A look into my life

08:45 am

I can't think of anything more satisfying than making payments on my two biggest loans greater than the monthly minimum... and still having some money left over for gas, groceries, and some get-ahead holiday shopping... just sayin :)

07:29 pm - Oh Baby!

So I haven't posted here in quite a long time despite signing myself to do that 100 Things List (which will have to be scrapped for a very good reason.)  ..... I'm going to have a baby :D

.....Now on to preggo/baby drivel that might be really boring to those who aren't into that sort of thing......

I'm 12 weeks along today, and so far have a very healthy kiddo. We got to hear the heartbeat today with a doppler and had an ultrasound at 8w5d to rule out the possibility of there being twins in there. I'm continuing to eat vegan and will try to do the Brewer diet once my stomach settles a bit more. I've been very lucky- not too sick, and feeling pretty good other than the fatigue.

I intend to raise my kiddo vegan..... hope to cloth diaper, delayed/selectively vaccinate, and raise our child attachment-parenting style as much as possible.

Oh, and I'm due May 6th, 2010.... spring baby, here we come!!!

03:15 pm - Books to Read...

I chose my first book as part of my 101 Things/Day Zero project. One of my things is to read a book each month (I never sit down to read anything longer than a magazine) for a whole year. I have a whole bookshelf full of books that I have yet to read, so finding my book for 8/09 wasn't hard at all. This month I'll be reading American Bloomsbury by Susan Cheever: http://www.amazon.com/American-Bloomsbury-Margaret-Nathaniel-Hawthorne/dp/0743264622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250450052&sr=8-1

Lousia May Alcott has been my favorite author since I was just a kiddo so I picked this book up on vacation years ago and just never got around to reading it. The blurb on the dust jacket hints at LMA being a bit of a heart-breaker amongst the Concord poets, so we'll see just how juicy this book will get. I will be sure to write a review of it when I finish and update the Master List.

Current Mood: content

08:56 pm - 101 Things in 1001 Days...

Current Mood: creative

07:28 pm - Wallowing Playlist

Posted because I'm having a horrible year week and it's my journal....

and without further ado... the music I sulk to:

1. Our Swords by Band of Horses
2. Very Loud by the Shout Out Louds
3. Naked by The Goo Goo Dolls
4. Hands Down (accoustic) by Dashboard Confessionals
5. Disengage the Simulator by CKY
6. Counting Down the Days by Natalie Imbruglia
7. Cassiopeia by Coheed and Cambria
8. H by Tool
9. Don't Go Away by Oasis
10. Falls Apart by Sugar Ray

I know I'm not the only one who makes playlists like this (I cannot lie- I have had you in mind yeewuz ) Add your own songs as you see fit.

Edit: Before speculation begins, Ben and I are solid and doing wonderfully as a couple.... it's just everything else around us that seems to be continually crashing down.

Current Mood: stressed

08:17 am - Buddha Hut!

Anyone else going to the 7/10 buffet at Buddha Hut?

12:47 pm - Update

The past few weeks have been crazy-busy but these are the kind of weeks that make for a good recap:)

4/2:Twinsie reunion at AssCo. We picked things up like we hadn't seen each other in a few days, let alone a few years....old friends like that are by far the best to catch up with! After leaving AssCo, I got into a car accident. Some jerk hit my car when trying to merge onto Gold Star Boulevard. I'm fine, but my car needs some work done to the tune of $3,000. Thank goodness it's still driveable because I don't know how I'd fare on my 3-hour daily commute without my car since I can't get it fixed until May....

4/6:My birthday. The day was quiet and mostly filled with meeting with appraisers and mechanics to sort out my car stuff. Ben took me to Cafe Indigo up in Concord, NH for dinner which was so good. The atmosphere wasn't there (the cafe is in an industrial park) but the food is so amazing that it makes up for the lack of ambiance.

4/11:Saw Superbad for the first time. B-Smuve (Brent) shall be known as McLovin from here on in due to the similarity in appearances.

4/12:Easter/birthday party for me, Ben and my cousin/my first wedding anniversary. Hooooly crap, I can't believe I've been married for a year. The past year has been tough for us with all that has gone on, but it has definitely made us stronger as a couple. We sat and ate leftover wedding cake (it was still pretty good too-just a little dry....yet another reason why vegan food rocks!) and looked over our wedding album reminiscing over our wedding day and honeymoon.

The birthday party was awesome. Since my extended family is so small (1 aunt, 2 uncles, 1 living grandparent, and 1 cousin) everyone exchanges gifts at the holidays and for birthdays.... so the whole gang was at my place. I got alot of nice gifts but the coolest I got was a sewing machine from my mom and dad. I fooled around with it last night, practicing threading the machine winding bobbins, and trying out different stiches on scrap fabric all night until I ran out of the little spools of thread that I had in dollar store sewing/repair kit. I am so so so psyched to start quilting and being able to hem my own clothes..... boring to most, but handicrafts rock my world :)

This week should be pretty low key (hopefully) and then Ben and I are spending next week in Ogunquit, ME for our birthdays/anniversary. It'll be our first vacation in 6 months and we are both beyond excited for it!

Current Mood: complacent

12:54 pm

Saturday was alot of fun.... First day in a long time that my day was jam-packed full of various activities. I started my day down at the dealership where I bought my car getting my oil changed and my tires rotated (boring.) $65 later I was on my way and went to Hope Cemetery in Worcester to walk around. Oh...My...God. The place is huge....and breath-takingly gorgeous. I could have spent the whole day walking around looking at the stones, but I only spent about two hours, and mainly in the middle section that was moved from the Mechanic St. burial ground (I love wicked old slate stones.) When I was on my way out, I got a call from my brother because I had stuff in my car for him that my parents had sent down, so to AssCo I went. After he graduates in May, I will no longer have a reason to go there and just hang out. I went there last week to speak to a Case Management class about my job and walking into Kennedy Hall brought back SO many memeories....

After my jaunt to AssCo I went to Jaymz house for Degrassi w/the vegans. It was nice to meet new people, eat good food and play with her critters :) Sunday, I went to my grandmas house for my aunt and uncle's birthday in Leominster. Nothing special to report with my dysfunctional family, except that it's still almost to see how overwhelmed Ben gets at my family gatherings. Everyone thinks they're part of a bunch of freaks until they meet my bunch ;)

Current Mood: bitchy

03:35 pm - I think you guys would see this on my FB but just in case....

I think I'm going to get tickets to the VAST show at Harper's Ferry on 5/7.... Anyone want to go?

Current Mood: cranky

02:09 pm - So excited!!!

I'm going to get another tattoo on Monday!!!! :)

*I promise when it heals, pictures of THIS tattoo (and my first one) will be posted on Facebook. I give each of you full permission to yell at me if I slack on this once again :P

Current Mood: bouncy

09:20 pm

I went to Currier yesterday with Linnie. Good stuff for a smaller art museum (but in no way comparable to the MFA collections.) We started out our trek to Manchvegas at.... Jewell & the Beanstalk. Yes, it's the same restaurant that I blather on about, but I do so with good reason (their tofu scramble is. simply. amazing.) Linne enjoyed it.... I've added yet another J&B follower and now my job is complete.....

I decided to sleep at my parents house because of the snow instead of driving all the way home after work. There's not too much, but it's slippery and I didn't feel like risking my car out on the roads with all the craptacular drivers. I'd rather spend my money on more tattoos than on auto insurance deductibles. I just watched The Family Stone with my mom and although it's a good movie, for some reason it's left me in a really pissy mood and I just can't put my finger on it.

Current Mood: bitchy

02:07 pm

I need more vegans in my life. That's all.....

Current Mood: angry

09:29 am - Stolen from B-Smuve

2008

1- Did you kiss anyon​e?​​
yup

2- Did you get arres​ted this year?​​
no

3- Did you kiss someo​ne when the ball dropped?​​
Yup

4- Did you lose any frien​ds?​​
Nope, just family members :(

5- Did you gain any frien​ds?​​
Yup! New work friends, and  JAYMZ :)

6- Did you do somet​hing new?
Yup- became a Mrs.

8- Did you chang​e?​​
see above..... and where did #7 go?!?!?!

9- Are you happy​ with the year over all?
No, it SUCKED (other than my wedding and honeymoon.) We had skunks spray under our apartment (3/08), fleas IN our apartment (6-9/08), our neighbor who lived above and across from us comitted suicide in his apartment (5/08), my dad lost his job (4/08), Ben got his debit card # stolen and $600 was taken out of his account (early December), AND my grandfather died a week before X-MAS..... Blech!

10- Whats​ the best thing​ that happe​ned to you?
marrying Ben and going to Sanibel Island with him for our honeymoon.... having Sanibel and Rambo come into our lives on Mother's Day weekend was good too

11- Did you trip on the sidew​alk?​​
I always trip all over everything

12- Are you happy​ the year's​ over?​​
YES

13- Are you gonna​ chang​e somet​hing about​ you next year?​
i would like to-----> I like Brent's answer

14- Do you think​ 2009 will be a bette​r year then 2008?​​
God help me if it isn't...

20- Did you go on a summe​r vacat​ion?​​
Ben and I went camping.... that was a good time

21- Did you lie to your paren​ts?​​
No,I  had nothing to lie about

22- Did you get into a fight​?​​
Whoever thought up this question obviously never had to plan a wedding....

23- Did you leave​ the count​ry?​​
nope

24- Did you have a good birth​day?​​
No, that sucked too..... my bachelorette party was supposed to be the night before and that totally fell apart. Went out for drinks with Jackie and Sherri instead and I couldn't even drink because I had to drive home to NH at the end of the night

25- Did anyon​e in your famil​y get marri​ed?​​
I did

27- Did you dye your hair?​​
nope

28- Who do you think​ you were on the phone​ with the most?​​
My parents

29- Did anyon​e sing to you?
yes

30- Did you sing to anyon​e?​​
yes

31- Did anyon​e tell you they loved​ you?
yes

32- Did you ever go to the hospi​tal?
not for myself- went to the ER for dad a few times though

33- What did you drink​ and eat the most?​​
coffee, and lentil soup

34- ​​Did you chang​e your top frien​ds?​​
nope

35- Did you chang​e your profi​le over 10 times​?​​
nope

36- Did you chang​e your defau​lt at least​ 20 times​?​
nope

37- Did you get a tatto​o?​​
Yes! Back in July... still need to post pictures of it either here or on FB

38- Did you vote?​
yup

39- Are you going​ to make a new years​ resol​ution​?​​
Nah.... doing the whole get healthy/weight loss thing w/Jaymz but I'm not going to actually make it a "resolution" because then I'd break it quicker ;)

41- Think​ you’l​l date someo​ne in 2009?​​
Um....no?

42- Where​ were you when the ball dropped​?​​
In 2008- at our old apartment with Ben watching tv/ 2009- at our apartment with Ben's brother and his gf hanging out.

43- Do you think​ you will make new frien​ds in 2009?​​
I hope so

44- Are you hopin​g to meet someo​ne speci​al in 2009?​​
See #43....

45- How do you feel,​​ anoth​er year has passe​d you by?
Relieved, thankful, hopeful

Current Mood: sleepy

10:02 am - Because I need a good destraction...

TEN THINGS YOU WISH YOU COULD SAY TO 10 PEOPLE:

10. You both need to stop drinking. You've ruined your kids lives and your own and now it's starting to show in your physical health too. If you don't stop this, you're going to lose your jobs/licenses/etc.....

9. I wish you would ditch all the alcoholic townies you're wasting your time with these days. You used to be such a good friend, but  you're wasting my time and yours now if all you want to do is drunk dial me and ditch me last minute to go drink with those losers.

8. I'm so proud of you. You're such a strong person, despite all of the hardships that you've overcome through the years. I know that things have never been as good since your parents passed away, but I love you and see your perseverance as an inspiration.

7. I'm sorry I can be such a bitch sometimes. I know I am totally different at work than I am when we are hanging out, but you know our jobs are stressful or if Ididn't have my morning cup of coffee, I sometimes take it out on you. It's something I'm trying to work on, so I hope you can have patience with me while I try to learn to have patience myself

6. Why did you betray me that night? When I was at my lowest, you took what was mine from me- right in front of me too. Everyone says I should forgive you and make amends, but what you did was too despicable for me to let go of. If you would just own up to what you did and appologize... it would make the world of difference

5. I still think of you all the time. I know I haven't seen you in years, but you've been such a big influence in my life in many ways. I still think of you all the time although I doubt I've crossed your mind since you accepted me as a friend on Face Book.

4. What is your deal? Some days I don't know if you hate me or not.... I know you have high standards for me to live up to and we're stuck with each other for now, but I would appreciate some decency and tact on occasion.

3. I hope you haven't told anyone else. I asked you to keep it a secret, and I kept what you told me a secret.... I hope you will honor your word to me.

2. I'm worried about you. This is your first experience with death and you were so close to him. You're not showing any emotion, but I know you're hurting and I wish you would come and talk to me about it.

1. I'm sorry I skipped Thanksgiving at your house. At the time having an all-veg Thanksgiving "my way" at home with only Ben and I seemed like the best idea. If I had known I would lose you not even a month later, I would have spent it at your house and happily eaten a peanut butter sandwich for Thanksgiving dinner instead.


NINE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF:

9. I collect shot glasses from different places and I'm getting close to having one for each state in the U.S.

8. I eventually want to have a tattoo on my body in honor of each of my loved ones

7. I first went veg because I hated the taste of meats and fish

6. I hate hate hate swearing and find that it denotes a lack of intelligence. The English language is so complex- not finding more eloquent words to use shows that you really haven't mastered speaking at an adult level yet.

5. I hate tomatoes

4. I'm right-handed but I can shoot both left and right when playing hockey

3. I wear at least one article of tie-dyed clothing every day, even if it's underwear or socks

2. I love young children and elderly folks more than I will ever enjoy people my own age

1. There is a lot about me that no one knows about and never will.


EIGHT WAYS TO WIN YOUR HEART:

8. Respect my family and my close relationship with them

7. Give me a big hug when I look like I could use it

6. Take me to an old cemetery or another historical site for a hike

5. Send me a surprise letter through snail mail. I promise I'll write back.

4. Tolerate my messy car and desk.

3. Smile

2. Let me cook for you

1. Go vegan


SEVEN THINGS THAT CROSS YOUR MIND A LOT:

7. How can people be so horrible?

6. Will I ever be *completely* debt-free?

5. Are my parents/husband/family okay right now?

4. Should I stop and get gas now or wait and see if I can get a better price at the station down the street?

3. I have a good job, a roof over my head, food to eat, clothing on my back, and lots of people who love me- I am blessed!

2. What will my life be like 50 years from now?

1. I have the best husband in the world :)


SIX THINGS YOU DO BEFORE YOU FALL ASLEEP:

6. Brush teeth/ rinse off mouth guard/put in mouth guard

5. make sure Sanibel and Rambo have enough food/water/toys and put them in their room for the night.

4. Make the bed if it's messy. I can't get comfortable in a messy bed.... even for recreational purposes

3. apply assorted moisturing goop to my hands

2. Lie in bed with Ben and talk about how our days went

1. Wait for Ben to turn off all the lights so we can sleep


FIVE THINGS THAT FRUSTRATE YOU:

5. Money

4. People

3. Fate

2. Life

1. Me


FOUR THINGS YOU LOVE TO DO ON RAINY DAYS:

4. Sleep in

3. Cook

2. Watch movies

1. Go window shopping with my mother


THREE BIGGEST TURN ON'S:

3. Guys w/glasses

2. A nice smile

1. Humility


TWO THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:

2. Become a mother

1. Leave the world a better place


ONE CONFESSION:

1. I have a huge nerd fetish

Current Mood: blah

02:12 pm

My grandpa passed away unexpectedly yesterday morning. He was out snowblowing and came in to warm up and dropped from a major heart attack. He was the most healthy out of my dad's family too-super skinny and relatively healthy too.... and pretty young. He was only 72.  I'm still in total and utter shock. Deaths suck anyways, but having to get all of his X-Mas presents out from under our tree and my grandmas tree to hide from everyone and then return them.... it's just the fucking worst.

I wish it were already 2009....

Current Mood: Miserable

01:17 pm

I'm still wicked pumped from Monday's show. I got into Boston fine and found parking 20 ft from the club after park-stalking a BU student for a couple minutes to steal the spot when he pulled out. I had time to kill since I got there an hour before doors opened so I went to the thrift store next door. That place had so much really nice clothes that I'm debating making a trip out soon with more $$$ since I would probably break even or even save money on gas vs. thrift store clothes instead of new/clearance rack stuff.

I went and hung out in the lounge for a bit before they opened the club and watched the Bruins pre-game show, which was a nice perk. I don't miss cable and I hated having tv for the most part, but now that my team is FINALLY doing well, I miss watching the games so much!!! Another perk of getting there so early was that I got a spot right against the stage which was amazing. I was right in front of Greg McKenna which was cool because he seems like a super nice guy. The opening act (Midatlantic) was decent- except for the lead singer trying to pull off this goofy David Bowie-wannabe act. I had try hard not to LMAO as the lead kept looking over my way.

Around 9:15 Letters to Cleo came on. It was SUCH A GOOD set!!! Well worth the 7 year wait since they broke up. They played my fave song (Big Star) 3rd in the set and played an encore of Pizza Cutter, the Cheap Trick cover they did for 10 Things I Hate About You, and then closed things out with Rim Shak. They played an impromptu X-Mas song (Where the Fuck are my Presents?) which was hilarious too. I'm wicked bummed that I didn't get a tour shirt (the line was long ever time I went past the merch table) and it looks like they aren't selling them on their website- only the posters. Boo!

I haven't tried to Google-fu the concert yet, but I will because I might be in some of the pics since I was front row. I also took A TON of photos on my cell- mostly of Kay and Greg... I just need to find a way to transfer them from my phone to a computer w/out a USB (I have a Razor.)

Current Mood: ecstatic

07:47 am - Gah, I feel SO old

I just found a girl I used to babysit on Facebook when she was little.... who is now in college.... and has pictures of her drunken debauchery posted as well. When did I get so old?!?!?

Current Mood: cold

12:11 pm - Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy!

Less than a week left until the Letters to Cleo show! :)

More importantly- do any of you Boston LJ-ers know of places to park on Comm Ave? I don't think I can take the T in (the show doesn't start until 8 and who knows when it'll get out) and I don't really want to pay some valet monkey $40 to park my car if I can help it. Oh, btw- the show is at the Paradise...

Current Mood: peaceful

12:47 pm

So I'm debating starting a cooking/movie Blogspot because all I seem to do is cook....and watch movies. Not that it's a bad thing. I love love LOVE to cook and need to work on my recipes if I someday want to open that 24-hour vegan greasy spoon I keep dreaming of. Also- who dosen't love movies?

Like this past weekend: we watched two new movies. My Big Fat Greek wedding was Friday night's pic and was so cute. I watched it again on my own 3 more times on Saturday (well, I listened to the commentary while cleaning on one of the viewings.) Last night we watched Atonement. It's such a good movie but so freakin depressing. Ben stayed entertained with the Band of Brothers-esque war footage but hated it in general. I think I need to read the book next.

For cooking: I made black bean hommus yesterday. garlic and salt up the wahzoo, the coworkers apparently love it (I always bring enough to feed the crowd....) Last night I made this:
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=8769.15

OMFG..... this recipe should come with every veg-starter kit. The cute little Chinese place next door to our building just lost a customer, thank you very much!

So I guess I'll continue to post my "dinner and a movie" stuff until I think of a witty name for a Blogspot cooking page :)

Current Mood: awake

01:17 pm - Would the REAL Jelin, Please stand up?

Apparently, I'm being mistaken for a woman by the same name who owes back payments on a Dodge Durango (yeah, like I could afford a vehicle like that!) Collection agencies keep calling me at work despite my *politely* telling these people that they have the wrong Jen, my husband's name is NOT David, and I own a 'Yota.... not a Durango ::bangs head against desk:: The worst of it is that these people keep calling through the main line, so I'm sure they're telling the receptionists where they are from when they ask for me too... wtf?!?!

So much for scrambling and scratching to make payments on time for the vehicle that is actually mine...

Current Mood: frustrated