I've been TAGGED!

Yay! More fun games to play!

Katie, a new bloggy friend, over at A Hokie and a Wahoo tagged me in a Q&A game.

Here are the rules:

Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.

Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people.

1) What are you wearing right now? Well,it's noon on a Saturday and I am already awake, out of bed, showered and dressed! This is a big achievement for me on any Saturday, and since I don't go to sleep until like 3:00 a.m. last night I'm quite proud. Yay me!

2) What's the last thing I read/ are currently reading? He's Just Not That Into You. My bestie from college, KJ, made me read it while I was visiting her in AZ on my way back to DC from the campaign trail. As my relationship with Badger was literally held together by a thread. I finished it on the plan to DC, and needless to say, I was trying to claw my way through the plane window and jump somewhere over Oklahoma because I think I realized what I had feared through the campaign: Badger had fallen out of love with me.

3) Do you nap a lot? No, not usually, because I can't just take short naps...my naps turn into mini sleep sessions and I always wake up groggy. Now, if it's the weekend and there is no reason for me to try and keep by sleep cycle in proper working order, there is nothing I love more than an afternoon nap.

4) Who was the last person you hugged? My bestie when she brought me home from the hospital!

5) What's your current obsession/addiction? Umm, other than boys? :) I'm kinda obsessed with Lidia's Italy and Lidia's Family Table, on PBS/WETA. I don't have cable (grumble grumble) but we have 5 PBS stations...so I watch the WETA Create channel nearly all day and night. I'm sure my roommate hates me but whatever - she doesn't want to get DirecTv so this is her punishment. Oh - and Facebook.

6) What was the last thing you said out loud? "Why the hell are you calling me?" to my phone as it was ringing, and the name Roger Williams came up on callid. RW was a boy I "dated" during my internship out here...don't know why the hell I dated him other than that I was sad that LOML was heading off to a Teach for America site and hadn't paid much attention to me after I moved out here (turns out he had a girlfriend, whoops!) and RW was the cutest guy in my program. There were, I think, 5 guys TOTAL in the program, fyi. Ugh. He's in the Air Force and while my internship was 5 YEARS AGO he's decided that he wants to call me to randomly check in lately. He did it once on the campaign when I was driving home from work at 10:00 p.m. (which would have been 1:00 a.m. had I been in DC, where he probably thought I was) and just wanted to say hello and catch up. Clearly I didn't have his phone number anymore, but thought it could be a reporter, so good little worker Bea answered the phone. Ugh. Turns out he's stationed in NorCal and "wanted to meet up and hang out." I said "I'm on a campaign. I work 14 hour days, 7 days a week. I do not "hang out." Sorry." SUCH a biatch but I don't care if I ever talk to this guy again, eew. Sorry...had to share :)

7) What websites do you always visit when you go online? My Blogger dashboard to see who of you lovlies has posted something new for me to peruse, J. Crew, and Facebook.

8) What was the last item you bought? Well the last thing I paid for was my pain meds, but technically my bestie bought them for me. Last thing I personally purchased was groceries that now I can't use because it hurts to bend over and reach into the fridge. And a bottle of Moscato and a 6-pack of Leinies...neither of which I can drink since I can't drink alcohol on the meds. Woe is me.

9) What is your most challenging goal? Getting Mother Bea to be proud of me and to stop nagging me about everything. She's actually getting much better since this post.

10) If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished- anywhere in the world, where would it be? THE BEACH! A beach where it stays warm all year round, there the water is warm and clear. Perhaps on an island. I would be perfectly content living on a beach and owning a beach bar where expats come to tell tales of their political days. That would be heaven.

11) Favorite Vacation spot? Well...I have a confession to make. I've never really *been* on a vacation. I went with my parents when I was a kid (and when I was in college because they refused to admit that I really didn't need to look at colleges up and down California for my little brother...) but I've never had a grown-up vacation anywhere. But - I imagine my favorite vacation spot would be a beach, somewhere warm year round. :)

12) Say something to the person who tagged you: Katie I love that when I read your posts, I can see myself telling the stories out loud. Particularly the post about how you and Ryan met. I think we would be real-life friends, indeed!

13) Name one thing you just can't resist no matter how bad it is for you: Brown haired boys with blue eyes. In particular, a brown-haired, blue-eyed boy named 1T. I melt anytime I see him, even though the results are usually disastrous.

14) You are on the Oregon Trail. How are things going? (OMG who cam up with this question?? HILAR!) Things are going well, thanks! I'm a pretty darned good hunter, so we have plenty of food. My oxen are holding up well, as is my wagon, and it's pleasant outside here in Independence. Jolly good day for a wagon ride, I think!

15) Favorite pair of shoes you keep going back to over and over, even though your closet is over flowing with a zillion others? Ooh, tough. In winter, my Uggs. In summer, my KKG flip flops from freshman year of college (nearly a decade ago.) They have light blue straps with dark blue KKG embroidered on them...and while the light blue ain't really that blue anymore, they are so unbelievably comfortable that I lived in them on the campaign.

16) Name one thing you can not live with out: My laptop. It keeps me connected to everyone and everything.

17) Has a celebrity's haircut ever influence you on your own hairstyle? Certainly - I can admit it. Last year I had an angled bob, aka the Posh. It was longer than hers and not as severe...but it was pretty cute.

18) What is your most embarrassing moment? You mean, other than falling on the ice and causing a rukus? Update on that: I was talking to my friend who lives in the building next to me about what happened...turns out she was driving by and saw all the firetrucks and ambulance taking care of me. HAHA!

19) NEW QUESTION: What brought you to blogland? For me, it was my friend Lulu...I read her blog and thought "that looks like fun, and like she's met a ton of great people. Maybe I should try it!" And just like that, Sweet Bea was born! :)

And who shall be tagged this time around?

Freck

KAG

Kate

ASC

Megan

Liana

Daisy

Oh (Rein) Dear...

Oh sweet friends, I must share with you what I just stumbled onto.

WARNING: Send the kiddies away :)

See, I've been looking for nude high heels for like 2 years now. I'm a size 5...so finding any shoes in my size that I like is a problem...but when I am very specific about what I want it gets even harder.

I basically want these, but they, of course, not available in my size at Zappos and I can't find any others that I like (suggestions welcome):


So I was searching around online for something like these, and I stumbled upon a wonderful gem, www.3wishes.com.

Oh Lordy, what fun did I have!

I want to share some of my, um, favorite finds with all of you! I hope you enjoy... :D

Because I support our troops!


For Lulu, Muffy, and all my other brides-to-be!

For Kate - I do hope you'll wear these tonight at our bloggy meetup!

Ok, ok, enough shoe fun! I moved on to the Clubwear page...because to be honest, I couldn't NOT check out their clubwear after viewing their shoes.

Ok, I'm confused...do you leave the mesh thing at coat check?


Ok, this would be kinda hot if you are are with a military man and wore it with the camo heels... JLC I'm looking at you for this!!!


My Inaugural Ball dress...HA!

YEEHAW! Ride em/me cowboy!
(My favorite part about this outfit is that in the, ahem, rear view, you can see just how long the chaps are!!!)

At this point, I'm about hysterical with these outfits...but I decide to check one just one...more...section...

The Christmas section.

I'm going to admit a fantasy of mine: I've always wanted a boyfriend that I could dress up and sing Santa Baby to. Preferably wearing this:

Santa baby...slip a sable under the tree, for me...been an awful good girl...

And this for the Santa Pub Crawl that BP's girlfriend and I are going to go on next year:

Ho, ho, ho, indeed! But it's got a hoodie...so it will be warm...right?

Hahaha I just couldn't help but share my wonderful finds!! :)

I hope you all enjoyed this installment of "Bea has a head injury and therefore is staying in on a Friday night and playing around on the interwebs!"

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

Giveaway Time!

No, once again, not mine. (Though I'd love to do one if anyone can provide suggestions on how to do them!!)

Mandy over at House of Rose is hosting a giveaway of the LOVELY Nina's monogrammed stationary!

Head on over to her blog (and stay awhile! Check out our her adorable hubby and baby too!) and enter her giveaway NOW!

Here's what you could win:


Mandy will not only send you 20 flat cards, but will ALSO send you the file so you can print refills - how clever, right?? AND you can pick the colors!

For my sweet friends who are, like me, currently between employment opportunities, a handwritten thank you note for an interview will certainly set you apart from the field!!

The thank you note I need to do today for my interview yesterday would look sooooooo nice on some of Nina's fabo stationary!

So...in recap:

1) Head to House of Rose and enter the giveaway
2) Head to Nina's site (and her blog, while you're at it!) and check out some of her other amazing stuff!

YAY!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

Explaining my previous post

Ok - so I got LOTS of questions about my previous posts, so let me explain a little better what happened.

DC had her first snow yesterday (so pretty!) but then the temps warmed up to like 34 degrees, so it started raining, and then the temps dropped below freezing, so the wet roads/sidewalks froze over.

Enter Bea.

So I'm moseying along my street going to the Rayburn House building to meet with an old colleague for coffee and to catch up (and I was planning on begging for a job.)

I cross the street, and in front of a public library, I see a big patch of ice. But, I felt confident in my walking abilities (after all, I've done it nearly my whole life!) and I so I ventured onto the sheet.

Well it was very slick, so I started to make my way towards the fence to hold on to, and WHAM! My feet flew out from under me and fell flat onto my back, whacking my head on the icy brick sidewalk.

I remember being dazed there for a bit, but I pulled myself up by the fence, and a very nice woman who was walking with her son hollered to ask if I was ok. I replied that I wasn't sure, but I thought so, and stood up, in agony.

I walked a few feet further to the bottom of the walkway that goes up to the library, and started to bend over to catch my breath and stop shaking. I was incredibly dizzy at this point, so I wanted to put my head down.

Next thing I remember, I am laying flat on my back again, waking up looking at the sky. According to the woman who saw the whole thing, I had stood back up again, passed out, and fell again, whacking my head yet again on the bricks.

The woman at this point was standing over me asking once again if I was ok, and when I mumbled "yes" she said that I couldn't lay on the ice all day. I replied that laying on the ice sounded like a very good idea. I was clearly not all there at this point.

So, I laid there for a few more minutes and then slowly struggled to sit up (struggling because 1) I fell on my tailbone and it hurt like the dickens, and 2) my abs ain't in good shape and my jiggly tummy got in the way.)

When I sat up, I had a horde of people around me, which was quite embarrassing, but I didn't even notice at the time. The woman asked me if she could call anyone, and I just looked up at her completely blank - I could see my bestie's face but couldn't remember her name at all.

Finally, her name came into my head, and I reached for my phone in my coat pocket and dialed her number, and handed the phone to the woman...I still wasn't really talking in coherent words or sentences.

So I sat there for a while, as both my Samaritan and some of the other bystanders called 911. I begged them not to call 911 because I don't have insurance, but they had already been called.

So, while I sat there and tried to figure out what was actually going on (I was still really, really out of it), the ambulance arrived. And the fire truck. And the police. So embarrassing...

The EMTs came up to me and asked my name, which I stated clearly...and then he asked me what day it was. I replied that it was Tuesday, January 27th. The EMT just kinda stared at me...and then I said, "Maybe it's Wednesday? I'm unemployed so I don't really need to know what day it is! Let's see...I had a meeting at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday and an interview Thursday at 1:00 p.m....so I think it's Wednesday? But it might be the 28th?" Had they actually known me, they wouldn't have thought I had a head contusion...but was just being myself. Sigh...moving on.

The wonderful EMTs started helping me get ready for my ambulance ride by removing my scarf. It should be noted that my scarf is actually a cashmere wrap, which is very, very large. As they were unwrapping me from my wrap, the EMT started teasing me saying "Girl, are you wearing a blanket in there??" which made me laugh. They strapped the neck brace on me (side note: I HATE things around my neck. Totally paranoid about it. But this didn't freak me out...which makes me wonder if it was on right?) and then slid me onto the backboard.

It should be noted at this point that one of the bystanders who had driven up to the scene took pity on my sitting there on the ice, so she gave me a towel to put around my shoulders, and a bright pink scarf, and a bright pink hat. And a SpiderMan boogie board to sit on. I looked ridiculous, but it was really funny.

So, the EMT help me slide onto the backboard...and strapped me in. With athletic tape. Then, they tried to figure out to get me from the sidewalk to the ambulance, seeing as how it was covered in ice and even the EMTs were falling over trying to walk.

Well how do you get a girl taped to a backboard to the ambulance? Slide her along the ice, of course! Looking back on it, I bet it was hilarious to see...but at the time all I could see was a grey sky that was making me wonder if I was seeing anything at all (if that makes any sense.)

When I was lifted into the ambulance (and thank goodness I didn't hear the EMTs straining with the weight of me!) and finally hear my bestie climbing into the side door. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anywho, several hours, cat scans, x-rays, and pain pills later, I was home resting and eating cookie dough right out of the tub. Which is awesome. I heart cookie dough.

So, with a lovely prescription for pain meds and (and I can't believe I am admitting this...do I have no shame?!?!?!) stool softeners, I'm now watching Sex and the City with my roomie and her boyfriend.

OH and LBP left me this funny message on my Facebook: "Wow. You can't go anwhere. You wouldn't last a winter in Wisco. I'm glad you are ok. Next time remember to watch where you walk and don't be in such a hurry." He then called me just to make sure I was actually ok :) SWOON!

As for the dislocated hip - still not sure how I managed that one, but it was dislocated from the Sunday of Inauguration Week through the day after Inauguration. Hurt like hell...was literally dragging my right leg behind me all weekend (and of course, this was the weekend I walked for miles and miles and miles around DC.) But, then on Wednesday night, I was sitting on the couch and I reached over to grab my phone, and it popped back into place. Woke up Thursday morning with absolutely no pain. SO weird.

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

UDATED: This is how you know you have a *best* friend

Not a good friend, not a BFF. But a real, true, honest-to-goodness BEST FRIEND.

When she is going out of town on Friday, worked all night last night, and is crazy busy - but still gave up her entire day to

*Come to your rescue,

*Ride in an ambulance holding your hand and wiping away tears,

*Make sure your ER wristbands aren't too tight,

*Help you out of your wet jeans,

*Remind you that you haven't eaten before you take pain meds so you don't get sick from them (not because she knows, but just because she knows you so well,)

*Feed you crackers,

*Help you prepare for an important interview you have tomorrow, while keeping your mind off the pain

*Demand more pain medicine because you're still hurting,

*Yell at your doctors for not moving fast enough,

*Walk a block to hail a cab while you wait inside where it's not cold and rainy,

*Take your prescriptions to the pharmacy,

*UPDATED: Volunteer to get the very embarrassing medicine over-the-counter instead of through the discreet pharmacy because it will be cheaper for you,

*Bring them back to you,

*Go over carefully with your roommate your meds and care instructions, and tell you there is nowhere else she needed to be (even though you know she's lying through her teeth.)

Yup, mine did that this morning after I fell on a sheet of ice and hit my tailbone and head (twice! Because I didn't learn the first time apparently!! SHEESH!) and she would do it again tomorrow if I fell again.

I'm the luckiest girl in the world! :)

SO - if you have a bestie as awesome as mine, give her/him a call and thank them just for being themselves. And then thank the good Lord that she/he is in your life.

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

An open note to men everywhere

Dear Men,

We hope you are well.

I would like to share with you all a story of one man and one woman. This is a story about my good friend TDubs.

See, TDubs is new to dating, as she married her high school sweetheart and is just recently divorced.

TDubs had a friend in town, so she rallied up the ladies to join her at a lovely country bar in Alexandria, VA.

We were all having a great time, karaoking, dancing, and generally enjoying our time together.

Enter BollingBoy.

BollingBoy is a very cute 24-year old Air Force boy stationed at Bolling AFB in DC. BollingBoy and TDubs hit is off, and by the end of the night, had exchanged phone numbers.

TDubs was thrilled and very proud of herself for putting herself back onto the market.

The next night, TDubs rallied the ladies again to join her for more karaoke, at our usual hangout.

BollingBoy and TDubs had texted all day and he was going to try and come out to karaoke to see her. And lo and behold! He showed up about an hour before bar time.

They had a great time and made plans to go out the next Wednesday (tomorrow.)

This is where, dear men, you really need to pay more attention to what you do and say. Honestly - take your head out of your arse and your hands out of your pants and please read this part carefully.

Today, BollingBoy decided he wanted to be online friends too and MySpaced TDubs. She accepted, and as is perfectly natural, started looking through his profile.

What she found however, was less than acceptable.

BollingBoy wasn't 24 like he claimed. He is 21.

BollingBoy has between 2-3 kids (now, I'm not sure why the discrepancy...perhaps a paternity issue with kid 3??)

And worst of all - BOLLINGBOY IS MARRIED. divorced (so he says. MySpace still says married, and I'm inclined to believe MySpace since we already know he lied and he kept his status as married for a reason...)

Sigh...

Men - please heed this advice, for your sake and for ours (and, for the record, we can't believe we have to write you this note - it should be so simple. But, you have proven time and time again that you are not smart enough to play the tape through to the end, and therefore we must step in:

Please, if you are going to want to move things with us into cyberspace, make sure your profile is updated, accurate, and reflects what you have told us on our previous encounters.

Oh yea - and don't be married. Idiots.

Sincerely,

Women

Sorry for the delay, ya'll!

Hi friends,

Sorry I've been slacking in the whole blogging department...it's been a looooooong week. Lots of emotions (good, bad, and everything in between), parties, changes, job stuff, friends...let's just say I've been physically and mentally very busy, and haven't really had the time to sit down, decompress, and put together a thoughtful post.

I hope to be better tomorrow...in the meantime, I will do my best to sort through the hundreds (if not closer to a thousand) pictures from all the inaugural festivities (Concerts! Galas!) to put up - WARNING (and super-secret identity spoiler alert) your dear Sweet Bea is only a wee 5'3 (ok FINE, 5'2 and a half!) and we were usually pretty far back (but we made it in!) but I'll see if there are any decent photos to post.

Cheers,
Sweet Bea

Oh, Mother!

I love Mama Bea. I really, truly do.

But I swear that woman can drive me crazier than anyone else I know.

Just now, I was whining to her about how annoyed I am with all the Inauguration stuff. I mean, I'm so excited for our new President and excited to be in DC for this historic occasion...but seriously - it's a hassle for those of us who actually live and work here (not that I have a job yet...which is another grumble for another post.)

My friend from high school (really, elementary school) KT is coming down from Connecticut for the Inauguration...but we don't have tickets to anything so I'm not really sure what she wants to do or see while here...AND I don't know how she's going to get here from the airport in Baltimore on Monday night since my car is out of commission. AND she doesn't want to go to a ball, which annoys me greatly because I really, really do.

So I'm telling Mama Bea this, and she says that I should leave KT at home to watch TV if I want to go to a ball and she doesn't.

Which is ridiculous - I would never do that! That would be so rude...and I *TRY* very hard not to be rude to people.

Anywho, I ask her to please stop nagging, and she gets all pissy about how no one listens to her opinions or cares about her feelings...and how she is "dealing with so much and what I am finding is no one cares or is supportive of me." And then she leaves.

Sigh...I just can't deal with her sometimes! All she does is judge the decisions I make or my opinions and thoughts on things.

AND - I wasn't asking her opinion about the situation...I was just VENTING to her! Shouldn't I always be able to vent to my mom?

BAH!

>:(

ON a super-fun note however, I just heard that one of my buddies is in town for Inauguration and we're all getting together tonight, so I've got that going for me, which is nice.

Hope everyone's Saturdays are cheerier (and warmer - holy crap it's warmer in Madison than it is in DC right now!!!) than mine!

xoxo,

Sweet Bea

Introducing...LOML

FULL DISCLOSURE: This will be a long-as-heck post. Prepare yourself accordingly. Seriously...use the potty and get refreshments now.

I felt is prudent to share a little bit of history with a certain boy, who shall be named Love of My Life (LOML), or as he's commonly referred to, The One That Got Away.

I'm sure everyone has One That Got Away...but mine seems to shape relationships with one's that didn't get away, and no matter how hard I try, he'll always be who I compare everyone else to.

I first met LOML in college. He was (is, I suppose) the high school best friend of my college best friend, DOB. DOB and I were practically inseparable, and so when his high school friends from LA came to town, it was expected that I would hang out with them.

So, I met LOML, and thought he was very nice, but kinda left it at that - nothing happened between us and he went back to school in Virginia and I didn't really think about it again.

And then that summer came along.

See friends, I am incredibly competitive in many things...and one of the things I am most competitive about is trivia. I am slightly obsessed with Jeopardy, and still kinda freak out whenever Jeopardy mentions Frank Spangenberg, (like I seriously squeal and jump up and down and clap. It's pathetic) and my first post-Badger crush was Ben Bishop (video of Ben here.)

So...needless to say, when I was invited to audition for College Jeopardy that summer, I jump jump jumped at the chance, grabbed a girlfriend from work, hopped in the car, and drove down I-5 to LA. Ahhhhhh, my dreams were coming true!

Now, Bri and I went down to LA a few days before the audition because some friends from college were in town to go to Disneyland and play around, so Bri and I crashed their party (and their hotel room!) and tagged along. When one of DOB's other best friends from high school (Thrasher, who was also a college friend of mine and a fraternity brother of the guys we were crashing with), he got very angry to hear that I was in town and hadn't called him. He demanded that Bri and I stay with his family for my audition the next day (which was perfie since we didn't know where we were going to stay because we didn't plan our trip very well AT ALL.)

So, friends go back to AZ, and Bri and I head out to Thrasher's house. When we get there, Thrasher informs us that we are going out with "the guys" (all the high school best friends, minus DOB who was stuck working in AZ for the summer.) We were going to Rome's house to meet up before heading to a bar.

I swear I can still remember this like it was yesterday...and in fact, if you asked me to repeat my steps I could probably still do it.

Thrasher, Bri, and I head to Rome's house to meet up with everyone, who are sitting and pre-gaming in Rome's bedroom. When we walk in, LOML says "It's you!" and I respond "It's me!" and he gets up and gives me a huge, huge hug.

So not love at first sight...but certainly something at second sight.

That night basically revolved around LOML and I (Bri was o her own, sorry girl!) We discussed everything - from personal details to missile defense shields (seriously. I'm a HUGE dork.) It was like no one else was even at the bar, or anywhere else in the rest of the entire world. We were totally in sync, and I was TOTALLY in love.

The next day was my audition, and while I was thisclose to making it...stupid colonial American history tripped me up (nerves, slight hangover, and lack of sleep due to thinking about LOML all night long didn't help either, I'm sure) and I didn't make it to the second round.

SKIP THIS PART IF YOU DON'T CARE HOW JEOPARDY! AUDITIONS WORK AND WANT TO GET BACK TO THE JUICY STUFF: So they take you to the studio for your audition, which is so totally nerve-racking. OH and Will Smith drove in to the lot right before us. CRAZY. Anywho, the studio itself is so much smaller than you'd think (kinda like the House Chamber when you see the State of the Union) and OMG! Alex Trebek came into the studio and chatted with us auditioners - and asked us what might be one of the most culturally important question of our time: To Shave, or not to Shave? I was a part of history that day friends, and my world has never been the same. So the audition goes like this: there are many of you seated in the audience seats, and you are given a piece of paper and a pencil, write your name on the paper, and label your paper 1-60 (yes, it is very high school.) Then, on the television screens (where I can only assume they show the questions during the real game tapings), they flash a question for 10 seconds, and then it's gone. You only have those 10 seconds to answer the question - they do not replay the question. Needless to say...it's a nervous, nervous process. Then you pass in your papers, and they read the top 10 or so scorers...and the rest go home to booze their loss.

OK, BACK TO THE FUN!

So...after my audition, Bri and I drove around, shopped, and headed back to Thrasher's house to plan the evening - our last evening in town, boo. Our friend's band from AZ was playing in LA, and I wanted to go, but one of Thrasher's friend's was moving the next day, so we went to her going away party instead. LOML was there...

It was at this point that I realized LOML loves to play pool. And was in the middle of a very, very heated game/tournament with some girl. Not cool.

I wasn't feeling the booze that night, so Bri drank and I was DD. When it was time to leave, we hopped in Thrasher's SUV to head home: Me driving, Bri shotgun, Thrasher & LOML in the back seat.

At this point, it's helpful to know that Thrasher, LOML, DOB, and I are all *slightly* obsessed with Dave Matthews Band, and his new album, Everyday, had just come out. The song that came on was Angel, about long-distance and perhaps, unrequited love.

So I'm driving down the road, and this happens:

LOML: Hey Bea?

Bea: Yea?

LOML: This is always going to be our song.

SWOON! I mean sheesh - I'm lucky I could keep the truck on the road!

We go to pick up LOML's car at someone's house, and he and Thrasher hop out and get into his car, leaving Bri and I in the truck.

Apparently, Thrasher got out to absolutely yell at LOML for basically ignoring me all night, because I'm a catch and he's an idiot. I heart Thrasher :)

So we get to Thrasher's house and are watching random TV (COPS, I think actually) and LOML announces that he is going to bed and promptly goes upstairs. No idea where that is, since, you know, he doesn't live there? But I was kinda peeved so I didn't ask or really care.

About a half hour later, I decide that LOML isn't coming back down to make out with me, so I go up to bed. Bri and I had been sleeping in Thrasher's room, with Thrasher sleeping in his little sister's room, and his sister slept with her parents. I go up into Thrasher's room to get ready for bed, and hear breathing...and realize that LOML has decided to sleep in *my* room.

So, I get ready for bed, climb into bed and yell "LOML" to wake him up. I was angry and my feelings were hurt, don't judge me!

So he wakes up and this convo occurs:

Bea: WTF?!? Why did you ignore me all night? That was really not okay with me.

LOML: I know, I'm sorry. I panicked.

Bea: You panicked? What does that even mean?

LOML: I know you're leaving tomorrow and I didn't want to get any closer to you than I already had. I'm sorry.

SWOON.

So, we made out for a bit and then went to sleep. Honest! We weren't going to do anything or rush anything.

Welcome to 6am. I'm woken up to LOML getting dressed, leaning in, giving me a kiss, and walking out the door. In my haze, I honestly thought he was going to pee. It's not until Bri comes in a few hours later that I realize he was gone. GONE! Just like that, GONE!

So, out to brekky Thrasher, Bri, and I go. Thrasher admits that he yelled at LOML for being a jerk, and repeated that LOML said to him the same stuff about not wanting to get too close to me. He also said that he knew LOML must have really, really liked me because he never stays the night. In their several years of being friends, LOML had never stayed at anyone's house...he'd stay up till he sobered, and then go home. But he voluntarily stayed, because I was there. (The reason he left, I found out, was because he was babysitting his little brother and sister for the weekend and HAD to go home. Whoops!)

Long, long, long drive back up to NorCal, needless to say.

Anywho, that was summer of 2001. So we're going on 8 years of torture. 8 years of mostly unrequited love! Over these past 8 years, we've survived both 9/11 and the DC Snipers (he was in town here for both), multiple relationships (including some very, very serious ones), a 2-year separation (while he was in his super-serious relationship), internships, graduations (in fact, my sorority senior prediction was that I'd finally end up with LOML!), crappy jobs, coast-to-coast moves (alas, he's now in LA and I'm not in DC), breakups, heartaches, campaigns, and of course, the occasional visit - most recently in April 2007 for his brother's wedding out here.

There are about 9 additional posts I could do about LOML, but this covers the basics, at least for now.

So yesterday, I sent him an innocent(ish) FB message saying that I haven't heard from him in a while, which could only mean one thing. (We tend not to talk when we are in relationships.) Sure enough...he's back with his ex and thinking about buying a house in LA (thank you crappy economy for ruining my chance at true happiness!)

BOO on me. Not like I need another man to stress about...but to be perfectly honest, this is the one that has never left my head (or, really, my heart.) He is, The One That Got Away.

My mother says that I only like him because I can't have him. DOB said one, in direct reference to LOML, that sometimes the best relationships happen in the course of one day. I hope neither of them are correct, because I continue to hold out hope that we could actually be together - happily - if we could just get our act together.

So, I remain the Charlotte of love - forever the optimist. I am confident that one day he will see the light and realize that WE are MFEO (meant for each other, for those of you who haven't watched Sleepless in Seattle in a while.)

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

BRRRRRRRRR!

DANG it's cold out!

Your beloved blogger-Bea is refusing to leave the house!

Here's the weather outlook for this weekend...including Sunday night for the free Springsteen concert on the Mall!

(Image from Weather.com)

Of course...it could be worse...I could have decided to go to Madison THIS weekend, instead of last weekend:

(Image from Weather.com)

With this little gem:

HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH 3 TO 5 BELOW... DESPITE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE. CONTINUED GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WILL PRODUCE WIND CHILL VALUES AROUND 30 BELOW THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE DAY.

BRRRR BRRRR BRRRR! :(

Stay warm, bloggy friends!

Sweet Bea

Silly boy confession

I don't really have a "type" of boy I date or like.

Granted, the vast majority of them have light eyes and dark hair, but I think that's fairly typical and not really a "type."

They also tend to be more on the preppy side of life, but I still don't think that's really a "type."

But - there is one thing that is a deal breaker nearly 100% of the time.

Jeans with athletic shoes.

O.M.G. I just can't deal.

I'm not talking about cute Diesel sneakers or something like that...those are fine, most of the time.

I'm talking about athletic shoes that you would wear to work out in. Even if they are clean and nice looking...I just can't deal.

Here's a perfect example from our Daytona 500/Karaoke party last President's Day weekend - a convo between myself, Friend, and Deuce.

Friend: That guys keeps looking over at you.

Sweet Bea: Oh yea? (Looks) Hmmm, he's kinda cute.

Friend: Go up to the bar and get a drink and talk to him!

Sweet Bea: Heh, maybe. (Looks again, closer this time) No.

Friend: No?? Why not??

Sweet Bea: He's wearing jeans with sneakers. I don't do guys that wear sneakers with jeans.

Deuce: Wait...you don't *d0* guys that wear jeans and sneakers? WTF??

Friend: Are you serious??

Sweet Bea: He's wearing jeans with sneakers and that just ain't gonna happen.

Deuce: You're seriously insane.

***END***

I can't help but look at a guy's shoes when I think he's cute. I'm not picky about them...unless they are sneakers with jeans. I honestly just can't help myself. I just have to look down to see what's on their feet.

So imagine my chagrin when I noticed that when LBP picked me up from the airport he was wearing shoes that looked like these...


...with jeans.

Sigh.

He wore them again on Saturday when we went to the sports bar to watch football...and then when we went to the REAL bar later that night. Double sigh.

I've dated only one person before who wore jeans with sneakers - CTF - and he was a complete and utter TOOL. And I'm certain it was because he wore jeans with sneakers.

Badger also wore jeans with sneakers once, but had come right from a film set so I forgave him.

Besides, on my Badger, it was kinda cute.

I know my obsession with jeans and sneakers is silly and stupid but I don't care.

I texted my bestie, SAR, who knows all about my neurosis about jeans and sneakers...and she gently reminded me that I was in the Midwest and in the Midwest it is perfectly acceptable. She is also from the Midwest and therefore things I'm crazy anyways.

Here's the strangest thing about it...as we were sitting at the sports bar playing pool and watching the Cardinals stomp all over Carolina (aside: who the heck ever thought that ARIZONA would be IN the NFC Championship game...let alone HOSTING IT???) and I of course was half watching the game, half watching LBP play pool (so adorable) and half looking at his feet...when I realized that the jeans and sneakers combo didn't make me want to beat him over the head with a pool stick.

In fact, it was actually kinda cute.

Which means...I might actually have real, big-girl feelings for him.

Which means...I might be in big trouble.

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

I've been TAGGED!

YAY for new bloggy friend KAG over at Monograms and Martinis in Manhattan! Not only has her blog provided me much entertainment, she also tagged me in a game. Here are the rules:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open to page 56.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 2 to 5 sentences, along with these rules.
5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual book. Pick the CLOSEST!
6. Tag five other people to do the same!

Now, not only am I terribly embarrassed to OWN this book...I am even MORE embarrassed that it happens to be the closest book. I seriously considered cheating and using the J. Crew catalog as the book...


Sigh...I got this book a few years ago, partially as a joke - and partially not, and admittedly have read it (but could probably stand to re-read and take notes...ESPECIALLY after this weekend with LBP!) According to the back cover, the author, Flic Everett, "is a scriptwriter, journalist, sex-advice columnist and author of four sex books. She was also the sex consultant for the British TV series 'Sex Tips for Girls.'"

Which makes me wonder: how exactly does one get to be a sex consultant?

Ugh...can you see I'm stalling about finishing out this game???? :(

FINE, here goes, from page 56...certain things have been abbreviated so my lovely blog doesn't get shut down for being an adult site:

To prolong his O, and even extend it to multiple status, he also needs to work on his PC muscles. In his case, this gratifyingly involves watching him drape a washcloth over his P and attempt to lever it up and down for five minutes a day. Hilarious entertainment though this is - and you may want to construct some rope and pulley systems where he can pull toy cars up and down - if he gets really good, it also ensures that he will last longer when he's inside you.

Sigh...so embarrassed right now. Roommate is looking at me like I'm a freak.

Here are the five who I want to share my pain with:

Lulu at The Dirty Martini Diaries

Megan at Newly Wed, Newly Bred

Dugout Daisy

Meggers at The Many Adventures of Meg

ASC at A Prepsters Guide to the Waiting Game

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

Madison Recap...

I've gone through about 3 an untold number of drafts of this post because I'm just so mixed up.

I just came home from Madison and a very nice weekend with LBP. It was, indeed, very nice.

But now I'm all confused.

Maybe I don't know what I want. Maybe I do, and that's what making me all knotted.

But I found myself this weekend, in certain situations where is was most certainly *not* appropriate, thinking about Badger (and having Les Mis songs running through my head...)

Other times, I found myself getting furious with LBP that he wasn't *with* me...which sounds strange so I'll try to explain. His friend ESJ, whom I had never met before, was with us most of the weekend...the 3 of us hung out Friday night, Saturday all day and night, and he even rode with us to the airport today. I might be absolutely insane - but it almost seemed as if his role was to ensure that LBP and I didn't spend too much alone time together...like he was running interference in case things got awkward between LBP and I.

So, if I'm clearly not over Badger (which, I fully admit, I am not, no matter how I try and lie about it to everyone and myself), then why did it bother me so much that ESJ was with us, and that when we hung out with some of their friends at the bar on Saturday night, he was talking to the other friends (all cute girls, natch) and I was just kinda sitting there?

Why couldn't I just take this weekend for what I'm sure it was supposed to be: 2 friends hanging out by day and hooking up by night?

Why was he sometimes cute and affectionate with me in public (which, when I was out there in 2006 never seemed to be a problem) and other times I'm literally "just a friend from DC" (which is what he told one of the girls who immediately, upon seeing me walk in with him, asked if I was his new girlfriend or something to that extent. )

Is it just that I'm pathetically starved for male attention?

Honestly, I'm not even sure what the purpose of this post is...it started out, many, many versions ago as a "YAY had a great time in Madison!" post and quickly changed into "please bloggy friends - I'm begging you - please figure out what is wrong with me and how I can ever be in a healthy, functional relationship!"

How on earth can I be developing (or, to be more accurate, rediscovering finally accepting?) feelings for LBP when my feelings are still so badly, badly torn up by Badger (whose email I still haven't returned yet...)

Or is it true, what Mama Bea has told me throughout my entire love life (and re-expressed to me today,) that I only want who I can't have?

Cheers...
Sweet Bea

Quick & Dirty

Tee hee!

Get your mind out of the gutters, sweet friends!!

I only have a few minutes of time to steal LBP's laptop while we are getting ready for my last night in Madison (TEAR!) 

Just wanted to say HI! and that things are going along quite splendidly, all things considered.

Hope you are all having a wonderful, blissful weekend too!

Cheers!

Sweet Bea

PS - oh uh...just got caught typing away :)

R.I.P. Thundersnow

Um.

Remember how I said something was getting a little, uh, ripe in my room a few days ago?

Well.

Um.

I've figured out what it is.

And as I suspected...it's Thundersnow.

And as I correctly predicted here, he did indeed get into the trap underneath my nightstand, and did somehow carry it away with him. From the looks of it (and hell no I'm not getting close enough to ACTUALLY verify this), he got his back 2 legs caught in the trap and used his front 2 legs to "run."

Now, what puzzles me the most is that I have definitely looked where he is currently resting, along the wall between my ottoman and box, several times not only for him, but to get my kitchen supplies out of boxes and into the kitchen cabinets, as recently as 2 days ago.

Which begs the question: where the hell does a mouse with 2 legs stuck in a 2"x4" sticky trap hide when I'm rummaging around in the exact same location??

If I wouldn't die from rabies (ok, maybe not die, but CERTAINLY ruin my upcoming weekend with LBP), Thundersnow is kinda fuzzy and I kinda want to pet him and I kinda feel bad for killing him. :(

Unfortunately, my friend Eric who MADE me get stupid sticky traps and PROMISED to come remove Thundersnow (who, at that time, I believe was still unnamed) is not answering his emails or his GChats to keep up his end of the bargain. He will, sweet friends, pay dearly for this.

I am a grumpy, grumpy lil' Bea right now. :(

Sigh...confession time

I have a confession...and like with most confessions, I'm a wee bit embarrassed by it.

I'm running away this weekend to Madison, Wisconsin to see a boy.

It's not Badger, though he is from Wisconsin, it's a boy I briefly mentioned here in this post (LBP)

As I mentioned then, LBP is a few things:

1) little brother of my good college friend BP (hence why he's called LBP - Little BP)

2) a good friend to one of my college ex-boyfriends (natch...)

3) my 2006 "locationship" for lack of a more PG-term...

So we've kept in touch for the 2+ years since I left Wisconsin and came back to DC, and he was supposed to come visit last April, but as Badger and I were dating, I called it off. He then rebooked for August (after his bro BP moved out here, to make it a little less awkward) and of course, I was in Cali on campaign. Long story short (too late!) it's been over 2 years since I've seen him.

And, well, let's just say that the last 2 years haven't been the nicest to your dear old Bea. I've gained quite a few pounds and frankly I've worked on Capitol Hill for 2 years for some of the toughest Members (which, for those of you not from DC, means I look like I've aged about 5 years, at least.)

Keep in mind that he's a spring chicken of 25 and of course in his prime...and I can only assume, still quite adorable.

So while I'm super excited to see him because we always had fun together...I'm really quite nervous.

For starters, I've had a dang cold since BEFORE New Year's and I still sound like a man going through puberty. I mean, I sound ridiculous.

Next comes the whole "what do I wear" issue? Since I don't really know what we're going to do, I'm not sure what to pack. And I don't want to overpack since I'm carrying-on my bag. And it's going to be F-ing COLD there. But I still want to look nice HOTT...so do I wear the cute little tops or big toasty sweaters?

Also, to Ugg or not to Ugg? I mean, they are the fugliest shoe-things I own...but they're soooooo damn warm!

And then, of course, there is what to do in, you know, *that* department...

See friends, I am soooooooooooooo not ready for this! Oh halp!

Here's my plan:

1) 2 new sweaters from Express (pretty cute, pretty warm, and thin to pack): dark grey and dark teal

2) Black J. Crew cable cashmere sweater from a few years ago

3) COH Jeans: one lighter for day, one dark for night

4) Black Lumiani knee-high boots

5) Black & white Banana Republic graphic dress OR purple Banana Republic graphic dress

6) Express T-back beaded top (dark grey)

7) White House/Black Market Black & white bateau top

8) Ann Taylor cashmere turtlenecks in black OR ivory

9) Old Navy long sleeve T-shirts in black & white (& possibly gray) to wear layered on the plane or just to layer throughout the weekend


Madison by Sweet Bea

See I'm trying to get away with only packing one pair of shoes (other than my Uggs, of course) - my black knee high boots, so everything is going to be in the black & white family or be worn with those shoes (assuming they come back from the shoe man all nice and water/snow/ice proof tomorrow!!!)

I *think* this will be a good plan...I hope! I'm getting my hair cut and straightened tomorrow AM...PLEASE keep good thoughts that it goes well (I don't do well when it comes to getting my hair done AT ALL) as I'm really freaking out that it will somehow be bleached and fall out and I'll have to cancel my trip!

Seriously...with all the stress I'm putting into this damn trip I'm going to NEED the massage LBP booked for me on Friday! Sheesh!!!

Until my next freakout (T-minus a few hours, I'm sure)...

Cheers,

Sweet Bea

The Badger returns...

So...check out this email I just got from Badger (the ex-boyfriend who dumped me the night after Thanksgiving, without seeing me upon my return to DC):

"Hi-

It's been a while and, if you didn't hear from XXXX already, I wanted to let you know I'm going to be in DC for a few weeks for inauguration. I'm staying with XXXX tonight then I'll be at ZZZZ's until the 14th and then back to XXXX's til the 23rd.I want to respect as best I can that you may not want to see me, and avoid those situations. At the same time, if you feel good about it, I would really like for you not to be completely out of my life, however that may look.

At any rate,I thought you should know and hope you are doing well.

Badger"

Can someone please explain to me what the heck "if you feel good about it, I would really like for you not to be completely out of my life, however that may look" means???

Any thoughts on responses? I think (and I'm not 100% sold on this just yet) that I want to be the bigger person...even though I *really* want to change my Facebook status to "Bea thinks people who left DC shouldn't come back to DC" and write him the following response:

Badger,

Thank you for enlightening me with your travel plans - perhaps you could have started this when we were dating, and let me know when you would be on a film shoot for days at a time with no availability to call me, as it would have saved both of us quite a few headaches. Perhaps also you could have respected, as best you could, that all I wanted from you was TO see you, and made said travel plans accordingly. As for being out of your life, well my dear Badger, I need only repeat the famous saying "You made your bed, now you need to lay in it." Perhaps still, you could have had the consideration of my feelings, like you believe you have now, to actually answer the phone when I called, returned my phone calls, or text messages, or emails, or pokes on Facebook (other than the ONLY poke you returned, "accidentally," the day after you dumped me.) Perhaps if you had done these things, or any combination thereof, we would still be dating, and you could have saved yourself the 30 seconds you spent writing me this email that I now wasted 30 minutes drafting this response to."

Sweet Bea

PS - Oh, and just one more thing. Perhaps, if you truly cared about my well-being, you wouldn't have dumped me, over the phone, the day after a holiday in which I had a family death. Just a thought.

Strange things happening in my room...

I just came in from a girls' night of watching Steel Magnolias, followed up by a run to Blockbuster to rent Fried Green Tomatoes (with a box of Hot Tamales, natch) and went to put my phone in my room...and I noticed something strange...

It's beginning to smell a little...funky in there.

Normally this wouldn't concern me and I'd just light a candle for a few hours and the smell would be gone...but in this case I am worried.

I'm worried because I think Thundersnow might be back.

I spent most of yesterday unpacking boxes of clothes and rearranging things around my room, with the dual intentions of actually unpacking and seeing if I could locate my darling missing mouse (who I think it still attached to the sticky traps from this post.) I was unsuccessful, and finally resolved to the fact that Thundersnow had, in fact, escaped from my room and my apartment and was living a warm cozy life in someone else's abode.

But, sweet friends, it appears as if I was wrong; as if Thundersnow managed to outwit me once again.

Now it's the middle of the night and I'm pretty certain that roommate and her boyfriend are at his house...so do I really want to go digging around looking a possibly dead, rotting, mouse stuck to a trap??

Hell no.

So I think I'm just going to maybe sleep on the couch tonight and deal with it tomorrow. Totally gross I know...but it's not like I'm going to be able to do anything with him even if I do find him tonight anyways. Besides, that's what roommate's boyfriends are for!

Right??

Cheers...

Sweet Bea

NYE 2008 Recap

Some pics from last night's festivities...



I hope you all had fun and that the champagne fairies were as kind to you as they were to me...even if it meant a wicked headache all day today. I'll be posting recipes from some of our *amazing* food later...but for now, here is the champagne punch we made (courtesy of Epicurious.com):

Yield: Makes about 16 cups, serving 12

• 1 cup Triple Sec
• 1 cup brandy
• 1/2 cup Chambord
• 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1 quart chilled ginger ale
• 2 chilled 750-ml. bottles dry champagne

In a bowl combine the Triple Sec, the brandy, the Chambord and the pineapple juice and chill the mixture, covered, for at least 4 hours or overnight. In a large punch bowl combine the Triple Sec mixture, the ginger ale, and the champagne and add ice cubes (we froze fruit in the ice cubes.)

We had about 25 people and tripled the recipe and it was gone before the party ended. Very tasty, not too sweet, and it packs QUITE a punch...trust me. ;) Even the guys liked it!

Cheers,

Sweet Bea