new job, skinnydipping, and thanksgiving in july

I went in for an interveiw at my little non-profit last week. I wore a pinstripe suit and everyone in their business casual outfits, laughed at me and hugged me and asked me how i've been. If i didn't dress up, i figure it would be disrespectful - i mean, even if the deepest question they asked me was what floor i'd prefer to have my office on, still, it's an interview. At the same time, it's a really funny thing to dress up for a job interview when you've already worked there and they've already seen you're mismatched work wardrobe of worn out clothes, and they are wearing sandals.

the night before last I went skinnydipping and floated on my back in the lake for a long time, relinquishing the cares of life and staring into the majestic, open night sky...well, that was until russell started laughing and pointing about what was sticking up out of the water - then, i realized that floating on your back while skinnydipping, is not such a brilliant idea.

yesterday my mother and i had a turkey dinner at my brother and his wife's house. He announced that they found out the sex of the baby - I'm going to have a little niece. Catharine Jane (yes, cathArine, weird, right? it's after my mommom, which means grandmother. Do you have a mommom?)I can't wait to be an aunt. I think I'm going to be terrific at it.

Oh, I know you all were interested in the museum of science and industry - and YES, they do still have the mineshaft exhibit, and we did go to the faery castle (which i thought was equally as creepy) and the most creepy of all was the exibit of Body Worlds. eek. After getting grossed out or own interest in the science that stradled the fence of macabre and still personally saddened by the sight of people without their skin or liagments (or some times, even real human bodies that have become only arteries hanging by fishing wire) - needless to say, virginia and i needed to cheer ourselves up. So, we went to the hatchery:






this is a baby chick being born. ahh the miracle of life.

Chi-town is for lovers

Tomorrow at 6 am I'm leaving my house to catch a plane to go hang out with everyone's favorite Virginia Anne in the windy city for a week. So far we intend to go to a water park, the museum of science and industry, get drunk, play with her baby brother and sisters, see a friend's show, stay at a hostel, get drunk again and also get hotdogs with pickles on them. Virginia's family lives in Joliet, Illinois, so after we get our fill of the babies, we'll be taking a vacation from them to go hang out in the big city.

This weekend ruled by the way. I'll be back next Monday - real late.

click clack

couch for rent

For weeks now, even when I was out of town, it seems like someone is sleeping on my couch when I wake up in the morning.

First, Emily stayed here for a long while, but now that we just moved the her bed to her place, she doesn't need to anymore. Yet, somehow, with loss of his own apartment keys and drunk/sleepiness, Mike Glennon took her place last night. It's as if people are sleeping here just so that living room wouldn't be lonely. Keeping my ottoman company, rubbing my rug's tummy and singing softly to the coffee table. It's really a fair exchange.

I've started making coffee in the morning, and I don't even drink coffee in the morning. It's more like I've turned into a B&B or something. Chateau McD, leave you're worries at the door, washer and dryer on site.

I woke up late today, and all the beds still need to be made, I have tons of work to do to keep this Inn in good working order. I better get to work. How did I sleep in so late?

Maybe I should take a nap, instead. I also have work to do in my dreams.

Three nights ago I had a sad and scary dream, I don't remember what happened in it, I just remember waking up and feeling sad and scared for the rest of the day, and secretly still do a little. I should have a really impressive dream about the opposite emotions to balance it out. Maybe a dream where I am a superhero and I win the lottery, oh, on the beach while eating one of those drumsticks they have at the renaissance fair, oh and in an evening gown. I'll let you know when I have it. I wonder if I can will these things to happen.

little shop of hardware

Needless to say, my computer's been broken for a couple days. Was it a virus? I don't know, but I do know that the little computer store on the corner fixed it for me in just a couple of hours. Yeah, it cost me a pretty penny - but it's better than not having this machine - now isn't it?

Today I moved a mattress and box spring just before it started to rain and later was cooked delicious chicken a la Jaime. I heart her. This might be the mango smoothie talking.

My house plants are dying. I'm should put them out in the rain because I'm too lazy to water them.

Also, did you know that there is a clown convention in Baltimore this weekend? I'm completely petrified of clowns. Sometime I'll let you read the poem I wrote in fourth grade.


see, this is j.w. gacy

only one place like this

It's nice to be home. My friend Emily who was staying at my place cleaned my whole apartment and everything is shiny and put away. The bed is made and everyone had off from work yesterday for the fourth of July. Jaime called me at 10am, both of us surprised we were awake decided to go to the visionary pet parade. Where else in the world, besides here in Baltimore is there a pet and owner look-alike contest or do people dress up their turtles in red, white and blue? Mahatma Bun Bun won this years grand prize with talent for spreading peace across mankind. Not bad for a bunny. There were mostly dogs at this parade, mostly dogs in funny hats or dresses, and very few cats, bunnies and turtles. I have to say it really changed my whole perception of pets in general. between this and reading timbuktu, I think I might really like dogs. I mean, I still don't want one - but I'd chill out with one for a while. Maybe, if he was down with it, we'd even be wearing matching hats.

During the day we drank rum and played board games on my front porch as kids set off firecrackers on every block in hampden. The pop-pow, pop-pow echoed in waves down the curved front of colorful row homes and was diluted by the time it reached us on the little porch. The shocking noise was muffled and diffused by all of the clattering life around and even fireworks seemed peaceful. It was probably just that rabbit's lingering effect on us.

There was a cook-out with a baby pool and I have to say, no body does these better than us, Baltimore. We are the best at lounging with beer and wrestling and laughing so loud it makes the neighbors jealous. Also the burgers were delicious.

We somehow skirted around the traffic downtown and found a perfect little dock near canton to watch the fireworks with all of the lovely ladies from the barbecue. The boats pulled their horns during the clattering applause. The blaring, long notes, pulled out like taffy were pleasing to us as the last cloud of finale smoke started to settle down over the harbor.

We finished with s'mores on the grill.

Independence

I'm back in Baltimore in time for the forth, hoping to see illegal fireworks and drink forties. Yesterday, exhausted in new jersey (why is that state so god damn long?) I fell asleep in a rest stop in cherry hill. I suggest this rest stop for sleeping, try over to the left, and park your car under some trees to keep the sun out of your eyes.

highlights?
waking up near the ocean and fishing in my pajamas out on a rock
tasty striper and taste wine on a shady deck
pedicure. Why are these things so nice?
pinicaque in my honor (or I decided it was in my honor, even if I didn't know most of the people, and they refused to go swimming.)
trading journals
wings and beer

disappointments?
not getting to the meatballs party. sigh.

anyway, after a nice long car ride with yourself, celebrating independence day means a completely different thing.

happy fourth.