The Good Girl Gone Blog

A very wide generation gap

I had the most fantastically awkward conversation with my father today. I'll try to recount it as best as I can:

Alana: Yeah, the new guy I'm seeing is really nice. He texted me the other day and asked me if I wanted to get sushi. Before I even had time to respond, he texted me back saying he remembered my fish allergy. It was really sweet.

Dad: I think you should get tested.

Alana: Whaaaaat?

Dad: You know, for your fish allergy.

I stared at him in shock for a few seconds...

Alana: Ok, you can't just tell someone they need to get tested. It has bad connotation.

Dad: Huh?

Alana: You know, STDs! I was gonna say, Dad, I've only seen him twice, I don't think we need to worry about that quite yet.

Oh, and then we went back to my dad's office, where we had this conversation with one of his coworkers:

Dad: So Barb, you and Alana should hook up when you go to Boston.

Alana: Dad, you can't say that. It's just like the "get tested" thing. 

Barb: I'm so glad you said that! My mom says stuff like that all the time. It's so awkward!

I then shared with her my previous conversation with my father. She couldn't stop laughing. What a GREAT morning!

Target speaks my language!

It's no secret that I love Target. Whenever I go home, I make sure to make at least one solo trip so I can try on heaps of clothes and check out the discounted dvds. Though some of my Target trips have a purpose, most are just because I am frickin in love with that place.

I recently stumbled upon a funny ad on their site, which only made me love them even more. Just last summer, I remember walking my dog Sabi and talking on my cell phone with a (Catholic) school friend. He was working in a furniture warehouse, so I asked him if he was responsible for "schlepping" things. He had no idea what I was talking about.

Though I know that the word "schlep" clearly has Jewish origins, I figured that most people were familiar with it. Apparently,  he wasn't. But....the fantastic people at Target are:

And not that I need a new tote bag, but how classy would I look schlepping groceries in this?

He wears his heart on his sleeve

I believe you all already know that  I hold a special place in my heart for the mac geniuses. Sure, some of them are poorly groomed with very odd facial hair, but others are well, flat out adorable. Whenever I take my baby (aka my little black macbook) in to get looked at, I always hope for a cute genius.

Please not the guy with the curly mustache, please not the guy with the curly mustache!

Yesterday, I left work early because my computer couldn't seem to hold a charge. This was particularly problematic because I'd left my charger at home and had to share with my coworker. Well, in true Alana form, I brought my computer to the genius bar, and the problem disappeared.

Needless to say, I still ended up spending an hour there anyway dealing with other problems. There was a ton of downtime, and the silence was annoying, so I decided to ask my genius about his tattoos.

Colorful artwork snaked up both of his arms and under his sleeves. I even remarked that he looked like a giant coloring book. As I sat there, waiting for my computer to load, he began to explain to me the significance of each and every tattoo. It was fascinating. Each piece of art represented a piece of his life, an important time or a fading memory. It was like his arms were a map of his entire existence.

There was a tattoo representing the place he was born, a place he now knows he'll never go back to. Another tattoo, a tattered heart with a sewing needle shoved through the center, represented heartbreak, while a lighthouse stood for security and brotherhood. And then there was the naked lady, hidden beneath his t-shirt sleeve...which apparently showed the importance of "boobies." (I hope he was joking...)

I would never get a tattoo myself, and though I don't find them particularly attractive, I was fascinated that this man was so open about his life. While I choose to share my experiences through writing, he preserves them eternally through art. He keeps his heart on his sleeve...literally.

And you know what? I think that's sort of beautiful.

The Best Week(end) Ever!

 

Hey kiddos!

I had such a fantastic weekend! This is a very link heavy post, only because I've collected little "mementos" of the weekend's festivities in my springpad. It's a great way to keep track of my favorite restaurants, recipes and the products I love! I think it's pretty fabulous that I actually use the product I promote for work. I've had a lot of fun adding things this week, so I hope you'll check out  my profile :)

* * *

No work on Friday meant a day of grocery shopping and cooking. We typically do a big dinner every Friday night, complete with food, friends and lots of wine. Rach and I were responsible for the main course, so we made Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower and a really fantastic tomato and mushroom tart. (Click the link to get the recipes!) Both dishes were delicious, but I definitely recommend the second!

If you'll notice, I have no good food photos...this is because my pictures only turn out when it's sunny. The natural light in my house sucks. Therefore, I'm thinking of investing in a new and much better camera: The Nikon D5000. It's my dad's pick, but after doing some research, I think it's probably the best for me. 

Saturday night I had a lovely BBQ with friends and then headed to watch the fireworks on the BU bridge. There was a bunch of alcohol consumed...I even ended up buying a bottle of champagne from Shaws! Needless to say, I was shocked when I accidentally opened the bottle. I was merely trying to loosen the cork and it exploded!  I was not prepared for that. Fortunately, the bottle wasn't directed at anyone's face!

Sunday, we got brunch at Zaftigs, my new favorite place. Technically, it wasn't really brunch because we didn't get seated until after 1:30...and I had grilled cheese.

I also went on another Jdate, and this time, I'm happy to say he's the kind of boy I can tell my mom about (Hi Mom, I love you)! Not only did he arrive on time, he was early! He also only whipped out his phone to show me photos of his dog...who I sort of want to steal. At the end of the date, he walked me to the door, gave me a proper yet awkward goodnight kiss and said:

"I'm DEFINITELY going to give you a call."

To which I responded:

"I'm DEFINITELY going to pick up."

Classy Alana...very classy. How the heck do these things come out of my mouth?

PS- This morning, when I went to find my Charlie card to pay my T fare, I came to a realization: I wasn't carded last night at the bar. This may not sound like a big deal, but this has NEVER happened to me before. Does that mean I'm a grown up? Not that I support underage drinking...but I look like I'm 15 and they didn't ask for ID ;)

Partying with my coworker!?

I think I've mentioned previously that my coworkers are "all up in my business" and that I'm ok with it. They typically seem interested in the ups and downs of my love life, and either offer their advice or interfere. Well, ever since the whole heartbreak of 09 incident, JJChow made it his business to make sure I have the best summer ever. Specifically, he asked our two young,  non-married coworkers to take me out with them. Needless to say, I was flattered that he wanted to help, but completely and utterly embarrassed.

Well, a few days ago, one of the guys invited me to his girlfriend's birthday party- I was completely shocked. Should I go? Would it be awkward? How the heck can I get out of this without getting picked on by everyone in the office? After thinking it over, I decided I should go. What did I have to lose?

Thankfully, my new blog friend, Mishi, agreed to accompany me. We've been trying to hang out for weeks now, and this proved the perfect opportunity. It was great to see her and I really hope she had fun :)

When I got off at the T stop to meet Mishi, I felt a little awkward. The last time I'd been in Central Square had been for a dinner date with A. (Remember him??) The bar, Phoenix Landing, was literally down the street from his apartment. I kept expecting to run into him, but fortunately I didn't.

Anyway, I ended up having a GREAT time with my coworker (let's just call him Mr. Popped Collar) and his girlfriend. She's an absolute sweetheart. MPC made sure I was having a good time and introduced me to all of his (male) friends- that sly dog. I'm pretty sure he made a point of pushing me towards a really sweet Jewish boy. Unfortunately, in true Alana style, I did not give him my number. When he said he was leaving, I acted unfazed, even though I really wanted him to stay. FAIL.

Oh, and there was tons of dancing. MPC may or may not have encouraged me to dance on stage. Oh, and he and his girlfriend may or may not have followed me right up there. What a fun night :)

Mr. Popped Collar (I know you're reading this)- we totally need to bring random dance parties (and the embarrassing photos from last night) back to the office. And yeah, we're going to talk more, whether you like it or not.

Pink Thursday in the Park

Inspired by the extremely stylish Jessica at What I Wore, Rachel and I decided to take advantage of last Saturday's sunny weather and do an impromptu photo shoot in the park. It was quite a success! Though we felt a little awkward posing for tons of photos, we sucked it up for the sake of this blog.

Yes, some people may have stared a little, especially when we whipped out the umbrella, but whatever.

I love my little pink umbrella- I still remember buying it one fateful day at Shaw's. I had just found out some upsetting news about a boy I liked, so Izzy decided to take me out shopping. Though we went to the mall, the only purchases I made were at the grocery store. And no, I'm not a stress eater.

It matches her dress so well! How cute is Rachel?

Sabi, girl dates and more!

Hi everyone, thanks so much for your kind words about my Sabi. He really was a wonderful dog. My mom called me today and said that they had to put him to sleep. As they walked into the vet's office, Sabi hesitated at the door. He never hesitates at the vet. It's as if he knew...

They buried him today somewhere in our backyard. My mom made sure to lay him to rest with a few of his favorite things: his blue puppy, his lime green sheep, his collar and some dog food. I thought that was really cute. My mom says we'll plant some flowers around the area where he's buried as a memorial. We'll all miss him a lot.

In other news, I'm about to meet the lovely momisodes for dinner at Rani. I'm super excited for my "girl date." Sooo much less stressful than a real date. Expect stories and photos tomorrow!

Also, do you guys like the new blog design?

The hardest goodbye

Hey Handsome!

Dear Sabi,

I don't remember exactly when we got you. I know it was after my first trip to Israel, because that's when mommy first learned that "Sababa" meant awesome, and decided to give you that name.

I vaguely remember seeing your crate in the mudroom, and my mom holding you back as we came through the front door. You broke free from her grasp to greet us. You were vibrant and adorable, your poor cropped tail wagging like crazy. We had no idea you were going to be a part of our lives, that you'd eat countless batches of baked goods, raw challah dough and my lipstick. We didn't know you'd pee in Sophie's room when you were left home alone. We had no idea you'd be afraid to walk down the basement stairs, or that you'd prefer the couch to your dog bed.

I remember the day we got you, I curled up on the over-sized chair in the living room, excitedly calling my best friend to tell her the news:

"Guess what?? I have a dog," I  squealed.

"I know, you have two," replied Becca.

"No! My mom surprised us. We have a dog at my mom's house!"

I remember tying pink ribbons around your neck for a girls only weekend. I used to dread having to walk you early in the morning, but loved when I could coax you to sleep at the foot of my bed for an extra 15 minutes. I remember laughing at you when you'd pick up a pine cone in your mouth while out on a walk. You looked like you were smoking a cigar.

Mommy and I even wrote a song for you to help you conquer your fear of the vacuum:

"Stop! Don't worry...vacuum cleaners don't hurt dogs (da,na,na,na,na,na,na)...."

I love that when I was last home, you let me share "your" couch. Whenever I had trouble sleeping, I'd come into the living room, curl up with a blanket and push you to the other side of the couch. Typically, you'd get annoyed with me, jump off of the couch and find a new place to sleep, but the last time we shared a couch, you didn't leave. You put your little head in the crook of my leg and just lied there, loving me.

You were so well behaved, I made Mommy take a picture.

Mommy says you're not doing well- the cancer has moved to your brain and you're no longer yourself. You've forgotten the things you love, you pace around the house and stare at the wall for hours. She says tomorrow might be your last day with us...

We love you so much!

Sabi, as you lie dying in my mom's arms, I'm sitting here, alone in my room in Boston, thinking of you. I can't imagine coming home next weekend if you're not there. Who will greet me at the door when I arrive? Who will wag his little tail at me, and then promptly ignore me until it's time for a walk?

You've been an amazing dog, Sababa. Scrolling through and looking at your pictures, I can't help but cry. I never got to say goodbye to you. I love you so much.

Jen vs. Angelina: how did it come to this?

Woah, I did not realize you all were so opinionated about my love life! You know I always appreciate your comments, but today, some of them made me a little sad. I'm not sure if my story came across the way I expected it to. I was in no way trying to vilify my roommate.

Yes, I was initially upset with her, but really, I was just upset with the situation. What made me most upset was that so many people were saying hurtful things about her. I thought it would only be fair to get her side of the story....so we're writing this one together:

When we first started Jdate, we both looked at it as an opportunity to try something new. We weren't super serious about the idea and thought it would be fun. When the cute Jewish boy started messaging both of us, we were flattered. We both chatted with him a bit, and found it slightly amusing that he spent so much time talking to each of us. He'd even text us at the same time...basically the same message.

It became sort of a game- what could one of us reply without giving away that we were roommates? Rach and I spend a lot of time together, so our answers to "what's up" were typically pretty similar. When he asked me out on a date, I was excited, but nervous. I felt like he could be a bit of a player, but that going out with him would be a step in the right direction.

When he didn't text me the day of our date, I got worried. Since he'd sent us both around 659 text messages the night before, I wondered if something was wrong, so...I texted him. And I had Rachel text him to make sure he wasn't just blowing me off.

That's when I jokingly said "Rach, you should text him during our date." We laughed about it and moved on. I forgot about it.

Rachel then helped me get ready and I nervously headed to my date. I texted her about a million times while I stood outside waiting for him. She may have responded to his texts, but she didn't innitiate anything. I'm sorry if that was unclear.

So here's what we learned from the situation:

1) Don't go for the same guy, even if your'e not serious about him. Clearly one person will end up being hurt, and it's just not worth it.

2) If you get a sketchy vibe from someone, they're probably sketchy.

3) Friends are more important than boys...especially if the boy is question is sort of lame.

I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression of my roommate. She's a very lovely person who's always here for me. She lets me cry whenever I want. She makes me toast when I'm sad. We go shopping together to forget about broken hearts. She's one of my best friends and I'm so lucky to have her. 

The whole situation was a bit of a misunderstanding, but I think it taught us a few lessons. Also know, I'm not the kind of person who can passively forget about a problem, so I confronted Rachel right away. We talked about it, decided we were both at fault, and got over it. I even showed her the blog post before making it live, and neither of us thought it would incite so much controversy.

In terms of the boy: I don't think I'll be seeing him again...he wants to do something this week, but I'd rather the whole drama be over with. Moving on.

Red Flagged

Hey blogtarts! I'm back from my big date with the cute Jewish boy...

Before I go into the juicy details, I have a confession to make. The thing is, this was the first time I'd ever met the boy. A few weeks ago, Rachel and I won a twitter contest. Our prize: a month of free access to Jdate. Yup, that would be the Jewish online dating site. I know what you're thinking: Alana, you're 21. You're young, cute and in college, you should not be using an online dating site! Well, the thing is, I really need a little bit of distraction right now, to get my mind off of my most recent heartbreak. Plus, I thought it would be a fun (and free) experiment for the summer. Seriously, what do I have to lose?

The Date:

We planned to meet at a cute restaurant/bar in Brookline at 9. Rach helped me get ready and I was pretty happy with my outfit, minus the shoes which I knew would be killing me at the end of the night. But hey, beauty is pain, right?

RED FLAG  1: I got to the bar and he wasn't there. I texted him saying I was outside. He texted back and said he was parking the car. Fine. But um, I waited for about 30 minutes and must have looked like a complete idiot. You should NEVER keep a lady waiting.

RED FLAG 2: When he finally arrived, he gave me a big hug and apologized for his tardiness. We walked into the bar, grabbed a table and dove right in. The conversation flowed pretty well. We laughed, we joked, he made fun of me for being tiny. You know, the usual stuff. I discussed my internship and my dogs, while he told me about his weekend. The thing is, he was smooth, like really smooth. That makes me nervous.

RED FLAG 3: We continued our meaningless banter for a bit longer- it was fun, light and a much needed distraction. The thing is, he kept checking his phone and texting...during our date! I will say that he first asked if I was ok with him using his phone. I of course said yes (what was I supposed to say?) even though I thought it was highly rude. I understand answering your phone in case of an emergency, but continually checking your phone? I couldn't tell if he was texting, checking game scores or just being ADD, but he looked at his phone a bunch of times.

RED FLAG 4: When the check finally arrived, I reached into my clutch for a $10 bill. Did he tell me to put my money away? Nope. He just said we'll split it. Yes, I know this is the 21st century and women are all emancipated etc, but at least offer to pay! Seriously.

RED FLAF 5: At the end of the night when I recapped with Rach, she made a confession: he'd been texting her...during our date. I knew that they'd been talking recently, and to be honest, Rachel and I both thought it was a little funny. But seroiusly? Why did he feel the need to text another girl on our date? It's not like he wasn't having a good time...because he clearly was. I don't know the details of the text messages, but I'm still hurt that the interaction even took place...ON MY DATE.

So right now, it's 3:45 AM, my feet are blistered to bits from my shoes. Though I'm in a considerable amount of physical pain right now, what hurts more is my ego. I know he clearly has a right to talk to other girls (I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scoping out other people...that is sort of the point of online dating) but I don't want this to come between me and Rachel.

I know what I should do: tell him I don't want to see him again. Yes, that would make sense, but I had such a great time with him. Ugh. I don't think he's a keeper, but I'm not entirely against the idea of a second date. We did have a lot of fun...but I can't shake the uncomfortable feeling that he's a massive creep.

MY VERDICT: He's a skeeze. But, if he were to prove me wrong, I'd consider going on a second date, only because I had such a good time. Looking back at my post, it probably seems like I had a horrible night, but the thing is, we got along really well and I had fun.

Go ahead, you know you want to leave comments and tell me I should ditch him!