When sinuses and allergies attack

My eyes are itchy. My fingers are twitching to rub them. Must. Keep. Fingers. Typing. My throat is scratchy and sore from whatever is draining down the back of my throat. (Nasty, I know.) My head hurts. You would think that an $11 bottle of eye drops, Zrytec, and nose spray that I would be in tip-top shape. Nope. Stupid indecisive weather. And just when I'm about to take time off. Figures.

Today I ran across the street after work to Macy's. I was in desperate need of my most valiant commodity: Clinique's City Block. If you don't like to wear foundation, it's perfect. It's only lightly tinted, goes on like a lotion, and it's loaded with SPF. Must protect the youth. And no break outs. On a whim, I picked up some Redness Solution Daily Protector. We'll see if it works. I'm not counting on it, but every once and a while my whims prove to be a worthy buy.

A flight from work

Last night after work, Amanda and I met up with our former coworker, Andrea, at JP Wine Bar. I really needed to go out after weeks of working to the bone. After reading about JP in Urban Times, I thought it might be a great place to go downtown.

I liked the atmosphere. The crowd was older, the music was soft, if you could hear it over the rather loud din of voices. I chose the Northern Lights wine flight ($10.50). The cool thing about the flight is you can sample flavors in a group and find a wine you really like. Northern Lights was right-on. Light and not too sweet. I little pricey considering that the flight constituted a full glass of wine. For fuel, I ate the Parmesan Gnocchi small plate. Small plate it was, but with a $13 price tag of what would be a big plate of food somewhere else. It was good, but I'd rather spend my money on actual dinner. In all: A good place to go with group for a glass of wine after having a fulfilling meal elsewhere.

A booger goes down easy

Not from recent personal experience (I'm sure as a kid I ate a booger or two), but listening to my sister tell me that for the first time my dear, sweet, apple of my eye of a nephew just picked and ate his booger is both hysterical and quite disgusting. I'm trying not let it mar that apple-of-my-eye depiction of him. I guess you can say he's turning into a little boy, and seeing him on Skype makes me see just how old and grown up he is. And how much of a booger picker he is, which I think just makes him even cuter and funnier.

Another booger in my life right now is work, but it's one hell of a booger. We're still one man down. Actually, we're doing really well, but I'm just an old workaholic that can't seem to say "no." Jonathan says that I'm not allowed to bring my MacDaddy on vacation. We'll see about that. How else will I tell you of my adventure in the great backwoods of Missouri?

Life is just too short

I got a call Friday from my sister Melissa that their dog—my dear friend and the greatest dog in the world—was put to rest. Keesha, I'll miss you dearly. No other dog compares to you. Although, you weren't a part of my daily life, you were part of my family. Peace to the friends and family you leave behind, may the hole in their hearts be filled with great memories of your life and the joy you brought them.

I've discovered Skype

It'll bring a whole new meaning and level of communicating with my technical goddess sister. Now, no longer is audio anytime, anywhere enough from our cellphones, we need video, brought to you by Apple iSight. Just another reason I love Macs. I'm a Mac.

Tonight we talked for an hour, showing each other our recent buys and makes. Oh, she introduced me to Yael Naim. She sounds like Feist, so it's another one to add to the playlist.

I think Skype will be my newest addiction. Thanks sis. I'm hooked.

I leave you with this latest music find.

Ready for a vacation

In about two and half weeks, I'll be departing for the dirt roads of southern Missouri. That may not sound as pleasant as it sounds to me right now. Just the word vacation is foreign to me because I'm working so much. Urban Times production is in full swing, and as the sole editor, I'm very tired of reading. And work work, well, that's hellaciously busy as usual. They have me interviewing, transcribing, and writing until my body just wants to lie down for awhile. Missouri. It beckons me.

My sister is bringing the apple of my eye of a nephew and we're going to have some fun...and sleep! Oh, yes, sleep. But the first stop will be to visit my aunt (a.k.a my other mother), because she has yet to see the cuter than bunny nephew of mine. Then maybe a somber stop over to Mom's grave. And then, just to sleep, visit, maybe dive into some recipes I've been wanting to try, get some fresh air and sun (I haven't seen the sun in months because I'm always holed up with my MacDaddy), and eat the grand-daddy of all subs: Cornerstone. Yum yum as my nephew would say. I know it's just a sandwich, but it's also artistry.

I'm thinking this is going to be a good vacation, but somebody better keep my laptop away from me.

Wishy washy

Cars are nothing but trouble. Might need to capitalize the 'T' on that. Trouble. Yesterday, Jonathan called me saying his check-engine light came on.

His car is 11 years old, so it shouldn't be a surprise, but really? You have to start breaking down right now? When we're back on the We're-going-to-buy-a-house-this-summer kick, something we have been saying on and off for at least a year. We take the car in Monday, so fingers crossed that it's nothing major to deplete our savings. Where's public transportation when you need it?

If we have to pay a lot, we once again will be sitting tight to buy a house, which to us means putting the rest of our lives on hold: the real cooking I want to do (I've dreamed of making croissants), the card-making, the decorating, the having kids, the possible gardening, the having friends and family over that won't come visit me because my apartment is too small (or so Melissa says), the everything!

Oh, and did I mention that I'm not getting a raise?!

iMovie will bring us together

Tonight, my sister put the cutest video of my nephew on his website. It was only a 2-second video, but it was the cutest thing ever. He said "Hi!" and waved. Priceless. I had to play it over and over and over, and you get the idea.

Since buying my MacDaddy I've wanted to try out the programs that come with it: GarageBand, iMovie, and iPhoto. These are basically scaled-down version of some of the high-end apps out there. Tonight I tested iMovie, sending my nephew a message back saying hi and blowing him a kiss, with some Eels playing in the background. It was like a video email. His response? He blew my video a kiss back!

Maybe some videos will make it to this blog soon.

The recession begins: No raise

I've been waiting for April to come for a year. Last year, at review time at work, I vowed this year I'd work to the bone, proving how indispensable I am and then get a mega raise this year. Kaboom! That's my plan exploding in my face.

My company will be announcing a hiring and raise freeze tomorrow. Perfect timing. I had been counting on that raise. It wasn't just the extra money (to get us one step closer to buying a home), but the principle. Good, hard, honest work deserves reward, especially when you know the big heads as I call them makes an exorbitant amount of money. I won't even be getting the living wage increase. Great just great.

Hell yeah!

Some truly amazing history took place in San Antonio last night. On the 20-year anniversary of KU winning its 1988 National Championship basketball title, KU took home another one. Jonathan and I left work early (yes, even this workaholic found time to root for her Jayhawks), and we trekked to Allen Fieldhouse to watch the game on the big screens. There was something magical about watching the game while being in the stands. I almost felt like the ghost of the players were playing on the court the entire time, hearing our chants (Rock Chalk Jayhawks!) and feeling the energy from our free-throw fingers and prayers. The part of the band that wasn't in San Antonio was at Allen to strike it up and set on us on fire. There was, of course, the usual audience-wide waves that coursed through the place, providing even more spirit. Also on hand was Baby Jay and Jay, our mascots.

I knew in my gut that we were going to win this game, never knowing that the come back we'd make would be sensational. That three-pointer—just about the only one we made that night—was something we were fated for. Overtime was ours. It should have been called Jayhawk Overtime. From paint to paint, we were swirls of colors as dribbled, passed, and shot. We high-fived strangers, honked like crazy around town, and joined in the merriment. Downtown was a mass of 40,000 strong. Climbing up flag poles and street lights. It was pure crazy high. Even the mile-long drive-thru line at Taco Bell couldn't upset us.

I give credit to Memphis. They really were our equal. If you don't believe me, look for the line-up online. It's almost like we were playing ourselves. My only criticism would be that the team needs to work on their free throws. Had they made the many they missed, we wouldn't have won. But that's all part of the game. The other thing I think Memphis shouldn't have counted on was their fouls. KU doesn't rely as hard on fouls as other teams do. I saw Davidson and North Carolina play the same foul game. Not a good strategy.

In 2003, I thought we were destined for this title, but it wasn't ours. That game, despite our loss, was a good memory. Mom and Tami had came to Lawrence before the game to see me. I was hyped, and so was Mom. She'd stopped at some store before coming to see me, buying me my beloved KU blanket and Jonathan a hat. Mom loved watching the Jayhawks, talking with Jonathan about the latest wins. Mom knew were going to win tonight. I felt like her spirit, which I hadn't felt in some time, was with us in Allen.

Will we win?

I think Jonathan and my blood pressures are at the max right now as we watch KU take on nemesis UNC in the Final Four. Behind the Tar Heels is traitor Roy Williams, one time KU coach. I know it's sinful to wish someone death, but maybe just little bit of pain? Just a little? Are the basketball gods with us? Will we make the chalk shake this evening? Please, please, please!

Today, we ventured to Target. We expected the stores to be deserted because everyone would be trying snake a table somewhere downtown to watch the game, but it seemed a usual shopping day. I picked out a pair of prescription sunglasses. Jonathan wasn't comfortable with the fact that I had been driving with non-prescription sunglasses, so come a week, I'll be driving in style and with sight! I also picked out another pair of glasses—editor glasses! So $300 later, we left the optical shop. It amazes me how expensive glasses are!

I've been reading my cookbooks in prep for my sister's visit. I'm thinking about attempting scones, maybe some jalepeno bread, but definitely asian lettuce wraps and homemade pot pie!