leafing through

I just had a sudden realization of something I witnessed about 2 or 3 months ago.

Riding home from work on the Metro, it was maybe 7PM or so on a Friday night I think, two young (20s) people hopped on board. They looked like they’d just gone shopping or out somewhere, there were a couple of bags. It didn’t appear as if they were a couple, maybe friends or acquaintances. They didn’t appear to sit very close or familiarly together. She appeared kinda’ FOBby or maybe they both did. They were talking and smiling, a bit distanced politeness or shyness and then his stop came and he waved good-bye to her and she waved bye. No hugs or kisses. Just a friendly wave. Then she kept waving and I couldn’t see if he was standing there waving back or what but she kept waving and re-waving and then as the train pulled away, she started frowning, then crying. I was staring, maybe slackjawed. Or not. But I kept wondering what that was about. Was one of them leaving for good? Going away on business? Long distance relationship in two different college towns? Did he give her an indian burn before stepping off the train while I wasn’t looking? And I have no idea why it even entered my brain this afternoon but I think I may have figured it out. I think she regretted not getting that pair of cute shoes when they’d gone shopping. Non-buyers remorse.

It’s funny I thought I’d have more free time after I was done with school but I don’t feel it. I can’t believe we’re already into the third month of 2010! Part of it is moving out, having to do chores (which is time and labor intensive!) and another part is this new job which has longer hours than the last job. With my current schedule, school wouldn’t be impossible, but it’d definitely be a bit more challenging. Then again, if I really look honestly at how I spend my weekends, I do putz around a lot. Aside from cooking, which I resumed due to interest and necessity, I’ve mostly been enjoying my free time, relaxing, watching TV (I find 16 and Pregnant very intriguing.), and playing with the chinchillas. Lately, I’ve picked up reading for pleasure again. Before starting school, 2007, I was in the middle of reading The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. I finally finished it on the Metro to and from work. Then I read The Tipping Point and Freakonomics. Then Confessions of a Shopaholic (Excellent!! But it made me impulsively purchase a face product at the Lancome counter for free makeup which only a year ago I said I wasn’t going to do! And buy a pair of boots, but they’re cute and on sale!), and now I’ve started Catch-22 (It’s bizarre and somewhat frustrating). I don’t know what’s next on my hobby list, but it feels good to slowly pick things up where I left off when my personal time was put on pause for school. Maybe the next hobby I reinstate will be… knitting? Maybe!

My heartburn. I thought it was gone but after almost a week of that burning and finally resorting to a night sleeping upright, I’m cryin’ uncle. Pass me the Prilosec. Thinking back to what I’d been eating, I think I can safely point to what triggered it: citrus season. Florida grapefruit, tangerines, limes. Oh and coffee. I skipped coffee yesterday – a weak attempt at quitting. I still had a grapefruit last night and this morning, 2 cups of joe. I like to live life on the edge. Ugh, it sucks to have geriatric issues.

The sis and b-i-l went to Spain and brought me back these. I love them, they’re fun and have just the right dangle.

Tis Friday after a crazy week dealing with unstable and mean people at work. I’m so relieved! I love my job – I love my job – I love my job. Also since last week, I’ve been dealing with acid reflux and heartburn. At first, I thought it was running that caused it but the gastroenterologist thinks maybe I just produce too much acid. Here all along, I thought I had an iron stomach. I can eat ANYTHING! Anything except coffee, fruit, wine, juice, kimchee, pickled anything. Last week, I was nearly done in by an innocuous peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I downed Maalox to put out the fire and it helped for all of 5 seconds as it went down my throat. So I’ve truly given up coffee (for now), no cheating. Also, the doc said no food or drink 2 hours before bed. For anyone who likes to keep water by their nightstand, save it til morning or you run the risk of pissing off your esophagus. And if you like eating as much as I do, that just sucks.

Look at this big hulking camera! I LOVE IT!!! It’s a gift to myself. Just charged the battery last night and I’ll test it out today.

Oh, and after all that load of crockery on choosing healthy foods, I had Five Guys for lunch yesterday. It was delicious! I love their fries!

Last night was the first night of coming home from work and not having to think about any school work. Now that I have all this free time, let’s see how I fill it. I get the feeling it’ll be 95% putzing around the house (which I executed beautifully last night) and 5% reading. I ended up reading 5 pages of Freakonomics (very entertaining and amusing) and then falling asleep by 10. I now have three unfinished books by my bed.

Even though I have a “usual” hairlady, for the past three haircuts, I’ve gone to three different people. The first was back in July of last year at a Vietnamese barber shop where the lady gave me a rough cut. Not great, but not devastating either considering I couldn’t really communicate much to her. I like to think my wavy hair is pretty forgiving of most haircuts as long as it’s below shoulder length. The next person was in California this past March. It was a bit shorter, lying just below the shoulder, but I liked it and it grew out nicely. Last night, I went to a guy’s house to get my haircut. The community, if you know who to talk to, is chock full of these at-home businesses. You’ll find full fledged hair salons in someones basement or even spas. So he works during the day at some salon charging $65 a haircut but for his basement run gig, it’s only $18. Nice. Only issue, I’m not sure I like my haircut, and I don’t say that often. Here’s the thing, I can’t see when I’m getting a haircut. After the glasses come off, I only tell whoever’s cutting my hair I want it long enough to tie up and bangs or no bangs. Because of that, I’m generally okay with whatever I end up with. This time though, I feel like he fobified me! He styled my hair stick straight like typical nice Asian hair then gave me a layered cut. All I need is the school girl outfit and I’m set for Halloween. I’m going back to Christina next time. She works with my waves.

The hair person’s advice for hair loss – eat more alkali foods such as seaweed and get more sleep. My doctor also advised me that stress can cause your hair to come out.

Great, the dentist is telling me to chill out or my teeth are going to get worn down to nubs, and now my doctor is telling me to chill out or my hair’s gonna fall out!! I need to move to the Caribbean.

When I first started school two years ago, I was so excited and eager. A year later, I was tired and ready to be done. Now that the last day of class is in two weeks, on October 17th, 1PM (who’s keeping track?), I’m feeling relieved yet wistful. A lot has happened in these two years. I’ve met so many people, made new friends, and gotten a new job. I think back now and as much as I whined and complained about assignments and exams, overall, it’s been a good experience. Life during these two years have been good. Maybe even worth going into debt for it. I can’t believe I said that. When the loans start kicking in in February, I’ll probably be singing a different tune.

So let me whine my final whine. I have been procrastinating on my last assignment for a week now. I barely understand what we’re learning! I’ve gone on Facebook, read blogs online, blogged, and still I just barely figured out (finally after two nights of racking my brain and emailing the professor the stupidest questions — poor lady) gotten some numbers out of Excel Solver. I’m so screwed.

I’ve been in a total funk lately. Don’t care about school, don’t care to shop!!! (not that I can afford it anyway), don’t care for anything except maybe getting in my daily exercise. So there’s that at least.

Back in high school when I watched Oprah pretty regularly, I learned that you should keep a log of things you’re thankful for when you’re feeling particularly ungrateful or dissatisfied with the way your life’s going.  So I’m grateful for:

• my job and the flexible hours.
• the people who are still willing to deal with me and my current state of ass.
• beer (nod to Oktoberfest).
• my ability to pronounce most words properly.