ice can be nice.

remember that damned wintery mix i spoke of so harshly only yesterday? well, it actually turned out to be a semi-fortuitous, near-death experience. instead of going to nyc, we stayed in and had a dinner/game/slumber party. a winter mixer, if you will. we stayed inside and marvelled at how forcefully the snow-ice-rain was pelting the windows.

highlights:
1. i discovered that my new computer has a free trial of jeopardy on it.
2. i danced all around the livingroom to a lawrence welk album.
3. feast-making is one of my favorite activities of all time.
4. i learned that sometimes it is important to remember that the speed of light is 186,000 mph. it doesn't matter that you knew it once. it's imperative that you be able to recall it at any given time, particularly when you are losing a fierce board game.
5. i like wine.
6. nerf darts fit rather well into human nostrils.
7. i never appreciate a toothbrush more than when i don't have one at my disposal.
8. i will never be too old for bedtime stories.
9. i believe sofa beds are terrifying creatures that could swallow you whole in the night.
10. just in case any of you were wondering, a naturally sarcastic personality can sometimes be detrimental

germany has invaded poland.

the war of cuteness has taken a new and unexpected turn. (if the 3.716 of you out there are wondering what the H i'm talking about, check out thetitleis and maybethen blogs in my links).

what my darling friends have failed to remember is that i humbly possess the most beautiful and charming young relatives, contrary to their rose-colored beliefs. the elegant little lady to my left is olivia. olivia is the fairest of them all, intelligent, and hysterical. she likes to sing and draw (like some other charming individual i know). she's a champion underwater swimmer (can do the entire width of the pool in one breath, mind you). she likes horses and riding her bicycle with proper cranial protection.



























this remarkably handsome young sir is ben. clearly on the way to becoming the next james dean, ben is a little hellion with a smile that's sure to win you every time. ben likes to pinch butts and run away laughing meniacally. he likes to fight you with light sabers and darts and dinosaurs--whatever he can find to throw at your face. he likes to ask questions like, "what's bigger, the earth or the ocean?" he also likes to walk around the house wearing nothing but his batman cape and his mother's high heels. but he has a heart of gold and all the makings of a real ladies' man to carry on the family tradition.


























you cannot deny that these children are, in fact, the most precious beings you or anyone in existence has ever encountered. they will dazzle you with their wit and intoxicating giggles. you will be left powerless.

and i...i will be victorious.

oh ye gods.

damn you, wintry mix.

how. how, i ask, could it be 79 beautiful, tasty degrees yesterday, and then SNOW 4 fricking inches tomorrow?! what did we do to deserve this? mike says the only logical explanation is that we're drifting into the sun. (it doesn't matter that you don't know who mike is. i believe him, and you should, too.) i'm supposed to go into NYC tomorrow night for a fancy frenchie dinner with some friends...we want to go shopping and a spend an evening out on the town ...will this heinous weather successfully thwart our dreams? or will we be able to do something normal and fun without repercussions? stay tuned.

it's okay, sir, i understand.

this guy thinks he had it bad. well, i guess he does have a balding, pear-shaped head. but other than that, i bet his life is a breeze. he's probably just looking at a squirrel getting run over by a car. (and if so, why is he not leaping for joy?)

anyway, where was i going with this? oh yeah. life. life is running away from me right now. i can't even imagine all the things that will transpire in the next month, let alone the next two. all of a sudden i'm supposed to finish things at school and get my masters and move and go to italy and come back and move again and find a job and make money and be a real person. i don't think i'm cut out for this. at least not in such a short amount of time.

have i seriously lived in new jersey for two years already? i find this to be an utter lie. and although living in pittsburgh again will be lovely for many reasons, i certainly do not want to stay there. i will miss my friends here and my family and my voice teacher and the ocean and my favorite coffee shop. i will not miss the expensive rent and tuition and strange neighbors and weirdo church. but other than that, i like this area pretty well. i'm sure that pittsburgh will have great things to offer eventually--it's just a matter of finding them. and how the heck do you find a job for the summer when you won't actually be living in a place until july? all of the postings are for current hiring. yipes. sistah's gotta get a plan. but in the meantime, she'll just order cute shoes for herself and hope it all goes away.

also, i'm forever unlucky in the ways of love, so i've decided to write a book about it. many of you may know that i wrote a lot of a book when i worked for the government in dc after junior year. that was good for a while till i had to start making up stuff and it got out of control. but now i think i have enough fodder from my real life experiences to make something. even if it's only a book for myself and a few close friends. my brain can't handle storing all of these stories any longer.

so yeah, i'm stressed to the max and trying to figure out what to do with my life. however, i'm not a total case yet, as I'm still managing to have lots of fun, including several trips to new york and fab dinner parties. also, there's a chance i may get to go see dave sedaris perform live....um yes please.