I voted.

Did you?

I got to the polls about 7 a.m. and there were about 50 people in front of me. The line moved somewhat quickly until I got close to checking in. The lady with the poll book I had to go to had taken all of the pages out of the binding, so they were loose. O.M.G. The ward chief was about ready to stroke out, as one page had already been misplaced.

When it was my turn, it took her several minutes to find me … insisting that I wasn’t registered in that district. Oh, fuck no. She finally found the page she needed … in the Ms. I’m a K.

This lady was just nasty, especially to the republicans (all of the workers had badges with their name and party affiliation). After I had my ballot, I said to her, “You know, I”m a democrat and I really don’t appreciate the way you’re representing our party.” LOL The man next to her nearly spit out his coffee. I don’t normally say things like that, but I was pissed. Plus, at that point, it was only 8 a.m. How fucked up were things going be by 6, when the polls closed?!

The ballot was like a scantron thing … I used a regular ink pen to fill in the ovals then stuck my finished ballot into a machine. Very low tech.

Work was exhausting today. Just so much crap, dealing with competing interests. It’s ridiculous. Does not make me happy.

So my plan was to go home after work, read my accounting text and get some other stuff out of the way. That was until J. called, asking about dinner. UGH. I AM SO WEAK. Instead of buckling down, I met him … we were going to go to the place we’ve been to a few times before. Halfway there (we were walking), he realized he didn’t have enough cash. So we walked back and, on the way, he decided he wanted to go to a buffet. I pointed out the folly of ME going to a buffet but, hell, he was paying, so that’s where we went.

I ate a piece of chicken.

A. Piece. Of. Chicken.

I did have a few bites of J’s steak … after he trimmed the fat from them so I had “good” pieces to eat. Awwwwww.

Originally, he wanted to be home by 8:30 to watch Monday Night Football but, of course, that plan went out the window. The power of Monique is too great. He asked if I wanted to go for a drive, and we wandered around for a good little while, finding other restaurants we wanted to go to. We ended up an in international grocery that was inside an old Wal-Mart. The place was huge. We didn’t look at everything and we were probably there 30 minutes or longer. He bought several drinks, mostly Mexican, mostly tamarind flavored. I don’t even know what a tamarind is. Isn’t there a monkey named the tamarind????

Anyway we got back home about 8:30ish … and le sigh, I came back home. Alone. Still haven’t cracked open my textbook but that’s coming next. Bah.

Oh, I didn’t tell y’all what he said last night in his VM, when he called me initially. He said he was hoping for the trifecta … drinking beer, watching the Colts game and talking to me … three of his favorite things. Seriously. Could he be any more adorable?!?!?!?!?!

This morning, Miss Sodapop and I went to services at her church (hop over to her site to read about our epic struggle for breakfast lol). They are in the middle of a study on 1 Corinthians and today’s sermon was about … love. Near the end of the message, the pastor suggested reading through 1 Corinthians 13 but substituting your name for the word “love” … and reading this out loud, to another person. (He added that if the other person burst into laughter at any part, that might be the sign of a disconnect! lol!) I’m definitely not patient, not always kind … I could go on and on. Bah. Not good.

I called J on my drive home from the Ville and left him a VM; he called me back a few hours ago, most likely using his male ESP, as I was in the shower at the time. Anyway we ended up talking on the phone for nearly TWO HOURS. It seemed kind of ridiculous, considering we’re literally a few hundred feet apart, but it was also kind of nice. And sometimes it’s easier to say things over the phone than in person. Not that we talked about anything earth-shattering, but I did have a few blush-worthy moments talking about Laci’s party and trying to describe to him what I bought. He seemed confused I didn’t buy a vibrator or dildo … until I explained I already had a few … then, based on his silence, I chose to backtrack and say that the real thing was always better LOLOLOLOLOL.

Anyway, we both had the Colts-Pats game on, watched that, talked, whatever (ok, I also was IMing a bit with Laci too) … then it got to be 11 and I decided I needed to get to bed. About 15 minutes later I noticed I had a text message … I expected it to be from one of the bitches, but it was from J:

I think ur so sweet and so smart. I love talking to you late like this.

Now I’m sitting in bed with the biggest grin on my face … of course I replied to his text but eh, I feel silly posting that for the world to see. But, as Laci said, “Dayum … I think he likes you.”

I was feeling better yesterday than I had been on Friday, so I decided to venture down to the Ville for Miss Laci’s “passion party.” Before I left, I sent a text to J., who was working: “Hey, did I tell you I was going to a sex-toy party? I meant to have you look at the catalog with me … :-p”

A few hours later, while I was at Laci’s, J called. First words out of his mouth were, “So, you’re going to a sex party???” I *know* I immediately blushed and said, “Sex TOY party! No sex!” while Laci was yelling, “No real penises!” (She spent the entire call pretty much laughing at me.) Of course J wanted to know what I was going to order but at that point, I hadn’t decided. He was also intrigued/confused by the concept of buying sex toys and the like at a party. We talked for a while and I was all but swooning on the phone. (Laci said I was “glowing.” ) Le sigh.

The party was a lot of fun. I signed up to host one; it will be sometime this month, I think. (I’ll be dealing with a different rep so this lady doesn’t have to drive up from the Ville.) I bought a few things — nothing penis-shaped, though The sales presentation was a hoot. I stuck my finger in a plastic hooha. I couldn’t stop laughing. Also, the vibrator that was like a rabbit, but had a BEAVER on it, made me laugh. Srsly. A BEAVER? How original.

Later on I texted J that I spent about $80 and he left me a VM asking if the items were sold by the inch. LOL I never did tell him what I bought … I’ll surprise him when the items arrive. But, of course I’ll tell you: the Purely Passionate set, the Love Smitten (which feels much better than it looks like it would) and then some Tasty Tease in peppermint, as a birthday gift for a friend who has an unfortunate habit of gagging whenever she tries to blow her husband. LOL

J and I were going to see a movie last night, but he called me about 6 to explain that he had double-booked himself and asked if it be ok if we waited until 8 to hang out. Of course my paranoid mind ran rampant, thinking, he has another date! Good thing I kept my trap shut, because his plans were with his best friend, who was coming over to J’s until it was time to meet up with his girlfriend.

So, J came over about 8, bearing food … he brought a steak, a package of chicken breasts and an array of seasonings. He cooked the food … I ate a small piece of steak; he made the chicken too salty for me … and he ate the rest. The boy can pack away the food. He didn’t take any benadryl before he came over and although I gave him an antihistamine when he arrived, within 20 minutes he was sneezing and it was kind of downhill from there.

It was pretty clear that he wouldn’t be able to last through a movie in my cat-filled apartment, so we cleaned up and decided to head over to his place. He wanted to actually see the cats — why, I don’t know … although it could have been a ploy to see my bedroom — so I opened the bedroom door. A light was on in there; I turned it off and when I turned around, J was PETTING Mr. Man. Srsly. Then he wasn’t even going to wash his hands. OMG.

Once we got to J’s apartment, he made me coffee with his French press … but he didn’t have any milk or sweetener. Ummm. Ok. I know I made a terrible face when I tasted it because, even know, I like my coffee all fancified. I heat and whip up skim milk to make the coffee into a latte, add a few packets of Splenda and often sugar-free flavored syrup. A far cry from black joe.

Anyway, we watched the rest of CSI and snuggled on the couch. J commented that I was very easy to watch TV with and I had to agree that I liked watching TV with him. At one point, I was lying down on the couch, with my head in his lap (his idea, although I told him I better not get poked in the eye ), when, out of nowhere, he said, “I could take your panties off with my teeth.”

I *know* my head shot up and I said, “WHAT did you say?” He blushed and said, “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL I could NOT stop laughing LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Even the dog wandered over to see what was going on.

So, yeah, another good evening and another fun sleepover. I slept fairly well this time, much better than the other two times. We woke up when my alarm went off at 6:30 … but it was after 7 by the time I got outta there. He walked me home and gave me a kiss by my front door. *swoon*

HE IS SO ADORABLE!!!

Oh, this was another cute moment. He wanted to see the courses that I write/maintain for work so I pulled up a few. The first one was one that I did narration on a few years ago. It’s about financial topics, ok. Nothing exciting. He sat, rapt, listening to me, and suddenly exclaimed, “God, Monique, that is so sexy!” I was like, seriously?! and he said, “Hell, yes, you sound amazing!” *swoon*

Oh, Lordy. I took extra allergy medicine today and I am still sniffling and sneezing up a storm. My eyes are itchy, my head kinda hurts, my throat is sore. BAH. No me likey!

I went to the doctor today to discuss my birth control options — taking the Pill every day is just too much of a pain in the ass. Srsly. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s a little rebellion, considering all of the vitamins I have to take on a daily basis. But, I’m back on the Nuva Ring. At least I only have to think of that twice a month … pop it in and then 3 weeks later, it comes out.

While I was there, the dr had me hop up on the exam table since he hadn’t seen me since my surgery. He basically just wanted to listen to my lungs but he also checked the glands in my throat as well as took a peek at my ears and throat. He didn’t really like what he saw. Ever since the epic tonsillitis of ‘06, I feel like he’s basically been waiting for it to come back. But I’ll be damned if after he asked how swallowing had been for me that it felt strange. UGH. Part of the reason the tonsillitis was so bad before was that I let it go, thinking it was allergies. So, he made me promise to call his office on Friday if I still felt iffy … I suppose that means another round of shots in the ass. I still remember those bruises! Yeouch.

I’m going to a movie with J tomorrow night, assuming I’m not sick. I don’t know if he didn’t get my VM the other night or what; I’ll ask him about that tomorrow … but last night he sent me a text asking if I wanted to see him again sometime soon and suggested another movie date. I was a bit crabby, so instead of replying with a “Srsly? You’re asking me out via text? SRSLY?” I wisely vented via email to Laci and waited until this morning to text J back … which I did with a very pleasant “Sure :)” We can discuss the relative merits of texting vs calling over dinner. OH and I PROMISE I will do my very best to get a photo of him. So if there’s a private post up tomorrow, that’s why.

I am feeling very meh tonight. I’m tired, stressed from work and school, and also PMS-ing. I am *really* missing comfort food. If I had not had this surgery, I’d most likely be stuffing my piehole with jelly bellys or something similar. Now I must actually identify and work through my feelings. Bah! What’s the fun in that?

It’s been 3 months since my surgery so of course I took photos. If you’re friends with me on MySpace or Crackbook, they’re posted there, but here is one where you can see a big difference. This surgery is the BEST thing I could have done for myself!

I am currently obsessed with “Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson. Can’t get enough of that song! I’m not sure what exactly about it appeals to me, but I have it looping on my laptop.

Where did this weekend disappear to? Today was definitely a Monday … slow yet fast-paced, busy but draggy … bah. I spent all morning basically working out of my in-box. Seemed like one thing after another popped up. At least I got some work done in the afternoon.

I started my work for my accounting class. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. This is going to be a long 8 weeks. Sigh.

I conked out fairly early last night and woke up to a lovely good night message from J. I saw him on my way home tonight — he was out with the dog — but he was too far down the side street for me to yell … and I wasn’t about to honk. Not in my neighborhood. LOL I called him tonight to invite him over for din-din either tomorrow or Wednesday, but ended up leaving a VM. He’s most likely out watching MNF … it’s the Colts, too. I could have watched but yeah, that accounting homework.

What a day. I got home about 8:30 a.m. and spent most of the morning swooning. :-p I did run out to do some errands and grab some lunch, and also took a nap about noon. I was starting to crash and had a small window of opportunity before Laci and Sodapop arrived. It was a good thing I did nap, as we were on the go for about 7 hours. Sodapop got her hair cut, then she and Laci had their tarot cards read while I waited (last week’s reading was enough for me!). I’ll let them tell you what the psychics said. :p We ate a yummy dinner, then went to the mall to wander around. On our way out, we ran into my friend Debby and her husband, and I chatted with them for a while. Busy!

While we were waiting at Sodapop’s hair appointment, I played one of J’s voice mails for Laci; even she, as a Texas girl, was giggling at his accent. J swears that it’s nothing compared to what it was a year ago and that he hardly has an accent. Pfft. Last night, as soon as someone asked him where he was from and he replied “Hu-stun,” the ladies at my table swooned.

He insists that if he takes some allergy meds, he can come over to my place, were I interested in inviting him. Last time he took 2 pills and was wheezing after 3 hours. He said that if he were to take 3, he might even be able to spend the night. I said, “Ah … there’s the problem. When you were over before, all of the cat things were in the bedroom. That’s no good.” His smooth reply was that he would not be so presumptuous as to assume that he would be in the bedroom and that my couch seemed very comfortable. Yeah, yeah, yeah. :p Then again, knowing how possessive Mr. Man is (he’s on the bed next to me right now), the couch may be the safest place for J!

My accounting for business managers course starts tomorrow. UGH. I have a TON of reading to do … like, hundreds of pages, plus 2 assignments, so I’ll start in on that tomorrow. J has a MS in finance and I am not above asking for his help!

Srsly. Sometimes I wonder how someone with a fairly decent IQ can be so lacking in other areas. It’s like I am TRYING to create drama with this situation with J. Today, I sent him a text and asked if he felt like doing something tonight. His reply: “Maybe. I’ve been eating and drink all day on my day off. ” I was, like, what the fuck is that about? I was pissed, because I haven’t seen him since Friday, and worried that my little self-fulfilling prophecy re: every relationship is a failure was going to come true.

About 7, he texted me, asking if I was home and if I could chat. I emailed Laci and said I thought he was going to end things with me. Her reply was along the lines of, why would he be so stupid? Well, I ended up talking to him for more than an hour, about all sorts of things. It was probably the best conversation we’ve had. We talked about our childhoods, past jobs, church … J and I have a lot of differences, not surprising considering I grew up in the midwest and he in a small town in Texas, but we have a lot in common, too, or at least we seem to appreciate our differences. While I was ending the conversation, he got all panicky, as he thought I was hanging up, that he wasn’t working tomorrow night and he’d call before then.

I don’t know how or why I get myself worked up like this. I am going to crawl into bed with my laptop and work some more on the mini inventory Sodapop sent me lo so many months ago. Scary stuff, to face my feelings and fears about relationships and sex. But it must be done …