Homecoming

I get my husband back today! Yay! Yay! Yay!

Right now Greg is almost over Maine! And I've been refreshing this site like mad since I woke up this morning.


***Update at about 2:10 p.m.***

Just got a call from Greg as soon as his plane landed & was taxing down the runway in Houston. Yay! One more short flight & he'll be here! Before that though, immigration... He's a bit worried because his temporary green card technically expires in about 3 weeks. But he has some official paper thing that says it's being extended, which we were told should give him the all-clear. Being a foreigner and all, he also gets the added bonus of being photographed and fingerprinted. Good times!

::counting down the minutes::

Co-dependency Backlash: Days 4 & 5

Just a quicky to let you know that Greg was a very good boy. I got a call from him on Skype at about 10 p.m. (3 a.m. UK time) a few days ago so he did not miss our daily call after all. Of course, he was absolutely hammered, but that just made the conversation all the more entertaining. His friend Stuart was passed out on the couch & snoring, while Greg was busy waking the whole house with his high volume dialogue with me.

Poor guy. When I spoke to him the next morning, he was much worse for the wear. But I guess that's the price you pay for a boys' night out, right. :)


On the film front, I saw a few on Saturday and FIVE on Sunday. The best so far has been a documentary called Motherland. It follows the story of 6 women who have all had their lives absolutely devastated by the loss of a son or daughter (or brother in one case). They come together and travel to Africa to do a little healing while they volunteer with children in need, many of whom have lost at least one loved one to AIDS. As it shows their journey in Africa, time is spent telling each woman's story.

Before the movie started, I got to chatting with the girl sitting beside me. Turns out she was also pregnant (3 months actually)! We must have had the same masochistic urge to see this film because how else would you describe it? We're both having our first babies with all these pregnancy hormones pumping through our bodies, and yet we made the conscious decision to come see a movie about women how have lost their children. That is insane!

But I'm so glad I did. It was a touching, powerful, heartbreaking movie that I think will stay with me for a long time to come. Fortunately, the filmmakers had provided little packets of tissue paper all over the theater, or else I would have been in big trouble. I was fighting back tears literally within the first minute! And it wasn't just me. I can say with almost absolute certainty that there was not a dry eye in the whole house.

After the film 3 of the moms came to the stage to answer questions, and I have to say that I was deeply touched by their honesty, compassion and strength. (Gawd, I'm completely tearing up just thinking about it.) I'm also amazed that from such a deep pit of sorrow can come such an uplifting message. Again, I highly recommend you catch this film. It would also make an amazing gift for anyone who has lost someone dear in their lives.

Ok, I won't go into the others in nearly as much detail. So much for my quicky post, right. Sin Nombre (heavy movie about Mexican gangs and immigration), American Violet (based on a true story about racism and abuse of the system set right here in TX - so proud...), and True Adolescents (a coming-of-age dramedy) were also very good. If you are not easily offended and like quirky comedy, you might want to check out Women in Trouble. This one's definitely not for everyone. My friend Dilek left early, but I thought it was just amusing enough to want to see the end. Plus, it's chock-full of minor celebrities - you probably know their faces but not their names. Many, many of them were there for the premiere & you could tell they all had tons of fun making this movie.
If you like sci-fi stuff, Moon was good.

The director and Sam Rockwell were on stage after the film to talk all about it. Just found this out, but the director Duncan Jones is actually David Bowie's son!

I saw 2 other films over the week-end that were just not good, but I don't really want to announce their titles because I realize a lot of people worked long & hard to get them made. Someone out there liked these films. It just definitely wasn't me.

So after a day of slacking yesterday, I'm back to the grind of writing. Ugh. Painful! Movies are so much more fun...



Babe,

I'm missing you more & more every day! (And, yes, I'm getting work done!)

Love you,
moi
xxxx

Co-dependency Backlash: Day 3

It is so quiet around here without Greg. I'm working on the writing right now so there's no music, no TV, the cats are in comas somewhere, no neurotic husband finding endless problems that need to be fixed right-this-second-if-not-sooner. It's just the tap-tap-tapping of my computer keys and the birdies singing outside. Eerily weird. What the heck did I do with myself before Greg? I don't even remember.

The weirdest thing of all is settling into bed all by myself. I miss the snuggles and goodnight kisses.

Haven't spoken to Greg yet today. I think he was planning on seeing a Watford game, his local soccer football team, with his friend Stuart today. Then I'm sure the plans involved a trip to the Spanish Arch, his local pub. All I asked was that he not get stumbling drunk. The Arch is just a few minute's walk from his mum's house, but a lot of trouble can be hatched in a few minutes. Damn English hooligans. :)


So yesterday kicked off the start of the annual SXSW film festival. I met up with a few girlfriends, Dilek & Isil the Turks, for a couple films. The first was I Love You, Man, which is coming out soon.


A few of the stars were there to talk about the movie after it showed, including:

the highly adorable Paul Rudd

the very tall Jason Segel

Rashida Jones

Jon Favreau

and (Greg is going to be really jealous of this one) the adorable Jaime Pressly


Greg loves her white trash character on My Name Is Earl.

The movie played to an almost full house at the Paramount. It was cute in that awkward, geeky-guy-learns-to-loosen-up kind of way. The main problem I have with this movie: featured prominently is the band Rush. The boys play Rush songs on guitar and base. They sing Rush. They even go to a Rush concert. They are obsessed with Rush!

I hate Rush. Geddy Lee's voice makes me want to scratch my eyes out. Anytime Rush comes on the radio, Greg knows the channel must be changed immediately or there will be hell to pay. Needless to say, those scenes were especially painful for me. Other than that, cute.

Next we saw The Snake, a movie about a morally bankrupt guy who joins a support group so get close to this bulimic girl he fancies. Just a guess, but this one probably won't be coming out in theaters anytime soon. Both movies were entertaining, but what I really love about this festival is all the documentaries and off-beat films that show so I'm really looking forward to those in particular.

In a short while I'm off to catch a few more flicks with the girls. And I guess I won't be hearing from Greg today. ::sniffle, sniffle::


I know you're having a great time, babe. However, I really should get a call tomorrow morning or someone is in BIG TROUBLE, MISTER!

All my love,
Your lovely, patient & oh-so-cool wife
xxxxx

Co-dependency Backlash: Day 2

Confession: I stayed up until 1:30 a.m. last night, tracking Greg's plane progress to Newark and then across the Atlantic just to make sure that he made it to England in one piece. As soon as I saw that his plane had landed and was taxiing down the runway, I collapsed into bed and a deep coma.

At some point in the early hours of the morning I woke again, realizing that 1) my husband wasn't there (where the HELL was he?!?), 2) oh, yeah, he's in England, and 3) even though I had the whole expanse of the bed to sprawl across with my large body, I had kept myself confined to my tiny corner (tiny because Greg is a bed hog who likes to toss & turn all night just to keep me on my toes). At this last realization, I made a conscious effort to roll over, take my left leg and stretch it all the way over to the far corner of the bed. Liberating is the word I'd use to describe that particular sensation. The ENTIRE bed just for MEEEEE. Mwahahahaha!

Then I got sad again.

Anyway, I must have fallen asleep again because the next thing I know this incredibly loud sound seemed to be coming from everywhere all at once, and I was so confused. It took me a minute to realize it was my phone. Greg was calling from his mum's house. Ahhhh... :) He wanted make sure I knew he was just fine, and we've now seen and talked to each other twice today. (Thank you, skype.)

I still miss him like mad, but this technology thing is wonderful stuff. It really does make the world seem a little smaller and this long trip of his that much more bearable.


Miss you, babe! Hope you're having fun, but maybe 3 beers when you're exhausted and jet-lagged isn't the best of ideas, huh. :)

Big smooches,
moi
xxxxxx

Abandonment

Today is a sad, sad day at the K household. :(

Right now Greg is somewhere high over the Atlantic, on his way to London for a TWELVE DAY trip.

Without me.

He's off to celebrate the wedding of Dan (his old roommate) and Tricia (my old roommate). And to spend some QT with his aunt & mum, who's starting her last round of chemotherapy before what we hope will be a long break. I, on the other hand, get to stay home and work on my stupid dissertation so I can get this stupid PhD. There's that. And there's also the the fact that traveling with my ever-expanding body is neither practical nor comfortable at the moment.

Oh, have I mentioned that Greg has left me? For TWELVE DAYS? This may seem so lame to many of you, but in our entire 6.5-year relationship we've only ever been apart for 3 days. We take this whole co-dependency thing very seriously around here.

Not only am I lonely and will miss torturing him on a daily basis, but I also have practical concerns. Who's going to cook me vegetables? Or make sure I take my prenatal vitamins? Or help pull my whale of a carcass off the couch every night? Or drive me insane obsessing over every. little. thing. we haven't finished yet? Ah, I miss him already. :(

Be safe, babe! I love you sooooooo much!

Many, many smooches,
moi
xxxx

Confession

I have an unhealthy relationship with George.

Shhh, don't tell Greg...

Tease

Just got this email from the Chairman's office that was sent out to all the grad students in my department:

date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:27 PM
subject: Free (Good) Coffee! Hooray!

Hello All~

We have some delicious hot Starbucks in our office up for grabs, complete with sugar and cream. Help yourselves.


And then this:

date: Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 3:44 PM
subject: Coffee is Gone!

Unless someone wants a big cup of cream.


I appreciate that they're willing to share, but I'm starting to think this is some kind of fun game for them. Kinda like teasing animals at the zoo. Throw out promises of free food to grad students and see how fast they desperately come running to collect on the goods. Maybe we're part of some sociology experiment. So far the only parameters being tested - as far as I can tell - is the bait. They've tried it with doughnuts, cookies, sandwiches, and now coffee.

FYI, so far doughnuts have the fastest clearance kinetics.

Every Time I Think I'm Out...

...they pull me back in!

Twelve Step Program

Hello. My name is Larisa. I am a shoe addict.

And DSW is my enabler.

Yesterday was the start of their week-end 50%-off sandals sale. I went in, not because I needed more shoes, but because this is my happy place and everyone could use more trips to their happy place, am I right?

I walked in and quickly found these babies:


Okay, this is forgivable. Not only can I wear flip-flops almost every day this summer, but they were only $11. And I can replace a cruddy, old brown pair with these. Win-win! Go me!

I was almost out the door after this find. All rows had been thoroughly scoured. I was ready to hand over my 11 dollars and escape with very little damage. But... then I checked the clearance rack and found these!:


Okay, no, I do not wear high heels every day. No, I do not necessarily need these. But come on! How beautiful are they?! And they make my tootsies look all delicate and cute, no small feat for my size 10 canoes! Plus, I can kinda justify them for an up-coming wedding. Yeah, there we go! Just the excuse I needed - the wedding... :)

(Greg, don't kill me. They're hot and you know it!)



So usually - you might not believe me but it's true - I don't have to spend a single penny at DSW to have a worthwhile experience. They have some pretty amazing shoes, the entertainment value of which are priceless.

Take these, for example:


If you were ever in a street fight and had to defend yourself, the heel could, of course, serve as a good self-defense tool. But you could also wrap those straps around your fist for ready-made brass knuckles.
I actually really like these, by the way... But I'm a total sucker for red shoes. (See, Greg. Restraint.)


These remind me of Michael Jackson:


You can't tell from this picture, but the sides are totally sparkly and glitterized - not unlike:



What is going on with the sneaker-come-wedges?:


Why, Steve, why?!


Or worse, the sneaker/high-heel platform hybrid:


Unless these are part of some disco-dancing costume, no! Just. No!



I'm sorry, but shame on the person who dropped $148 on these rainbow flats just because they were Coach:


It may be time to step back and seriously re-evaluate your label relationships.


But the worst were these:

Chartreuse flats with a shoelace-type pom-pom on top! Ew! (also available in white)


If you own these shoes, I'm pretty sure you and I - well, we couldn't be friends. I'm just saying...

To Further Elaborate on the Post Below...

Z Tejas drinks last night:

• watermelon margarita = fabulous
• apple margarita = nothing to write home about
• fusion margarita = flavor-distinction mechanism inebriated; unqualified to pass judgment
  

Sips from other drinks:

• mango margarita = highly enjoyable
• peach margarita = wait, did I taste-test that one?
  

Random hypothesis of the day:

• Grad school leads to low-grade alcoholism. Further research suggested.

Frou-Frou Coffee Fans

My lab-mate Jimmy and I share a deeply religious love of two things in this world:

1. Travel
and
2. Pretentious, wholly unnecessary yet drool-inducing, yuppie-puppie gadgets with which to further clutter our kitchens

The other day Jimmy stumbled upon a new appliance that had us both wide-eyed and excited. Behold, the Bialleti Mukka glass cappuccino maker from William-Sonoma.


Its a stove-top espresso/latte/cappucino maker. People who love frou-frou coffee will love this little toy. With the glass dome, it has the added appeal of hypnotizing us with its engineering brilliance - you can watch as your drug of choice percolates up and froths the milk. Not convinced? Take a look at the website. There's even a video! Then tell me you're not at least a teensy bit tempted.

I do actually own a regular, boring old Mukka. But who wants that when you could have one that makes your espresso and froths your milk too!

If its space that's the problem, this is clearly the wiser choice. One super-deluxe Mukka, minus one old boring one, minus a milk frother (yes, I own one of those too) equals twice as much kitchen space!

Now. How to convince my husband that this purchase of $99.95 + tax could actually be an economical one...

The Down-side of Mutual Co-Dependece:

desparately missing him already, having just dropped him off an hour ago.

He's probably still sitting on that plane at the Austin airport and hasn't even left the runway yet. But he will soon and then I have to contend with 3 nights of pillow-hugging, instead of Greg-hugging. Yes, its totally lame and pathetic and sappy, but I can't help myself. Since marrying almost 2 years ago, we haven't spent a single night apart. In the 5 years we've been attached at the hip, we've only been separated once before when I had to go up to NIH in Bethesda, Maryland for training. Needless to say, I'm ridiculously sentimental and pining at this point. I think he is too, but of course, to a much lesser degree. Besides his consolation is that later tonight he'll be hanging out on the beach with his boys. In South Beach, Florida. During spring break. Let me say that again. During. Spring. Break. Why did I agree to this again?

But he's a good guy and deserves a nice boys-only vacation. Its been almost a year since we were in Grand Cayman with Ray and Emma. He hasn't seen Stuart since our wedding. The last time he spent any time with James was 8 years ago! And they'll have to live it up to compensate for another inevitable long drought of no boy-time. I'm just not going to think about all the fake, perky boobies and beach bunny bodies he'll be surrounded with down there. Nope, not going to think about. Not one little bit...

God, I miss that guy...

A Resounding Ehhh...

Starbuck's grande non-fat honey latte = so not worth my $3.95 + tax

My first SB coffee all month. What a waste.

Mmmmm, Coffee...

Grande non-fat peppermint white chocolate mocha...


Pretentious? Definitely.

Delicious? Whoa, mama!

Starbucks Is My Crack

A few months ago a new Starbucks opened on campus. I pass by it every day walking to and from my bus stop. It has quaint, little umbrella-ed tables out front, perfect for people-watching as you sip your coffee and reflect on your fellow man, studies, or the finer aspects of this life - whichever appeals to you most at a given moment. Inside boasts an intimately lit ambience quietly pulsing with hip music and caffeine-induced focus and creativity. And the smell. Oh, the smell! It seeks me out like reptillian cartoon vapors winding their way through the air to my eager nostrils, filling me with longing and chipping away at my resolve. I will not buy over-priced psychoactive stimulants from multinational corporations. I will not!

Most days I resist temptation and press doggedly on. But on rare days when my resolve isn't as strong as it should be, I make it all the way to lab only to realize that I absolutely need my fix. I fight it briefly and with little heart until eventually I realize the futility of the struggle and give in. Who am I kidding? I accept my limitations. I take that long walk of shame back to the shop, stand in line with the 20-or-so other addicts, and order another hit.

I can't help but feel a bit ridiculous and pretentious as I look my dealer in the eye and order a grande sugar-free, fat-free caramel macchiato or the equally addictive venti mocha frappaccuni light. A drink requiring more than two descriptive adjectives seems overly fussy and decadent to me, a little like wearing a slinky, sequined cocktail dress to a party where everyone else is in jeans and t-shirts. Its complete overkill. And its also slightly embarassing.

In my rational mind, I know I can get the same fix from the perfectly free coffee brewed right there in my office. And yet, it just does not hold the same appeal. Why must I love my $4-a-cup coffee so? WHY?

Shoe Whore

So my self-imposed shoe-buying moratorium. It lasted all of... um.... ...well, nevermind.

But come on! 80% off at DSW! How do you expect me to pass that up? A person can only be so strong! So, babe, if you're reading this...

...the devil made me do it.

Honest!



***UPDATE***

Greg won poker Thursday night! So he got home last night - I had been home for hours because I lost early - and informed me that his winnings financed my new shoes. What a good husband. :)