twilight

oh

my


god.

I'm not sure why I'm like 100 years late on the whole twilight phenomena, but i read the first book yesterday. the entire book. I couldn't put it down! I'm ADDICTED. All I want to do is rush out to the nearest book store and buy the next three so I can devour them quickly.

I've already heard the last book is a bit of a letdown, but I don't even care.

Okay, and also. Whoa on the sexual tension. Its almost like a steamy romance novel! I was pretty close to creaming my pants. Edward is just so dreamy ::sigh::

i would really love to find a twilight themed bar back in chicago. mmmmm

Christmas (a little late)

So for those of you who didn't know, I had to work on christmas. This meant that I was not able to spend Christmas eve or Christmas day with Neill or his family (as his brothers and him traveled back to WV on Wednesday).

However, Neill's family --in their infinite kindness--postponed their Christmas celebration until today! So, after work on Thursday I made my way over to O'Hare and hopped on a flight to Columbus, OH. Unbelievably, my flight left on time! Mom, Jared, Kurt, and Neill came to pick me up in their pimp escalade and we got back to their house around midnight.

After some quick hanging out, I crashed hard and slept late. Yessss. Today was mainly spent eating a HUGE meal (turkey, mashed potatoes, beans, curry chicken, croissants, stuffing, corn souffle), lazing around reading/watching tv/playing dominoes/watching tv/etc., and opening presents!

omg. I'm so relaxed. I can't believe the last time I've spent a whole day doing NOTHING. le sigh. This is the good life :)

Anyhoo, Neill's mom just finished showing neill and I how to make jamaican beef patties (but with turkey). yum.

I hope all of you are enjoying the holidays!!!!!

(As a side note, the only problem with my travels were my new boots. My feet were soooooooooooo hot on the plane. boo.)

Santa brought me an early present!

Meet my new boots! They are awesome. Now I will walk wherever I want and not be afraid of puddles or snow or ice or mountains. Bam.

boys boys boys

my apartment is filled with men right now. Neill is sleeping like a baby in bed and two of his brothers, Kurt and Jayson, are sleeping in our living room. They stayed up to the ungodly hour of like 6 in the morning so I'm thinking I'm going to have quite a bit of alone time on my hands this morning. (Which is cool and everything. I like being alot. But, I don't like having to be alone and quiet).

I feel as though I haven't written an update on here for a while and now too many things have happened. So, all you fools will just have to miss out on the fabulously exciting tales of Mme. Alisha. Key words would be: Wilde, latkes, glug, party, friends, family, presents, Chanukah, Christmas, cookies, and CAKE.

I've been trying to keep up with working out among all of the food and merriment, but man it is HARD to want to go to the gym when the temperature is in the negatives. brrr. Although, I've got to say, once I get to the gym and get all warmed up it feels good. Plus, I want to stay there longer (and thus work out more) simply to avoid going back outside. Yesterday when I was there, I saw a woman meeting with a personal trainer. This is something I've been toying with for a while, but I'm sort of emabarrassed to do it. Ya know? I want someone to show me up to get buff (in this sense or in this sense, not this sense). Whoo. Anyhoo, I could look up pictures like this all day so I'm just going to stop now.

There is laundry to be done!

2nd Night of Chanukah!

Drr the menorah is backwards in the first two pictures. Ooops.

Happy Chanukah!

Inspiration

So back in the day I wrote a post or two about my fear of creepy christians. I would like to say, for the record, that this fear still exists.

That being said,

check this out!

I think this video is extremely inspiring and it has an important message--let's not forget those less fortunate than ourselves. You don't have to look far to find someone that could use some help. Even a small gesture might make a difference for some. If there is something I have learned while working at the National Runaway Switchboard, it is that if you don't have a dollar everything may as well be a million bucks. When someone does not have enough money to call someone or when they don't have money to take the bus or when they don't have warm clothes for winter, enough to eat, or diapers for their baby all they need is a little assistance. A little help. I challenge everyone to do something for someone in a position of need this holiday season. Because the truth is, every single one of us is lucky and we do have a duty to help.

*Note, I have no idea who this Hillsong group is and I probably disagree with the majority of their beliefs and messages. But seriously, who can't get behind helping people?

fantasy

Is it just me, or is the commercial for Britney Spears' perfume horribly wrong?

Man hunts woman and shoots her (because he just can't help himself). She was about to go off and do her own thing (world domination), but once she gets shot in the back she realizes that this is a fulfillment of her secret fantasy and so the hunter and the hunted are able to spend the rest of their lives together.

gross.

On the upside, I got the cutest little tabby cat tape dispenser at NRS' staff holiday luncheon. I love office supplies!

Shopping

Oh.My.God.

Capitalism.Overload.
Shopping.Overload.
Spending.Overload.

What is it about shopping for other people that suddenly makes it okay to "lot loose" and buy things for yourself that you would usually never splurge on?

I bought this super sweet heather colored cardigan at Old Navy today. I <3 the color, but it was 30 bucks! The rational side of me knows that it will probably go on sale for at least 50% off in like a month (or less!), but the cray cray side of me wanted it NOW. And so I have it NOW. I'm going to wear it this weekend :)

Now, I know what you are thinking (scratch that. I hope that you are thinking) that some cardigan from Old Navy isn't exactly a crazy splurge. And you know what? That is exactly what I told myself to justify that purchase. And so I agree with you. Thanks for being on my side :)

Oh. And I don't even need to work on justifying the full price chocolate color cords I got. I NEEDED them so I could stop almost getting in trouble at work for wearing jeans on the weekends. That is a work related expense. I'm pretty sure its even tax deductible. So really I'm saving money on that one. Mmmhmm.

On the total upside:
+We got awesome presents for other people
+I got to spend all day with Brian!!!!!
+I got my shopping fix for probably the next 6 months
+Endless salad at Olive Garden (and breadsticks yum)

On the total downside:
-Spending 2 hours driving through a snow storm to get home

And on the totally unrelated side:
-A couple that lives on our floor left a card outside of our door wishing as a MERRY CHRISTMAS. As the resident Mrs. Scrooge, I must say one thing about this. I am so tired of people assuming everybody is christian. That is all.

Must Stop

Chocolate eaten yesterday:

5-7 hershey's kisses
3 mini reeces pieces
2 ghiradelli chocolate squared of the eggnog and peppermint bark variety.
1 (big) bite of chocolate pecan cake

I've got to stop!

Out of Habit

Man it is fucking cold outside today like nobody's business.

Yesterday, was NRS' volunteer and community holiday party. We had it at Wishbone and lots of volunteers and their friends (or what we like to call them - friends of NRS) were there. To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to going. (I'm sure all of you are just soooo surprised that I was hesitant to go to a party. haha). But, I'm so glad I put on my big girl panties and sucked it up. I HAD A BLAST! All of my favorite people were there and I could actually talk to them thanks to the vodka and sodas I sucked down to lubricate social graces. And my my my how gracious I became! But, seriously, it was just a really positive time. I feel much more appreciative of the awesome people I have met through NRS. I work with some cool ass peeps. And, I've gotten the chance to meet some badass people who volunteer at NRS. So really, last night was just one big love fest all around.



Check this out - you can totally tell that I am highly skilled in the sorority girl picture pose. BAM.






Of course, as fate would have it, tonight I'm sitting all by myself. I'm vegging on the couch and I am currently wrapped in an electric blanket. It sure is toasty . . . but I can't help being a bit worried that I'm going to get electrocuted or die of a nose bleed. Hmmm I wonder if it is even possible to die of a nose bleed? We also have no food in the house, so that is sad. I had to eat cereal for dinner. Poo. At least it is that delicious peanut butter flavored cereal - Puffins. That shit is the BOMB.

I'm supposed to be holiday shopping, but of course thats not going anywhere. It has been on my to do list for like a month and I haven't bought one thing for one person yet. Although, I did go through my house to collect all the junk I don't want anymore and I have plans to regift it to people. ALL OF YOU ARE GETTING USED LOTIONS AND CANDLES. please deal with this. I've really got to get stuff for the families . . .my mom and dad are easy (a massage and a sweater or two), but neill's parents are always a bit trickier. Especially his dad. Wouldn't it be funny if I gave someone some spit? hahahahahaha man that thought just cracks me up.

Speaking of crack. I'm on it. This electricty is frying my brain!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm turning into scrambeled eggs. Fuck.

I should go.
Good bye.

RtD Review!

Ready the Destroyer's CD, Through This Night, was just reviewed by Jack Rabid, the publisher and editor of The Big Take-Over!

Check out what he had to say:

"This is punchy punk the way I've always liked it best: deft, well-played, melodic, and not the least bit simple. This multi-racial (hurrah to that!) Chicago trio work in a fair bit of '80s emo on their debut. too, so they sound younger, less "old school" '77 ramalama. Leader Neill Miller already sounded like a bad ass guitar guy (he plays circles around most) and ballsy singer long before I got a gander at his equally bad-ass afro out of The Mod Squad. Yowsa! Meanwhile, his nondescript looking rhythm section of Aaron Cleall bass and Nic Lama drums are no slouches in talent quotient, either, holding down a pulsing basis for Miller's stabbing, ripping leads and dangerous rhythm parts. Hard-hitting, serious, and smart, RtD are, like The Soft Boys, ready to destroy you". (readythedestroyer.com)

-Jack Rabid, Big Takeover, Issue #63

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Ready The Destroyer @ Quencher's 12/6/08

James and Chocolate Stout

Ready The Destroyer

Me

Jung and Lisa

James, Neill, Ruanna

In the oven right now

You are going to be totally jealous of the delicious dinner Neill and I are about to embark on. That is, unless you are a vegetarian. If so, I'm sure you are already aware that your opinion does not matter.

So, I should first tell you that it is a recipe from my favorite food network house wife. Let's see if you can guess who from the description!

Last night we made a marinade for the chicken that consisted of:
-the juice of 4 freshly squeezed lemons
-3/4 cup olive oil
-Salt & Pepper
-1/2 tablespoon thyme

After letting the chicken soak up all of those fine juices over night, we popped those babies in the oven about 30 minutes ago.

While the chicken was cooking, I made a satay dip. First, I sauteed a small onion with olive oil, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes for about 10-15 minutes. After the onion became transparent, I whisked in vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, ketchup, sherry, fresh lime juice, and, of course, peanut butter! I let that cook for about a minute or two and then took it off the heat to cool.

Right now, we are waiting for the chicken to be done so that we can dig in!

On a side note, please don't judge me for all of my posts being about food. Don't hate. Appreciate.

Oh, on another side note, we had the most annoying kids calling in today to NRS and pranking us. They just wouldn't stop. I think they must have called us like 50 times. And they kept telling me that they shot my momma. Very disconcerting :( I almost snapped on them.

Photos of the Holidays

Once upon a time there was a super hot momma and her daughter.

The super hot momma decided that she would be a saint and host Thanksgiving and invited her daughter, her daughter's bf, her daughter's father, and his sister.


The daughter believes that she also got some of her stunning looks from her father and so needed a photo to document this fact.

And while the family Thanksgiving was special and touching and all that jazz, little did people know that just the night before the daughter had her OWN Thanksgiving with tons of food specially prepared by her boyfriend and her boyfriend's life long manfriend.

They made a 20 pound turkey.


And two chocolate bourbon pecan pies.


And 10 pounds of potatoes that they mashed with cheddar cheese, real bacon, sour cream, and jalapenos.


All in all they were very pleased with themselves.




Unfortunately, there exists no photo documentation of the other deliciousness that they made, but you will just have trust in god that it was the bomb.

The end.

mmmm

+ mmm almost time to start dinner (roasted carrots with dill & roasted spicy cashews over salad).
+the princess bride is on!
+delicious ethiopian food last night for Fro's birthday. And cheap! There were like 12 of us and we all stuffed ourselves for about 12 bucks a person. OMG so freaking good.
+top chef = best t.v ever

-COLD COLD COLD COLD COLD. i almost died on my 5 block walk from the bus to home today. like seriously. i almost just gave up and laid down on the side walk to wait for death. it was awful awful awful. BRRRRRRR

fast girls

Today has been an amazing day of lazing around the house, eating thanksgiving leftovers, and semi-productively working on my graduate school applications. I hope to have six submitted by the end of today! That means only four more to go. Whew. I've already sent out my applications to UT-Austin, University of Vermont, Kansas University, DePaul University and Loyola University. I'm working on the application for the University of MO-Columbia today and then once I'm done with that I will only have do to the University of Utah, University of MO - St. Louis, IU-Bloomington, and University of Nevada - Las Vegas. My next week or so will be hectic with trying to get those in, but I will be richly rewarded with Chanukah, a visit from Jayson and Kurt, and then a trip to WV for Christmas. Sweet sweet holiday relaxation.

Right now, however, instead of working I'm just waiting for some laundry to dry so that I can go to the gym and get my clothes all dirty again. Then Neill and I are going to go see Elizabeth Elmore of Sarfe and The Reputation at the Double Door. I saw her perform at Schubas last year and fell even more in love with her songs so I'm super excited for tonight. She is opening for Juliana Hatfield. I have no idea who that is, but neill says I'll like her. We shall see!

don't call it a come back

So I guess I forgot about this blog for a while. Ooops. Don't worry though, nothing too interesting happened in October or November. The highlights follow

+ End of September/beginning of October I visited my g.pa in Florida for Rosh Hashana.
+Oct 2 was Ready The Destroyer's CD release show at Reggie's Rock Club
+I saw Ani Difranco at the Chicago Theater on October 6th
-I got my wisdom teeth pulled on October 17th and spend the next two weeks pretty much dead to the world. Ugh.
+Halloween on October 31st!
-I missed Knox's Home Coming on Halloween weekend because I had to work. boo.
+Neill's 30th Birthday extravaganza on November 2nd! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO!
+++++++++++++OBAMA+++++++++++++++
-Working on graduate school applications. boooring.
+Nov 25th Neill and I went to see LuLu at the Lyric Opera.
+Thanksgiving with Neill and James and then the next day with family!
+November 29th checked out Sydney's new apartment for her birthday and saw lots of people from high school. Slightly awkward, but fun night.
+Dorothy's birthday dinner on the 30th!

So that pretty much catches everyone up and brings us to today. James and Jung are supposed to be coming over later and we are going to cook/chill. Fun!