It Started with a Journal

I hate Facebook. I don't know how it got to be as ubiquitous as it is, with everyone using it, but it has a long, long, LONG way to go in terms of reliability. I constantly have problems with weird connections, randomly ordered posts, errors on pages, etc. I don't even know why I play stupid games like Farmville, but I do. Damn my eyes!

I thought it was going to be all difficult this year to watch all the best picture nominees, as I try to do every year, because they expanded the field to 10, but I just checked the list and it turns out, I've seen 9/10 of them. O.o Only one I'm missing is The Hurt Locker, but I'm very interested in that one and will see it before the Oscars for sure. ( Some possibly spoilery commentary on the ones I've seen. )

I'm also vaguely interested in seeing Crazy Heart, since Jeff Bridges is the favorite to win best actor for that role.

I've rewatched the first 13 eps of Glee. I just love that show.

Knock on wood, but it's been the mildest winter for Seattle on record -- well, you know, my unofficial record. I don't know if it actually is. But since I moved here 10 years ago, I'm pretty sure it is. I mean, 50°F in February? Crazy! I think other parts of the country have taken all our bad winter weather this year. I've barely had to turn on my heater, when usually during the winter it's on constantly.

I actually did my taxes early this year. Usually I put it off and put it off until April rolls around, and then I do it all last minute, hunting feverishly for various tax documents I've tossed in random places, usually still unopened. One year I put it off so much I had to file for an extension. Not this year, though! I'm so on top of things! I don't know if it's time for me to get someone to do my taxes or not. I always wonder if I'm stupidly paying way more than I should, just to save a bit of money on tax preparation. This year I am peeved, because I'm getting about the same amount back on my return as I did last year, but paid $2,000 more in taxes. Grrrr. I don't think I did anything wrong, but who the hell knows.

Anyway, I am thinking of using part of my refund to buy a little notebook/netbook, so I can write and do little online things in bed. I'm trying not to be dazzled by all the powerful laptops out there at reasonable prices, because I do not want something heavy (if I did, I wouldn't need to buy one, I have a existing laptop that would serve). Key features are weight, price, then all the other specs. So far, I've narrowed it down to two possibilities: this laptop, or this netbook. I guess the biggest question is whether I want to pay the price difference for the additional features the laptop has.

Wish me luck! I bought 5 pounds of veal bones and am in the process of making a real demi glace (using this method). It takes like 2 days from start to finish, but hopefully the result will be well worth it.

I hate Fridays because I always have so freaking many meetings. And one of them is bright and early in the morning, ugh. The only saving grace is the Noah's bagels, especially now because a few weeks ago they started getting sundried tomato cream cheese spread, and today for the first time there were sundried tomato bagels! And that bagel plus that cream cheese = serious win. I'm not going to lie: I slathered that spread on. Soooooo good.

Facebook conclusions: My downfall with Facebook is that it has games. And virtual pets. And it's so easy to leave your friend a short note for random, casual purposes. I love stuff like that. So I've concluded that I do, indeed, want to continue with it. However, since Facebook is basically public, which I DON'T want (I don't need my coworkers to see every time I play a game of Word Twist, or the status messages I want to write, etc.), I think the only thing I can do is leave my real profile as it is, where RL family/friends can find me, but not actually do anything with it, and create an alternate account, where I will actually be a lot more active. So that being said -- if you would like to friend me there, to play games or whatever, my name is Elisabeth Louise.

I'm excited for tomorrow, because I'm having sushi with corianderstem, then going to Whole Foods, where I will hopefully stock up my kitchen again so I don't have an excuse to go to Taco Bell, and after that if I still have the energy, the mall, where I will use my gift card money on Kiehl's and other stuff.

P.S. ropo, there was also a lone Knott's grape jelly packet by the bagels. I couldn't resist, I took it for your dad. Hahaha.

To Facebook or not to Facebook, that is the question. I've resisted creating an account on any social networking site (aside from LJ obviously, but LJ is not MySpace or Facebook) up until now, because I'm just not into it. People are always talking about how great it is because you can meet up with all these people you used to know, like in high school and what not, but it's like -- do I really want to know those people anymore? I'm also very leery of putting my real name and info out on the Internet, which I'd have to do if I created a Facebook account (otherwise, what would be the point?). I couldn't put anything on there that REALLY said anything about me, like my interest in HP fandom/WoW, so it'd be the most boring/lamest Facebook page ever. I always knew there would be some impetus to make me create an account some day (this time, it's the fact that a coworker of mine is on a month-long trip to South America, and has been posting photos to his Facebook page), but I don't know. Do any of you guys use it? What's been your experience?

It's been pouring rain today, which is JUST GREAT considering the stupid holiday party is tonight. I'm leaving in about 45 minutes for a coworker's house to get ready for the pre-party and party. Not that I need that much time, but skipping out early on a Friday is always fun.

Meanwhile, I'm still playing Ikariam, and I just built my 5th town. However I need to upgrade all my governor's residences, which takes a massive amount of resources, because the corruption is rampant. ><

Ever since I started watching Gossip Girl (which I like okay), I got interested in reading the books, which I've had for awhile but never actually read. I actually like the books more than the show. There's something about Cecily von Ziegesar's writing that I really enjoy. And even though the characters are imperfect and dislikable to a certain extent, it's a lot more tolerable in the books because they all seem more real and human somehow. Jade told me about the spinoff they're doing of Lily and Rufus's storyline (which was entirely made up by the show, as their romance/characters are quite different in the books), which might be interesting depending on who they cast. Yes, I'm totally superficial that way.

Also, finished S1 of True Blood. It's interesting enough to watch, though I'm not sure whether I'll be watching S2 or not. The problem is that I find Sookie and Bill annoying, and their storyline is a big snore, and given that they are the main protagonists I kind of have to see them a lot. But I enjoy the other characters (particularly Tara, Terry, Eric, Pam and Lafayette). One of my favorite lines is totally from Terry (he played Zack on Gilmore Girls!) to red-headed Arlene: "Your hair is like a sunset after a bomb went off." Keep in mind he was trying to be complimentary. :))) It sounds like something a socially inept Draco might say to Ginny.