…but it’s protected. if you want to read my wedding-related ramblings, let me know, and i’ll add you to the list. (if you’re reading this via facebook import, i can message it to you).

date night was amazing. we went to genghis grill—which is on our top ten list of favorite restaurants—and there was no waiting. since we weren’t expecting that, we had some extra time to kill, so we went to cold stone for ice cream (and in my case, smoothie).

even the traffic knew we were out and about, and it was a fairly quick ride. however, we got a bit lost—because exits were on the wrong side of the road—so we ended up down by Malcolm X and MLK Jr… a bit scary to be sure (we saw two hookers and homeless people approaching cars), but we made it, with plenty of time to spare.

the music hall is beautiful. for those who have never been, i highly recommend it. and if you can, get your seats in the first balcony. you could see the entire stage from there, and you’re still close enough to make out what’s going on. granted, the seats are a little small (leg room, at least), but they are really nice and cushy. very decent to spend three hours in them. that’s right, i said THREE hours.

i didn’t think that they’d be able to turn an hour-and-a-half cartoon into a good broadway musical, and i was right. they turned it into an AMAZING one. i cried (not just one tear, either) during the opening sequence of “circle of life.” it’s so overwhelming, beautiful and amazing that they can do what they did. there were elephants walking down the aisles. there were the grazing antelope, giraffes… EVERYTHING. it was just breathtaking. alex laughed at me for crying, though, and for that, he is stupid. ; )

rafiki and scar were my absolute favorite characters. mufasa, too. they were so well-played, and really made me believe they were animals. the entire cast was so great… seriously, go see it. five more weeks to do it in dallas.

we got out around 11, and were home by 11:30. got ready for bed, and was there by 10 til. then, i just laid there. i couldn’t take ambien, because it was too late, so my rls kicked in, and my body just wouldn’t relax. it was horrible. my heart was pounding, and i couldn’t stay still. i ended up falling asleep after 4 (the last time i checked out the clock), and had to wake up at 6:20. boo on that.

i’d like to take a moment to apologize to alex for last night.

sorry.

i guess i woke him up a lot, and he’s lacking the sleep he needs to get through his work day.

if i were you, i’d stay away from both of us today. i think we’re gonna be pretty bitchy.

anyway, i’m alive and tired, but at least i have last night’s memories to see me through.

off to a meeting with me…

loves and AOT,
–jen

apparently, there’s a family of mice running around the office, and i happened to catch one. yes, CATCH one.

…after spending ten minutes in a corner with boxes, light tables and two other people guarding the “exits”, i safely scooped him up in a recycling bin (because we’re earth-friendly here) and took him outside so he could live out his mousey days in peace.

but seriously, who DOES that!?!?

what a strange day, indeed.

it’s so strange to look down at the calendar, over at my phone, or even in my email. it all tells me what day it is, and i can’t believe it. september 11, 2007. has it really been six years already? i still remember exactly what i was doing the morning it happened. i remember that whole day (not hard, since most of it was spent on the couch, glued to cnn…)

the lighting was different; it was lit for tragedy, and i should have known… it was the same eerily beautiful bright blue outside in kansas; the same way it was the day my step-dad died a few years before. for once, i was actually taking my time getting ready for school, because my first class had been cancelled (he had a wrestling convention to go to; why do i remember THAT?!?!)… there i was, straightening my hair, when my mom started screaming for me. down goes the straightener, and i went running to the other side of the house, only to sit down next to mom in silence. somehow, after the towers fell, i went to class, only to be met with mass confusion. they cancelled classes, and i went back to watch cnn for the next week. waiting for answers, waiting for a miracle.

in the days leading up to today, there have been threats made against many of my childhood haunts in germany. last week, people were threatening to blow up ramstein, germany with a hydrogen peroxide-type bomb. yesterday, they were going to attack the spangdahlem base. when will this end? i get that people hate americans, but why kill innocent people? (rhetorical question, of course… i’m sure they all have many reasons why it’s the “only” way, even if it’s not my way)

here i am, now living next to a major metropolitian area, and i’m terrified. i’m sure there’s not a good reason out there as to why a terrorist would come to dallas, but nothing they’ve ever done has made sense in the past. i am just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and i pray it never does. unfortunately, we’re all just a little bit paranoid and on edge, especially today. God, i hope we have nothing to worry about. please protect us.

i have two friends—sisters—who are married to military men. one is retired, one is still active. the one that is active recently married my friend Kris, and shortly after that, she got pregnant. then he found out he was going back to iraq for another tour. for 18 months. he would miss the birth of his first child. he would meet the baby MONTHS after it would be born. fortunately, they told him that he was being transferred to new york instead, so he’ll be around for Kris and their unborn babies. Tiffany isn’t so lucky. her husband is retired, after doing his required years of service. he’s been out for awhile. they’ve just bought a house, and he was really settling in to his civilian job. then he gets a call. they’re pulling him back in for 18 months  in iraq. it’s almost like they did a straight-across trade, one man for another… how the hell could they know that they’re in the same family?! the war isn’t fair, it isn’t right, and it’s the reason that we’re revered as horrible people.

why does it feel like the people who died in 9/11 died in vain? we’re learning nothing from this. and “mr. christianity” himself (bush) can’t seem to forgive and let go, especially when things are going horribly wrong. bush, just make it all stop. stop sending people home in body bags. let us live our lives in peace. don’t play into history repeating itself, because it will only end badly for us. stop gambling with people’s lives, just so you can “save face.” your face is gone, and all that’s left is a cruel old man. just let it go. i beg you.

…it’ll get better soon, right? well, wake me up when it’s all over.

loves and AOT,
–jen

here’s a lesson to all you fresh-faced college kids:

STAY IN COLLEGE! DON’T GO OUT TO THE REAL WORLD. seriously. your job will suck, and while you think that the pay you get will be worth it, you’ll quickly realize that it’s no where near what you’re worth to do the shit you do. the people you work with will turn out to be asses, and everything you do will be under-appreciated. your bosses will change their answer fifty times, and yell at you because you didn’t get it right.

i love what i do, don’t get me wrong. i’m great at what i do (according to some of the people i work with), but i am not down with the office politic bullshit. i don’t understand how another group can say they’re so swamped with work, and throw a f-ing pity party that appeals to my boss, only to have him tell them to send their crap to me (and another writer). then, when it “magically” shows up in my inbox, he tells me he has no idea what i’m talking about, and that they shouldn’t have done it. bah. whatever. first of all, it’s not even my department, but that’s the least of my concern. i don’t get why it’s ok for other people to say that they’re swamped, pass of their work, and get to leave on time, while i (we) have to take it on, no questions asked, and stay late to make sure that it’s done… just to cover their ass!?!? seriously.

it’s getting so close to the time where i just move on… but i know that it’ll be this way anywhere i go. i miss the simplicity of college.

almost time to go; i’ll shut this down in the meantime.

loves and AOT,
–jen