Dinner with Mr. Miele

Day 334

This has gradually become our new thing. We used to meet each other places, but now Jon just comes here. It allows me to be lazy. I fully endorse that. It started out as just coffee, but somewhere along the line we progressed to dinner. I fully endorse that as well.

We ordered Domino's. You can't really go wrong with that. We incorporated the box into today's picture, so it's not "the same damn picture."

I think this was take number 6. I couldn't find my camera, so I tried to use the timer on my phone's camera. This was the best of the lot.

The box says, "Frozen pizza is the root of all evil." Amusing, but I find this to be untrue.

Telepathy

Day 333

I swear, she really does know when I need her. The rest of the time, I can pretty much go F myself, but the moment I don't feel well or I'm sad, she's all about the cuddling. It's nice to be loved.

Enjoy the silence

Day 332

All that I need today is right here. One breath, then another, and her scent relaxes me, and she loves me. Everything is okay.

Linus

Day 331

This is the scarf that my cousins bought for me for Christmas last year. They figured that since I had just moved back from Florida, I could use some warm clothing items. They were right. 

I bonded to this scarf right away. I was going through a very tough time in my life last Christmas that lasted straight through to May. This scarf rarely left my neck. I would take my coat off, but not the scarf. It was my security blanket of sorts. The only time I didn't have it on was at bed time when I had Luna, my neck heating pad, and a plethora of pillows to make me feel better. 

When Kathy first gave me the GIR pin she had, it went on the scarf. (It now resides on my makeup case.) 

I don't have the same attachment to the scarf this year because I'm not in that emotionally awful place. But when I found it mixed in with my winter things, it made me happy. A feeling of calm came over me when I put it on, and maybe it was just the love of my family keeping me warm and safe last winter. 

Or maybe I just form unhealthy bonds to inanimate objects.

Lucy: You think you're so smart with that blanket. What are you going to do with it when you grow up?

Linus: Maybe I'll make it into a sport coat.

Braids

Day 330

I'm not sure why I decided to put my hair in braids when I got out of the shower. Maybe Buffy or Willow had braids in a random episode I was watching, so the idea was in my head. The plan is that maybe once my hair dries and I take the braids out, it'll do a cool wavy thing. It probably won't though because my hair seldom cooperates with my experiments.

'Tis the season

Day 329

It's the day after Thanksgiving, so it is acceptable to put up the Christmas decorations now. This is our family Christmas photo. I bought a sad little Charlie Brown Christmas tree because it was cheap. I put up my stocking as well as Luna's. I need to start making out Christmas cards and wrapping presents. I wish Luna would stop trying to eat the tree, but I think that might be asking too much.

Turkey Day

Day 328

We had dinner at Debbie & Sue's house for Thanksgiving. Everything was delicious! I was so excited when I saw the place settings that I nearly fell over. It's me! As a turkey! Like this:

Happily ever after

Day 327

This evening was spent at the Smithtown Landing Country club to celebrate Jackie and Harun's wedding. The ceremony was lovely, even though it was oustide and sooo cold! They played the music that Doug wrote when Jackie walked down the aisle, and it takes my breath away every time I hear it. He is so talented. I had trouble with containing the crying during the vows, but I muddled through without any makeup disasters. 

The cocktail hour was nice, and I had a lot of fun with the guys of Finespun, and of course Krystal and Lee. Are we the ladies of Finespun now? Is that how it works? 

Jackie and Harun's wedding was hands down the best wedding I have ever been to. I don't think I know anyone at this point who is planning a wedding, but they would be hard pressed to beat out this one. I had an absolute blast and a half. I know Doug did too. They even had an old fashioned photo booth in the back! Too much fun! Then, for the last hour of the night, Matt took over the DJ booth and played all of "our" music. It was awesome! I never thought I would get to dance to our kind of music at a wedding.

I initiated Matt's boss into the goth scene. It was just the 282 pound from back in the day freshman year of college. But I remember feeling kind of special when I learned it. So I showed it to him and said, "That's it, you're in!" I love initiating people who have no idea what's going on.

Jackie showed up for that portion of the evening in a red version of her wedding dress, pulled up in the front so you could see her infamous stomp-stomp boots. The girl's got style.

We all had such an amazing time at the wedding. It was truly the most fun I have ever had at a wedding. I wish nothing but the best for Jackie & Harun. I hope they have many, many years together of love, laughter, and busting into Doug's apartment with ice cream at all hours of the night. Especially that last part.

Meep

Day 326

I got home from a work-related function at 10:30. Yeah, that'd be PM. The dinner was at 6 in Brooklyn. Big mistake. You do not head into Brooklyn from Long Island at 5 PM. In the rain. So we didn't even get there until almost 7, and the demo hadn't even started yet, so my rumbling stomach could go ahead and shut up because it wasn't getting any food. About an hour or so later, they brought out the food. I think it was like some kind of Mediterranean cuisine. I don't even have the first clue what I ate, but I was so hungry that I didn't care. Anything would have tasted good at that point. We left the dinner a little after 9, got back to the office around 10, so I was home at 10:30. It was a very long day. I changed right into my pajamas, and I'm calling it a night.

Jumping the gun

Day 325

The houses across the street vomited Christmas all over their lawns. Really, people? Can we get through Thanksgiving first?

Can I be a mongoose dog?

Day 324

I'm in a GIR hat, so you know what that means! It's a Kathy & Michelle shopping excursion!

We started the afternoon off at Panera for lunch, and then stopped in some stores that were in the same shopping center. I got fuzzy Christmas pajamas. That's how I roll.

Then we went across the street to the Sunrise Mall. The point of this entire shopping trip was so Kathy could get sneakers for hiking in Costa Rica. She has a nearly impossible-to-find shoe size. We searched high and low, and the few pairs she actually tried on weren't right in some way. As we trudged into the last shoe store, we were both feeling a little bummed. It didn't seem likely that we would accomplish our shoe mission.

Then I spotted them - nice sneakers that looked like they'd hold up well for hiking and they were in her size. Hot damn! By the time I got them over to Kathy, the salesgirl had picked out a different shoe for her. Hmph. But all's well that ends well, and in the end, Kathy took home the shoes I had picked out for her. They will have a lovely trip to Costa Rica.

To celebrate, we stopped into Hot Topic where I tried on the fun GIR hat. I actually didn't have a choice in the matter. Kathy decided it needed to be on my head, and so there it was.

I am the chosen one

Day 323

Tonight during Finespun's amazing performance, Ed broke a drum stick. He tossed it to the side of the stage, and it landed at my feet. It looked like a stake. Destiny chose me. I am the slayer.

This turned into a raucously crazy evening, where I staked many "vampires." Harun saw the wrath of my intensive slayer training first. Then I staked Doug, but he miraculously came back from the dusting seeking revenge. Next up was Ed, and while I felt bad that I had to slay him on his birthday, this is my duty. This picture here is my second slaying of Doug, which was entirely epic. Much like when Buffy had to kill Angel, I felt a longing sadness after the slaying was done. But I'm sure that he will be back from the hell dimension, and we will fall in love once again.

"In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer."

Silliness

Day 322

I finally got a photo booth app for my phone that actually works. So I amused myself by taking silly pictures of myself for the blog. Thankfully, I am easily amused.

Yikes

Day 321

Okay, that is just not normal. My cat is definitely a demon.

Time warp

Day 320

Sometimes I wish I had a time machine, or a super power where I could go back in time. I wouldn't do anything crazy or alter major life events. I've watched enough Heroes to know that's a bad idea. I would just leave myself Post-Its on the fridge. Like today, for example.

Dear 8 AM Michelle:
Take the rain coat today. Just trust me.
Love,
5 PM Michelle

Happy place

Day 319

This is how I create Doug's presence at my place when he's not around. Usually this happens when he has band rehearsal late. I take his pillows that live in my apartment, and I put one underneath my head on the couch, and another either in between my knees or at my feet. They smell like Doug and Loki, and I feel content and safe. It's good.

Butterflies are free

Day 318

I bought this ring for myself shortly after I called off my wedding. After having a ring on my left ring finger for a year and a half, I felt naked without one. It bothered me.

I chose this ring for three reasons. 1) It was cheap. 2) It was much lighter than a one carat diamond ring, so it made the transition to wearing nothing on that finger easier. Sort of like training wheels, in a way. And 3) Butterflies are free. That was all I wanted - freedom from PXF and all of the drama and chaos that came with him.

Now I just really like the ring. I love butterflies. Plus it reminds me of what an excellent decision I made when I finally ditched that loser for good. So many things have finally come to light and fallen into place, and it all makes perfect sense. I'm so incredibly happy I didn't marry him. Next time (if there is a next time), I'm going to do it right. I'm going to be in love and happy, and he won't be a total douche bag. I hear the third time is a charm.

Warmth

Day 317

Mom surprises me with the best presents sometimes. Today, she gave me these new gloves for the cold, snowy days ahead. I like the fun pattern on them. I will probably like them less when they are covered in snow.

I was the turkey all along!

Day 316

Kathy invited me over for a pre-Thanksgiving turkey dinner. She's a wonderful hostess. I had a really nice time. She even let me borrow comfy fuzzy clothes because I had forgotten mine at home.

We started out the evening by watching the Invader Zim episode where GIR ingeniously disguises himself as a turkey. Somewhere in the middle of that, we broke out the wine. Not only was it rather delicious red wine; it was penguin wine. Seriously, it was called The Little Penguin. It had a picture of a penguin on it, and little penguin feet on the top. They stomped those grapes just for me. True story.

Kathy brought out the amazing feast she had spent the day preparing, and we commenced the great foodening. It's a thing. After we had gorged ourselves on the delicious meal, we made our way back to the living room to watch The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special.

We ended the night with home made apple pie. Perfection.

The great outdoors

Day 315

I decided to enjoy my morning coffee outside today because it is so nice out. Abnormally beautiful, almost spring-like weather in November - I won't fight it.

I have had this coffee mug for the longest time. I'm not sure when exactly I got it because it seems like it has always been there. I love it. Sometimes because of the fact that it's pink  and sometimes in spite of it, depending on my mood.

Michelle
meaning: superior

Damn straight.

I has a hat

Day 314

I'm not sure why Luna decided to perch on my head today. Usually she sits in this spot on top of the couch. But today, for whatever reason, she felt that my head was a better place to lay down. This is actually rather uncomfortable, but as long as it makes her happy, I will play along.

Blah

Day 313

I have the vast world of NetFlix at my disposal, and I can't find anything I want to watch. I've been watching a lot of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, as that is my go-to comfort show. Season two of Glee isn't pleasing me at all, which surprises me because I was pretty much obsessed with the first season. I've watched Christopher Titus: Love Is Evol about a million times. I tried to watch Gnomeo and Juliet, but I kept getting distracted. Then I found out that Doug wants to see it too, so I put off watching that one until we can watch it together. Maybe I should unplug the Wii and hook up the XBox 360, so I can watch one of my many DVDs. I haven't gone through my collection in a while. Maybe there will be something in my DVD binders that piques my interest.

The warm fuzzies

Day 312

My mom is awesome! She surprised me with new fuzzy socks. And they're nap socks, which are the best kind of fuzzy socks. I'm totally prepared for winter now, but I've learned my lesson about saying things like "bring it."

Soft kitty, warm kitty

Day 311

Luna decided it was nap time, and she stretched out in the cutest way ever. Somehow she senses when I don't feel well and need to cuddle. She likes the fuzzy blankets more than the regular blankets. She has good taste. She gets that from me.

Evil flu shot of doom

Day 310

I got my flu shot today. I do this every year, mostly to appease my mother. I shudder to think what would happen if I decided not to get a flu shot. I would probably be banished from Mom's house until spring. So now my right arm is incredibly sore, I'm unnaturally tired, and I have a headache. I'm also out of cold medicine, so I really have nothing to take for the flu-ish symptoms I'm beginning to experience. I realize this is absolutely nothing in comparison to the actual flu, which now I supposedly will not get, but I'm a baby when I don't feel well. I think I might just go to bed.

Coffee, coffee, coffee

Day 309

Doug and I have a habit of mixing up our coffees. At my place, my coffee is French Vanilla and his is Sumatran Reserve. This morning, we didn't have that problem because he had a marker. From our morning coffee to writing music to conversations full of new ideas and laughter to late nights cuddling in front of the TV... I'm a little bit in love with our life together.

I'm back in da hood, yo

Day 308

It is officially hoodie weather. Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and this one has been great so far. I hate the winter, but fall is truly beautiful.

Junior

Day 307

I'm feeling creative lately. I miss drawing. I tore my apartment apart the other night looking for my old sketchbook, and I couldn't find it. So today, I went out and bought new art supplies. I got a new sketchbook, pencils, colored pencils, and pastels. I noticed that the pastels were called "Junior Artist" when I got home, and I found it too funny. Not only does Toni call me "junior," but she's also an artist. I love it.

Fuzzy love

Day 306

Luna and I usually have what I refer to as "Mommy & Me time" when I come home from work. Depending on her mood and my laziness, it can range from 5 minutes to 3 hours or more. Today was no exception. I felt like absolute hell today and was in pajamas within 5 minutes of walking through the door. I don't think I will be moving from this position for the rest of the evening, and I hope Luna doesn't either.

Woot!

Day 305

Starbucks has started with the red holiday cups. I'm not sure why this excites me, but it's one of the few things about the holidays that doesn't make me cringe. However, this year I'm armed with a fierce determination to plow through the old memories and imprint new, happy ones in their place. That is my mission, and I've chosen to accept it. Here goes nothing.