Birfday Week!!

Back when I was making my vacation schedule, I did something smart. I took off an entire week for my birthday. In past years, I have taken off the day of, or a few days surrounding it... but never the whole week. And let me tell you... it's been blissful!

The first few days, we just took delight in sleeping in and playing video games and reading (well, the reading is just me). I think I've finished four books on this vacation - and started a fifth... ahem.

Then on Monday we opted to get out and go somewhere.... namely Coney Island. I had been down there before - but that was all before the big move to the city. Boyfriend extraordinaire had never been there and was anxious to see it - even though it did make him nostalgic for living five minutes from a beach (which he has had his whole life until now). We didn't so much get into doing a beach day as we did walking the boardwalk and people watching - of which there is TONS. We also found an arcade that has his ultimate, favorite, most wonderful arcade game ever... it's an xmen six player game. Apparently we're going to own it one day. Ahem.

Tuesday was really a shopping day - my choice... which it usually isn't. But I had some coupons (of course), so I decided to treat myself. So we shopped and that night we went to see Bruno. It was... uhm... interesting. That was the boyfriend's choice, but he was also a huge Borat fan. I'm indifferent, I suppose.

Wednesday was my actual birthday - and we went down to the Lower East Side to go to a restaurant I've been wanting to go to. It's called Peanut Butter Co... everything they have is some type of peanut butter sandwich. yum!!! We also went to a video game store that specializes in old stuff... and there's tons of it. Boyfriend was in heaven. I also got one of the worlds best fruit tarts for my "birthday cake" slash treat. This is why I love Martha's Bakery!!

Anyway, on Thursday I did a massive amount of laundry that I had been putting off... then I spent the afternoon being pampered. Hello mani/pedi! The place was wonderful and fairly inexpensive. I'm totally going back sometime. Then I had to pack and pack some more.

On Friday I traveled to Nashville to visit with my family for a few days. I got to see everyone I wanted to see... which is a miracle :) - even if some were only for a moment. I also got to see my lil' brother's new pad... I am jealous of all the space in their apartment... but alas. I did birthday dinner with the whole fam, which was awesome. And it was made even more awesome by chocolate mousse crepes with raspberry puree... my prefered birthday "cake." I also had the charge of going through some of my boxes that I left down there - mostly of books. I went through a few, but the boxes seem never ending. But I suppose that's the way it is sometimes.

I had the flight from Hades last night trying to get home... let's just say I finally got back about an hour and a half later than we were supposed to. I'm just glad I had a good book to get me through!

Now I have one last day to be lazy and peaceful before I throw myself back into work - which is not at all going to start off slow. It will be more like being shot from a cannon. Looking forward to that. Ahem. I'm off to enjoy my last day of freedom!

Harry Potter Wonderfulness

So, I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince yesterday after work.

(this is my fave poster I've seen in the subways)

My wonderful boyfriend spent the better part of his day getting us tickets - which is lucky cause they were all sold out by the time our movie was letting in. So props to the bf!!

I've been a Potter fan since basically the beginning. Every time a new movie comes out, I've reread the books before I go see the film. This year, I opted out. The problem is that I get so aggravated at the movie because I just read the book and I know exactly what's missing. I usually hate the movie the first time I see it... and then I see it a few more times in the theatre and decide I actually do like it. It's quite the process.

So this time I decided I'd not reread the books and just see the movie with a fresh look. And that was a great choice. I do realize some of the stuff that was changed/missing/etc, but it didn't bother me quite as much this time. I honestly didn't realize some of the issues until this morning when I was discussing the movie with a coworker - then it bothered me a little, but not enough to change my opinion of the movie.



I truly loved the film. I laughed, I cried, I felt the warm-fuzzies.... it was just great. I really enjoyed that they made the teen-angsty/lovey stuff come through more for this one (which is pretty well in line with the book). There was also a bit more snark in this one - which is always fun. I already loved the story and the movie just put it on the big screen for me :).

So yeah. My vote is that this is a great movie. Now I have to decide if I want to see it again in the theatre (yes) even if I'm not having to convince myself to like it. I probably will - cause that's just what I do.

My Librarian Heart Goes Pitter-Patter

There are times when being a Librarian is very rewarding. And, of course, there are plenty of times that it's so frustrating that you start thinking people - in general - are incompetent. Other times you get a glimpse of humanity that you weren't expecting.



Yesterday I was having a cruddy day at work - one of those days where there aren't enough hours in the day to finish all the stuff you need to do... and people keep giving you more. So, I spent most of my day huffing around, being irritated, but getting stuff done.

About an hour before my day was over, I had a customer encounter that turned my entire day around. And was very surprising considering the clientele I'm used to working with around here.
An older (for this section) guy was looking for a book that we had down in our storage area in the basement of the Library. I told him I would send someone down for it, and he could hang out till they came back. While he was waiting, I had a woman come to the desk having issues with a Nursing test she was supposed to take.

I'm sure we all have fond (*cough*sarcasm*cough*) memories of those Analogy sections on standardized tests. This was the part that the woman was trying to get help on. After looking through some of our study aid books, I decided that she might need to look in GRE study guides - because I remember coming across that when I was studying for that test.

As we were talking about this, the older guy stepped in. He told us that he teaches GRE study courses and knew exactly what we were talking about. Not only that, but he said he had seen something on that over in the adult section last week - and then proceeded to walk the woman over to the area she needed to be in.

This doesn't happen. Ever. Especially not around here. I was truly impressed and grateful to that guy - luckily we found him a copy of the book he wanted. It was just something that made me smile and think that people aren't too bad.

That is, until my next customer demanded I produce a book we don't own... but that's par for the course :). But that didn't keep my heart from doing a little pitter-patter.

I'm a lightweight...

when it comes to sun-exposure. I swear, it takes me 15 minutes or less to burn to a crisp. Incidentally, I was outside longer than that yesterday. The trouble is that I was truly enjoying the day! Alas.

So, yesterday was gorgeous. Breezy, sunny, not very humid... perfect. Luckily, it was my day off. We decided to spend the day job searching for the boyfriend extraordinaire. Specifically bartending jobs. Being in NYC, one would think there would be plenty of bartending jobs. And there may be... they're just for girls :). There was an open call yesterday for this really cool place, so we decided to go.

While the boyfriend was in the interview and stuff, I found myself a place to sit and read. It was a pretty cool spot cause it was right on the Hudson - not that I wanna spend much time looking out at NJ, but whatever. It was a perfect place to enjoy the day.

I mean, beautiful water... great weather... quiet pier... fun book... Just a perfect day off. See? I was a happy girl!

Of course, I didn't realize I was burning. And I didn't find that out till late last night. At that point, I had a serious farmers burn. And no... I'm not going to put up a picture of that! Burned from wrist to upper elbow.... and tops of my knees down to my ankles. It's super attractive.

So yeah... I'm still a bit miserable from that. I would do it again though - perhaps with a tank top on or something so I didn't get all weirdly burned. Oh well. c'est la vie.

Do I get to be a "GAMER" now?

When does a person officially get to call themselves a gamer? What exactly are the requirements? Cause I've had a gamer-licious weekend... and I think I qualify.

Before this I've always loved the simple/puzzle games. Such as...
Luxor - any version works for me, but I'm currently working on 3 :) (both xbox and computer versions).

Cradle of Rome - a little similar to Jewel Quest (Wii version).

Jewel Quest - (both xbox and computer versions).


And so on.
If it's a puzzle game, I'm all there. I love that stuff - probably because it's not really all that strenuous. But the truth is that a lot of games are ruled out because of their camera angles. Anything that's a "first person shooter"... or whatever that would be for a non-shooting game... I can't play. It makes me sick. It's pretty pathetic, huh? Those are the kinds of games that my boyfriend truly loves and gets addicted to.

But he wanted to find me some stuff to play, so last year he bought the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix game for his xbox and sat me down to it. It was good and all - I just got really stuck and I didn't get to play very often anyway. So I stuck with playing Rockband with him, and life was good. Ps... Rockband is awesome. I love it.


But lately, the next Harry Potter game has come out - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince... and of course boyfriend extraordinaire purchased it for my birthday (yes, it came out before the movie... w000t!). Another early gift, by the way.

Ever since he purchased it, I've been extremely obsessed with it. As in, I've spent hours playing that game and have pretty much finished it - there are a few things I haven't gotten yet, but I went through the whole story and got almost all of the little reward things I'm supposed to get. So yeah! I'm feelin pretty good about it... and it was a lot of fun.

Weekend wasted, but title earned? I think so :).

Early birthday!

So, my birthday isn't until July 22... but when you're dating someone who can't keep secrets, birthdays sometimes come early. Yesterday his mom was in town - she came for the weekend + a little.

While I was working, they went shopping and stuff. He texted me a few times saying, "I might be getting your birthday present." and "YAY Birthday present purchased!" and then "I might give this to you today." He has a massive inability to keep something a secret when he's excited about it. Of course, that's not really a problem for me! That means I get gifts early :). So, yes... when I got home from work yesterday, he gave me my birthday present - 23 days early.

Have I mentioned that he's a handbag connoisseur? I think it was my last birthday when he got me my first designer bag - not that I asked for it... I was happy to stick with my Target purse, but he was embarrased to be seen near it. hahaha.

So, of course he got me a new Dooney this year. He's learning that I need to fit about three books in my purses, so we're getting progressively bigger :). I was pretty pumped this morning when I could fit a sweater in there! So fun. How cute is this?!



Anyway, so I've already had my birthday... essentially. I'm still trying to decide if I am going to be traveling on the week of my birthday. I took that week off - just cause I had the time to take. I'm soooo ready for that vacation. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with it!

Suggestions? Comments? Beauty tips?