Happy T-Giving Eve! Get Baking!

Weird, I'm about to watch "The View" LIVE this morning- as in, not just selected YouTube clips the following afternoon. It's bizarre actually watching them pretend to be friends during the first 3-4 minutes. 

Ahhh, this is the life. Eating my oatmeal, drinking my Twinnings loose leaf English breakfast tea (wish it was Tetely or Lyons...but it'll do) and flexing my toes back and forth, back and forth, listening to the sound of the crack reverberating off the kumquat walls in our family room. I can crack my toes endlessly- they will NEVER not crack. It's one of my few unique talents. 

OH WEIRD, Drew Carey is hosting "The Price Is Right". I mean, I knew about this but STILL.

To Do:

-Bake a key lime pie

-Exercise (bike to the Woodinville Barns&Noble to get a treat at their starbucks w/ my B&N gift card??)

-Put up more Christmas Decorations

-Take a shower (meh...MAYbe)

Speaking of pie baking....I really like that movie "Waitress" with Keri Russell. She bakes pies according to her mood. For example, if she were me right now she'd bake a "Loves-The-Sound-Of-Toes-Cracking-In-The-Morning-Pie". 

 

I bought a turtleneck sweater yesterday! Barbie Solbakken is probably rolling over in her grave and thinking "I told ya so!"

What are you thankful for, 

Madge

Ok, wow...Blogging AGAIN

Ok, I'm a 22 year old woman- WHY do I still cringe and blush every time I watch people approach their crush on "MADE" ??? I'm watching it right now (Oprah's over) and this nerdy girl's MADE-coach just forced to her ask a cute skater boy out on a "skate date". 

OMG, it was too much! I squinted my eyes and cranked up the David Archuleta on my itunes. I just couldn't bear to listen to it...

He was nice, and said yes and they went to the skate park and it's all ok. Sigh of relief. I don't know why I freaked out but it was just so AWK.

The picture below is a reenactment of me watching it all go down. It kind of just looks like I'm smelling a fart, but you get the idea. 

 

I'm so empathetic (emphasis on the "pathetic"), 

Madge

Oprah's Gonna Talk About Her Weight Gain

I'm watching her show right now (Dr. Oz is on.. SURPRISE SURPRISE) and they just showed a preview for her "Best Life Week"  where she talks about the "big brown elephant in the room" (her words not mine). But I thought she already did this...thyroid problem, right? Is she explaining it again? Or is it just a rerun? Who knows. Good excuse to post some Oprah-through-the-years pics. 

Look at me blogging twice in one day, 

Madge

Oil Changes Are Scarier Than Edward Cullen

GREETINGS.

I'm about to go get the oil changed in the Volvo. It's always a horrible experience. Sitting in the waiting area at Jiffy Lube...pretending to read a car magazine, staring at the coffee pot and craving its stale, watery coffee but being too nervous to actually get some for fear that it costs money (which is rediculous, I know it doesn't) and dreading the moment when some guy leads me outside to a "computer" that wisely determines that the Volvo needs wiper blades. I tell them "not today" because "my mom" told me just to get the oil, but I know they are mad that I haven't listened to the computer. I've disrespected its authority and their commission will suffer because of it. 

Ok, so I saw Twilight last night with Tori. I feel that with all its hype, it deserves a Madgespace review:

INSANELY HORRIBLE and AMAZING. A must-see. Awful awful awful. But very very good. 

Bella: 

SPIT IT OUT! Just think about what you're trying to say and then say it. It's called "talking" and it should not be that difficult. 

Edward:

Beautiful. Perfect. The bad acting and bad american accent really adds to his vampireness. It works for him. He carries the movie. Without him, it would really just be an extended episode of Charmed...with a little Wishbone mixed in. Who knew someone so creepy could be so attractive? He makes breaking into someone's house to watch them sleep seem CUTE.

It's ok to HATE, LOVE, LAUGH AT, CRY AT, MAKE FUN OF, and DEFEND this movie all at the same time. 

It's wonderful. Full of wonder. Wonder in the sense of mysterious awe and wonder in the sense of WTF?!!!!?!

Hold on tight spidermonkey, 

Madge

P.S. I am making key lime pie tomorrow. 

Let There Be Lights!

HOLLERRRR. Well, in case you were wondering- Kathy was hilarious. We were up in the nosebleeds of the Paramount (who knew it went up so high??) and had to squint to see her, but it was definitely worth the future crowsfeet. 

Today my Dad and I are going to put up the outside Christmas lights. We may be jumping the gun a little, but it will be nice to come home from T-Giving and have the decor dunzo. For inspiration, I've google image searched the best light displays anyone ever uploaded to the internet. Hopefully our's will rival  some of the following- we'll see. 

Ahh, I've been indulging in the usual comforts of home (plus a few new ones...a new fridge, new carpet, loose leaf tea...). Today I MUST go on a run. It's been a while since I've broken a sweat...well besides yesterday when I overheated in Max & Anne's house because their heat was on and I had a hat on and a hooded sweatshirt...just too many layers in general. BUT the point is, I haven't exercised in eons, so I HAVE TO run today. Now that I've blogged about it there is no turning back. Ugggh.

Oh- I saw the new Bond movie yesterday. It was good. 

Best, 

Margaret

Two things:

I'm going to see KATHY GRIFFIN tonight!!! I've been a big fan of hers for a while now and it will be insane seeing her in the flesh. Who will she be gossiping about now? SO EXCITED!

Secondly, I realized this morning that I often don't know if I have said something or just thought it. Like, I don't know if I have said "go ahead and sign the top copy" to a bagel customer who's signing their receipt or if I have merely THOUGHT it in my head. Even worse- when I am walking this blurry line between saying and thinking, I will often KIND OF say something but mainly just let out a low, throaty breath noise....its weird, I know. I don't think people can hear me when I make this noise, but who knows, maybe they do.......it worries me. This actually is so weird and I cannot describe it in words over my blog. Especially because I have to be in class in ten minutes I can't think of the proper way to explain it under those time constraints. I'll try again later. 

possibly audible breath-grunt, 

madge

Knorks, Forks and Stedman?- is that you?!?!

A couple weeks ago Anna sent me the link to the knork website. Just as the spork represents a combination of a spoon and a fork, the knork is a knife/fork collaboration. I want one. Especially since I haven't used a knife since the late 90s (When I stopped eating meat. Also when I realized I could just spread butter on toast with my finger)- nope, I only need a fork, turned on its side and wiggled back and forth vigorously until the food is adequately separated into bite-sized pieces. In Europe, the knork may not sell well. Those euros approach their plate as if they were knitting a sweater- with a knife in the left hand and a fork in the right. Us Americans, though, often neglect the knife completely. It is more of a place-setting decoration, simply there to complete the "plate/knife/fork/spoon/napkin" image but remaining untouched until it is loaded into the dishwasher, clean and unused. 

The reason I was reminded of the knork in the first place is because I am reading "Twilight" which takes place in Forks, Washington. I cannot get over how insane it is that Forks is the setting of these (FANTASTIC) books. It's definitely exciting to see Washington State get some much needed publicity, but it's even more exciting because of my personal connection with Forks. Here goes it: So, in eighth grade my friend Dana wanted to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. We invented a new, fake, shawn-from-Boy-Meets-World-lookalike, boyfriend for her to be in a long-distance relationship with. We made him a blog (or "online diaries" as they were then called) at diary-x.com (which may have even pre-dated "live journal"). After deciding on his hobbies, interests, appearance and car, we picked a location- FORKS, WA!!! His website was titled "stuckinforks.diary-x.com". If diary-x.com was still around I could totally sell that domain name for millions!!!! 

When I was working out today I saw Stedman (Oprah's bf) on CNN with the caption "Attorney General?" underneath him. I thought to myself, "NO WAY! Obama is picking Stedman Graham as his attorney general!?!?!". But then I saw that it wasn't Stedman, but a man named Eric Holder who just happens to look exactly like him. 

I'm almost done with Twilight. It's exciting to be enveloped in a teen book series phenomenon again. Reminds me of my youth. 

Vampires, 

Madge

Loves it!!!!!!!!

I've always thought these things were cool...

The bank drive-thru suction container...

Brain Quests...

Scratch and sniff stickers...

Waffle makers...

Snap bracelets...

Wonderbread sandwich container...

Mini spray fan...

M&M dispenser...

Handheld egg beater

Jello jigglers egg mold...

goodnight, 

Madge

BROWS-ing Spokane's Food Places

"Food Places"? wtf- my vocabulary is heinous. 

whew, this may not be my best post of all time because I typed in every email/password combination I could think of trying to sign into blogger and I'm exhausted. I should really just pause for 2 seconds before I try logging in to my various websites (email, facebook, blogger, online grad school app, nytimes.com, etc) so I can remember what email/password combination I have chosen for that site instead of guessing and checking until my fingers are throbbing from the carpeltunnel. See, I'm even too tired to google the spelling of carpaltunnel. 

As I was walking home from my brow wax this evening, I got the sudden impulse to go into Azteca, order a veggie burrito and chow down- alone in a booth with nothing but the fellow Spokie patrons to keep me entertained. 

I shook off the bizarre impulse and considered it an isolated event brought on by the shiny warm glow of Azteca's light-up sign. 

But then I passed Wendy's and almost walked up to the drive-thru to order a frosty! I actually wanted to walk up to the speaker and order myself a frosty, then proceed to the window on foot! It's 45 degrees outside! Then I passed Sonic- similar urges took over. Then Taco Time. I bit down on the spout of my water bottle to distract myself from the Conoco gas station that was pulling like a magnet toward its glorious aisles of candy. 

I made it home- but barely and not without severe gnawing damage to my water bottle.  

Consensus: I'm hungry.

Speaking of food. Top Chef premiered last night! It's no Runway, but it's still a solid hour of television. The Real Housewives of Orange County comes back soon too. Can't wait!

Bowling tonight. 

More later....told you this post would be lame, 

Madge

WARNING: I get infuriated at the end of this.

Yesterday I went to watch Kenneth Starr,  former judge, independent counsel appointee and author of the infamous "Starr Report" about the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, lecture about the first amendment and its necessary limitations. It was a bit on the dull side, nothing I hadn't really heard before in my various communication classes, but it was still exciting to see such an important historical figure in the flesh. I'm counting it as my second encounter with a celebrity (my first being Danny Glover at the Wenatchee Apple Blossom Parade) though I am using the term "celebrity" loosely. 

The swim today went well, though it was extremely intimidating with all the Michael Phelps clones speeding by me, pausing only to watch me flail my arms awkwardly, coughing up pool water with every desperate gasp for air. Still, it felt great and ya gotta start somewhere. 

This morning I woke up early, walked downtown to a cute lil' cafe called Madeline's, got a bran muffin and some Mighty Leaf english breakfast tea and read the latest New Yorker. On the walk there I listened to "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me", the NPR news gameshow. It was raining, but I had my rain coat on and I don't really ever care about the rain if there's a hot beverage waiting for me some time in the future. The bran muffin is up there with TV and bobby-pins in my list of all-time favorite inventions. 

The Egyptians have discovered a new pyramid! Just another reason I have to go back I guess. 

Hey Francie- guess what?!? Chapstick actually is addictive! You're not crazy, and you're not alone. For those of you who haven't spent as little as one second in Francie's presence, let me tell you about her Carmex cravings. She basically reapplies constantly and being without it causes her extreme anxiety. Well, F-dogg is not alone according to this article from the Baltimore Sun. There are actually help-groups like AA for people like Francie who just can't stop smearing their lips with their balm of choice. 

UGHHHH, I am supposed to be writing a paper and I can't pry myself away from facebook!! 

Some nights (most nights) I spend hours on the computer getting absolutely NOTHING accomplished. Then I go to bed feeling worthless, restless and angry. If I am not doing homework on the computer, blogging for you folks, or chatting/skyping/IMing people I should be reading, applying for scholarships, washing my sheets, lifting weights, or at least watching some good TV (my absolute favorite old pastime that I have shamefully neglected since the macbook entered my life). AHHHHH. I am so mad at myself! GOD. 

GOODBYE, 

Madge

One-Piece of Work

Here I sit smelling of bagels and wearing Isabel's sister's see-through one-piece swimsuit.

Tomorrow Isabel and I are starting our Tuesday/Thursday swimming regimen and I figured I'd prepare myself by tryin the thing on and snapping a few timer photos for careful inspection.

I really really wish I had something interesting to say. I have a few ideas, but I don't think any are blog worthy. Here they are:

1. I am taking horseback riding next semester.

2. I hate luke-warm beverages.

3. I'm excited for the holidays. 

4. Isabel has a cow skin graft on her earlobe.

5. I'm probably going to buy an orange pea-coat.

I'm going to try and take a nap before I skype with Char in an hour. Whenever I try to take naps I just end up lying in bed scratching the top of my foot raw and eventually deciding to take a bath instead. We'll see if I can overcome that pattern.

Bye, 

Madge

"Do A Dollop, Do Do a Dollop of Daisy"

The commerical for "Daisy Sour Cream" was just on. It has a catchy jingle, so I decided to google it. This is what I found:

And that is an example of how I spend my days. YouTube-ing things that I see on TV and blogging about them.

Well, it's 6:00 pm, I've already eaten dinner (couldn't hold off any longer), and I have an three hours to kill until bowling.

My options are "Keeping Up With the Kardashians", "Rock Of Love: Charm School", or "Super Nanny." All good, I know. Tough choices. I've already seen this episode of The Kardashians, and Charm School isn't as good as the original Rock of Love, so Super Nanny it is.

So, the identity of the "mystery man" that Oprah was leaning against during Obama's victory speech has been revealed! Turns out he was just some random guy! HA! As much as we all love her, does Oprah ever seem incredibly out-of-touch to anyone else besides me?

I tried to google image search the mystery man and this picture popped up, I've decided to post it anyway:

Yesterday, Clare and I went to the Nordstrom cafe and split a chocolate, coconut macaroon. It was HEAVENLY. I felt like I was back in Cyprus where we would spend hours at cafes, eating cookies and drinking tea. 

That reminds me- I submitted my application to the University of Edinburgh today! Cross your fingers for me pleeeeeease.

This is a random post. Post's without themes sometimes get my goat, but they're better than nothing.

Check out these artsy drainpipes in Sea-town:

Someone come here and give me a back massage,

Madge

NECK HAIR

Attention all males: SHAVE YOUR NECK

Clare and I sit behind this boy in our philosophy class who has the most heinous neck hair this side of the missisipp. Like two whispy blonde tire marks it extends from the end of his hairline (or at least where it's SUPPOSED to end) all the way down beyond his collar. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me shudder. I seriously have the willies right now. 

We were elated one day when he came to class with a freshly buzzed neck. We relaxed. Considering the matter moot, we moved on.  Ahh, what fools we were. But a few weeks later the neck hair was BACK WITH A VENGEANCE creeping across his upper spine like poison ivy. Unless he is a warewolf, I do not know how it possibly grew back so fast. Oh woe is me!! The entire 50 minutes is spent avoiding a glimpse of the furry thing, sweating nervously and shifting around in my seat like a kindergartener.

 

Anyyyyyway, I am killing time until I have to register for classes tonight at midnight. I have a lot of reading to catch up on. The New Yorker (which I haven't even started on yet), The River Why (got it for my birthday and haven't even reached the third chapter!), Twilight (the odds that I'll finish it before the movie comes out are looking slim) and all my various school-related reading which is obviously my last priority. Better get to it!

LOVES YA, 

Madge

Hot Off The Press!

I went to Newseum to check out today's front pages, here's some different takes on this historic day:

Also, ARROWHEAD Elementary was mentioned in the Seattle Times!!

Happy reading, 

Madge

"This is your victory"

Haiku about my night:

eating lasagna

the winner is Obama

that's almost a rhyme

Mmmm...warm apple crisp, topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Can't beat it! Clare and I had some trouble picking out the ice cream. We knew we wanted vanilla- but how is one supposed to pick between "Old Fashioned Vanilla", "French Vanilla", and "Vanilla Bean"???? I would love to organize a taste-test between the three. We settled on vanilla bean because of the visible specks of bean. It was a success, but I can't help but wonder how "french" or "old fashioned" would have gone over.

Chowing down as the results rolled in...

So I'll always remember what I ate on the night America's first black president was elected...

LOVED his acceptance speech. Can't wait to watch his daughters grow up. Was Oprah drunk? Anna suspects so.

I am sooo full, 

Madge