Owie owie owie …

*Warning, this entry discusses how the inside of my nose feels*

Last year my friend Sarah recommended the cold remedy Zicam to ward off the common cold. She swore by it so much that the next time I felt like I was getting the sniffles I went out and bought my very own bottle of it. I used it … and it stung! It hurt the inside of my nose so much that I gave up. Well, Terry, JJ’s mom, was teling JJ about how great it is and a couple of weeks ago JJ thought he might be getting a cold and went and got some. And now HE started raving about it, too! So I start thinking maybe I’m wrong … maybe it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was and hey, if it wards off the sniffles, I can’t lose! I walked over to my medicine cabinet today (having had a scratchy throat for a couple of days), picked up the Zicam and squirted it into my nose … and at first it was okay, then slowly it started to sting a little, and then it started to burn and pretty soon I’m in some serious pain. OW OW OW OW OW. I blow my nose to try and relieve it of this demon ointment that’s in there but it’s been in there long enough that it’s sticking! It won’t come out! And to add insult to injury … some of it has run down my throat. I’m writing this and my nose is burning and my throat is on fire from this stupid stupid Zicam.

Owie owie owie …

*Warning, this entry discusses how the inside of my nose feels*

Last year my friend Sarah recommended the cold remedy Zicam to ward off the common cold. She swore by it so much that the next time I felt like I was getting the sniffles I went out and bought my very own bottle of it. I used it … and it stung! It hurt the inside of my nose so much that I gave up. Well, Terry, JJ’s mom, was teling JJ about how great it is and a couple of weeks ago JJ thought he might be getting a cold and went and got some. And now HE started raving about it, too! So I start thinking maybe I’m wrong … maybe it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was and hey, if it wards off the sniffles, I can’t lose! I walked over to my medicine cabinet today (having had a scratchy throat for a couple of days), picked up the Zicam and squirted it into my nose … and at first it was okay, then slowly it started to sting a little, and then it started to burn and pretty soon I’m in some serious pain. OW OW OW OW OW. I blow my nose to try and relieve it of this demon ointment that’s in there but it’s been in there long enough that it’s sticking! It won’t come out! And to add insult to injury … some of it has run down my throat. I’m writing this and my nose is burning and my throat is on fire from this stupid stupid Zicam.

Isn’t it romantic?

*Warning … very long entry follows*

Let me just say, before I really start getting into this, that I’m a doubtful believer in romance. Maybe it’s because I’m cynical. And maybe it’s because the two guys I dated before and the one I’m going to marry were/are all totally non-romantic so I have a totally warped sense of romantic is. Either way, I walk a pretty fine line between romance I can stand and romance that makes me want to throw up. To put it in perspective, one night back in … I don’t remember, June maybe? July? … I knew that JJ had had a bad week … and not necessarily bad in the sense that someone died and he lost his best friend bad but bad in the sense that he was overworked … so anyway, I set up a “date” for the two of us that Friday night. I set up his apartment with candles and roses and brought back Big Bowl (take a moment and mourn for Big Bowl please …) and we had a really nice evening where he didn’t have to do anything … all he had to do was come home. This is romance I can stand. If JJ wrote me a poem or a song and insisted on reading it to me … this is romance I can’t stand. Get it? Good.

Well, the last “date” JJ and I went on was on our 6 month anniversary back in early January. He took me to 518, a really nice Italian restaurant in Raleigh, for dinner which is owned by our friends Mickey and Elle Ewell and then when we got back to his apartment he had bought us books to read. It was very sweet. Before the “JJ’s bad week” date I think that we went on a date sometime in August where we went to a restaurant in Raleigh and then came back and had a drink with Scott and Heidi. Anyway, the pattern seems to be routine, routine, routine (which I really really enjoy, don’t get me wrong), Angela gets restless, we go on a date. And I guess that by “date” what I usually mean is “Angela is too tired to worry about getting stuff together … it’s your turn.”

Yesterday afternoon we were talking about making dinner tonight. On Wednesday JJ had mentioned that this Friday wouldn’t it be nice if we just made an evening of it where we stayed in, made dinner, and relaxed. I was totally all for that. By the time Tuesday rolled around this week I was exhausted already. When we talked yesterday I made a comment about how maybe we should make tonight a “date” and JJ agreed … this led to certain expectations in my head … gathered from the last 4 or 5 “dates” we went on and so I got pretty excited. I’m tired … I will be working all day today on an unforgiving number of readings and I really really really need something to at least jolt me out of this sort of blah slump I’ve been in for awhile. So forgive be for being a pseudo-romantic but yes, last night I was really looking forward to something different tonight.

I misunderstood him. Again. I’m getting really really good at that. When we talked last night on the phone it became crystal clear that when I said “date” what he thought and what I thought were two completely different entities. Crap. Under normal circumstances if that had happened I would have been mildly disappointed, and then mildly amused that we totally miscommunicated by that much. Last night I was hardly in the mood. I was tired and had way too many things going on in my head … so it apparently took way too much energy to hide the fact that I was disappointed because it didn’t take him much to pick up on it. I should, at this juncture, point out that what he was thinking was we make dinner, we eat it at the table (instead of in front of the TV which is what we usually do), maybe light a candle or two. This is, for my JJ, about the limit of his romantic ability. I’m not trying to be mean, it’s just the truth. And to be totally honest, it’s pretty good. In a normal state of mind I would have found that extremely appealing. But I had got it into my thick skull that it was going to be a date where I show up and not necessarily that he does all the work but I guess that there was going to be a little more “date” and less “let’s watch TV after dinner.” Ooops. So now, he’s got something cooking in that brain of his … originally I was going to head over to his house before he got off work and get dinner started, then it was 6:30 and we were going to go to the grocery store, and now it’s 7:30 and I just show up. Hmmmm.

I have no idea what’s going on, but I feel a little (or a lot) guilty about how this whole Friday night thing turned out because even reading back over this there’s a lot of “Angela expected so JJ’s going to …” involved here which isn’t very fair to him. But in my defense I came to the realization last night that it isn’t that I need to be romanced per se … it’s more that I fear the two of us taking each other for granted because yes, I enjoy the routine and I do just count on the fact that he’s going to be there. But with the wedding approaching more quickly than I care to admit, I know that the times when we feel the need to romance each other are also reaching their end … and I’m okay with that. If I could marry him tomorrow and lose that, I’d be perfectly okay, even excited, about that. But as long as we’re not married yet, I feel like we have a chance to do stuff like date and make it special … and maybe I’m totally off on this, but I kind of want to enjoy that while it lasts.

Isn’t it romantic?

*Warning … very long entry follows*

Let me just say, before I really start getting into this, that I’m a doubtful believer in romance. Maybe it’s because I’m cynical. And maybe it’s because the two guys I dated before and the one I’m going to marry were/are all totally non-romantic so I have a totally warped sense of romantic is. Either way, I walk a pretty fine line between romance I can stand and romance that makes me want to throw up. To put it in perspective, one night back in … I don’t remember, June maybe? July? … I knew that JJ had had a bad week … and not necessarily bad in the sense that someone died and he lost his best friend bad but bad in the sense that he was overworked … so anyway, I set up a “date” for the two of us that Friday night. I set up his apartment with candles and roses and brought back Big Bowl (take a moment and mourn for Big Bowl please …) and we had a really nice evening where he didn’t have to do anything … all he had to do was come home. This is romance I can stand. If JJ wrote me a poem or a song and insisted on reading it to me … this is romance I can’t stand. Get it? Good.

Well, the last “date” JJ and I went on was on our 6 month anniversary back in early January. He took me to 518, a really nice Italian restaurant in Raleigh, for dinner which is owned by our friends Mickey and Elle Ewell and then when we got back to his apartment he had bought us books to read. It was very sweet. Before the “JJ’s bad week” date I think that we went on a date sometime in August where we went to a restaurant in Raleigh and then came back and had a drink with Scott and Heidi. Anyway, the pattern seems to be routine, routine, routine (which I really really enjoy, don’t get me wrong), Angela gets restless, we go on a date. And I guess that by “date” what I usually mean is “Angela is too tired to worry about getting stuff together … it’s your turn.”

Yesterday afternoon we were talking about making dinner tonight. On Wednesday JJ had mentioned that this Friday wouldn’t it be nice if we just made an evening of it where we stayed in, made dinner, and relaxed. I was totally all for that. By the time Tuesday rolled around this week I was exhausted already. When we talked yesterday I made a comment about how maybe we should make tonight a “date” and JJ agreed … this led to certain expectations in my head … gathered from the last 4 or 5 “dates” we went on and so I got pretty excited. I’m tired … I will be working all day today on an unforgiving number of readings and I really really really need something to at least jolt me out of this sort of blah slump I’ve been in for awhile. So forgive be for being a pseudo-romantic but yes, last night I was really looking forward to something different tonight.

I misunderstood him. Again. I’m getting really really good at that. When we talked last night on the phone it became crystal clear that when I said “date” what he thought and what I thought were two completely different entities. Crap. Under normal circumstances if that had happened I would have been mildly disappointed, and then mildly amused that we totally miscommunicated by that much. Last night I was hardly in the mood. I was tired and had way too many things going on in my head … so it apparently took way too much energy to hide the fact that I was disappointed because it didn’t take him much to pick up on it. I should, at this juncture, point out that what he was thinking was we make dinner, we eat it at the table (instead of in front of the TV which is what we usually do), maybe light a candle or two. This is, for my JJ, about the limit of his romantic ability. I’m not trying to be mean, it’s just the truth. And to be totally honest, it’s pretty good. In a normal state of mind I would have found that extremely appealing. But I had got it into my thick skull that it was going to be a date where I show up and not necessarily that he does all the work but I guess that there was going to be a little more “date” and less “let’s watch TV after dinner.” Ooops. So now, he’s got something cooking in that brain of his … originally I was going to head over to his house before he got off work and get dinner started, then it was 6:30 and we were going to go to the grocery store, and now it’s 7:30 and I just show up. Hmmmm.

I have no idea what’s going on, but I feel a little (or a lot) guilty about how this whole Friday night thing turned out because even reading back over this there’s a lot of “Angela expected so JJ’s going to …” involved here which isn’t very fair to him. But in my defense I came to the realization last night that it isn’t that I need to be romanced per se … it’s more that I fear the two of us taking each other for granted because yes, I enjoy the routine and I do just count on the fact that he’s going to be there. But with the wedding approaching more quickly than I care to admit, I know that the times when we feel the need to romance each other are also reaching their end … and I’m okay with that. If I could marry him tomorrow and lose that, I’d be perfectly okay, even excited, about that. But as long as we’re not married yet, I feel like we have a chance to do stuff like date and make it special … and maybe I’m totally off on this, but I kind of want to enjoy that while it lasts.

Warm and toasty

I finally seem to have solved my cold office problem … wear the heaviest sweater I can find in my closet. I bought this sweater last year during the cold snap we had that eventually led to lots of snow and some ice and only wore it maybe once or twice. It normally doesn’t get cold enough here to wear something this heavy. However, my office, as I previously mentioned, has been ridiculously cold. I am now quite comfortable and capable of high productivity.

In other news, my friend Sabrina just got her second custom made bag from girlworksbags.com and I decided to check out their website. The girl who makes the bags has agreed to make me my very own bag … out of my old Wash U swimming t-shirts! How cool is that?? So I need to package those up and get them out to her so I can get my Wash U bag soon …

Warm and toasty

I finally seem to have solved my cold office problem … wear the heaviest sweater I can find in my closet. I bought this sweater last year during the cold snap we had that eventually led to lots of snow and some ice and only wore it maybe once or twice. It normally doesn’t get cold enough here to wear something this heavy. However, my office, as I previously mentioned, has been ridiculously cold. I am now quite comfortable and capable of high productivity.

In other news, my friend Sabrina just got her second custom made bag from girlworksbags.com and I decided to check out their website. The girl who makes the bags has agreed to make me my very own bag … out of my old Wash U swimming t-shirts! How cool is that?? So I need to package those up and get them out to her so I can get my Wash U bag soon …

Fresh meat

OK far be it from me to use this as complaint central but … it’s FREEZING in my office. I am sitting here reading or writing but intermittently sticking my hands in my coat pockets (yes I am wearing a coat) to warm them. My nose is cold, I’m wearing a sweater and jeans and a coat, my feet are freezing, my ears are cold … and somehow I’m still here. I have been cold since I got out of bed this morning. *shiver* I feel like this is one big meat locker up here on the 3rd floor of Davie. On the other hand … definitely, without a doubt, better this than 80 and humid.

The end of an era

Well … I guess that’s end of it. At least for 2004. Yesterday the Steelers lost to the Patriots in spectacular fashion. I’m not going to torture myself with the details of it but you can click here and find out exactly how things went wrong. But let’s just say this … 3 interceptions does not a championship make. However … Ben’s young, he’s talented, and hopefully he’ll be playing in the steel city for awhile. That’s the good news for Steelers fans out there. That being said, I think I’m going to leave that subject at that. That and I’m looking forward to next season already. 7 months is a long time to wait before those guys take to the field again.

Last week Bill Simmons who writes for ESPN’s Page 2 wrote the following: Worst-case scenario for the Steelers: They can’t run the ball, Big Ben craps the bed, Brady picks them apart, Dillon finishes them off. That was too freakishly close to what actually happened, wasn’t it?

Sports fanaticism is a remarkable phenomenon. Nothing seems to capture the ups and downs of human-ness better than the 3 hours of a football game or the 4-7 hours of a baseball game or the 2 hours of a basketball game. Fortunes can change without warning and while usually the most talented, ready, and well-poised team wins, sometimes a little luck makes it all the more interesting. I’m not sure I’ll ever truly understand the sports fan. I really don’t think I will. I was so disappointed the Steelers lost last night but unfortunately for me … I was in the presence of man who was more disappointed than I. I was out-disappointed by a long shot. And over the last couple of weeks, watching JJ watch the Steelers play, I’ve come to realize that he’s not necessarily crazy. It is the same passion he has for the Steelers that allows him to love me as completely as he does. This is the same passion that gives some the heart for missions trips, it is the same passion that gives others the heart for ministry, and still others love for what is beautiful and artistic. And that passion is important because without it life would be really boring.

I have to admit that I rarely, if ever, worry that another woman will steal away the affections of my JJ. But there’s a team of 53 men out there that sometimes rattles me. I was torn last night because I was devastated we lost, and I’m sure I was actually more disappointed than JJ realized I was because I really was pretty bummed and I think he thought I was just relieved the season was over, but it sort of means that we have our Sundays back. Now, I’m not sure what we’re going to do with all that free time … but … hey, we’ve got it now.

There are a few Steelers hitting the free agent market come the end of the season. Stay tuned for updates. I don’t know that I could ever watch something like the draft … but … I will be keeping my eye on that 05-06 roster with great interest.

Fresh meat

OK far be it from me to use this as complaint central but … it’s FREEZING in my office. I am sitting here reading or writing but intermittently sticking my hands in my coat pockets (yes I am wearing a coat) to warm them. My nose is cold, I’m wearing a sweater and jeans and a coat, my feet are freezing, my ears are cold … and somehow I’m still here. I have been cold since I got out of bed this morning. *shiver* I feel like this is one big meat locker up here on the 3rd floor of Davie. On the other hand … definitely, without a doubt, better this than 80 and humid.

The end of an era

Well … I guess that’s end of it. At least for 2004. Yesterday the Steelers lost to the Patriots in spectacular fashion. I’m not going to torture myself with the details of it but you can click here and find out exactly how things went wrong. But let’s just say this … 3 interceptions does not a championship make. However … Ben’s young, he’s talented, and hopefully he’ll be playing in the steel city for awhile. That’s the good news for Steelers fans out there. That being said, I think I’m going to leave that subject at that. That and I’m looking forward to next season already. 7 months is a long time to wait before those guys take to the field again.

Last week Bill Simmons who writes for ESPN’s Page 2 wrote the following: Worst-case scenario for the Steelers: They can’t run the ball, Big Ben craps the bed, Brady picks them apart, Dillon finishes them off. That was too freakishly close to what actually happened, wasn’t it?

Sports fanaticism is a remarkable phenomenon. Nothing seems to capture the ups and downs of human-ness better than the 3 hours of a football game or the 4-7 hours of a baseball game or the 2 hours of a basketball game. Fortunes can change without warning and while usually the most talented, ready, and well-poised team wins, sometimes a little luck makes it all the more interesting. I’m not sure I’ll ever truly understand the sports fan. I really don’t think I will. I was so disappointed the Steelers lost last night but unfortunately for me … I was in the presence of man who was more disappointed than I. I was out-disappointed by a long shot. And over the last couple of weeks, watching JJ watch the Steelers play, I’ve come to realize that he’s not necessarily crazy. It is the same passion he has for the Steelers that allows him to love me as completely as he does. This is the same passion that gives some the heart for missions trips, it is the same passion that gives others the heart for ministry, and still others love for what is beautiful and artistic. And that passion is important because without it life would be really boring.

I have to admit that I rarely, if ever, worry that another woman will steal away the affections of my JJ. But there’s a team of 53 men out there that sometimes rattles me. I was torn last night because I was devastated we lost, and I’m sure I was actually more disappointed than JJ realized I was because I really was pretty bummed and I think he thought I was just relieved the season was over, but it sort of means that we have our Sundays back. Now, I’m not sure what we’re going to do with all that free time … but … hey, we’ve got it now.

There are a few Steelers hitting the free agent market come the end of the season. Stay tuned for updates. I don’t know that I could ever watch something like the draft … but … I will be keeping my eye on that 05-06 roster with great interest.