The Not-So-Secret Diary of a Bad Luck Girl

One, which I forgot from yesterday’s post.

I had another celebrity sighting over the weekend. Friday afternoon, since it was so beautiful out, MB and I decided to go up to Central Park. First we stopped in the Borders in the Time Warner Center, and who do I see but Lourdes and Rocco, Madonna’s kids. They were fooling around with the junk on the discount shelf.

MB thought it was weird that I even recognized them. Well, pictures of Lourdes in New York have been online regularly lately so that was why I recognized her. I wouldn’t have recognized Rocco if he were by himself.

Lourdes was teasing him: “You think she’s pretty?” she said, referring to some picture. “She looks like Jennifer Aniston!” as though the two were mutually exclusive. She noticed me overhear her and caught my eye, and sort of laughed, either embarrassed or in conspiracy against her annoyed and embarrassed brother. It was then that I recognized her.

They both looked like normal kids. The only thing about Lourdes was that she has beautiful hair.

The second thing is 1st Street is overrun with rats.

Last night we took a walk and on the way back cut down 1st Street, which we don’t usually do. First thing was this awful smell, kind of like horse manure but much worse. Then suddenly MB covered my eyes. “Don’t look, don’t look,” he said

“What? What?” I struggled as he walked me down the sidewalk, eyes still covered, a very weird feeling by the way.

“That yard is full of rats,” he said. He knows I get very freaked out by rats anywhere near me. Who wouldn’t, right? Still, I didn’t know which was worse, not being able to see as we walked or seeing the rats.

When we passed the yard, he released me, just in time for me to see a rat run across the sidewalk in front of us. I freaked out a little but not that much, mostly because I was expecting it. I mean, we were both freaked out over all, especially when we passed another fenced in grassy area and heard the rats leaping around and squeaking. Squeaking! That’s the first time I’ve actually heard them make noise.

As we hurried down the rest of 1st Street, we saw a cat trotting down the street. “Go get the rats, kitty!” we kept calling to it. But it slunk under a car like, “Are you kidding me? Some of those rats are bigger than me.”

Note to selves: do not eat on 1st Street.

I had a second blog entry all ready to go last week, but for some reason I just couldn’t get it together to post it.

Last week I was really sick of school. Tuesday I skipped class. The night before I had taken a Benadryl – having run out of Allegra over the weekend – and was completely groggy the whole next day. I felt somewhat guilty ditching, but still had a lovely evening hanging with MB. Then the next morning it turned out the teacher had canceled class at the last minute. Woohoo, me!

I did make it to class on Thursday. The teacher felt she had to make up for class on Tuesday so we had just a five minute break, as opposed to 20, and we ended at 9, as opposed to 8:30. The class seemed soooo long. Usually we have our break at 7:30, giving us the opportunity to run out and get a snack. But she didn’t let us go till 8, and I was STARVING. I couldn’t even concentrate.

I talked to one of my other classmates, and she said she also feels saturated with this class. We agree we like the teacher, but it’s just a lot of information, and quite a bit of it is redundant.

During the week I was able to get m Allegra. Yay!

The weekend was pretty quiet. I have my final paper and presentation due this Thursday so I worked on that a lot, while MB started working on his book again. We did see one movie, Transsiberian, which was HORRIBLE. It’s the first bad movie I’ve seen in a long time. Right off I hated most of the characters, and the plot was just ridiculous, and I didn’t understand the main character’s motivation. Anyway, I don’t recommend it, not even as a rental.

Saturday morning YP and I had our monthly photo excursion. This time the theme was the “Seedy Side of Central Park,” one of my stupid ideas. Walking around, we realized that the seediness had been cleaned up long ago, and ended up taking “gross” pictures of nature instead.

Sunday was lots of working, and I’m so glad because I’m almost done with my paper and presentation! And a few days ahead of schedule! I knew that I wouldn’t be able to write the paper during the week; after work I’m just pooped.

Now off to the gym.

MB and I finally saw the Dark Knight last night. Well, not really “finally.” It’s been out less than a week, and yet there’s been so much hype about it, I feel like it’s been showing forever.

I won’t say anything about it except that we both liked it very much. I expected the audience to be kinda stupid, like they were at the Hulk, but they were quite respectful. In fact everyone was hushed with anticipation as the beginning credits rolled, and then were pretty quiet for the rest of the movie, laughing/clapping/cheering at the appropriate moments. I give the audience a thumbs up.

It was definitely a weird mix of people. We were waiting in line behind what seemed like a group of Euro-trashy kids. You know what I mean: expensively yet gaudily dressed, accents, speaking a different language. In this group was a lone black guy, who might have been European as well. When he came by, they greeted him warmly, but then soon began to ignore him. They literally enclosed themselves in a circle, speaking their language, and he sat on the edge, not understanding what was going on. I felt bad for the guy.

Then all of a sudden, this gaggle of models came strolling by. Have you ever seen a model in person? They are mostly weird looking. The guys were kinda normal, though way too trendy, but the girls were super tall and super skinny, and dressed crazy with five inch heels – so that they seemed like GIANTS – and weird inexplicable clothing. One girl had dramatic goth makeup on, while another wore her mirrored sunglasses almost the whole time (note we were inside AND it was night), only taking them off to watch the movie.

At the same time, I was fascinated by them and couldn’t stop staring. They were like a flock of tall skinny birds in low-rider jeans and stilettos.

Oh, and remember Lisa from last year’s America’s Next Top Model? She was there too. GORGEOUS in person. Tall of course, but at the same time smaller- and younger-looking in real life. She seemed kind of over the other models, and maybe was there with one of the guys.

In other news I am all out of Allegra. Took my last one on Saturday. Sunday I was okay, but last night I started breaking out in hives again. When we got home at 1 AM, I took a Benadryl, and still feel groggy right now at 2:30.

Today I got in touch with my doctor, thinking I’d have to make another appointment to get a prescription, but they were able to phone it in. Yay! Just a couple of months’ worth, then I’ll have to go in for an actual appointment.

I may not need the Allegra every day. Maybe ever other day. Hopefully I can spread it out.

It’s funny: I had accepted the hives as a fact of life, but after not having them for a few weeks, getting them again really sucked.

It was a hot one, and there’s no escaping the heat wave here as well. The SoCal-like weather from the past few weeks was too good to be true.

Friday I left work earlier than usual, 12:30, and caught my one PM train just in the nick of time. I was able to get a window seat, but it was still pretty crowded, and somehow I ended up near a bunch of kids. At first I was dreading how the ride would be, but the kids were mostly well-behaved and cute. Plus my iPod drowned them out.

I had brought a bunch of schoolwork but did none of it. Instead I daydreamed and slept, and had a hot dog and coffee at about three. A weird combination but delicious all the same.

The train got in about 5:45, half an hour late. I went straight to ES’s house (I’m glad I still remember where it is!), where I found her napping. I don’t blame her. By Friday I’m pretty pooped myself.

For dinner we went to this Tibetan place nearby. I’ve never had Tibetan before and found that it was kind of a Indian/Chinese mix. We had curry beef with potatoes and mango noodles. The noodles were good, as was the curry sauce, but the beef could have been more tender.

Afterwards we walked around Davis Square. It was Art Beat this weekend, and so that night there was some live music. But what we caught was awful: some band from Italy that featured lots of bagpipes. We started near it, but decided we preferred to chat instead, so we found a bench and yakked until it started to rain.

A visit to Boston wouldn’t be complete without some ice cream. When the downpour started, we dashed over to an ice cream place and got some “Green Monster” – mint ice cream with crushed Oreo cookies – to share. I got a “small” but even with the both of us eating, we couldn’t finish it.

For the rest of the night, we just hung out at ES’s place. I watched TV, a nice treat now that I don’t have one, while she went through some photos. It was hilarious to look at the iPhoto Booth ones she, IS, and I took during one of my visits.

We went to sleep not too late, around midnight, and the next morning I was wide awake at 7:30 (not the case today, that’s for sure). I think I’m used to getting up at that time, and also ES’s blinds were up in the living room, letting in the natural light. Either way I was glad to able to get some homework in before ES got up.

We left the house at about noon, and attempted to walk around the arts festival. “Attempted” because the heat was really unbearable. After a little while we ducked into this crepe place and sat there chatting for two hours.

We eventually got back outside, and at that part of the day, after 3, it was less oppressive. ES knew someone in a band that was playing so we went over to listen to them. They did kids’ music, and it was cute to see all the little ones dancing and singing and almost getting electrocuted by the wires and speakers. Awww.

After that we checked out the booths. We were both on a hunt for jewelry. I saw a couple of necklaces I liked, but I wasn’t 100% sure about them so I let them go. ES thought about getting some earrings, but by the time she went back, they were sold.

By 5 I had reached my limit with the heat. On our way back to ES’s place, we ran into some of her friends. Normally I don’t mind a little chitchat, but at that moment it was the last thing I wanted. After a few minutes, I gave ES a look and started slowly backing away. Luckily she got the idea.

I felt better after enjoying ES’s A/C and ingesting some fruit. Must have been dehydrated and needing some sugar. We hung out for a while before ES threw herself into a cooking frenzy, trying this Asian tofu/bok choy/mushroom noodle dish for her friend’s barbecue we were going to later. My big contribution was chopping up some garlic.

I wasn’t too in the mood for the barbecue, to tell you the truth, but it turned out to be fun. ES’s friend had a very nice backyard, and everyone there was easy to talk to. Later in the evening they showed a movie, Fletch, projected onto a sheet – actually, shower curtain liners – hanging from the porch. It worked really well, and was a good movie choice because you didn’t have to pay close attention.

I realize I hate nature. Sitting there in their lovely backyard, I kept thinking I was getting attacked by mosquitoes (just one bite, though a huge one), and then I swear a slug crawled onto my foot. I felt a tickle, reached down to brush it off, then felt sliminess. Ew!

Sunday I was up semi early again, around 8:30. More homework before ES got up. Headed out around 12:30 to see the New England Sand Sculpting Festival at Revere Beach. It was crowded but not crazy, and it was definitely hot though overcast, luckily, cuz otherwise I’m sure we’d have been burned to a crisp.

We weren’t there long, just long enough to take in the sand sculptures – all very cool btw – and walk along the water, which felt really good on that sweltering day. But again, yucky nature: seaweed, gross!

Then it was time to drive me to the train station. ES gave me a nice tour of the downtown area, which has changed SO much since I lived there. Next time we need to spend more time in Boston proper, though it’s so easy just to stay in Davis Square.

Like a nice mom, ES had packed me a lunch for my train ride: leftover noodles, which turned out DELISH by the way, sliced red pepper, and watermelon and peaches, which I gobbled up even before we left Revere.

The train wasn’t crowded at all at first. In fact for a little while I had entire car to myself. But by the time we left the Route 128 stop, we were packed.

This time around I was able to do some reading for class, both research for my final paper and the assignment for tomorrow. Yay! Then I didn’t feel like reading anymore so I plugged in my iPod and watched the scenery go by. I love looking at the water and boats and catching glimpses of different birds along the coast of Connecticut.

The train got in around 8, about 45 minutes late. No biggie. I was tempted to take a cab, but sucked it up and took the two subways, but not before waiting for what felt like a billion years in the Hades that is the V/F train platform at West 4th Street.

I had big plans for the night at home: do my homework for Tuesday (we have to come up with two questions/comments per reading), iron my clothes for the week, do a little sewing (1) a button back on some pants, 2) a tear in the seam of another). I did none of that. I checked my email, my Flickr, my Facebook, my blogroll, then watched Intervention and The Office online. At least I washed the dishes and unpacked.

Today it’s hard to be back at work. Luckily I have no meetings. Plus MB gets back this afternoon, yippee! He was away at a conference in Toronto this weekend.

I should really work out soon, but I’m already starving! Maybe I’ll do a short one later this afternoon, or after work.

Friday I had a half day as usual. After the gym I went to school to make yet more copies, and ran out of change before finishing completely.

MB was at a coffee shop in the area so I met up with him there. I like the food there, but what the place is famous for is its model-like waitstaff. Everyone who works there is tall and thin and gorgeous. The girl behind the bar wasn’t tall, but she was very pretty and knew it. She had a weird way of engaging people, both men and women, very flirtatious instead of just normal and down to earth.

Late that afternoon we saw Hellboy II. Another good movie! I love all the weird creatures that director thinks up, like in Pan’s Labyrinth.

Friday and Saturday were very much stay at home days, except for meals. MB was rather obssessed with a project he was working on. Plus I had a ton of reading to do for class and wanted to work on my memoir as well.

Sunday we left the house. Yay! Grabbed a late lunch, then took a long walk before settling in Washington Square Park to do some work. MB kept seeing people he knew, or at least recognized. First up was some eccentric older dude from a music meet-up, shopping cart full of musical equipment in tow. Second was this poor clearly anorexic woman. MB had seen her in Union Square a while back; on Sunday she was just wandering Washington Square Park, walking up and down, up and down.

Then as we’re about to leave, who do we see but YP on his way back from Hellboy. I almost never see anyone I know.

I’m finally at my correct pay rate now for work. Even though I officially started on May 16, till last week I was still at my old pay rate in the system. (Damn the system!) HR said I should get a check to make up for the difference.

Also will be getting my tuition reimbursement soon. Yay! I need to use that to help pay for my fall tuition, which I won’t get back till after the semester. It’s a bit of a challenge, to say the least.

This weekend I’ll be heading up to Boston to hang with ES. Another yay! Apparently there are a whole bunch of festivals going on, art and music and whatnot. I haven’t been up there in ages.