That's cold ... Ice cold.

So I wake up today and guess what, guess what? It's 30 degrees.

When I left the house at 7 AM, the temperature went up a measly 2 degrees. Believe me when I say, you couldn't tell the difference.

The funny thing is, while my body recognizes it's cold and shivers appropriately, I still remember the cold I felt in Tokyo last April. It was much colder then. I still remember that cold in my bones and know that even this chill doesn't come close.

Speaking of cold, celebrities have recently felt the need to vent their frustrations in a very, um, non-polite way:

Stephen King says 'Twilight' author 'can't write.'

Christian Bale goes ballistic.

I'm surprised about Stephen King going there, but not really that surprised about Christian Bale. He's been sipping the krazy kool-aid for a while now.

In other news, my brand-spanking-new laptop arrived yesterday! It's a Toshiba satellite something-or-other (a bunch of numbers-gibberish that basically mean it pwns my old computer). If you want to see it, go here. I ordered it from Amazon and was pleased to find that it was much cheaper than if I bought it, say, in Best Buy, plus it shipped really quickly, too.

Of course, it cost more than half of one of my teacher paychecks, but hey, at least it's pretty and pretty damn fast. ;)

Circadian Confusion

This is how I feel today...

I am sleeeeeeeeeepy. And the funny thing is, this week is the first week in a long time that I've been keeping regular hours, sleep-wise. On Sunday night, I fell asleep at 11-something (which is early for me!), but woke up at 6 AM feeling like utter merde. Monday night, I only slept 6 hours, and woke up feeling fine, refreshed, even. Last night, I fell asleep at 11-something again, and again I wake up feeling crappy.

WHAT GIVES?

Have I so accustomed my body to barely getting any sleep that by the time I am able to clock in some good sleep time, my body rebels? Is my circadian rhythm that messed up?!

And I used to be the girl who would happily sleep 15 hours if you'd let me. In fact, I even slept through the horrible Hurricane Andrew the summer before I began 8th grade, and this was a hurricane that ripped roofs off and had my cousin crying hysterically in a corner.

I'm such a deep sleeper normally that not even my alarm wakes me. True story: my alarm goes off at 5:30 every weekday, wakes up my dad across the hall in his own bedroom, and then he has to come and forcibly shake me awake. Otherwise I don't get up. He asked me the other day what I was going to do when I finally moved out, to which I replied with a sunny smile: "Ricky will wake me up." Thank God Ricky is a light sleeper.

I suspect I could sleep through a bomb.

Well, damnit, I'd better start waking up soon. I have a planning period now, so no students, but there is plenty to grade. Blarg. I need a nap.

Why I can't wait for Friday

Friday is going to be awesome for many reasons:

1. No school for students, as it is a "Professional Development Day," with meetings for teachers lasting from 9-10:30 AM.

2. I do not have to wake up at 5:30 AM. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

3. I can take my leisurely time going to work, maybe even passing by my dealer on the way.

4. Teachers are free to "plan" after 10:30 (we all know what "plan" means ... right?).

5. Ricky has the day free and can spend it with me.

6. The weather is forecast to be de-lovely, with temperatures hovering in the 60's - 70's.

7. And the #7 reason, the reason why I really, really, really can't wait for Friday? It's because this comes out! Squee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been TAGGED...

I have been tagged by Indyeah. I guess this means I have to tag some people back. If you've been tagged by me (and you will be, just wait), you need to follow these rules:.

Answer the following questions using pictures (just type in your answer in google using image search and pick the prettiest picture :p). Use as few words as possible.The picture should be able to do the explaining for you. When you're done, return the favor and tag some friends!

1.Your age on your next birthday
2. A place you’d like to travel to
3. Your favorite place
4. Your favorite food/drink
5. Your favorite pet
6. Your favorite color combination
7. Your favorite piece of clothing
8. Your all time favorite song
9. Your favorite TV show
10. Full name of your significant other
11. The town in which you live
12. Your screen name/nickname
13. Your first job
14. Your dream job
15. Bad habit you have
16. Your worst fear
17. The one thing you would like to do before you die
18. The first thing you’ll buy if you get $1,000,000
19.Your favorite credo in life
20. Now tag at least 3 people (using name or pictures)

1. my age on my next birthday

Woe...






2. a place I'd like to travel to

So much history and beauty together in one place. Hmm, possible honeymoon location?





3. my favorite place


I am a sad woman... a sad over-caffeinated woman...




4. my favorite food/drink


I love chocolate in all its forms, solid or liquid. I suspect I would take it intravenously if I could!



5. my favorite pet

I find cats endlessly fascinating. They make great pets, too -- despite the assembly. ;)




6. my favorite color combination

I think brown + light blue is adorable. A close runner-up is hot pink, white and black.




7. my favorite piece of clothing

What's that you say? It's not clothing? Well... :P






8. my all-time favorite song


Anything by this band.




9. my favorite TV show


Oh my beloved "Gilmore Girls," how I miss you...




10. full name of my significant other
the boyf ;)

11. town in which I live
















12. my screen name/nickname




13. my first job


Yes, Reader, I was a copy girl at the tender age of 17.




14. my dream job

If I could get paid to stay home in my pajamas and write, I would be the happiest woman alive.




15. my bad habit






16. my worst fear


Although I believe in God, I'm not 100% about the whole after-life thing, and as a consequence I fear both losing those I love and losing my own life.



17. the one thing I would like to do before I die


This one was an eye-opener for me. I thought I was going to give my old standard as my response, "publish a book," but when I really thought about it, I realized I want to have children more. O-O








18. The first thing I'll buy if I get $1,000,000

A big fancy schmancy house by the beach (as big and fancy schmancy as $1,000,000 will get me).





19. my favorite credo in life















20. Tagged
If you see your picture below, you have been tagged. So go forth and conquer.

LOLcat Picture of the Week

I created an e-mail account especially for fans of my LOLcat of the Week feature!
Should you discover a LOLcat you'd like to see featured here, just send him to me at:

AnaHasCheezburger@gmail.com

If you want to e-mail me just to chat, that's OK, too. :D

more animals

No Reservations: Chicago

This current season of "No Reservations" is the best yet, in my opinion, and I was really excited when I found out where tomorrow's episode will take place -- Chicago!

I've never been, but the boyf has, and he really, really enjoyed it, especially the food. I really, really enjoy deep-dish pizza, the kind they make in Chicago, so I'm looking forward to trying the real thing there someday. Plus I hear the culture is great, with wonderful little jazz clubs and tons of awesome museums.

Here's what Ingrid has to say about tomorrow night's episode:

Tony loves the energy and edge of big cities. So how is it that he has avoided Chicago for so long? In the upcoming episode of No Reservations, he sets off on "some unfinished business" to rectify that situation.

When people think of Chicago they think of deep-dish pizza, hot dogs, seafood from the Calumet River and Mancow Muller, Chicago's own shock jock. Tony decides to put all of them to the test and soak in even a bit more of Chicago, such as meeting with avant-garde chef Homaro Cantu, and dinning at the famous L20. He even makes an appearance at a backyard BBQ, for homemade specialties like sausage, creamed corn and beans.

Tony concludes that although Chicago has been dubbed 'the Second City' – Chicago holds its own as a great metropolis and in fact needs no comparison. Make sure you watch on a full stomach, because the food looks delicious!

OK my mouth is already watering... This episode airs tomorrow night at 10 PM on the Travel Channel, and Tony will hopefully update his blog with a post about his trip there soon.

Here's a sneak-peak:




ETA: I just found this interview MSN did recently with Bourdain, and it's a must-read. Check it out.

Let me count the ways...

How do I love thee, boyfriend? Let me count the ways...

Last night, you went out to celebrate with a dear friend of ours who's getting married in a month. It was a bachelor party, so I knew I'd be spending my Saturday alone. I was sad a little, at first, because you know I enjoy spending all of my waking hours (and sometimes even sleeping hours -- you know how I love my naps!) with you, but truthfully, I looked forward to spending some time just puttering around my house, reading, writing, enjoying my ME time.

Little did I know that you wouldn't give me time to miss you! :) No, you called me periodically throughout the night, to check up on me, sending me cute little text messages, even sending me a message to let me know when you got home safe at 4 AM, despite the fact that you knew I'd be long-gone in the arms of Morpheus by then.

As if that wasn't enough, you called me this morning to wake me up -- much earlier than I expected you to be up after a bachelor party, I should add. You called to say you missed me and how you were looking forward to seeing me again today.

How could I ever doubt your feelings for me?! And yet inevitably, I do, when the demon of insecurity possesses my soul and blinds me to all the love you hold for me. And inevitably my doubt saddens you, which in turns hurts me. A vicious circle.

The next time the demon steals over me, I will try to remember last night, and how you did not let our separation prevent us from communicating. How you left your bright heart in my hands, so that its warmth would soothe me in your absence.

The boyf and me visiting his law school, UM, in November.