Thanks a lot, whoever made Azumanga Daioh available via Google video. You've made me waste away half my weekend!

Friday I was pretty worn out from leaving the house early, getting to work, and trying to catch up on all of the little projects I'm working on. All that after taking my final exam for business law and doing laundry in the same night! I was a little productive, at least. After work, I stopped in to Target and finally bought some non-annoying sunglasses (with cute but poorly etched cherry blossoms on the side, and black, which is not my color, but one doesn't complain when they finally find a pair of glasses that don't sit crooked), a pair of thick black sandals ($4.99!), and a Martha Stewart Weddings magazine (which I still haven't opened). Also stopped by TJ Maxx and bought a lovely DKNY organic cotton dress for $30. I called my parents and went for a run, where I saw two police officers stop, handcuff, and take away a boy walking just ahead of me on the street. Out of the blue, just like that. Time to start thinking about moving ... although I was suddenly able to run really fast. Had leftovers for dinner, and went to bed sort of late (thanks a lot AMV).

Saturday I had intentions of getting up earlier than 11. I really did. I took a 13-mile bike ride toward the beach, but didn't make it all the way. I got just shy of PCH before I stopped for some water to think about things. It was really windy, so I wasn't doing well at all. Anyway, I decided to readjust, go for it (I could just about see the ocean), but before I got going again some 50-something guys rode by and asked if I was OK. OK?? I just needed some water! When I got going again, though, I realized I was really sniffly - they probably thought I was crying. How lame. The way back wasn't so bad, because the wind was now behind me, so I went an extra couple of miles. It's miserable carrying your bike up to the 2nd floor after 13 miles...

I spent the rest of the day trying to use my Macy's and Victoria's Secret coupons, but couldn't find anything I wanted at all. Picked up the stuff I'd forgotten the day before at Target, stopped by the grocery store, and made crab and spinach enchiladas with a black bean and corn side. I recommend going easy on the cayenne though ... the salsa is hot too.

Sunday I had big designs to spend the day in Huntington Beach. First at the dress store, then to the mall there (the Macy's is nicer), and then to Seal Beach to try to drop off some clothes. I ended up sleeping too much and made a breakfast burrito instead, and washed off the patio furniture with this romantic idea of sitting on the patio finishing my Japan blogs, although the temperature has dropped. I called the dress store on the off chance that they wouldn't be busy today, and they said to come in at 3. I thought if I just went and looked again, maybe I'd find something I liked ... and I did. My consultant pulled out a dress first thing that I didn't really like at all, but they're super nice there and let me pull out a few more dresses that I'd seen in magazines and liked. Since I wasn't feeling too good about finding a dress ... ever ... I was game to try on the first. And had that moment when you think, "This is a wedding dress." After she added my favorite veil, I was sold. I tried on the others, and they were, of course, beautiful, but none of them were like the first. I'm planning on sleeping on it, and maybe getting another opinion (anyone want to go to the dress shop??), but I think I'm sold. Too bad it doesn't look the same in pictures.

I did end up going to the mall, and raided the Old Navy clearance (seriously, why do the malls by where I live suck??). In a slight change of plans, I was going to go to Ikea and try to make a mock-up of the centerpieces I'm envisioning, but I was too excited to send my mom pictures of the dress ... and hungry. So I had nachos and a pot pie while I searched, got sucked in to more Azumanga Daioh, and got distracted again. Tonight, first, will be yoga - then, finish those Japan blogs!!!!

Anyone else super, totally dig this?


Or is it just me? And the fact I'm not Buddhist?

This one goes out to Sam.


Sigh. I wish I'd just bitten the bullet and bought this back when they still sold them. Of course, they were only sold way back before designer purses were all the rage, and I thought it was stupid to pay $100 for something like that. Although, at the time, I gave in and bought a wool pea coat, because those were a Chicago style staple as well as Ms. Spade's bags. Little did I know, the perfect purse is totally worth that much, at least . I know, I know, I have the exact same bag in pink. But I'm afraid to carry it, because the straps are getting dirty (and nearly impossible to clean), and now that I'm almost finished with the degree, I feel somehow ... undermined ... by my affinity for the color.

I've even trolled eBay for one. You wouldn't believe how much they're going for! Sigh ...

Guess what I saw pulling out of the school parking lot a few nights ago?


You just can't make this stuff up. Again, proving that USC students have too much money on their hands.

There's so much going on, I'm just totally overwhelmed.

• Mother's day and my dad's birthday are very close this year. They're usually close, but this year just a few days apart. I missed out on all of the free/expedited shipping specials, but turns out I'm still a little early for my delivery dates. Which kind of sucks, since that means I have to wait a few more days to check them off my list!
  
• I renewed my driver's license. Can I just say again: hooray for online renewal!
  
• Another repeated hooray for economic stimulus packages. I did direct deposit so I don't have anything to complain about, but I'm still going to be toward the end. Oh well - that day I'll be refreshing my bank account allllll day.
  
• Hm, what do you send as a wedding gift when their wedding is only a week and a half away ... ? I'm so, so excited we're going to my college roommate's wedding. Even if it is in Chicago and two days before my last final exam. I'm anxious to get my life back! Oh ... I need to rearrange my work hours for my flight! And figure out what to wear! And how to pack it in a duffel bag!
  
• I really, really need to plan a visit to my parents. I haven't seen them in a long time. I haven't talked to them in a long time. And I have a big bag of gifts that I don't want to ship. And wedding plans that need to be discussed.
• My final project for my international trip was a mess, but at least it's over. Saturday was really hot, so it almost wasn't too awful to spend the day in class presentations. Now, I'm a week and a half in to my month-long finals marathon, with an exam this Thursday and my last final exam in a couple of Tuesdays. Then, two weeks off (which I'll be spending part of making up time at work), and back to class Mondays & Tuesdays, 6-10 pm.
  
• Work is really, really busy. I like what I'm doing now, getting the hang of things, and feel like I'm helping people. But there's virtually no down time! A friend of ours started working in the same building as me, one floor down, and I just got to go by and say hello today - none of my software was working!
  
• Andy is out of town this weekend, so I'm considering a trip to the bridal shop. Just a low key, no pressure perusal of the options. Also, especially if it's going to be 1,000 degrees this weekend, I'll spend some time at Cerritos mall. I have a couple Victoria's Secret coupons burning a hole in my purse, and the recent heat wave pointed out I need some basics for warmer weather.
  
• It's about time I start talking to photographers. Mainly, the one that I want.
  
• Before you know it, I'll be 26. Another milestone toward being graduated and married!
  
• Someone at my mom's work lent my parents the movie Superbad. I understand it was quite an eye-opener for them.
  
• Hooray for a new X Files movie! I used to love that show. I'm sure I wouldn't like it as much now, but I'd go see it for nostalgia's sake.
• We still haven't used our free Sunday brunch coupon. I'm thinking: penultimate semester celebratory brunch.
  
• I wanted to order business cards through school. A lot of people have said they're cheap, and they look quite nice. When I went to fill out the form, however ... it asked for my name. I can't use up 500 business cards (for only $15!) by next April ... what name do I put on them?? As Andy says, "Everything about you is in flux!"

I could go on and on. This is just the to-do list for the next month!

Hooray for money!

And for all my economically-knowlegable friends ... don't judge me for getting excited about free money. I know it won't help the economy. I know it won't even make a real difference in my economy. But in my mind, I've already bought a posh-er dress, paid off my car insurance, reserved classier flowers, bought plane tickets to St. Louis, a Thanksgiving trip to Mexico, and spent this check a hundred more ways.

And God bless America for direct deposit!

Licensed

The other day I got a letter from the DMV. This year my little Civic friend and I have a date with the smog test, but that letter doesn't usually come until the late summer or fall. So, I was a little afraid that the DMV was trying to tell me "girl, your car is so old that you had better start getting it smog-proved now."

But, it's just too early in the year for that. And, it was in a different envelope.

Nope, it's time to renew my driver's license.

What???? The validity of your driver's license just isn't one of those things that you think about on a day to day basis. More like, "Is my credit card valid?" or "Do I need gas?"

Sure, it's no big deal. I've even lived in one spot long enough to renew online (that's awesome, by the way). But that means I've been here for a whopping four years. Since my old license expired right around the time I moved, as I was a cool kid who got their license on their 16th birthday, I just didn't renew it and instead took the California test (which I studied and got 100% on, yet still wasn't allowed to smile for the picture). But this means I've been a California resident for quite a while. Not only that, a relatively stable resident.

Thank goodness they sent a letter. I would have never given that a thought. Sadly, they don't realize I'll be there next year for a new one anyway.