a good idea…

that is, assuming you (and everyone in your family) don’t get sick, have good genetics and can actually qualify for your own health insurance. oh and i hope you don’t have allergies or haven’t taken your kid to the doc for a stomach ache in the past 10 years, because they’ll find out and you likely won’t qualify for your own health plan.

but, hey if you’re healthy and have a sparkling medical record, i hope you’ll enjoy this proposed tax credit on the coverage that you probably won’t use and is most needed by people with chronic illnesses.

there is apparently a trend in which people speak to one another, abbreviating words at will. it annoys me to no end. and i happen to sit in the middle of a group of people who do this all day. (disclaimer: they do not work for my company) here are a few things i’ve overheard:

-how much vaca (vacation) do they have left?
-hey there, welc (welcome) back
-she’s such an id (idiot)
-want to go get aug (agua)?
-let’s run down to s-bux (starbucks)
-i’m having edamams for lunch (edamame)
-drank too much last night and i feel so naus (nauseous) today
-well, after the great sweaty (sweatshirt) debac (debacle), i don’t want to give gifts anymore (yes, that’s right, she actually said sweaty debac)

i have no apprec of their disregard for the eng lang.

**update: it was brought to my attention that i forgot to mention:
- are you hung (hungry) yet?
- (response to above) totes (totally)

and no, i do not work in a middle school. these are adults, some certainly old enough to be my parent.

heck yes, i did.*

12 shows in 12 years. so excited about this. going to be a good year for music, methinks.

*thanks to kelly, who bought the tix when they went on sale because i was in a meeting. woo!

half a heated phone conversation:

no, no, no, no way…jesus did not take sides…no he did not…no! jesus NEVER takes sides…listen to yourself!…well that’s why reverends get shot, julie.

i’m not sure if i’m more concerned with the content of this conversation or the fact that it was happening (loudly) in the middle of the supply room?

yeah i’m giving in and blogging about it. playing into their scheme…

yesterday starbucks started offering instant coffee (ew, right?) in seattle and chicago. i got a free sample as i exited the red line at state/lake. you’d think they would have been at all the stations downtown, but brian didn’t get a sample at union station. i digress…

anyway, its a little packet of instant coffee. just add water. i tried it. upon first opening the packet, you can tell a noticeable difference in the way it looks compared with the instant coffee of yesteryear - this is like a powder, a coffee dust, if you will. and come to find out, its completely water soluble so you can make iced coffee with it and it should also be really good for cooking, as its not gritty at all…tiramisu anyone?

add water and it looks and smells just like a regular brewed cup o’ joe. i’m not a big fan (or a fan at all) of starbucks regular drip coffee. its too much. (side note: intelligentsia however, now has the best cup of coffee in chicago in my opinion, if you don’t mind paying a little extra due to their “controversial” upgrade to clover machines. it really does make a difference. a small coffee will run you about $2, but its perhaps the finest coffee i’ve ever tasted. no aftertaste whatsoever and unbelievably smooth. people argue that intelligentia will take a hit for the price hike because of poor students and those who are freaked out about the economy - whatever. i’ve been there since the change and its still packed with scenester kids, annoying advertising types and artsy people leeching intelligentsia’s internet so that no one can sit down and enjoy their lunch.)

anyway, the verdict: i really like this stuff. so much that i used the buy 3 get 3 free coupon attached to my sample on the way home last night. mock me if you must, but i’m a huge fan of the french press and this is as close as i’ve tasted to french press coffee minus the french press. people’s main complaint so far is a slight bit of sediment in the bottom of the cup…but i’m used to that because of the french press. at $2.95 for a 3 pack and $9.95 for a 12 pack, i don’t know that i’ll be buying it regularly, but i can see how it might be good if: a. you have terrible office coffee (like brian) b. you’re traveling and don’t want nasty airplane/hotel coffee or c. you’re in a rush and forgot to make the regular AM coffee. give it a shot here.

please let the people off before getting on, folks. we want everyone to get to work and school on time today. let’s all go to work and school. red line to 95th. get on the train, and let’s go make some money for your honey. have a great tuesday at work or school.

yeah, i got to ride on my favorite train driver’s train today

i’ve had my job for a year (assuming i don’t get fired today). its been a good year career-wise (again, assuming i don’t get fired today). i’ve learned a lot, but more than just information, i learned to not be intimidated because, come to find out, very few people are as brilliant as they pretend to be, myself included.

oh, and the jimmy eat world show was awesome. pants doodie-ing nearly ensued. they played through clarity, start to finish, note for note as it is on the album, then a few encore songs. still can’t believe i got the opportunity to see it.

it’s so 1999 of me, but i’m going to see jimmy eat world on saturday. go back with me for a moment to the year 2001, and soon you’ll understand why i’m so excited…

in 2001 i was in college, and was a nanny for a crazy family. (not to be confused with the awesome family i nannied for.) i told crazy mom i needed to leave early on a particular day because i had plans. the plans? to see jimmy eat world, in nashville, at exit/in, one of my fav venues in nashville. as usual, she came home circa 9.30 pm. needless to say i missed the show. brian and his brother did get to go, though. the show turned out to be awesome. it was shortly after they released their first widely popular album, bleed american, but they were tired of playing songs from that album, so they played their entire clarity album (1999). all the way through. are you kidding me? this never happens. the good bands never play the old good songs once they’re on mtv and the radio. but jimmy eat world did. and i missed it. do you own the clarity album? if not, you’re silly, go get it. i listen to it literally every time i run. every. single. time.

i have heard about how awesome this show was for nearly 8 years now. its hands down the best show brian has ever been to. and i missed it!

last fall, our friends in arizona’s best rock band made this announcement:

Jimmy Eat World will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its classic Clarity by playing the album in its entirety for 10 one-time-only shows beginning February 23 in New York City and concluding March 7 in the band’s native Arizona.

did i ever think i’d have the opportunity to see this band play those songs ever again? absolutely not. did i doodie my pants when i learned of this? absolutely yes. will i doodie my pants on saturday night? possibly yes. i’ll take lots of pics. until then, i’ll watch this video and others like it, repeatedly, as i eagerly anticipate saturday night. the bro-in-law and wife are even making an appearance in chicago - so its truly a second chance to see the show as i should have so many years ago.

I promised I’d see it again.
I promised I’d see this with you now.
I promised I’d see it again.
I promised I’d see this with you now.

I said said said it out loud over and over
I said it out loud but what do I know.
I’ll stop now.
Just so I can hear you
I stay up as late as it takes.
-just watch the fireworks, jimmy eat world

so. stinking. excited. i glanced at a set list, but i can’t ruin the surprise and actually look at it…

i’ve been loving everything mark bittman writes lately. and this little gem that showed up in my rss this morning is no exception. everyone ought to have a copy of how to cook everything as its the most comprehensive encyclopedia-like book on food ever.

just wondering, because i’m still waiting for the cold, dear chicago.

the kind where i won’t be able to breathe its so cold, where i’ll curse the day i ever thought moving here was a good idea. everyone said it would come, but it hasn’t yet.

just this morning, it was about 8 degrees, negative windchill i’m sure, and right when i got over the river, the windiest part of my walk, i couldn’t stand it anymore so had to take off my scarf and unbutton the top of my jacket.

the key? quality winterwear (sweater, down parka, gloves, hat, scarf, boots) and walking fast. if you walk fast enough you’ll never be cold, i’m convinced. if you’re walking around in an old navy jacket at grandma-window-shopping pace, its your own fault if you’re cold.

come on chicago, let’s see what you’ve got. i have a perfect good pair of long underwear that i haven’t even used yet this year.