It’s funnier if you know us.

When I lived in Seattle, I really enjoyed going to the Opera. McCaw Hall was close to where I lived, so Ryan and I would walk arm in arm down the hill to enjoy the show. Sometimes we would stop by our favorite bar (where everyone knew our name), sometimes we would just go straight there. We never had to worry about being stuck in traffic or rush around. In fact, McCaw Hall was close enough that I would walk past it every evening on my way to work.

Throughout the fall, winter and early spring (not especially the driest or warmest time to be in Seattle), as soon as I would get close to McCaw Hall I would hear a fellow playing the melody of whatever was going to be played that night on a Tuba.

I come to find out today that Tuba Man was, in essence, murdered. Jumped by a bunch of asshole kids about four blocks from where I used to live. A place where I walked past every night on my way home. Ed McMichael was sent to the hospital for head wounds, and died at home later that night.

I’m shocked and appalled that this happened in Seattle, in my former neighborhood. But mostly I’m just sad that Tuba Man won’t be there anymore, playing his Tuba around Seattle Center. The city of Seattle is very much diminished from that loss.

As I walked into my polling place today, there were two gentleman outside handing out stickers. One for Obama, the other for McCain. They were having a pleasant enough conversation that when I first walked past them I didn’t realize that they were not both for the same presidential nominee. I mean, it wouldn’t be unheard of for McCain supporters to not even make an effort in Philadelphia, right?

But as I left the polling place after I cast my ballot, I realized that they were having a friendly conversation about presidential politics that offered no derision of either candidate. They were just being neighborly. I dunno. I guess witnessing this made me feel like either way, we’ll be fine.

So to Senator John McCain, I know you won’t read this but my congratulations on a battle well fought. Your concession speech tonight showed that you are a patriot and a true class act.

And to Mr. President-Elect Barack Obama and all the people that helped shape this election. Congratulations. You’ve earned it. Now take that vacation you deserve.

I just got an e-mail from an attorney I interviewed with in early September (!!!) asking for an update on the status of the paralegal position I interviewed for. I felt like I interviewed strongly for this position, but the one thing that hurt me was my lack of writing experience. I played it off pretty well. Acted as though I had extreme confidence in my writing abilities (which I do) and spoke as though the fact that I didn’t do much writing in my last job wouldn’t hinder me much (which I didn’t think it would).

I guess he thought otherwise and extended an offer to someone else. Apparently HR hasn’t gotten the chance to get back to me yet, which leaves me wondering how long ago he extended the offer. Oh well, it doesn’t really matter now, I suppose. At least now I won’t have to go to Wayne every day for work. (Trust me, it’s far. At least two buses from Manayunk)

:o(

In other (happier) news, I was in New York last weekend! Yay! Maggi was in town for a work conference so we hung out all weekend. It was good times. On Saturday, we brunched, were off to the Met and a yarn store (which neither of us were very impressed by) (the yarn store, not the Met. The Met was very impressive) and then some delicious vegetarian appetizers, and then back to the hotel. We were planning on going out to a Batali restaurant at 10, since we were way full and it was raining. Instead we huddled in our room, watched SNL and ordered pizza at around 1 in the morning. It was pretty awesome.

Sunday we were off to another yarn store (this one was much more impressive), ate lunch at the Blue Ribbon Bakery (Serrano ham and brie sandwich on a baguette? Yes please), hightailed it to the hotel where Maggi’s conference was, and went to yet ANOTHER yarn store (also impressive). We topped off the evening with burgers at 67 burger. They were delicious.

It was great to hang out with Maggi and take a vacation from being poor. It’s back to regular life now, but it was really good to see my Seattle peep and hang out for awhile.

Ah, I love it when my adoring public asks for more. Samantha, don’t you just love being considered my public? My adoring public no less.

Sorry to leave you guys hanging for so long, but it doesn’t really feel like there’s that much to write about over here. Ryan’s and my day to day consists of waking up early in preparation for a sleep study we’ve joined (although I suppose that’s pretty interesting). Playing World of Warcraft (although I do have some ruminations about that) and maybe going out on a job interview every once in awhile (that could be pretty interesting). Also, I’m pretty lazy if you haven’t noticed. Although I’m sure you have.

So Ryan and I joined a sleep study. For the past nine days we’ve had to maintain “normal” sleeping hours. Meaning we need to get to bed no later then midnight and get up no later then 9. While you would think that this adjustment might be difficult for two out of work people such as ourselves, it really hasn’t been. I mean, waking up is still hard, and I’m looking forward to sleeping in again but it’s kind of nice being awake in the morning instead of only getting up at 11. The study is about the affect of light on melatonin levels, so we once we qualify, we have to go downtown once every two weeks at midnight and they put these weird drops in our eyes and we wear a blindfold for two hours. Then they draw a small vial of blood, sit us in front of a light for another 90 minutes and draw more blood. It’s kind of going to be hell, but the price is right. To qualify we have to wear these weird devices on our wrists that look like the most eighties chunkiest watch ever, or our very own house arrest bracelet, take your pick. These devices measure our movements, I guess so they can pick up our circadian rhythms? When we go to bed at night we have to call and tell people when we go to bed and when we wake up and on top of all that, we have to keep a log. On Friday we have to go get eye appointments to see if we qualify. But yeah, that should be pretty interesting

Warcraft is a pretty fun distraction from the whole not having a job/not having and money thing. If Ryan and I didn’t do this, we’d probably be climbing the walls about now. There’s no cable here, and the internet can only provide so much distraction in one day, so it’s nice to have that go-to thing. It reminds me of being in college and everyone would be playing Age of Empires. I really wanted to play, but I knew I couldn’t because I would just play ALL THE TIME. So I would make fun of it a little to dissaude my self from wanting to play. Well, now, until I get a job, I have all the time I could ever want, so wasting time isn’t that big a deal. Also, it’s something Ryan and I can do together, so we’re not just ignoring one another all day or poking at one another all day. Although I really need to get some knitting done. I have a couple of Christmas projects in the works.

Guys. I could really use a job. Warcraft is fun and all, but my bank account has taken a bit of a battering. We’ve both been out of work for way longer then we expected (stupid economy). I don’t know about Ryan, but I could use a little more purpose to my days. Warcraft is a great distraction, but it’s still a distraction from my lack of employment. I met with a couple of recruiters. I went in to one of them and she spoke at me for 10 minutes and then dismissed me. So I got the purple-hair check. I mean, this woman didn’t care about me or my experience at all. The next one I went to I was kind of leery about after getting, basically, the brushoff by the first. But she ended up being really great. We talked for at least a half hour and she was extremely straightforward with me about the obstacles I needed to overcome and the firm that I had originally sent my resume in for. It was quite refreshing.

So consider yourselves updated! Don’t be surprised if I don’t write again till either A. I have a job, or B. after my first overnight at the light study. Because before then I have my doubts that things will change very much and the mundanities of my life just aren’t very interesting. Or at least, I’m not very good at making them appear so. (I might write, just don’t be surprised if I don’t…)

-Steph

So, Ryan and I have been spending a lot of time in the house lately playing WoW. I think yesterday or the day before we went out on the deck and I realized that I hadn’t seen daylight in about four days.

Fast forward to today. I needed to register to vote and Ryan needed to send a package so we both walked up to the Post Office on Ridge. Everything was fine; we were enjoying the walk and the lovely weather. It was nice to get out of the house for awhile.

Then on the walk home BAM. Faceplant.

I lightly skinned both of the heels of my hands and got a huge gaping HORRIFYING wound on my knee. Seriously, form a circle with your forefinger and thumb and this is the size of this wound. It’s TERRIFYING.

This experience has taught me that I should just not leave the house again. Ever.

-Steph

Oh man! Samantha gave us a test tube space pepper plant a few years back (kinda like this) and it finally spouted a pepper! Sure, it’s was only 2 inches in diameter when it fell off, but it’s something! Also, one of the Falcone cats tore up the plant pretty good, but it’s still struggling along!

Bolognese sauce and Joe playing Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straights on the accoustic guitar = YES.

After one has microwaved Velveeta for nachos (just to get rid of it), it would probably behoove one to actually throw the leftover Velveeta away instead of just putting the entire bowl in the sink and let it harden into an odd hardish goo.

That way, when we all use the sink and water gets into the bowl, we (Ryan) do(es) not have to deal with the gross aftermath.

Steph

Because, internet, that’s how terribly wonderful Attack of the Crab Monsters is. Like, really, really terrible.

Steph and I recently were pointed to a local research study for some extra income. My session was today, and it went fine. All I knew going in was that it was some sort of stress test. My expectation was to be hooked up to a machine and poked with sharp sticks, but the whole thing was actually much easier.

The product being tested was a set of goggles which pulsed light and played some water/bird/white noise mixture. After going through a 20 minute screening process (IQ, health, current relaxation level, etc), I was escorted into an office and had goo smeared all over my head. Some electrodes went here and there. Then I kept my eyes closed for various lengths of time with the headset off, then on. The doctor asked how I felt after various intervals, and it was done with pretty quickly. I’ll get a check in the mail in a few weeks. Awesome.

As for whether it worked? I dunno. I felt more tired after having my eyes closed for 15 minutes. Does that mean I was more relaxed? Yeah, I guess. Did the device do it?

::shrug::