It Is Official

[Note to those who don't live in Richmond -- it is Spring Break for all the local schools this week]



I don't think I've mentioned THE HAIRCUT here, so applaud me for suffering in silence. It has been about 5 weeks since the long shag with bangs was requested

and the misshapen 70s tennis star was received.

(Nothing against Ms. King who was working it back in the day)

But like I said -- minimal whining. I spent a small fortune on product to tame the mess and shouldered on. Hair grows back -- NBD.

But today was truly the last straw.

I work for the man in a large multi-building "campus" with several cafeterias. I met a friend for lunch (Hooray for Stephano -- still willing to be seen with me in public!!) in one of the cafeterias I don't go to frequently. Maybe 3 times a month. Point being, I'm not a regular there.

I am however a pleasant sort of gal, so when I got to the front of the line with my overpriced and underwarmed slice of spinach quiche (OMG -- 70s hair is making me eat 70s food!!), I said, "Happy Wednesday" to the checkout lady.

She looked over at me, gave me a big smile and said, "I didn't expect to see you here this week. I thought you'd be home with the kids!"

It is official. I've left 70s tennis star and proceeded directly to soccer mom.

Shoot.Me.Now.

Tell all your single friends, I am NOT wearing mom jeans to match my hair.

XO, JamieSmitten

It's a Lost Art

I learned last year that valet parking at MCV is a crap shoot. Some days the cars flow quickly around the semi-circle and uniformed personnel actually jog to the parking deck to retrieve your car. On bad days, you can sit for a good ten minutes just waiting to pull INTO the semi-circle because cars are just parked haphazardly all over the place while uniformed personnel take breaks. But over the nine months I used the valet parking service regularly, there was only one day that were were delayed because the attendant who could drive a stick shift was on break.

Today? 20 minute wait while an attendant who can drive a stick shift is located. As the key handler informed me apologetically, "sticks are in a meeting right now." Seriously? I hope they were being given raises for actually being able to do their job 100% of the time, because their unskilled peers were dropping the ball.

Doesn't it seem reasonable that applicants for valet positions should be able to drive all cars? Or is it just me?


Tell all your single friends, I prefer a manual transmission and the world can just get over it.




XO, JamieSmitten

What My Brain Feels Like Today

Now that can't be good, eh? And let me disabuse you (please sir, may I have another!) of the notion that somebody blew my mind. It just went and overloaded on its own. I'm retiring to the couch to watch Lost. Like that will clear my mind. Sigh.


Tell all your single friends, you can OVER think, so keep a spotter handy.


XO, JamieSmitten

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's not just about the beer. Well, maybe it is!

Tell all your single friends, I lied when I said I was wearing green underwear.


XO, JamieSmitten

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old

It is always nice to hear from an old friend -- even when they are doing the digital age drunk dial -- the 2 a.m. IM. (In his defense, it's earlier on the west coast.) He's definitely one of my boys -- inebriated and reaching out to touch someone.

Perhaps to compensate for it being a very slooowwwww IM exchange (one handed typing and such), I got a companion picture. A fond reminder of good times past. M was my first couple shower, my first naked body painting with food, my first cheat on my boyfriend, my first threesome, and probably one or two other firsts I'm forgetting.

Tell all your single friends, memories can warm the heart and the lower bits as well.

XO, JamieSmitten

If you're not living on the edge, You take up too much room

That master of musical exchange SwissToni has been more than patient awaiting my review of his Shuffleathon cd. You may remember that I signed up for Shuffleathon 2007, sent off my cd (which caused great trauma for the recipient), and reaped karmic reward by not receiving a cd myself. Into the breach strode SwissT (rhymes with Misty, my pet name for the M of ME) and made me a customized cd. I've had it for well over a month now and it has provided great distraction on road trips between my house and my sister's house where less than pleasant things were happening (post about that sadness below).

So forthwith and with heartfelt apologies to SwissT, my review of SwissToni's Shuffleathon CD for JamieSmitten:

1. History Song by The Good, the Bad & the Queen. I had read a review of this album but never got around to picking it up. Paul Simonon -- so tasty -- how can you go wrong? (Disclaimer: I'm a Strummer girl, but I can appreciate the eye candy that Simonon continues to be) Listening to this song makes me feel like I'm an extra in a Robert Rodriguez film, tossing back tequila shots, and dancing slowly around a Mexican cantina filled with desperado vampires. Love the vibe. Must schedule vacation to Mexico.

2. Our Life is not a Movie or a Maybe by Okkervil River. Another band reviewed/mentioned regularly in Rolling Stone that I've never actually heard. Without looking at the songlist, I would have guessed that David Byrne had finally resurrected the Talking Heads and hooray for that. Peppy, quirky, enjoyable. You can't go wrong with a song that incorporates the lyrics "serenely dribbling." Well, I can't.

3. Suburban Knights by Hard Fi. The first band on the cd that is completely unknown to me. Hey, Hey, Hey, Oh, Oh, Oh, Ah, Ah, Ah, Hey, Hey, Hey. Infectious start and nice guitar bursts. I'm not sure why we're rocking the satellites, but there you have it.

4. Books from Boxes by Maximo Park. Never heard of them. Turns out I'm o.k. with that. Not a bad song, but seems to go on past my attention span. (And no, I've not been diagnosed with A.D.D.) About as exciting as unpacking books from boxes, like the guy says.

5. Golden Skans by Klaxons. Heard this one a few times on KEXP (world's best online radio). I'm not sure I get the fuss. Serviceable music for the decade, but feels like background music to me. I will share that one of my co-workers always includes Klaxons songs on his mix cds so the chicks think he is sensitive. (His words, not mine). At least I think it was the Klaxons, but it might have been another one of his sound-alike bands. Sigh. This is my problem with the Klaxons: indistinguishable.

6. Keep the Car Running by Arcade Fire. The first time I listened to this cd was in my car on the road. When this song came on, I scrambled quickly for the cd case which had become intermingled with the dog biscuits, cell phone, jacket, purse, and bag of yogurt covered raisins in the passenger seat. Scrambled, I did, because I couldn't believe that SwissT had included the song On the Dark Side by John Cafferty and Beaver Brown Band (from the Eddie and the Cruisers soundtrack). What? Arcade Fire? It was a full day before I got a chance to check YouTube for a video to determine if I was indeed cracked. Judge for yourself -- I think there are some definite similarities. I like this song, but will never, ever, ever be able to hear it without picturing Michael Pare in his leather jacket. Not sure that was what SwissT intended. [SNAP! YouTube has the Foo Fighters covering Keep the Car Running!]

7. On Call by Kings of Leon. Love these southern rocking hirsute hotties. Hadn't heard this song before, but plan to make my next crush sing it to me in bed. Seriously. There aren't that many lyrics to learn....

8. No I in Threesome by Interpol. Isn't that the truth? Sorry, I digress. I don't own any Interpol, but find this one pleasant enough. Definitely atmospheric. "babe it's time we give something new a try." So true.

9. Two More Years (MSTRKRFT remix) by Bloc Party. Another indie darling from the pages of Rolling Stone that has gone unheard by me. I was concerned by the remix addendum. Neighbor John is a house music aficionado (disco by any other name would thump as loudly, sayeth JamieShakespeare) and when the repetitive thumping beat is escaping his windows, I marvel that it rarely changes from song to song. So, to get back on the recap track, this is the song when I have a sip of coffee, give Boom a biscuit, and check my cell phone for messages. Nice upbeat background music but even after repeated listens, I couldn't tell you one lyric.

10. Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys. LOVE the Monkeys first US release and am now resolved to get off my butt and pick up Favourite Worst Nightmare album posthaste. Certainly has to be one of the best opening lyrics ever: "You used to get it in your fishnets, now you only get it in your night dress." Please let that not be a prophecy.

11. Sheila by Jamie T. Hands down the best revelation on the cd. I have been singing the chorus since the first play. If you go to Jamie T's website, you can hear an excellent cover of A New England. {moment of silence for Kirsty MacColl, gone before her time, who did the best cover of that Billy Bragg tune} I don't know if SwissT included this song because he thought I would like it or because Jamies love other Jamies, but it was a genius move on his part. Well played, sir!

12. Heavyweight Champion of the World by Reverend & the Makers. The Two of SwissT's One-Two punch! Great lyrics (see post title), excellent beat (gym song extraordinaire), and flat out excellent. A glance at their tour list on the band website reveals they haven't been stateside yet. On the plus side, I should definitely be able to swing front row if they do tour, being so ahead of the curve and all.

13. Slow Show by The National. Initial thought was how much the singer sounds like Brad Roberts from the Crash Test Dummies. A little too slow for my taste, but a good song. Apparently The National has been on David Letterman and is touring with R.E.M. this summer. So now I know.

14. When Under Ether by PJ Harvey. Thank goodness I got Polly Jean and not Tori (mix cds invariably have Tori. sigh). I have a few of PJ's albums and she is reliable if you are in an arty dark-ish mood. Not my regular cup of tea, but nice to have in the cupboard for the proper occasion.

15. Behave by Charlotte Hatherley. Never heard of her. Has a bit of a Voice of the Beehive vibe to my mind. YouTube had another one of her songs Bastardo that is kind of fun too. I'm not rushing out to buy the album, but I'm singing along.

16. Loughborough Suicide by The Young Knives. Good segue song from previous track, tune wise. "I will never go down fighting." That's your choice, buddy. Me, I'm a kicker and screamer.

17. Mathematics by Cherry Ghost. Not my favorite subject, nor my favorite song. A little too floaty, but then maybe SwissT was easing me off this musical journey gently. Doesn't make me reach for the skip button, so that's something.

So, in summation, should SwissToni ever decide to send out a monthly (quarterly? annual?) sampler cd to his readers/paying public, I would be first in line. High Fidelity indeed.

Tell all your single friends, try some new music today!


XO, JamieSmitten

I'm Such A Joiner

As a distraction from what's been going on in my life lately (see post below), I submitted a post from my blog (not post below) for possible inclusion in a collection called "You're Not The Only One."

To wit:

We would like you to submit (to us at bloggersforcharity@yahoo.co.uk) a
written piece about something you've been through from any aspect of your life
that you want to share. It can literally be about anything: your relationships,
your past, a road not taken, being a parent, an illness or your regrets etc.
We've called it "You're Not The Only One" to reflect the camaraderie of
blogging.Proceeds will go to WARCHILD

Read more here. The good news is that the date for submissions has been extended to Sunday, March 9. So share the fun and comb your archives for something good for a good cause.

Tell all your single friends to share their words with the world.

XO, JamieSmitten

Requiescat In Pace

My father died on Friday, February 29, at 4:35 p.m. I was there when he took his last violent breaths. We were both ready for his body to give up the struggle. He spoke to me for the last time a few days before and had said several times that he wanted to die, he just needed to know how.


My sister thinks he waited until February 29th to die so the anniversary of his death would only happen every four years.


My father and I didn't always see eye to eye, but I loved him. He loved me too, in his way.

Goodbye, one-legged Dad.

Rainy Days and Fridays Always Get Me Down

Yay. It's both rainy and Friday. Boom has a tear in his ACL, so he is an unhappy camper as long walks, frisbee retrieval, and general jumping mayhem are out of the question for the next two months. So in order to cheer us all up a little bit, here's an adorable puppy from a few days ago at http://www.dogoftheday.com/









His name is Sampson, unsurprisingly.



I'm off to the couch with my Zicam and hopefully, a rerun of House. Is it just me or is Hugh Laurie hot like fire?

Tell all your single friends, not all Friday nights are memorable. Or blogworthy.

XO, JamieSmitten

How We Logophiles Roll

Back in November, I posted about a new online addiction and the need to enunciate when staying "stithy." http://www.freerice.com/ has become even more popular in the past three months. New features (pronunciation!), new words, and more importantly, higher levels have conspired to keep me playing regularly. I admit it -- I keep a FreeRice window open at all times.


I'm at level 52 now with regular descents back to the 45 range as I stumble yet again. I've learned lots of new words:

rodomontade = bluster

anchorite = hermit

nide = nest

I will admit that many of them do not easily fit into daily conversation, but I just know they will come in handy some day.

So if I ask you to come enjoy a dip in a cenote, better bring your passport along with your snorkel.

Tell all your single friends, sometimes you just need another word for the watery sinkholes found in Mexico!!

XO, JamieSmitten

Not Quite What I Was Saying

I keep stumbling across reviews of a newly published book called Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure.

Some examples:

Nora Ephron: Secret of life: marry an Italian

Dave Eggers: Fifteen years since last professional haircut

Joyce Carol Oates: Revenge is living well, without you

Joan Rivers: Liars, hysterectomy didn't improve sex life!

How would I sum up my life in six words? Read on:


Came, saw, laughed, loved, understood, went (my first attempt)

Object is not closer than appears (how existential!)

Tell all your single friends: believe (multiple options here, really)

Everyone died before I was ready (not too cheery, but bang on the money)

Kissed many, loved few, married none (well, not recently anyway)

Stopped thinking what if and lived (you go Smitten! no seriously -- MOVE!)

Wanted: man not threatened by dog (that could/would/should change to Found: )


So, all you creative people (and those who stop by here occasionally), what are YOUR six word memoirs?


Tell all your single friends, brevity counts!



XO, JamieSmitten

I Don't Just Work For YOU, People!

I work for others across the pond! O.K. It wasn't really hard work, but I didn't blog here because I blogged there.

Tell all your single friends, I'm fucking Matt Damon.

XO, JamieSmitten

Meet My Nemesis

Only 3 more months of availability, thank goodness!

I Slack, Therefore I Am Jamie

I have done my taxes, made several trips to Virginia Beach, monitored Boom's butt, watched 1/2 of Dark Angel, Season 2, and begun spring cleaning way early.

But I have not blogged.

Sorry. So enjoy a picture of Boom wearing a dinner napkin during the last girls drink party. With my compliments and his.

Tell all your single friends, drinking with the ladies can lead to surprising headwear.

XO, JamieSmitten

Oy and Vey

Into every life some rain must fall -- but seriously, enough already!

My poor Boom has had some medical issues that have not been pleasant for him, the couch, or the vet. Another vet trip this morning has hopefully set him on the path to recovery (I'll spare you the details since the words 'anal' and 'fill' are prominent in the description).

I was awakened at 4 a.m. by some gosh awful pain under my left rib cage. After spending a good ten minutes waiting for my left arm to go numb and thinking about what I would leave in the note to my neighbor about Boom care when I drove myself to the hospital, I decided the culprit might be gas. I made a completely healthy and yummy dinner with chick peas, tomatoes, coriander seed, and turmeric, and had it on top of a wild rice/lentil pilaf. Tasty, fiberrific, and filling. Filling like at a gas station apparently. I'm seriously contemplating buying Bean-o.

My brother in law's car was stolen. Not my rain shower, but I still feel the dampness.

On Friday I have an "all hands" meeting at work. Now those of you outside the corporate world might think, "Hey! I don't mind some hands! I'll grab a piece of that!" But sadly, there is nothing touchy/feely about it. We sit, we watch innumerable slides, we nod (off), and then when we get back to our desks we are required to respond to an anonymous survey about the "all hands" meeting. I find it unbelievably hard not to be truthful in these surveys. Does anyone have a nice way to say "the meeting sucked ass?"


Tell all your single friends, better keep that umbrella handy.



XO, JamieSmitten

One More Year to Go.....

Dear sweet baby Jesus it is 10:00 p.m. and that idiot is STILL TALKING.

How could you people seriously vote him in for 8 years? You should be ashamed.

Too Creative for Words

No, not me -- I'm talking about Phil Hansen of Goodbye Art.


I can't remember how I stumbled on to his website, but I check it now and again to see what this incredibly creative person is doing.

Create a picture of Britney using chewed food?

Paint little paintings on top of other paintings on top of his stomach?

Make a cheese log (with a real log) for Christmas?

Carve an incredible portrait using just snow and a backlight?

Check it out -- there is VIDEO!

I love that Phil's art is fleeting. He creates and then he tears it down to make room for the next project. There is some life parallel here that I can't quite put my finger on.


Tell all your single friends to enjoy the beauty of the moment, because if they are lucky, there is another, different beautiful moment coming.


XO, JamieSmitten

Shuffleathon 2007 -- Wait, When?

Exactly. Shuffleathon 2007 took place last year. However, my experience was not as expected when I first signed up to participate. [For those who don't feel like backtracking to that link, I agreed to make a cd and send it off and then I would receive a cd compiled by a stranger. I was looking forward to going on a Blind Listen.]

So I deliberated, read through the blog of my assigned recipient, made cover art, and finally, thankfully, sent off my cd. It was received, but no review appeared, week after week. Finally, recipient Suburban Hen 'fessed up. She had listened to my cd and to her horror, found that all but one song reminded her of her ex-husband. [Clearly, her ex-husband has excellent musical taste. But that's neither here nor there.] I absolved her of her duty to review the cd and she probably tossed it in the nearest garbage can. Possibly as karmic payback for stirring up SH's memories of love gone wrong, I never received my cd. Shuffleathon steward SwissToni is most graciously stepping up to the plate and sending me something soon.

But in the meantime, I thought I'd tell you about MY cd. Since SH is from Australia, but currently living in the UK, I decided to stick to American bands. That really didn't narrow it down much, so I decided to stick to bands that I had seen in concert. Then, I just picked songs I love. Some of the artists have appeared on other Shuffleathon cds (and at least one specific track), but most are probably just popular with me and some guy in Australia. Not really a review, more of an explanation of why these songs made it on the cd.

Disclaimer: May remind you of your ex

1. Seven Days by Cracker: One of my favorite bands. Luckily, living in Richmond allows me to see them in concert frequently. Although I did drive to Phoenix from Las Vegas to see them once (Alice Cooper's Town, Phoenix). It's a good opening song because it establishes that you are about to listen to an upbeat cd. Plus how can you top "there ain't nothing that you got/ that we don't need/ did I say that right?" And truly, I am waiting for the real thing.


2. Locket Love by The Ramones: Another one of my favorite bands. I saw them in concert three times and the second time (RPM, Toronto) was definitely when I lost hearing in my right ear. I stood against the barrier in front of a HUGE stack of speakers for the whole show and Dee Dee tossed me a guitar pick at the end. I think that was a decent trade for some hearing. I love all Ramones songs, but this one reminds me of my high school boyfriend who couldn't afford to buy me a locket, so he drew one for me instead.


3. What Did Love Ever Do To You? by Hank Williams III: Hank3 is amazing in concert. He performs his country songs in the first 2 sets, then comes back out with his punk/metal/psychobilly band AssJack and blows the roof off (Alley Katz, Richmond). This isn't my top favorite HW3 song, but since I don't know the Hen, I thought it best not to select one of his drinking/drugging songs. But this one is good too.


4. Wave of Mutilation by Pixies: This is the track that appeared on another Shuffleathon cd. I saw the Pixies tour last year (Constant Convocation Center, Norfolk) and was amazed how flawless they sounded. I've seen Frank Black solo and love The Catholics cds, but the Pixies together are incredible. One of the few songs on the cd where the lyrics don't mean anything in particular to me.


5. Every Monday by Marvelous3: Marvelous3 opening for Eve6 (some small club in Norfolk) was a crazy evening: autograph/kiss from Slug, nail polish discussion with Butch (we both wore Blue Metal), too many shots of Jägermeister, and some decorous upchucking out the window of the car as we sped home along the highway. More importantly, I got to hear this song live. "I shed 5 bitter tears into 5 bitter beers/ looked at my watch and said 'Where have the years gone?'" A good song for maudlin moments.


6. Miles Away by Goldfinger: I love me some ska -- I don't even care which wave. I danced my ass off when I saw Goldfinger in concert (Flood Zone, Richmond) and then we had a beer with the bass player after the show. He was weird, but the music was infectious fun. "How blind can I be?/ So when can I see you?/ Will it ever be?/ And how deep is my love?" I played this song a LOT while lusting after someone I could never have. Still makes me wistful -- in a loud way.


7. Baby I'm A Star by Prince: I still have the flowers that fell from the ceiling when Prince sang Purple Rain as his finale (Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto). The music, the innuendo, the sheer teeny tiny force that was Prince owning that stage, I'll never forget it. And quite frankly, I AM a star. I play this when I need to remind myself of that fact. "Take a picture, sweetie/ I ain't got time to wait."


8. Superhero Girl by Eve6: I wish I had been signed to a record company and then told to finish high school between albums. Sigh. Way more pop than most of my favorite bands, but an automatic choice for road trips. This particular song because, yes, I am in fact, "stupidly sarcastic."


9. Celebrity Skin by Hole: I love the train wreck that is Courtney Love. I saw her at a multi-band festival (RFK Stadium, D.C.) and she rocked me. Live Through This is a great album, but I selected Celebrity Skin because I don't think it gets played enough. "You want a part of me/ Well I'm not selling cheap."


10. Crush With Eyeliner by R.E.M.: I didn't see REM until the Monster tour (Capital Centre?, Landover) which ended up being my favorite album mostly because of this song. Seemed a natural segue after Courtney, since it was rumored that Michael Stipe wrote this about her. Obviously included here because not many songs admit "I am smitten."


11. She's A Rebel by Green Day: Their tour in support of American Idiot was truly powerful -- must have something to do with teeny tiny front men (Constant Convocation. Norfolk). Call them derivative or sellouts, they still play a good 2 minute song.


12. Captain Kelly's Kitchen by Dropkick Murphys: I saw DM in October (Toad's Place, Richmond) and was right up front with my fellow music lovers, elbows up in defense. You don't have to be from Boston, you just have to love a good jig.


13. Old Friend by Rancid: Minor cheat here -- I haven't seen Rancid live, but I have seen the Transplants (Patriot Center, Fairfax) and again, they kick ass. "Good morning heartache. You're like an old friend come to seem me again." Indeed. But who can lament lost love when you are dancing like a fool. Had I made this tape for someone I actually knew, I would likely have selected Tall Cans In The Air by the Transplants -- and let the fuck you's fall where they might.


14. Falling To Pieces by Faith No More: I have been wracking my brain trying to remember who opened for FNM when I saw them (Capital Centre, Landover), but am way too lazy to go downstairs and look for the box with the ticket stubs from decades past. Epic still gets played on the radio, but I haven't heard this one in ages. "Droplets of yes and no/In an ocean of maybe." Story of my life.


15. The One by Foo Fighters: Not on an FF album, I actually purchased the soundtrack to that crappy movie Orange County in order to have this song immediately after hearing it on the radio. I haven't heard this song live (Patriot Center, Fairfax), but it is one of my favorites and doesn't get any radio play. Reminds me of my last alcoholic and the impossibility of our relationship. "Something never meant to be/ Everything you meant to me/ Wake me when this punishment is done/ Those who try and get away/ From the one who gets away/ Someone's always someone else's one." Maybe you had to be there, but that pretty much sums up me and Ron.

In retrospect, most of these songs remind me of an ex or someone who would have been an ex if I had had my way. Poor Suburban Hen, I doomed her from the start.

Tell All Your Single Friends to "play me that song that makes it so tough, another nail in my heart"

XO, JamieSmitten

Am I The Only One

who sees those cranberry juice commercials with the two guys standing in the cranberry bog and wishes she grew cranberries for a living? It just looks so cheerful. As long as there aren't any fish in there. That would be bad.



Memo to self: explore cranberry careers.

Tell all your single friends, 2008 is the year of the new career!!

XO, JamieSmitten

What I Learned in 2007 (in no particular order)

• Dance. Somebody has to and it might as well be you.

• It doesn't matter how big the vet bill is. Boom is worth it.

• I couldn't space my blog entries evenly if my life depended upon it.

• Dizzy is not fun.
  


• I can't be responsible for it all. Step back, sit down, and let somebody else deal.

• Speeding is expensive. I should do it more infrequently and cautiously.

• Tim Gunn might be right. In more instances, I should try to "make it work."

• Sleep is important.

• There are some wonderfully unique people blogging -- Thanks, Wombat, Crankster, Firefly, Camel, Ahamos, Cygirl, March to the Sea, Nat Dickinson, Phil Hansen.

• Cafe Bustelo makes work more tolerable.

• Never buy anything from an adult toy party that you didn't actually see. Trust me, they CAN be too big. And too purple.




• 15 minutes on the elliptical will not kill me. Even worse news -- 48 minutes on the elliptical won't kill me.




• The 17th Street Farmer's Market ROCKS on Saturday morning. Come back summer!




• $10 earrings can make me smile for years.




• I enjoy writing, even if nobody reads it.




• Don't drink 6 beers, 1 shot of tequila, and 2 margarita pints, even if you are walking home. (If you do, be prepared to wake up on the couch, half-dressed, and liberally coated with sick.)



• I am not too old for all day music festivals.




• I have wonderful friends and I should tell them that more often.




• I get blushes (blog crushes) way, way, way too easily.




• Some people will just never understand me. Try not to work for these people.



• Some people will get me instantly. Stay close to these people.



• It ain't over even when the door is shut, the blinds are pulled, and the drinks are poured. Enjoy the peace while you have it.

• A good therapist is invaluable. Thanks, CT!

• A little optimism is o.k. 2008 is going to be THE YEAR.

Tell all your single friends, 365 more days of potential EVERYTHING await!

XO, JamieSmitten