Plus, more good news, I lost 5 lbs. between last visit and this one. Yay! I have definitely noticed a decrease in my appetite since I went on the Cymbalta, but also I haven't been drinking as much because I'd rather be able to take my sleepy pill and rest instead. So, good for me. Maybe I can start working out again when I have some energy back.

Played poker on Monday with Debra and P. Was a lot of fun--and I ended up winning! It was crazy, I got so lucky in the end--when we got to heads-up, I had $1,200 and the other guy had $38,800. Do not ask how I came back from that much of a defecit! Great cards mostly, but also some skill. The semi-finals for the next big tournament (the one that P won last time) starts Friday, so P and I will be playing in that. Debra plays on Saturday, which is too bad, I would've liked to go together. Anyway, big poker tourney, yay! Always fun. I love the atmosphere of fifty poker tables all in one room, the clinking of the chips and shuffle of cards and voices and the big clock...dunno why, but every tourney I've played in has had this particular sound that I just love.

My friend Patty's mom died on Tuesday morning. She was in her 70s and had been fighting cancer for a long, long time so it wasn't entirely unexpected. Still, I am so sad for her. When I talked to her yesterday she was holding up well but said she just keeps thinking, "What am I going to do without her?" I know the feeling. Plus, my aunt is sick and it makes me worry about her...she's just gotten out of the hospital again, but she hasn't needed a transfusion in like a year, so I'm hoping this is not an indicator that she's getting worse. I worry for her, I worry for my cousins

• So, saw V for Vendetta on Sunday. I LOVED it. Went with my brother and he was ambivalent. Said he didn't not like it, that he was entertained but that it was sort of anti-climactic. P refused to go at all, saying he didn't want to see "Zorro in the future." Which, totally not! Anyway, am on the waitlist for the book at the library. You know it's good if it makes me want to read the book.
  
  Conversley, books I love are often ruined when turned into movies. Case in point, Battlefield Earth. A book that I thought was fantastic...and became a piece of absolute crap on film. This was not the book's fault, but I cannot convince anyone who's seen the movie to read the book.
• Have tooled around trying to make icons, and look at this nifty "In Vino Veritas" one I made! Ok, I know it totally sucks, but I am proud as I have neither photoshop nor skillz. Also made some others out of cute pics I had and this icon maker thingy I came across. Still haven't filled up all my slots, though!
• Eeek, have actually started writing a fic! Good lord, what am I thinking? Mostly, I just want to see if I can write fic at all, if my writing's any good. If shag_me_draco is horrified by it, it will never see the light of day. But if she tells me it doesn't suck, it has a chance of sunlight. But no promises.
• Poker tonight with Debra! Yaye! Except Debra, Patty & I also played last night and Debra and I have spring fever/think we're rockstars and got drunk. However, I am not hungover in any way, shape or form, PLUS Michelle is coming with us, which means that we will most likely continue on the course of having spring fever/thinking we're rockstars and get drunk again. Note to self: EAT DINNER this time, stupid!

• karenhealey wroteWhy Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell ROCKS and I totally agree.
• Saw Brokeback Mountain this weekend. P actually took me to see it! And he liked it! I absolutely adored it...I cried and cried, but I'm a sap, so that's no surprise. I really hope it wins best picture. I really want to read the story--I'm on the waiting list at the library (64 in line for 13 copies). I saw someone had a link to a .pdf of the story and I had bookmarked it, but when I went back, it didn't work. Anybody have a link?
• Also, where can I read December Boys? It's out of print and my library doesn't have it--they'll get it, but there's a fee. I haven't called yet to see how much, but I wondered if anybody had a link or something.
• I recently read a book called Beat Until Stiff, which was written by someone on my flist (author is Claire M. Johnson) and I can't remember who it is! I want to tell her I thought it was a great book and I really enjoyed it. If anybody knows, please tell me who she is.
• Am playing poker tonight. Looking forward to it, but am anxious that the fireman will be there. Funny, but I don't want him to be. That's new.

 I really should stop thinking I'm a rock star.

Am possibly still slightly drunk, what with the getting home at 4 a.m. nonsense. Went to poker last night with Debra and Patty. Told P he wasn't allowed to go, as he has habitually horned in on my Tuesday night with the girls. He didn't seem to mind, but that's prolly because he stayed home and looked at porn. Anyway, had lots of fun. Ended up coming in second in the poker tournament, which is pretty good, considering there were 50 people. And I came in thrid on Tuedsay night! On a roll lately.

However, because I came in second, I was pretty bitter and didn't want to go home, so I called P at midnight and told him I Patty and I were going to Croc's with Jason and Shawn (who I call "The Colonel") and some other people. Which was fun! It was karaoke night, and while I didn't sing, it was hella fun watching everyone else who did. And then The Colonel was talking trash about knowing Patty's and my tells, so somehow that evolved into the four of us going to Jason's to play a quick $5 game. Which was even more fun, especially because I won and got $20 (well, I guess actually $15 since $5 was mine to start) out of the deal. And then I got home around 4 and P was not happy. I wisely chose not to argue the point and just went to bed, but I haven't talked to him yet today and I know he's going to lecture me.

Got my hair cut yesterday afternoon--love it! Plus I got to see Erin, who is a good friend from college and cuts most of my friends' hair.

So I had a glass of wine whilst getting my hair cut (doncha love a salon that provides complimentary wine?) and then a drink at home after that and then ten beers at the bars. (O_o) Apparently got the idea somewhere along the way that not only am I a rock star but also still in my twenties. Am feeling no pain right now, but just wait until this afternoon. Not going to be pretty. At least I had the foresight to take two ibuprofen and a multivitamin before going to bed, so that has helped. Urgh.

Lovely weekend. P and I played poker at Jason's house on Fri and both won some money. Always fun winning money off boys. : ) I'm sure P knows I have a slight (ok, more than slight) crush on Jason, who deals poker for us on Tuesdays. Prolly because I always sit by him and flirt shamelessly, but. Anyway, this weekend P was telling my brother something about playing poker at Jason's and he mentioned in passing that he thinks Jason likes me. So...P knows I like Jason, thinks Jason likes me, and yet, doesn't care that I see him every Tuesday night, regardless of whether I go alone or with Patty and Debra. He doesn't care that Jason has given me rides home or kisses me on the cheek when we say hello and goodbye. Either the guy completely trusts me or doesn't care. Well. I know which one I think it is.

Also, my brother closed on his loft, so on Saturday we went to look at it and then he took us out to dinner at Sullivan's to celebrate. Sullivan's happens to be one of my favorite restaurants, and my brother's new place is above it, in the same building. Yay! Excuse for eating there more often, now.

Playing poker again tonight with Patty, maybe Debra and maybe P. Will be fun, mostly because I get to see Jason again. And also, possibly the Fireman. : )

Ok, remember when I started going through that box of floppies I've been carrying from job to job for almost 10 years? Well, here's some more of the crazy shit I've been hauling around. I'm a weirdo.

Here's the thing that scrolls up the screen at the beginning of Star Wars: ( A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... )


How about the words to one of my favorite childhood songs, ( Puff the Magic Dragon? )

My dad plays the guitar and sings, and when I was a kid, we used to sing this together. I loved it so much, and one time in pre-school, I decided that the thing I wanted to bring to Show-and-Tell was my dad. So I had him wear his Superman t-shirt (you know, with the stylized "S") and he brought his guitar, and also, he used to work for United Airlines, and remember when you used to fly in the 70's, the airline would give kids those little play packs with plastic captain's wings and a deck of cards and junk like that? Well, he brought one of those for each kid in class, and we handed them out and then he and I sang Puff together for the class. God, I was so proud of him, I was fit to burst. That is one of my absolute best memories of my dad.



And also, quite randomly, a ( cheese dip recepie (WTF??? I dunno. Don't ask.) )

Happy New Year! May 2006 bring you all joyous and wonderful things.

Had a very nice long weekend. Didn't do a whole lot. It was quite relaxing. For New Year's Eve, P and I had dinner at Benihana, which was sooo good, plus I had two yummy Benihana Punch drinks which had umbrellas with oranges and cherries. Love the foo foo drinks. Then we came home to watch the fireworks on the 16th Street Mall from our balcony, talked to my brother and dad, then went to bed by 12:30. It was really nice.

Also, have gotten onto somewhat of a better sleep schedule...going to bed usually by 11 and up between 7 and 8. I'm feeling better and sleeping better, which is great. Hopefully now I can start getting up and working out before work. It is a new year after all, might as well give it the old college try. I've flossed three days in a row--that's something, isn't it?

Michelle dropped by my desk this morning so we could exchange Christmas gifts...I did end up getting her a bottle of Crown Royal, and she did end up getting me what she said she was getting me. It's in a black plastic bag, but I still think I need to go hide it in my car. So, here's what she got me: the Ultra Tech 3000. And, apparently, not only does it vibrate, but it also has a "squirm" function. Which, uh...yeah. So, it's purple, and um...a little bit intimidating. I mean, I've always just made do with my hand, so...

Anyway, will keep you all posted on that front. If it doesn't kill me or intimidate me to death, that is.

Poker tonight, which should be fun. Didn't go last week as it was my cousin's birthday. Was great to see my family, but I missed seeing Jason, and wonder if the fireman was there.

Does everyone realize what's in my subject are lyrics to the song I'm listening to, and not random shit I just made up? Just wondering if anybody made the connection.

Anyway. Still have a tiny bit of the plague, but am feeling much better than a week ago. Voice is fairly back to normal. Got almost all my Christmas shopping done over the weekend, yaye! Still have to get Michelle's present, which just requires a trip to the liquor store. Pursuant to our conversation wherein she wants to get me something I'll actually use, I also would like to do the same. But she's the type of gal who just buys herself whatever she wants, whenever she wants, so I am getting her a large quantity of her favorite booze, Crown Royal. She practically drinks nothing else, so I know it will go to good use.

Had my department's holiday lunch last Thursday, at the Denver Chop House...mmmmm. Was yummy and had champagne and work paid for it. Then we got the afternoon off, so Debra and I and a guy from work went to the Wynkoop and had drinks there, then we went to Dazzle and had drinks there, and by then it was 5 p.m. and we were just up the street from work, so Michelle met us there, and then finally we three girls went to Cadillac Jack's to play poker. What a fun afternoon/night! Got home around midnight and was in surprisingly good shape. Remembered to drink a glass of water for each alcohol drink and so was not hungover at all on Fri. Which is good because I shopped like a mofo.

Tonight is poker night, so yaye again. Maybe the fireman will be there! Yum.

Four things meme...gacked from...uh, I dunno. ( Anyway, whee! )

Bleargh. I have the plague again. Different kind, this time--now it's a lovely juicy cough. Yum. Still sound like Suzanne Pleshette but no sore throat, and pretty much otherwise I feel fine, which is nice. It means I can still go play poker with Debra and Patty.

Plus, I am taking the day off tomorrow to get some Christmas shopping done and sleep in. I read an article in the newspaper today about when you should call in sick, and one of the things it mentioned was that if you have a juicy, productive cough, that means you're prolly still contaigous and shouldn't be at work. So I told my boss this morning in staff meeting that I was pre-emptively calling in sick for tomorrow.

Which means I really shouldn't go play poker tonight, and on top of that, I really, really shouldn't drink. But we all know that's not going to happen, don't we?

So, went out with Michelle on Saturday night and had the most fun. Went to several different bars but ended up at The Celtic Tavern, which we love, and is also where we play poker on Tuesday nights. Anyway, I think the walking around drunk in the freezing cold at 3 o'clock in the morning didn't help much in keeping me from getting this plague.

Can you say $10,000? I can!

Uh, remember how I said P was playing in the big poker tourney this Saturday? And how if he did well enough, he could win cash and prizes and such? Well, he did well. Very well. In fact, he won!

And, aside from the various prizes he won, such as a custom poker table and chip set, he also gets TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS in cash. Yes, ten grand. Ten big ones. Ten Gs. I am practically in shock.

We need this money so much...with him not working for almost two years now, we were racking up some serious credit card debt and now the pressure is off and maybe I can start sleeping again. Of course, everyone I know has said now P is never going to get a job, but I'm hoping this will be a confidence boost for him. He has already said that now it won't matter what kind of job he gets because his pay will just be gravy. Whereas before, he felt like he had to get a job that paid really well so we could start making a dent in our credit card bills. (I know the logic is backward, but that's how he's been thinking.)

Anyway, hooray for us, hooray for him, hooray for me. Oh, and I haven't mentioned it yet, but I am going to Vegas with D for the weekend...we leave on Friday! Yay, we are staying at the Mirage and I am so excited. And I was worried about money for the trip but now I don't have to! Hee...am so giddy and excited but it hasn't really sunk in yet.

Had dinner with shag_me_draco last night. Yay! Was great seeing her and talking. So nice to know someone from LJ in RL.

Also played poker with D & P which was fun, but then we ended up being there until 1:30 so I am v.v. tired again. Thanfully, quit drinking earlier and so am not hungover today. V. good.

I think everyone should read copperbadge's Harrcrux essay. Really well researched and interesting, and I gotta admit made me think about it being a definite possibility when it's a theory I had totally dismissed before.

[ETA: LJ ate half this post and I didn't even notice. See, TIRED! Anyway, fixed enough so it makes sense and I'm less of a raving lunatic.]

Woo hoo! It's Wednesday and I'm not hungover. AND I even went out last night! *pats self on back* Have I finally learned the definition of moderation? No, I don't think so, seeing as I drank just as many beers last night as I wanted to with no thoughts about today and didn't eat dinner. The fact that I'm awake, showered and chipper is an anomaly.

The funniest thing happened last night...M, P and I played poker at this "irish" bar last night. The signs on the bathroom doors read "lads" and "lasses," and when M went to go pee, she saw the sign that said "lads" and walked in--she had sort of just stopped reading when she got to "l-a-d" and assumed it was "ladies." And there was this whole poker table full of guys right there, who all saw her go in. So, she's in there, peeing and talking to me (she thinks) over the wall and then comes out of the stall and there's this dishwasher guy from the restaurant in there laughing. And M says, "What are you doing in here?" and the dishwasher guy just laughs harder, points at the urinals and says, "What are YOU doing in here?" So of course she's MORTIFIED and walks out of the bathroom only to find that the table full of guys has been waiting for her to come out and are now giving her a standing ovation. God, it was so funny, except, poor thing was SO embarrassed she actually was crying a little bit. But also laughing, so that was good.

Ah, good times, good times.