Fourth time's a charm?

The first time, I wasn't surprised. The second time, I wasn't even home. The third time my toilet overflowed, when I called I asked what they were going to do about this -- three times my toilet had overflowed in a span of two-and-a-half months. Unacceptable. They said they fixed it.

This whole week my toilet has flushed, but it did appear to take a while. Then, last night, it kept running. I called the office and told they yet again my toilet was acting up.

Monday, I will get a new toilet. Monday. This happened last night -- FRIDAY. This means all weekend I am pretty much toilet-less. And for anyone who knows me, I pee often -- probably once an hour. Awesome.

Luckily I won't be home all that much this weekend -- I will be able to pee in other places. But, in the middle of the night, when I wake up to pee... Oy.

A Botched Surprise...

I don't like surprises. I never have. My birthday is in a week and a half. Last year, Molly told me all I needed to know for the morning of my birthday was I needed to wear flip flops. I botched that surprise figuring out she was taking me to get a pedicure. Now, just shy of one year later, I have yet again botched a birthday surprise.

You see, about a week or so ago, Nathan and I started talking about him coming to visit for my birthday. Much to my dismay, it wasn't going to happen. This and that and the other thing just made it impossible. Or so I thought.

This morning at work I sent out the evite for my birthday celebration. A nice little get-together chez moi with drinks and food and just chillin'. 4:00 Sunday. All day people were viewing the evite, responding and the like. I thought nothing of the fact that both Nathan AND Allen had viewed the evite but not responded. The day went on -- a busy one, in fact -- and after work I headed over to the EPC to meet up with Allen, with whom I had dinner plans.

We met in Barnes and Noble and started walking around the mall. We went into the kitchen store (of course!) and Allen got a phone call. I hear Allen say, "Oh, just walking around the mall with my friend Lizzo." On the other end of the phone, I heard the response, "Oh, you're friend Lizzzzoooo?" I knew that voice. That's Nathan! I knew it was him. I know that voice.

All of a sudden Allen puts Nathan on speaker phone and they say they have something to tell me. First I was nervous -- no, I would not let Allen move away like the other boys. Then I was scared -- was everything ok? Then -- then it hit me! I got a huge smile on my face, both fingers crossed, jumping up and down with my eyes closed (yes, Allen will attest to all this) -- NATHAN'S COMING FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

They had it all planned out -- a great way to surprise me -- the whole story planned. And I botched it. I planned my birthday party 30 minutes after Nathan has to be back at the airport Sunday. So I have to move my party -- big deal. NATHAN'S COMING!!

So I botched the surprise -- and that we're going to see Batman at the IMAX -- oops! But it doesn't matter how I found out. It was the best surprise ever and I still can't a) believe Nathan's coming and b) wipe the smile off my face.

So.... I am sorry I botched the plan.

But....

THANK YOU FOR THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!



--

PS. You're both bastards for keeping this from me for TWO FULL WEEKS! :o)

Finally...

It finally happened. Tonight I went to Happy Hour with the fundraiser committee -- it could have been hit-or-miss, but the wine was fantastic and the drinks were complimentary of the Rabbi and President. However, this is all besides the point.

Tonight, the second of two reasons I joined the fundraiser committee paid off. The first: I could help. Two Sundays ago we held a quite successful fundraiser, for which I used my talents and provided a complete scheme that totally fit. Tonight though, the second happened. And surprisingly, it came from Linda.

We were sitting around the table, drink in hand, and she finally did it. She told me about these two "nice young Jewish men" that were single and asked if I was looking. Now, while I new of the brothers to whom she was referring (the Marvey brothers, believe it or not!!), and knew better than to tap that, it was sweet of her to FINALLY bring out what these ladies had been hiding far too long.

So the cat is out of the bag... or cats. Yes, tonight they tried to set me up with the Marvey boys -- I SAID NO THANK YOU, for the record -- but at least Linda had the heart (or balls) to try me.

Thank you, Linda, for standing up to my second goal on the fundraiser committee. Unfortunately, I'll say No, Thank You, and wait for round two...

One of the Board

It was almost like that episode of Sex and the City when Charlotte starts going to all the synagogue Sisterhood meetings. She was welcomed with open arms, all the old Jewish ladies trying to set her up with their nice Jewish sons... getting her involved in everything they could.

Though no one has offered me their nice Jewish son (I can still hope, right?!), they were all there to welcome me... so excited I was about to sign my life away to the shul... so thrilled to have someone who has the potential to be half their age... someone who for the last three or four months has dedicated her time to a shul fundrasier, stepping in and undertaking more than expected... someone young and fun and "new" (though I have been a member two full years and a shul-goer for three) was going to have a say in things... or at least bring a new opinion and a fresh look at the synagogue and its future.

Tonight, I was officially nominated and sworn in as a member of the Beth Jacob Board of Trustees. Quite an honor and a privilege... especially for an almost-twenty-five year old.

So while I am no Charlotte and there were no Jewish men being bartered, I am happy to join such a welcoming Board. I just hope I can bring to the team what they hope and expect.

Best Office Nerf War Ever!

I'm pretty sure we've pulled of a nerf war similar to this one in my office:


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Every Jew Needs a Bacon Wallet

Enough said.









You can buy it for me here.

"The" Painting

When IKEA opened a couple years ago here in the Twin Cities, Molly and I, still in college, decided we had to check out this place. We strolled through the showroom, eyeing things left and right we just had to have, and then moved on to the marketplace, where you can grab all the things you saw and just had to have.

As we walked through the marketplace, that day three maybe three and half years ago, we were in the decorations section when I saw it: a black and white painting of Times Square. The only color in the entire painting was the yellow cabs. I had to have it. However, my wallet thought better. It was a bit too expensive for the poor college kid in me. Sadly, I left it.

Two weeks later, I decided I had made a bad decision and wanted to go back for it. So I did. Bad news: the black and white with yellow cabs Times Square painting was a Grand Opening special... it was gone. My heart was broken, dreams shattered.

Fast-forward to present. Searching online (read: wasting time at work) I was perusing IKEA.com when low-and-behold, there it was! The black and white with yellow cabs Times Square painting was showing on IKEA.com. My heart started to pound -- this was it -- I could finally top off my NYC-filled apartment with the painting I've regretted not purchasing for so long. It wasn't in stock. Awesome. Let down again.

Two weeks later, I check again. WOO HOO! In stock.

Ladies and gentlemen, behold the new painting above my couch:
(Just don't ask about the debacle of hanging it up...)