How great was this movie?

Wait, what do you mean you haven't seen this movie? Hasn't the incessant buzz about it on the Internet had you covering your ears in surrender yet? Everywhere I went last week, all I heard was Slumdog Millionare this, Slumdog Millionaire that. So finally I was like, alright, fine, it's a random Tuesday night, we are going to gather up our friends, inhale some falafel sandwiches, and go SEE THIS MOVIE ALREADY.

Not to get all English major on you, but do you know that poem It Is Time To Tidy Up Your Life? Don't worry, there's no reason you should; it was written by this random British poet in the 1970s whose name was Brian Patten and it's not a particularly spectacular poem or anything, but I've always loved the title. Often, when I'm embarking on some sort of project that involves improving or ameliorating myself in some shape or form, it pops into my head just like that.

So hey, do you remember about a year and a half ago when my mum was visiting me in San Francisco and she was out walking and some sleazy guy called to her as she was passing "have you been adorable all your life?", except she didn't hear him properly and thought he was insulting her and saying "have you been a doughboy all your life?" Do you remember that? Well, remember that you remember that, because it's going to come in handy in a minute.

So I guess something I haven't told you is that I kind of have black hair now.

So I guess we're all pretty weird, huh?

First things first, did you watch the Inauguration? (Wow, inauguration is one of those words that's hard to spell on the first try. Too many unexpected "u"s or something.) My boss was kind enough to let us work from home in the morning so that we could have it on in the background, and let me tell you, I am so glad I watched it in the privacy of my own home rather than in a conference room at work because I am NOT a pretty Public Crier and....yeah, there was maybe a little crying going on.

This is my new kitchen table and chairs, the purchase of which you may remember me fretting over some weeks back. Wow, if I could rewind my life a little and tell myself to grow a pair and stop fretting over the stupidest things like which kitchen table I want, then that would probably be my best! thing! ever!, but I can't, so I won't, and so here's a picture of my new kitchen table and chairs instead. 

I picked something up in Target today, and I'm not talking about a six-pack of paper towels or a pair of tights---though I picked both of those up too---but rather something germy. Seriously, I walked into the store feeling fine and walked out half an hour later with a sore throat, a stuffy nose, and horribly achy sinuses. Since I've been home, I've sneezed roughly once every 12 minutes. Is it actually possible for me to have caught a cold in Target, do you think?

Can't remember how I found this site, but it's absolutely brilliant.

What, you mean you've never broken up with someone because they've hung their own graduation photo in their apartment, or they bruise easily, or they use the 24-hour clock in conversation?  You weirdo.

On Thursday morning, Sean and I are going to Banff. I don't know how much you know about Banff, but this is about how much I know: it is in CANADA and it is COLD.

The most exciting that normally happens to me on a Thursday is fast-forwarding through the commercials on my DVR-ed episode of 30 Rock and pressing play again at exactly the right moment. Seriously, if this ever happens to me? Then man, it's been a banner day! This Thursday, however, the excitement quotient has been ratcheted way, way up. Because today, Internet, I flew to Banff, I went ice-skating on a real lake, and then just to cap off a day of firsts, I ate both air-dried bison and elk salami. Trust me: no other Thursday in the world is every going to compare.

I'm going to give you some advice about coming to Banff. Here's the first piece: don't miss out on skiing at Lake Louise, because the views from the top of the mountain are spectacular. Here's the second piece: always bring a pair of very comfortable sweatpants in your luggage. Why would you bring a pair of very comfortable sweatpants in your luggage, you ask?