tired...week..almost...over......

I've been going to open anatomy lab the past couple of days. On Tuesday I ran into my friend Ellen from my Biochemistry class winter quarter. Yesterday, I randomly ran into Sharyn from work in lab I guess she is going into massage therapy and is taking anatomy as part of that. How random!

This weekend was Adam and Nicole's wedding. We had a great time. We got to town on Friday night and took my mom out to the Great Lakes Brewery. Yuck! I will never drink their beer or eat their food again. We ordered the flight. Everything tasted the same! Each beer was a derivative of another one. And the waitress convinced Joe to get the last Lake Erie Walleye dinner they had instead of crabcakes. Um...don't ever eat anything that comes out of Lake Erie. Duh. But he did and it was nasty.

The rehersal dinner was at the Rock Bottom Brewery in the Flats at the Powerhouse. It is a chain, but the beer was much much better. They were convinced I'm a vegetarian since I ordered the vegetarian meal at the wedding...so I got the vegetarian meal. But it was an awesome pesto pasta with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts. Nicole got us girls Coach bags and jewelry for our gifts. Very nice. Put that with my Tiffany necklace from Alex's wedding, and damn! If I ever get married ya'll better believe I'm not spending anything like that. Well, it's not like I'd probably even have a bridal party though so I guess I'm safe.

Saturday I received cornrows as my hairstyle for the wedding. In my defense, I didn't have my glasses on, so I couldn't see. After I did see, however, my mom and Joe successfully encouraged me to have it fixed. It took 2 hours to put in the cornrows and 15 minutes to make it into a beautiful pouff-thingie. Go figure.

The wedding went smoothly. It was really beautiful but really hot. The church doesn't have air conditioning. We rode in a limo to the Zoo and Rainforest for photos. It was actually cooler in the Rainforest! The reception was at the Powerhouse at Windows on the River and was gorgeous. I had the vegetarian meal (see above ;)) and it was the best food I've had in a long time!
Sunday we ate at IHOP, my favorite, and then headed home so I could study.

So, we're not having luck with our fish. A couple weeks ago, Kenny started acting weird. He got all bloated. When we got back from Cleveland a couple weeks ago, Petsmart told us that he was probably constipated but there was ntohing we could do. I ended up euthanizing him. After that, Margaret would just stare at me from inside the tank. Lo and behold, on Monday night, I found him upside down in the bottom of the tank, despite chemically balanced water and no visible signs of disease. I guess he got lonely? Now all we have left are our Otto Cats. :(

On Monday, I took off early from work due to my pants splitting down the front, and then the elastic of my underwear ripping from the waist. I have no idea why. Just my luck, I guess. I then crammed for my nutrition exam and headed to campus to take it. It's my first online course. It's kind of weird. I like technology alright, but some things are just silly. I think online courses are up there in the silly category. Read a book and take a test and consider it college? Um, okay. After that I studied for my anatomy quiz and enjoyed the weather. Then I headed home to bed.
On Tuesday, My iPod stopped playing all of my purchases. Go figure. I went to open lab and then met up with Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Mike who were in town. We showed them the new house and took them to Jimmy V's in Grandview for dinner. I had the gyro platter which was strange...it was a deconstructed gyro with fries. It wasn't awful though. We also had broiled calamari. It was okay. They have an awesome patio out back. I highly recommend it!

Afterwards, I took them to Jeni's for the quintessential Grandview Experience. Uncle Mike loved the Queen City Cayenne, which is my favorite as well.

On Wednesday, I headed straight to open lab. Then I took the practical, which I'm pretty sure I killed. Then I headed home to download the updated iTunes software and backup my library in the hopes it would fix my iPod. I had a beer, settled down for leftover gyro platter, and caught up on my soaps and The Mole. Joe had mandate night at Villa Nova, which I'm dying to try. Maybe one day...

This morning I woke up to find that iTunes wouldn't even load. Turns out the Quicktime software was corrupt. Great. On my way to work I noticed I got makeup all over the front of my shirt. Got to work in enough time to grab Starbucks and go through the day. I got my mom's birthday card off in the mail, so that is good. I also figured out what to get her for her birthday. We at lunch at La Fogata Grill at Crosswoods. It was okay, but no El Alcapulco. Now I'm home, enjoying my first night that I don't HAVE to do any work. I probably will though, so I can stay on top of things. Work+School+Life=Craziness!

so anatomy is the hardest class ever

Forget math. Forget chemistry. The hardest class you'll ever take? Anatomy. I've never had more information thrown at me at once than with this class. Add some cadaver work, and it is certainly the most interesting in both a personal and professional and school sort of way.

I used to (and still do) secretly dream of being a coroner. I don't have issues with death or dealing with gross stuff. I guess that's why I will also make a good nurse. But, in all of my imagining my future career of determining cause of death, I never thought about the first time I would ever touch someone else's bare, dead muscle. Or artery. Or nerve. Sure, we've all had those curious moments at the wake where you kinda poke around wondering that death feels like. It's weird. But now? It ain't nothing. I've had my hands in things I would have never imagined. It is strange, but I'm enjoying all the hard work I'm putting into it. I literally dedicate about 6 hours a night to schoolwork a week. I hope it all pays off with an acceptance letter to Mt Carmel real soon!!

hopelessly addicted

So, I am supposed to be studying for my anatomy midterm, but I've somehow managed to get myself addicted to last.fm. I cannot tear myself away. Basically, it results in me listening to lots of music instead of studying. (I cannot study with noise). So, tomorrow around 6PM be sure to send me good vibes about skin and tissues....and pray I can keep all the details straight.

I am pleased to say that I should be returning to work on Monday. I haven't been there since last Tuesday due to a bad case of gastroenteritis. Like an idiot, for dinner tonight I ate leftovers of one of the mystery meals that may have made me sick. So far so good...but you never know.

I'm looking forward to Nicole and Adam's wedding this weekend. The bridesmaid dress is pretty and one of my favorite colors, she booked us for hair-do's and mimosas, there's a limo, we're taking pictures at the Cleveland Zoo/Rainforest, and the reception venue is in the Flats (Downtown Cleveland). Joe and I were going to go down early and make a weekend of it by checking out the Warped Tour, but we decided against it. There's only one band I want to see there (Angels and Airwaves) and he's lost interest since we're kinda on a major concert roll right now. Plus, Lollapalooza is coming up at the beginning of August and I can only handle one all day concert in extreme temperatures with sweaty people every 10 years or so... ;)

Well, I better go try and study some more...

Roger Loves Me - Moshing, Personal Shout Outs, Cadavers, and the Stomach Flu in Cleveland

On Tuesday, Joe and I headed up to Cleveland to check out the Goldfinger/Less Than Jake show at the House of Blues. It was also an opportunity to pick up my bridesmaid dress for Nicole's wedding next weekend.



We decided to spend the night and chose to stay at the Hyatt Arcade, since it was right across the street from HOB. Let me tell you, it was one of the most awesome hotels we've ever stayed at. The lobby is the interior of the old Arcade, and it is awe inspiring to see the vaulted glass ceiling.



Anyway, we quickly checked in and then attempted to cross the street to grab some drinks and a bite to eat before the show. Unfortunately, there was a torrential downpour so we were soaked by the time we crossed the street. We settled on appetizers at the HOB, which I have to say were pretty yummy. We had calamari and quesadillas. My only complaint was the draft beer choices. Pitiful. Coors light, Bud Light, and Smithwicks. WTF?


We headed over to check out the show. The opening act were the Suburban Legends. They were hilarious - check them out. They had some choreography to go with their ska. Joe and I admired their ability to get the entire crowd to ska dance en masse. It's been years since I've seen that many bobbling ska heads.

Then came Goldfinger, who were incredible. We stayed in the pit for them. I haven't moshed like that years. I seriously saw my life flash before my eyes a couple of times and there was a point where I was convinced I was going to die in the pit. But I didn't. I didn't even spill my beer! or get beer spilled on me!

After Goldfinger, we decided to make like old people and grab some seats in the balcony. We had a prime view. However, once Less Than Jake came on, I got mad that I wasn't in the pit. Joe kept trying to calm me down, but I tend to be a beligerent drunk. They started off with "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts" and I kept pointing to our seats whenever they said "Sellouts." Joe told me to shut up. So, I opted instead to dance in my seat and rock out the best I could given my situation.

During their second song, Roger, the dreadlocked bassist, took notice of me. He flashed me the...uh...rock out devil horn thingie. I don't know what that's called and Joe isn't here to school me. Anyway, after the song finished the band started talking to the audience. "All you people on the floor," Chris says, "are awesome." "And all you people in the balcony are just sitting there with your colostomy bags" continues Roger, "except that girl right there!" and he points to me and the lights flash up on me. It was awesome. I got my own personal shout out from my favorite LTJ member. After that, I was on cloud 9. Eventually, I got Joe to go downstairs back to the pit. It was a good time. They played like 3 encores and all of my favorite songs. Best LTJ show to date, and I can't even tell you how many times I've seen them live.

The next morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel. An omlette with all the fixins. Then we called off work and drove back. One of our fish, Kenny, had been sick, so we traveled out to Petsmart to test the water and see what we could do for him. We finished up with dinner at Salvi's. I had spaghetti and meatballs as usual. It's the only thing I get in Italian restaurants. I figure it is the best basis for comparison.

I then head to Anatomy class. Today was our first lab practical and our first time working with the cadavers. For some reason, once I got to lab my stomach really started hurting. I also couldn't stop sneezing. I wondered in the back of my head if it was the preservative that was bothering me. Maybe I was allergic? But, I've taken biology before and never had a problem in the past with that all to infamous smell. But, as class progressed, I began feeling sicker and sicker.

After lab, we had lecture in a room downstairs. As I sat there, I felt worse and worse, like I was about to puke. I almost thought I'd have to get up and leave I felt so sick. Luckily, he ended lecture early.

I drove home like a bat out of hell. I didn't get there a moment sooner before the projectile vomit started.

And so I had food poisoning once again. Or stomach flu. or something.

Go figure. this happens everytime I go to Cleveland.

Party like a rockstar....

Every once in a while I get this overbearingly strong urge to follow musical pursuits and write lyrics and great bass lines. I envision myself playing my bass to a group of screaming fans in a city I don't know.

Then I stop and realize that the thought of being a touring muscian is more like a nightmare to me.

I can't stand repetition.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Beer Booth -isms = negative Comfest experience

Toilet Paper - a hot commodity at Comfest
Originally uploaded by icadrews

So I spent this weeked at Comfest, as usual. This was our last year having a place in Victorian Village (although moving to Grandview Heights doesn't make us too far away).

We arrived at the old place by noon-ish. By 12:30, the streets were parked up. Robin arrived a bit later, we enjoyed lunch at Northstar, then headed off to Comfest! Lots of people watching. Our NADE friend, Dean, currently from Oklahoma City, formerly of Austin, TX, was in town to experience the excitement of Comfest and Pride...luckily Pride will be a different week next year. Too much drama for one weekend!

Anyway, Robin and I were prepared with our travel toilet paper, bottles of water, and Comfest mugs. We chilled, enjoyed the weather, and enjoyed the people watching. It was so damn hot, though. I didn't drink much, to my dismay.

On Saturday, we tried Marshall's, a weird breakfast diner/bar mix for brunch. It's a block from our new house. It was pretty good. Robin went back to Cleveland and Joe and I recovered a bit until Alex and Mike arrived. Then it was back to Victorian Village, back to the old place (there was an ugly topless chick on the neighbor's porch.) Then we wondered back to Goodale to enjoy the festivities.

I signed in at 7 for what was supposed to be my 4 hour beertending shift. About 10 minutes into it, I had two separate men tell me that I can't pour beer. There is a secret trick to Comfest beer pouring that I quickly learned last year that these jerks were oblivious to (maybe due to being too busy drinking beer themselves than serving it). Comfest mugs that are transparent have really bad head when you pour. Opaque mugs do not have bad head. In addition, Labat Blue foams much more than the Columbus Pale Ale, or even Labat Lite. These dudes, whom I bet I could rival in my beer knowledge, were intent on flashing their manliness to me and telling me how I need to tilt the glass to pour (I was) and that I needed to use a nice rocking action.

A woman next to me, after the second one left, says to me, "They told me the same thing. I've been beertending for 12 years. Do they think I don't know how this works?" That made me feel a bit better. Girl power!

Then, before I know it, another guy starts harassing me for ID-ing people. Um, okay.

#1 rule of Comfest Beer Booth - don't serve underagers. We could lose our license.

#2 rule of Comfest, no free beer. Comfest beer sales are the biggest income for the festival. If they lost the booth, all that goes down the drain.

He wasn't just harassing me, though. He was harassing another chick as well. I'd never experienced so much concentrated sexism in my life - all at a festival that is supposed to embrace others for who they are and maintain the mellow!

What really set me off and led to me actually quitting my shift less than halfway into it?

When the same guy, complaining that I was IDing people, told me the following:

"You need to give free beer out. Why are you charging people? See, you need to give beer to the ones that look like they can't afford it and charge the ones that look like they can. Like that guy, see him? He has nice clothes. He can afford beer. Charge him."

I stopped and turned and walked away. I wish I had said, "oh, you mean I should be profiling people. Judging them. AT COMFEST?"

What an asshole.

Needless to say, I had enough and walked off. Screw my T-Shirt, screw my free beer, screw my beer tokens for next year. It was not worth ruining my Comfest experience to deal with those jerks. I probably should have reported them to the manager, but I was too furious.

Anyway, that just meant I had time to spend with my friends. Alex and Mike were in town for Saturday night. Luckily, we missed the torrential downpours and thunderstorming and mudthrowing.

The picture for this post is right after I stood in line for the port-o-potty for about 30 minutes to find out they were out of toilet paper. I'm not a drip dry girl. I had forgotten my travel TP at home. I was devastated. However, some random guy flew in, shoved TP in my hand, and said "need this?" and flew back away into the crowd.

What goes around comes around. That mere act of kindness made my pissy beertending experience anger go away.

This is what Comfest is all about!