But this rock is so cozy!

So, time will only tell if I'm "back," as in for good, or at least for long enough to matter for the internets. But I'm back today, anyway, if anyone still has me on their RSS feed or randomly stumbles onto my page via an ill-conceived Google search.

Why now? I can't point to any one reason. Partly because I've missed blogging, or at least the aspects of it that drew me to it in the first place. Partly because an old friend of mine recently started blogging and has inspired me to return to it. And partly because I've been going through some major life changes and, well, I suppose that's as good a reason as any to bare my deepest thoughts to the gods of web cache.

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Woo hoo!

Look, all I'm saying is, even if you're hesitant about the whole gay marriage thing (don't worry, you'll get used to it), if you live in California this can only be a good thing. Think about all the money that's going to pour into California's wedding industry. My state can kiss the recession goodbye!!

An Easter Penguin

I decided that I would give myself Easter weekend off. Completely, one hundred percent off. I did check my BlackBerry, but not before promising myself that if I was asked to do anything, my response would be "it's Easter. See you Monday." Fortunately, I ended up not having to piss off my boss to enjoy the weekend.

SO. Given that I've actually set aside this whole big chunk of time for myself, I finally -- finally -- had time to finish Bianca Reagan's entertaining first outing in the world of published fiction (not counting the fictional aspects of her blog, which is a different sort of publishing). Bianca -- whose real name is Mahlena-Rae Johnson -- has taken the path of the true entrepreneur and self-published her first book. Boy, I admire this woman's guts. I'm scared to even submit a short story to a college magazine, and here she goes publishing her own whole book. Sheesh!

The book, which, like her blog, is titled Steve the Penguin, is set in the not-too-distant future, where we're not quite told that Hillary Clinton has won the election (possibly (?) with Barack Obama as her vice president -- oh, Mahlena, I do love your optimism :)), and, more importantly, where our heroine, Bianca Reagan Erin-Dempsey, is about to attend her ten-year high school reunion. Fraught with mixed emotions, Bianca tries to simultaneously juggle her demanding career working for a programming VP at a small entertainment company, a friend going through a difficult divorce, the requisite drama of visiting family you haven't lived with in years, and the most hand-wringing of all: the prospect of facing her high school crush.

Mahlena captures the stress and self-doubt I think most of us feel at the prospect of facing people we haven't seen in years, and thereby facing a version of ourselves we haven't seen in years. Have we improved? Have we stagnated? Have we grown up? Have we gotten old? Have we abandoned our hopes? Have we fulfilled them? Bianca reflects on her years as an argumentative, unpopular teen and realizes that, for some reason, she now cares what these people think of her. She hopes to impress them -- and perhaps to erase some of the sting of the rejection she, like the vast majority of us, faced in high school.

The book's tone is informal and conversational, which makes it an easy read -- and much moreso if you're relatively "up" on pop culture. As is fitting for a book about a woman enmeshed in the entertainment industry, a healthy familiarity with that industry will add to the book's resonance, as the book is liberally sprinkled with pop culture references. In fact, the title itself is a pop culture reference -- or, rather, two pop culture references tied together.

The book also has a thing or two to say about stereotypes and assumptions. Bianca, herself a victim of many such careless stereotypes, comes to realize that everyone deserves a fair shake -- including those she herself might have prejudged. Although not a new lesson, it's one that bears repeating. Through the experience of her high school reunion, and subsequent return home, we see Bianca's evolution from awkward high schooler to a more confident, hopeful version of her teenage self.

Steve the Penguin is something of a reverse fish-out-of-water story. Bianca seems more at ease with the life she has chosen for herself, in Los Angeles, than with her former life on the small island of St. Thomas. The intrigue, and the action, focuses on how she reconciles the two, and makes peace with her own childhood. I won't spoil anything, but I will note that one of the last few scenes seemed reminiscent of one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Bridget Jones' Diary.

The end leaves open a few plot points I found myself wishing were resolved. When I turned the last page, though, I realized I need not fear: a sequel is already in the works. And I feel like I kind of have to read anything titled Hot Penguin Action.

I highly recommend checking out Mahlena's book -- and Bianca's blog, which is full of musings about all things political and cultural -- some serious, some irreverent, and some completely hilarious.

Okay.

It is officially Christmas season. Which means I am allowed to listen to Christmas music and wear Santa earrings and people can no longer look at me like I'm crazy.

YES.

Two things. First off, I got bangs. I have never before in my life had bangs, so I was very nervous about it. Fortunately, my hairdresser is fab. She's also a great colorist -- I am loving the red (which I got retouched but have had since May).



Second. I love the internets. You can find the coolest, most nostalgic things you thought you'd never be able to find. I don't know why a game about economics was so enticing to my six-year-old self, but for some reason it was.

I never should have doubted...

Finally finished watching the Lost season finale and all I can say is... WOW. Easily puts Heroes to shame and more than makes up for a lackluster season.

Lost, you and I are officially back on.*

* However, I am pissed at you for pulling a BSG and staying off air until frakkin' January 08. Dammit dammit dammit.

My inner geek is spazzing out!!!

In spite of the fact that it is 9 PM and I still have AT LEAST two hours of work ahead of me...

In spite of the fact that tomorrow morning I have to attend a hearing over an hour outside of Los Angeles... at 8 AM...

In spite of the fact that I worked so nonstop today I forgot how hungry I was until I nearly passed out in boxing class...

In spite of the fact that I inexplicably have a nosebleed...

Today is a good day :D

Man I love good news.

Spring cleaning

My life is a mess.

Meaning literally. Not figuratively.

Old mail and other papers (hopefully none of it important) is strewn all over my apartment. On my computer desk, on the hall table, on the kitchen counter, on my vanity, on my nightstand. Clean laundry folded but not properly put away. Dirty laundry just sitting there, and me too lazy to get off my ass and clean it. Random bits of dirt in the carpet (don't even want to THINK how long it's been since I vacuumed). Clothes that won't fit in my closet (and a closet with a broken bar for hanging clothes). A. Mess.

So for probably the first time ever, I'm really, REALLY motivated to clean. Not just the, make-everything-shiny-and-hide-the-shit-you-can't-get-rid-of clean. Actual, go-through-my-stuff-and-really-get-rid-of-the-shit-I-don't-need clean. I'm really gonna do it.

To motivate myself, I've taken "before" photos of everything ("after" photos to be taken later). If I'm feeling brave, I might post them after this weeks-long ordeal is finished. For now, leave it to your imaginations what a pigsty my apartment must be.

As part of my "cleaning" I'm also trying to "clean up" physically. Since law school I really let myself go... gained some weight, exercised less and less, started eating crap again. Well, no more. I'm going to try to get to the gym for at least a half an hour, at least four times a week. So far I'm ahead for this week, but the real question is whether I can keep this motivation going long enough to get in shape for binikni season*!

*Yes, binikni. It's the latest trend, see:

Gandalf the Black?

As if we needed further proof that dogs freaking RULE.

::smirk::

I just can't help but laugh at this.

The masterful Stephen Colbert and his oafish muse, Bill O'Reilly, are appearing on each other's shows. Ohhhh, this is delicious.

I think this part is my favorite:

"I'm really looking forward to speaking to a man who owes his entire career to me," O'Reilly said.

::hooting laughter::

Yes, Bill, it has nothing to do with Stephen's remarkable talent of making fun of people to their faces with them not being a hundred percent sure he's doing it. Nope, it's all you, buddy. And don't you worry about that monster ego of yours getting crushed when the two of you go face-to-face. I have absolute confidence that you're oblivious enough that you won't even realize how brilliantly he's insulting you.

Oh man. I cannot wait to see Billy boy taken down a peg or seventy.

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

My last couple New Year's Eves have sucked.

Last year, I sat around at home and drank champagne alone. I was even dating someone at the time, but he was out of town. That's seriously about as lame as lame gets.

The year before, I went to an awesomely fantabulous party at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. I wore a fancy dress and looked like a movie star. I flirted and drank and danced and by all accounts appeared to have a great time... but I was absolutely miserable. At the time I was still hung up on McDreamy and, as I've said before, those McDreamys can Fuck You Up.

The year before that, I was in Atlanta with my then-boyfriend. I enjoyed it at the time but now it's tainted by the later-acquired knowledge that, by then, he was already considering breaking up with me.

Anyway, I want to finally have a cool New Year's Eve again. I'm leaning toward flying to San Francisco for a few days. I have a friend or two up there but I don't want to monopolize their time (you know, "hey, it's me! Drop all your plans and hang out with me!" Not cool). SO I'll open up the invitation to my blog friends: anyone interested in chilling with me in San Fran over New Year's Eve? If you're in the LA area, last I checked, Southwest had roundtrip tickets to Oakland for around $125.

Whaddya say? I'm a pretty cool person to hang out with, and I used to be a pretty good partier, back before I started working and got old...

Today's reason to be thankful

I have probably the best landlord in Los Angeles. He wasn't mad at all about Cujo's accident (for which I still blame Bruce Willis) and in fact wanted to make sure that I wasn't leaving town for vacation feeling worried or stressed out -- he said he'd take a look at it while I was gone and we could figure it out later.

It's a crazy world when you love your landlord and can't stand your downstairs neighbor.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving! I have my boarding pass (and seat assignment!!) in hand, so barring another Die Hard incident on the freeway tomorrow, by noonish I will be back home in good ol' Colorado.

May the Schwartz be with you!

This makes me very very happy.

Apparently Mel Brooks is making an animated show based on Spaceballs. I'm not sure exactly how it will work; it sounds like it's a little broader than the basic Spaceballs plot, but I'm still excited about it.

It's too bad there will be no Barf, though :( (I mean, there could be, but it wouldn't really be him). I miss you, John Candy!

A Seinfeld-y day

Apparently, I'm Jerry Seinfeld today.

This morning, I slept through my alarm. Straight through. Normally this would just be a minor setback, but this morning I had a scheduled meeting with my pilates instructor.

Whoops.

Since they have a twelve-hour cancellation policy, I got charged for the session even though I didn't show up. :P

When I got to work this morning, I learned that the firm is giving everyone a raise (the countrywide sweep is starting in Los Angeles this decade. Sweet!). Well, that will cover the pilates session nicely.

Hmm. Now that I think about it, this is more like throwing a twenty-dollar bill out the window, then having my friend remember that he owes me a thousand bucks.

I like my version better :) Sorry, Jerry.