Monday, March 31, 2008

Chocolate Chip Cookies and Perrier

Dear UFF Readership,

It's been a while, eh? I was sitting around tonight waiting for delivery of the Poang chair I bought from someone on Craigslist, eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking Perrier, and mentally composing this missive as I've missed you all terribly.

So much is new since we last spoke! On Saturday I had my debut performance at the Upright Citizens Brigade. I think it went well - my class was supremely amazing and I'm kind of in awe of their skills. I'm going to take 201 after my photography class (which starts next week!) is done. (I'm also trying to kick this overcommitting habit I've developed.) Speaking of activities, this morning I had the first of 16 sessions with a personal trainer named Gaby. Gaby is legit, guys. She also makes jokes about Riverdance when I'm doing high-knee kicks.

The new job is going swimmingly. We get lunch EVERY DAY, catered. It's so different from my last job, where you might wander into the kitchen at 11 a.m. on the day of a sales meeting and consider yourself lucky to find a paper-doily-lined tray with a tub of cream cheese and a few loose grapes. I've also gained 5 pounds (ref: chocolate chip cookies; Gaby).

And finally, GBNAA, while no longer Brand New, is still Awesome. We're thisclose to being unpacked (I swear!), and I'm counting down the days to late-Spring and early-Summer evenings in the backyard. The cat is a huge fan of the boyfriend (to an almost ridiculous extent - she will walk across my lap to sit on his), and I think he kind of likes her, too (except when she's waking us up at 6 a.m., which, OK, is pretty much every day).

So yeah, things are good. Sorry I haven't kept in better touch! At least with this photography course starting there will be some pretty pictures for you to look at.

Love,
Gillian

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Bake This!

Or, a filler post because I'm mad booked this week.

Friday is Pi(e) Day! Get it? March 14? 3/14? 3.14? π? You with me here?

Celebrate! Bake a pie! Eat a pie! Here are a couple I made last year to celebrate (I think the banana cream will get a revival this year because it was soooo good):




Also, Easter is just around the corner, and it's never too early to start your Bunny Cake preparations. I took the time last year, sweet sweet readers, to post a full set of Bunny Cake instructions. Enjoy!

Friday, March 07, 2008

Spend: USRobotics Internet Phone

In addition to 2008 being the year of the 140s, it's also the year of Monk Mode, wherein Steve and I (especially the I part) are going to try to save lots of money.

However, monks don't need to make phone calls, and I do. And let me tell you, cell phone calls to Canada are EXPENSIVE. Last Fall I purchased a $29.95 Skype plan to Canada but stopped using it after a particularly painful call to Air Canada's customer service line in which the word "Pardon?" was used more than all other words in the conversation combined.

And so I ordered a USRobotics internet phone which arrived today. I had a brief moment of panic when I noticed the box only listed Windows compatibility, but a quick rendez-vous with Google (my other boyfriend) turned up instructions for Mac installation (the Mac USB utility for the phone is available for download from the USRobotics website). I haven't quite figured out the Skype software navigation from the phone (that or it just doesn't work very well) but since I'll be at my computer to make phone calls anyway, that functionality isn't essential. Now I can call my mom without asking her to call back every time. The only problem is I'm tethered (just like the olden days!) so I can't do the dishes while I'm talking to her... but I *can* still take my Scrabulous turns.

It even qualifies for Monk Mode, because the $30 I spent on the phone will save me much more than that even in those one-minute, call-me-back calls to Canada.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

2008 Mulligan

I'm declaring a mulligan for 2008.

HBJ was OK and all, but it turned into what my special friend (tee hee) (who we'll call "Steve" before anyone starts to think that special=retarded) now refers to as TOLF: Tub O' Lard February. (I think he might have been calling me fat.) And so, inspired by Kajal's leap day post and GBNAA, I'm making some New Year's resolutions.

1. 2008 is the year of the 140s. FOR REAL, even though I hit up one of the jars as recently as today.
2. Recycle and compost. Did I mention that GBNAA has a backyard?
3. Always be taking a class. Right now it's improv, and starting next month I'm taking a photography class. Learning is fun! Especially when the homework is going to improv shows or taking pictures of Memphis.
4. Add more to the perspective series, just because I like it.
5. Get rid of half my stuff. In particular, the half I don't want, but which my friends thoughtfully loaded into and out of a moving truck on Saturday. Thanks again, guys!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Overheard on Moving Day

While my friends were loading the contents of my wardrobe, including some particularly... bright clothes, into a bag:

Doug: Hey G, I didn't know you toured with Prince!

As I pondered the sheer number of boxes full of things I own:

G: Half of this stuff I don't even want.
Sars [laden with a particularly heavy box]: How about you don't tell us that until after we've moved it?

After I walked forcefully into the trailer hitch on the UHaul:

G [to the UHaul]: Fuck you!

Right after that happened, I also kicked the UHaul in the nuts. That's right, I got in a fight with a truck. It was late. I was tired.

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Whew.

With the help of six really amazing friends, we did it.

We're situated in our new apartment. It's possibly more awesome than I'd hoped.

We're also really, really tired. Updates and pictures soon!