Mindless Meanderings of a Curly Haired Girl: August 2005

Happy Birthday Kendra

Last night we celebrated the fabulous anniversary of Kendra's birth. It was quite a good time! Dinner was at Sauce, where we had entrees, tapas, and drinks. It was not long before the cake was brought out and we were all happily singing Happy Birthday (no MVP chants here). The party was attended by myself, jess, cindy, paul, zach, doug, steve, and of course kendra. It was a fun and lively bunch of people. I certainly had a very good time meeting Steve, who just returned to U.S. soil from a year in China. I am sure the next time we get together we will talk more about our experiences in the Far East. It was also good to spend time with Cindy, since we keep finding ourselves too busy to get together. Always a pleasure to see the rest of the crew, and Jess, Zach, and I talked about how it was our last Tuesday of freedom before choir starts again. In retrospect, joining choir was perhaps the best decision I made since I moved in the 'Ville. The Burren was good as well and I was sad that I turned into a pumpkin just as Ro arrived. However, I did manage to get his phone number so I can call him to hang out even when bf isn't around.

HBDI

Okay, so when I was a senior in college, I took this amazing class called Imagination as part of my Entrepreneurship major. I know it sounds like some rocks-for-jocks type deal, but it actually was quite insightful and interesting. During the class we each took a test called the HBDI. Below is the interpretation of my results by my professor, Dr. M. Sonneborn. The graphic to the left is an example from the website of what the profile output looks like.

~~
You are triple dominant with a clear preference for organization and stability. You are also interested in reducing risks in decisions, liketo stay within budgets, and are able to function well within step-by-step agendas or implementation plans.

Your adjective pairs show that your back-up strategy (under stress) is the same as your normal strategy for dealing with decisions, issues, people, etc. Therefore, when you are under stress, you may need to tell colleagues that they need to leave you alone - since you don't let off clues that are different than when things are calm and relaxed.

Safety and security are likely to be important to you also. You probably look at safety features in cars before purchasing, and take into account risks when doing things like sky-diving - though you may steer far away from extreme sports and putting yourself in physical danger. However,if someone convinced you that the risk of physical harm was low, you might try it, especially if a group of friends wanted to try it (your red quadrant creeping in).

Right after the green quadrant, the red is your preference (human culture and issues, sensory and emotive). That is the strategy you move to after addressing issues with your organizational and safekeeping preference. Then you probably focus on how people feel about decisions and issues.

Your third preference is visionary, futuristic, and the ability to take risks after you have assessed them. You do not avoid analytical issues, but if there was a type of person in the work place with whom you might not agree, it would likely be ananalytical, past-oriented, statistics or data-driven person.
~~

DG QOTD - 8.30

Dumb Girl: How do you spell Massachusetts? I've never actually spelled the whole thing.

A long-term goal is made up of many short-term goals

I completed one short-term exercise goal of running three miles yesterday. Yay. I am going to up my cardio time to forty minutes from the thirty several times a week. The prospect of that is both scary and exciting, but I think my body is ready for it and my weight loss will benefit from it. I am doing my best to get to the gym five days a week doing the two days on and one day off schedule. With choir just around the corner, I am not sure how well that schedule will work, but I will see how it goes. Also, there is much less light now, which means it's nearly fall and that's my favorite season.

New Short-Term Exercise Goal: Work out 40 minutes at least 3 days a week
New Short-Term Food Goal: Eat out no more than twice per week
New Short- Term Weight Loss Goal: Lose at least 5 pounds by the end of September.

Things I am looking forward to:

Kendra's bday party
Stuff I bought for Doug getting delivered
Three day weekend

M-V-P, M-V-P

A few highlights from the weekend. Saturday night Paul and I went on a "roomdate" this is a new term I invented that describes when you go out with your roommate and do something with just the two of you. It was hot, I am not going to lie. We started at the Beantown Pub on Tremont. The food there is good and it's convenient when you don't quite know what you want. I had a fabulous turkey dinner. The portions are enormous, which I didn't realize. We then headed off to the cinema to see some wonderful entertainment. I don't know which Paul liked better, the movie (40 Year Old Virgin) or the preview for the Sports Gambling movie. The movie was very funny, and I would certainly recommend it. It was good to spend a few hours working the funny muscles. The movie introduced the new version of "yo momma" jokes as "Know how I know you're gay?" Quite a funny scene. Paul and I both laughed and were merry.

The roomdate ended here, as we headed down Boylston to meet up with Adam and his crew from Avon, NY (a quaint suburb of Rochester). They had taken in the Red Sox Game and were pumped to continue their fun. We headed to Cactus Club and found a few more of Adam's crew. The fun didn't stop. Even though I was sleepy and sober, I still managed to have a great time. I was sitting at a table with Adam's three guy friends when one of the servers brought out some cakes with candles and started singing to the table beside us. The four of us, without thinking, chime with with a very rowdy rendition of Happy Birthday and we hoot and holler at the table. As a sign of appreciation, the table gives us the two dishes of desserts that were brought to them and the guys go nuts and start chanting "M-V-P, M-V-P!" I laugh at this as the guys enjoy their hard earned dessert. Someone decides it's a good idea to order shots of Yeager. Now, if this was another time, I would have thrown back with no problem - but as the drinking hiatus doesn't come to an end until Saturday... My shot sat on the table - everyone looked around at who was going to do two shots. "Give it to the MVP!" I say. Without hesitation, MVP comes over and throws back with the guys. Very fun!

A bit later in the evening, Paul's need for action comes out. I see him taking out his wallet and throwing a twenty on the table. I look over and watch one of the girls take her gum out of her mouth and try to toss it to our table onto a dirty plate. No dice. Paul is a gentleman though, and doesn't collect. Several rounds later, the couple, Dave and Sarah decide to challenge Paul and Adam to a drinking contest. Winner pays for both bowls. The bowls are the novelty sized margarita glasses full of a wonderfully alcohol concoction. With two judges, myself, and Marybeth, we watched Paul and Adam get their butts kicked as Sarah and Dave managed to suck down their entire bowl in under thirty seconds. Paul was not happy. Either way, everyone got very intoxicated and seemed to have a smashing good time.

Sunday I had two dates, one with Doug and one with Jess. Doug was back from his soccer tourney in N. Conway, NH and Jess was back from visiting her new niece in the middle of nowhere NY.

Pictures from Wednesday

Me, Kendra, and Jess

Some hottie and his evil red-eyed girlfriend

Musical Theatre

It has been quite awhile since I've seen a show... probably since I took my mom to see Sweet Charity on Easter. Wow, that's way too long. Last night Doug and I made our way to the South End. I never really go out that way, I don't know the neighborhoods, the restaurants, or the types of people who live there. I looked "great" according to Doug. Cute, long denim skirt, white airy top, and blue silk scarf/shawl. Yeah, I got beeped at twice on the walk to the T.

The theatre was tiny. Very much like the SU Blackbox, but with seating on just one side. Seating for maybe fifty people at most. I love intimate theatre and The Last Five Years is an intimate show. Other than being painfully flat for a few songs, the actress who played Cathy was quite talented. The actor who played Jamie was fantastic. That is NOT an easy part vocally and he rocked. I love the show, the music, the way the storylines intersect. Jason Robert Brown is a genius.

Some of the more quoteable lines from The Last Five Years:

Everyone tells you the minute you get married every other woman in the world suddenly finds you attractive, that's not true. It only effects the kind of woman you always wanted to sleep-with, but they'd never give you the time of day before and now they're banging down your door.
All of sudden this pair of breasts walk by and you're like 'That's not fair!"
I stand on a precipice, I struggle to keep my balance. I open myself one stitch at a time.
If you had a tattoo, that wouldn't matterIf you had a shaved head, that would be cool...If you came from Spain, or Japan, or the back of a van, just as long as you're not from Hebrew school. I'd say, "Now I'm getting somewhere! I'm finally breaking through!" I'd say, "Hey! Hey! Shiksa goddess!I've been waiting for someone like you"
Some people analyze every detail, some people stall when they can't see the trail, some people freeze out of fear that they'll fail-but I keep rollin' on

Restaurant Week

Here in Boston it's Restaurant Week! For $30.50 you can indulge at some of the finest eateries in the city. Last night Doug, Jess, Kendra and I got all pretty and went to Umbria one of the lovely establishments in the financial district.

The service wasn't as high quality as I would have expected from a place that usually serves entrees for thirty to forty dollars. Jess had to remind the server to bring her Cosmo after ordering it. I found our server to be curt and lack personality until Kendra complained about her dessert saying it was terrible after eating all of it. She then asked to bring home what was left in her plate - some carmamel sauce and a pecan. The server cracked a smile at this and it made me wish Kendra had used her feminine charms earlier in the experience.

The food (ordered of a pre-fixe menu) was great on presentation. The most impressive part of the meal (other than presentation) was the dessert. The dessert was this wonderful rum cake with pecans. It was a perfect combination of textures, flavors, and chewiness. It wasn't too sweet, or too rummy, or too mushy. I have major issues with mushiness. I should have been more diligent with the camera and taken pictures of the other food-next time. The picture is of the eggplant appetizer.

It was nice to have a sit down meal with three of my favorite people. We actually had mostly adult conversation the whole meal. It was nice to feel elegant and grown up - a nice contrast to the four of us riding coasters on Saturday.

Remember when I met Patrick Stuart?

The Great Alcohol Escape

If you've spent any time around me in the last two months you will know that I've given up drinking. Why? Weight loss. However, in my two months of sobriety, I realized something: I am damn fun with no alcohol. So I have decided that I will drink only on special occassions. Please schedule and plan accordingly:

Labor Day Weekend - One Night Only
Halloween - One Night Only
Homecoming - Two Nights
New Year's Eve - One Night Only
The Day I reach my goal weight - One Night Only
Two Random Nights that I choose - One Night Each

Also - Between September 5th and New Years I give each of the following people permission to tempt me into one previously unscheduled night of drinking:

Jessica
Doug
Paul

I suppose I should define "drinking" for all of you (just so we can be clear):

Drinking is defined as: No less than three drinks and no more than six.

Meet the Parents

Mark this day down in history: August 23rd, 2005. The day I met Doug's parents.

dun
dun
dun

Okay, it really wasn't bad at all. I guess certain aforementioned boyfriends had gone ahead and built up his parental units to be quite different than they turned out to be.

Doug's Mother:

My impression from what Doug had told me: a devious undermining woman who dresses to the nines at all times, is cold, unfriendly, judgemental, who would rather live vicariously through the stories of her children than take an actual interest in their well-being.

My actual impression: A completely harmless woman who is simply looking for someone to talk to her about his/her life and give her some details of what her son is doing.

Doug's Father:

My impression from what Doug had told me: a man who is overshadowed by his strong-willed wife and who doesn't make many decisions without checking with her first.

My actually impression: A very nice man who is interested in what people around him do, who is willing to ask questions and answer questions. One who can talk to anyone about anything.

So how did it all happen?

Picture me at my desk, sitting, probably reading blogs, since I don't have much to do other than that these days... then gmail gives me the sign (1) new email! Woo Whoo! Something that will keep my brain somewhat stimulated for a few minutes. Open and read: I think my parents are coming up, do you want to meet them?

Could that be anymore impromtu? Of course I'll meet them. I leave work early, meet up with Doug first, thank god, because I hate those situations where you're in a crowd of people trying to locate strangers.... it just makes me flat-out uncomfortable. So regardless of whether Doug is sensitive to these things or not, he at least made me feel at ease by meeting me first before we try to find his parents.

He lays down the "ground rules" of this meeting.

No Touching
No Kissing
No Eye-contact
No Jokes
No Big Words
No Racial Slurs
and do your best to consume only as much air as you need.

Okay, it wasn't that bad - but it felt like that. I am twenty-four years old. I think I can handle myself. But I appreciated the briefing. No, no I didn't.

Then we attempt to find his parents. This is where I become completely useless because I don't know what they look like... but I continued to look around and ask Doug if people who OBVIOUSLY weren't his parents were his parents. This at least put a smile on the bf's face and decreased his level of anxiety/annoyance. Once we finally located his parents (as a side note "the salty dog" is not a good meeting place, as there are two of them) we headed over to Houston's where we enjoyed easy conversation and delicious cuisine. I would highly recommend it if you've not eaten there before.

I got hugs from both mom and dad after the meal was complete and got invited to come see their new house. So I think I did okay.

Sunday Brunch Tour

The Great Sunday Brunch Tour:

April 2008 - Lucky's Lounge, Boston MA
February 2008 - Al Fresco, Somerville MA
January 2008 - Gargoyles on the Square, Somerville, MA
November 2007 - Tremont 647, Boston, MA
October 2007 - Cambridge Common, Cambridge, MA
August 12 2007 - Johnny D's, Somerville, MA
July 8 2007 - Christopher's Cambridge, MA
July 2007 - Tommy Doyles, Cambridge, MA
April 2 - Sheraton Commander Hotel, Cambridge, MA
March 26 - Christophers, Cambridge MA
November 20 - Westin Grand, Washington DC
November 6 - Bickford's, Saugus
August 21st - Sheraton Monarch, Springfield
August 14th - Johnny D's, Somerville
August 7th - The Blue Room, Cambridge
July 17th - Westin Providence, Providence
July 10th - Sheraton Russell, New York
July 3rd - The Neighborhood, Somerville
June 26th - The Dream Diner, Tyngsborough
June 19th - The Holiday Inn, Boston
May 22nd - The Rosebud, Somerville

GBF/DG QOTD

Good: best work out ever

Bad: nothing on tv

Funny: DG QOTD: What's a cinnamon twist?

Bonus DG QOTD: What's the word when someone thinks you're somebody else?

Weekend Edition

Good: Dinner with Paul and Kendra, Chill time with Tom and Lisa, SixFlags New England, Q-Bot, Barney, Coasters, Sheraton Springfied, Pool, hot tub, quick trip to providence, Kinsey, entourage.

Bad: lil truancy problem / orangeline broken

Funny: chinese sweatshop worker escaping from my new stuffed animal

So the weekend was outstanding minus a few roadbumps here and there.

Friday shaped-up to be a smashing good time. Thirty minutes of cardio followed by beer bread at Phatt Boys in Harvard Square made for a guilt free dinner. Paul and Kendra joined me for apps and atmosphere. We then headed to Red Line only to be blinded by some woman's GIAGANTIC diamond ring. Good old subset A.

I then met up with my old college friends, Tom and Lisa. It had been far too long since I had seen them and far too short of a visit to catch up with them. However, the short visit was far better than no visit at all.

Saturday is where things got rocky. My three amigos decided to get trashed on Friday night and none of them were on time for our trip to Six Flags. However, after a few phone calls to awaken my still sleeping bf, we were on our way to the theme park. Things took a turn for the best when we arrived in Springfield, checked-in to our $29 room, picked up our SFNE tickets, and headed out! It only took us 30 minutes of staning in line before we realized we need to upgrade ourselves. While Kendra and I held down our place in line, Doug and Jess were sent off to acquire the Q-bot. (Pronoucned Que-Bat - since it's better with an upstate ny accent).

The Q-bot is the SFNE version of the SpeedPass. You can reserve all your rides via the handheld device and it then tells you what time to show up. At your designated time, you move into a fast line and do not have to wait hours to get on board the rides. It's quite a good system and the four of us had fun trying to figure out what factors it considers when determing the times for your rides. We did all the big coasters, a few smaller rides, ate, and were merry. The boyfriend won me a cute stuffed bear - whom I deemed Barney. Strangely when I woke up Sunday morning, the stitches in barney's legs had some apart - I maintain to believe that a small chinese sweatshop worked had imported himself over here inside of my new plush toy.

Six Flags was a huge thumbs up... and the hotel was wonderful too! My thanks to the three amigos who joined me. The trip home ended up being about 5 hours long, but it also took us to Rhode Island and then back into Mass - so it was fine.

That about sums it up! A great time had by all :) Wish you all could have been there.

Well, well, well... lookie here - someone has a blog. I do have to admit that I completely and totally blame Doug for this whole mess. It was his idea - and since it's Friday afternoon, I am stuck at work, I figured no time like the present.

So here it is... my very first blog post.

I would like to start by posting today's Good, Bad, Funny report... and then a very short recap of the Dumb Girl Quote of the Day.

GBF Report 8.18.2005
Good: gym, couch, sleep
Bad: the stinky refrigerator
Funny: "are you sure dumb girl grew up on earth?" - Jess

BEST OF DUMB GIRL QUOTE OF THE DAY (DG QOTD):

dumb girl: did you see the guys dressed up in the continental armystuff? with their cornets
megan: did you say cornets
DG: yes
megan: do you mean bayonets?
DG: they looked like cornets to me

DG: what's the word when someone else starts the topic? it was 'blank' by someone
Judy: initiated?

DG: what's the word when you have pictures that could get you in trouble?

Vanessa: Mary doesn't strike me as a person who forwards cat emails
Megan: no, she strikes me as the type to turn her cat into a sweater10
Minutes Later...
Megan: Ami, it's Mary Donovan on the phone for you.
Ami (DG): Who?
Megan: Mary Donovan. You may remember her from such conversations as:the cat sweater.

DG: I am not sure if this is a real pocket or not

Dumb Girl: question: how do you spell ho?
Vanessa: what do you mean
DG: like pimps and hos
Vanessa: it's slang, so it's just h-o

DUMBGIRL (shockingly): Huh! Sheraton Framingham has the same hold music as us!

Dumb Girl: Which is bigger, kilometers or miles?

DG: what are those mountains called? The ones in upstate new york?

Dumb Girl: What is Roshoshana

Dumb Girl: What is E-S-Q?

Megan: did it implode
Dumb Girl: i don't know what that means

Dumb Girl: Is the Fogg Museum part of Harvard Law?

Mindless Meanderings of a Curly Haired Girl

Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Happy Birthday Kendra

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

HBDI

DG QOTD - 8.30

A long-term goal is made up of many short-term goals

Monday, August 29, 2005

M-V-P, M-V-P

Friday, August 26, 2005

Pictures from Wednesday

Musical Theatre

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Restaurant Week

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

The Great Alcohol Escape

Meet the Parents

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Sunday Brunch Tour

GBF/DG QOTD

Monday, August 22, 2005

Weekend Edition

Friday, August 19, 2005

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