Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

Good Afternoon, Kittens.   Today is my Friday.  Oh, hellz to the yeah!  Four day weekend!  Scorez!   And, I was totally late to work this morning.  I woke up with all sorts of weird intestinal issues going on.  So I called my boss and went back to bed.  I rolled into work around 10:30.  Sweet.  AND, they are letting us leave 2 hours early today.  Suh-WEET-er!   Last night, I did laundry. I called my BFF from college, Isa.  We chatted for a long time.  I ate orzo with homemade pesto.  AND, I managed to get all sorts of semi-interesting gossip from several neighbors.  Good times.   I also finished updating my resume and writing a cover letter.  I'll be sending that off tomorrow.   On a sad note, SCGB moves out of our building today.  Waaaah.   It's so sad that I will never see him again.  He's moving into the DeeCee.  He will be swallowed up by the Columbia Heights Hipster Culture and forget his close-in suburban friends.  Alas, I shall end up alone and rotting in...

Good Morning, Kittens!   My doctor's appointment went well (or, at least, as well as can be expected).  On the plus side, my blood pressure is OK (although we need to keep an eye on it).  Apparently, I suffer from "White Coat Syndrome."  When a go to the doctor, my blood pressure shoots up.  Good times.  I've been taking it at home and the doctor says it is fine.  Yay.  No blood pressure meds for me.  and, I have good cholesterol numbers.  Yay!   On the minus side, I have a vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency.  Boo.  The low B12 is something common in vegetarians.  And he thinks because I'm fair-skinned and tend to avoid the sun (also, I don't drink milk), my D is too low.  Also, unrelated to the vitamins, I may need some minor surgery in the near future.  Joy.  Bettter get that checked out and taken care of before I get laid off and lose health insurance coverage.   After the appointment, I treated myself to a post-doc cocktail (and bowl of soup) at ...

Good Morning, Kittens!   My weekend was a bit of a bust.  My co-worker's Friday happy hour was postponed (boo), so I went home and drank basil gimlets with Miss Isabella (she abstained). Then, I finished reading "We Need to Talk About Kevin."  Interesting book.  Apparently, it has been made into a movie with Tilda Swinton (love!) in the leading role.  Perfect casting, IMHO.  I went to bed around 11 ... which was when M called to see if I wanted to spend his last Friday in DC with him.  I did, but *ugh* there was no way I could do it.  Oh, well.  He should have called sooner.   Saturday, I went for a run.  I did some shopping.  I cleaned (a little).  I had cocktails with Tomokito and SCGB.  I watched "Atonement."   Sunday, I went to the pottery studio.  M was too busy, so we rescheduled our date.  I came home and had cocktails with SCGB.  I blobbed around the house for a bit.  And, later, had cocktails with Tomokito and Hana (she abstained).   After wor...

Good morning, kittens!   Work has been a gross, pile of s**t recently.  It has been so bad that I am seriously considering applying for a teaching position.  Admittedly, the position is at a small charter school, so it's not like I'd be teaching classes of 30 hormone-crazed adolescents (if I got the job that is).  And it's teaching environmental and earth science, which is cool.  So, we'll see.  I'm going to reorganize my resume into something more Education-Oriented and we'll see what happens ... Still.  Teaching.  It kinda gives me the shivers.   When I got home from work yesterday, instead of going for a run, I made a new cocktail: Live Basil Gimlet (recipe from the NYT).  It was delicious.  So, I made another one using lemon basil.  It was not as delicious.  Very refreshing and summery though.  Everyone should try one, especially if you love basil (and gin!).    For dinner, I found some frozen pesto ravioli in my freezer.  I whipped up a quick sauce...

Good Morning, Kittens!   As it would happen, I did not do laundry last night.  And, I have a good reason.  Laundry night is on Wednesday, not Tuesday.  Pottery Class is on Tuesday.  For most of yesterday morning, I was thinking it was Wednesday.  Oops.  So, laundry is tonight.  Yay! (Yay?)   Which means that, yesterday, after work, I went to pottery class ... which is much better than doing laundry.  I made two bowls - a large-ish one, and a small-ish one.  I am not sure I am meshing with the different instructor.  His teaching style is very hands-off.  Oh, well.  Back to my regular instructor in the Fall, hopefully!   When I got home from pottery, I had a package by my door.  My new pants from Banana Republic!  YAY!  I "purchased" them using a $75 gift card I received from my health insurance company for completing an online health assessment (which basically sad I'm fine, but I should exercise 5 times a week.  Who exercises 5 times a week?  CRAZY TALK!).   I ...

Good Morning, Kittens!   Yesterday, after work, I met up with the fabulous Alwyn (and her gorgeous family) at my favorite DC restaurant, Jaleo.  Many laughs ... Lots of tapas ... And too much sangria were had.   And, then, I went home to bed.   Good times.   Today, in celebration of the Summer Solstice, I am going to do laundry. And maybe have a cocktail.  I found a recipe for one which sounds delightfully summery, the Sunday Confession:   -1 oz white tequila -1 oz limoncello -1/2 oz lemon juice -ginger beer   Build in ice-filled Collins glass. Stir and top with ginger beer.  Garnish with lemon wedge.   Doesn't that sound super refreshing?   Have a great day!  Enjoy the sunshine (if it's sunshining where you are). *smooches*        

Good morning, Kittens!  Happy rainy Monday morning!   This day has started off swimmingly with a huge delay because of single-tracking at Takoma metro station.  Huzzah.  Eventually, I made it into work.  Double yayz ... :-/   So, this weekend ... I didn't do much of anything.  Friday, I made pesto, using the lemon basil that is going all crazy in the "garden."  It was actually pretty tasty.  Nom nom nom.  However, I decided to freeze most of it, and I made this for dinner .  Very tasty.  Forbidden (black) rice has a surprisingly nutty flavor.  It was a splurge buy at the Whole Foods.  Too expensive for every day cookery.   Saturday morning, I went for a 4-5 mile run.  I'm not sure how far I went, but it was a good run.  I did some cleaning.  I ironed a shit-ton of shirts. I made more pesto (with regular basil), which I froze.  SCGB invited me up for cocktail hour.  And, then I blobbed around watching movies. Not Joe texted to see how late I would be up and if h...

Good Morning, Kittens.   This has certainly been a week. *ugh*   Lessee ... Not Joe has not been in touch since last weekend.  Whatever.  I sent him a text.  He didn't respond.  Fine.  He was cute, but I don't really need the headache of being all into a guy on the DL.  We had some fun QNT, but that's about all we had in common.  Moving on ...   Work is becoming a big ol' source of stress.  I may have mentioned that there is a new guy (who comes in one weekend a month) who I thought would be a good resource for me.  Well, it turns out that even though he told me that he thought I was on the right track and would be happy to assist me with whatever I needed, he has been telling other people (including the Big Bosses Upstairs) that I don't know what I'm doing (Keep in mind that we've only met once and had a -maybe- 20 minute conversation about the program I am starting FROM SCRATCH).  Thanks so much, dirtbag.  I really don't need a two-faced liar ...

Good morning, kittens! Last night was pottery class and -Surprise! Surprise!- some of my work from the Spring session had actually been fired. *w00t!* I'm fairly pleased with how these came out. The photos don't really do them justice. Oh, well... Brown Cannister/Cookie Jar Thing ... It's about 6" tall. 5" wide. Bowl ... 2" tall, 7" across. Raised Platter ... 3" tall, 11" length, 5" width. And, I guess that's about it. Have a great day! *smooches*

Good Afternoon, Kittens. What a SuperFun Weekend! I had almost convinced myself not to go to the Pride Parade (too hot!), but I'm so glad I did. I got to hang out with Polt and His Posse of Hot Womenz! So. Much. Fun. On Sunday, I skipped the Street Festival (too hot!), but still managed to have a good time. It's been AGES since I've written a 12 of 12 post. BUT, I managed to take some photos. At some point, I should fill you in on *all* the excitement of the weekend, but -for now- this will have to do ... Homophobia is Gay Pretty flower garden on the walk to Downtown Silver Spring I returned the Penguins Pretty flowers on the walk back home Naptime with Miss Isabella Silver Spring Metro. On my way to a rooftop party The View from the top Brianna gets too friendly with Mike (Who Makes Cakes) The View a little later On the walk home Miss Isabella is all "where have you been?" And, that, my dears, was my 12th of June. Hope you are having a great day! *SMOOCHE...

Good Morning, Kittens!   So, it would seem that the majority of the Kittens have opted for the Penguins.  I am still unsure.  I need to make up my mind soon.  These decisions are so hard to make.  I can really only afford to keep one of the pairs.  I think I will take them both with me when I get the suit tailored and make a decision then.  We shall see ...   And, since I am a major shopaholic, I bought 3 pairs of new C-In2 underwear from Hautelook yesterday.  I am out of control.  Someone needs to take my credit card away from me.  I justified the expense because I'm not drinking and saving all that booze money!  SCGB mentioned having a beer/wine only summer.  That might be a good idea too.  I shall ponder that in my heart.   After work (which ends at 4PM today! Hurrah for 8-hour days!), I am meeting up with the New Guy (who probably needs a more clever moniker than that.  I suppose the Not J wouldn't work either).  We were planning on jogging around the Mall, but we t...

Good Morning, Kittens.   Yesterday was my first day back in the pottery studio.  Yay!  During the summer session, my class meets on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30.  This is a good arrangement for two reasons: 1. Because K-Factor isn't taking the class, I have to metro home.  I will get home at a reasonable hour.  and, 2. Because class starts at 5:30, I have to leave work a little early to get there on time.   I have a different instructor this session.  And there are only 2 other students in the class.  The instructor has a very different teaching style than Gina's.  Maybe I will pick up some new tricks.  He doesn't seem to be as hands on or able to explain things as well as she can.  We shall see.  I just sort of futzed around with the clay last night.  I made a bowl and a large flowerpot like thing.  Neither were anything special.   I was hoping the studio manager had done some glaze firing.  She hadn't.  Oh, well.  I really would like to have some of my completed pi...

Good Morning, Kittens. As you may recall, I had a rough couple of days a week or so ago. And, what does VUBOQ do when he has a rough couple of days (besides drink himself into an incoherent stupor, that is)? He shops. And, shop I did. In fact, I bought a new pair of shoes: Some tan wingtips by Penguin. The dilemma is that, a few months ago, I bought a pair of brown wingtips by Florsheim. The reason behind this over-abundance of brownish wingtips is that I wanted a cute pair to match the SuperCute tiny houndstooth Tommy Hilfiger suit I bought to wear to K-Factor and the Canadian's Canadian wedding this coming Labor Day. Of course, now, I can't decide which pair I like better ... I need to return one (or possibly exchange for a pair of black wingtips. I don't own any black wingtips!). Here's a side by side photo (on top of the suit): And, the Penguin: And, the Florsheim: This is totally like Sophie's Choice (perhaps with slightly less emotional/psychological cons...

Good morning, kittens. As my aunt says, men are like trolley cars. There's always another one coming around the corner. Friday, after work, I had plans to meet the new guy at L'enfant Plaza metro station. I got there way early, so I went to the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden to read. Eventually, he texted and we met up. We walked to his place near the Waterfront. He lives in one of the really cool condos which I have always admired (even before they became really cool condos) originally designed by I.M. Pei . When I mentioned this to him, he asked, "Who is I. M. Pei?" ... *sigh* Anyway, we got to his place and rather than eating had lots of Quality Nekkid Time. I headed home around 8:30. And I ate a frozen pizza. Saturday, I went for a run. And cleaned the bathroom. And went to the Whole Foods. In the afternoon, K-Factor and I played a couple of rounds of Death Croquet, followed by a couple of rounds of cupcakes. Nom. Then, I was planning ...

Good morning, kittens.   Yesterday, I emailed J for the last time.  It was a relatively short email stating that I am concerned about him, that I hope he is OK, and that, if the reason that he has stopped contacting me is because things are over between us, I would appreciate an explanation.  I wonder if I will ever hear from him ...   In the meantime, I went on a date last night.  He's cute.  We met at Gallery Place and wandered around the National Portrait Gallery for awhile.  And, then had a light dinner at Zaytinya.  I had a good time; however, I felt like I was cheating (a little) on J (which is weird since we never had the chance to have a discussion about exclusivity).  *ugh*  I need to move on (I guess).  We are seeing each other tonight as well.  We are meeting at Gallery Place again and, then, going to his place for dinner.  How do I get myself into these situations?   Also, I sort of accidentally fell off the wagon yesterday.  I had a beer with lunch.  Oops.  I t...

Good morning, Kittens!   I'm taking on NKOTBSB over on Cocky & Rude.  Quick.  Go vote for me ! I'm scrappy.   In other news, still no word from J.  *sigh*  I hope he's OK.  And, I'm going to try to stop worrying about it all ...   Yesterday, I was in an all day seminar/training session/workshop thing sponsored by GSA on helping the government go green.  Parts of it were quite informative.  Other parts of it were OMG so deadly dull.   Then, I went home and did my laundry.    Good times.   Have a great day!  *smooches*