packing...

packing is not something I want to do at this minute... I suppose I have to do it soon if I want to go.

I just have to say I love Joyce Taylor on the news... she just did a story about how some school district had to take away the hot lunches from children who haven't paid their lunch bills - they're given a cold cheese sandwich instead. The last line she read was that the district was evaluating their policy and they would at least give the kids some milk to go with their cheese sandwich. The look on her face was priceless - it said "what in the hell are you people doing???"

If they had a window and plaza down at King 5 I might take signs down about Joyce (although Joyce is a hard name to come up with signs for...).

Okay - I suppose I should get off my behind and pack and finish up things I need to do.

Talk to you all when I'm in Chicago.

stiffness...

I think I slept funny. My shoulder is funky.

I'm beginning to feel a bit queezy... I know everything will be fine when it comes to the show but it's still anxiety provoking. I haven't heard from my friend who is supposed to help me install and I'm a bit worried. I could do it myself if need be, but I'd rather have help.

On a less queezy note my dad is doing well. I went to visit him yesterday afternoon. He looked tired but in pretty good shape. He should be going home today if everything works out as planned.

Back to me! I still have to pack everything tonight... It will get done because it always does... I just can't wait for it to be over. Maybe I'll lose some weight because of all the nerves...

one more day...

Yesterday I managed to find a nice polka dot suitcase to pack my belongings in. I think everything should work out as long as the weather cooperates.

I'm trying to figure out what I should do on my last day. maybe I should go to the Met... I haven't been to a museum since I've been here (bad artist). Maybe I'll go to the Carnegie Deli and get a Rueben sandwich.... I'm not going to weigh in until next week because... oh hell, I should just weigh in this morning because it's good for me... and I'll have a realistic picture of what I've been doing to myself the past few weeks.

I do know that I have to get some batteries for my camera.

Here is a nice picture of Ann



Google Alerts is a great thing. You enter a certain search criteria and when someone posts something containing those parameters it lets you know. I got an alert this morning... someone liked my work in Miami. It's nice to be liked.... in fact I'm a positive affirmation slut. I want all the kudos and attention I can get... maybe it's because I never got attention when I was a lonely fat girl... I got some but not a lot.

Thinking about that leads me to another quick story related to body image. When we were flying back from Miami I sat in the middle seat. I sat next to a lady and we started talking a little bit. She said she was relieved when a "skinny woman" sat down next to her - me a skinny woman? yes, I guess I am... I still revert back to my fat girl thinking at time... I remember when I used to not quite fit in the airplane seats. I never needed a seatbelt extender but I was never comfortable...

Yesterday was my last day at the Today Show. It was kind of sad... I've made some friends there - Richie who lets the people into the building, Walter, who guards the revolving door, Dominic and Dennis... William who takes the pictures. Rick and all the guys at the entrance (Rick wasn't there all week - so I didn't get to say goodbye to him... he did give me a hug before I left for Miami though)... I found a weird little family at the Today show... I know that if I needed something I could go to them and they would help me... Linny, and Sonia - maybe even Meredith Vieira too.

I have to say overall I had a good time... I think if I had found a job I couldn't have experienced the show to the full extent required of my work.

Well, I guess that's it for now. More later.

What do I do now?

I have been feeling a bit moody. I think it's a combination of the end of my time in New York, the holidays and missing my dog. (and others).

There's supposed to be a big storm brewing... hopefully it won't wreak havoc with my flight on Sunday. Not that I would mind staying here it's just that I would like to be home. I'm going to take a sign to the Today show tomorrow. It should be good. I'll have an I heart Ann update as well... then I'll have to get packing.

This is Miss Puerto Rico (after she was attacked with pepper spray)



These were her shoes...



This is me and Matt...



These photos were on a card that Sonia loaned me. They're a few weeks old.

Am I ready?

I don't know but I'll find out soon enough. I'm about ready to pack up this pop stand and head to the big city. I might not be back with you until tomorrow. It all depends on the internet connection when I get there (I don't have the password...).

Now I have to see if I can get my suitcase closed.

The packing begins (sort of)...

I've done a bit of packing (but not a lot)... It was a long day yesterday... I went to the gym, I worked, I ate some home made pie, went out to lunch... fell asleep on the sofa at 9. At least in New York if I fall asleep at 9 it will really be 12.

Tomorrow when I arrive none of my roomates will be there. It will be interesting. Being alone in the big city... sort of like when I moved to Chicago - but this time I'm only going to be there a few months.

Today is weigh in. I'm sure it's not going to be good, but I am turning over a new leaf today. I am going to be putting on my healthy eater persona. I'm planning on taking all my measurements when I get to New York and see what I can accomplish in three months... being that I'm going to become a runner as well. Maybe I'll consider giving up sugar... I don't know.

I'll check back later. Stinky is crying... I let her sleep with me last night. It's almost like having a significant other.

Time is running out...

I have too much to do and too little time.

Packing, cleaning, life...

Yesterday I received a call from a temp agency in New York. They wanted to get all the details about me... what I was looking to do, what type of assignments. It's nice to be wanted. Did I mention that I might be able to work for the firm that I'm working at now? That would be nice. It's sort of like finding a weight watchers meeting or a church to go to... there will always be someone who understands you and maybe take you home with them and feed you.

I'd like to give a shout out to Marty's mom - my number one fan! Hey, how ya doing?

Essential things.

Last night I met up with one of my professors from the UW. I was talking about my trip to New York and the task of packing. He suggested that I go light and just take the essential things. So here is a list of essential things for me to take.

My buckwheat pillow, my camera, my bear, pictures of my dog, my collection of ww nametags, my ww scale, my running shoes, toenail clippers, tweezers, Lush Olive Branch body wash, bathtub pillow.

oh, and underwear.

We also talked about the possibility of me teaching a foundation class at the UW. Do I feel prepared to teach? SURE! why not. I also said that I would offer to help teach the Studio Art program in Rome sometime (that would be a dream job!). Oh, to eat gelato e prosciutto cotto - che bueno! That's Italian for you all.... Hey, I could take a side trip to Firenze and see my pal Luigi from the hotel Villa Liana.

Now I have something to strive for... well besides firming up my thighs.

Is it a streak yet?

I figure I have to get the exercise in while I can... so yes, I went to the gym again this morning. I worked on the six pack yesterday (okay, maybe it's more like a keg right now...)and it hurts.

I should really start packing for NY. I suppose I will have to eventually. But what does one take when they don't know what exactly they will need.

I'm ready to start "stalking" Ann. I think I should make a t-shirt that says I heart Ann. I could do it myself but that would take too much time. I should just go to a t-shirt shop...

So... I had a conversation with one of my sisters yesterday and she thought that I shouldn't tell people about my blog because it might scare them away (she said this only for my own good)... what I understand from our conversation is that she thinks I sound desperate and that it will turn people off (we're talking members of the opposite sex here)... I didn't immediately disagree - in my defense I think part of me being so revealing is part of what makes me me... when I talk about my woes of trying to get a date it is sometimes serious - but most often it is meant in jest... I know there are a lot of people who can relate to my lamentations about being a single woman in society. It's not as easy as going on a reality show and finding the man of your dreams or hitting the bars trolling for men.

What do you all think? Am I desperate? Should I hide my blog under a bushel?