Day 305: If you never try than you'll never know

Today was pretty much an awesome day, with lots of good new. (Long post, lots of pictures.)

It began with my company's annual staff meeting/Halloween party. I wore a tutu that I made. Both new as I've never previously worn nor made a tutu. I'm afraid it could be addicting. I tried it on the night before and did a load of laundry whilst wearing it. Best load of laundry ever.

Making the tutu with a red carpet of tulle. Tutorial on laptop on left, Giants game on TV on right. Doesn't everyone make their tutus whilst watching football?
In progress.
Final product. My only caveats are that I couldn't find wings, and that it's too poufy, as it wasn't techinally tulle, but another kind of netting, that refused to lie down.

We had breakfast and lunch and played games, including taking the latest citizenship test. I was one of two people, out of 60 total, to get all the questions correct! Now not only am I a knowledgeable U.S. citizen, I'm also $50 richer in AmEx gift cards for my dedication! (Sadly, I don't have pictures from the party, as the ladybug had no pockets, thus the ladybug had no camera.)

After actually having to work in the afternoon, and then an almost-nap at home, I set out for the Coldplay concert in downtown D.C. This is my first concert in almost three years, my first concert in D.C. and of course, my first time seeing Coldplay.

I had great lower-level seats (also a new thing) and they played all of my favorite songs. Chris Martin has manic energy that was catching and it just got better and better. And I mean that, as a little more than halfway through the show they took off the stage and into the crowd, to perform "The Scientist" and one other song, 3 ROWS FROM ME!!!! I was second seat from the aisle when they ran by and could have touched Chris Martin. (I tried, but didn't quite make it. And honestly, I may have recoiled, as he was 90% sweat. I love Coldplay, but I don't love sweat.)

They didn't glow this much in real life, even with the sweat. And Mr. Big Head in the black shirt is not a member of the band. Had I had an apple with me, I would have thrown it at his big neck.
Overall it was an amazing night and I have so much respect and admiration for them as artists and performers. My pictures aren't great as I stupidly adhered to the "no cameras" rule on the ticket and only had my phone, but they'll do until I can get some from the guy who sat beside me.

Day 304: "Oh, that's not swearing. They came out of the sinful category an age ago! " (Delysia, Miss Pettigrew...)

In the history of greatest inventions ever, Netflix certainly finishes in the top 10. Maybe even the top 5 since they added the "watch instantly" feature, which has resulted in me replaying the first season of 30 Rock over and over again. I currently have the one-at-a-time plan, which is usually a great investment. Except for when I accidentally keep one for more than a month and the movie ends up sucking, i.e. Casino Royale, or love the movie but still take three weeks to watch it, i.e. Out of Africa. But today I got my Netflix movie, watched it, and mailed it back, all on the same day. Specifically I watched Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which was really cute and gave me the lovely Lee Pace with a British accent, i.e., perfection.

Day 303: Playing around

I made a quick trip to the mall tonite to find the last piece of my Halloween costume. Which, of course, I did not find. To console myself I wondered into Sephora to play around. This resulted in trying on $42 concealer and "intuitive" blush. The absurdly expensive concealer did nothing to conceal the absurd pimple above my lip. And the intuitive blush, which goes on clear and then apparently magically determines what it thinks is your best color, decided Barbie doll hot pink is what looks best on me. Needless to say, the concealer and blush are safely in their bins, while the top coat and lip butter went home with me.

Day 302: And the world spins madly on

Day one of a two-day meeting means I am exhausted. It's shaping up to be a busy week and what better way to make it seem crazier than by spinning around in a circle on one foot with my eyes closed. The sad part was having to think about whether or not I've ever done this in my life before. I really hope not. And if for some reason I have the new thing can also be stepping on my work computer, which I did as I spun like a crazy person. I couldn't make this up if I tried.

Day 301: "How do I look?" (Holly G., Breakfast at Tiffany's)

As usual, the weekend went by far too fast. Back to the grindstone today, and back to an accidental nap when I got home. (It's getting harder to call them accidents when I take one everyday.) Anyway, I attempted to rejuvenate myself with silly internet distractions, including playing with virtual Audrey Hepburn paper dolls. I love Audrey, and I used to love paper dolls, so playing with them online - which instantly makes it mature - was a great combination.

Day 300: The things I do

I've had these slippers for a few years now that are not only warm and comfortable, but that I think strongly resemble actual shoes. I was tempted several times in college to actually wear them as shoes, but never had the nerve. But today, heading to the grocery store a block away, I decided to wear my slippers as shoes.

Hmm, looking at this picture, they do look like slippers. Oh well, too late now.

Day 299: I live for the weekends

I know I do a pretty good job of showing the hip and exciting life of a 20-something singleton in the city. Really. I mean, what's more hip than sticking a spoon on your nose or putting your clothes on backwards - on purpose? And then blogging abou it. It's ok to be jealous. Especially as I present today's new thing: making an animal out of pipe cleaners and fuzzy ball things! I know, you can barely contain your awe and jealousy.

I ran errands all day today, in the rain, mostly centered around getting a Halloween costume together. And as I required pipe cleaners and fuzzy balls, I ended up buying a kit that not only gave me these, but also the option to make little animals. And thus I present, Siegfried, the cat. (Personally, I think he looks like a bear, but whatever.)


Chilling with Hillary the donkey and my fuzzy Carolina thing.
Now to make this post even cooler...

I went to Toys R Us today, mainly to look for a piece for a costume, but of course I ended up in the Barbie section. This section has been on the decline in most stores for the past few years, but today it was pretty good. And it had the most kick-ass Barbie of all, Barbie for President! In Caucasian brunette or blonde, or African-American. Sadly, as much as I wanted it, I didn't buy it. Too much other stuff to buy and do and I didn't want to carry it around. But I will be back.

Day 298: Kriss Kross will make you...

...accidentally fall asleep for two hours, groggily take a shower to wake up, then accidentally put your pants on backwards, which you then turn into a new (sad) thing by putting your hoodie on backwards, too.

My lyrics convey much more than "jump, jump."

Yes, taking the cue from Mr. Kriss and Mr. Kross, a decade or so too late, I wore my clothes backwards. For just a minute, as it looks and feel creepy.

Day 297: Bye bye

First, it was the actual moving away. Then, it was the taxes, voter registration, and checks. And now, begrudgingly, I shed yet another vestige of my life in the Old North State by getting a DC ID card.

And what is my punishment for moving away and making this leap? A wonky eye. Yes, continuing the tradition started in my permit picture, where my shoulders were at my ears, and my last ID card, where my hair was messy and too dark, I took another bad DMV picture. This time, the flash made me blink, but only with one eye, thus making me look like this:


Since I've been making fun of her eye for years. I suppose you could call this karma. But when I typed "wonky eye" in Google image search, the first 20 were her, and I laughed some more. Oops.

I don't like the card colors and while the shot of the Capitol in the background is nice, it's not the Cape Hatteras lighthouse or Wright Brothers plane. Though, I am quite happy to no longer have the "UNDER 21" emblazoned by my head in yellow. At least I maintain the 919 area code and my continual payments to UNC, can't quite shake my sweet Carolina just yet.

Day 296: At least the sweater is a new color

I spent time last night unpacking all my winter clothes and packing up all my summer. Naturally, after seeing how badly I don't need any more clothes, I went to Gap after work to check out their sale anyway. After narrowing down my seven items to three, and getting in line, I ran into a co-worker with a Gap discount who got me 30% off my already discounted purchases. I now feel 30% less guilty for buying them in the first place.