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Today has been hard. Last night before I left I drank 3 beers and downed a capful of NyQuil. The plane was delayed an hour, but I was able to get some sort of semblance of sleep. I woke up in a daze, freezing. I had to take the shuttle to the T right away because we were so late, but I got to work right at 9. I grabbed the bathroom key and changed, then immediately went downstairs to Au Bon Pain for a large coffee and a cheese Danish. Once having eaten and gulped half the coffee I felt better. My tasks today were easy, track coverage for a release that went out last night, clip what I find and create a summary. Easy peasy. I set up my google searches and went to work. Once I got all the initial coverage I took a break at that and worked on the clip book for a different client. Clip books are compilations of the clips I create with all the coverage. So what starts with a release and a couple google searches, ends up with a huge summary chart and a compiled clip doc of 600 pages at the end of the year. Today I worked on both ends of the spectrum. I also read my usual websites, chatted a bit with Jackie, and zones out a few times. I should have gotten lunch but I didn't (I know, I know, I know).

I was supposed to stay until 5 today to make up for yesterday, but I couldn't do it. I left at 3, I'll work later tomorrow.

I. Am. Exhausted.

Now I'm on the train on my way home, with my headphones on to mute the rest of the world. I can't wait to see the kitty and take a nap.

It was really nice to go home. I fit right back in (once I was able to sleep on a real bed). I miss it a lot, but I also really like Boston. Too bad they're so far apart.

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I am back home and I love it.  I do miss it here when I am in Boston.  Dad has made some of my favorite foods, Ive been able to hang out with my friends, and I don't have to work!  It's been pretty good so far.

I got in super early Thursday morning.  I was supposed to land at 1 am, which happened- but I wasn't able to get off the plane until 2.  Which SUCKED.  Apparently there was another plane in our gate, so they had to finish loading before they could pull out and we could leave.  But then they were having fuel problems.  And we had to wait.  They kept coming onto the speaker telling us it would be 5 more minutes.  We were stuck inside the plane, at the airport, for an HOUR.  People were complaining and it was really annoying.  I dont know why we couldn't just have pulled into another gate.  Luckily Eric and Kourtney, hung out in the cell phone lot and didn't have anything to do the next day.  We got home at 3 and I went straight to sleep, I was exhausted.  Woke up at like 10, had some coffee, hung out and talked to mom, watched some TV.  We then all got dressed and went to the outlet mall, looking for some stuff.  Mom didn't know what I wanted so she didn't get me the cardigan I asked for.  So we walked around the stores and looked for something simple:  black long sleeve button up cardigan.  you know what we found? Nothing!  Some places had cardigans, but they were 3/4 sleeve and I want full sleeves.  Some places had different colors, but no black.  It was crazy.

That night I went to Pint Night with my friends and had a blast, I really missed them.  The beer of the night was Bison Organic Gingerbread Ale, it was ok.  I wouldn't order two.  I was able to see Christine while I was in town, so that was really nice, and hanging out with the boys is always interesting.  Also, we saw Josh & Justin at the alehouse so that was nice too.

Friday was our Christmas Eve and Christmas celebration, since Kourtney has to work both days this week and won't be home.  Dad made his traditional (awesome) dinner, I ate a lot and could barely move.  Eric came over for dinner, as well as a family friend, Donna.  Mom posted a pic on facebook but captioned it wrong, I wonder if she noticed, lol.  After dinner and dessert we opened all our presents- I got some DVDS, pajamas, clothes, candy, and a new purse.  Oh yeah, and I cut my hair in the morning.  Just a trim and a dye job, nothing crazy.  But a bit different, and I needed to chop the ends, they were getting bad.

Saturday we watched a lot of Big Bang Theory.  Dad made gumbo and potato salad, and we cleaned up from Christmas the night before.  My friends came over for game night, we ate the gumbo and potato salad, played trivia and Scattergories, and watched more Big Bang.  It was a good, chill night.  We didnt drink a lot, we just hung out which was perfect.

This is a weird post because I am writing it on Kourts keyboard, and am not used to it.  I keep messing up.  But its reading like I learned English as a Second language, which is not my intention.  I am just tired.  I have to sleep on the futon, and it's not comfortable at all!  I might sleep in kourts room after tonight since she's not around. 

No music because I am lazy.  Also, one day I will post pictures of the stuff that I have been crocheting.  I made two scarves for mom and kourt for christmas, and I just need to weave in the ends to be finished (of course I forgot my needles though :/)

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I Need Your Love by Elle Goulding

I know I am so bad at this blog thing now.  I used to update all the time!  Now it's maybe twice a month?

I was moved at work today, from sharing a cool office with a nice view of the garden.... to the hallway.  A new Senior Account Executive started today, she's super nice, but basically means that I won't ever be hired on here when they think I am worthy.  So after a few months of solid PR work here, earning a stellar recommendation, I will try and look for something a bit more permanent.  Hopefully with business cards involved.  I am bummed about having to move.  I thought the new girl would use the pregnant lady's office until she came back (her last day was Friday so it would have worked out perfectly).  Also I want a new MacBook and guess what you get when you're a new BackBay employee?  But she's really nice and so I can't take out my personal frustration on anyone here.  (she's also younger than me, with a high title, so I'm extra miffed).

I am flying home Wednesday night, and I am super excited about it.  I can't wait to see my family and friends.  I basically have the week already booked up with stuff to do/people to see.  I am still a few presents behind, but I think I still have some time to catch up.

When was my last update? Like in the beginning of the month I think. hmm.. Since then we've gone to dinner at Jessi's house, tried to go ice skating in the common, traveled to Porter Square, gotten "Happy Hour" drinks in the financial district (I put happy hour in quotes because if this was a normal state, that's what it would be.  Since there are no drink specials in MA, it was just us getting full price drinks and appetizers at 5pm).  I had a fancy work party dinner at Stella, an Italian restaurant in the South End.  The work dinner was fun, I got really good food.  I didnt feel bad ordering an appetizer and dessert since everyone else was, which is a first.  And there was a lot of champagne and white wine.  I started with mozzarella stuffed arancinis, then got linguine with asparugus cream sauce, parmesan, thyme, and a poached egg, then had tiramisu for dessert.  It was all so good, I was so tired and full that I went to sleep as soon as I got home.

It's finally getting cold and ugly here- at the same time.  Lately its been cold but nice outside, or ugly but weirdly warm.  I'm hoping for some snow, but it would totally suck if it happens while I'm back at home.

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Does anyone really think the world is going to end tomorrow? I feel like there was all this hullabaloo over the summer about the world ending, and now that it's so close there is nothing. I guess we'll find out tomorrow what the crazies did.

Here are some pics from recently that I haven't been able to upload.

I actually went out for a run yesterday!! By myself while my clothes were at the laundromat in the washer. It felt really good.

I am almost finished with my presents, I just have to get something for kourt :/

I'm tired, might take a nap and update more later.

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Understatement by New Found Glory- relevance will be explained in a bit!  I hate that I can't always post the actual videos because of copyright stuff.  These lyric videos are kind of lame.

I know, I know, I know, I am so bad at this.  The thing is, I want to write when stuff happens- and nothing has really happened.  I've just been living my day to day life, hanging out in Boston.

Tonight was the New Found Glory concert that we couldn't get tickets to.  It would have been great, it was a 10 year Sticks and Stones anniversary tour.  I was obsessed with that CD in high school, I had the lyrics to Understatement written out on the cover of my B day binder.  Alas, it was sold out and tickets were wayy too pricey if they were available.  Even checking Ticketmaster daily didn't help us.  It's ok though, I listened to the CD a lot today to make up for it.  It just would have been a great show to catch.

Work has been going well, I get to do more and more each day.  I really need to get more sweaters though, sometimes I get a bit cold in the office.

Express's Black Friday sale stuff finally came, so I have more than 2 pairs of pants! Now I have 4!

I wish I could take the cat home with me for Christmas.  She is going to be lonely here.  But it's $125 each way, and I know she would have a fit on the plane, just meowing the whole time.  We're gonna get someone to come cat watch (like we did for Thanksgiving) but I just feel SO BAD.  She's so starved for attention it seems like.

Also, does anyone know how radiators work?  Because I swear, I have the one in my room turned up to 8 (the highest dial) and it is still always cold in my room.  and I only hear it go off sometimes.  There doesn't seem to be very good climate control here.  Luckily I have lots of blankets.

So there isn't really a Dunkin Donuts near my work... there's one but its a bit out of the way.  So instead of Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee that I was previously addicted to, it's now Au Bon Pair's Sweet Cheese Danish.  There is one directly underneath my office, and I always stop to get one (and a small coffee).  It's a bad and unhealthy habit.  I've been trying to balance it out by not getting lunch out on those days, and only eating once I'm back at home at 4.  But then I am not hungry for dinner until later, and it kind of throws everything off.  I just need to stop stopping at ABP.  But when I get to work early, and I don't eat breakfast and coffee smells so good..... It's easy to convince myself to just spend the $5 for breakfast.

So this is a ramble post.  Mom texted me last night and said I needed to update my blog.  But I couldn't think of much to say (hence the lack of updates).  We haven't been doing much as of late, it's been cold outside.

This weekend we are going to Jessi's for dinner, since we weren't able to a few weeks ago.  That will be nice.  I have to do laundry so I have clothes to wear to work next week, since 3 out of 4 pairs of my pants will be dirty.

Oh, something that I have been thinking about a lot lately:  whether or not to trade in my gorgeous big iMac for a MacBook Pro.  I mean, it wouldn't be an even trade, I would have to pay an additional $461 dollars for it to work out.  But a laptop would be so much easier to take places (like home for christmas, or when we move again) and I could sit on the couch and watch TV while also being on my computer (a past time of mine that I am missing now that I don't have a TV in my room and/or a computer in the living room).  When I got this computer it was because I wanted something big, and I never moved my laptop off my desk anyway.  But now things are different.  I'm really torn about it.  I  probably won't end up doing anything, but I've been checking things out a lot lately.  I can get $740 for my iMac as a trade in, the new MBPs are $1200 starting out..... hmmm.  But it's way hard, because I do love my computer.  It's my favorite thing.  I've also thought about getting a tablet of some sort, to use for the couch and while at home.  But again, expensive.

I'll prob just keep with my current arrangement.  When it comes to big things (like cars and computers) I've always been a big looker, researching and checking everything out- but not so much of a buyer.  Which is funny, because I am the exact opposite on small stuff like movies and food.

So.  In review, I haven't done much at all.  I made enchiladas for dinner one night, they were good.  I also made Pasta Carbonara one night, that was ok.  Tonight I didn't eat dinner (good habits- I know, haha).  We watched a bunch of TV and I worked on crocheting a mitten.  I am slowly making some sort of square shaped something with the knitting needles and yarn that Brian gave us, but I have trouble holding them and it's all kind of crooked and awful looking so I tend to get discouraged and put that down after a row or two.  After a couple more weeks I just might have a dishcloth!

2012 is almost over which scares me, another year gone by!  I don't think the world is going to end next Wednesday, btw.  I wonder what kind of craziness will go down though.  I'm surprised I haven't heard more hullabaloo regarding the impending apocalypse.

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Wanted to upload pics before I forgot again! Post to come tomorrow before we head to Pennsylvania!



11/27/2012: Update

So..... Yeah it's been awhile.  I posted the pics to write a description... and then I didn't write anything.  then we got back and.... I didn't write anything.  Still.

But here we are!  I have a few minutes to spare that I can use finishing this up so I'm not ashamed when I look back (if I ever reflect on my time in Boston when I am old).

Last update was 11/15- a lot has happened since!  Chronologically, here we go.

Friday was my 2nd day of work, and it was Casino Night!  Sara got off a bit early, we got ready and headed out to the Long Wharf Marriott.  The Casino Night was for "Friends of Christopher Columbus Park" which is right next to the hotel and right by Sara's office.  They were raising money to keep the trellis at the park lit up for the winter.  Sara took a picture of it on her Instagram, it's pretty.  Anyway, we got there pretty much right at 8 when it started, there was a cocktail hour with snacks and a lot of old rich people.  Drinks were $10, ouch.  We loaded up on hummus, cheese, and pita bread while we waited for some of Sara's co-workers to show up (we got there first).  They came, I met most of them (very nice people, btw) and then it was time to gamble!  We got a $1000.00 bill when we first walked in, and were able to exchange that for chips.  We didn't gamble right away, we actually went and walked around.  We took some pictures in the photobooth (see Facebook for those, can't upload them on here) and ate some more.  There were actual mini- dishes instead of just snacks, the best was a short rib and a spoonful of garlic potato puree (too fancy for simple mashed potatoes).  We ended up at the Craps table, which I don't fully understand, but was a lot of fun.  We lasted awhile!  I didn't lose all my money right away, which was nice.  I mean, I did lose it all, but still.  The chips could be turned in for raffle tickets, and they were raffling off some baskets that had been donated.  They also had a silent auction, but the cheapest bid was $200.00 so we looked but didn't touch.  We ended up going out to a nearby bar with one of Sara's co-workers and his girlfriend.  It was fun while they were there, but once they left it got weird.  I hate talking to guys at bars that are douchefaces and total assholes.  We left, but had to take a cab since the T had stopped (lame that it stops so early).  Sara got mad at the cabbie because he took the long way and it cost $32.00.

Saturday we lounged, I can't really remember anything special we did during the day.  That night though, we went to the House Of Blues and saw a concert, Taking Back Sunday and Bayside!  I know I've talked about it on the blog before, but it was so much fun.  Took me all the way back to high school when "Cute without the E" first came out.  We went to Mexican after (eh, not that great) and then home for the night.  Sunday we were supposed to go to Jessi's but she had a mouse situation so we had to reschedule.  We lazed about and that was our weekend!

The rest of the week passed like normal, I stayed until 5 at work Monday and Tuesday to make up for Friday that I was going to miss.  Wednesday I got off at 1:15 since the office closed early and I was able to go back to the apt before leaving for PA.  I met Sara at the bus terminal and it was kind of a mess.  There were people everywhere, and we couldn't find anything with our bus information on it.  Sara talked to someone that said since there are so many buses going out, we just kind of get on one to NY.  So we did.  I busted out my Kindle with the Mindy Kaling book, and 3 hours later we were in NYC.  We had to wait an hour for the next bus to PA, but it wasn't so bad once we got something to drink.  I didn't get anything when in Boston because I didn't want to have to pee on the bus, but I was SO THIRSTY on that trip that I could not stop thinking about Coke Slurpees.  Anyway, on the bus to PA Sara and I took shots of Zzzquil, put on our headphones and neck pillows, and zonked out.  Only woke up a few times so it wasn't as bad as I was thinking!  We got in at 5:40 am, and Brian was awake and picked us up pronto.  As soon as we got to his house we jumped into the guest bed and took a "nap."  I woke up at 1030ish, we hung out with Brian and James for a bit, and then went over to Dave & Jackie's!

Thanksgiving was really nice, it was good to be in a family environment since I couldn't be at home.  Dave, Jackie, and Jennifer were really nice and welcoming, and I didn't feel totally out of place like I normally would have in an unfamiliar situation!  There was a lot of food, we had banana bread and coffee to start, then appetizers (a lot of them) and later down the line was dinner.  Brian made olive cheese balls and onion puffs, there was also baked Brie, cream cheese & salsa, french onion dip and chips, rum soaked pineapple, mouse cookies (which I think were also out during the dessert portion of the day).... and more that I can't think of right now.  We talked a lot; I got to hear a lot of stories about Dad and the family growing up from Dave, which was nice because Dad never talks about that kind of stuff.

For dinner we had Turkey (duh), pea salad (a Cinqmars family tradition), mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, corn pudding (my favorite), stuffing, sweet potatoes, and salad.  I took a picture of my plate, find it below!

After dinner we played some games, a trivia game that was fun and an Awkward Family Photo game which was funny.   We left and went home to watch Glee and then it was bedtime!  A long day, but a good one.

Black Friday!  I didn't wake up until like 10:30 again, James had already left for work (he had to work 12 hour shifts both Friday and Saturday).  We took our time getting ready, eating breakfast.  Brian had made banana bread with ginger and chocolate chips that was really good.  We went out to Target, Best Buy and Half Price Books.  I got some DVDS and some books (I can't resist a good deal, or a good book!).  We had the Pittsburgh staple of Primanti Brothers for lunch (see pics below), then went back to the house and played trivia (Brian has a PS3 trivia game called Buzz! that we played a bunch of times.  It was really cool, and we didn't get any repeat questions.  Also I online shopped and bought some work clothes from Express.com (50% off EVERYTHING! Can't beat that, and I love their Editor pants).  We ordered a you bake pizza that was delish and watched Happy Endings and Friends and other random TV shows.  Did you know there is a show called Killer Karaoke?  Hosted by Steve-O, we only caught the end but it was ridiculous.   

Saturday I woke up again too late to see James before he left.  Brian made Tortilla, which is something with potatoes and eggs that I have never had before that I really liked.  We went to Salvation Army (or was it Goodwill?) to get ugly sweaters for a party that we are going to go to in December.  We both found sweatshirts that are not cute, and they kind of match so we snagged those (mine was only $1.99).  We walked around the craft store until Brian broke a candle and we left.  We stopped at the grocery store, bought some items for dinner (Brian made Sara's favorite: Chicken Devan) and then hung out a lot more, lol.  Brian gave us a lot to take home:  a bunch of Partylite candles, a bunch of yarn (and some knitting needles and a knitting for dummies booklet), some books and he even made us brown bag lunches for the trip!  James got off work with just enough time to come back to the house, change, play a round of trivia, and then go with us back to the Bus Station.

There was drama at the bus station, we almost didn't make our bus.  Apparently we were supposed to 'check' our bags and get special tags.  No one told us, and we didn't have to on the way to PA so it was a rush when we were boarding and realized we couldn't get on.  We had togo wait in another line, get tags, and then make it back.  Luckily there were 3 buses, and we made it on the tail end of the 3rd bus.  Sara called Brian when we were panicked we wouldn't make it, but we didn't have to call him to come pick us up which was awesome.  We were seriously freaking out that we wouldn't make it.

I slept on the bus to NYC this time, and we got there early so we waited in line for the Boston bus for awhile.  We had our lunches this time, so we didn't have to stop for refreshments.  I slept on the bus to Boston as well, and woke up only for the required stops.  We were so bedraggled, we took the T back to the apartment to see our lonely kitten and just slumped on the couch.  We caught up on TV and took a nap and got our butts ready for work on Monday!

Monday at work was good, same with today.  It's kind of slow right now because I'm still learning, but it should be picking up soon which will be nice.  I like my 9-3 schedule, I always get in a bit early so I can stop and get coffee.  Au Bon Pain is right underneath the office, so I normally stop in there for a pastry and a coffee.

We want to take pictures for Christmas Cards, but we need someone to take them for us!  We've been trying to hang out with a few of our Boston friends to kind of ask them.  Also we are looking into boarding/cat visits for Christmas.  Boarding would be the best option, so she won't be so lonely, but most places are booked.  The cat visits for Thanksgiving ended up being $$ and I think she was sad being alone most of the day.  So I would like to find something else.  I would love someone in Boston, a friend of ours, to keep her for a week, but we don't really know anyone well enough.  The few that we do we are going to slyly ask, but I have a feeling it will be a no go.  That would be ideal, and because of that it's not going to happen, lol.

Anyway, that's pretty much everything.  If I missed anything, well oops.  I will try to not be lazy about this anymore, this update was a doozy.  Took almost an hour!

Sara on her way to Casino Night

View from my office!

Mike's pastry- apparently famous, there are always tons of people there.  Sara stopped for a Cannoli to celebrate my new job!

Thanksgiving Dinner!

Bayside :)

My Primanti Bros. pastrami sandwich

Ringo under the blankets

Redneck Wine Bottle, only $7!

Mike's Pastries:  Chocolate Chip Cannoli and Boston Cream Puff

Primanti Bros. sandwich from the side

Kitty didn't want me to find a job, or leave, lol.

Taking Back Sunday!!

In our fluffy coats

Me and Ringo, just hanging out

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Saturday Sara and I are going to a Taking Back Sunday/Bayside concert.  I am SOO excited, Bayside is my favorite.  I like TBS, but not as much as Bayside!

Today was my first day of work at my new job at BackBay Communications.  I received my first assignment, research trade publications and conferences for Automotive Parts & Trucks, but was only able to work on it for an hour and a half.  The IT guy came in to set me up with my login and email, and somehow everything got messed up!  He ended up replacing my computer, keyboard and mouse (which is a good thing, as the ones at that desk were really really dirty and nasty).  It took all day, to figure out that it needed to be replaced, then update the new computer, and set everything up.  He wasn't even finished before I left at 3!  I couldn't do really anything, so I basically read the whole time, trying to catch myself up on financial situations and learn the lingo.  I read the Wall Street Journal, which I never thought I would do!  This morning though was pretty bad, I got super anxious, which leads to sickness and dizziness.  I actually got off the T 2 stops early because I thought I might pass out, so I braved the cold and walked the last couple of blocks (I had the extra time and the cold made me feel better).

Tomorrow I have to turn in my list before lunchtime, so I have to do some at home research (which I don't mind).  It might be easier, I doubt anyone will be on Cision right now so I can build the bulk of my list and not be worried for tomorrow.

I got hooked up with some swag, I got a water bottle and a workout shirt (kinda weird I know but one of the guys is really into running, so I guess that's where it came from?).  I do need a good thick cardigan for the office though, I share an office with someone else, and it was freezing!  Then again, I had on a short sleeved shirt.  Tomorrow I will wear a sweater and that will probably be better.  But I do want to get a good cardigan.  I'll put it on my christmas list for mom.

Also, Pret A Manger just opened in Boston!! Down the street from my office!! I noticed when I was walking to work this morning.  I didn't have a chance to go by today, but I am super excited for future lunchtimes.  It's pretty centrally located, and I have a really cool view of Boston Garden and the pond right from my window (I will take a picture tomorrow and post it).

So yes, I am finally employed, and it's a relief.  It doesn't pay much, and it's not full time, but that's ok!  I still have money saved up, and this will pay rent.  Also, I won't have to deal with too many people on my commute both ways!  Only in the mornings.  So, lots of pros to this job.  Also it gives me more current experience in the field I want to be in, and I will be able to make contacts for the future!

Tonight for dinner I ordered food on Foodler, which is a food delivery service.  I ordered from Teriyaki Joes, and it came in about 45 minutes.  My chicken teriyaki was ok, nothing special about it. I prefer Teriyaki from Livermore.  I also got some Bao Bao dumpling things, which were really good, and some rangoons which I liked.  Sara ordered some Pad Thai, but she's just eating it now so I can't give a review.  Ordering in on Foodler gave me points, so I now have $4.30 for next time I order from them!  Pretty neat.

This weekend is pretty busy (did I already say this?).  We have Casino Night tomorrow, with the people from Sara's office.  Saturday night is the Taking Back Sunday/Bayside concert, and Sunday we are going out to Jessi's for dinner.  Yay plans!