you yada yada-ed over the best part!

Oh man.

I knew this year was going to rock. In January I sat down and said that I basically had had enough with myself, with my life and the way things were going. I decided to stop bitching about things that I could not change and to take charge with the things I could and thus far, things are working better than I could have ever imagined.

I just wanted to get that out of the way.

So Friday was of course karaoke at Burnham Bowl... I went with Eric and Brant and there was much fun. Eric and I did Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector's "Take Me Home Tonight" which is still a perennial favorite. We befriended this drunk girl and her equally drunk boyfriend (well, actually Brant did.. they took him home with them to smoke pot, but I am pretty sure they could have had a threesome).

Saturday was my TNT kickoff party... that was kind of a tear jerker. The father of the kid we are running for got up and started talking about him and started crying and pretty much everyone in the room was crying too. I got my official training packet, which is pretty terrifying to look at and realise that in June (JUNE!!!) I will be running/jogging/walking 10 miles on a Saturday. You have got to be f-ing joking me. I have to go buy shoes which is going to be interesting... right now my feet are kind of killing me as I am clearly wearing the wrong kind, but that is okay... I'll remedy that.

On Sunday I went to Racine and with Jacks, walked from my parents house to the ligthouse and back down which was about three miles. We then went swimming and oooh, did I get some sun! I love this summery feeling, it has been way too long.

Now with all the niceties out of the way, the dirt: so on Saturday, Troy and I were going to go see Grindhouse or what have you but when I was training (I went from my apt to the stadium and back, essentially) I realised that the last thing I wanted to do was to go sit inside a movie theatre (even though it IS the Rosebud, which is awesome) and as he had just been biking, he really didnt want to either. So he came by and we walked to Antigua, which is a block from my place and serves up a mean latin cusine. It was really authentic, which was a nice change of pace. We started drinking, he had tequila sunrises and I had coconut-raspberry margaritas... which ws really playing with fire on my part. Every really boneheaded stunt that I have pulled has been a direct result of tequila.

At the end of the meal, the waitress brings out "complementary shots of msdadkjhakjdh" and i looked at Troy and said "What did she say this was a shot of?" and he goes "Eh, I have no idea. Cheers!" and we took it down.

At that moment, I almost threw up. It was peach schnapps, which I DESPISE. A very ill fated St Patricks day 4 years ago rendered it impossible for me to stomach much anything peach flavored, let alone the devil's brew itself. My body now recognises peach schnapps as a poison and it took everything I had not to puke right there at the table.

So we went back to my place and polished off a bottle of cabernet sauvignon and smoked a pretty copious amount of pot. I am really going to have to knock all this business off though... training for a marathon means easy on the booze and no more pot smoking. Brownies however... I kid, I kid.

He kissed me goodbye. It was tender and sweet. I almost think we might be seeing each other. Is that possible? I asked him when he wanted to get his ass kicked in rummy and he suggested Tuesday. TUESDAY?! I wasn't going to suggest anything before Thursday so as not to come across too strong or too interested (goddamn, I hate these games!) but lo: he did. Plus, generally when we end a chat on IM he says something like "later" or nothing at all. But last night he wished me sweet dreams. SWEET DREAMS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Further, he commented on my myspace, which he has never done, so it showed a little "I'm thinking about you-ness" which is v. v. nice.

Oh man.


::dies::

excellent.

Man, do I feel good.

So this is day three of my 180 some odd marathon training. I have run 4 miles in the past two days, which is not great, but considering I haven't run... ever... I am really proud of myself. Tomorrow is my TNT kick off training and I am kind of excited about it. I will meet my trainers and mentors and get my marathon training schedule. So carpe diem.

I have inundated teh intorwebs with my fundraising info, posting on myspace, facebook and emailing pretty much everyone on my email. I started this all yesterday and while my goal is $5100, I have already raised $385, which is nothing to sneeze at. Several of my friends have donated so generously, I just can't believe it. And SURPRISING people too, like Daniela, my mexican friend that I was in Belgium with. Also, a girl named Mandie, whom I don't even know, but she knows Eric and gave money. It gives me so much inspiration to keep going... and I have a LONG way to go.

What else is going on... oh, I know. I AM TOTALLY FREAKING SMITTEN IT IS NOT EVEN FUNNY.

Troy is AMAZING. We have been talking pretty much every day and last night I went over there to play cribbage (cribbage?! did I mention that he plays board games with me? Is that possible!?) and I fixed dinner (pasta and red sauce... I had to bring my own pot though, as their kitchen is shit). And although he is thoroughly disdainful of Led Zeppelin, and schooled me at cards, we had such a good time. I could probably gush for another 12 paragraphs on him, but I won't.

It has been a long time since I have felt this good about a potential relationship. Ironically, it comes not long after claiming The Summer Of Nicki. But isn't that how it always works? As soon as you stop looking and stop caring, kapow! Rainbows and lollypops.

So the weekend coming up... tonight I am off to either Burnham Bowl for karaoke with Brant, Lindsay and probably Eric or to the VFW in Bayview for karaoke. Apparently Friday is karaoke night. Saturday I have to work, but I am also going to my kickoff party. Also on Saturday Troy and I are hanging out... potentially going to see Grindhouse at the Rosebud...

But frankly, I don't care what we do.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

so not to be all romantic but...

So I am a big fan of kismet.

I always have been. Like when Michael and I first started dating, I would have these really lucid dreams about us being together and not to give up because it would all work out... and then it did.

I like coincidences, I like karma, however you want to word it. I like premonitions (which I don't know if I chalk up to psychic-ness, but more an inherent knowledge of people) and I certainly like being pleased when it happens.

So with that said, when I was on my way to Linneman's on Saturday, I was going through the radio and I listened to "Back On The Chain Gang" by The Pretenders, which I love.

Aloud, to myself, I said "This song will always remind me of Troy" which is odd. I am not exactly that sort of person (don't get me wrong, there are songs that remind me of my exes, but there was more of a reason to them you know... not just like, a random song).

So whatever, Linneman's then his house... and we get into his room and he puts on iTunes and what is the album that he plays for me?

The Pretenders.

omg omg omg

Ohh, all is right with the world.

So Friday I went out and ran errands with Jackie, stopping off at Jose's Blue Sombrero for THE BEST MARGARITAS ON THE PLANET. We then went over to Farm and Fleet and bought a tricycle for her goddaughter.

We took it back to my apartment and tried to put it together, doing a pretty fine job until we stripped a nut and bolt trying to attach the handle bars. It was then abandoned and she took it to work the next day to have a burly Harley type person to put it together.

Brant and his girlfriend came over afterwards and we went over to the ultimate of townie bars, Burnham Bowl. We started doing shots and then Lindsay and I decided to take matters into our own hands and started karaoke-ing it up. We did a pretty awesome version of Eddie Money and Ronnie Spector's "Take Me Home Tonight" and I attempted Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" which was pretty intense. I befriended a few middle aged women who frequent the bar and they asked if Brant and I were siblings. That was a new one, I don't think of people as looking like me, probably because I don't have any siblings and don't think about people in that way. We both sort of narrowed our eyes at each other and were like "Oh shit, yeah, I can see that." Which is weird.

On Saturday I had to work, which is vexing as I never usually have to work, but it was okay, save for the fact that I was kinda hungover. I worked with naughty Sue so she kept me in stitches with her smutty talk and that made things okay.

Saturday night I went over to Linneman's and met up with Jackie and Hannah to see the Chop Top Toronados (the lead singer Mark gave us tshirts, that's pretty nifty) and I had talked to Troy (my ex roommate) and invited him out. So he shows up....

And I pretty much died.

We have been talking recently online and whatnot and we went out on Wednesday to the Hi-Fi and got coffee (I tried to get decaf, it wasn't and I was pretty much bouncing off the walls) and then went to the coffee shop in Bayview for a late dinner. I finally had to leave him at 11:30 because I needed to get to sleep, but I pretty much had to drag myself out of there. We were just chatty chatty chatty...

I have always had a pretty major crush on him, ever since he moved in... but that is a tricky, slippery slope... the roommate situation. That basically had disaster written all over it and I wisely steered clear.

But he is not my roommate anymore. Oh no he is not.

So he came out Saturday night and I was just... I don't know. I'm all squeeeeeeeee! But like, legitimately so. He is pee-your-pants funny, and so smart. And he seems to think I am funny, which is even better. We just really click mentally... there were a few times where I found myself thinking "oh my god, that is exactly what I would have said" or better, I said something and he would say "I was just thinking that!" which is a very very good sign.

After developing episcleritis (which is basically eye arthritis) my eyes have become kind of sensitive to smoke. After being at Burnham Bowl and then going to Linneman's, my eyes were on fire, so I mentioned this to Troy and he suggested we go back to his place (muahahahaha, why yes, yes, I would like to go back to your house) so we went over there.

So we started smoking pot and drinking Pabst (like true Riverwest kids) and we just talked. Until 5:30 am. I finally told him that I had to get some sleep because I was in no condition to drive and I was exhausted. We fell asleep until we were woken up by Tom coming home (Tom being my other ex roommate). He and John (their other roommate) were in the kitchen and Tom saw my purse and said "So am I to assume that there is a girl here?" and John replied "Yeah, Troy has got someone in there" to which Tom said "Is it Nicki?"

Bwahahahahaha. Yes, hello. It is me.

So we were just all cozied up and I felt all languid and warm and happy (if there is one thing I like better than brunch on a Sunday, it is snuggling on a Sunday)(although probably the reason that I was languid was because I had about 15 minutes of solid sleep).

Oh man. I can't believe how awesome he is. Not to mention hot. He has got these green eyes that KILL me. He's got kicky glasses too...

And wildly, unbelievably, it seems as though he might like me too?

OUTSTANDING. OUTSTANDING!!

Good for me, better for others.

So I just signed up for Team In Training, which is part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Basically what that means is that I am now going to be training for a marathon (although I think I will start off with a half marathon, we'll see) and start raising money for research.

I really only know of a few people who have passed away or who had leukemia, but cancer is cancer. I know I have talked about this before, but my grandmother passed away from colon cancer when I was 15 and ever since then I have sort of been hyper aware of cancer and it's devestating effects. Robin's dad passed away from pancreatic cancer and I am a strong supporter of PanCan, but I have always felt that there was more I could do.

I was talking to one of my best friends, Jen, who recently ran a marathon in Miami for HIV/AIDS research and was really inspired by that. What was stopping me from doing the same thing? Nothing, except my own self doubts, my lack of dedication and my out-of-shapeness. So, yeah, those are all shitty reasons. I can run a marathon. Yes, I am not in the best shape (I'm getting better) but there is no reason why I can't just train for it. I need to be dedicated to something philanthropic instead of my own causes and frankly, this is a pretty good one.

Team In Training provides training, travel and resources in exchange for fundraising. So not only will I be getting my ass into shape, but I will have the opportunity to travel (yeah, Dublin perhaps?) and I will be supporting a great cause.

So there we go. I feel really good. I think grandma would be proud too.

You can do it too.

I just broke glass, and not in a Mazel Tov! jewish kind of way

So I was walking as nice as can be after my break from the front of the store (where I had just purchased a snapple) and SOMEHOW I managed to slip (in my kicky red shoes, very very vexing) and

KABLAMO!

My right arm flailed out and I mangaged to bring my hand and snapple through two glass shelves, my knees dropped and I hit the floor and tried to brace myself with my right hand.

Glass was everywhere, my pants are/were soaked with tea and I had to fill out an accident report. I feel a little beat up at the moment, but okay... I am just feeling awfully burly at the moment... not many girls can cut through glass with a mere flick of their wrists!

Snapple, anyone?

New, exciting things!

So now, if you haven't noticed, you can now subscribe to my blog and have it delivered straight to your email. Ooh, very kicky indeed. Of course, you could just subscribe to the feed, but really... this is cooler.

I can't guarantee that you will get updates everyday but I can promise you that you will get quality and no spam. So that's pretty nifty.

Ugh. I am so tired. Join up. It really makes things easier.

"You should try 'Nature's Miracle' to get the puke smell out."

So Friday I went out with Brant to Burnham Bowl. Burnham Bowl is approximately 40 feet from my front door and is the epitome of Stallis townie hangout. We went in there and there were these bizarre Stallica types singing THE worst karaoke I have ever heard in my life. And I have heard some bad karaoke. There were a few metal heads, some ultra conservative girls, a few foriegn guys of questionable origin, two hipsters, a bunch of old timers and a gaggle of slutty types (but not the good kind... the Selma Bouvier desperation kind) and then me and Brant... however you can define the elitist, pretentious
tpes that we are.

Oh, but we had a merry time, drinking (High Life, what what!) and making fun of every single person in there. No one was safe from our scorn, including each other. Matt then came around, after 11 and joined us in the mirth making and it was a very good time, indeed.

Well, a good as a time as you can have at Burnham Bowl. However, both of them have since said they want to make Friday nights a regular occurance. The interesting thing is that NO ONE was bowling. Wacky, wacky stuff.

On Saturday, I organised a little sortie for Robin as she was in town for Easter and I felt she needed to go out. I went to dinner with her family (Jeni, Christina, Tom, Robin and her mom) to Thai Palace (oh god, Volcano Tofu, I would marry you if I could) and then we went over to Mo's Irish Pub and met up with the Merchants of Death (Guy and Eric) and Missie and Greg.

I started drinking a Smithwicks and took about a sip and a half and gave the rest to Eric. My stomach was just not feeling that good. Tom bought me a Irish Car Bomb because he said he owed me for my birthday, so I did the shot... blehhhhh. I was like, okay water for me! Robin was all chagrined and I snarkily informed her that while I chose not to continue drinking, she was welcome to it.

So she did. Boy, did she.

We went from Mo's over to John Hawk's Pub where we were pretty much the only people in the entire place. There, the beer was flowing and then the shots came out and my little friends got toasty. I was having a fine time with my water and stale popcorn and just watching the interactions. Eventually I went over to Jeni who was driving and was like, "ummmm... you think maybe it is time to cut these kids off?" and nodded knowingly at Robin, who was bent over backwards in uproarious laughter.

I went to collect her and she was like "Where are we going?! Where are we going!?" and Jeni told her it was a wonderful place... my apartment, to which Robin started yelling at us. As we went out the door, Guy ran over into the phone booth (which is like, an english style booth) and Robin grabbed my hand (I was at the back of the group) and with Eric, they shoved me into the booth with him. He and I sort of looked at each other and were like "Uh, okay?" as Robin crowed from outside "Now, MAKE OUT!!" and Eric blocked the door.

So there were some amusing pics taken, and then Guy and I tried to get out, and knock Eric out of the way, but he is a strong guy and the door didn't even budge. They eventually lost interest in trying to get us to make out and walked away, but the door was stuck and took both of us to loosen it.

Jeni drove us home and I made up a little pallet on my couch for Robin. After I was done, I went to get into my jammers and when I came out, Robin had gotten under the covers, faced the wall and closed her eyes but still proceeded to yell at me about going home "early" (even though it was like, 2 AM) and I told her to shut up and go to sleep.

I woke up early the next morning as it was Easter Sunday (in your FACE, Lent! BEST. LENT. EVER. I totally didn't cheat and lost like 15 lbs in the process. SWEET) and I walk out to the living room where I spy a piece of paper towel on the floor. Robin rolled over and I was like, what's up with the paper towel?

Turns out, she threw up in the middle of the night into her hand, but didn't manage to catch it all and threw up on my floor.

Gahhhhh! Damnit! It's brand new carpeting! I haven't even spilled on it yet and here she comes, Pukey Malone!

It's okay... I am just going to lord it over her a LITTLE.

So I drove her hungover ass back to Racine and then went to my parents house. I got there before them (they were at church) and put the Honeybaked ham in the fridge (I had to go buy it on Friday, it was a lot of shenanigans) and spied the deviled eggs. I LOVE deviled eggs and thought about eating one but as I pulled out the dish, there was a little note on it: "DO NOT EAT. THIS MEANS YOU." Well, I am not going to stand for this! So I wrote a little note back: "JESUS DID NOT DIE SO I COULD BE DENIED DELICIOUS TREATS."

My parents and I then watched six hours of Jesus of Nazareth but not before my dad went into the kitchen and started tinkering. He was making all this noise and my mom was like "what are you DOING?!" and I saw that he had the blender out and asked "What are you making?" to which he replied "Daiquiris"

Because nothing says "Christ is risen" much like strawberry daiquiris.

We then sat down to eat and my mom said "Well Nicki should really have to say a prayer because she didn't go to church." So I started in like "Oh, Lord! We thank you for the BOUNTY you have placed before us. Yea, you are so mighty in your GOODNESS and we are not WORTHY of such deliciousness.." when I looked up and saw my dad purple with laughter. The conversation was thus:

Nicki: WORTHY of such deliciousness...
Dad: (sniggering)
Nicki: what is the problem here
Dad: why in the hell are you stopping?
Nicki: why in the hell are you laughing?!
Mom: JESUS CHRIST WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO!?
Nicki: Oh lord, let me now apologise that we can't even get through a prayer to you without cursing or being blasphemous, even on the most holy of holy days...

I then went home and hung out with Matt for a little bit, going to get a late night Easter sandwich.

He's kinda cute. I might kinda like him.

Okay... that is a good update. I have to work on not slacking.

Beijos!

A Chat: Me, defined in terms of beer

So it started with my status message on gchat as:

Nicki: Clara Lite. The taste more men go for!

and from there, Brant and I bandied about for a bit

Miller: I would not think you would be a person known for your taste, but whatever floats your boat

me: what is that supposed to mean?

Miller: Nothing. Nothing at all.

You sound defensive.

me: i am

Miller: Did I hit a sore spot?

me: no. i am delightfully refreshing

Miller: I am tilting my head down and raising one eyebrow quizically

me: you dont think so?

Miller: I think you are refreshing, but taste has little to do with it.

What kind of taste?

Taste in clothes?

Music?

Humor?

The topic is too broad.

me: i dont know.

Miller: Still, it's witty. No doubt.

Who is this wreck Clara?

Is her taste heavy, with slimy aftereffects?

me: nope. she is full bodied and heady. robust, with sweet notes

Miller: Ahh. Does she finish well?

me: indeed. she is to be savored. for the discriminating palate

Miller: Yet you claim to have a taste superior to this "Clara?"

me: nope, just the taste more men go for

Nicki is refreshing, easy going. Palatable and well versed, she goes with any event and heartily recieved

Miller: You are just less exotic than Clara?

me: She is just as good at a baseball game as she is the symphony

precisely

Miller: That's nothing.
I'm just as good with astrophysics as I am with spelunking.

Beat that.

me: i dont care too.

*to, rather

Miller: Who exactly is this "Clara?"

me: why? does she intreague you?

Miller: And if she does?

me: you sir, have discriminating tastes

Miller: What has that to do with the current subject?

me: i told you! preference to clara is haute to preference in nicki

nicki is for everyone

Miller: For everyone?

What about Carrot Top?

me: certainly. he enjoys nicki as much as the next man

Miller: What about homosexual men?

me: of course! nicki does not discriminate

Miller: But would he enjoy Nicki as much as a heterosexual man?

I'm asking if your company is all applications, if you understand.

me: well, depends on the situation

Miller: Aha!

So it is possible that not all men at all times would enjoy your taste?

me: i never said that it was an all the time thing

Miller: Nicki is for everyone but not at every time.

me: basically

coffee is my crack

So I stopped this morning and picked up a coffee at my local Speedway.

I generally try to avoid drinking caffeinated drinks because frankly, I don't need any help being hyperactive and jittery. But I was super early to work and I was still feeling groggy so I stopped.

And man, do I feel like Whitney Houston on a bender. I'm all twitchy and I unfortunately heard the STYX song
"Too Much Time On My Hands" ::clap clap:: and I am now in the process of sort of singing it rather psychotically OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

It's probably a good thing that I have my own office.

Snuh.

::passes out, after running around like a crazy person... pant, pant::