LoschDog May Get Jealous

So the LoschDog maaayyy get jealous. ManLosch and I filled out applications to volunteer with kitties at PetSmart. It's a cat rescue and we filled out the applications to be Cat Caregivers, also known as the kitties bitches. We clean out their cages, feed them, change their bedding and litter, and play with them. Even though we only trained tonight, I've already fallen in love with some of them, especially the kittens. They were SOOOO cute.

But before you jump to conclusions, hear this: CATS ARE VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE. Holy crap. I thought ManLosch walkin the pup was enough, but cats are...eh. Cute, but they need a lot, especially shelter cats. I liked it though and can't wait until we're on our regular schedule. :-)
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Damn You Karma

ManLosch and I went to the mall today. Even AFTER I said "We aren't going to participate in Black Friday," we participated in Black Friday. It wasn't that bad though; we went a little later and went to Rhode Island to shop. :)

So anywho, we're in a shop and I'm about to purchase an item, and ManLosch looks down and says, "Hey someone dropped a dollar." We were like "Hmm ok." Then we were like "Well it's a dollar, we'll just pick it up." Holy crap, it was 1 dollar PLUS 99 dollars. Someone dropped a $100 bill in the store. We practically shat our pants. So I said, "So do we give it to someone?" He said, "Well it's cash. If we give it to the front to ask the store, EVERYONE will run for it." So we lingered in the store for an extra 15 minutes looking for anyone who looked like they lost something. No one. Nothin'. So I checked out and the woman asked "Do you want to donate money to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital? I didn't hear her and ManLosch said," YES. YES YOU DO. JUST DO IT."

So we walked out and I thought, "Well what do we do?" I called my mom and asked her. We weighed every possible option. Cash...in a mall....during the holidays. Really? So we went to the police and asked them and they said, "HA! Merry Christmas...take your lady out for a nice dinner. It's cash. There's not a whole lot you can do about it. But you also don't find alot of people who would have said something or thought about it either."

Soooo in the end...we're $100 richer. But I still feel like I didn't balance out the universe correctly, ya know? It wasn't mine to begin with, but maybe we were meant to find it. I was also told it was a trap. So who really knows? What I DO know, is that we aren't spending the money on ourselves. We found it, but that doesn't mean we should necessarily keep it.

So welcome to my 2nd giveaway of the month. Just comment on this blog about what you'd do with $100 for the holidays and you'll be placed into a random drawing for a $15 Target giftcard. The rules? You have to be a follower, there needs to be 10 or more comments, and the last day to comment will be December 8th (I'm giving a little extra time because of the holidays and the lack of keeping up with posts).

Hopefully karma won't kick my black ass for this. :)

Let Us Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! It's been a nice day so far, taking it slow. Cooking and watching tv. I have my in-laws here and my friend Joey (say hi Joey). We're also about to play Wii. So this morning, as ManLosch and I were waking up, I started thinking about all the things I was grateful for. I started thinking that because I was extremely grateful to have slept in this morning and not have my phone ring or have to be at my desk at work. So I thought, "Why not share with everyone what I'm grateful for?" These are the things that I'm grateful for:

My husband
My family
My dog
My amazing friends
H&M
Soul Food
People who hate minivans
Cream cheese frostings
Barnes & Noble
Coupons from Nine West that appear in my email
iPods
Public Transportation (sometimes)
Madame CJ Walker
Deep fryers
Newbury Comics

I'm grateful for lots of other things too, but what are YOU grateful for? (besides having the opportunity every day to wake up and read my blog :-) )

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holidaaaaaaaaaaay

It's here. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Or as I like to call it, "FriWednesday." You can feel the buzz of excitement at work, hoping to get let out early. The frustration or elation of packing up your car to go visit family. And Black Friday (which I never dare bother with).

I love Thanksgiving; I go all out with the cooking. But the Friday after is sometimes the best because that's when ManLosch and I pull out the Christmas decorations, put on some music, and start decorating the apartment. One year, I would like our apartment to look like something the Griswold's would have put up ("Why is the carpet wet TODD??? I don't know MARGO!!") but until we have enough space for that to happen, we'll settle for the smaller decorations placed around the entire apartment.

I've got alot of reading, writing, and sleeping on my agenda this weekend. Feel free to stop by and lounge around with me. Watch a movie. If you're driving, be safe; no texting and driving and use a handsfree device if you have to talk kids. I don't need to get a call in the middle of my night that some deer jumped out in front of your car and kidnapped your boyfriend or girlfriend because you were too busy texting your friends. Bring me some pie back or something too. And a Snuggie.

Did You Forget To Share The Road??

Don't you remember me asking people to "Share The Damn Road?" I asked you, yes you, the bicyclist to share the road with me while I drive.

But I must extend this to a few other people as well. Are you listening? Because this is important. Minivans, I am asking you to SHARE THE ROAD. This morning, as I was driving down School Street:
(See the smile on my face?)
And I was slowing down because I was driving down a hill and coming towards a red light. A minivan was at a side street waiting to turn right onto the street:

Instead of waiting for me to safely brake behind the next car, the minivan decided to peel around the corner causing me to jam on my brakes and yell a long string of profanities:



This is why no one likes you minivan. I'd also like to throw in Subaru's and Volvo's when there are kids on board. Just because you are transporting children, does NOT give you the right to turn at your leisure, choose your own speed limit, and drive in between two lanes. Normally though, on a daily basis, I hate minivans. ManLosch has a stronger hatred of minivans, whereas before I could tolerate them, but today, minivan douche, you have been placed on my shitelist.

Also, bicyclist on my blindspot on the left side of my car, I CANNOT SEE YOU. Don't ride that close to my car. I drive a truck (well, an SUV/truck..a hybrid if you may) and I have no problem pummeling your ass, which is exactly what could have happened if I didn't do a double take while turning left from my lane.

One more time everyone and let's say it together: SHARE THE M&*$%^$%ING ROAD!!!!!

Why I Like Work

Okay, so sometimes I have these moments at work with my friend J (Punch-A-Pony) that make me laugh inside and sometimes laugh outside. He sends me this link online today:
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/thanksgiving/5-no-cook-thanksgiving-appetizers-546459/

And the following quick conversation ensues:

J: make me the turkey!
L: what? no.
J: YES!

woman...get in the kitchen and make me some pie!

L: you nerd

J: respect my authority

L: respect my fat ass.

J: exactly

These are sometimes, the bright spots of my days. Thanks J. :)

So 10 people commented on my blog and I used www.random.org to generate a random drawing for everyone. Each person that commented was assigned a number based on when they commented on the post. I used those 1-10 numbers and the magic number is 8! So congrats JK! You'll be receiving your $10 iTunes gift card very shortly.

I'll be doing one more random drawing before the end of the month is over since this one actually worked. Keep an eye out for the next giveaway!

It's The Most Expensive Time Of The Year

I've been doing alot of thinking lately about what to get people for Christmas. Usually, I don't start to recognize Christmas until AFTER Thanksgiving, but thanks to the holiday overload America puts us on (Christmas music on the radio right after Halloween, lights up, decorations already lit and prominent, Christmas trees available weeks ago), you kinda don't have a choice BUT to start thinking about it. Which also led me to think, "Damn Gina, I ain't got NO money!!"

So what kind of gifts do you buy for people when you're strapped for cash yourself? I thought, "Everyone will think I'm lame." But I took a moment to realize that I shouldn't be scoffed at for trying to save my own money or spending that money on something that will benefit ManLosch and I in the long run. I work hard for my paycheck and I'll be damned if I spend all of it on frivolous gifts this year. So I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am to be creative with gifts this year. No, there will be no nasty fruitcakes and shit. But I hope to bring smiles to faces, per usual.

Know what else sucks? My birthday is 5 days after Christmas. So here are the excuses I get:
"Hey Lex, Christmas was 5 days ago, so here is your birthday AND Christmas gift!"
"Eh, I'm tired from the family gatherings and I'm going out tomorrow for New Year's Eve, so I'm going to opt out of going out with you tonight."

So guess what? Remember that gift I gave you on your birthday or on Christmas? Count that as both. I'm a recessionista, what can I say?

I can't wait for the holidays!

I <3 Brookline Booksmith

There is an independent bookseller in Brookline called Brookline Booksmith. The Augusten Burrough's event was held through them (his holiday book is just DELIGHTFUL INDEED) and I bought my book there. I also bought a bargain book from them at the Boston BookFair. So I figured, this must be a good store, let me check it out.

Well I also found out that they buy used books too. I brought in some old paperback chick lit books today just to see if they'd buy them back and I was given the option of about $12 or $17 in store credit. STORE CREDIT PLEASE! Their used book area downstairs is AMAZING and they have great bargain books upstairs too. I bought 4 books today and with the credit, only spent $4. I left completely in love with this place. Like dizzy in love. Can you be dizzy in love with a bookstore? I don't know, but I am.

Now excuse me, I have some reading to attend to.

Kathy, it's you. Not me.

I went to Panera for a salad today for lunch to go with my soup that Jared (Punch-A-Pony) made and brought in last night. I got to the register and noticed that Kathy was working today. Kathy is an older woman...like 70 or 75 maybe. If she's only 50, then she's had ALOT of hardships in her life.

Anyway, there was a gentleman already giving her his order. And as usual, she was slower than molasses. I moved around a bit. I looked at the manager behind the counter in hopes that he'd come over and take my order at a different register. No such luck. He just gave me this look like "Damn, I'm sorry you got Kathy."

So she finally gets to me and I give her my order and she says "What did you say you wanted?" You gotta be kidding me right? I re-state my order and then she says, "What's your name?" I say "Alexis." Wanna know how she spelled it?

A-I-E-X-I-S (I will post a picture of the receipt later.)

C'mon Kathy. I know it wasn't the way I said it. I'm going to need you to step it up, or um...well....we'll see. I may complain. At least my Greek salad was right. Kathy, we'll try again next week, okay? Go clean out your hearing aid please.