I'm probably not going to be posting on here much anymore, since I am a lemming and a lot of my friends are posting on blogspot so now I have one of those. Anyway, if anyone reading this cares about following up on my misadventured piteous o'erthrows (or whatever), the other address is http://tuffendale.blogspot.com. I'll probably be back every so often, if only to read about the fabulous life of pretty Angela. :)

Okay, I've actually started that movie I was talking about in the last post. I figure I'll just write whenever I can. It's not a race. If I get a little bit done at a time, I don't have to feel like I'm wasting whatever talent I may have.

My office is moving in the beginning of September and I just saw the layout. I was hoping I wouldn't be separated from the rest of my department, the way all the other admins are, but of course, I'm going to be. I mean, mostly everyone is right behind me with four foot partitions separating us but still. I'm so used to turning around to catch eyes with people when funny things happen. Now I'm going to have to walk around a wall? Jokes don't last that long.

I still haven't see The Dark Knight because I was sick when everyone else went. I feel like some strange human being that people are going to study in the future. Like my picture will be on a chart: "This woman did not see The Dark Knight on its opening weekend. The species is rare but it did exist." I'll probably go next week after work. I have to see it in the theater; if it was any other movie, I'd just give up on it and wait for Pay Per View... which I just realized is not really used anymore, it's Movies on Demand now, isn't it? Sometimes I miss the 90s.

I made it to the quarter finals of a screenplay contest once. I don't know how many people actually entered but making it to the next level of anything like that made me ridiculously happy. Some stranger somewhere read my screenplay and put it in the "good" pile. Of course, now when I think about that movie, and how much I wanted to film it (pretty much because it's among two or three things I've finished in my life), I think it has a meandering plot and characters that serve no purpose. This is probably because I write as I go along. So I had no concrete ending planned, although I am happy with the ending I came to. It's the middle I'm not so crazy about.

I have an idea for another movie that I think is really good, something that's never been done to my knowledge. But I cannot get it off the ground. My parents bought me Final Draft screenwriting software for Christmas and here it is July 9th and I haven't written one screenplay. Not that I should have been pumping them out left and right but still... I have so much going on with the band and work and friends that, whenever I'm home with time to write, I'd rather spend the time watching TV and falling asleep on my couch. Seriously. I used to write so much when I was a receptionist and staring at a blank computer screen all day but now I actually have to work at work.

If I could write this movie, I'd be really happy with myself. I generally am happy with myself in most respects but the writing thing... I seem to have devloped a serious goddamn block.

...Fenix Down has been playing a lot recently. We are very close to having a real manager. Our video is on DirecTV now and will be on Fuse TV next month. We have three radio interviews coming up at the end of May. Ryan is tight on the drums and I am getting used to my little keyboard/synthesizer. I am very excited about the direction in which we are heading (even though I don't think Tony believes me since I don't jump up and down every time something may happen. I'm trying to save it all for when something actually does).

...Joba Chamberlain lost his first game at Yankee Stadium when Nancy and I were there to see it. Then, Nancy lost her wallet. She should be getting that back today but I don't think Joba will have another chance at the Indians. So one out of two ain't bad.

...My boss sent an email out to my entire department yesterday saying I am awesome and a rock star (not because I am a rock star, just because I do my work well) and I have no idea what I did to deserve it.

...I got "My Name is Earl" to start taping on the DVR again. (This is a huge accomplishment... trust me.)

...We got a new back door on the apartment. We will no longer come home from work to find the back door swinging open and have to play the game, "Was it the wind or a murderer?" I have a feeling, if it had been the second option, we'd probably only have played that game once.

...Patch passed away at the ripe old age of 15. I realize that is really old for a dog and I wasn't as sad as I thought I'd be, even though it is still weird to go home and not have to worry about leaving food on the table. I imagine Papa is taking him for walks right now.

So that's all I can think of. Vinny and Emily are getting married tomorrow, then Gerard's Communion, show at Kenny's Castaways and Mother's Day. Then, it's Monday again. Already. At least Memorial Day is coming. And summer and the beach. That's something to look forward to.

I am back at my old stomping grounds for a while today. The 9th floor receptionist called in sick and they needed me to cover for the morning. I'm sure not being present at my desk for one more morning is going to be brilliant in helping me when I have to ask my boss to leave early for a wedding next Friday, because I just came back from two weeks of grand jury duty. Although the GJ duty was not exactly my choice. Sigh...

Yankees are undefeated. Huzzah! I fell asleep at my parents' house before the end of the game because I was just totally exhausted... not like that's new. But maybe it was my father's armchair. It's really comfortable.

I am freakin' starving but I don't know if I should order food to this floor because I might have to go back upstairs soon. I can't explain how horrible my problems are.

That's what I'm calling today. I'm eating Wheat Thins for lunch since I'm having book club at the apartment tonight and I know I'll be eating a bunch of crap. This is sound reasoning to me so let me be.

How is Heath Ledger going to go and die just when Batman movies started getting good again? The balls on this guy... rip.

I watched the animated, direct-to-DVD movie of Dragons of Autumn Twilight last night, the first book in the Dragonlance series... yeesh. Whoever's idea it was to combine 80s era 2D animation with 3D computer animation should be drug out into the street and shot. It wasn't like some shots were 3D and some were 2D. It was like a 3D dragon swoops in on a 2D person. It was laughable, and laugh we did. I really wish it could have had some merit, although, as Tony pointed out, the first Lord of the Rings cartoon was pretty awful, too. Then again, LOTR is a classic that can stand on it's own. Dragonlance, although a best seller, does not compare in the slightest. So these poorly animated DVD releases, which somehow got Kiefer Sutherland to star, are probably all I'm ever going to get. Yahoo.

Haven't posted in a while.

SPG party, good. Headache, bad.
Flat tire on the Verrazano Bridge, bad. Four new high-performance tires, good.
Christmas, good.
New Year's, good.
Die Hard movie marathon, good. John Reha having an IMDb page... confusing?

Anyway, that's about all that's happened to me since I was last here. The holidays are over, which is always depressing, but I think it's going to be a good 2008. I bought a new bed set and curtains the other night at Bed, Bath and Beyond, because I am Miss Moneybags. Nancy and I are going to set it all tonight and try to make my room look pretty in a not-very-fancy kind of way. Which is just like me, I guess.

I want to keep up on this. I'll try not to disappear for long.

I am smarter than 95.32% of the rest of the world.
Dumb Test

Just want to make sure you all stay on your toes.

SPG Christmas party tomorrow night. I bought a skirt and top in Ann Taylor today because, of course, the dress I ordered online didn't fit me when it showed up. I swear, that is the last time I will order clothes from a catalog... I hope I remember this the next time I want to order clothes from a catalog.

I'm staying in the city with Cat and a few other girls. I hope I don't get too drunk but just drunk enough to have an awesome time and still be able to keep my eyes open for my cousin's sweet 16 Friday night. It's a very particular type of drunk, you see.

I miss "Heroes" already.

Okay, I haven't written in almost a month. I have been so busy at work that I really haven't had time to muck about online (I'm British now). So... how have you all been?

We played Rock Band last night at the Fenix Down video premiere party. (The video looks sick, by the way.) That game is an amazing amount of fun. I'm so glad I checked the Circuit City by my office before leaving work last night, even though the thing is huge and unwieldy and I had to lug it home on the subway and my arms are burning this morning and I think the pain is making me slightly sick. But it's all in the name of good fun.

I got free breakfast yesterday since the guy who delivered had no change and didn't come back with change until I was out for lunch and then never came back again. I do not count this as stealing. Maybe it's God's way of telling me that my diet is a good idea.

Oh, yeah, I'm on a diet. Again. Last night didn't count because it was a party and I am not going to be one of those people. But I think I ate well yesterday, other than the chips and beer, and I even had a sandwich without cheese. It is possible. Now, I am going to have a bowl of Cheerios and relax before the Tuesday rush.

I went to the eye doctor for the first time in 6 and a half years, since he told me I didn't have to wear glasses anymore. Now, I have 20/20 vision in my left eye and 20/25 in my right so I have to get glasses. However, I only need them for the computer because my right eye is far-sighted, which isn't so bad. I can look all studious at work and all hot at night. My doctor was trying to make me feel better about it I think and he said something like, "You can look like a librarian... if that's a look you like." He's so corny but I love him.

And I got my raise. I worked up the balls to ask about it and I think it's pretty good. Also, when I look at it like this, since leaving Evolution, I have gotten an $11,500 raise. Which sounds a lot better, considering it's only been six months since I left. And there is always room for more.

Vanessa's housewarming tonight, shopping for Thanksgiving/fall decorations and possible radio interview with Fenix Down tomorrow, Tony's recital Sunday. The Fancy Nancy Fall Ball next Friday, Michael and Liz's shower and afterparty next Saturday, video shoot next Sunday, Thanksgiving Thursday after that, Cousins Party Saturday after that... I am SO busy this month but good busy.

I like being me right now.

So my promotion is a certainty now. After a few weeks of people congratulating me around the office for something I wasn't even sure I had yet, I sat down today with the woman who is doing the work for the position until they hire someone (which is going to be me). I have no idea if I'm getting a raise, though I should, so I really should say I have no idea how much the raise will be. Carolyn (the woman) and I sat together for about 45 minutes and she showed me all the paperwork she works with on a weekly basis... it is A LOT of shit. It would probably help if I had any knowledge of how Payroll works at all but of course, I don't, so I'm going to be going into this job completely blind. Carolyn is going to be there to help me for a few weeks at least, but the way she was explaining the job to me, I just feel like it is going to be a horror show. There are so many files all over the place and no one knows what they are. I want to cry already because I know I am going to be so frustrated by the mess. I don't know how people can work like that. I really just hope it's not as bad as I'm picturing it and, once I get the job down, I can start to put it in some sort of order and not want to kill myself. Anyway, I start week after next so... think of me in your prayers, that's all I'm saying.

At least I won't be a receptionist anymore for the first time since Blockbuster Bay Ridge.

In other news, I signed up for NaNoWriMo today, which means I am going to attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in a month. I already wrote 3,054 words today and that was only my first paragraph of summary of the story, so it's going well. I know I am probably not going to have any time to write at work once I start the new position, and maybe not even next week when I'm working with the new girl at the reception desk. It will be nice to have an actual function at my job, other than answering phones, but I am going to miss my peace and quiet. Apparently, it's a madhouse in my new department... seriously, if I was being hired off the street, they would never make the job seem this bad. I know they're just trying to prepare me but I would run for the door if I had an interview like this.

sigh... anyway, here's my NaNoWriMo profile. You can read an excerpt there if you want, or add me if you're doing it, too.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/243544

I haven't posted in about two weeks and my lj was feeling cold so here's an update:

I have one more book left to read in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series and I truly believe these books are real and out to get me. I'm not even 100% kidding. For those who haven't read them, characters in the books travel back and forth through different versions of New York and see signs and coincidences everywhere... and now I am seeing shit all the time, too. Specifically, a building near my office that has been the sight of three random occurrences, one of which included a piece of wood with jagged nails sticking out of it flying across 6th Avenue to almost hit me. Suffice it to say, I am very wary about picking up that last book and actually finishing this thing.

The family is going to visit Papa's grave (drawer?) on Saturday. I can't believe it has been a year since he died. I wonder if the feeling that he's still around is ever going to go away. I mean, hopefully he is still around... but his presence wherever he is didn't help the Yankees in the postseason. I have to wonder what the hell he's doing up there if not concentrating on that.

I put my camera down at my cousin's wedding while intoxicated and left Chicago without it. Thankfully, my aunt retrieved it for me but now it's in Malverne, which, I guess is better than it being in Chicago... but really, I'd almost rather fly back to Chicago to get in than sit in Belt Parkway traffic driving out to Long Island. Am I lazy enough to wait until Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve to get it back? ...I just might be.

Tonight is the Solomon-Page Technology Partners Beer Pong Tournament. I'm very excited and hopefully, won't make too big a fool of myself. I've only played once but I won then and got a ball directly into Perry's pants when he held the waistband out for me, so I definitely have good aim. Of course, Perry won't be there tonight with that little bit of extra incentive but there's always tomorrow night at Tom's house party.

I might drink too much.

If the taxi workers announce when they are going to strike, doesn't that sort of defeat the purpose of a strike? If they just walked out, it would really hurt the city more, rather than giving everyone a chance to prepare for the day and thus not really making much of an impact on their lives. Of course, if they did walk out, unannounced, they would be dicks and it would be harder to get the city to meet their demands. But still... it just kind of seems like they're taking a vacation rather than taking a stand.

I am almost ashamed of myself. I have always prided myself on not watching reality television. Other than "The Joe Schmo Show" (which was just awesome) and "American Idol", which is a contest and not a reality show, per se, I have happily proclaimed that I am one of the few in my age group to not be sucked in by VH1's drivel. Sadly, that has come to an end. And the name of the man who has brought about my downfall: Bret Michaels.

Okay, the season is over this Sunday and it's not as if I've watched more than a few episodes. But last night, I turned to "Rock of Love" after the Yankees destroyed the Orioles 12-0 (Mussina?... are you really back?) and I could not look away. That show is probably the most entertaining thing I've seen on TV in a while. And I love my summer TV shows. But watching this women screaming at each other and one telling the other's dad that his daughter sucked Bret's cock... it's madness how funny it is. My cousin downstairs had blown a fuse and was flipping switches and my TV shut off right at the end. Thankfully, it came back on before I'd missed anything important but, for a moment there, I was really angry. Angry because I didn't know which sad woman Bret Michaels was going to send out of his home, ending her "tour" and which would stay another week to "rock his world." What has happened to me??

The new Discworld book comes out today. That's warm and familiar. I'll cling to that.

Britney... what was that? That was your comeback? Please say no. Just say no, it was all a dream and we can all collectively forget that the VMAs ever had an opening act and just return to blissfully waiting for the moment Britney Spears reemerges as a legitimate pop star.

Look, I like you, Britney... okay, let me rephrase. I still have hope for you. Do you remember the MTV awards when you ripped off that suit and threw that hat to reveal the flesh-colored sparkly costume? Do you remember when you cavorted onstage at the Metropolitan Opera House with a python on your shoulders? I do because I was there. My best friend picked up pieces of your extensions off the carpet. Do you remember, Britney, when you and Christina made out with Madonna while Justin frowned from the audience? And we thought these things were bad. We didn't know what bad was until you drove with a baby on your lap... then shaved off your hair... then attacked a car with an umbrella. That's bad. But there's still a chance for you. You were so fucking popular for a while there that there's still a small window... like a tiny bathroom window... for you to come back. I mean, granted, you'll never be the scantily-clad, is-she-or-isn't-she a virgin that you once were. But you can grow from your mistakes and become an adult who's been through some rough times and learned from them. I mean, look at Paris. I haven't heard or seen anything bad about her since she left prison and glued a Bible into her hand. Maybe that's the route you should be taking.

I can't profess to know all the answers, Britney. But what I do know is that last night's spectacle is not one of them. I do have to congratulate you on how you looked. It's a far cry from how you looked once upon a time in the land where Britney was queen but it's still better than I look and much better than you looked in that really sad interview in the pink top where you just came off like an escapee from Creedmore. So I'll give you that. But still... you didn't have to wear a sparkly bikini. Any number of other, less-revealing costumes would have sufficed. And your hair... sweetie, we all know the hair's not real but at least try to fool us. We also know you weren't singing but moving your mouth just a little wouldn't have killed you. And if you weren't going to sing... try dancing. A man grabbing your boob as he slides past is not dancing. I don't care what the instructor told you.

Brit, you looked like a deer in headlights up there. I know you must have been afraid facing all these people again but its not like it was your first time and they would have respected you more if you'd looked comfortable in your own skin. No matter who the camera cut to, the expression was the same: "...I don't know what this is supposed to be."

I always liked you better than Christina. Clearly, I was wrong but don't make me wrong and a fool. You are better than last night and I am not giving up on you just yet. Go home, eat some Cheetos and regroup. You'll get 'em next time.

Yes, I am back from Florida. I spent most of the weekend, after flying back Saturday morning, in Roxbury sitting on my grandfather's deck and doing nothing. It's nice to relax after getting back from Disney World because, with only seven days to spend there, there is really not much time for relaxing. You have the four Disney Parks, plus the water park, plus a day in Universal Studios. Add the day we arrived there and that's the whole vacation. I'm not saying I didn't have fun. But we were constantly moving. And everything seemed to be breaking down but it all eventually righted itself and we got to do everything we wanted, even Stitch's Great Escape, which I'd never been on before and is about 5% as scary as its predecessor, Alien Encounter. I say 5% because there is still a portion of it in complete darkness, which always freaks me out, even though the only thing threatening me is a small, blue Disney alien.

Mardi Gras is next weekend. I have basically all the costumes I need. Hopefully, the Elizabeth Swann costume I ordered this morning will make it in time. I bought a sword in the Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop and had it shipped to Tony's house so I'm also hoping that makes it by Friday. The costume is actually really nice and comes with pretty much everything I'd need, which is good because we always wait till the last minute to run around getting costumes and we really don't have time this week.

I am also going to be a kick ass Scrooge McDuck. Just you wait. All of you.

I haven't posted in a while.

Anna Banana joined myspace! Yay! Not that I'm even on it all that much anymore but maybe I will be now that Anna is. She really needs to keep up on the Internet phenomena since she lives so damn far away.

Fenix Down is meeting with out new producer/vocal coach tonight. We already know him; this is just a meeting about where we're going in the future and with our new/old single that he is re-producing. Our old producer is now working with Britney Spears, apparently, which says a lot for his sanity. Although, I have been very adamant that her next album is still going to do well if the music is good, no matter how many heads she shaves or cars she beats with umbrellas. Or infants she puts on her lap while she's driving. Yeah, the girl's a peach. Why am I talking about this?

I got tickets to see Seth MacFarlane live on Nov. 11 as part of the NY Comedy Festival. This is also Christie and BJ's year anniversary; I missed Brian Regan last year because I had to be a stupid bridesmaid in their stupid wedding. Stupid.

I'm getting a little incoherent. I think I have Disney Fever. Four days, beatch.

Once upon a time, in a far away kingdom, there lived a group of girls. These girls all played together and everyone in the kingdom rejoiced. Then, one day, some dark and evil magic fell across the kingdom and made the girls not want to play together anymore. They split into two groups, Girl Group A and Girl Group B. Groups A and B began to only play with the other girls in their group and there was much sadness across the kingdom. After a while, one of the girls in Group A decided that the only way to break the evil spell over the kingdom was to have a girl meeting of both groups, where all the girls could air their grievances together. Unfortunately, the girl meeting was scheduled for the day after Jen- one of the only strong warriors who was impervious to the magic and able to spend time in both groups- was up very late recording with her band and didn't get much sleep for work. Jen was very sad...

To Be Continued...