Open Road Song

So, I bought a car? When I graduated last year, my parents made it clear that they were willing to assist me financially in buying a car, as they'd done for my sisters when they graduated college. It was an incredibly generous offer, but I asked if I could wait for a while, until I had a job more permanent (and higher paying) than the coffee shop. They graciously agreed. Well, as you may know, I now have three jobs, each of which paying more than the coffee shop did. What you might not know is that they're all over the County, and public transportation can be a bitch. While its not a problem when I only need to go to a single location in a day, it quickly becomes a major issue when I need to get to multiple locations. I end up spending hours on public transport and waiting for public transport, and its very frustrating. So! I asked my parents if they were still willing to help me get a car, and they were! The amount they gave me was more than generous, and was enough to buy a year or two old used car. But while researching, I discovered that the cars I was interested in keep their value quite well - so a two of three year old car is still quite expensive! After more research, and some lengthy talks with Palmer, we decided that I should take out a small loan and use it to make up the difference to get a new car.

And so I did! I bought a 2014 Nissan Versa Note in white, and its awesome! I bought it last Saturday, and my life has been SO MUCH SIMPLER over the past week. Instead of checking bus schedules and waiting outside in the heat, I've been driving - its pretty amazing! And since it gets really good gas mileage, I'm not too worried about blowing a lot of money on fuel!

I'm just - guys, I own a car. I'm 29 years old and this is the first car that's ever been mine, and with some clever financing and bargaining, I only owe $2500 on it! GAH! AMAZEBALLS! Ahem. Sorry.

Anyhow, yay car!

The race! That happened! A week and a half ago I decided to go out at 1 in the morning and run a 5k, like a crazy person! Along with 700 other crazy people, and my mom. It was fun! Managed to run the whole way, no walking, and never felt like I was about to die. It also helped that my mom set the pace, so we went a bit slower than I would have on my own; almost certainly why I never felt like I was about to die. We ran it in 35 minutes, approximately, cooled down, turned in our chips, and went home to sleep. But still, fun! I doubt I'll run much if at all this winter, but once spring comes around I'll start up again. I'd like to run a few 5k races each year, and I think that's about it. Maybe eventually work up to a 10k, but who knows. But yes! Completed the race!

Ah, what else? Gave my friend his Redskins scarf, he loved it. Another friend has since also asked for a Redskins scarf, so I'll add that to my queue. But first, finishing my scarf. Which I might not even be able to wear, because me and animal fiber don't get along.

Still applying to jobs. Just got a call back from one, though it was while I was work and therefore couldn't answer. Called back and left a message, hopefully we'll connect soon. A lot of what I'm currently looking at is advocacy and campaign stuff. I don't particularly relish the idea of campaigning through the winter, but alot of these positions have the option of upwards movement. And outreach/advocacy/education is where I want to be headed, so as long as the pay is comparable, why not?

Ooh! I won a prize! Filled out a "Best Of..." survey by the Gazette, and won a Visa gift card! Most of it will go into savings, but I want to buy some panniers for my bike, and some hiking boots. All the rest will be transferred over to my bank. But yay, money! And yay, things! I was already planning to buy those, but the purchases would have been way spread out. Now I get ALL THE THINGS!

Um. Saw Wreck-It Ralph, which was wonderful. Going out for tacos tonight. Gym+wine date on Friday. Possibly hanging with my friend Joe this week as well. Busy! And yes, I said gym+wine date. My friend Elle and I go to the gym for an hour or so, then back to my apartment, drink some wine, and gossip. Its great!

And that's it. More on fitness later, probably tomorrow. Ciao!

Have finally resumed knitting, thank god. It looks like I may actually get my friend's Redskins scarf completed before the football season. At the very least before next winter. :-P

Purchased a Lush Bath Bomb and tried it out on Wednesday. Oh. My. God. I need a million more of these in my life. I am going to take SO MANY BATHS it will be EPIC!

Palmer and I signed up for a Meat CSA. Once a month we'll be getting 12 pounds of meat from a farm in Pennsylvania. We chose the "Everything" package, so we'll be receiving beef, chicken, pork, and lamb, all pasture raised. I am excite! We signed up for 3 months of it, so we'll see how it goes. First pick-up is next week!

Work is just getting worse and worse. I have been seriously tempted to quit twice in the last week. Thank god the semester is almost over, and I can GTFO. I have officially started the job search, and sent in an application yesterday for an internship with a global sustainable development company. Cross your fingers!

Cooking tonight- making this avocado pasta (2nd try, first time we got an avocado that wasn't ripe enough, so it didn't blend well) with a spinach salad and fresh bread. Can you tell we went to a farmer's market today?

Resumed my blogspot experiment, and started with a post about blackberry vodka. Check it out!

Going to procrastinate for a bit more, then get a start on my Annotated Bib that's due tomorrow, simply so I don't have to freak out about it then. There may possibly be a pedicure.

I realize that I still haven't posted pictures of our apartment, but please believe me that Palmer and I have a nice little balcony outside our living room. Up until now, the only things on that balcony have been my bike, some Christmas lights on the railing (yes, still), and an ashtray. Since the weather is getting nice again, and we might conceivably want to sit outside and hang out in the nice weather, Palmer and I decided it was time to buy some outdoor furniture.

Ok, do you know how expensive that shit it?! Even the cheapest set still clocked in at $150. For just two little chairs and a dinky table! wtf?! That was not going to happen, so we decided to just check out Target and see if they had any Adirondack chairs or cheap outdoor chairs available. And they did! Some nice metal frame chairs with green netted seating, and a little metal and glass table to go between them. And since all were on sale, together they cost about $67. SO MUCH BETTER!

But here is where we ran into difficulty- the chairs did not fit in Palmer's car. Not in the trunk, not in the backseat. At all. We didn't want to return the chairs, because we really liked them, so what to do? After a close examination, we realized that we could, in fact, take apart the chairs, as they had bolts holding them together. But did Palmer have a wrench in his car? No. Luckily, we were still right outside a Target! Wrench acquired, we began the dismantling process. Oh. My. God. These things were clearly never meant to be taken apart by human hands- it took us about an hour to get both of them broken down. But hey, at least they fit into the car afterwards!

So we got home, and brought the chairs up, and started to put them back together. Palmer was much faster at getting his chair back together than I was, but eventually they were properly reassembled. Then, sweaty, gross, and tired, we took our chairs outside, placed them on the balcony, sat in them, and smoked triumphant cigarettes.

I also finally located an ice tea container with a spigot that wasn't a)glass or b)mad expensive. Bring on the infused vodka!

Oh, and this exchange occurred in the Target parking lot, as we're disassembling the chairs:

Random Woman: Oh, I hope after you take those apart they fit in your car!
Suze: Thanks, I hope so too!
Random Woman: Because if they don't then you'll have done a lot of work for nothing.
Suze: ...Thanks, that was SO helpful!

Wretched woman.

Sorry for the TMI, but Palmer and I totally bought diaper cream on Saturday due to the wicked chafing we had from moving all our furniture to the new apartment on the hottest day of the year. Seriously, it hurt to wear underwear. Not fun. But diaper cream? Wonder drug! Put it on and instantly felt better! We were able to go back to the old apartment and move even more stuff! So yes, in case of godawful chafing, use diaper cream. You're welcome.

Anyhow! Friday was our official move-in day. We managed to move everything from our storage unit, plus the 55" inch tv we had left at his mom's place, plus all the furniture (except the bookcase) from the old apartment to the new. Saturday we went to Target for much needed supplies, then moved a whole bunch more boxes. Today we completely packed up the kitchen, then cleaned the hell out of it. How did I accumulate so much crap?! Whatever. We have through next Sunday to finish moving, and we're going to use all of that time so that we don't burn out. Tomorrow I'll be cleaning out the bathroom and disassembling the bookshelf (and doing laundry), and we'll tackle the bedroom and the living room after that. It'll be all good. Meanwhile, we definitely have the new place set up to be livable, though our clean clothes supply is running perilously low, hence the laundry. Basically, super busy for the next week. But by the end of this coming week, we should be both fully moved, and fully unpacked. Rock on!

Things we still need to buy:
-A second dresser. We decided on the long, low 6-drawer model, but we want to measure my car and make sure it'll fit in it before we actually spend money on it. It should fit, we just want to make sure.
-Another utensil holder. The drawer space in the kitchen is not optimal, and silverware takes up most of the one available drawer. Another countertop utensil holder is necessary.
-A kitchen workstation. There is also minimal counter space in the kitchen, and Ikea sells an awesome workstation for about $200. We just need to measure and double-check that it'll fit, but I am optimistic.

So yes. We've gotten the place livable, and over the next week we'll move everything else over and clean the shit out of the old place. Once everything is done I'll post pictures, but trust me, the new place is awesome.

Til next time!

I keep going back and forth with myself whether or not I want to pre-order the Panic album, and if so, which package do I want? I mean, I do want to get the album when it comes out, but do I care enough to pre-order it? I also do like the look of that Black Plague t-shirt, but again, do I want to spend an extra 15 bucks for a shirt that may not fit? Alas!

I also keep going back and forth on whether or not to buy Catherynne Valente's short story collection. Normally this would be a no-brainer: I love her writing, I own many of her other books, and I know for a fact that I love several of the short stories included. But! Three of her books are coming out over the next year, books that I fully intend to buy. Do I really need another? I mean, with Deathless, Fairyland, and Prester John 2: Medieval Boogaloo all on the way, do I really need Ventriloquism as well? Most of me says yes, but then I remember the 35 dollar price tag. Yeesh. Tough choices!

Then there's clothing! I made the mistake of looking online at Boden's website, and now I pretty much want ALL THE DRESSES! Especially this one in purple. And this one in the blue polka dot. They aren't TOO expensive... and spring is coming! Slowly. Ever so slowly. If I do end up buying a dress, it'll probably be the jersey, just because it is inherently the more flexible dress. Doesn't stop me from drooling at that blue one though!

Palmer and I are now officially going to ALL THE CONCERTS this spring! Travie McCoy and Black Cards in March, Cake in April, and My Chem in May! And if Panic ever posts US tour dates, I'm sure we'll go to one of those as well!

That's about it. Realized that the notebook I'd intended to use for Marine Biology was actually filled up with math notes and homework from last semester, so I have to buy I new one tonight if I want to be able to take notes on chapters. Good times!

Oh, and here, smaller and hopefully less obnoxious:

Get your own valentinr

So, my Christmas cards went out disgracefully late, my apologies. I had them all written out several days before Christmas, but it took me a while to get stamps. So uh, they may arrive next week. Sorry! (I did receive several suggestions that I just wait and send them out next Christmas, but that is too absurd even for me.)

Christmas and the surrounding days were quite fun. Serena and her husband Ed were in town, as was Clarissa. Serena and Ed are expecting twins, due in April (which I've not mentioned here before), and we got to see the sonogram images and make noises over her expanding midsection. Ed kept calling her Godzilla, which she took with good humor.

I got a lot of bike gear for Christmas, shirts and pants and headlights for the bike itself. Just yesterday my dad helped me install the front and rear headlights and a rearview mirror, so hopefully I won't have to twist around to look over my shoulder anymore. Also got a Redskins shirt which I'll wear to the game on Sunday, and Palmer got me some sweet noise cancelling headphones. Considering that I'm taking at least two flights this year, those will come in handy. I also bought myself a Kindle. Over the past month I've saved up both my tips and gifts from customers, and I had over $400. $210 of that went into savings, but I decided that the time had come to buy myself an e-book reader, so I did! It is, of course, taking forever to arrive, but oh well. It should be delivered early next week, and then there will be awesomeness!

This past week has been a bit rough. I opened Sunday through Thursday, and by last night was just freaking exhausted. I apparently fell asleep sitting up, which is when Palmer escorted me to bed. Today has been relaxing, and tonight we're going to our friends' new years party.

So. Goals for the coming year!

-Get in shape. Vague, I know. I have lost some weight over the past six months due to walking and biking into work 4 days a week. My goal for this year is to combine that with restarting the gym and eating more healthy, home-cooked meals. Palmer and I are looking into CSAs and there are several farmer's markets in the area, so hopefully we can also incorporate eating locally into this.
-Pay off my credit card debt. Its not a huge amount, but it is several hundred dollars that I would like to be free of. So, for the next several months I'll work towards paying it off. Once it has been paid off, I'll put that money into savings. I have about $1000 in savings now, I'd like to increase that amount.
-Be more social. I spent alot of time this year holed up in my apartment, studying or sleeping. I'd like to get out a bit more. Not at the expense of my schoolwork or my health, but make an effort to see my friends more often, and go out to concerts or movies or the like. Just be less of a shut in, basically.
-Finish my degree. If I work hard and take classes over the summer, I should be able to complete my Bachelor's by this time next year.

And that's it! Happy New Year to all!

Yes, the title may sound a bit shallow, and well, this post might be a bit shallow, but you should totes read it anyways!

Whatever. So I've realized over the years that there are a few stores that I have *issues* with. Not issues in the sense that I have a problem with their business practices, but issues in that I go into the store and it becomes physically impossible for me to leave without MUCH more than I originally planned on buying.

World Market? Went in to look, all of a sudden I have a chair cushion, a Ganesh, 4 Christmas tree ornaments (yes, in the same purchase as Ganesh. And what?) and wine stoppers.

Stronsneiders (a hardware store)? Go in for Simple Green & leave with potted plant bases and potting soil.

And now REI. I went to REI this afternoon after a haircut (all of them, actually) in order to purchase some winter biking gloves and possibly a balaclava. And then I saw the coat. Oh yes, Flist, I found a biking jacket that I simply had to own, and succumbed to my base desires. Now, granted, I had recognized several weeks ago that I had a need for a winter-ready biking jacket- I have to be at work at 5:30, and in winter temperatures I'd much rather bike to work in 5 minutes than walk in 20. But after perusing REI's website I decided that I would put that biking jacket on my Christmas list and simply continue to wear my beat up, old, men's wool coat. But then I saw the jacket. It is purple, it is fleece lined, it has side AND back pockets, plus a built-in, tight-fitting hood. OH. MY. GOD. I had to own it.

So now I do! Along with other shiny biking gear!

The jacket: Looks ugly in the pictures, but is AWESOME!

The gloves: Toasty, and awesomely padded!

The "balaclava": I got the Udapur Grey

Now, while the jacket is heavy for a cycling jacket, it is not thick enough to protect me during the depths of winter in D.C. Northern friends, laugh if you must, but it gets fucking cold here! So, now on the Christmas list are such things as wool blended shirts and silk base shirts. Possibly wool tights? The problem with wool tights would occur once I started actually working. While I'm sure they would shield me adequately on my bike ride, they would probably make me uncomfortably warm while working at a coffee shop. I could wear them in and then take them off before starting work? Hmm, possibilities.

Anyhow, I has stuff, it is shiny, unless it rains on Friday I will be testing it all out then.

Also, I am not to be trusted inside an REI by myself. I BUY TOO MUCH!

Trying to start posting more regularly, since I've basically been disappeared for months. So I figured an easy way to get back in the swing of things would be to do a Weekend Update! So, let's see-

Friday I got out of work around 8:25, and managed to walk back to my parents place in 15 minutes. I'm getting faster! Got their car and agreed to look after their cats this weekend. Went by my place, fed the cats and cuddled them a bit, grabbed my computer and some laundry and went off to Palmer's. We ordered Thai food, I watched an episode of LOST, and then we were hanging out with his roommate Mike the rest of the night. It was a good time, but we drank way too much, Saturday morning was unpleasant.

Saturday we stumbled out of bed (seriously, quite unpleasant), fed my parents cats, fed my cats, fed ourselves, then sat on the couch staring at our computers until around 8pm, when it was time to feed all sets again. Palmer and I went out to Joe's Crab Shack, which is always quite delicious, and both got the King Crab legs. God, those things are sinfully good. I do wish they would put more Old Bay on the "Chesapeake Style" legs, but ah well. Unfortunately, after the meal my headache returned with a vengeance, and when we got home I went right to bed. Palmer told me that when he came into the bedroom, Loki was curled up between my calves and Goblin was curled up right next to him between my knees. I vaguely remember this, but apparently it was super cute!

Today has been fairly epic. Fed the parents cats, then attempted a trip to Target for Simple Green so I can clean my bathroom properly. I swear to god, no place in this area carries it, it is QUITE frustrating. After Target we met friends at an Indian restaurant for lunch buffet, then decided that we should all go to Value Village to go thrift store shopping. That place is irresistible, I swear. I ended up buying a Polaroid camera, a samovar-style pitcher that is now sitting in my bookshelf, and two shadow boxes with miniature kitchen implements and recipes that I will hang in my kitchen. All awesome!

Unfortunately, this evening we had to take the kitties to the emergency animal clinic. Goblin has been sneezing since we got him, and though the vet had said that it would probably run its course, his cold has been getting worse. And today Loki was totally lethargic and had no interest in food, so we decided we should take them both in to get checked out. Good thing we did! Loki is fine, just a bit under the weather (and he still hates the vet, though he didn't scratch this time- mostly because we just removed the top of the carrier to examine him and the vet had me hold him and talk to him while she checked his vitals), but Goblin's cold has turned bacterial. So! Goblin now has antibiotics that I have to give him once a day, and we have cans of tuna to feed them that should penetrate their stuffy noses and incite their appetites. Hopefully within a few days this will all be behind them.

On the plus side, they are total best buds now. Loki has been repeatedly trying to bathe Goblin over the last several days, and like I mentioned, Goblin loves to sleep next to Loki. It is quite adorable, and I'm glad they're getting along so well. Today they comforted each other after the traumatic ordeal that was the emergency clinic:

( Too cute! )

Anyhow, tomorrow I have to work, but I plan on swinging by Strosneiders in the morning to 1)check for Simple Green, 2)buy some ceramic water dishes for potted plants, and 3)purchase a hanging pot for my spider plant. Then on Tuesday I will continue the epic cleaning project that I started today. Good times!

So you may have heard a rumor that I got a haircut. I did, its true. I'm somewhat torn on how I feel about it. It is very short and very structured, and requires the use of a flat iron in the morning in order to not look stupid. From some angles I really like it, and I certainly do like the color. But my inability to take a decent picture of myself now has really damaged any liking I have for the style. I don't know. I mean, the stylist was super happy with it, and it certainly is a skillful and interesting cut. But I don't know if it is the right cut for me. On the plus side, the Vidal Sassoon creative director loves my hair (complimented me on how soft it is) and I've gotten a ton of positive feedback on the cut itself. That doesn't change the fact that I cried, a lot, once I got home from the salon. Sigh.

I went shopping with my first paycheck (only *some* of the check) and got new sneakers, a new belt, and several pretty scarves. God, I love scarves. I know it makes me a total emo hipster kid (not helped by the skinny jeans, funky haircut, and preference for whiskey and cheap beers), but seriously, I'm wearing a scarf right now that is pink, teal, white, and grey, and I LOVE IT! Plus, its square so I can actually do the scarf thing where I tie it in back and its all fringy and puffy in the front. Good times!

My eldest sister got me a years subscription to Cooking Light, and I am attempting the first recipe tonight. I'll let you all know how it goes! I was also recently linked to a blog called "A Year of Slow Cooking" so I'll be trying a lot of the dishes from there as well. Hooray, cooking! Went to the gym yesterday for cardio and today for my last PT session. I really like our trainer, maybe next paycheck I'll try to budget a bit and see if I can sign up for a few more sessions. I seriously get a great workout with her, and she helps me change it up from my standard elliptical workout. Also, she gave me tips on workouts to strengthen my knees. My poor, weak, liable to bust at any moment knees. I don't want to tear my ACL like my dad did, that sounds horribly painful.

Sorry I didn't post for almost a week, ennui kept me away from LJ. I've backread my Flist through Monday, let me know if I missed anything crucial over the weekend. Love!

And yes, I picked this icon because Audrey is wearing a scarf. Sue me.