v-day and all that good stuff

hello loyal...and not so loyal readers

i'm back on the road again

i just finished a week long break. i sat around and slept alot and ate like crap and saw friends. if i didn't see you we will have to catch up next time! whenever that will be

i had a most excellent Valentine's Day. justin, being the wonderful boy he is, got me really fabulous, thoughtful things. he actually made chocolate covered strawberries for me and chocolate coconut clusters and peppermint bark. he also made me a flower arrangement with fake flowers. he really got in touch with his feminine side to make stuff that fit me perfectly. haha. it should be noted that he is still "all that is man." he also got me earrings and exercise DVDs for the road. you may know that i despise tipping, so justin made me cards to put on restaurant tables. haha (please refer to photos)

the saturday after valentine's day (since i got in late the 14th) justin and i ate at the Melting Pot (yum!) and stayed at the Hotel Max in Seattle. it was so fun!

during the week i went to Bellingham. saw miss megan on the way and then taune, jill and kayla up north. saw katie on the way down. this job requires too much planning to see friends. haha. i was going to venture to bremerton, but decided it was best to do so another time.

im officially a graphic artist. i designed a logo for justin's mom's ebay site. it isn't very good but im a pretty lame artist. (refer to visual)

OHHHHH so ive officially decided not to pick up this job again in october. i tossed the idea back and forth in my head many times and finally realized the reasons i wanted to do it again weren't very good ones and that i'd prob be pretty miserable if i did. i contacted the PR firm i interviewed with last summer and i'd pretty much have an internship with them right now if i wasn't contracted to b on the road another 3 months. they pretty much said i was awesome, though, and gave me warm fuzzies.

justin interviewed with the seattle times and federal way mirror for internships and found out he got the mirror job. still waiting on the times. now he is looking to move down to seattle. i made him a cake to celebrate (photos).

that's all. sorry no funny stories

oh, wait! i also forgot to tell you i went to arizona the weekend before my break. justin met me down there and we stayed with and hung out with his old braski friends. it was lots of fun. i got to ride ATVs for the first time!

weird

weird

also...

i'd also like to add that i have had 2 amazing plane rides this week. amazing because of the phenomenal views


on my flight into boston we passed between a set of clouds. one layer on top and one below. i seriously thought i was looking at heaven. the way the light shown through and how we were surrounded on all sides. i probably looked like i had a learning disability because i sat drooling with my nose pressed up against the window for 20 minutes. i cursed the seat belt sign and the distance between my camera and i. i wish they had rentals amongst the clouds.

yesterday the sun was going down on the horizon as we flew into el paso. the setting sun cast layers of brilliant, gorgeous colors along the skyline. purple, blue, indigo, red, orange, yellow. oh, man.

here we go

oh man the last month has been craaaazay

i dont know where to begin...

Martin Luther King weekend i went to Vegas for a stayover. that was...different. i've never been to Vegas and i didn't really encounter too many things that would draw me back with any real ferocity. it was pretty fun, though. parents who take their children to Vegas should be shot in the head or reported to child services

view photos here: http://picasaweb.google.com/LMMcNeil

i was supposed to fly in from Portland, maine friday night with a stop in chicago. alas, the first flight was so delayed i missed my connection in chicago. so, since im dumb and didnt realize i could expense a hotel room, i attempted to sleep in a chair in a hotel lobby.

saturday of Vegas we (other program managers and myself) toured the strip and went to Rum Jungle. Sunday i shopped too much and Sunday night i drank too much. ooohhh why do i continue my love affair with goldschlauger? i also saw Cirque's Mystere which was pretty fabulous. my missed my flight the next morning and didn't get into my next stop until 2 am. yay

Vegas photos made me realize 3 things: 1) im ghostly pale 2) ive gained too much weight 3) i have bad posture

so far ive only made significant strides with the posture. maybe a little less pale

i dunno what else ive been doing. my memory is fading as fast as my youth. last week was a weird ass week. one of the highlights occurred in Denver where i sipped champagne with my instructor at the Hyatt and we made fun of middle-aged businessman. he was one of the funnier instructors i've had. this convo between us can give you an idea of the fabulous banter between us:

Liz: so, richard i never asked. do you go by rich, richard, richie...what?
Richard: doesn't matter too much, but i prefer richard i guess. not richie and def not dick. i hate dick
Liz: ok, gotcha
Richard: well i mean i LOVE dick, but not as a name
Liz: ::awkward, but amused laughter::

right now i'm in Houston, Texas. i am sans a phone currently. i left it in a cab...again. hopefully ill have it by 3:30 today. i feel weird without my little red friend.

i walked to Sonic today and got a beverage. on my way back this man honked and then pulled over and beckoned me to his car. ive watched too many episodes of Cold Case Files to know thats how a trip to an early grave can begin, so i just stood and stared at him. he got out and came over. he wanted my number and then said "oh, girl don't be like that. don't be like that. just cuz im black don't mean i can't be there for you and take care of you. i wanna take care of you. i wanna love you. you so beautiful. i wanna love you, girl."

haha maaaaaan

this weekend i'm going to Phoenix! i'm excited!