[sassygrrl]

Hi my lovely Busties,

kvetch: Internship is driving me a little crazy this week. Fundraisers are a bitch to work through. I like the maniac energy, but replacing the one office manager that has worked there for 5 years is some big shoes to fill. Also, my boss is very weird. I will be so happy when Friday rolls around. I'm hoping this event will be a chance to network. I still need a job in Feb. The good news is I finally got my dress! I'll try to post a pic once I take one. I plan on just shopping and going to movies/yoga this weekend.

kvetch: Mcgeek. I'll post in Committed thread.

kvetch: I lost some great milestone jewelry that would have been great with this ruby dress. It was a high school graduation watch, and a diamond/ruby tennis bracelet I got for my 21st birthday. I think I may have left it in Boston last spring. It wasn't appraised..... I never wear it, but it had such special meaning to me.

Speaking of jewelry though, I'm getting the mud-model of the engagement ring Saturday! I should have the full model by Jan 31st. Ironically, that's when this Taste of Love (yes, cheesy name) fundraiser is....

((everybody)))

[candycane_girl]

Hello Busties! I haven't been around much lately. School is already feeling a bit busy (lots of reading) and I spent all of last weekend with my sexystud. And on Monday my parents are visiting! Ack!

(((kittenb))) at least you are learning more about what kind of people you can work with. Personally I don't think I could ever work with kids. They tend to drive me nuts. But anyway, you'll be home soon and back with your cats and the Geek.

(((((yuefie)))))) I read your story about Jenny jumping on you. Ouch! I hope that other than that your recovery is going okay.

syb and bunny, I just have to add my two cents about Gossip Girl! Which is basically that I love the show even though it's ridiculous. However, I have to say that one of my favourite aspects of the show is the fashion, especially Blair's outfits. She is fierce, I don't care what anyone says.

kvetch: myself. I only went to class one day this week. I don't know why I skipped! I mean, today was sort of understandable as it was -30 and I really didn't want to go outside but I'm just mad at myself. So I promise that I will go to class everyday next week and not skip out on anything.

anti-kvetch: things are going well with the boy although we are not seeing each other this weekend. I think it's kind of good though because I need time to study/hang out with friends. Plus, it's kind of fun when we're apart for a week or something and then we finally get to see each other because he becomes quite ravenous.

(((((kvetchies))))))

[stargazer]

(((kittenb))) you'll be home soon. as for the child therapy stuff, i think it is good to know what populations you can or cannot work with. i *hate* the question asked for training sites about which population would you not work with and why. i know they are looking for flexibility, but ethically, i think there is nothing wrong with saying there are some populations you will not work with. boundaries are a good thing. i look forward to hearing more about the training you are doing. sounds interesting.

(((raisin))) good for you for using your time to your advantage. i'm trying to do the same by learning new things, reading, and get all caught up with my paperwork stuff.

(((syb))) sounds like things are going good for you.

(((bunnyb))) acos

so, it is terribly cold outside in the windy city. i got up to come to school, dropping mama off at work, and staying planted inside school to work on my dissertation. i've been getting cabin fever. i'm hoping i can talk my mama into going out for dinner. i've been craving a veggie burger and fries something awful. oh, and a good stout to go with it.

antikvetch: you know, i'm really liking the local of my school. we've gone through 3 different places since i've been affiliated with my school and this 3rd one is awesome. it was great to eat my breakfast in the student lounge being able to see the wrigley building and michigan avenue with the sun shining. so pretty.

kvetch: ok. i'm hoping my school got my status updated to defer my loan repayments. argh. i hate to keep bugging her, but she has not been quick to do things lately.

(((kvetchies)))

[kittenb]

Good morning all.

I've been spending the week training how to be a counselor for sexually abused children. What I have learned strongest is that I don't want to work with children. The trainers have been wonderful and passionate but it just isn't the discipline for me. And spending a week at a Hilton Garden Inn is making me nutty. I miss my cats and The Geek. *sigh**deep breath* I am almost through this week. I really want to spend some time shopping or something equally brainless and shallow. At least I don't have to step outside this morning. There is just no excuse for that kind of cold.

Stay warm everyone!

{{{kvetchies}}}

[bunnyb]

Bunnyb, I have been sucked in to GG, although I'm finding the boys all a little insipid--kind of like all the girls in the O.C. Clearly Josh Schwartz is on a learning curve.

The characterisation of the boys definitely improves (although their faces remain wooden and devoid of expression). I heart the motherchucker.

star, we will miss you and will take photos (which reminds me to charge my camera)!

(((raisin))) increased writing and reading sounds positive.

*Must* clean the bathroom.

[sybarite]

(((Yuefie))) You're no threadkiller Hope you're feeling better.

Sidecar, I hope you're feeling your mojo again soon, as Grey's Anatomy would put it.

Bunnyb, I have been sucked in to GG, although I'm finding the boys all a little insipid--kind of like all the girls in the O.C. Clearly Josh Schwartz is on a learning curve. So jealous of the LDN meetup: I need to get myself over there instead of going to conferences.

(((Raisin))) I felt the same in November and December: winter and the drakness were kicking my butt hard. Long walks in the snow sound lovely though...

Good news on the diss SG!

Things surprisingly good w/ me...a work problem has finally been resolved, which is a relief, and things are good at home w/ the mister. We're making plans and I am reassured about a few things. And my diss edit is going well too!

[raisingirl]

I'm here. I have had a touch of the winter blues. I want to move to Florida. I never used to be like this even a few winters ago. Have been welcoming the increased reading and writing time. I have a shit ton of stuff to do over the next several weeks and I'm thankful that most of it is of the indoors variety. I've had a lot on my mind lately. (Oh, but Facebook is a good distraction.) Long walks in the snow help. This is the Cliffnote (sp?) version of my life right now.

[stargazer]

Hi Christine!

(((bunnyb))) have fun with zoya and morn! takes pictures and make sure to post on FB. i miss you girls.

snow and more snow. gosh. i'm sure the other chicago busties are managing in this weather ok. sometimes i wonder if this is life's way of telling me to move somewhere warm for a short time.

antikvetch: dissertation is moving along smoothly.

(((kvetchies)))

[bunnyb]

Wow, I really killed the thread

Where is everyone?

Yeah, you did, yuefie. It was your TMI post-op details; we were all grossed out and ran for cover .
Aw, babes, you know we love you and just because we didn't post didn't mean we weren't thinking of our (((yuefie))).

(((mando))) too. I miss her blue and I hope she's doing ok. Has anybody heard from her since the last email update?

(((sidecar))) I've been following your blog and it's fab . It's made me want to be a little more creative in the kitchen (usually it's the boy's domain as he has more practice but since I've not been working I'm attempting dinner most nights). I enjoy cooking and I have a few dishes that I'm quite good at; some are a little fancier and I can't afford the ingredients just now but I'm getting a handle on the basics too.

(((rose))) hope the BestPals arrived okay.

(((kitten))) any word on your internship?

(((dm))) glad the mr is okay.

(((syb))) so, what did you think of Gossip Girl?

(((star, polly, morn, christine_nectarine, sassy, humanist, futura, q'spice, tes - where is tes? everybody)))

kvetch: heartburn. ugh.
anti-kvetch: zoya is coming down to visit this weekend, which will be fun, and we're going to hang out with mornington lots. We're all doing things on a budget so it's museum visits (they're free), free tastings at the gourmet food market, maybe some Ethiopian food and a movie and whatever else we come up with. Good times will be had.

Off to make spaghetti bolognese (no fixed recipe but a lot of tomato, red wine, countless herbs and a little sugar for sweetness).

[Christine Nectar...]

...just stopping in to say "hi" since i've been away too long...having withdrawal symptoms...so,HI*scurries off to catch up on kvetch*

[stargazer]

*~*~*stroking hair vibes for sidecar*~*~*

(((yuefie))) eh, you didn't kill the thread. gosh, i hope you are feeling better. i would've screamed bloody murder.

nothing new here. just lots of cold and snow. i'm getting cabin fever. irritated with winter. but, this whether does encourage me to stay inside and work on the dissertation which is almost complete.

(((kvetchies)))

[sidecar]

I have been offline a lot. I got an iPod touch and have been playing with it. (Hence, twitter/facebook updates.)

(((Yuefie))) Glad recovery is going okay
((((mando))))) still lovin' ya sweetheart.

I'm going to start visiting our old weight loss blog again. I somehow gained more weight, and now none of my clothes fit. Blech. I bought some new stuff online and at Target, went over a schedule with Martini so I could get to the gym three evenings a week, and have been *faithfully* counting points for two weeks. Things are trending downward, but they have to be. I don't know how I let this happen.

It's been putting a real damper on my self-esteem, actually.

[roseviolet]

Well, I've been spending a lot of time in the Committed thread today. There's some heart-breaking stuff in there. Other than that, I've been busy cleaning the house. The BestPals arrive tomorrow morning, but I still haven't gone to the grocery store! And I still need to do laundry and tidy a bit more & - if I have time - make a nice Bakewell tart for tomorrow night's dinner and and and ... Eep!

[kittenb]

I was wondering that too. Hello? Kvetchies? Where are you?

[yuefie]

Wow, I really killed the thread

Where is everyone?

[yuefie]

Oh, I forgot to tell you all about Jenny jumping off of my bedroom windowsil and landing RIGHT on my belly . I was talking on the phone to a friend and had just told her I needed to go because I was pretty achy. All of a sudden I felt this intense pain, it was like someone had punched me right in the gut. I screamed SO loudly and dropped the phone. Of course Jenny ran and hid under the bed, but then came back over to sniff me and make sure I was okay and laid down next to me and licked my hand. The incision she landed on has been extra sore since, but I forgive her she was just doing what wild and crazy kitties do. I have learned a valuable lesson and have since been keeping a pillow on my tummy just in case she decides to do anymore of her kitty acrobatics using mama's tummy as a springboard . While I am truly glad to have the pain meds because it has offered some relief from the intense pain, they do have some side effects that are less than desirable. They've been causing me to itch like mad and have CRAZY dreams. I had one where these stuffed gorillas were flying around my apartment, ala Wizard Of Oz scary monkey creatures. I know it's because right when I was falling asleep, the kidlet brought in his little stuffed gorilla and asked me if I wanted to cuddle with it. I had one awful one where these teensy little spiders were crawling on me and when I woke up I was scratching my arms and had obviously been doing so for a while. After tonight I am going to try to go back to the stuff they originally prescribed and then work my way down to just taking advil. While the narcotics are nice and quite necessary after surgery, they aren't something I'd like to get used to if you know what I mean.

~~~~healing and comfort vibes for mando~~~~

~~~~multi purpose vibes for all~~~~

((((kvetchies)))))

[kittenb]

Thanks for the internship wishes everybustie. Star, I know it is an uphill battle, but not enough of the already approved sites were even remotely interesting. I did choose a few but I did a lot of my own research. My advisor seems really in favor of me going my own way but we will see what happens.

This was a school weekend. Meaning, class all day yesterday and today. The Geek had the flu this week so last night we fell asleep before 10 PM. 'Cause that is the kind of party animals we are. He is coming over tonight, was supposed to be here by now, but at 4ish he started some sort of "campaign" on Dungeons & Dragons on-line that was supposed to be "a quick one" that I think he is still working on (6:35 PM). Oh well, there is a reason I call him The Geek. I would be more annoyed if we had actual plans but it is not like he wanted to watch the Golden Globes. As it is, I came home and had a drink. I occasionally treat myself to Frangelico on the rocks. It is too sweet for some people, it really is like alcoholic, liquid candy, and is kind of strong. After my first, I felt like my eyes wanted to cross and I just poured my second. I am spending this coming week getting my certification in Child Sexual Assault Counseling so I consider any drinking to be preventive medicine.

{{{prophecy}}} How was the party? Happy Birthday!

Yuefie - It is so great to hear you be so positive! You are awsome.

Polly - Oy. Poor Humanist. Awful weekend to move. But I am glad that she is happy where she lives now.

{{{{kvetchies}}}} Stay warm everyone! Have a great week.

On a side note, anyone else watching the Globes? Nancy O'Dell and the Pre-show is just so banal! It will never be the Oscars, I'll tell you that!

[stargazer]

argh. i hope prophecy had a good time. we will have to get together soon. i was complaining to my mom this morning about not going.

oh rose! i forgot to mention about the pierogifest...takes place in whiting, indiana. they talked about the fest on that show with mark summers on the food network. if you are ever in the chicagoland area in july, then stop by the pierogifest.

*~*~*soothing back rubs for polly*~*~*

[pollystyrene]

Star, we meeced you at the party last night! It was still a good time, but I can totally understand not wanting to go out. If it weren't prophecy's 30th, I would have stayed home.

Moving humanist yesterday was awful, farcical even. 10 inches of snow on city side streets than hadn't been plowed. It was just me, LeBoy and my mom to help her. She's on the third floor, no elevator. My mom and I both have bad backs, and my mom has no health insurance, so if something did happen, she'd be up shit creek. Our plan was to move all her stuff down to her lobby, bring the van she rented around to the front of her building and load it. We got about 1/4 of her stuff down and we were exhausted. And LeBoy and I had to leave to get ready for the party. Humanist's co-worker was coming to help her when he got off work an hour later and he suggested another co-worker, a large, muscular man (mm, maybe he can give me a massage ) who came over and helped after we left. She has soooo much stuff (mostly clothes) and her new place was also on the 3rd floor. I don't know how we would have done it.

*Sigh* So today, we're going to pick her up, go to Home Despot and Target. Her gas hasn't been turned on, but the maintenance guy turned on her electricity. No microwave, though, so what little food she does have is cold. Sounds like she loves the place, but she's a little miserable right now.

[stargazer]

(((rose))) good to hear you are doing well. congrats on the lost weight! i hope that was encouraging to know that what you've been doing is working.

*~*~*continued healing vibes for mando*~*~*

(((yuefie))) don't apologize for the venting of your health for the past couple of days. you know, i think venting is the human form of purring. it helps us to heal and soothe ourselves. once it is out of your system, then you are good to go. congrats to R on his new position!

(((DM))) way to go on the commitment to working out!

kvetch: i missed prophecy_gurl's bday party yesterday. it snowed all day yesterday and i didn't want to take the chance of driving in this weather. usually i don't mind, but after a week of driving...i was not really up to taking my chances of bad weather.

as for the interviews, well, i felt i did well. i kinda felt i lost my footing somewhat when asked to explain my previous training site. so i did what i could for my interviews. i really hope i get to stay in chicago. i'm not up for a move again. well, not financially speaking. i guess i'll end up where i'm meant to be. having said that...

(((kittenb))) good luck trying to get that site approved for you. i wouldn't get my hopes up on getting that site approved. i've encountered similar situations with our school. hang in there. i'm sure you will end up at a great site.

(((kvetchies)))