Wednesday, June 28, 2006
I googled myself....
Zirk, Elizabeth A. 1898-1979
How fucked up.... her middle name is probably Anne. I was born two years later people! Crazy! I have been reborn!
This was from the Saint Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetary in Monroe county, wherever that is.... and knowing me, I'm wanting to find out.
I also found this, which is much more heartening:
Judianne Albertson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerry L. Albertson of Birmingham, Ala., was married yesterday to Kenneth Robert Zirk, a son of Anton Zirk of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Elizabeth Duddleston of Warwick, N.Y. Msgr. Francis Bellew performed the ceremony at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York.
The bride, 29, graduated from Skidmore College. She is a vice president in the capital markets division of Citibank in New York.
The bridegroom, 33, graduated from Rutgers University and is a vice president in Philadelphia of Koll Management Services Inc., a real estate consulting company. He is a stepson of Lois Zirk and Bob Duddleston.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Quickies
* My fingers hurt. I invited myself to go rock climbing with Jacob, which was not necessarily a mistake. But I did fail my Belay test (then again, I haven't climbed for a couple years) and my arms wore out pretty quick. But he's a cool guy and didn't tease me about it.
* Gatorade is my best friend. It is f'cking HOTT in herrrre! You're outside in shorts and a tank and you can barely breathe.... I wouldn't mind as much if there was a breeze now and then, but COME ON! Can't a brother get a goddamn breeze! And water isn't enough, so I am being friendly with my local Walgreens attendant, who clues me into the liquid special of the week.
* In regards to the previous asterisk.... You people are just dirty to take the words "liquid special" and make it into something sexual. Oh wait, that's me. :)
* Andy... yeah, the guy who was into me first and we went on a date... doesn't want to be in a relationship and just wants to hang out and be friends. Quoi?
* Somehow I coerced the messiest housemate and resident arrogant prick to help me clean the kitchen. It must have been my awesome Jedi mind trick powers! I literally don't know how it happened. Angie was in shock.
* I feel bad for the Russian referee who called the Portugal-Netherlands game on Sunday. And then again, I don't. Two players from each team were red-carded. Not in the they-did-the-most-horrible-thing-imaginable way, but because there were so many yellow cards. And as we all know (smile and nod), two yellow cards and you earn a red card, which kicks you out of not only that game, but the next one. So, Portugal has to battle England without two of its most valued players. Strike that, 3! Because one of them was injured. All this, however, creates an advantage for England (something I like), but now there's a blackish cloud hanging over all the upcoming games. :(
* I learned a new card game: Fool. And I can't go into details of how to play. Mostly because it's complicated, and partly because writing about how to play a card game is impractical. Cards are visual things. But I can tell you that it's a whole lotta fun!
* I bought an amazingly well-fitted dress at Old Navy on Saturday. For twenty bucks and it's purple! Happy me!
* Random but true: Hearing gay guys talk about other gay people is hysterical. Nobody else can use the word FAG or FLAMER quite like a witty and sarcastic gay man.
* I got a pedicure and I think I'm allergic to something in the lotion because I've got little bunps on the tops of my feet and it's the same lotion as when I got a manicure in SF. That Lanolin Aloe stuff. Maybe it's the Lanolin.
* To leave on a high note, sit at a piano and hold down the farthest key to your right. Have a nice day!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
The Date
The rest of Saturday was ok. I spent an hour and a half getting ready for meeting him at 8pm and before then, I had to buy food. Because... well... I didn't have anymore. And I ended up going to the mall as well and buying cool stuff from Bath and Body Works (sale galore!) and Target. Getting ready consisted of the following:
bath in new Sweet Pea Bubble Bath Mix
shower
moisturizing with White Tea and Ginger Body Cream
nail painting in Tart color (dark red) with sparkle finish
Mint Citrus Hand Lotion (for both hands and feet)
black boatneck shirt
jeans
black cardigan
brown flats
brown headband
silver flower earrings
silver necklace with "diamond" pendant
four silver bangle bracelets
brown watch
curly-cue ring
brown and gray eye shadow
black mascara
black eye liner
sparkly cotton candy lip stuff
I smelled really super good and looked very nice. I didn't want to over do it, mostly because we were meeting at a pub and going from there. But I looked like I was on a date. Big step forward from previous date of six years ago.
Anyway, I was running a bit late, only fifteen minutes. And when I got to the pub, I couldn't find him at first. He was tucked away in a corner table. He already had a beer and had drunk half of it. I sat down and he ordered me a beer. He brought water to the table too, since we hadn't eaten yet. He looked nice as well. Jeans and nice brown shoes. And one of those warm, fuzzy sweaters with a zipper at the neck. It was begging to be touched. I'm not sure if that was sly wit on his part, or if it was just his cleanest and most presentable sweater.
So, we're drinking and talking. We talked about the World Cup games, about the paper I have to finish for my incomplete from fall semester. It was adorable. The author's name of the play I'm writing about in that paper is WEDEKIND. And I guess I either didn't say it loud enough or he just couldn't say it properly, but every time he mentioned the name, he kinda inflected his voice - as if to say, is that right? And I would correct him if it wasn't. Then, finally, he said it right. I got all excited. And then he said: Well, I thought about Darth VADer and then tried saying the rest of the word. :) :) The first syllable is said like: VADE. It was so cute. And he would grin really big and be excited since he could say it too now. Painful adorableness.
Anyway, it was after nine by the time we tought about food and most of the places on the Ave were probably closing, so we decided to just eat there. I had a ginormous baked potato. For like 3 bucks. I ate the whole thing of course. He had a sandwich called the Pink Cadillac. Rye bread, avocado, salsa, turkey and mild cheddar. Since it had salsa in the spread, it came with tortilla chips and he put them inside his sandwich. Again, cute. He asked before doing so. I used to put chips inside my sandwiches all the time when I was a kid, so not weird at all.
We talked about food in England, America, telling funny stories. It was incredibly easy to talk with him. Love that. Since we both have relatives in England, we talked about our families a bit. I told him about Steve's wedding to Becky. And how he's called a Muppet - kinda like being called a buffoon. And he told me about his university days. He's 27, 28? Turns 28 soon, yeah. Bioengineering. Was in Australia prior to Seattle, for four or five years. Before that, he was in England finishing his uni degree. He's here until the end of next year for sure and then he has to worry about work visas, etc. But it'll probably be renewed.
He paid for everything. Definitely a date. But then, I wanted some ice cream. So, we walked back towards where I live to the Haagen Dazs and got some yummy stuff. I paid that. I got mint chip and he got zesty lemon sorbet. And I love lemon sorbet as well, so I asked him if I could have some. And he said sure and sorta pushed it towards me. I kinda looked at it for a second and looked up at him. He didn't really get it, so I said: Feed Me. :) :)
He fumbled for a second and then fed me a spoonful. And then I fed him some of mine. It wasn't really a sexual, romantic moment - more ha ha funny and kinda cute. I guess we're both more like that than sexy, romantic. So, we were already walking towards my house and we past by an Italian restuarant. Andy had been there before and he said it was a great place. So I said we'd have to go there next time. OOPS. Uh... I mean, if there's a next time. And he kinda looked at me, smiled slightly and looked away. You have to cross I-5 to get to my house from where we were, so it was a bit cold and I linked arms with him and his lovely sweater. He was actually kinda cold for a guy. Normally, they're a bit more warm-blooded. So, then we get to my door and he looks down and stands back a bit. I hadn't finished my ice cream and thought we should get rid of that before any goodnight stuff. So, I said politely, not at all flirty: Do you wanna come in? And he says: Uh... I better pop off to home. And I realize what he thinks I said: Well, do you want to come in and help put my ice cream away in the freezer? Oh right, OK!
So, we go in and it's dark, but it's only 11pm on a Saturday. Nobody else is home and their doors are closed anyway. But he's whispering. I tell him he doesn't have to, but it's nice to know he would do that right off the start. And then I walk back to the front door and we stand there for a moment and then he says: I had a really nice dinner tonight. Thank you for looking so pretty. Big smile from me. And I say: I had a really nice time too. And then we leaned into each other for a couple of quick, nice goodnight kisses. And as he's leaving, he says: I'm hanging out with a bunch of friends from Australia this weekend, but I'll call you during the week and we'll make plans? Yes! I say. Goodnight. Goodnight.
And that was it. I went downstairs and washed off my makeup and smiled for about an hour before falling asleep.
Yeah me! I had a date and it went really well! No awkwardness and no fumbling on my part! And I did not think of jumping him for one minute, mostly because I didn't want to go that far yet, but also because it was just so nice to hang out and be laidback cool with him. Laidback cool on a first date! What nonsense! But it worked. Old-school dates. I like em. :) :)
I'm still smiling.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Is Angie OK?
Tangent: How am I going on a date? How long have I been here? Why is it that wherever I'm not permanently planted I meet guys? Let's not forget the last time Liz got asked out, she didn't realize it and dressed sloppy. We ended up driving around for a while after dinner because he wasn't sure of what to do if and when he ever brought me back to my dorm. Yeah.... no calls from him after that. But then again, I wasn't attracted to him and hence didn't realize it was a date.
Then, Angie and Brittany started talking about pot. I knew Brittany smoked and Angie was talking about how she got way stoned over the weekend (when I was in fab Portland). Brittany looks at us and invited us to her room for a puff. Fine by me. It's been five years, but hey..... if it's offered and I have nowhere else to be right then....
So, Angie's all paranoid because she works at Boeing and they might give her a drug test. I get the munchies. Angie had ginger snaps from Trader Joe's (YUM) and cream cheese frosting. We made little sandwiches. And Brittany is just laughing her head off at Angie. Why? Because she's hysterical when high. She reached into a sandwich bag of apple slices and her hand got kinda stuck. Out comes the song: My hand's in a bag, my bag's in a hand, hand in a bag, bag, bag, hand, etc. Then she wanted a picture taken of her lighting the pipe. Her camera is super cool and we took countless shots of Angie with pipe, smoke, et al. Talk about the polar opposite of being paranoid that your boss might ask for a drug test. And then she was trying to walk down the hallway and was falling all over herself.
Shawn came home then and it got kinda giggly after that. For some reason, Shawn and I were talking about sex and relationships for a while. I could have sworn that he would mumble every now and again "But I like you, Liz." Then again, I was sleepy and munching out... so.... I'm pretty sure that was my big-ego subconscience being overly positive since I had just been asked out.
So raise your glasses and say a toast to Liz: May she be worthy of all cool shit that is happening to her at the moment. And may her ego not get bruised when she realizes that she's just an average girl from San Fran.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Tougher Than Leather
Pictures #2
Jen is the curly-haired lovely in the front and Rachel is in the background. Jen is sweeter than sweet and Rachel is well.... direct to a fault. But they are both fantastic and fun to hang out with. Well, their friend Andy dropped by for the food and a drink and we all hit it off and decided to go out for a drink. So, we headed down the Ave to anywhere that was open. Mind you, this is Thursday and I have to get up the next day for work. We ende up at The Brewery, where I am not sure if they brew their own beer or not. They had mostly IPA's and Belgian ambers and stouts.
Here's Jen and I about to pound down a pint! Boy, I had fun. Actually, I just got a slight buzz since I only had one and a half beers. Andy, however, got a bit more than buzzed.
I'm not really sure what we were trying to do here, but needless to say, Andy (who in this picture doesn't look that great) was... let's say.... interested in me. Not in a bad way, like eww get off me or I'll call the cops. But more like, saying silly things and being really flirty.
Well, we left the bar at closing (I never stay up that late anymore... ever) and walked home. Jen was obviously trying to leave the two of us alone and I was desparately trying to catch up to her. Andy was trying to spin me and dance with me while walking. It was.... funny? And he tried to kiss me and I said: I don't kiss guys who are this drunk. And he said: Right, I bet you send all sorts of guys away. They just are always asking you out for a drink and you just keep saying "Fuck off!" I thought he was angry, but then he would smile. And then he explained that he was so smashed because he was so nervous talking to me at the pub.
Please, weigh in on this. Is he pathetic or is he sweet? I'm completely torn. He was really drunk and probably saying things which he may or may not mean. Then again, it's a lame excuse and kinda creepy. Plus, he's English. Why can't he hold his beer?
Anyway, I tell him he's not going home alone in this condition and he has to crash at our place. He stumbles into the doorway and nearly falls over. He's ill practically all night and smells terrible. And right before I just left him be due to me having to sleep before going to work that morning, he asked me if I would go out with him for a drink. I said NO, but if he called I might consider dinner. He agreed and then promptly passed out next to the bathroom door.
Oh yes, I attract some winners.
But then came the weekend! Portland! I always love going to Portland and this time was no exception to the very-cool-weekend rule.
First, I spent the night at my cousin's plce in Tenino and had a massage Saturday morning. Then, I drove down to Portlnd from there and Jen called to say she was sick. No! But that just emant she had more time to hang out with me. Prior to this, I had called Devin, the Field Director of Oregon who lives in Portland. And we had made plans to have dinner and then I would go see his improv show. Jen came along with me and we ate sushi.
Here's my wonderful DevDev, as I call him. He's been the FD for four years now and does a great job at it! He's a super-duper human being and lots of fun. Then DevDev had tickets for me and him to see a show downtown: The Mountain Goats. It was so effin' cool! I dig it completely from only one show and you should check him out.
Then, Dev and I rode around on his super cool motorcycle until DAWN! I know... I'm being bad all over the place with my sleeping habits, but I'm young. I'll bounce back.
Pictures #1
Here are two of my co-workers:

The more lovely-than-ever Chantal, who was telling me not to take the picture as I took it. I love me too.
And Rafe. The ever-performer who was turned away from me when I walked in and after I asked him if I could take a photo, whipped around into diva position. My reflexes need work, so this is post diva position. Sorry.
Work was good. Busy week for placing kids with families. Twelve placements in four days! I was a happy Liz, even if I was busy. It's better for placements to happen now than a day before the kids arrive in the US, right?
So, to offset the busy week, which ended with a bang (always better since ears have acclamated to the environment), the housemates (Jen specifically) had a BBQ. I was invited, even though I could have invited myself since it was at our house.
The girls set up the BBQ all by our lonesome. No burly boys allowed to help. And it turned out pretty good. Although, I did end up driving to Safeway twice. Once to get lighter fluid and the second time to get more wine.
Yummy grilled chicken! I can't for the life of me remember this girl's name. She's from Japan and her name meant... Damn... part of it was the name of the mountain where her father had grown up and half of it meant "beautiful" or "pleasing". But when you put it together, it doesn't necessarily mean anything. Japanese is therefore cool as shit.
We were drinking pretty well and then it was just Jen, Rachel, Andy and me. To be continued....
Nearly Awake
Not really, he's quite sarcastic and witty and I adore him for it. Of course, I don't adore him when he tries to wrestle me for first dibs on the copier machine. Whatever. Like he could ever beat me with his two lame feet. Poor guy. I feel sorry for him, but not so much that I let him have the copier first. Pity isn't in my work ethics vocab.
The room I moved into is cool. It's bigger than I expected, which is nice. I finally taped stuff up on the walls to make it seem not so empty and large. The housemates are cool-o as well. Rachel was the girl I subletted from and she was BF's with Jen who was next door until Friday, when a guy named Jacob moved in. Jen and Rachel are from Bristol. They're currently touring British Columbia until next weekend. And the new guy Jacob seems quite nice. Clean, not loud, smart. And he's kinda cute to boot. Well done. The other guy who lives downstairs is Ryan, who is the eldest housemate. And he should pay the comcast bill today or I'll kill him in his sleep. The cable got turned off yesterday and we still don't have internet in the house.
Upstairs is Angie, Shawn and Brittany. Angie is cool. Aerospace chica from North Dakota. Shawn is a big spoiled brat who didn't get along with any of the housemates all year apparently. I like to hang out with him so I can practice being cynical and bitchy. :) Brittany is really quiet and keeps to herself. So, I don't know much about her.
And that's that.
I'll be posting pictures of the BBQ Jen had before she and Rachel left for Canada. And then I'll talk about my crazy weekend in Portland. Oh yes... another weekend in Portland. I think I'm an addict.
Monday, June 5, 2006
Seattle or Bust
Things to ponder:
- Liz gets sunburn in Moses Lake on 25th birthday. Mother Nature upset at her lack of recycling?
- Liz's car breaks down as she's moving in to her apartment. Volvo karma for not spending time in Sweden while she was in Norway last year?
And finally....
- Why is the sky blue?