First of all, sorry I forgot to update and tell you what my Valentine's present was. I had definitely built it up too much in my head because it wasn't the big huge deal I thought it was going to be, but it was still pretty sweet. I don't even totally know how to explain it, but it was a sort of box/pop up book with different pictures that were personal to us. I don't know how to describe it, so I'm going to leave it at that. It was sweet.

You knew I had to do this one, right?

Think of 20 albums, CDs, LPs (if you’re over 40), that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life. Dug into your soul. Music that brought you to life when you heard it. Royally affected you, kicked you in the wazoo, literally socked you in the gut, is what I mean. Then when you finish, tag 15 others, including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill.

1. Jimmy Eat World- Jimmy Eat World

2. Red Hot Chili Peppers- Blood Sugar Sex Magik

3. Radiohead- Pablo Honey

4. Starsailor- Silence Is Easy

5. The Killers- Hot Fuss

6. Greenday- Dookie

7. Jason Mraz- Waiting For My Rocket To Come

8. Damien Rice- O

9. Death Cab For Cutie- Transatlanticsm

10. Ben Folds Five- Whatever and Ever Amen

11. The Decemberists- The Crane Wife

12. Editors- An End Has A Start

13. Foo Fighters- The Colour and the Shape

14. Dave Matthews Band- Under The Table and Dreaming

15. Jeff Buckley- Grace

16. Bush- Sixteen Stone

17. The National- Boxer

18. Postal Service- Give Up

19. The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow

20. Snow Patrol- Eyes Open

I hate surprises.

Or, specifically, I hate poorly executed surprises.

My boyfriend spent Sunday working on something that he couldn't talk about that I would find out about sometime in the future. Now, he also spent the day working on a paper. He could have just said that, and not mentioned the mystery project. But now the not knowing is DRIVING ME INSANE.

I finally got out of him that whatever it is, I'll find out about on Saturday. We're not usually big Valentine's Day people, so this is odd.

I think for a really good surprise, the recipient should have no idea something is coming, then it's all Boom! Roasted! It's a little mean to telling someone like me that they have a surprise coming. (It's really hard to be in control when you're being surprise, you know?

He says I'm building it up too much, I'll be disappointed.

I just wish he wouldn't have said anything.

Don't you love it when you have one of those perfect days? Those days that don't end up at all like you think they're going to, but surprise you with their awesomeness?

I had one of those days recently. It started with my mom taking me out to breakfast at one of my favorites, First Watch. Then we went to the hardware store to get the accoutrement for hanging our new curtains.

After we finished hanging them, my boyfriend came to pick me up and we drove about an hour north to Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois. It was too cold to hike, but we drove through their scenic drive part, and it was still beautiful, even in winter. We saw several bald eagles while we were there, which is kind of cool, I suppose.

We wanted to eat dinner in Grafton, but it was still kind of early, so we stopped at the Grafton Winery to get a drink. After sampling several varieties, we settled on a bottle of their Harbor Red and settled into a table overlooking a marina and the Mississippi. No, it's not the most beautiful river in the world, but it was a pretty day. There was a dude playing music there, mostly awesome stuff like the Eagles and 90's rock. I realized if I was going to walk out of the winery I was going to need some food, since I skipped lunch, so we had a cheese and sausage platter and some yummy sandwiches.

On the drive home, I insisted we stop at the Alton Belle Casino, because it was the ugliest building I've ever seen on the outside, and I was dying to see what the inside looked like. It was not nearly as hideous inside, just normal generic casino.

Then we came home and snuggled in bed while watching The Sopranos. It's taken me five years, but I've finally convinced him to watch it with me, so that's a win.

So what do you consider a perfect day?

Stolen from LeSombre

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Usually wrapping paper- I like to make everything pretty. I'm excellent with ribbon and bows.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial- I don't want to kill a tree every year, plus it's a lot easier. And I'm allergic.

3. When do you put up the tree?
If it were up to me, probably never.

4. When do you take the tree down?
New Years-ish

5. Do you like eggnog?
I'm sure it's what evil tastes like

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I always liked getting clothes and earrings and whatnot.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My boyfriend, if he wants or needs anything, he buys it for himself.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom or my brother. My mom is happy with anything, and my brother always wants some sort of DVD or videogame.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
I surely do not

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail, I think it's nice to spend the time and effort.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I really can't think of anything, I'm easy to please

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story, of course.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
October or November. I usually have it done before December because I hate the crowds. I failed this year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No, I haven't. I usually like anything I get

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cookies and pie. And ham.

16. Lights on the tree?
Duh, of course.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Elf’s Lament, by the Barenaked Ladies or Carol of the Bells

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I wish I could stay home, instead we go to 7 different present opening things. It's exhausting.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Of couse

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
If I had a tree, I'd put a star. My mom puts an angel on.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning of course. It's always been what we do, and my boyfriend is even more emphatic about this.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The crowds, and people get so cranky.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Silver and clear, no color.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
We usually have a ham and thanksgiving-type sides.

25. What do you want for Christmas?
A pony. Or for Pushing Daisies to be uncanceled.

You may all remember the interview meme that went around last year, and Avitable decided to resurrect it. He asked me questions before, more than a year ago, and I thought it would be fun to do it again.

1. Shouldn't you be getting married and start popping out kids soon?

2. As a corollary to #1, when one of the kids looks like me, will your boyfriend mind?

He's a fairly hairy guy, I might be able to convince him it's his.


3. Tell me about a band that I don't even know exists and am missing out on experiencing.

I would love to. For starters, Editors. They're sort of a modern Joy Division, but I like them a lot better. Oh, and Starsailor. They're like Echo and the Bunnymen meets Coldplay. Doves are always good. The National always relaxes me.

Oh, and if you like quirky indie rock (which I believe you all should) I highly recommend The Decemberists. The lyrics are outstanding.


4. Since Missouri is the "Show Me" state, what will you show me?

That depends, of course, on how much I've had to drink.


5. If you had to choose between never seeing a movie or listening to music again, or never having sex with another person again, which would you choose?

I know this isn't going to be the popular choice, but I'd pick music and movies. I can get off watching movies by myself if need be. It would be tough, but I could do it. Not listening to music or seeing movies would probably kill me.



Want to be part of it? Follow these instructions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I've been trying to come up with a list of deal-breakers for quite awhile. I like to jump on bandwagons, and everyone's been been talking about their deal breakers in relationships.

It turns out I'm not that picky, because this took me a really long time to come up with.

1. Bigotry- This is probably my most important. I can accept almost anything, but what I can't accept is discrimination (and yes, I count being against marriage for everyone as bigotry and discrimination). I'm a big fan of letting people live freely.

2. Not able to support himself- I don't expect a millionaire, but I like going out to eat and seeing movies. I know it's shallow, but I'm used to living comfortably.

3. No sense of humor- I don't expect a Mitch Hedberg, but you need to at least be able to appreciate other people's jokes. Life is too long to take so seriously.

4. Not able to stand up to me- I like to be pushy, but I take being told no pretty well also. I need you to be able to tell me no. Everyone thinks I'm the controlling one in my relationship, but it's pretty darn balanced. I'm just more vocal.

5. Not independent- I don't care it it's me, or his mother, or his church, I need someone who is able to think and act on his own. There's not much that bothers me more than someone who is willing to follow blindly. There's nothing wrong with thinking freely. This includes momma's boys. Seriously, dude, grow up.

I think that's it. I've dated all sorts of different guys, I wouldn't say I have a type. Tall, short, fat, thin, smart, dumb, Catholic, protestant, Democrat, Republican, I've dated you all.

I've never been as overwhelmed in a class as I am right now. In case I haven't complained enough, I hate this architecture class. I've never wanted to be an architect. Not even in a "Hmm, that wouldn't suck" sort of way. I've always thought it would suck. The attention to detail/anal retentive nature is way too much for me, and I am god-damned anal retentive.

As of tomorrow, I need to have four elevations, a construction-ready floorplan, site plan, vicinity map, construction details, door schedule, door elevations, wall section, and two details done. For the most part, they are. I actually thought I was done and I printed everything out and I was ready to go. Then my boyfriend noticed I had lettered my windows wrong, so I had to re-do every drawing.

I don't know when I'll get to print it all out, but I guess I'll figure it out.

Here's part of what I'm working on- I don't know why the fascia and trim work look shingled here, it looks white in Sketch-up, so whatever.



So that's why I haven't been around to comment on your blogs. I've been reading though, I promise. It's also why I never see my boyfriend and don't sleep anymore.

As soon as I'm done with this, I'll have more time to stress about the holidays.