Shiny Things

New York?

I've attempted to go to New York before.  Everything just seemed to get in the way and now it may be happening for real.

Los Angeles doesn't have any major holds on me anymore.  I'm a little tired of the city.  Other than my friends and my car I have no reason to stay.  My cousin wants to move there to study fencing and he asked me to go with him.  In February we are planning a little exploratory adventure.  Can I handle it?  Will New York be too overwhelming?  I've always been a California girl.  I've always envisioned my self settling into one of the older neighborhoods of Los Angles, or Portland or even outside the Bay Area.

New York?  Will I see him when I am there?  Will it be a relief or traumatic?  Am I running away from something here or just saying enough is enough?

I'm trying to think of it as a stepping stone.  Box up all my stuff, put it in storage and  move with a few suitcases.  Then after a year or so there retreat back to the Pacific Northwest.  Settle down.  Get a dog.  Drink coffee and breath.

How To Get Me To Say No To A Date

• If you ask me if I play basketball or volleyball or any other god awful sport I will not go on a date with you.
• If you smell funny I will not go out with you.
• If you smoke on a regular basis - no deal.
• If you don't know how to drive a stick shift or change a car tire I will not go out with you.
• If you try to get me to come home with you on the first date and try to paw at me you will not see me again.
• If you  don't get my obsession with my 1964 Dodge Dart we are definitely not going out.
• If you use some bad line in a bar....I will not respond.
• If you shout at me across a parking lot and appear stockerish I will ignore you.

Now that the above has been stated you should know that you'll have a better chance of me saying yes if some of the below is true:

• You like old cars.
• Wearing vintage doesn't freak you out, but at the same time you are not a "hipster".
• You know the basics about cars, preferably more.  I can change my own oil, can you?
• The idea of going dancing sounds fun.  Real dancing, partner dancing.  Not in a crazy night club, but somewhere with live music performed by real musicians.
• You read books.
• You have a real job.
• You are not an unemployed musician looking for a girlfriend so that you have a place to stay.
• You have manners.  Opening doors is expected.

Just a Little Sad

The holidays are seriously screwing with me this year.  Last Christmas was surreal. My mom had just passed and The Boyscout whisked me away to Santa Fe.  This year I'm staying in town with B.  I'm sort of boycotting Christmas and only getting gifts for a few people.  I plan on getting as drunk as possible on Christmas Eve and then taking a cab home to way for Santa.

My Hot Date

Sometimes just going out with the girls is better than a real date.  I had an office party to go to on Saturday night.  B agreed to go with me, so I borrowed her from her man.   We ditched the part when we realized it would take us over a 1/2 hour to just get into the parking lot because of the line.   I took her out to Sushi in Little Tokyo instead and then we hit the Redwood Bar and Grill to see the Lucky Stars.

Overall it was a good weekend.

Let's Get Sexually Harrassed at The Holiday Party!

The party last night was a little strange.  I was already tired from not sleeping well the night before and the idea of drinking with co-workers did not sound appealing.  It started off ok.  I grabbed a glass of wine to sip on, ate some snacks and said hi to all the industry people.  Then it took a turn for the worse.  A good friend of mine told me there were "blokes on the prowl and to be aware".  What is that suppose to  mean?  I soon figured out the nerd herd from programming was following me around.  One was old enough to be my father.  The other was just icky.  I quickly started to hang out with my married friend who caught on to the shenanigans.  At least I provided him some entertainment.  Some how we got separated at the bar and some slime ball from another studio decided I was up his alley.  Being told in graphic detail how sexual the tango was and how much he wanted to dance with me was more than I could handle.  Coat check please.

Company Holiday Party

I am off to the dreaded Company Holiday Party.  Please wish me luck.  Although some people find great joy in free food and booze; I just see it as another venue to get harassed by the geekdom.  Off I go in my most conservative little black dress to face my drunken coworkers.

Joy is the Season.

Dougal The Wonder Dart

I finally have my wonderful Wonder Dart DOUGAL home again.  But he needs a little work.

The master cylinder has been fixed.  Stopping is good.  But now I need to replace or rebuild the carburetor, give him a tune up, see what's going on with the exhaust and the rear end.  He's very drivable;  just not in his prime running shape.  It's ok.  Dr. G-Man and friends will help out.  He'll be good as new in no time.  Once the mechanics are in good working order I plan on doing the body work and giving him a fresh coat of paint early in 2009.  He'll be sparkling in no time.

Yet I am still recovering from the weekend...

Friday: Drinks with co-workers. 
Saturday: Stopped by the shop, grabbed lunch with Wendy, shopping, put hair up, went out to the Doll Drive.
Sunday: Dougal got a visit from Dr. G-Man and I got a nice ride through the park.  Then it was off to the scooter shop to say hi and grab some lunch.

 

The Cardinals

I finally saw Ryan Adams live when he opened for Oasis last night at Staples Center.  It was amazing.

I Wonder...

I wonder if my forehead says "Only Assholes Need Apply"?  I seem to have a theme going on lately and can't quite figure it out.  I've asked a few guy friends what sort of feeling I'm giving off and they say it's that I'm too nice.  I'm afraid that I may have to stop going out all together if things don't take a turn for the better.  Where are all the nice guys who are into cars and like being cooked for?