Zoe’s Journal

muahahaha. **chuckles maniacally**

I spent so much money tonight. BUT! Most of it was on travel, and ALL of it was a good deal. Except maybe the … oh, you’ll see. For Seattle, I reserved our hotel rooms at the Red Lion on 5th Ave for three nights. It’s not the W, but it’s just as nice, and in the same area. And a lot cheaper! I also booked our flights - $99 a person for each flight! Not bad! I also checked on ticket prices to the Seattle Art Museum - they are having a special exhibition called ‘Japan Envisions the West‘ during the time that we’ll be in town. Only $15 each! Here’s a good part - I bought some tickets to the Seattle Symphony on the 13th. They are having a Mozart night, with pieces from ‘The Magic Flute’ and his popular ‘Requiem’. This is actually what started the shopping spree. I thought, ‘Gee, what am I going to WEAR to a symphony?!‘ Problem Solved, Sherlock.

I bought a dress from Macy’s:

As well a couple of tops from Dillards:

Then I decided to see if there was a necklace or bracelet to go with the dress. Well, I found a good bracelet for it:

And then I found two necklaces. Here is the more conservative - $48 at Dillards:

This one *rapturous sigh*… I don’t know what possessed me to buy it - but it’s so perfectly whimsical! I absolutely adore it. Not to mention, it was on sale for $50. Down from $145. Simple decision.

I feel like shit.

Maybe it was the wine last night. Maybe the chocolate. Maybe the fact that I need to ump my blood sugar. Soon. Meh.

A couple of days ago, I went to Target and bought some random stuff. I’m sure the check-out guy thought I was newly broken-up or something. First of all, I realized that I had forgotten my wedding ring at home before work. So that wasn’t on. And the items I bought were just fuel for the imagination. Pizza, wine, chocolate (some for the LotR, some for me), 2 mystery/romance books, nail polish and a movie. Sounds like a lonely weekend for a girl! Right? But anway, the whole reason I went in the first place was to buy Q-Tips and birthday cards for my little sisters. Well, I forgot to buy Q-Tips. And upon checking out, my cashier was so cute that I didn’t realize I only was carrying two bags, instead of the three that were filled with my things. So I came home, turned on the oven, and realized that I didn’t have my books or birthday cards. So, I drove back to the store and had to wait for security to go find my check-out on his huge camera security system to make sure I did in fact leave it, and then I had to go through the store again to pick up the things that I’d left. And they didn’t have any more of the one book I was so excited about! I was so disappointed… It was supposed to be about a serial killer who kills girls, and then brands ‘your sins are forgiven’ on them. The investigators called him ‘the priest’ and were going all out to find him… I wanted to read that SO bad. Because, you know, I’m highly interested in any religious extremes. But the other book, they did have more of. I wasn’t so excited about it, but then I read it! The story was about a little Midwestern librarian girl who came from a very oppressive, non-affectionate family, and one night she just up and packed her car and drove to west. She hit the lottery (how lucky for her) with her last 3 dollars, found out that she absolutely LOVES the desert area, buys a house and becomes an author (because all she ever wanted was to experience life, and then go home and write about it). Sound kind of familiar? Yeah. I liked that book. Oh, and she used to have long hair, but people kept telling her how to wear it, so she hacked it off really short on impulse. I dig impulses.

Anyway. Today I got up early - around 9 or so (yes, that is very early for me on a saturday)- , and took my mid-term exam for English. I did okay - got a B on it, but I still have a 94% in the class, so I’m okay with the B. Then Callipygian came over and we two went to the mall. We both found a couple of deals, and walked out of the mall without spending much money, and being happy with our purchases.

But now my stomach feels all weird and my head is all fuzzy and I really, really don’t want to work on my English paper, but I really, really, REALLY need to. Because I’ve barely started. And I’m supposed to. So there. Meh. *cries* save me from the annotated bibliographies!

The LotR is out running… he’s bringing back Subway for dinner. Because… well, just because. Meh. I’m through with talking.

Tomorrow I’m leaving for Dallas with my coworkers. Actually, we’re all going in to work in the morning, and then leaving at noon to catch our flight. I am taking a pit-stop at home to grab my luggage and kiss the LotR goodbye - also so he can drive me to the airport so that I don’t have pay for parking there. I love accessibility! I am bringing The Princess Bride for my female coworker and I to watch on the flight down. She hasn’t seen it yet - and the movie is freaking awesome!

While at work today, I got a call on my cell phone - my SHOES came in! Not just any shoes… I’ve been badgering this store for well over a month to order this pair in my size, but they weren’t carrying them anymore. But now, apparently, they had about the LAST pair shipped in from some Kansas store. When I found this out, I promptly made it a ‘date night’ with the LotR. We drove down to the mall and entered through Macy’s - where, what do you know… they had a HUGE dress sale going on. Now, I’m not a ‘dress girl’. Rarely do I wear anything resembling a skirt, much less a one-piece thing that’s suppose to safely cover all parts of one’s body. What if something happens to the straps?! the zipper?! the buttons?! You’re screwed! This is why I normally rely on layers or at least two pieces of clothing.

But I digress. I found a dress that isn’t too girly and bought it, along with a nice blue shirt for work. I look good in blue - and keep reminding myself to buy clothes of that color even though most of what I actually buy is brown, white, or black. *shrugs* But anyway. I found a nice blue shirt for work. Then it was on to the shoe store! They are fucking awesome! **loves them to pieces** The hotel where we’re staying in Dallas has a nightclub and a bar, where I am most definitely going to wear them. At the very least, I’ll look taller - about 4-6 inches taller at least.

After that quick shopping expedition,the LotR and I went to dinner at the Outback Steakhouse and enjoyed a blooming onion and some chicken and shrimp fettuccine. Yum.

Right now, I’m supposed to be finding some sources for my annotated bibliography which I need for my final paper in English. But, since I have almost everything else ready to go, I am taking a break. **breaths deeply - needs water!**

On we go. This coming weekend - Labor Day weekend, the LotR and I are going with some friends to the White Mountains (I think that’s the name?). We’re renting a cabin and plan to enjoy the 60-degree weather while fishing, horseback riding and hiking/biking. This should be fun! I haven’t done outdoor stuff in so long - can’t wait to fish as long as the LotR baits my hook and takes the fish off it.

I think that’s all. I am taking the camera to Dallas, so hopefully I’ll get some good pictures of all the fun to post later on.

Oh! My English character analysis essay! *gasps* I got an email back from my instructor - “ZoeJane, you write extremely well! I only made one correction - take a look.” (I forgot to italicize the name of the book when I referenced it in the very first paragraph.) But I got 99/100! My English grade is now resting at a very satisfactory 96%. The midterm is this weekend - oh, and my spanish final exam too - I’m going to have to finish it early in order to go rent that cabin in the mountains - which sucks because I won’t have much time to travel with the traveling and such. Ah well.

I just got back from a shopping expedition! My first stop was at Ross, where they had TONS of jeans of all sizes on sale from $9.99 up. I found 2 pairs for myself.

One really wide-legged version, which is easily the most comfortable pair of jeans I have ever worn in my life, and which I am wearing tonight to a birthday party.

And one pair made of some really nice material with some great embroidery work on the back.

I also found a purple/brown blazer!

And a red Liz Claiborne bag - which I absolutely love.

My next stop was at the infamous Target - where I splurged and bought Burning Crusade - the newest update for World of Warcraft - even though I’m not starting a subscription until my college classes are done. I also found a Johnny Depp western - Dead Man - and a John Wayne film, “The War Wagon“. I also picked up two $9 bottles of wine and some tooth whitener stuff to see if it works.

Then I went on to the grocery store where I bought, of all things, food (including steak, potatoes, ice cream and pizza). But I forgot to get vinegar, american white sliced cheese, and some other things which I remembered while unpacking but can’t for the life of me recall right now.

Last night after work, I headed over to Callipygian’s place, there to watch Bridge to Terabithia (she hadn’t seen it yet) and ostensibly, work on Spanish while she sewed. I didn’t really think I would get any Spanish done, but I did! Thanks C. In fact, the LotR and I are headed back over there tonight for a birthday party and are bringing a board game and bottle of red wine.

The new treadmill is awesome! Since my original blisters have healed, the night before last I ran for 1.3 miles, and this morning after waking up, I power-walked at a level 13 incline for well over a mile, and then ran some. I feel great!

Now I’m going to seriously work on my Spanish homework/quiz and hopefully get it turned in within the next 2 hours. Because after that, I want to have some fun!

The LotR and I went to the Paradise Valley Mall today. Our first stop was at Pacific Sunwear, where I was determined we would find some non-nerdy clothes for the LotR. Turns out, they had three entire racks of shirts for men - on sale for only $2.99 (down from $32 +)! He picked out six shirts, tried them on (they fit great), and then we marched to the check-out counter, where one pair of shorts for me (which were also on sale) cost more than all 6 of his shirts combined. But hey, the shorts fit great too! I also found some Hurley socks and the LotR picked out some new boxers - since I spied some holes in the ones he was wearing this morning.

Our next stop worth mentioning was at Victoria Secret - were, you know, things are. After that we headed over to Dillards, stopping at TCBY Yogurt on the way. At Dillards, I began looking for some work clothes, but after half an hour of searching, had only managed to find a mini-skirt that the LotR insisted I buy. Sighing, I paid for the skirt and headed out. On the way, I spied a promising-looking section of the store and stopped to investigate. There, I found a treasure. A Kenneth Cole Reaction suit jacket - that didn’t look too suit-y. The original price was $169, but it was on sale for only $42. It was the only one left, and it was in my size. I bought it. And I Love it! It’s a very high-quality piece, and unfortunately, I couldn’t find a picture of it on the Kenneth Cole Reaction website. This was the closest I could find. The one I bought has 3/4 sleeves, doesn’t button up until the belt, and the jacket is waist-length and brown.

Now it’s about time for some cheese-pizza bakin’! I am so hungry… and then it’s off to finish my Spanish essay.