tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75593316881559397492024-03-05T05:13:06.409-05:00Yum is my MantraLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.comBlogger883125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-31400613731601325932013-04-04T08:14:00.002-04:002013-04-04T08:14:35.966-04:00Apocalypse Meow<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Anybody want to take in two orphan cats? </div>
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<br /></div>
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I was going to write about something else today, but that’s
before I was the very unwilling host of the Cat Olympics wrestling event last
night. You may have missed it. It happened in the hours between 2 and 5am and
took place on my torso.</div>
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Usually, about a half hour before the alarm goes off at
6:05, the cats start to get restless. They both sleep on the bed, but one decides
that THIS! IS! SPARTA! And gets all aggressive and attacks the other and they
tumble off the bed and onto the floor. Then one of them sprints downstairs
while the other plays with anything in the bedroom that will make noise
(usually some item that the Man left on the floor that should have been put
elsewhere).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Last night however, these parasitic little fucks went too
far.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The Man has been in Colorado since Saturday and so we’ve had
the bed to ourselves. You’d think we’d all take this opportunity to stretch out
and lie diagonal on the bed, but NO. I am cuddled into oblivion by these guys, one
on each side, as they try to burrow through my body for warmth or something.
This has meant that so far I wake up sore at about 5:30 to 6am. And that’s what
I thought was happening last night, until I looked at the clock and saw that it
said 2:19. That’s TWO NINETEEN. In the morning. That is absurd. Tonight
everyone gets sleeping drugs.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I think I might have been able to handle it if they’d just
been restless – moving around, getting on an off the bed. But no, this was like
the US versus the Viet Cong for crying out loud. There were sneak attacks and
fighting dirty. Twice they rolled over and continued to wrestle <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">on my face</i>. It’s not a ring, cats! It’s
a face! And I’d prefer it not be scratched to ribbons. </div>
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<br /></div>
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And then they have the nerve to run over when I’m getting
ready to go in the morning and snuggle against my legs and request pettings and
scratchings. Did I give them these things? Well, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yes</i>, I’m not a monster, but I did give them dirty looks the whole
time.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, the result is now that I’ve gotten very little sleep. I
have two meetings this morning so I had better fill up on coffee in the
meantime. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bleargh…</div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-87079379134498625052013-04-02T08:58:00.000-04:002013-04-02T08:58:02.556-04:00I'm not saying I'm a psychopath<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Last night I watched <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seven
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Christopher Walken and Sam Rockwell were both terrific. I won’t spoil anything,
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I’ve long believed that a person can change himself, that I
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charming perfection. It’s actually funny that I ever believed this because
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This is not to say that I don’t think that a person can
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are on time! And I like it when things are clean! And I would prefer it if you’d
let me clean the house because only I can do it right!</i> But. There are other
parts that are darker and harder to control and they are unruly. It’s hard for
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But that’s got to be everybody to some extent, I think.</div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-29618857034000342342013-03-28T08:22:00.003-04:002013-03-28T08:22:27.290-04:00Life's Inherent Discomfort<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Last night the Man and I went to early (5:45) yoga. The
instructor was a guy I’d never seen before. He said some things while we were
doing our practice that I’d heard before but had never stuck with me much; I
love it when I get a different perspective on yoga from someone new (to me).
While we were in chair position for about eight thousand breaths, he said “you’re
in the pose, but you’re not a statue. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’re
not a picture of chair position</i>.” </div>
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That was great. Because though I
understand that yoga – even holding a pose in yoga can be quite dynamic, even
if you don’t look like you’re moving, I have always <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">tried</i> to make myself look like a picture of the pose. This is especially
difficult when you don’t think you can hold a pose any longer. It’s easy to get
some relief from moving your hands around, or taking some kind of variation of
the pose. It’s hard for me to give myself permission to not strive for the
perfect looking pose, even when you come to yoga each time with a different
energy level or different intention (sometimes I’m looking for a workout,
sometimes I just want to forget my day). In any case, I was a little looser
with my holding-the-position during yesterday’s practice, and I don’t think I
suffered because of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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After the class was over, the instructor stressed the
importance of re-hydration. So the Man looked at me and said</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“You know the best way to rehydrate is with sushi with lots
of soy sauce.”</div>
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To which I replied:</div>
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“And prosecco.”</div>
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And that’s how we re-hydrated. And I feel great.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A weird thing popped into my head yesterday as I was removing
the stubborn foil around the top of the prosecco bottle with a long Cutco knife:
My family doesn’t have the best history with knives/cutting tools. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-My mom stuck a Cutco knife through the thick of her hand
(between her thumb and pointer finger).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-My dad carved a gash into his hand when trying to cut the
plastic top off an ice-cream container with a Cutco knife.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-My brother wounded himself while cutting the tines off a
plastic fork.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-I sliced the top of my finger off while improperly using a
mandolin slicer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sigh</i>. Discomfort
and gore. </div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-88486847365807865392013-03-27T09:52:00.001-04:002013-03-27T09:52:20.821-04:00Update<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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You may think that the best way to treat a sore throat is
with booze, fried foods, and shouting karaoke. You’d be wrong. And yet! Those things
are significantly more fun than sitting at home drinking tea with honey. Last
night a bunch of us went out for A’s birthday. She turned thirty-sexy and we
celebrated in the typical fashion: with drinks, fried foods at M3 in Davis
Square, more drinks, karaoke, and another drink. We sang Proud Mary. We shouted/sang
through several additional songs that other people chose. That is the nature of
karaoke, I guess. I’ve never done it before. It was fun.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was nice to go out because it’s been a few days now since
Lysistrata closed and I’m trying to stave off the post-show blues for as long
as possible. Lysistrata was extremely tiring near the end, but the positive
energy of everyone involved made the exhaustion worth it. We sold out on Friday
of closing weekend and nearly sold out on Saturday. We had a delightful cast
party that was a bit of a love-fest. But, after a show, I get that feeling,
that what-if-that’s-the-last-theatre-I-ever-get-to-do feeling. I try to think
that I can live with that, but then I get all antsy, and a bit angsty and I
become increasingly restless until the next show. Well, I have the next few
months off and I’m going to try to direct my energy into being healthier and
starting our garden and reading more and resting. Because right now I am
looking at a two-to-three-cups-a-day coffee habit and I need to dial that back
a little bit.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I looked up the sunrise/sunset times this morning, and I
immediately felt better. By mid-April, it should basically be all light all the
time with temperatures in the mid-50s and rising. Even though we’re through the
fist quarter I still feel like this year is just beginning. And I’m hopeful.</div>
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<br /></div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-41453200903306413962013-03-15T08:37:00.001-04:002013-03-15T08:37:25.057-04:00First NightLast night we opened Lysistrata. And it was wonderful! From the beginning the crowd had such a great energy and they were so willing to go wherever we wanted to take them, that we all fell into a great rhythm. The first time I got off stage I got a text from my boss (who knew it was opening night) and here's the string that followed:<br />
<br />
<i>Boss:</i> I don't know what you're doing right now but I need some emergency purchasing work done.<br />
<i>Leslie:</i> Of course, let me just get out of this chilly church basement and back to the warming glow of my computer IT'S NOT LIKE I'M BUSY OR ANYTHING.<br />
<i>B: </i>Nice skirt<br />
<i>L: </i>Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.<br />
<i>B: </i>I support the arts!<br />
<i>L:</i> But I count on you to ignore the arts!<br />
<br />
You see I did not know my boss would be at the show because I did not invite my boss, really. <br />
The reason I was concerned is not because I was so nervous that my boss would see me act, but more because someone from my office would see my cleavage. And also all the fake boners we have on stage. You know, worlds colliding? But as it turns out, the world did not end, and the show was excellent. Now I will exhaustedly* await tonight's performance, after which I will sleep like the dead.<br />
<br />
*Apparently this is not a word. Whatever.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-91983350146693111502013-03-11T15:18:00.001-04:002013-03-11T15:18:51.036-04:00Last sceneYou know that last scene in a movie where everyone a person knows converge on one spot and it's awesome and there's dancing and you get the impression that everything is going to be okay in the end?<br />
<br />
That's what it was like on Saturday at Brighton Music Hall. It was the Jesse Dee CD release party and over the course of the night I saw almost everyone* that I've met since moving to Boston. The crowd was in very high spirits, despite the freezing weather and complete lack of good parking. My belly was full of tacos and love and I danced and smiled with friends. Nice, right?<br />
<br />
I almost wondered if it was <i>my </i>last scene and if I would be hit by a bus on my way back to the car. Luckily, I wasn't!<br />
<br />
Sunday was significantly less awesome because it was spent doing taxes, cleaning, and then later standing around. Though I loved all the company I had during those tasks (cats/the Man**/theatre folk), it's just not the same as tacos and dancing.<br />
<br />
Then today I came into work. I arrived at 7:55. I looked at my desk. I realized my computer was still at home. I was home and back within 45 minutes, which is kind of amazing. I may have played it fast and loose with some traffic lights.<br />
<br />
This week will be very busy with all things Lysistrata because we open this Thursday. I am excited for the show to start. And also a little excited for it to end. I know I'll be let down when it's over; that's inevitable. But I do look forward to it getting lighter and me having time after work to do other things. Outside things. I want to get back into jogging after work. I want to start doing garden-y things. I want to go to yoga more. SPRING! And also RENEWAL!<br />
<br />
*Well, maybe not <i>almost all</i> the people, but very many of the people. That's still a lot of people.<br />
**Sometimes in my head when I'm thinking of the Man, I will mentally call him "the Man" instead of his name. Derrrrr.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-12964536521069534232013-02-25T16:50:00.004-05:002013-02-25T16:50:40.194-05:00I dangled 866 ft in the airSometimes a girl just doesn't blog for 20 days.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>What was she doing? </i><i>Where has she been?</i><br />
<br />
None of your business. Ok, I've been doing regular things and going regular places. And wait, I just got back from LAS VEGAS, BABY!<br />
<br />
The Man was skiing in Tahoe last week, and we met up in Las Vegas, along with my brother and his girlfriend.<br />
<br />
<i>OHMYGOD did you guys get married? </i><br />
<br />
No insensitive jerk, we did not. BUT! We did play blackjack and roulette for hours and had a good time and the Man and I each ended up about $100 up, so that's fun. We met some nice people and good dealers who were delighted to advise when to hit, when to stay, and when to double-down.<br />
<br />
On Saturday we went to the Stratosphere because my brother had read on the internet that they had the best odds for roulette. As it turns out, they don't. But we played anyway and then we took an elevator 866 ft up and decided to pay to have someone hurl us out over the edge of the observation deck and scare the shit out of us. <strike>Stupidity! </strike>Bravery!<br />
<br />
Here's my artist's rendering of what the X-Scream ride is, from afar. The little red bit is our car on the track.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8N-dec1UlWG3AofDc0-MHtWtMjOEo-Of_9WwFTjgldpdn8wYkKDxMVcM23pVh9gHzlcAvo-WM3yM0UDz_XqVRHlCuDLD-Jvspn-nUdeOT5_Yhj0uJNLSw6xMEeFZoIOvFL8PV0bZWuq-/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8N-dec1UlWG3AofDc0-MHtWtMjOEo-Of_9WwFTjgldpdn8wYkKDxMVcM23pVh9gHzlcAvo-WM3yM0UDz_XqVRHlCuDLD-Jvspn-nUdeOT5_Yhj0uJNLSw6xMEeFZoIOvFL8PV0bZWuq-/s320/1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's very tall. You're on a car that's on a track, and they shoot you over the edge at 30MPH, then stop you abruptly and teeter you back and forth menacingly. Then they do it a second time. And that's when you wish you'd just stayed inside and had a bloody mary and looked through the glass. Here's the view from behind the glass when we were drinking those bloody marys afterward.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5cufeNxeFyv7wJeIA-o0WNiCXJ0lRqtWVuzPl8Z0tDA2lqLiZroWdC2S8bkskHl2xFyBHz0fD1HRhjZs_z_4_hd5xbsMYtie5e7NUtqnOni92aLyPxyX-tBOCHyL7xInnmPjxgcgDzYz/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5cufeNxeFyv7wJeIA-o0WNiCXJ0lRqtWVuzPl8Z0tDA2lqLiZroWdC2S8bkskHl2xFyBHz0fD1HRhjZs_z_4_hd5xbsMYtie5e7NUtqnOni92aLyPxyX-tBOCHyL7xInnmPjxgcgDzYz/s320/2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
While we were teetering, by brother said "We're as high as planes!" <i>Terrifying</i>.<br />
Since the Man and my brother's girlfriend were waiting for us and I didn't want to seem weak I said to my brother "Tell them it was awesome, yes?". And then he told the guys who run the ride that it was awesome. And I had to be specific about who I thought we should be lying to: our significant others, not teenagers who make the ride go. They don't care...<br />
<br />
<br />
After that, nothing was cool anymore and life was empty and bland. <i>Kidding! </i>Saturday night we saw the "KA" show of Cirque Du* Soleil, and it was SO damn cool. The stage was a marvel of turning, changing amazingness. The dancer-performers were extraordinary. Just: wow.<br />
<br />
So that was Vegas. Gambling and eating and drinking and dangling and Cirque-ing.<br />
<br />
That's all folks.<br />
<br />
*Can this be right? "Du"? Help me out other people who took years of French but now doubt their abilities. I feel like this should be "de". Is it de + le = du? Is that how this works here? Aidez-moi.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-31314783659658653842013-02-05T16:27:00.001-05:002013-02-05T16:29:16.608-05:00The arc of decision making and then unmaking<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
7:30 am: Reminder to self! The Man will be out with other
people tonight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8:00 am: Consider options for evening (review lines, iron
clothes, drop off box at UPS, watch Netflix, run errands, torture cats)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8:30 am: OMG I could totally go to 7:45 yoga and be the best
person ever because: working out = responsible sexy adulthood</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8:31 am: I AM SO AWESOME AT DECISIONS</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9:20 am: Whoa. We’ll be out of town this weekend, so I should
get some things done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
9:26 am: But still, totally doing yoga.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10:14 am: I am SOOOOOOO hungry. Work is lame.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11:02 am: Too many meetings. But hey, later yoga will be
awesome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
11:54 am: Hm. With all the things to do later, can I still
go to yoga? Will there be time?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1:33 pm: There is too much to do. Life is overwhelming. Why
can’t someone else just do it all?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1:40 pm: Must calm down. Yoga will help.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2:22 pm: Tired. Yoga will provide energy and will help me to
overcome this tiredness and stress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3:08 pm: Unicorns are just so pretty.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4:24 pm: I am ready to get out of here.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4:30 pm: If I don’t go to yoga I will have so much more time
tonight to get things done. AAAAAHHHHHHH!* I have just given myself the gift of
TIME.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4:48 pm: I SUCK.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;">*</span>sound of angels singing </span></div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-24632255514287986852013-01-24T08:35:00.001-05:002013-01-24T08:40:52.669-05:00Nah.So every day I look at my blog and thing: nah.<br />
<br />
Because I'm tired or too busy, or I don't feel like recounting everything, or maybe I do, but blergh*, I just don't.<br />
So I haven't been doing it much. I feel like probably this is temporary.<br />
<br />
I'm in a blog-funk. Probably not a life funk. I guess time will tell on that, right?<br />
<br />
So, for those days when I feel like uploading a word or two, or maybe just a picture, so that later when I'm 70 years old and I feel like checking in on 35 year old me, I made this tumblr:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nebbish-les.tumblr.com/">Nebbish</a>.<br />
<br />
It's nothing. Just things and stuff. No pressure - it's mostly for me.<br />
<br />
Hugs, you guys.<br />
<br />
*I have no excuse so my excuse is blergh. Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-16518959015720318592013-01-17T13:54:00.004-05:002013-01-17T14:05:12.892-05:00Smuggy McSmuggertonYou guys, I have been driving my Barbie Jeep for nine+ years. It has been awesome. It has gotten me around in ridiculous snow storms. It has carried countless pieces of wonderful furniture to and fro. It has helped move me six times in seven years. It has been a great companion.<br />
<br />
But I traded that mo-fo in on Saturday and bought myself a 2012 Prius C. It's this one:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3BAu3qg6IM_IAYwKjF4Y8hfF4lm6eh6iavl7_12A90fxATC7Hvj3bI7xPbYpxeDvFSMtuSM85hs3fu_Krh_u7uJVzDgft2V5axV2TkUabpZdD8FyNfBKmb_ypi3D2FTbR7CVhgiv08z9/s1600/PriusC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3BAu3qg6IM_IAYwKjF4Y8hfF4lm6eh6iavl7_12A90fxATC7Hvj3bI7xPbYpxeDvFSMtuSM85hs3fu_Krh_u7uJVzDgft2V5axV2TkUabpZdD8FyNfBKmb_ypi3D2FTbR7CVhgiv08z9/s320/PriusC.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's like a one-person space ship on the inside. It can accommodate me and <i>maybe </i>one grocery bag carrying two apples, a container of hummus, and one roll of unbleached 100% recycled content TP. <i>And</i> my enormous sense of superiority over everyone not driving a hybrid or electric vehicle.<br />
<br />
No, no. I'm just kidding. I think the Jeep was probably getting, about, 15 MPG at the end there, so I can't really throw stones. But I do feel much more urban and Cambridge-y about myself now. And wow, car technology has really improved over the last nine years. I don't even have a key anymore. People! Did you know this was a thing? Absolutely amazing. <br />
<br />
<br />
When I told my parents that I was planning to purchase a new car: <br />
<i> my Mom:</i> Are you taking the Man with you when you go? Because you know how they treat women in these situations...<br />
<i>Leslie: </i>I have been a purchasing professional for over 10 years. I think I can negotiate a car deal.<br />
<i>Mom:</i> Oh yeah.<br />
<br />
When I told the Man about the above conversation:<br />
<i>the Man: </i>Wait. You <i>don't</i> want me to go with you?<br />
<br />
Please note: I went by myself and managed to negotiate a totally reasonable deal. For reals. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-9472208724275454932013-01-10T08:18:00.001-05:002013-01-10T15:20:15.202-05:00A few thingsYou know what I really hate? When I'm watching a show, and several episodes or a season or so in they start straightening all of the women's hair - giving them (or some of them) blow-outs. As if there are problems with the show that can only be solved by deeply-unhealthy looking flat flat hair. Obviously any issues with plot or character development can be <i>ironed out</i> (ha! get it??) by changing the way the lady characters look. Duh. I've seen this on a few different shows and it just makes me more angry than anything.<br />
<br />
UNRELATED TO IRONED HAIR: I sometimes used to think that I would like an assistant or butler to do all of the tasks I didn't want to do, but now I know that what I actually need is a cat-butler. I will call him Kitty-Jeeves and he will wear a tuxedo and whenever one of the cats makes a noise while I'm trying to sleep Kitty-Jeeves will shut that shit down. Additionally, I will be able to say things like: "Kitty-Jeeves, would you please bring the litter-box 'round?"<br />
<br />
MORE RELATED TO IRONED HAIR THAN LITTER BOXES: So! Lena Dunham. I really like the show <i>Girls</i> (for context: I really DISLIKED the show <i>Sex and the City</i>). I like her. I think she's funny and I appreciate the way she flaunts her sexuality despite the fact that she does not have a model-perfect body. Because MOST of us do not, so YAY for people showing that you can be normal and sexy and vulnerable at the same time. However, I follow her on Instagram and I see how much different she looks now than she looked in season one of <i>Girls</i>. She looks a bit thinner and frequently more polished. Now, that's cool - she can look how she wants, and I really dig her style, but what do you do when the women you hold up as models of anti-conformity start to conform to what the media says is beautiful? I think it's totally reasonable for her to want to be more polished and have a nicer haircut and do what she thinks looks best weight-wise. Plus she's pretty young and likely still figuring out what style is best for her. But. It's like with Jennifer Hudson. After <i>American Idol</i> she started to lose weight. And she went from being this curvy powerhouse who you could look at and maybe relate to if you were curvier and now she kind of looks like everyone else on tv. That's totally her right. She is under NO obligation to represent any size of woman. And the same with Dunham. But it's kind of complicated, right?<br />
<br />
So yeah, though. Cat-butler. Remember me next Christmas, please.<br />
<br />
EDITED TO CLARIFY: I don't think all blow-outs look bad by any means. I do think that many of the ones I've seen on tv look unnatural, shitty, and wrong. Probably the good ones look so good that I have mistaken them for not being a blow-out. Also, my friends who do it occasionally look beautiful, because my friends are the prettiest.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-3245723225263157252013-01-08T08:18:00.003-05:002013-01-08T08:18:43.051-05:00Sociability, beginnings, and criminalsThis past weekend was more social for me than most. The Man went to Portland for work on Friday so he stayed at Sunday River to ski. I went to a wine club with several other wonderful ladies on Friday night and in an atypical move for me, I stayed out until midnight. I KNOW! You're imagining me with a party hat or a lampshade on my head right now, aren't you? Well, there was wine, and cupcakes, and beautiful baby N to play with. How could I NOT stay? Once I finally did leave I fell straight into bed.<br />
<br />
Saturday morning I had to drive into Boston. Now here's a completely irrational thing about me: I am terrified of driving to places I don't know if those places are in a city. I will go WAY down a country road with no fear (because you can turn around in people's driveways and there aren't people honking at you!) but I go numb and scared if i have to drive into a city. Despite never having gotten lost as a result, I'm always sure I'll end up in some labyrinth and never get out again. Anyway! That didn't happen. I made it to my destination (the Greyhound Express freight terminal) and back without any trouble. We ordered a beautiful vintage table from ebay and I have been drooling over it since it got to the house.<br />
Saturday night I had a delightful dinner at Orleans with L. We laughed and ate and drank sangria. I will never tire of fish tacos with friends - that's for sure.<br />
<br />
As a nice surprise, the Man came home late Saturday night instead of Sunday night. This meant that Sunday morning we were able to have an impromptu coffee date at the house with a former coworker and his wife and 10-month-old baby. This was a floppy, wonderfully smiley and curious red haired baby and that was quite a treat. I was riding a bit of a baby high:<br />
<br />
<i>Leslie</i>: Sometimes, when you see babies like D, don't you kind of want to have a kid?<br />
<i>the Man</i>: Sure.<br />
<i>L</i>: Well. All right then.<br />
<br />
Sunday night we had dinner out with some of the Man's friends. They're parents were in town watching their two girls so we had a grown up evening of business discussions and cocktails.<br />
<br />
After seeing so many people and getting so much stimulation I could have used some extra sleep. Instead I got almost none on Sunday night and so I had a bunch of chocolate-covered espresso beans before our first <i>Lysistrata </i>rehearsal last night. I was a little wiggly. But no matter - it was wonderful anyway. When I got home I noticed that for almost an hour there were very loud helicopter noises over the house - a rare thing. It's not weird for a helicopter to pass by but this one was hovering over our little neighborhood for quite a while. I asked the Man if he knew what it was when he got home, and he said there was some armed criminal in the area and that was a search for him. When I got up this morning I found that the Man had strategically placed our dining chairs at the base of all the stairs and in doorways as a makeshift alarm system. He's a good protector.<br />
<br />
Ah well, worky now...Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-45031233016259271502013-01-04T08:17:00.000-05:002013-01-04T08:17:24.223-05:00Textversation with J about this picture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGIOPC55i43tCRaupOosiS98QO-TIsggGRoNDd-qQxPrlbav0K2pNuMEooUPmSIu3RlaQQNFODaqr7CqoAmZYk53s7TRzyxTt5caphoPZFuQy8GKvKOw-ha1_InHqBJNMmjFlOmY3QGpP/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGIOPC55i43tCRaupOosiS98QO-TIsggGRoNDd-qQxPrlbav0K2pNuMEooUPmSIu3RlaQQNFODaqr7CqoAmZYk53s7TRzyxTt5caphoPZFuQy8GKvKOw-ha1_InHqBJNMmjFlOmY3QGpP/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>Leslie</i>: Bubble Wrap Cat says "hey".<br /><i>J</i>: Oh Bubble Wrap Cat, what do you dream?<br />
<i>L</i>: Bubbly dreams, baby. Can Bubble Wrap Cat get you some champagne?<br />
<i>J</i>: I would love some champagne. Thank you, Bubble Wrap Cat!<br />
<i>L</i>: Bubble Rap Cat <i>might </i>want to get you drunk.<br />
<i>L</i>: WRAP!<br />
<i>J</i>: Ha ha ha! Bubble Rap Cat comes from the streets.<br />
<i>L</i>: He's hard. Do not mess with Bubble Rap Cat's sick rhymes.<br />
<i>J</i>: He's gonna kick it old school!<br />
<i>L</i>: He can rock a rhyme that's right on time.<br />
<i>J</i>: BRC ain't nothin' to f#$% with!<br />
<br />
And then J send me three emoticons: kitty, microphone, and bag of money. And I knew I had been bested. <br />
<br />
<br />
Other than that, you know, things have been things. I had a very nice Christmas with my family. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas-or-equivalent. I went skiing with the Man on New Years and that was super cold but also fun.<br />
There was one thing that I wanted to mention. The day my brother and I left Atlanta, my parents were expecting guests. My Dad's college roommate (he graduated 51 years ago) and his wife were coming for dinner. I would like to assert my intention here to still be seeing college roommates in the year 2050. Who's in?<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-403600041061273642012-12-21T10:00:00.001-05:002012-12-21T10:04:00.275-05:00Follow upContext: Last Friday my office had its annual holiday party and I got... reasonably drunk. Maybe, like, reasonably <i>plus</i>. In any case, I was pretty sure I didn't do or say anything <i>too </i>stupid. It was probably charming!<br />
<br />
Conversation with my brother over the weekend - <br />
<i>Leslie</i>: Well, I'm just concerned I did something stupid, like insulted someone, or bragged about skills I don't actually possess.<br />
<i>Bro</i>: Like what skills?<br />
<i>Leslie</i>: I don't know, ninja powers, martial arts prowess, jewel-thievery, stuff like that.<br />
<br />
Conversation with my office-mate (who was not at the party) this morning -<br />
<i>Office-mate</i>: So, I heard a lot of people got drunk. And that you were talking about ninjas?<br />
<br />
<br />
Derp.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-2094321117196953652012-12-21T07:45:00.001-05:002012-12-21T10:02:43.208-05:00Not so muchI know I have been not so much with the blogging lately. Things were not being easy on me and when that happens I retreat. And when I indicate that "things" were not being easy I guess I mean that I am not so great at coping with stress and there was some stress. So I was being not so good. You know? Ok. As long as we're on the same page.<br />
<br />
But! Things! That are good! I finished my Finance class. I don't have my grade yet but I'm sure I did fine. And now my brain no longer resembles scrambles eggs. And I understand debits and credits and expense and revenue and whatnot. The whatnot was my favorite part.<br />
<br />
I also auditioned for Lysistrata and was lucky enough to land the role of Lysistrata. You should all come see it! It is the original Greek sex comedy! I predict that there will be giant fake penises on stage at some point (though I can make no promises).<br />
<br />
I had my annual review at work yesterday and they said I can stay, which in this job market, is just fine by me.<br />
<br />
So those are the answers to the what-have-you-been-doing-with-yourself question.<br />
<br />
Also, today I get my haircut and then fly to Atlanta to be with my family for Christmas. And the world didn't end. So I'd say margaritas all around for that, yes?<br />
<br />
So, I guess enjoy your holidays and stuff? Be safe.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-55020692733697102482012-12-14T08:26:00.001-05:002012-12-14T08:26:30.380-05:00Two things1. I continue to not really have things to say/write. It's not that <i>things</i> aren't going on, they are. <i>Things</i> are happening left and right around here, but some of them are boring, some of them are not appropriate to talk about at this time, and some of them are ongoing chronic things that just exhaust me to think about. But. I feel like those same <i>things</i> that are happening are fine. Even the less great ones like my car breaking down and getting towed. It was a combination of the cam shaft and crank shaft (<i>hey now!</i>) sensors and only cost $300 which I think was very lucky, by the way. I still plan to get a new car next year. Though it will be sad to say goodbye to the Barbie Jeep, we've had nine good years together and I don't want to have to start taking it in for routine maintenance that just costs a lot.<br />
<br />
2. Every time I want to put something in this blog I have to sign out of my gmail account and into this account and then sign back into my gmail account. Blogspot works on the whole google log-in thing but will not allow me to use my gmail as my log in and so I have to maintain a separate log in. Holy crap it is so annoying. If anyone out there knows how I can get around this, do let me know.<br />
<br />
BONUS THING: This afternoon is our office holiday party. I don't mind that it's a <i>holiday </i>party and not a <i>Christmas </i>party. After all, it is <i>also</i> not a Hanukkah party, or a Kwanzaa party, or a Bacchanal for that matter. How can the people who are pissed off about people saying "holiday" instead of "Christmas" ignore the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas? What country are you living in, angry-people-who-hate-the-word-"holiday"? Why don't you just drink some nog and then meet us in the present day where diversity is a thing that happens. See you there.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-76990849657672060942012-12-11T08:21:00.001-05:002012-12-11T08:21:30.706-05:00Drive failInstead of taking the T I tried to drive into work today because I wanted to drop some clothes off at one of those drop-off boxes and then maybe get some groceries after work. I indicate that I "tried" to take my car to work because I failed. After the clothes drop off, the car started behaving strangely and then the check engine and oil lights went on. So, as I was still in Somerville I just pulled over and walked to the Porter T stop.* I suppose I will call AAA later today and get the Barbie Jeep towed. Maybe I'll check the oil first, but I generally keep up with that stuff and unless something is the easiest of fixes I'll have to get a professional anyway.<br />
Very few things are heap and easy...<br />
<br />
Have a good day, peeps. And hug your car.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*Urban living for the win! I could pull my car over right where I was, park because of my Somerville permit, and walk 5 minutes to the nearest train. YAY, cities!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-17984580220745538522012-11-29T08:08:00.000-05:002012-11-29T08:10:03.350-05:00The dark sideSometimes I want to walk into a room silently but powerfully, do one completely crazy thing, and then leave.*<br />
<br />
There are some weird things on my life list, some of which I will surely never get to, and some things that are probably illegal:<br />
<br />
(Please know that this is not my <i>complete</i> life list)<br />
1. Punch someone in the face**<br />
2. Throw a drink in someone's face at a bar<br />
3. Crash a car<br />
4. Jump off something really, really high***<br />
5. Ride a horse really really fast<br />
6. Maybe I'm just weird.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*This is mild - but perhaps an unexpected table flip?****<br />
**Yes, this an other things might get me beat up, but in my fantasy, that <i>never</i> happens. Duh.<br />
***Sky-diving totally counts. Let's do this shit!<br />
****Are table-flips <i>ever</i> expected?Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-17712008206717188222012-11-26T09:15:00.000-05:002012-11-26T09:15:39.242-05:00hindsightSometimes I do this thing. I will have a conversation with someone, and for some reason it isn't going well: Either I'm wrong about something, or the other person is, or we misunderstand each other, or for whatever reason we're not <i>on the same page</i>, and I am weird. Not impolite, or aggressive, just a little weird. And then I look back on the conversation even twenty minutes later and I wish I could have just shaken myself out of the weird, and been nicer or at least less weird.<br />
<br />
This morning the Man went to the gym while I was in the shower. It was a regular morning, except we're getting a dumpster delivered to the house because of debris and work in the basement. I <i>knew </i>this, though I wasn't thinking about it. I was thinking about a test I have later. I haven't been driving a lot to work in favor of taking the T but especially not on Mondays because I have class in Harvard and there's <i>no where</i> to park in Harvard - especially right after work, especially in the cold weather. So I walked to the T in the morning. As a train was making its way into the station, the Man (who had gotten home from the gym) called asking for my car keys (so he could move my car, because we're getting a dumpster delivered in the driveway today, as I mentioned). I misunderstood and thought he wanted my house keys because maybe he didn't take his keys to the gym. So because of the misunderstanding I had to walk back to the house (only 5 minutes away). I wasn't mad or upset, but I was a little confused. He was also a little confused. And though no one was rude, I was definitely weird. Now I think I should have just been really nice because why wouldn't I be really nice to him all the time? If he didn't do anything wrong (neither of us did), why was I weird*?<br />
<br />
Why am I weird?<br />
<br />
I feel like this is an important question on the minds of many (about me, or about themselves. take your pick).<br />
<br />
I'm going to try not to think of this too much today in favor of doing actual work and occasionally thinking about balance sheets and income statements (the subjects of my test later).<br />
<br />
*I sent him a follow up text saying that I was sorry we misunderstood each other and that I was hoping he had a good day. I have not gotten a return text from him because he does not always text me back within 5 minutes because he has things to do but this always makes me feel a bit vulnerable. Because I am maybe overly sensitive.<br />
<br />
UNRELATED BUT STILL WEIRD: Last night I had a dream that the Man and I were on vacation and he and I and a third party friend of mine were having a threesome. "Woo Hoo" you might be saying to yourself, "sexy times!" No. As it turns out I was the only one in the threesome not enjoying myself and when I woke up I made a mental note NOT to engage in any threesomes with the Man and anyone else. I know you should <i>never say never</i>, but I'm going to throw caution to the wind and label this thing a "never".<br />
<br />
Seriously, I am working.....<i>now</i>.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-39062554906746643882012-11-21T08:26:00.004-05:002012-11-21T08:27:04.083-05:00Phone call/appointment/phone callThe day after I got back from San Francisco, I got a call from a nurse at Harvard Vanguard about my recent annual check-up at the gynecologist. Here's how that went (paraphrased):<br />
<br />
<i>Nurse</i>: We checked your tests, and it turns out that you have super-duper high-risk HPV.<br />
<i>Leslie</i>: Um, the cervical cancer-causing kind?<br />
<i>N</i>: <i>Totally</i>.<br />
<i>L</i>: Well. Shit.<br />
<i>N</i>: But don't worry-<br />
<i>L</i>: What, me worry? NO WAY.<br />
<i>N</i>: ...because almost everyone has HPV and it's not indicative of sexual behavior or misbehavior or anything.<br />
<i>L</i>: That sure does make me feel better.<br />
<i>N</i>: So.<br />
<i>L</i>: Yeah.<br />
<i>N</i>: You should make an appointment to get that checked out immediately. I'll transfer you now.<br />
<br />
So I made an appointment for their next available testing day - <i>three weeks away</i>. The next two days I walked around distracted and unhappy. The Man wisely suggested that I call back and demand a test date sooner - even if that meant traveling pretty much any distance to a different office.<br />
I called that Friday. They were very kind and offered me an appointment for Monday in nearby Watertown. I was not eager for the appointment at all. The paperwork they sent me about cervical biopsies was... grim. And gross. And sounded like I would want to show up really drunk.<br />
<br />
I didn't show up drunk. Hurricane Sandy was in full effect and I didn't know if the doctor's office would be open but I called ahead and they were. It was mostly just windy here.<br />
I got into the office. I got "gowned up". Then I waited for 45 minutes while the doctor did... whatever doctors do while you wait - computer solitaire? I don't know.<br />
I won't go into the details, but it was intensely unpleasant and uncomfortable. Plus there was a 10X microscope on a rolling platform. And there were metallic noises. <i>Bluh.</i><br />
The overly cheerful doctor said she "wouldn't be surprised if I was just fine". (Well <i>weeeeeeeee</i>!) I should call back in two weeks to get my test results. That was right before I'd be going to Mexico with the Man and my parents and brother. I told my brother about it and he said that he sure hoped I didn't have cancer because that would ruin Mexico for everyone. I agreed but threatened that if I did have cancer it would be the <i>first </i>thing I would say when I got off the plane and I would constantly remind everyone of it. Ha ha! I'm a Debbie-Downer!<br />
<br />
Side note: I sliced off the top of my right index finger in a mandolin slicer in 2007. Luckily I had all the stitches in the world and it's fine now and you can't even tell. But. For weeks afterwards I would feel the slicing feeling and remember the ickiness of the whole situation. It's the same with my biopsy. I still feel a discomfort when I think about it, and I remember the unpleasantness of the whole experience. I'm sure everyone has sensory memories they'd rather forget. Eventually I'm sure I'll completely forget how I felt except for the <i>concept </i>of the unpleasantness, but for right now, it's still very physical.<br />
<br />
I called the doctor's office before I went on vacation. And I'm fine. All my bits look normal and despite it being of the super-duper high risk variety, the HPV seems to be pretty benign (as it is in most people). That's good!<br />
<br />
What I'm taking away from this situation:<br />
1. I want love and happiness everyday and less worrying.<br />
2. If I ever have a daughter I will get that damn vaccine for her so that there's no worrying and scraping and biopsying. I cannot believe that people are against cancer prevention.<br />
<br />
<br />
Happy Thanksgiving, peeps. Let's all be glad for some things, together.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-91682892973435115622012-11-19T14:21:00.001-05:002012-11-19T14:21:29.979-05:00So I don't forgetLast year when I came back from a brief vacation in Puerto Rico with the Man, I felt (and I think we both felt) like we were ready for a change. Like the experience in Puerto Rico - which was just a regular old nice vacation - was enough to remind us to live a little more, or a little more fully.<br />
Soon after that, I forgot the feeling and kept just living "regularly", with all the same worries and fears and joys and <i>stuff </i>of regular days.<br />
<br />
But.<br />
<br />
Now I feel that again. We should be doing more/different/wild things. We both read <u><i>The River of Doubt </i></u>while we were in Mexico. It's about Teddy Roosevelt's journey on unknown parts of the Amazon River in 1913-1914. The things those men went through for the sake of exploration and adventure: malaria, attacks by natives, extreme weather and insects and starvation - it was crazy. I have never had an experience that was truly dangerous or particularly adventurous.<br />
Now, I don't want to starve, or lose a toe to a piranha, or get malaria.<br />
<br />
I <i>do </i>want to be an adventurer.<br />
<br />
I know I don't want to be an adventurer every single day, because that would get tiring, and occasionally I just like to watch a movie with a cat on my lap and order sushi. But I don't want to forget this feeling either. I need to add some recklessness to my life. It's unlike me, but I think I can do it.<br />
<br />
(And yes, I KNOW I've said this all before. But there's always tomorrow to start living differently. So, maybe tomorrow...?)Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-22106140933104905432012-11-19T14:07:00.002-05:002012-11-19T14:07:49.045-05:00There is no upside to going back to work after a vacation in a tropical paradise.None.<br />
<br />
I had to get up when it was still dark out. I showered in a cold house. No one made breakfast for me. It's 1:43pm and I haven't even had <i>one </i>margarita, mai tai, dirty martini, or bloody mary.<br />
<br />
<i>Gah.</i><br />
<br />
But it sounds like I'm complaining. Seriously, I'm not. I had a terrific time in Mexico. It was beautiful and warm. I was surrounded by loved ones and fish tacos and duty-free booze we bought at the airport. Now I'm home. I got to see my friend M's incredibly adorable and hilarious new baby on Saturday. Then I had dinner with two other wonderful ladies, J (recently back from England) and A (recently back from Africa). I relaxed with the Man and the cats. I made food and washed laundry and did some Christmas shopping.<br />
<br />
Life is good. I am sleepy.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-13319833579639950732012-11-17T18:15:00.003-05:002012-11-17T18:15:33.173-05:00BecauseI did not blog at all while in Mexico. Part of this is because the computer was slow. Part of it was because the thought of this conversation was so silly:<br />
<br />
<i>Parent</i> or <i>brother</i> or <i>the</i> <i>Man</i>: What are you doing? Why aren't you on the beach with us drinking mai tais in the sun?<br />
<br />
<i>Leslie</i>: Because I'm online.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Right?<br />
But now I'm back.Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-19832569194248196762012-11-09T18:48:00.000-05:002012-11-09T18:48:36.833-05:00Leaving on a jet planeYou guys, tomorrow morning the Man and I are getting on a plane for Mexico.<br />
<br />
Thieves and looters beware: My cat-sitter is FIERCE!Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7559331688155939749.post-66933035432265131242012-11-08T08:02:00.000-05:002012-11-08T08:02:19.130-05:00One thing and then two other thingsLast night I had a dream I met Rufus Wainwright. I know what he looks like but in my dream he looked almost exactly like Tilda Swinton. He wore black skinny jeans, a camel turtleneck, and a leopard print jacket. He was so stylish. He told me my shirt didn't match my pants. Then we hugged and sang Foolish Love together. It was a wonderful dream (despite the sartorial slam).<br />
<br />
Two other things that are unrelated except for the fact that NPR made me think of both of them:<br />
<br />
1. On the way into work I heard on NPR that 18 people were killed because they hit a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. My first thought was literally: "How many of them were Americans?". Then I felt terrible ashamed. It does not matter<i> at all</i> how many of them were Americans. Losing 18 people is a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to their families. I assume they were Afghan people because later in the story the newscaster said they were civilians going to a wedding.<br />
<br />
<i>"Imagine there's no countries<br />
It isn't hard to do<br />
Nothing to kill or die for<br />
And no religion too<br />
Imagine all the people living life in peace"</i><br />
<br />
Yes, John Lennon, I am imagining that right now. <br />
<br />
2. I am glad that President Obama was re-elected. However, I am one of the many people who thinks that he needs to do a better job. And he needs more help from politicians who should be providing support and working for compromises rather than just blocking any sort of progress because of party politics. I like it when I hear people like Congressman Capuano urging the president to take a harder line on the issues that he says he's fighting for. It's good to support your president, it's wonderful when you believe in his ideas, but that doesn't mean we don't have room for improvement. I would like to see us improve. All together. We're all on the same team, folks.<br />
<br />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16906259050690786314noreply@blogger.com0