Things I hope for in 2014

2013 is almost done folks so I'd like to share some things I'm hoping for in 2014.

• To never have to hear the word "twerking" again
• For my stomach to stop being such a bitch
• To make time to read more as I slacked pretty hard in the reading department in 2013
• To become BFFs with J. Law and Josh Hutcherson.

• For the Boston marathon to be amazing and fun and hopeful, how it should always be
• For Melissa to move back to Boston. If this does not happen I am sending a bounty hunter after her.
• To keep up my exercise routine and healthier eating (3 weeks and going strong baby. I should have lost like 20lbs by now right?....)
• That bloggers stop making everything about making money. I'm tired of seeing product endorsements and the word "personal brand" is thrown around way too much. I've had to abandon reading quite a few blogs I used to like because of this.
• For politicians to take their heads out of their asses and get something done. (HA! Very wishful thinking)
• Save more $
• Learn a new skill. No clue what skill so feel free to make suggestions

Happy New Year everyone!

Song I'm the most embarrassed to admit I like in 2013

Timber - Pitbull featuring Ke$ha

I'm a bit ashamed to admit that this is my jam right now. The cat is out of the bag. Judge me all you want, I'll be rocking out over here.

I had a few thoughts while watching this video:

• I don't know if I ever seen Pitbull without sunglasses on.
• Clearly Pitbull and Ke$ha filmed this video at two different locations. They're never together in the video at all.
• "Look I'm Pitbull touching sharks. WHAT!" (please say the WHAT in a Pitbull voice).
• This song should be Timber - Ke$ha featuring Pitbull.
• Why do I like Pitbull? I really don't know. 

If you have any embarrassing songs from 2013 that you like please share.

An update on the strange guy who approached me in the mall

A couple days ago I posted about the weird encounter I had with a guy in a mall. Well I have an update for you. I was walking through the mall last night trying to find a top for New Years Eve when I saw the same guy talking to another girl. As I walked by I could hear him pretty much saying the same thing that he said to me.

You guys I am very offended here. I thought I was special and "artistic". Turns out I'm just another girl in the mall who happened to walk by this guy so he decided to use his "smooth moves" on me. I guess I'll have to stop telling people I'm an artist and move on with my life.

Dreaming of your teeth falling out

Last night I had a dream that my teeth were falling out and crumbling in my hand. I decided to look up what that dream could mean. I know some people don't believe in dream interpretation but I do. It's your subconscious trying to work things out.

This interpretation is from Dream Moods.

One theory is that dreams about your teeth reflect your anxieties about your appearance and how others perceive you. Your teeth help to convey an image of attractiveness and play an important role in the game of flirtation, whether it is flashing those pearly white, kissing or necking. Thus, such dreams may stem from a fear of rejection, sexual impotence or the consequences of getting old. To support this notion, a dream research found that women in menopause report to have frequent dreams about teeth. This points to teeth dreams as being related to getting older and/or feeling unattractive and less feminine. Teeth are an important feature to your attractiveness and how you are presented to others. Caring about how you look is natural and healthy.

As far as I know I'm not going through menopause so let's keep reading.

Many cultures, including the Hispanic and Greek cultures, believe that when you dream about loose, rotten, falling, or missing teeth, then it indicates that a family member or close friend is very sick or even near death.

Now this is eerily accurate (the very sick part, I refuse to even acknowledge the near death part). Last night my grandmother was admitted to the hospital for seizures. Maybe my being worried about her led to the dream of my teeth falling out? Who knows. She's awake now and very tired but the seizures have stopped. This poor woman has been through so much since her stroke.

The more logical reason is I'm dreaming about my teeth due to the dental work I've been having. I'm worried about my partial crown coming off (even though there's no indication that it will) but maybe it is due to my grandmother being ill. I find that most times it can be pretty accurate with what's worrying you.

Well, except for the menopause thing. That is not accurate.

The best gifts are the ones you secretly know you need but never think to ask for.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I feel like I can't get into holiday detox mode until after New Years but I'm glad the shopping and wrapping and driving all over is done.

I got some pretty great gifts this year. I got an AM/FM tuner for my ipod from Derek so I can listen to it in the car. I'm very excited about this because I am sick of the music on the radio. 2013 was not my favorite year for music but I also feel like I didn't really search it out. Either way I'm glad to be able to listen to my ipod in the car again.

Derek got me a very thoughtful gift - a new digital camera! My old camera was dropped on St. Patrick's Day a couple years ago and has been held together by tape. I had been thinking of buying a new one for myself but thankfully I didn't, I would have ruined my Christmas gift. It has a lot of fun camera modes like toy cam and fish eye. I can't wait to experiment more.

Derek's parents got me a pearl necklace. I'm going to be very classy now, please start calling me by my full name - Virginia Maire.

We went to my Uncle Scott's Christmas Day. His back yard is a pond. He lives in my dream house, I just love it.

Here's me testing out the toy cam mode.

And here is the host - Uncle Scott (also in toy cam mode)

His shirt says "wicked happy campah" I need that shirt.

I was very proud of myself for not going nuts with the food on Christmas. My cholesterol is not good and I found this out right before the holidays so I'm really trying to not eat as much junk (oh cheese I love you so much, but our relationship has to change!)

I'm still trying to figure out what I'm wearing for NYE. I'm not going anywhere super fancy but I want to look cute. I have some new jeans so I'm thinking a new cute top. Ok, enough fashion talk, you don't care about that.

Happy holidays everyone! Please eat some cheese and fried foods for me.

How to annoy me and not get my phone number

I was walking through the mall today on my way home from work (I cut through the mall to try to avoid the rain) and I see out of the corner of my eye someone running up next to me. I think he must be asking me for directions or that I dropped something so I take out my headphones to hear what he's saying to me.

"I just had to stop you." He says. "I saw you walking in the mall and I felt like you had this artistic energy so I had to stop and talk to you. Are you artistic?"

I was a little taken off guard and had to think for a second about what he was saying. I get in the zone with my headphones on and I didn't expect anyone to stop me.

"Um no I'm not really artistic." I tell him.

"Oh are you sure, because I just got this feeling that you were and you know I'm artistic so I can sense when someone else is and you seem like you'd be interesting to talk to." 

I can tell he's trying to think of ways to keep the conversation going.

"Thank you but really I'm not very artistic." I tell him.

The way the conversation goes next is very odd and I can tell that he's saying what he thinks will keep me talking.

"Do you have any hobbies? You know things you like to do outside of work?" He asks.

"I blog." I say.

"Oh well I write! I like to write poetry and short stories, I could tell you were artistic." He says.

"Yea, it's not really like that...I don't write poetry or short stories really." I tell him.

At this point I'm trying to think of a way out of this conversation without being too rude. In general I try to be nice to people but I'm getting really annoyed here. I feel like this guy is trying some Pick Up Artist crap and I'm not in the mood.

He then starts bombarding me with questions. Where did I go to school, did I grow up around here where do I live now? I tell him I'm sorry but I really have errands to run and I have to pick up a prescription. His next question:

"What prescription?"

"I'm not telling you that, that's personal!" He can tell I'm annoyed.

"Oh I mean you seem in a rush to get it." He says trying to back track.

"Yes, I want to get it and finish my errands so I have to go." I tell him.

"Well maybe I could get your number and we could text?" He asks with his phone in his hand.

"I'm sorry but I have a boyfriend."

"Oh no, I mean we could just meetup for coffee and talk. You just seem interesting"

"I'm sorry I don't give my number to strangers. Have a good day." I say and walk away as quickly as possible.

Very strange encounter. It's a work in progress, bringing out my inner bitch. I can be too nice sometimes but I'm getting better at being more vocal when I'm uncomfortable. Even if I was single I would not be giving that guy my number.

Fly runs in the family

My fabulous and lovely Grandmother Patricia Barton. Those glasses are amazing.

Christmas crafting with family

My family had an early Christmas celebration today. We attempted to do a Martha Stewart craft project but it ended up being too hard so we just had fun decorating paper plates.

I think the cat stickers really pull the whole thing together.

Here's the crafting in action. My mother is in the blue. She loves scrapbooking and is well stocked with crafting supplies.

I spent some time looking through old family photos. I found a great one of my grandmother which I plan on posting tomorrow.

I miss popcorn

Now that I have a temporary crown on a back tooth I have to watch what I eat. No nuts, no gum and no popcorn until the permanent crown is put on in January. You might not know this about me but I love popcorn. I will sit there with a giant tin of Christmas popcorn and devour the whole thing and I always have a supply of microwave popcorn in the house.

I might have to rethink this whole no french fries and potato chips for the month of December thing. Not being able to eat french fries or popcorn is rough for me. Two of my favorite foods on the no eat list. Thank God this is temporary.

Please feel free to leave me advice, sympathy or encouragement in the comments.

Holiday party at Top of the Hub

Today I had some good chicken and possibly some carrots at Top of the Hub.

White and purple carrots are a new thing to me. They taste like normal carrots, it's just hard to wrap my head around a purple carrot.

I had the fruit tart for desert. It was really good.

My secret Santa gift was wrapped very nicely. I got a cute Coach coin purse.

The view from Top of the Hub is amazing. You can see pretty much all of Boston. I highly recommend a visit if you happen to be in Boston.

After our holiday lunch a couple of us went to Whiskeys and had margaritas. The night progressed on from there. We bar hopped a bit and discovered a drink called and Everlasting Gobstopper at Kings. If your drink has a cool name I will probably order it.

Now it's bed time. One more day of work before weekend freedom!

Currently listening to HAIM - The Wire

You know I'm bad at communication, it's the hardest thing for me to do

And it's said, it's the most important part that relationships will go through

And I'd give it all away just so I could say that

Well I know I know I know I know that you're gonna be OK anyway

I think the HAIM sisters are adorable. I have zero musical talent but if they went to adopt me as a fourth sister, I'd be cool with that.

A long commute home

The snow storm yesterday hit right at rush hour. My commute home was not fun to say the least but it would have been worse if I had to drive. The roads were not plowed yet and cars were getting stuck everywhere. Once I made it home we ordered some food and watched Trailer Park Boys and Bachelorette. We also watched the cats freak out over a snow blower.

I love snow storms when I don't have anywhere to be and I can just relax. At least until it's time to dig out my car - that part I definitely do not love.

Teeth talk, thoughts on family and winter on Boylston Street

Today was the first visit for the start of my dental work. The red areas below are what they are filling due to erosion. I had the left side worked on which is on the right side of this picture.

Longest two hours of my life! I have a temporary inlay for now which looks kind of funky (it's very very white) but it's in the back of mouth so you can't really tell. My mouth is still a little sore but I ate some ice cream and chicken nuggets (not together) and now I feel a little better.

After the dentist I went to visit my grandmother with my mother. Although this is my father's mother, my mom still visits which I think is nice. My parents divorced when I was about five but I have always been close to my father's side of the family. My mother and my grandparents made an effort to make sure we saw each other. My mom is pretty much the best.

When my mom was driving me back home we talked about how my grandmother is still hanging in there despite everything she's been through (major stroke follow by mini seizures) and how there's nothing we can do once we get old. At some point you're not going to be who you were, your body or mind will start to betray you. I can't picture my mother or even myself like that, but then again I could have said the same thing about my grandmother two years ago. Her mind is still there, I'm thankful that she knows who we are but it's tough seeing how small and frail she looks.

I'm sure you've had enough of teeth and heavy family talk so here's some pictures of the cats and Boylston Street.

Ugly sweater live band karaoke

Thursday night I went to live band ugly sweater karaoke at the Landsdowne. I had a blast!

The french fries looked so good here but I passed on the fires and ordered corned beef and cabbage spring rolls. They were very good so I didn't feel too deprived.

Fiona is helping model my food.

I was too chicken to sing karaoke with a live band. Once I actually decided I was ready to do it the sign up sheet was really long so I didn't sign up. Next time I'm going to suck it up and do it.

Live band karaoke is intimidating. They do have lyric sheets though which helps. Lil-Anne gave me her ugly sweater koozie that she got for singing.

This was quite the drunken duet. They sang twice, I'm sure you can imagine how the second time went.

MacKenzie - keeper of the coats.

Apparently the bathroom and I decided to coordinate. Man I'm so cool. Check out the ugly sweater koozie.

There were no hooks in the bathroom stalls. I had to pee with my purse around my neck. Don't worry I am not actually peeing here. That's a whole different level of selfies no one wants to see. I'm still standing up in the stall.

There was also an ugly sweater cut out that Fiona is modeling here. I'm the elf in the photo. Please look for me in the second Hobbit movie.

Moving on to Friday night! Derek and I had Thai food at Montien. I ordered a Pom Pom Margarita. It had pomegranate juice in it and it was really good. I also successfully tied a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. File that under "skills that do NOT pay the bills".

After dinner we tried to find a bar that wasn't super packed. We ended up going to Sweet Water. I was going to snap chat some of my friends and I heard these guys saying they should photo bomb so I asked them if they wanted to be in the snap chat.

Can't really remember who I snap chatted with this but I hope you enjoyed!

Now I'm just waiting to see when this snow storm is going to start and if it will alter my Saturday night plans.

Day 12 of no french fries or potato chips. Hold me!

I'm on day 12 of 30 days of no french fries or potato chips. Every day it gets a little easier. There's still the temptation - the co-worker who eats Cape Cod chips with her sandwich, the table next to me at a restaurant who orders a burger with golden truffle fries. I must stay strong and not let the sound of a potato chip crunching or that delicious freshly fried french fry smell lead me astray. I say NO to your salty deliciousness!

What really keeps me going is the bet I have with Derek. He thinks I can't stay off the chips and fries for 30 days. And also God because I think that's what you're supposed to say at the end of a speech like this. I imagine him watching over my shoulder and patting me on the back every time I pass up a chip or fry. "That's my girl G. That's my girl...."

Thank you Boston for being the soundtrack to my 20s.

Sorry, but I'm going to get a bit sappy here.

I was walking home the other night and even though it was cold and snowing, I took my time and took a few pictures.

I started thinking about how lucky I am that I've had the chance to live and work in such a great city. One of my former co-workers said to me once "I wish I had done that in my 20s, lived and worked in a city". As 30 creeps ever closer I look back on my 20s and smile. Boston has been the soundtrack to my 20s and I am pretty damn lucky for that.

Don't worry, I still plan on traipsing around Boston in my 30s. I may not be single and singing Death Cab at the top of my lungs with Melissa down Beacon Street anymore but I'm not done with this city yet.

Maybe I should share those pics.

Ok this last picture is kind of random but this is really the only MBTA booth I've seen decorated and they had Chirstmas music pumping through the speakers.

You would never know that Jingle Bell Rock was playing by the look on her face.

Window shopping is depressing

I have no idea how much this dress is (the one on the mannequin wearing a fur neck brace), but I can guarantee I can't afford it.

Gah! I want it so bad though. It's gold and shimmery and would be perfect for New Years Eve. But seriously, what is up with the fur neck brace? I bet it's the most expensive thing in the window too.

To the right of the dress of my dreams are some amazing black boots.

There's a little tassel on the zipper and cute little studs going up the back. I'm sure these lovely boots are also out of my price range.

Damn you Lord & Taylor and your tempting window displays. I'm not even going to call it window shopping anymore. I'm renaming it window dreaming.

P.S. Mannequin is spelled like that? I seriously had to google it because I could not for the life of me remember how it was spelled.

21 year olds are now a foreign species to me

I'm not going to name names but someone may have partied a little to hard last night. Ok, well I partied hard for a 29 year old.

Derek and I met up with Charlie, Todd, Kristen and Katie for dinner and drinks. We went to Fanieul Hall around 6 p.m. thinking that would be early enough to get dinner and drinks at The Point. We were way wrong. Apparently there was a Bruins game, Haymarket was open and there was some Christmas themed bar crawl. We did see Jesus which was pretty great. Maybe the bar crawl was his early birthday celebration. Derek and I got there early so we walked around Fanieul Hall trying to find a place that was not packed. We had no luck. We walked back to The Point to meet up with the rest of the group and find a place to go. We ended up getting a table at Anthem. Their fried pickles are awesome by the way. I was tempted to get french fries but I did not! This is going to be a long 30 days with no french fries and no chips.

After Anthem we went to Durgin Park to continue the drinking. Apparently they were out of half of their beers. Around 10:30 everyone else was heading home and Derek and I decided to go to T's Pub. Apparently I was very under dressed. No one told me I had to dress like I was going to a club to go to T's. Great people watching though. I kept sending Melissa snap chats of people dancing or of their awful outfits. Florescent pink seems to be the cool color to wear when you're 21. I also saw a guy that looked like a hipster version of Duck Dynasty and a guy wearing a button down shirt with cats on it (amazing!!). Derek and I were drinking pitchers of Bud Light and now we're at this morning where we both feel like death.

So if anyone wants to bring me a giant cheesy calzone I will love you.

I'm texting with my cousin Alexis who went out to some Spanish club last night and also feels like death due to everyone doing shots at the club. I think she might be feeling worse than me.

Time to take some milk thistle and think about cheese.

Ginny's #Bachelor picks and the Notebook mention count.

It's no secret that my guilty pleasure TV is the Bachelor and Bachelortte. I can't help it don't judge me! ABC finally revealed the 27 ladies who will be battling it out for Juan Pablo. This is like the real life Hunger Games (or at least the people on the show act like their in the Hunger Games). I thought I would share my favorite and not so favorite profiles.

My number 1 pick is Victoria.

Victoria is a legal assistant so I've got her back right off the bat. She also has a V name. (yes my choices are really based on stupid crap like this).

She lists her favorite moves as Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Mean Girls. We have a nerd folks! Love it.

Final point for Victoria is that she owns a cat.

My 2nd pick is Andi.

Despite that fact that her name is Andi with an I I like her. She can't help that her parents named her that. Although having a name with an odd spelling is the perfect name for a Bachelor contestant (besides Ashley or some variation of Alli).

Andi's favorite TV show is Scandal so I know she likes good tv.

What really made me like Andi is that she lists her biggest accomplishment as getting a murderer convicted in 8 minutes. Yes my top two are in the legal field.

Her answer to the boring "what three things would you bring if you were stranded on a desert island" question is a pilot, a plane and fuel. Seriously girl, you have some sense about you despite having ombre hair and being on the Bachelor.

My 3rd pic is Sharleen.

She's an opera singer which I think is pretty cool.

Her favorite movies are The Royal Tenenbaums, Spirited Away, Match Point. All great choices and bonus point for not mentioning the Notebook.

Her favorite writer is Haruki Murakami. Thank you once again Sharleen for having good taste and not picking the Notebook or 50 Shades of Grey.

An honorable mention goes to Lacy for listing Hot Cheetos as her favorite food. I was going to smash something if one more girl said fruit and/or almonds.


Let's move onto my non picks. These are not in any type of order.

First up is Alexis.

Alexis lists her favorite book as The Bible. It's fine if you enjoy reading The Bible but really? You're going to list that as your favorite book? Ok Rebecca Ann Leeman.

Her favorite movies are Home Alone 2, Elf and Titanic. Home Alone 2? What about Home Alone 1? Way better. Titanic is a good movie but that's right behind the Notebook for favorite movie clichés.

Sorry Alexis, I just don't think I can root for you.

My second non pick is Kelly.

Kelly lists her occupation as "Dog Lover". I'm translating this to either unemployed or crazy or both. I love dogs (and cats) too! But I also have a real actual job.

Her favorite television show is the Bachelor. She sounds like she might be a super fan. You don't actually list the show you're on as your favorite show.

Kelly's favorite book is Eat Pray Love. Wow, very original. I bet your second favorite book is THE NOTEBOOK.

I will admit that I'm glad she lists her favorite food as steak and potato.

Third pick is Amy L.

Sorry I can't get past this shirt. What is this shirt? That's all I have to say about Amy L. I can't get past the shirt and white jeans. She does have nice hair. See I said something nice.

Let's get the final counts of things mentioned the most in the profiles. Drum roll please.

Home Alone 2 (not 1, just 2): mentioned 2 times.

The Notebook: mentioned 4 times.

Favorite food is nuts and/or fruit: 4 times.

I can't wait for January

25th Floor Drinking Team at the Salty Pig

Every once in a while all the businesses that reside on the 25th floor meetup after work for some food and drinks (mostly drinks). We complain about the companies that work on the other floors and try to guess the names of the other people who work on our floor but don't make it out.

Last night we met up at The Salty Pig. When we first walked in the place was empty. We were put into a corner as we were told there was going to be a large party arriving later that would take up half of the small restaurant. It is the season for work parties and the like so there's not much you can do about that.

Here's a picture of the very empty restaurant when we first arrived.

I've never eaten at the Salty Pig due to it's unusual menu (at least to me) of "salty pig parts". This is not a vegetarian's ideal restaurant. I'm not a vegetarian but reading the words "salty pig parts" makes me a little queasy. Elizabeth took charge and ordered us some good sampler platters and a yummy white pizza.

Fried egg on a pizza? Weird but not bad.

The meats were actually very good and not gross at all. I don't know what I was expecting really but I was pleasantly surprised and full of salty pork and beer by the end of the night.

I think my favorite thing at the Salty Pig is the little notebook that comes with your check. Customers just write or draw whatever they feel like and I spent at least 10 minutes flipping through and laughing.

Pretty good Simpsons drawing if you ask me. A bit like the early era Simpsons.

Sad times my piggy friend. I'm sorry for eating pork! :(

Our contribution (mostly, my contribution with Justin adding the belly button to the pig).

The bathrooms of the Salty Pig were covered with comics. I LOVED it. Who doesn't want to read some comics when you're sitting down for a wee.

Here is your favorite Boston blogger taking the all important bathroom selfie.

I'm lucky to have such fun people that work on my floor. We don't actually work together and yet we see one another everyday in the halls, elevators and bathroom so it's nice to actually meetup and hang out. We're thinking of planning a floor party in January in one of the offices.

Today is going to be a long day my friends, but at least I know I do not suffer alone.