microsoft Office yet (I bought it in October. UMM oops).

Christmas is in 20 days! Wooowie! HA. Work is going allright, considering I don't work the busiest days of the week, and on Sundays it usually clears out after seven. We'll see as xmas gets closer. As for my own gift giving pursuits, I've gotten a good amount done: my mom, my Secret Santa with my cousins, 1/2 of my Secret Santa with the Gang, and a couple of friends. I'm going with my Dad tomm. to get him sneakers (I got a coupon! yay.) and I'm ordering stuff for the boyfriend tomorrow. I've made the game plan of all the tasty goodies I'm going to make for my friends and family. I test drove the peppermint bark today, and it came out excellent.

I've been inspired by the gig at Williams Sonoma (which is pretty neat, I only work about 1-2 times a week, so it's not that bad) where I'm a gift wrapper. I sit in the back all day, wrap the stuff that customers want wrapped and in the downtime make those fancy gift baskets/gift sets of their merchandise. So, I went to Michaels today with Nick and checked out their selection of tins, goodie holders, shrink wrap, etc. Martha has been a helpful muse as well, as I pour over her handmade holiday magazine t least once a day. I'm really excited about this surge of creativity...while at Williams Sonoma, I was shrink wrapping some hot coccoa/marshmellow sets, content with the power I held in my hand- my trusty heat gun, and had a passing thought of quitting everything and opening up my own gift basket/crafty company. Then I realized I had bills to pay, so maybe I'll make this idea into glorified gift giving when need be...aka I'll make gift baskets of goodies and you pay me for them! Well, after the holidays. Lets see how my cookies come out first.

The xmas spirit is invading me, but as much I love to give, I also like to GET...Here's my wishlist of sorts:

-no debt! haha.
-a new sewing machine
-Poloroid camera and film
-cookbooks! (In Nirmala's Kitchen, Tartine, Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything, Memories of a Philippine Kitche, What to Drink with What You Eat)
-kitchen torch
-dessert carrier
-Henri Bendel candles in jasmine and lavendar
-Doe Pendant Necklace from urbn.com
-The Appleseed Cast cds- Two Conversations, Low Level Owl II, Peregrine, etc.
- the first 3 Harry Potters in Hardcover

yay!


So, I finally figured out this flickr thingie, and there's one on the sidebar. Look at my pics!

holy batman, it's almost december!

So, yeah, it's almost December and it's getting colder (or is it? I don't think so). Being at the bookstore, and getting ready for another holiday season has made me think (yes, yes, it's the usual thought)...new job! Well, yeah, but for real. I was thinking about staying there until grad school, but you know what? I don't know when I want to go to grad school. Thinking about it, if I were to go in fall 07, that will be less than a year, and i don't think I'm very ready. Both emotionally, financially, etc etc. I think I'd rahter work another year, really focus, and not be so distracted, and enjoy myself right now, so when the time comes, I can really concentrate. RIght now, I picked up a second job , at williams sonoma (yay for a kitchen torch, madeline pans, and good spatualas!) and I'll be working like crazy this next month. I have a feeling december is going to fly by- I have plans each weekend, and will be busy during the week, and soon enough it'll be january; another year, another start.

Other than work, I've been hanging out with boyfriend a lot. We're having a lot of fun, and I really like him. Last night we went into the city, to Chelsea, got some italian at intermezzo, and went to see a play at the Atlantic Theater Company. We saw the Voysey Inheritance, which took place turn-of the century, Victorian England and is about Old Money, Family Secrets, and etc etc. A lot of stock characters (the slightly crazy older brother major in the army, the artist, the bratty money hungry sister, etc etc). i really like the fact that we go on dates, as opposed to just hanging out all the time (which we do enough of anyway).

Christmas is coming! Yay! Depsite the fact that I get somwhat annoyed around the holidays, due to work, traffic, over spending, etc etc, I am a big softie for this time of year. I love getting the holiday issues of all the food magazines, Martha, REal Simple, etc for all their ideas. I already have all my shopping lists ready, the stuff that I'm making for people set...now I just need the time to do it all...I vow not to step foot in a mall (other than the one I work at )- online shopping works for me. I'm excited about all the baking and cooking that I have planned- various treats to bring into work, the holiday wine tasting where me and my one group of friends ar going to exchange our secret santa gifts, christmas eve, christmas, etc etc. My big ting this year is truffles. The very idea of them make me want to produce mountains of them...and then eat them all. I want to make some other than the typical chocolate almonds, etc...how about dark chocolate with orange peel and a hint of Galliano liquor? hmmmm...we'll see what I come up with.

sigh! long day- happy halloween, etc etc. I got up early today to bake some goodies for work- snickerdoodles and pumpkin cupcakes (thx to judi for the easy recipe: just add like half a can of pumpkin pie mix/puree and 2 tbsps of cinnamon to any boxed yellow cake mix and TAH-DAH!...even though I loathe using cake mix, the convinience is nice). I enjoy baking/cooking during the fall-with the weather getting cooler, its nice to have something piping hot and yummy to eat. I made this awesome risotto with spicy Italian sausage, tomato, and spinach (good-bye e-coli scare!) for the boy who enjoyed it thouroughly.

The recipe called for wine, which I know nothing of. I don't really enjoy wine; I'd rather have gin or rum/mixed drinks, or a beer to tell you the truth. But, as I want to start cooking/baking more, and become more educated on fancy foodie shit, I feel that it is necessary to give in and learn something about it. So, if anyone is wine-savvy, please tell me stuff about it. I was in the liquor store lost, just looking for a bottle of dry white wine. Riesling? Chardonnay? doesn't mean a thing to me. I bought the cheapest thing I saw that was clear, and the risotto turned out excellent. Plus the Boy drank most of the bottle, even after grimacing after the first sip (he knows some stuff about the vino), so at least I don't have a lot left over.

Aha, the Boy. Yeah. Things are going really well. I enjoy him a lot! Some dets. on the kid: he's older (29), works with me, is cute, has a BFA from NYU, is very smart, witty,and makes me laugh at the drop of a dime. He wears j-crew button ups to work, and pops his coat collar. I'm having lots of fun with him...its nice. I really like him, because he's up for almost anything. We have the same tastes in movies tv, music (for the most part), books...we can carry a decent conversation about politics, literature, history. We are also somewhat obnoxious together, but for the most part charming. haha. He likes to go out and drink, as well as go to the whitney for the hopper exhibit. I've attributed my hanging out with him to the change in my mood...it's been better, and it's well, nice.

Last weekend the gang went out to ny for Mike's birthday. Judi and I made reservations at Lucky Chengs- the supposed drag queen capital of the world. LOTS OF FUN! We ran up a large tab on dinner and drinks, but we had a great time. The Emcee, this asian dude/lady picked on Mike lots, and since he was (supposedly) the only gay man in the joint, he had Mike judge a lap dance contest between 2 birthday girls and a soon-to-be-bride. Our waitress Ava made sure to call me a 'needy bitch' whenever I asked for water/napkins/fork, and i Loved every minute for it. As it was Halloween wknd, we dressed up: Megha ressurected her ringmistress costume ffrom several years back, Judi was a bunny, Meghan was Mary-Kate Olsen (complete with starbucks coffee cup, big sunglasses, and hobo-chicness), Carin was Hot Shit (she dressed in a brown, hottt turtleneck dress), and stephanie and I were sexy gangsters/the blues sisters/justin timberlake ala Sexyback video. We met up with Tishon afterwards which was awesome(!) even if it was only for a little bit. He owes me mail and I want it now! haha.

On the way back home, we were taking the PATH back to Hoboken, cos we were all drunk/tipsy and crashing at mikes. A train arrives, and we all get on the train.....OR DO WE???

INT: PATH TRAIN CAR. Nighttime. Car is not very full just yet- still early for the afterbar jerseyeans to head home. Christine settles into an empty seat; the others lean on posts. They are all tired, ready for bed, but still enjoying their time together. The train pulls out of the stop, ready to head back to NJ.

Stephanie: UM...Where's Judi??

Christine: (thinking: Was there another girl sitting on the bench dressed up as a bunny? OH NO....) UMMMM...(gestures out the window as the train enters the tunnel)...

Mike, Megha, Steph, Christine: WE LEFT JUDI AT THE PATH STATION!!!! (the inhabitants in the car begin to buzz...they can't believe that these dumb bitches just left their friend at the station)

Guy sitting next to Christine: You should get off at the next stop.

HA. okay, so the story probably sounds better relayed in person, with excitable dialogue and hand gestures, but the bottom line is that we left Judi at the station- she had passed the eff out, and didn't know we had gotten up. We all assumed she was behind one of us. We get off at the 9th st stop, run like Hell back up to 14th, thinking maybe if we get their soon enough, she won't even know we were gone! When we got back to the 14th st station, we went to the uptown station, and started freaking out, bc she wasn't there...I did some Nancy Drew sleuthing and concluded that we were in the wrong station because there was no America's Next Top Model poster above the bench. ha...but she did, and all worked out well, we caught another train quickly, and laugh about it for the rest of the night (we also did a head count when we got off/on to a train).

FUN TIMES...i love those guys.

Work stuff: It's going okay. I'm actually enjoying it, because instead of just doing customer service all day, I get little projects and set up stuff in the store. I like doing shit like that, visual stuff, and getting the books for displays. I mean, it is a large chain so there isn't too much room for creativity, but it also keeps me abrest (is that the word? help) on titles and what not. For today, I put on some cat ears and wore my cute black shirtdress and came to work as Miss Kitten. Easy night, but I am exhausted.

g'nite.