10.29.2007

the extreme hotness

I just want to take this opportunity to inform you all of my latest endeavor to score cool points with the boy.

See for yourself.




This is Brian, the Other to my Significant. He is behind the wheel of a car. But not just any car...





Can you tell what it is?





Does this help? I admit my "car photography" skillz are a bit lacking.





What about this? That's gotta help some, at least...


Well anyway. I'll just tell you the story.

Saturday was a weird day. We both got up and decided to spend the morning moving some things from Brian's dorm room over to the house, to get a head-start on moving him in so that it's not what we're spending the majority of Thanksgiving break doing. Smart us!! Anyway, so we did that, got good and weary, got some irritating Taco Bell (with a coupon! We are coupon fiends!!) and came over to the house to watch a movie and take a break. We ended up taking more of a break than expected, as Brian passed out for a long winter's nap. I was wide awake, though, and bored out of my head, and NOT wanting to do anything housework-wise. So I called my friend Kyle.

Here's the scoop on Kyle. He works for a used car company of sorts. He has access to cars that, for whatever reason, this company won't sell in stores or at auction. This means he can get good cars for cheap, and re-sell them a little while later. His first venture, a BMW Z4, was a moderate success, as best I can tell. His second venture was a 1992 Dodge Viper. The Viper also happens to be Brian's favorite car.

We've known for a while now that Kyle would be temporarily acquiring said vehicle. Brian didn't know WHEN said acquisition was going down, though. But because I'm the girl with the sweet hookups, I knew what was going on. And the previous Tuesday, Kyle and I had conspired.

So, back to Saturday. I was bored. Brian was sleeping. The weather was perfect. And, Kyle wasn't doing anything! I left Brian the sweetest note I could muster, whose placement managed to wake him (curses)! I then went to pick up Kyle, drive him downtown to the (locked! abandoned!) parking deck where the Viper was, illegally park my car, find entry to the deck, uncover the red 10-v beast, and (once again, illegally) sneak out of the deck via tailing someone in possession of a key card through the gate.

My car wasn't towed, which was a good thing. The bad thing was, Brian never really got back to sleep from his nap. Which meant that he then wandered the house, bored and alone, noticing all the housework I'd failed to catch up on. He called me to see what I was up to...I couldn't really give a good answer. No good He discovered that I had taken the yet-unloaded car full of his stuff; he also discovered that I had taken the keys to the OTHER car, so if he were to be going anywhere, it would be on foot. Fine, he thought to himself. It's a fine day for some playtime with Eli over at the seminary. Brian then discovered that Eli's leash was missing, probably in the car sitting in the driveway with no mode of friendly entrance. In his re-telling of the story, I sensed some frustration.

Meanwhile, I was stoked. Kyle and I were plotting. I had this big surprise in the works for Brian. And when I'm trying to pull off a plot, I get giddy. And relatively useless. I had to keep giving Brian non-answers that made not even an iota of sense. But I hoped the cherry-red surprise would make up for my being a dork, a spaz, and a weirdo all in one. I pulled up to the house, ready to get him to rush outdoors just in time for Kyle to cruise past. But...no Brian! He, and Eli, were not to be found. I assumed they were on a walk.

I called Brian, and I was right. They were at the seminary, and did I know there was a wedding going on? After a few inane phone calls, Kyle and I came up with Plan B and headed over there. Stealth was critical, though, so I had to find out exactly where Brian was, via a lame 'my toe hurts and I don't want to walk too far so just tell me where you are so I can park closest to there' excuse. I sense frustration in his retelling THIS part of the story, too. But in all seriousness, I totally ravaged my toe on a heartless corner.

ANYWAY. after a few last-second U-turns and another flub or two on my part, Brian spots the car. Kyle, like the champ that he is, pulls over to where we are. The boys do that boy thing where they stand around admiring tires and poking at the engine and stuff. And then Kyle says the magic words - "so do you want to go for a ride?"

And off we went, the guys in the Viper and me tagging behind, assuring them a ride home after the car was to be put to bed.



It's mighty difficult wielding a camera the size of mine whilst traveling down the highway.

To be continued...

10.18.2007

this is the hedonist in me

Yesterday I left work a little later than I would have liked to. I was going straight home, looking forward to an evening of assembling invitations and being without Brian. I had my McDonalds happy meal in the passenger seat (with the fries mostly intact) and my mind was elsewhere. Or, more likely, nowhere.

I felt a little blue inside, thanks to the disastrous home-unmaking effects of a days-long long to-do list and evenings that are far too short. I was completely zoned out and, back in the recesses of my mind, hoping to find an oasis somewhere along the Boulevard.

I approached an intersection framed by large old oak trees, backed by a wide open sky. It was nearly twilight - the sun was almost set. In its decline, it was sending off invisible rays that bounced off all kinds of wisps and feathers and splotches of the most transient of cloud formations. The white had turned to a brilliant bright orange. The slowly darkening, sleepy periwinkle sky had touches of bright orange light, smeared here and there and all over.

It looked like the sky was on fire.

What a cool God who would let me live on a planet where this kind of remarkable thing happens only rarely enough for me to appreciate it.

10.09.2007

at least looking at the saddle again...

Hi, my name is: Ashley

but you can call me: whatever you want.

Never in my life have I: felt like I knew where I was going.

The one person who can drive me nuts is: [censored]

My high school is/was: (was) fine, I guess...it could have been a lot worse.

When I’m nervous: my stomach gets really heavy and my ears ring and my hands shake.

The last song I listened to was: on the KPAX soundtrack

My hair is: finally doing what I want it to do on a regular basis, but very much needing to be trimmed.

When I was 4: I started having nightmares about the Cat in the Hat. Actually, that's not true, those didn't start until I was about 6...

Last Christmas: I was miserable, but ok with it.

I should be: working...but I feel awful.

When I look down: I get dizzy. Note to self: don't move head too fast.

The happiest recent event was: my bridal shower in Concord.

By this time next year: I desperately hope to have a "real job."

My current gripe is: I'm poor! I need furniture! and I'm sore, too...stupid virus.

I have a hard time understanding: why nobody wants to hire me for a job that I'd actually like to do.

There’s these girls: ....so not getting this one...

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: Brian. that's probably a no-brainer.

I want to buy: FURNITURE! oh my lord I need a few key pieces of furniture...

Where do you plan to visit: nowhere out of the ordinary any time soon... next 'trip' is to Hershey in November...

If you spent the night at my house: I'd let you use the box fan.

The world could do without: another ice age. just my opinion.

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: a calendar planner thinger.

Most recent thing someone else bought me: truckloads of stuff off the registry!!

My middle name is: Marie

In the morning I: let the dog out, make the bed, and proceed to the bathroom.

Last night I was: feeling not-so-hot...

There’s this guy I know who: keeps coming over to my house and eating my food and driving my car....

If I was an animal I’d be a: dog. a small one. that did cute tricks and got lots of treats.

A better name for me would be: Jill.

Tomorrow I am: training the new girl.

Tonight I am: doing some of the house/wedding work that I didn't do yesterday...

My birthday is: April 17.

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