Insomnia Sucks

A few months ago I somehow survived on very little sleep. Survived is such a relative word and in that case really only meant that somehow I'm still physically alive. It appears as if the hell of truly heinous insomnia is back. The last couple of weeks I've gotten very little sleep and last night was the worst its been in ages.

Last night:

*11:30 fell asleep on the sofa watching the Unusuals.
*Went to bed.
*Couldn't sleep.
*12:00 got up to get my iPod. That often works.
*12:30 got up to get book. That ALWAYS works--started reading but literally couldn't care less about the book.
*1:00 got up, grabbed laptop, earphones and a movie.
*Watched all of the movie.
*3:00 still awake.
*Sometime around 3:30ish drifted off to a very light sleep. Mostly worrying about getting up in a couple of hours to get my work done in time for my important meeting. Pretty sure that this needs to stop because I can't take another night of it.

**Oh, P.S. the best part was that today I went to work with my face looking like a punching bag, in clothes & shoes that I normally wouldn't wear to work (ie: looking like a slob) and of course on my lunch break I ran into someone I really didn't want to see. Awesome!

10:32 MST = 12:32 EST

Right now I should be in Brooklyn sitting in a chapel, listening to organ music, watching two people I love get married. Instead, I'm in rainy Utah, listening to Concrete Blonde, trying to get motivated enough to get ready for the day. Bummer.

Bread 101

Last night my good friend Kacee taught me how to make bread using the Bosch. I will happily admit that I was stressed about it especially since the "fruits of my labor"= dinner for all of us but also because making bread sounds really hard. I went over to her house and in one hour we completed the following things:

1) Made a batch of dough -- super easy especially with Kacee standing there telling me what to do.
2) Divided the dough into four sections.
3) Flattened one section into pizza dough and put together a peperoni and mushroom pizza.
4) Put pizza in oven to bake.
5) Took the second section of dough and formed it into a loaf and set aside.
6) Rolled out Garlic Cheesy bread and put in oven to bake.
7) Rolled out the fourth section of dough and made *yummy* cinnamon / brown sugar twists.
8) Took pizza and cheese bread out of oven.
9) Ate dinner while the bread and dessert twists baked.

If I had to rate it I would say making bread was super easy. The pizza dough wasn't thin enough so it didn't bake as good as it should of--totally my fault and now I know better. I do feel bad about dinner but the littlest people didn't seem to mind and the other two are too freaking nice to say anything. The cheesy bread and cinnamon twists were AMAZING! This morning I had a slice of MY homemade bread with peanut butter--the perfect breakfast. (Yes, Tina, go ahead and roll your eyes...I still can't believe the peanut butter thing either)

Today at lunch I went to the Bosch store and finally picked up my special cookie paddles and some yeast, bread pans, bread bags and a few other random odds and ends. I kinda want everything in that store--even the things that I have zero idea what they are. Now I just need bread flour and I'm set! I'm going to attempt to make homemade rolls for Linds' shower on Tuesday. Wish me luck!

They finally fixed it! Last weekend after I made fun of them again they FINALLY got the marquee right. It now reads, "Pastry Happy Hour". Yay!

Spelling Bee Champs

UPDATE: My Spelling Bee Champion favorite deli has changed the marquee to read, "Pastary Happy Hour". What? Maybe on "Sats" they have a Pasta Bar for Happy Hour. Although...pretty sure they don't sell pasta there. Hmmm.

Resurrection of Coldplay

Coldplay has been dead to me. Yes, I used to love them and some of their songs still make me smile in a way that very few things can make me smile (God Put a Smile On Your Face still does that to me...Ahhhhhhhhhhhh) but for the most part they have been dead to me for a couple of years. This past Easter weekend not only was Lent over (yay!) but also Coldplay was resurrected for me. I love Viva La Vida and quite frankly cannot stop listening. The album as a whole is brilliant and each song completes the other. I fell asleep listening Saturday night. Sunday while I was baking ALL day I listened and listened and listened. I listened all day on Monday and Tuesday at work but now that I'm back in the cube temporarily (long stoooopid story) I can't listen so I'm actually starting to go through withdrawls. Maybe tonight will be another all night sleeping, listening, enjoying. Love you Chris Martin. Love.

Pastery Night

I'm beginning to think that the people at Kneader's know how to spell and I don't. Nope--that's not it. I don't want to be a witch but honestly, don't you think if you are responsible for the marquee for a restaurant that you would find out how to spell the things you are advertising? A few weeks ago I wrote about their "Yougart Parfait" and now they are hosting "Pastery Night" on "Sats" which by the way...what the hell is "Sats"? I know what "Sat" is...but "Sats"? Hmmm.

Every Girl Needs a Chad

Every girl needs a Chad. Not the kind that led to all the drama in Florida during the 2000 election. No, I mean a friend. Preferably of the male variety. You know the one who is so excited to see you, who always gives you the biggest hug, who brings you unexpected soda and treats and who just when you're feeling the worst about yourself tells you how fantastic you look and actually makes you believe it: case in point yesterday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the parking lot. Yes, every girl needs a Chad. I'm pretty sure "My Chad" fills that role for a lot of girls but I like to pretend that he's all mine! Thank you thank you thank you thank you.

My Friend Eli

My friend has an adorable little boy named Eli. He's 7 years old and often prone to dramatic fits and hilarious comments. I'd like to share the last couple of Eli/Angie moments:

1) He was selling cookie dough for a school fundraiser and asked his mom if she could take it to work. She told him she would and he said, "Oh, I know who will buy some...my friend, Ang".

Yes, I did buy three tubs--I'm all about keeping kids off the street and

who could resist his sweet comment?

2) On Monday morning Eli called his mom at work and was telling her all about his day, etc. She was "listening" and finally he said:

E: Mom!
Mom: thinking she was in trouble for not really listening says, What?
E: Have you talked to Angie today?
Mom: Um...yeah. Why?
E: Oh, well next time you talk to her make sure you tell her I said, hi.

I love that kid! He's so funny.

Elope, anyone?

Those of you who truly know me know how I feel about the wonderfully brilliant concept of Elopement. It seems as if lately it is contagious and I'm 100% in favor of it...here are the latest examples of my friends and their adventures:

1. I literally just got off the phone with my oldest friend in the world who just called to tell me that our other friend just eloped. I'm so happy right now. I can't be more specific because Ms. Eloped hasn't told her mother yet and even though I'm 99% sure no one would find out about it on my blog there is that 1% chance that I'd be the 'big fat idiot' that blew it for her.

Congrats, you-know-who, you've restored a little bit of my faith in humanity and I'm so happy for you and for your new adventure!

2. One hour ago I received an "E-mail invitation" to a friend's wedding in NYC. I wish so much that I could go but they are getting married next week. I'm not one for regrets so I do not in any way regret buying my new toy but interesting how that money could have been used to see Marisa and Jon get married. Agh--I want to go! I was there for the whole sweet courtship. Jon coming to get his check each week and waiting until Marisa got off so that he could walk her to the train. Them dumping their respective significant others and moving in together. Hanging out at random bars and clubs to see Jon and his band play. Good times. Great memories. I love them and wish them the best future ever.

3. On Monday a few of us were reminiscing about Anna and her upcoming anniversary. This time last year she came to work on a Monday and said, "Um...I think I'm going to leave early on Wednesday and get married..." I knew at that moment that Anna and I would be friends and that I TOTALLY liked her.

Love you all!

Virgin Voyage

Tonight I christened my new mixer (Betty Bosch) by making my favorite cookies and must say that it was without a doubt the best baking experience I've ever had. I really regret not taking Lindsay's advice and breaking a bottle of champagne over the Bosch but I'll just have to spill some diet coke on it and call it good.

Note: Bosch kicks Kitchen Aid to the curb. I love my new toy!

Love!

Thanks again, Easter Bunny!

I Have a Confession...

My name is Angie and I'm addicted to:

Justin Furstenfeld
Jeremy Furstenfeld
Ryan Delahoussaye
CB Hudson
Matt Noveskey

I can't get enough. I can't stop listening. I can't. I can't. I can't. I love love love their new album: Approaching Normal. Possibly because it is brilliant and actually kind of hopeful for them (who knew) and also because I'm occasionally approaching normal so it's nice to have that in common with someone. I've been in love with Blue October for about 2-3 years but right now I'm totally blown away with my love for them. In particular I really love Jump Rope, Kangaroo Cry, My Never, Picking up the Pieces, Say It, Been Down, Blue Skies, Blue Does and Should be Loved. Shiz...I love the whole thing. I also really LOVE that Adilynn begged Kacee to let her put Jump Rope on her iPod. Yay!

P.S. How many bloody times can I say "Love" in one post? Apparently a lot.

Biking Queen

No, that shouldn't say Baking Queen, although I believe I've been called that. Tonight after my huge purchase I changed out of my work clothes and took my bike out for a real spin. Yippee, hallelujah, I rode all over my lovely neighborhood and didn't fall off. Not entirely sure if I'm going to be able to walk tomorrow (kidding kind of) -- that last hill was a little much but it was so much fun. It was great to turn my music up super loud and block out everything around me. Okay, I probably shouldn't "block out everything" given my proclivity to fall off the bike but it was a great ride and I'm so glad I bought it. The real test will be if I take the bike out tomorrow night.

Golden Egg

Every year at work they have a super cool "Easter Egg Hunt" (okay...no hunting--although at my work that would not be a surprise given the obsession with killing things) where we all pick an egg and they contain special prizes. Usually I get the $5 egg which is great because it is lunch money and free and super fun. I love seeing who gets the "money eggs"--the ones with the $50 or $100. I especially like it when it is someone I like. This year we did the Hunt early because our Idaho office peeps were in town for Staff Meeting. I picked a "yellow egg" and when I opened it...well...let's just say that it wasn't the $5 egg. In retrospect I would have really enjoyed watching my boss' face because he LOVES this kind of stuff. He really enjoys seeing how excited everyone gets and he's so sweet about it but today I was a little bit overwhelmed counting the contents of my egg. I'm sure the look on MY face was priceless as I unfolded the first four bills and realized I was holding $400. My friends who were sitting next to me were so excited for me and then I realized there was actually another $100 hiding inside the egg. Yes, I won $500 today!!!! I never win anything and I'm actually still kind of in shock about the whole thing.

So, the big question all day, "Ang, what you going to do with all your money?" I've been broke for months and so in a way it would have been nice to hang on to it for a bit but let's be honest...I know me. I know that if I hadn't bought something nice that I'd piddle the money away and have a couple dumb things to show for it. Instead, I did something I still can't believe. You all know how badly I've wanted a Kitchen Aid mixer for months and months and months but I've recently discovered something A LOT better...Bosch. The mixing base is on the bottom and it does everything the Kitchen Aid does and more. Also, Kacee has the best bread recipe in the world...which of course she will give to me. I had Anna and Kacee talk me into it and then I went straight from work to the Bosch store and bought it! I'm so excited!! I was going to christen it tonight by making my famous cookies but I was out of choc chips and didn't have any un-thawed butter so tomorrow night will be Project Cookie.