Please won't you be. . . .

Oh yes, Mr. Rogers. I'll be your neighbor. . .

. . it was just a matter of time before it happened. Up untill now, I'd considered myself lucky with my current living situation. Previously, along with clanking radiators, negligent landlords, buggies and all, irritating cohabitants were always an issue. However, in THIS building, I seem to be among normal, quiet, friendly human-like people. They don't sell drugs from their bedrooms, they have subscriptions to the wall street journal. The do not do kegstands in the bathtub, they give piano lessons on tuesday evenings. They clean out lint the laundry room lint traps and bring your too-big-for-the-mailbox packages to your door. I had even given into a sense of security; no longer was I waiting for the "other shoe" to drop and expose a noisy/angry/meddlesome person on the other side of my apartment walls.

Well, consider my proverbial laces in the mud. . . Last week, I discovered that I have an asshole living above me. No peeing off the balcony this time, as in my previous neighbors, but shouting off of it; He seems to be Noisy, but not a roaring party every night as in the upstairs neighbors on 15th street on Marquette's campus; Mean, but not reclusively vindictave as in the old mean lady in downtown Milwaukee. . . Noises from the floor, but not soft, bouncing soccer juggling like the cackling loud-cafeteria-laugher from the girls in my first college dorm. . . Those familiar bullets have all been dodged. No, no, this guy is a new and different kind of jerky neighbor. . . Allow me to paint a picture:

It's about elleven o'clock. I've been in bed and asleep (with a crabby headache, no less) for perhaps a half an hour. I'm startled awake by this bizarre pounding on my cieling reverberating through the whole room and shaking my bed.. . . what can this noise be? it is not rhythmic like jumping, or headboard bumping, and it's not rapid enough for hammering, as if we were talking newly-moved-in-furniture-assembling. I have no idea what this noise can be. . . .and wait, there's horrible, terrible thumping music. it's pop music, but poorly boosted. so this idiot is just being loud to be loud? no one can be possibly showing off this music from pride or joy. and what is the banging? Is he throwing a baseball against the wall? The banging is intermittent, and the music constant. All of which goes on for over an hour. I'm confounded. So, i've been pacing and pondering confronting this dick-lick out of desperation to sleep even more than for frustration and anger. I even put on my jeans and a sweater twice, but luckily, I finally decided against exiting my apartment. During one particularly long burst of banging, I stand up on the bed and pound on the wall in effort to remind this jerk that there are other people who may not want to participate in his strange, midnight reveries. . . if he cares, he'll stop, if he doesn't, he'll ignore, right?

Au Contraire. The banging does stop, but a very loud, angry, nearby (perhaps out the window directly above my open bedroom window?) male voice shouts "IT'S YOUR WORLD AND I'M LIVIN' IN IT, BITCH!", which freaks me out considerably, but this shout seems to replace the intermittent banging, and even melts into slightly humourous as he continues, pacing thru the rooms of his apartment and balcony to shout some variation of his chant. And anyways, it is at least a break from the head-knockingly loud vibrations emitting, seemingly, from my pillow itself.

I finally fell asleep sometime later (maybe one-ish?). . . did he cease, or did I succumb to sleep and delerium from my still-pounding-this-morning-headache? I have no idea. I was tempted to buzz his apartment this morning when I left at 6am, but decided against it. . . not out of respect, because, regardless of whether this behavior was drug induced, in response to some horribly bad day, or just cruelty and unneighborlyness, he deserves no respect in reciprocation. . . but on the off chance that the noises were coming from a different apartment than the one above me, I wouldn't like to disturb an innocent neighbor who had surely been subjected to this idiots ranting as well as I.

There has been no further incident, and I haven't since, nor prior to our, um, exchange, seen the person that lives upstairs from me. I have no reason to know that HE knows me (knock on wood on both accounts, please). Nonetheless, the speed with which I have rushed from stairwell to foyer has rapidly increased since that day. Hopefully, by the time our paths cross, he'll have forgotten that night where he lived in my world. All I can say is: At least it wasn't THIS LADY. . .

M.I.A.

Well, as the title of this post states, I am very aware that I have been MIA the past two weeks or so... I am now to give a summary (though summary implies brief, and I'm not sure that mine will be) of the past two weeks or so.

Work had taken over my life. I was back to 5 days a week plus overtime getting ready for this meeting. And I have to say that I think it was worth it. The meeting ran seamlessly. At least, for the members and our bosses, and that's what matters. I was working with three ladies that usually go to this meeting with me and one that is new this year. The three were fantastic. We got along swimmingly (yeah, that's right) and really looked after eachother - helping when needed, picking up where another might have been slacking, it was great. The other lady was rude, unhelpful and snooty. I wish that she were not working on this meeting, but don't have a choice. And I know its not just me, because the other ladies were mentioning it to me as well. I think I got picked as the one to bring it up to my boss though. So we'll see how that goes. Its a fine line between discussing an issue that needs to be resolved and a personality conflict that some whiney baby goes crying to her boss about. Wish me luck!

While at the meeting, Mr. Fabulous sent me 5 chocolate covered strawberries and a card saying that he wished he could have been there with me and to get home safely. SO CUTE

I got home around 1:30 or so in the morning on Saturday after flight cancellations, delays, I got erased from the flight I was supposed to be on... It was ridiculous. And a bit nerve wracking because I had to be back for a wedding on Saturday! But it all worked out in the end. whew. So Mr. Fab came over on Friday night/Saturday morning and we talked into the wee hours. I had a rehearsal at 10:45, so he snuck out the back door and I rehearsed. Then I ran over to a friends' to try on dresses, ran to the store to finish the wedding present, couldn't find an outlet that worked in my damn apartment for the curing iron and eventually made it to the red line without the gift. Oops.

As I get to the Washington Red line stop, about to go up the stairs... I realize that its POURING!! It lightens up a bit and I run into H&M and ask for a bag, which of course they can't give me, so I buy an $8 umbrella and when they ask if I need a bag with that, I say yes. Just because. They knew I didn't need one, but...

Wade through the puddles and make it to the church where I am ushering. I look for the bride and when I find her, she is gorgeous. She looks so happy and stunning. The service was wonderful. The pastor did a homily about improv and the 'yes and...' rules, making eachother look good, compromising and working towards a common goal. It was a perfect start to their marriage. He really made it personal for them and since have the audience was full of improvisors, it was really a big hit. Then we had some down time, so we went to Dave and Busters and back over to the reception. The reception was fantastic as well... Very nicely put together, but not stuffy or pretentious. Some nice family traditions were thrown in with a mix of funny stuff and yummy food. They served tapas and Sangria, which was delicious and I thought it might not have been enough food, but we were all well fed.

4 of us had been learning a dance, choreographed to this video.

It was a blast and although the d.j. was talking over the beginning so we were a little off at first, we really pulled it off and i think the bride and groom were happy we had taken the time to rehearse it for them.

Saturday night after the reception we all went to a friend's house and Mr. Ex and I had a talk. Basically, he says he made a terrible mistake, he's more miserable without me than he ever was with me, he thinks about it all the time, and without saying it exactly, he wants to get back together. It was a little overwhelming, and I didn't know what to say because I was tired and he was D-RUNK. So I just told him I wasn't dismissing it or anything, but that I didn't want to talk about things that night - weddings fuck with your head and pitchers of Sangria don't help that much either.

Stayed in Sunday until the afternoon - drove Mr. Fab to his rehearsal and came back home to puppy-proof my apartment and shower. Then we headed out to the suburbs to have dinner with my parents and grandparents. It couldn't have gone better. Mr. Fab was charming and helpful, entertaining and sincere. Gramma said, oh I like him. Later she said: he's fun. And ended the night with: He's much better than that other NERD. Hilarious. Went to see Corpse Bride and then headed back to the city.

I think at some point, Mr. Fab told me that he loved me last night, but unlike normally, I just let it go. I really don't think I could have handled that. I will have to ask him about it though - because I'm not good about letting those things go too long.

Why are my weekends turning into soap operas? So much drama in such little time...

Wow. That was just this weekend. Maybe I'll post about last weekend later.

I sure do miss you guys. Would love to have told you all about this over Miller Lite in one of our livingrooms...

The Phenomena of Tinseltown

Phenomenon #1
So today it thunderstormed. Sounds normal enough. But it rarely, if ever, thunders and lightenings in Los Angeles. And when it does, it doesn't happen in September. So I was freaked out and thought the distant rumbling skies was the rumble of someone trying to open our window and break-in. When I realized what it was, I had to wake up Adam and tell him. His response: "Go to sleep. You're drunk." Then when he heard it himself his response was "Hell is freezing over." Sunny and 80 degrees every single day, so it's nice for a change.
Best part of the rain? When it finally cleared at 3pm and the sun came out, the skies and air were CRYSTAL CLEAR. I know this sounds funny, but normally a thin hazey/smog is always present (still blue sunny skies, but a really light haze). You always feel as though nothing in front of you is ever quite in focus. For the FIRST time I felt like everything was sharply in focus and gorgeous! It was so weird how the rain cleared the air. So for one day we had stellar air quality in L.A. Imagine what it would be like if it rained once a week! We might actually not be dying from smog intake. They say the air quality is so bad, it's like smoking a pack every two days! Sick!

Phenomenon #2
I had a student email me today and tell me he would not be on time to class tomorrow b/c of a doctors appt. But would send his homework with a friend and see me later for make-up work. uh, yes you might be the most responsible sophomore ever. In fact, you might be more responsible than me.

Phenomenon #3
John Goodman and I both eat at the same La Salsa on Ventura Blvd. Hmmm, so yummy. Like chipotle, but better. Okay, not really a phenomenon but kind of cool.

Phenomenon #4
I'll email this one. :o) keep you hanging.

A Note From Mr. Marshall...

Adam as asked for me to place a post from him. No worries, he's dictating and promises not to read. Without further adieu I give you Adam's note:

As some of the closest friends of our dainty little Mychela, I feel the need to inform you of several recent discrepancies. While we all know Mychela to be lady-like and demure, recently she has revealed herself to be both man-ish and truculant. Much like a seasoned trucker, in many recent intimate and personal moments she has given wind to bodily emmissions from both the mouth and the posterior. Note that I said MANY recent moments and "posterior." To recap, Mychela has..."

I am not writing what he has just said. As author I reserve the right to sensor for my own integrity. I have to draw a line somewhere.

Furthermore, I deny all such allegations.

Adam's PS. Two things: Old man and beans.

Discoveries...

Well that is exactely what time has been recently, a ton of discoveries. First of all, the LA Blackout. Apparently they're common, though this is my first one since being here (there was one about 2 weeks ago, but didn't affect me). About 1 minute before the end of a class, the power shut down. At first we thought it was due to construction and then we learned it was citywide. So that was interesting. But survivable as it was only an hour or so. What it did mean was that traffic had gone from the typical bad to chaotic hell. When power goes out, so do traffic lights. So the better part of the city had been reduced to flashing red lights. This mean it took me 30 minutes to get to the highway (normally about 10). Then the highway was backed up because the off-ramps were backed up, again due to stoplights. It made for a nice long 50minute trekk home. Overall not horrible, but twice as long and very frustrating.
Secondly, I discovered the abundance of Cubs fans on the west coast. I was pleasantly suprised to be surrounded by a large number of Cubs fans at PacBell Stadium, which is an amazing place though it's 7.50 for a beer and apparently have amazing garlic fries, though i didn't try them. I was suprised that even though I'm over 2000 miles from chicago, I can still run into Glen Ellyn gossip. Weird. So here it is:
Summer is 4 months pregnant,
Jane Mc.C. is pregnant and having a shot-gun wedding, but not to Sam L. who's also engaged
Amy L. is getting married
Ben Peterselli has a "couple" kids
Cindy Lanning lives in San Fran
Laura Broman is looking to move out to San Fran

Weird.
it's a small freakin' world!
so I'm exhausted from travel and have a long week with school activities. I miss you girls tons and wish I was going out for margaritas with you instead of a bunch of alpha phi's i don't know hoping to make a friend or two.
alright tim for a run.

Oh so hungry. . .

I just discovered a place that I have to mention, and would recommend to Sarah, if I knew what the hell 34 avenue A means. Obviously, I understand that this is an address, but having never been to the Big Apple (someday I will!) I have no idea whether this would be a practical adventure for my dear Newyorkian friendsies. . . They serve, according to Gridskipper, a wonderful-sounding concoction called Fried Mac and Cheese. It really sounds yummy, but that could be that it's noon on Monday, and I haven't eaten since Sunday afternoon. . . . hmmmmm. But, anyways, who doesn't like trucker food, eh? Plus, Jimmy Fallon is one of the joint's financial backers, so that's some kindof endorsement, I guess.

Over and out.
~B

Not exciting?!

So Miki says she's got nothing to report.  Didn't you go to San Francisco?  i'd say that's fairly exciting, eh?  Cubs game in foreign territory, and reunions with college friends?  Adam having to stay on there, and your first road trip together in the new car (regardless of which one you took).   Was Jill there?   was there drama, drama, drama?   Them's always good times.

 

Here in Chicago, John and I just dodged the heat. . . trekking by bus and train to such exotics as the library (ooooh), the movie theatre , (aaaah), the porn video store (huh?) and the field museum (woo hoo!). . .

 

On Friday we went ot D'Augustinos (or whatev.  the pizza joint in mik and molly's old hood), where we got into a fight-of-sorts about child education theorys and social expectations, and then got drunk, and then on to Guthries where we played card games and shit for a while, before stumbling home.  So very sad and bizarre to be at those places with John and not you guys.   But even sadder it is the fact that I was sitting there wishing it wasn't him :(  But I wanted to go there and try to get on with my life, and attempt to put this dude into it, you know?  Slowly but surely, i guess :)

 

Saturday was the library/movie day with bennigan's in between.  We saw Brother's grimm which was Funny and Suprising and Weird and Imaginateve and i liked it.   I am mildly in love with Heath Ledger, and Matt Damon barely looks like himself.  Both were great though.  And then, we were schedulded to two step with molly marie, but my neurons and her teammates conspired  against that plan, and we walked home from the bus which abandoned us, inexplicably, at belmont and Halsted, and vegged out watching The OC (what's wrong with me?!!) and went to bed. 

 

Sunday we went to the Field Museum, and I read the paper and watched septemeber elleventh tributes the rest of the day (oh yeah, and save the last dance or whatev.  rediculously addictive movie. I don't know HOW many times i've watched that shit. . . i guess i had to counteract the thinking of news and museum) and wanted to cry (from the saddness of 9/11 mourners, and the fighting over the memorials, and the poeple stuck in shelters from louisiana and Mississippi, and the mourners for new orleans and the fight over it's rebuilding process. 

 

Just like any old weekend, right?

And you guys?

Horrors!

The OC is starting tonight. . . . I'm going to a Sox game, and won't be able to access my apartment before hand to tape it due to the inconveniently scheduled exterminators AYE!!!   

 

I never was much of a TV watcher before a few years ago.  It's sick, I know, but what a celebration-worthy event.  Perhaps it's because i no longer have school schedules to break up the year with summer vacation and back-to-school shopping.  Oh, sweet, sweet new fall programming.   WELCOME BACK!  now i can pretend to have friends. . . Rachel Bilson and Ben Mackensie, I've missed you! There's so much we need to catch up on.   Can we get together later in the week?  Meet you at the diner at the pier? Say Friday 6pm?:) 

 

Signing off to devise a plan for taping the season premier of the cheesiest show that has sucked me in . . .Roaches or not, I may be coming in anyways. . .

~B

West Coast Fashion: Special Report for Ms. Ruzicka

Okay, so based on the fact that I have NO money and no ability to knit my own clothes I have been forced to stop shopping. However I did have a gift certificate from Tyler for my b-day to Banana Republic. So I can share a little of the Paris Hilton-like clothes sported by the teeny-bopper girls.
So i'm sure you've all seen those really wide leg crop pants that are big right now. They sit really low and than have these huge legs. Really I think they're designed for someone tall and skinny. In fact, Beth would look awesome in them! I bought them anyway adn they're super comfy, though I look rather squat in them....



I also bought two new shirts at BR. One I was in love with and bought even though I don't think I look that great in it. But it was so pretty (though it doesn't look good with the black pants, i just had them on so i could send pictures).

the last shirt I bought because it was on crazy sale and actually was really cute on. Plus it's the first thing i've ever worn in cream color and didn't feel like my face was bright freakin' red.



on the shoe note. I found really cute and super comfy brown heels at Aldo. They're the same ones I wore out on our girls night. that's all the shopping I've done. It's hard to shop when a. you have not money and b. everything looks like it's designed for someone who's 15 and super super tiny.