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If only I could stop thinking about how much nicer it would have been if I had someone with whom to share it.

Made it up to the ArcLight theater (which isn't nearly the "hot shit" venue I expected it to be) with just a few minutes to spare. It's really difficult to select your seat when you buy your ticket, esp when you've never been to the venue before. Fortunately, I made an excellent selection. I was annoyed that the matinee discount ($14 is DISCOUNT price?) doesn't apply on holidays... more annoyed that the cashier called the extra $1.50 a "holiday surcharge". (Bite me!)

The first preview featured my future husband, GAEL GARCIA BERNAL, so we were off to a good start (the movie is "Letters to Juliet" and Gael plays the a-hole boyfriend who's probably in only the first 1/4 of the film). I don't remember the rest of the previews - just that one was for a high intensity drama and people laughed at the end of the preview and I didn't understand why.

Broken Embraces started really really really slow. I probably spent 2/3 of the film wondering if it would be the first Almodovar film that I didn't like. But at the end, I LOVED it and was ready to watch it again. I love Almodovar's habit of foreshadowing things that never happen and including subplots that are never resolved... so non standard-American film! Also, I felt he used Volver to wrap up the subplots of a couple of prior films (don't ask me which, I don't remember). And this seemed to do the same - though I could easily be imagining it. All the same, it made me want to run home and immediately watch Women On the Verge.

• [3am update] Just got done watching Women and was surprised to find I was totally correct on that call - though he changed it up a bit. I'm impressed with myself cause I haven't seen that movie since it came out, which was 1988. Also surprising was realizing that a subplot in Women was part of the main plot in Live Flesh. Now I'm even more impressed at how he winds his movies together, plus bits of himself.
  

I got a kick out of one of the subplots being exposed, long after I had figured it out myself, and someone in the audience actually gasping in shock. I started laughing.

For the record: Penelope Cruz in a platinum wig? FIERCE HOT!! OMG PONIES!!!11!!11!!1!!! I am soooo envious. The hairstyles designed to make her look like Audrey Hepburn were shockingly accurate.

Between thinking about her and thinking about Gael, I decide I want to buy a copy of the movie where Gael played the devil (with a swedish accent). I really liked that film... Don't Tempt Me (had to look it up) [update: purchase complete. Plus I signed up for Amazon Prime (free 2day shipping, $3.99 overnight).]

After the film, I hobbled down the street to Fabiolus Cafe for dinner (owned by a Fabio but not the Fabio). I had no idea what they offered but spied the place on the way up and decided to check it out after the movie. I had an awesome Italian dinner (little pricey but worth it): Gnocchi with peas, sun dried tomatoes, garlic and chicken in a light parmigiano/wine reduction sauce; followed by tiramisu and cappuccino. A strange party of old peeps was seated next to me and the snippets of convo I overheard had me convinced they were both nutty and blowing smoke up each other's asses. Bizarre combo. Then I heard bits which implied they're in "the industry", in which case the combo makes perfect sense. They totally missed when the waiter made a joke about "fresh decaf coffee - we made it yesterday and it's still hot!" but I cracked up, causing one of them to stare at me for an extended time. I didn't think she was offended by my laughing but that she was, first, trying to figure out my "story" (dining alone - in a fairly romantic restaurant) and, second, judging my meal and my fat ass. That's okay cause judging the 3 of them as freaks kept me pretty entertained. And I actually got FULL, without finishing everything... quite the satisfying surprise.

The kitties are in and the heater is on. I'm totally content. Now to figure out how to spend the rest of the night (tv, Women on the Verge, or, The Hangover?).

• [3a Update] I watched both of them. I was disappointed with The Hangover - probably due to a combo of overhype and a woman at Julie's Mom's funeral telling me waaaaaaay too much of the story.
  

• 12:05 New years day, lying in bed reading recipes, making resolutions for revolution #

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• 14:02 @megancanale testing tornado sirens? they do that here... #
• 14:06 @rhonda416 that'll take a while eh? #
• 14:10 @rhonda416 good luck! i dont have that much patience or care that much about the past (= #
• 16:41 @molliemoon hells yeah, wish i had real money though, instead of rent money in my bank account! #
• 17:46 @whitneyEVEport it usually shows up eventually! in the weirdest place .. like the fridge.. or someones shoe... you never know! #

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Chillin on the couch with me

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Last night was great, got to hang with some great friends, light some sparklers, drink some champagne and play a bit or Band Hero (after Midnight).

All in all a good start to the New Year.  Have made my decisions for 2010 (not resolutions, I tend to break them) but  am not going to share.  I heard something about following through more when you did not share...

Hope each of you that made a resolution, best of luck and success.

Bright shiny New Year to live!

Once again, had a lot of trouble sleeping. I'm pretty sure my back is unhappy. I switched sides of the bed, which helped a bit while totally confusing the cats. I should have seen my chiro more than 2 months ago. I wonder if he'll be around next week; now that our workload is down, I should be able to get into see him.

The cats got me up around 8:30 to go out, decided to come back in around 10, and we all went into the living room and napped for a couple more hours with the Rose Parade on in the background. It had to let the parade repeat 1.5 times (not like there's anything else to watch) before I finally saw the snowboarding bulldogs. Like last year, I entertained thoughts of going up to see the floats tomorrow but I quickly got over it: lots of walking + lots of people (and all stopping at random) = PASS. Honestly, I only ever want to go to get closeup pics for people who've never seen the floats in detail.

Side Topic: I'm not a fan of McDonald's but I'm loving their new "chocolate" commercial. I've probably seen it over 30 times today and still chocolate it. Chocolate.

2:30p and I'm in my pajamas (no surprise there). I'm planning to shower soon so I can drag my butt to Hollywood to see a movie, maybe have dinner, and maybe go to a bar (but probably not on the last one). I'm hoping that getting out of the house today will make it seem more like a 3day weekend - which is important because I don't have another work holiday till May or June (sooooo faaaaar awwwaayyyyy!).

No other plans for the rest of the weekend. At least nothing that I remember. In fact, as far as I know, my first commitment of 2010 isn't till Jan 29 (Timbaland show).

Julie and I are possibly going to start taking a burlesque class on Tues night. We don't know if it's actually going to happen. She found it on Meetup.com and, as of yesterday, only 2 other people had said yes. We have no idea if anyone has actually paid. I've never heard of the instructor or studio, which makes me think it's not going to be good but it's not horribly expensive ($125 for 4 classes + a performance) so we figured we'd try it. Julie got an offer for 2-for-1 but, by the time I found out about it, it was the holiday and they were closed and we missed the offer. Oh well.

My first bit of productivity for 2010: I just looked up house cleaning services and found 2 places that I'll try calling tomorrow or Mon. Both are businesses, not individuals, and one is based really close by. I'll probably call them first. Keep your fingers crossed. I love saving money by not having a service but 8 weeks of no cleanings is REALLY showing. I should vacuum this weekend but I said that last weekend, and the weekend before, and never did it - so there's no reason to think I will this weekend either.

Today I need to:
(in no particular order)

1. Clean the bunnies
2. Do some laundry
   
3. Clean the living room
4. Change my sheets
5. Write out my rent check
6. Clean the kitchen again
   
7. Make this headache go away
8. Put away fake xmas tree and lights
9. Clip coupons, organize and purge
   
   
   

It's 2:35 already and I've been up for 2.5 hours... heh.. Ellie and I went to Arbys for lunch, and the lady in the drive thru absolutely loved her, as does everyone. I forgot to take any vicoden last night so I woke up in a lot of pain, probably why I slept so long, I didnt want to deal with it. I really hope this amoxicillan works faster because the pain from this infection hurts!

Stephy's baby is due in 4 months! Getting so close! I need to keep stocking up on baby stuff!

Monday I start working up front on the counters, I wanted a desk in the middle, but I've been told I'll be at the far end, near the supervisor so it'll be easier to train me. BOOO. It's next to a window, which I fear will be cold all the time, and I wont get to people watch as much since it's far from the front door, but also good, cuz i'll be farther away from screaming children.

I havent really made any resolutions for this year, like others in my 'hood, I set my expectations low as to avoid disappointment. Works for me! 2009 wasnt a horrible year for me, certainly better than the rest, other than debt's catching up to me, but they're being sorted out. ATC said he would do my taxes for me again this year. So helpful! Hopefully DMV & Macy's get the w-2's out asap. Speaking of, Macys called twice today, but either hung up prematurely, or did not leave a message. Im sure they want me to come in, but how am I supposed to know with out a message? Maybe they were confused by the call-tone I have. who knows. Oh well. 

I guess I'll go take some advil to get rid of this headache, then i can cross one thing off my to-do list!

Happy New Year Everyone, make the most of it! 

How will you be ringing in the New Year?

I spent it with Jess, playing Wiii, drinking vodka, and eating chinese food! It was a chill fun night!
We were out of breath from laughing by the end of the night, i was wii bowling and it was my last turn, so i bowled, but somehow caught the cord of the nunchuck on my controller and it went flying across the room, in slow-mo, we were like OOOOOMMMMMMMGGGGEEEEEE... luckily it didnt hit anything and landed safely on the carpet funniest thing ever, I was still laughin to myself about it when I got home!

got home around 3:15am, fell alseep at about 4:00am, woke up at 9:30am, did the bodypump class at 10:30am, and then laughed at the instructor when he asked if i was going to the les mills rpm (spin) class at 11:45am.

but what a way to start 2010! yeah baby!

we rung in the new year at ada and hoa's place with all our best friends here in TO. very good party!

i'm a little shocked that we lasted as long as we did but it was worth it.

hoping for the best to all of you and your family!