It's Houston Beer Week Y'All!

I just wish I had tons of money to throw at the myriad beer dinners and various events taking place on this holiest of weeks...

As of last Saturday I am twenty six years old – that’s a really grown up number. I suppose that, when compared to some twenty six year old people, I sort of have my shit together. Of course, that’s only some of them. I suppose I could be an attorney, medical student, movie star… that would be much more impressive. I think back now to the milestones that I have accomplished and they suddenly seem much more serious than they did when they were happening.

• I have been married for five years. FIVE of them.
• I own a house (or at least half of one).
• I buy cars like they are going out of style.
• I own four pets.
• I finished college.
• I have a career (for now).

How is it that I am old enough to have any of these things? Because I am twenty six, that’s how. Twenty six is just past the age when you tell someone how old you are and they reply “Oh, you’re just a baby!” My dear and gentle friends, I am not a baby any more. Long passed are the days where was the youngest person in the office. In fact, I just learned that my boss and I are the same age. Good grief!

That statement finds me wanting badly to launch into a boorish diatribe about my work situation, but perhaps I will save that for another day. I want to stay positive because I am twenty six years old, and I am happy. SO happy and proud of what I have accomplished thus far. SO happy and hopeful for the things I have yet to accomplish. Also, hopeful that I will not put my foot in my mouth for using the word “hope”.

As they say, “Hope is a demon bitch”.

I never really gave much thought to Mad Men in all of these years that it has been running (however many that is). It probably has a lot to do with my loathing of television - that time is better spent cultivating more interesting hobbies, right? I knew next to nothing about it, and the only things I did know were based on curiosity after many mentions of my similarities to "that red head from the show". That red head from the show, one Miss Joan Holloway, is amazing by the way. I guess now would be the time to thank all of those random strangers, colleagues, (etc.) for the (somewhat misguided) reference. Thanks!

Recently I decided that I would give Mad Men a shot. I had spent the entire day refinishing my childhood vanity so I had been productive. I was exhausted and alone at home and it seemed that watching TV wouldn't be that bad.. Boy howdy is it beautiful! I think I am probably glad that I waited because now I can watch every single episode from the first four seasons at my leisure. That, friends, is pretty awesome. Less awesome is that I no longer need to accomplish anything productive to allow myself TV time. Those rules don't apply to Mad Men.

But I digress....

What I found notable is that, back in my days at that death pit of a former employer I worked for, I heard a lot of Mad Men references. At the time none of them really resonated with me (for obvious reasons). The only thing I picked up on was the rampant philandering because, let's face it, you really don't have to watch the show to be hip to that. Aside from the banging of secretaries and colleagues and subordinates and prostitutes (and mostly just anything with a vagina), there was also plenty of drinking on the job. Although it is hard to describe, there was also the same underlying tone of acceptable sexism. Honestly, the former probably applies more to one segment of the business than the other, but the latter was throughout the entire place.

It's kind of hilarious. (okay, okay, I guess you had to be there.)

Let me tell you about Shalimar... I.WANT.IT.

Shalimar was first introduced in 1925, and it continues to be one of the most well known and longest running fragrances on the planet (EVER) - at least that is how I (and my love of superlatives) understand it.

I don't want just any Shalimar though, I want the pure perfume Shalimar. Therein lies the problem... The absolute cheapest bottle I can find, which is new, costs $131.00 - not bad, right?

But I don't want a new one, I want an aged one. Those, my friends, cost anywhere from $300 to $600 and even more. MORE THAN THAT. I have scoured the interwebs on my piddly corporate lunch break like a boss, but to no avail. Is this something I ask Santa for, or do I just suck it up and buy the new one? I am getting this - that's all I can say.

I know, life's big problems... le sigh.

So I missed the boat on my annual ooey-gooey love post commemorating the Petty anniversary for year five of wedded bliss. Why? Because that handsome sonofagun took the day off to hang out with me and we were, ahem, busy. It was lovely day and was concluded with lovely diamond tattoos by lovely Christina Sparrow.

Just, lovely.

I am on week three of working in corporate America. CORPORATE America.

I don't think I used enough capital letters.

The peeps here are awesome and I am getting used to the work, it is quite different though, I tell you what.

A cursory cost-benefit analysis has helped me establish that I need to distance myself from the things in my life that make me unhappy. Common sense tells me that, given the fact that this is my life, I have to make that happen.

It sounds SO easy, doesn't it?

It has always been the case, for me, that focusing on myself and getting back to my center is the first step to overall happiness. I am excited for the projects and goals I have set for myself.

Goodbye resentment, hello happiness!

Today is my last day at MaloneBailey! I am cheesing so hard as I type this....

There are so many other wonderful things happening right now, not the least of which being the adoption of a lovely little girl named Zelda tomorrow.

Said little redhead girl

(Hopefully after a nice anniversary dinner) we will pay a visit to the lovely Christina Sparrow for tattoos in the evening.

As for tonight, Cory has to work late. My plans include a hot bath, pimento cheese, and the Count of Monte Cristo. I know you're jealous...

I am so lucky. So lucky to be given the opportunity to evacuate this hell hole of a firm, to be married to the most wonderful man I know, to bring a new kitty into our home, and on and on. I am so thankful for everything, truly.

After one and a half years of working under less than desirable (read: soul-sucking) circumstances, I have officially resigned from the Isengard of offices. My last day here is July 6th, and sweet sky god I am so happy I could (insert cliche here).

This is where I would love to launch into a diatribe about how ___ and ___ I think the ___ of the firm are, but I won't. I will save that for another post (maybe) when I am not still swimming in the shark tank. Suffice it to say, my life is changing for the better, as it would for anyone with the gumption to gtfo this place.

We made a whirlwind trip to Austin this weekend to visit our favorite little lady and celebrate her fourth birthday. Every trip to Austin makes me want to live there even more than the last -- so much so that I may have devoted a substantial amount of time to looking at houses on the interwebs upon our return. For nothing, of course. I start a new job here in a couple of weeks - a new job with a company that has an office in Austin (transfers much?).

In just a couple of weeks, mister Petty and I will celebrate our fifth year of life together. I love that man with every molecule of my body and yet, somehow I love him more every day. You just wait for that gushy post in a couple of weeks, and keep a barf bag handy.

This has been a long week, and I am looking forward to my weekend even though it is sure to be just as hectic as the last five days. Tomorrow I will be participating in a chili cook off with my philosophy club friends prior to spending as much time as I am able to force myself writing papers. It was brought to my attention that my commencement is scheduled for May 21, and that, my friends, is frighteningly close. What will I do with all of that free time?

Sunday we are taking Moosetopher to Man's Best Friend to look into his embarrassing little problem of submissive urination. As awesome as he is, I am hopeful that we can correct that whole peeing-on-everything-in-sight-when-he-is-excited thing.

I was also hoping to plant flowers this weekend, but something tells me that won't materialize - oh dear.

We shall see.

So yeah, chili cook off, studying, peeing thing, flowers.

Happy Friday to all!

I have been inspired to return to the blogging world by a friend who seems to be able to find the time to devote to this. If he can, why can't I? Plus, it was really fun when I updated on a semi-regular basis... What's been going on?