u r b a n s l a n t

Twice in one week, can you stand it?

The big news today is that I was offered the editing position. You know what this means. Renewed weekly dates with Heaven in a Styrofoam cup! Aside from the fact that this is exciting news, it also couldn’t have come at a better time, what with my (largely ineffective) Peace Corps insurance about to run out and my finances getting a tad on the meager side. I’m ready to head back to the office for good, and this editing position is exactly what I need. My official start date is July 30, and I’ll be continuing my contract writing position until then, as well as dividing my job duties between the two positions until September, due to short staffing and workload demands. So my goal for the next few weeks is to enjoy working part-time from home while I can, as well as luxuriate in the remaining free time I now have, as the editing position requires me to be in the office on a full-time basis. Which means that then I’ll actually have a legitimate reason for not updating this blog as frequently as I should.

And that’s my job news. I haven’t gone out to celebrate yet, although I did indulge in a smidge too much alcohol last night. I had a Tom Collins that was so cherry red that it could’ve been mistaken for a Shirley Temple, were it not for the lethal amount of gin emanating from my pores for the rest of the night. I thought I’d wash that down with a refreshing tap beer, only to be presented with the tallest beer receptacle I have ever seen in the sort of establishment that calls itself “Moe’s.” I’d call it a pint glass, but it was more like a pint and a half. Ah, but it was good. At the time, anyway. Not so much this morning.

In other news, my CV compadres are starting to flow back as I type this, and it’s hard to believe that their time is officially over. Claudia is already stateside and will be landing in Minneapolis in just a few weeks. Anna will be here within a month, and Jende won’t be far behind. I can’t wait to see them all again. As for everyone else who is or will be scattered across the country? Well, it looks like a Vegas reunion is currently in the works. And what a reunion that would be. I know the craziness that happens when PCVs get together in developing countries to do things like go to the gas station to buy a candy bar or attempt to board public transportation. What happens when you add the neon insanity of Sin City? I can’t even begin to imagine. All I know is, I’ll be there.

Yes, I’m still here.

I’d say I can hardly believe it’s been over a month since I last posted, but since I’m a champion procrastinator, why, yes, I surely can.

I’ve meant to update things. Really, I have. Partly I haven’t because I feel like I’m reading or writing all the damn time, whether it’s for work, email and other correspondence, journaling, or otherwise. I’m burned out on writing, truth be told.

Also, it seems like I just have no time whatsoever, lately. The days may be long, but they are whizzing by at lightning speed. I am still working as a contract writer, but I also recently interviewed for an editing position, about which I should hear back sometime this week. Socially, things have also been busy. Something seems to be going on every weekend. Weddings and babies abound. Birthdays and anniversaries, as well. Luckily, I manage to do most of my relaxing with Mr. Dangerous. When we’re not making the rounds on the various museums and ethnic restaurants around town (Mirror of Korea–try it, you’ll like it!), we’re usually lounging around watching TV, which almost always makes for a relaxing time. We did head to Stillwater for a beautiful Fourth of July afternoon before heading to the Taste of Minnesota for an amazing panoramic view of fireworks displays across the entire metro area. I can’t remember the last time I’ve celebrated the Fourth of July in Minnesota (usually I’m in Chicago), so it was really nice to celebrate it at home this year.

I’ve also been spending some time investing in a new wardrobe, since I don’t fit into any of my old clothes anymore. I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve lost so much weight over the past four months that I’m swimming in everything I own. It’s not like I’m really exercising anything other than the buttons on the remote control. It’s not like I’m not eating, either, since I’ve managed to hit up more restaurants in the past few months than I have in the past year. I’d credit it all to a cute little tapeworm I’m hosting named Timmy, but I’ve got a clean bill of health (and the $600 bill to prove it–really, is Peace Corps insurance that hard to figure out, people??). So I suppose I’ll just credit it to my newly developed lactose intolerance (damn you, lactose!), smaller portions, and the occasional pushups and handweights I sometimes entertain myself with (I’d say I was exercising, but the other day a seven year old picked up my weights so he could scoff at how not heavy they were to everyone–and he’s right).

And, of course, I’m gearing up for Harry Potter. I was going to get ambitious and reread all six books before the last one comes out in a few weeks, but then I thought “Why do that?” and spent some time on the MuggleNet site, instead. Take it from me, if you want an entirely unspoiled Book 7 experience, stay far away from Mugglenet and its theories. The editorial writers are simply too smart for their own good, and now all I can think is “How could I have missed the signs? It all makes so much sense now!” I’d rather be broadsided by Rowling herself. The way she ties the little things together always blows me away.

So I guess that’s what I’ve been up to over the past month, more or less, anyway. What else can I tell you of importance? Knocked Up was entertaining. Ocean’s Thirteen was not (save for the few bits with the Mexican factory and Oprah). Trader Joe’s has amazing products, but their banana chips are not one of them. Broder’s Southside Pasta Bar is delicious and inexpensive (homemade pasta for less than ten dollars!), and I can’t understand how I haven’t discovered it before now (find it 50th and Penn, but expect a serious wait, as it’s small and extremely popular). I drove Mr. Dangerous’s car, a stick shift, the other week, back from Broder’s, in fact, and it reminded me of just how fun a manual transmission is to drive. It makes my current automatic transmission seem positively boring. I may have to reinvest in a stick shift in the future, after all.

Am I forgetting anything? Most likely. Oh, well. I’m sure I’ll get to it next time. Whenever that may be….