So, this is what happens when you decide to take a week off from work and have no place far away to go.
After finishing off the last major deliverable for my recent project (see "Kindred Souls" blog below), I decided to take a little break. My original plans were to go to the Philippines, but as luck (and the US government) would have it, I didn't get my passport in time, so I opted for a "local" vacation. Last Wednesday was my first "official" day so I decided to do a quick run down to LA to visit with an old college roommate and her partner. That was fun (but too quick!) and at the very least satiated my need to sit on a plane and fly someplace so I didn't feel completely jipped (how *do* you spell that word anyway?!?).
But today, however, is my first stay-at-home-while-on-PTO day. I've never really done this before, so needless to say, I'm quite nervous that my antsy nature will get the best of me, and I'll end up doing work anyway. I did the usual vacation things today...slept in hella late, stayed in my PJ's until 1:00p, made some lunch (cuz I missed breakfast. ha!), watched some cartoons, re-runs of I Love Lucy, Leave It to Beaver, and a good solid 1/2 hour of Rags to Riches on VH1 with today's feature on Snoop Dogg (boo yah.). Started a load of laundry, paid some bills....
toot too dooo...ho hum...it's 3:00p and I'm bored. So what do I do? Call work.
Me: Hey C (<--he's my manager). How's it going? Just thought I'd check in.
C: Hey Sheilani. What's up?
Me: Oh, nothing. Just thought I'd call. hmm hmm hmm....uh....anything new? How's the project going? [he's covering for me while I'm out]
C: Great, great. Had a good meeting this morning... [etc. etc.]
ok, so that lasts for about 13 minutes. But at least I got it out of my system. It's time to go mail those bills.
I wander down to the post office and decide that it's such a beautiful, warm day that I think I'll pick up some ice cream on the way back at the corner market. I'm not a major ice cream fan at all but it just seemed good today. I walk in, thinking I'm just gonna grab a quick ice cream samich (yes, "samich") and just chillin' in the back of the freezer (figuratively *and* literally) is a can of SheerBliss Ice Cream.
I never heard of or seen it before. And after perusing their website, found out that they just started in 2005. But, what caught my eye was the packaging. It comes in this kind of tin can looking thing and it makes you second guess whether it's supposed to be in the freezer or not. But what also caught my eye was that it's Pomegranate ice cream. Yeah, it's made with POM juice and has dark chocolate chips. They market themselves as being "The Natural Gourmet Ice Cream" and even has a warning on the can: "One taste of SheerBliss Ice Cream will change your life. It's that Good!"
...and they weren't kidding.
I took it home, popped the can open, grabbed a spoon and took a bite. I don't think I've *ever* had ice cream this good. EVER. In fact, I don't think I'll ever want to eat any other brand of ice cream ever after this. The first bite was really was just purely, 100%, undeniable SheerBliss. Like with the tingles and everything--like euphoria in your mouth. No lie. I know it sounds wierd and melodramatic, but this stuff is so good. I wasn't sure what to expect with "pomegranate ice cream" because POM juice is kinda hard to suck down if you're drinking it straight. But the closest I can compare it to is rich raspberry, creamy sorbet with bits of chocolate chip mixed in, but much smoother and with an "even" tart---it's just absolutely perfect!
Check it out. www.sheerblissicecream.com They even have a store locator on their site.
YUH-HUUUMMMY!!!! :-D
I was this ( ) close to cancelling my Netflix subscription. I mean, c'mon...who really has time to sit and watch movies these days to make it worth the monthly charge? I even reduced my subscription to just two movies at a time and I still have the same two flippin' movies sitting on my coffeetable for the past two months! I'm sure I can find better ways to spend $11.95/month.
But with work kicking up even more lately, I decided to make myself sit down, have some Sheila time and get my now $23.90's worth. Hmmm, what kind of a mood am I in..."The Gods Must Be Crazy" or "Annie Hall"? It doesn't matter, so I blindly grab one as I'm walking to the TV and only notice that I've chosen Annie Hall until I'm putting it in the player.
It must've been fate...
I've been in a bit of a funk lately for some reason. I try to keep it level and balanced most of the time, but I've just been anxious a lot more than usual about everything...work, relationships, health, etc. But, particularly about relationships. Just really flighty and indecisive about everything...I want this, I don't want that, I want this again, but I don't want that again...it's frustrating for everyone involved so then I do the usual number on myself where I just say "Screw it. Too much drama. I'll just be by myself" and hide in my flat all weekend.
Annie Hall was a much welcomed distraction. I don't watch a whole lot of Woody Allen films (or do and just don't know it), but when I do it's such a treat! He's just so subtle and non-chalant, you just have to do a double-take before it kicks in for real--"Did he just say what I thought he said?". He's hilarious. And there are so many lines worth quoting from that movie. Like when Annie and Alvy first met after the tennis match and she's driving all crazy and straight into a parallel park and Alvy gets out and says, "Don't worry, we can walk to the curb from here." or when Annie's wanting to light up some "grass" and Alvy talks about how it's the "illusion that it will make a white woman more like Billie Holiday." Stuff like that.
Ok, ok, so that's a little outta context if you haven't seen the film, but I just finished it about 10 minutes ago so it's all still fresh. I just couldn't stop laughing. He's really a comical genius. I don't know much about film at all, but I would guess that for a movie done in 1977, it did what movies done in the 80's, 90's and even now are still trying to capture. And I gotta say, I like Annie and can relate...mostly (if not only) because she drives crazy, *is* crazy and rambles like nobody's business. But, the cool thing about her that is admirable is that she kinda marches to the beat of her own drum, and is pretty upfront about what she's thinking and just goes for it but doesn't exert her independence in an aggressive, in-your-face kind of way---and she can dress like a dude and still work it! (oh gawd, I'm starting to sound like the guy in line at the movies that drove Alvy crazy with all his "pontification" so will end here...)
Don't get me wrong. The movie's *far* from being overly and deeply profound, but bottom line, it thew a lifesaver out to my perspective on relationships and put me back on the right path about how to view them from a practical sense which I think was the intent---and for that, I'm thankful. Should probably pick up a copy for my personal collection for those days when I'm wondering why on earth anyone would bother with romantic relationships. They do drive people crazy and you wonder why people expend so much energy over them, but people still continue to do it. Guess Woody's right---some of us just "need those eggs".
Thanks, Netflix.
