Post office shenanigans

I went to the post office this afternoon to mail a stuffed animal out to my cousin, counting on there being a priority mail box for me to pack said animal into. I only have Fresh Direct boxes at home and when I tried to mail something out with it, the USPS worker told me that I couldn't mail something out with a business logo on it unless the contents of the box were actually from that business. I remember having to use brown tape to cover up the logos that day, and had no desire to repeat that performance.

Unfortunately, the USPS stopped providing the larger box I remembered and has cheaply provided a flatter rectangular one and a small cube. I was perusing the selection of boxes, which happened to be next to the two policemen on duty in the post office.

ME
[picking up rectangular box]

COP
That's a rectangle shaped box.

MY INNER MONOLOGUE
Do I look like a dumb little girl?
[picking up cube box]

COP
That one's more like a square.

ME
Thanks.

I brought both boxes to a table and figured that the box would be better and started stuffing the poor toy into it, scrunching it up so horribly that I felt bad for it. I stopped when I heard laughing and a high pitched voice behind me.

COP
[in high pitched cartoony voice]
Oh no! Let me out! Don't put me in here!

I got really embarrassed because people started looking at me stuffing this huge toy into a tiny box. Maybe they thought I was cheap (trying to take advantage of the flat rate, which wasn't much of a deal), or like the cops, thought I was stupid. After I finally left, I waved to the cops, and one (I think did the cartoon voice) of them said, "Bye Sweetheart." I don't know whether to be enraged or just grateful not to be the butt of some USPS/NYPD joke anymore.

Kitty envy

I'm back from PA! Annette's kitties are the best, and I almost kidnapped Sehkmet (yikes, did I spell that right?) when I packed up for my return trip.

I've never been so happy to get on a PATH train before, but my NJ Transit train turned out to be ultra packed that I was afraid that I wouldn't make the transfer at Newark. It really wouldn't have mattered though, since the conductors stopped checking tickets at New Brunswick.

I smiled when I walked out of the PATH station after almost 4 hours of travelling. Philadelphia is nice, but I think I'm a New York girl at heart. Well, that or I was just happy to depend on my two feet to get to my destination, rather than a bunch of trains.

Oh, and if anyone has been frustrated by the Flash Mind Reader, here's the solution.

Christmas for one

Since there aren't any grand Christmas traditions in my family, we didn't do a big get-together this year. We all just saw each other during Thanksgiving (both sides of the family), so it's not a big deal. Today, I could've gone to Brooklyn to partake in lunch at my cousins' house, but with my lingering cold, I didn't feel like making the trip out there. I slept in with a kitty (Eli) snuggled behind my knees and then went to the movies.

Yes, I went to the movies by myself, although I wasn't alone. I'd never seen the movie theater so packed before. Thankfully most people were wasting their money on King Kong. I finally got to see Memoirs of a Geisha, which was quite good, visually stunning, in fact. I didn't think much of the book, and didn't finish it. After that, I went to dinner by myself. Then it was on to the laundry, folding that laundry while watching TV, and packing for my trip to PA.

In short a great Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

I had to beat a couple dozen tourist children and their parents to take that picture.

I love Colin Firth!

During my bakefest last weekend (for my coworkers' holiday gifts), I watched the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. I still like Sense and Sensibility better, but I do so love Colin Firth!

So I watched Bridget Jones's Diary tonight since I was in a Colin Firth mood. I guess I could watch Love Actually too if I wanted to go for the trifecta (I've only seen him in these three movies).

Oh Colin, you're so dreamy. You can jump into a lake any day for me.

Welcome to Bake-a-palooza!

Let's see how much I've baked over the past couple weeks:

12 dozen gingersnaps
5 dozen jam shortbread cookies
6 dozen chocolate citrus biscotti
16 dozen hazelnut chocolate chip cookies

Yikes, that's a lot of cookies!

A total of some of the ingredients used for all these cookies:

16 sticks of unsalted butter
27 cups of all purpose flour
19 eggs
9 cups of granulated sugar
7 cups of brown sugar
6 (12 oz.) bags of chocolate chips

Most of the cookies were for my coworkers and their holiday gifts. I picked up a huge package of cellophane bags from a cake supply store and I was a little cookie factory. I'm done with baking for a very long time after this cookie bonanza.

Stick that strike up your you-know-what

Since the TWU decided to strike starting yesterday. That means that I've walked to and from work since then, which is a bit longer than 2.5 miles. 2.5 miles isn't that long, but when it's freezing cold and windy, it quickly starts to feel a lot longer.

Even better, I've gotten sick from all the walking. I was so miserable at work today, staying later and later thanks to the ineptness of the operations department. My purchase orders didn't come through when they were supposed to, so one of my bosses kept telling me to go home, but if I didn't finish the POs, I would've had to come in the next day. I figured I'd feel better if I took a whole day off rather than leaving a couple hours early, so I stuck it out.

I told my boss, "Assume that I'm not going to be here tomorrow. If I'm well, I'll come in."

He told me not to come in even if I am well. Woohoo! Day off!

Gift-giving tactics

I love the holidays! I haven't done much shopping though. Originally, I planned to get Josh's picture with Eli Manning (taken this summer) matted and framed. I realized that framing is an expensive thing, even in New Jersey. Being in Manhattan is only going to make that lots worse. Last week, I got a better gift idea for Josh.

Josh had been asking me what I was going to do for his present, so I decided to throw him off the trail. I told him that I'd tell him my gift idea if he told me his. He agreed, so I told him that I was going to have his picture with Eli Manning framed. He told me he was going to get a couple's massage for us. I was a little disappointed with that because massages are over and done with in one session. I picked up Josh's gift during my lunch break a couple days ago and wrapped it up. I let him decide if he wanted to open it when I got home that night, and of course, he opened it.

I gave Josh a Shun Classic Granton Santoku knife. He was definitely surprised when he got it, so my strategy worked. We took the knife for a spin by chopping an onion, and it was so easy. The slices fell right off the blade. But then I figured that it was so easy because onions are so soft, so we tried carrots. It felt like we were cutting through soft butter! It was definitely a good investment because Josh might be inclined to cook. Even if he doesn't cook more, I've got a knife I love too! Ha ha, it's almost as self-satisfying as Josh's "gift" of a couple's massage to me. At least the knife lasts longer!

That very same night, Josh and I went out shopping at the South Street Seaport, which just happens to have a Coach store. Josh and I went in (after I made a fool out of myself because I couldn't open the door). Originally, Josh had been saying that for Christmas, he'd get me the bag I've been lusting after for the past several months. I bounced up and down when I modeled it in front of the mirror. Josh shook his head and said, "How can a bag make you so happy?" Eh, I guess it's a girl thing. I was saying how I'd use it starting the next day, but unfortunately, the last bag was the floor model. They asked if we wanted to take that, but there was no way I was going to take a bag that a bunch of strangers had pawed over. It's one thing if you're buying a $20 bag at Macy's, but if you're paying big bucks for one, you'd better get a new one. At least, that's the way I feel, because I'm one of those people who paws all over bags she has no intention of buying because they're so out of my budget. The bag will be here before Christmas though, on Tuesday!

Josh said, "Tuesday is going to be the best day of your life. You're going to get your bag and find out who the Carver is on Nip/Tuck."

I guess it's appropriate

Your 2005 Song Is

Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson "But since you've been gone I can breathe for the first time I'm so moving on" In 2005, you moved on.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Snow + Work

I remember the days before living in New York City.

When I was at Rutgers, they cancelled classes at the sight of a fluffy snowflake. When I was in high school, we could always count on a two-hour delay for extra sleep.

New York Law School never closed for the weather, be it flooding the subway stations or streets. However, they did close for every Jewish holiday and the Republican National Convention (for 3 days!). Then again, the administration did care more about keeping their professors (to keep the school semi-reputable), who were mostly Jewish and mostly Democrats, happy. Why does being a Democrat matter for closing the school during the RNC? Why, the better to protest, my dear!

I guess it's only appropriate that I still have to go to work on time this morning. At least with my current job, there is unlikely to be a repeat of the disastrous phone-chain of 2004.

I definitely DON'T miss the white knuckled driving on snow covered backroads of Jackson, NJ.

She works hard for the money

I had a few work functions to attend this week. Mostly, I try to act like an adult while constantly being seen with some type of alcoholic beverage. The last time I went out to lunch with a sales rep, I was the only one at the table who didn't drink. While 90% of the group got up for a cigarette break, my boss ("B") gave me an impromptu "performance review." He told me not to feel that I couldn't drink while I'm technically working. He said that if I drank, he would feel less guilty about the half dozen vodka tonics he imbibed.

On Monday, I departed from my usual amaretto sour and went with gin & tonic, the beverage of choice for alcoholics (or so I've heard). I stopped drinking it when I felt myself turning red. You see, I could drink more than one drink, but I turn red (remember, I'm Asian) in the most unflattering way. Shirley has the ability to become rosy cheeked. I get this red raccoon mask instead. Not pretty. I don't think anyone noticed anyways. B was probably soused and didn't comment on my dismal performance alcohol-wise. I'm sure my coworkers made up for my slacking.

On Tuesday, I went out to lunch with the same sales rep as last time. We went to the ultra yummy Aquagrill. In honor of B, who couldn't attend, I had ordered a glass of chenin blanc, one of the few wines that I like. One of the other managers said, "B would be proud."

When I returned to the office after having lunch for three hours, Josh called.

JOSH
Where were you all afternoon?

ME
I was at lunch.

JOSH
ALL afternoon?? How long was this "lunch"?
[I took the liberty of putting finger/air quotes around "lunch" because it was dripping from Josh's voice]

ME
Three hours.

JOSH
Do any of you work?!

Yes, I work very hard before I go to lunch.