License to Grill

I have never used a grill before in my entire life. Unless you count my tiny George Forman, leftover from the college era. I have never wanted one. Rob is completely against the idea of owning one. So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself coveting this beauty from Crate and Barrel.



It's so pretty! I'm sure I'd use it once, consider it a hassle, and it'd turn into a dust collector like our Target sandwich maker. But come on. It's green. It coincidentally matches the pillows I bought for our new bench. Wouldn't it look perfect on our newly decorated patio?

I know it's not much yet, but this is how I spent my Friday. I've even been out there watering the plants everyday, in hopes that I won't destroy them with my poisonous touch. I'd love to get some more cute accessories for out there, but the wind off the river can be so darn fierce. If it can blow a full garbage can three blocks away, I can imagine what it would do with a candle lantern. Maybe if I can manage to keep these plants alive for a week or two, I'll trust myself to buy some more.

My New Favorite Person

The cashier at Friendly's is my new favorite person. I went in there and ordered two double thick chocolate milkshakes, paid, and had a seat on the bench in the waiting area.

(After two minutes.)

Friendly's Guy: Hey, you're the girl from that season of Top Model, right??
Me: Ummm, no, but thank you!
FG: Really?
Me: Really.
FG: Aww, I told her (motioning to other waitress) that you were!
Me: Actually, someone else made that same comment a while ago, but I've seen every season of Top Model, and I can't figure out which girl I look like!
FG: Every time you come in I think, "Wow, she's so pretty, she must be that Top Model girl."
Me: Really?? Wow, you just made my month!! Thank you! Are you just saying that so I'll keep coming back?
FG: Nah, I don't need to do that. You're already in here a lot.

Alright. Now I know I'm okay-looking. I've grown out of my teenage "I hate everything about myself" phase. And with some good cosmetics, I can pass for cute. But this dude thinks I'm a Top Model girl! That is one of the most flattering things I've ever heard, and I'm going to reread this blog post every time I'm having a fugly day.

Thank you Friendly's Guy! I think I love you!

Jam Packed

Holy moly. It has been quite a few weeks. Aside from being the absolute busiest season at work (where stress has brought me to tears at the office twice in a week), it coincidentally happened to be one of my busiest seasons socially due to the Philadelphia Film Festival. I figured I'd give you the abridged review of my last two weeks.

Thursday, March 26
(500) Days of Summer - Absolutely loved it! Quirky, creative, funny, sweet. Go see it!

Friday, March 27
Art & Copy - documentary about the advertising industry; enjoyed it, kind of neat hearing about how some of the biggest ad campaigns came about
Eldorado - bizarre film from Belgium; kind of felt like a long short film, slow, quiet, strange; but there was a lot of humor to be found in simple things, like the way the characters looked at each other

Saturday, March 28
Love, Soccer, and Other Catastrophes - I really liked this one; funny Italian film about a club soccer team and their relationships

Sunday, March 29
It's Not Me, I Swear - one of my favorites of the festival; dark comedy about a dysfunctional (and seriously evil!) little boy

Monday, March 30
Goodbye Solo - another one of my favorites; beautiful (yet heart-wrenching) film about an unexpected relationship

Tuesday, March 31
Kisses - Irish film about two young neighbors with dysfunctional families who try to escape their lives; pretty good

Thursday, April 2
Heart of Stone - emotional documentary about a Newark NJ high school principal; the only movie where I cried my eyes out

Friday, April 3
The King of Ping Pong - big disappointment; looked like it would be a quirky Swedish film, but halfway through I started checking my watch

Saturday, April 4
Children of Invention - film about a single mother who gets caught up in pyramid schemes and how her two young children cope; I enjoyed this one quite a bit
Ray LaMontagne show @ the Tower Theatre - only in Philly could a drunken brawl erupt at a Ray LaMontagne show; he was incredible, and if I could marry a voice, it'd be his

Sunday, April 5
Is Anybody There? - cute little film starring Michael Caine and Bill Milner (from Son of Rambow, my favorite Film Fest pick from last year); not life changing, but cute anyway

Monday, April 6
Lymelife - another dysfunctional family film, starring two Culkins, a Baldwin, and a few other stars; I enjoyed this film; maybe I just think this because there are Culkins in this film, but it has kind of an Igby Goes Down feel

Tuesday, April 7
Ra Ra Riot, Cold War Kids, Death Cab for Cutie show - awesome; Ra Ra Riot only played for about 20 minutes, and I wish they would have played for another hour, I love them; I could take or leave Cold War Kids, not crazy about them; Death Cab rocked the hizouse; in other news, I wanted to punch the people sitting next to me for talking at full volume throughout the whole show

And that's it! I have a free night tonight!! Then tomorrow it's roller skating with Rob's students, parents' house on Friday, Rob's family's place for Easter, yadda yadda yadda. But after that whole two week stint, I feel enriched. :) Now I need a nap. Oh yeah, and my job is driving me bananas.

How are YOU doing???