Schadefreude!

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy. Like watching someone trying to parallel park or the latest Oprah book not being all that it is supposed to be. Ok, so maybe they aren't on the same level but they both make me smile a bit. I do respect Oprah. I think she does some wonderful things and her rags to riches story is (for lack of a better word) inspiring but I don't really like her. I find her to be a egomaniac. I mean, does she have to be on the cover of every single issue of her own magazine? Does she have to publicize every charity event she does? It's great that she wants to help her viewers lose weight and redecorate their homes but does she have to force on them. I think what bothers me the most is that she has such a loyal fan base that they will do anything she tells them too. They are nothing but clones. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad they will read it, buy it or wear it. It's just sad.

Which brings me to her latest book club selection, A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. It's supposed to be a biography of how Mr. Frey gets himself over his many addictions. Well, it turns out that some of his "life" is made up. Apparently, in his "memoirs" he talks about a time when he assaulted a police officer in Ohio and incited a riot. Well, this was news to the police department that was supposed to happen. Oops. So the lesson here for everyone is if your going to fabricate some of your life, don't let your book be selected for Oprah's book club because it will be become a best seller because her lemmings will buy it in bulk and then people will look up your police record and find out you are lying. Wow, that was a really long sentence.

So, I have made an important decision.

I am moving. I like Iowa City but it's time to move on. After I passed over for the second time for a promotion at work, I was really low. The first thought that crossed my mind is that nobody wants me. I have been sending out resumes and applying to varies companies and nothing has come out of them. What I really want to do is a radio producer but I keep being told that I don't have enough experience. Even when I had applied for an internship they said I didn't have enough experience. For a freaking' internship! That is what they are designed for is to gain experience. So, being passed over again and given the same excuse as the time before was the last straw. Being told that I had all the qualifications and that I could do the job did make the let down any easier. Ok, it is true that I have no intentions of working for Barnes and Noble for the rest of my life and retail is not my career goal but I do a good job and I kind of feel like because I am responsible and reliable that I taken for granted some times.

This is all going to change because I am moving. Iowa City may not be the city for me. I think my boss has done me a favor. I never intended to stay here as long as I have. For one thing, when my dad accepted the job in Iowa, we were under the impression that we would only be here for about two years. 10 years later we are still here. When I was a senior in high school, I was going to apply to colleges out of state but since I didn't know what I wanted to study it didn't make sense for me to pay out of state tuition when I could pay in state. So I decided that I would get all of my Gen Ed's out of the way and transfer after two years. Two years came and went and then I thought well, I'm half way done. I might as well finish here and save my money so I could move after I graduated. I did that in May, so really the only thing that is keeping me here is me. I am tired of holding myself back. So, I'm going to finish out my lease on my apartment and then move. That gives me seven months to find a job and an apartment in Chicago and get out of this state! First time in a long time I feel good. I know I will miss the people I work with and the people I know here but it's not like I'm going far away or anything like that. I need to do this. I need to do something different with my life. I need to see if I am able to live on my own. I need to see if I can take care of myself. I know I can do it, I just need to do it. So come August, when you want to see me you will have to come to Chicago! I'll have the couch waiting for you.

Prosecco!

For those who don't know what Prosecco is, it is sparkling wine from Italy. I guess the other European countries had a little bit of an inferiority complex or something when it comes to sparkling wine because since they can't call it champagne because it isn't made in the Champagne reason in France, they had to come up with new names. In Spain, sparkling wine is called Cava. So, that begs the question, why don't we have a special name for sparking wine here in the U.S.? Oh that's right. We just call it champagne because we really don't care if the French are upset with us. Like what are they going to do about it?

Anyway, this isn't what I was going to write about. After work today, I met my mom, Annie and her daughter Emily at Olive Garden. The waitress was pouring my glass of wine (not sparkling), when my mom asked me if our two bottles of prosecco and one bottle of cava was going to be enough for Christmas? This is funny coming from the woman who has half a glass of wine and is ready to pass out. I think that is more then enough because she's not going to drink a lot of it. I just thought it was funny.

Sadly, I really don't have much to write about at the moment. I'm a little tired from working all day. Why do people wait until the last couple of days to go shopping and then are upset they have to wait in lines? Are they all that stupid? Oh, don't answer that. Well, two more days to go. Ick.

Drinking Games!

There are several reasons why I love both my sister and my roommate. Katharine is home for the holidays and is staying with Sarah and I. Monday is usually Monday Night Football but since Andy and Nancy were to tired we decided to stay in. We first watched the remaining episodes of the brilliant Arrested Development and then played some harmless drinking games to some of our favorite Christmas movies, The Muppet's Christmas Carol and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The rules were pretty simple for the The Muppets:

1. Drink every time Scrooge says "Bah Hamburg"
2. Every time Rizzo takes a bite out of something.
3. During Scrooge's visit from the Ghost of Christmas Present, when he says "Know me Better Man" and
4. Drink every time any character says "Merry Christmas"

Well, that got us pretty toasted from that movie alone. I alone went through 2 bottles of Blue Moon. And then we watched the Grinch. It's a good thing it's not very long. First we thought we should drink every time, anyone said something that was not english or something the dear ol' Dr. makes up a new word. We decided this was unwise because we would all be out in the first five minutes. So instead we had to drink every time anyone referenced the Who's and every time the Grinch raised one of his eyebrows. Yes, that was enough. Boy, am I feeling it now.

So Merry Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays. Go play these two games. It's guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Snow just puts me in a bad mood.

It just won't stop snowing! It has been snowing since about 11:30 last night. I was so hoping that Scott was kidding when he said that it was pouring snow. I mean, he is from North Carolina. What does he know about snow? Sadly, he was right and now almost 21 hours later it is still snowing! I can't stand it. I wish it would just stop snowing. Ok, it could be worse. I mean, I didn't have to dig my car out of 4 feet or snow or anything like that.

Another reason I don't like snow is where there is snow, it's cold. I don't do well in cold. Because that means I'm cold. I think I rather be hot then cold. Even my roommate, Sarah's car didn't want to start this morning. Apparently it doesn't like the cold either. I wish I had the option of not working when I get cold. That would be awesome.

Is winter over yet?