Being Natalie

A funny thing happened to me while I was hooked up to an IV...

Wed, 09 May 2007 00:42:55 GMT

I recently got hit with a viral infection of some sort. Whatever it was, I was chained to the bathroom like you wouldn't believe with whatever I had put in my system POURING out of me at the speed of light. Or at least that's what it felt like. Anything I put into my system, it just came right out. One way or another.

So yesterday I went to see my doctor b/c if I was going to call in sick to work, I better know what I was sick with. So I called, I got dropped off and in I went and I didn't come out until 7 hours later. During that 7 hours, my doctor sent me to another unit to get me on an IV with fluids. The nurses called it "pile driving fluids" into me to get me back into shape. They said this happens with thin people like me. Apparently I have no mass for my body to burn or feed off from while things were pumping out of me. So they hooked me up and for good measure, took a CAT scan of my belly to make sure nothing was infected there.

So there I am, sitting in a reclining chair, hooked up to an IV, my hair is all gross from not showering for two days (yea, I was icky), in a hospital gown, looking demented and I awoke from a half sleep to see a person's profile right outside my room in the hallway. For a bit I was kinda bewildered b/c I couldn't figure out if it was a man or woman. Then I heard the voice and immediately my heart started to race. Shoulder length brown hair with highlights, slender body, under 6' in height, funky sweater, jeans, and sneakers to boot. The person turns their back on me to talk on a cell phone. They then turn around. Our eyes locked, I'm stunned and yelped out "OH MY GOD!"

With a stunned look, a big smile, he waves hello and mouths out hi while listening to his cell phone.

HOLY SHIT IT'S STEVEN TYLER FROM AEROSMITH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He turns around again and I feign ignorance. He was on the phone with someone for work. Not sure what it was, but I tried really hard to not listen out of respect. I look at my camera phone, then at the US weekly magazine that sits right underneath that. I debated the whole ethics of it all. Should I, or shouldn't I? Could I or wouldn't I? Finally, my internal debate was over, his friend who had came in for some sort of treatment was all set to leave. She goes follow by him and as they leave, he politely said "goodbye" to me and I yelled "goodbye" in return.

*sigh* I exist and it wasn't a dream!!! My nurse confirms the sighting and relays a funny story about him and a doctor 15 years ago in that same hospital.

Oh and another run in, now that I think about it, I think Danny Ainge of Boston Celtics fame held the elevator door for me.

If anyone can please confirm whether or not Danny Ainge was wearing a green and black striped polo short sleeve shirt with black slacks and was in a Boston area hospital this past Monday (yesterday), please let me know. I need to thank him for helping me on and off the elevator.

Umm, so yea. IV fluids for dehydration does wonders to a body. After one CAT scan, two bags of IV fluids and an encounter of a famous rock star, i'm feeling better. With a slight headache, toothache and sluggishness, never felt better.

Moral of the story: Wash those hands and watch what/where you eat. Also if you have the misfortune of landing yourself in the emergency care unit of a hospital, be on the look out for celebrities, you never know when they will be right around the corner.

Don't be an idiot

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:07:43 GMT

Dad and I was in the city tonight to have dinner with the family plus a relative from the west coast. It's late, we're driving back to the burbs and up the street that our street is connected to. Suddenly, we see an ambulance leave (no lights or sirens on) followed by a town cop car (again no lights or sirens). Where I live, you rarely see such an event. So, OK, our minds began to kinda ponder ... what went on?

As we get closer to the intersection of where our street meets up, we see lights! Say it ain't so... Just say it ain't so... Of course, here I am, thinking that our house somehow caught on fire. As we get to the corner, I was a bit relieved. It was just a truck plowed into the lawn.

Damn thing plowed over the street sign, missed the hydrant, the rose bush, pushed one of the bolders and dragged another along with it as it barrelled into the yard. Some people thought the bolders were for asthetics. Nope, it's function over fashion. We live right on a curved corner so its quite easy for cars to skid into the lawn (and on several occassions they've hit the corner of the house). One car even made it to the backyard (we didn't see the car, but it left tracks in the lawn).

So to make things even more head shakingly disgusting, turns out the driver is an 18 year old who was apparently inhebriated. He took a ride not in the ambulance (thank God for his sake), but in the nice little town cop car. Probably the same one that passed by us as we were turning the corner.

To make the situation comical, when the flat bed arrived to drag that truck's sorry ass off the lawn, it got stuck in the mud, smack dab in our front lawn!! So the fire truck had to use the wench to help drag the flat bed off the front lawn. Right now a regular tow truck is here. I'm going to go and witness the event. This ought to be fun. The reason the flat bed couldn't enter the way the truck entered was b/c it was too wide to wedge between the remaining bolders and the fire hydrant...

I'll draw a pic tomorrow. Right now, I have to take some video for the sibs.

Good night everybody.

UPDATE
So the tow truck was successful in dragging the truck out. However, the front axle is broken and the wheel at least the right one from my vantage point was busted up (tire shreded and rim definitely bent), so that means they need to flat bed again. The sad part is that the town tow truck, there's only one guy on duty. He's been going back and forth from work, getting the right type of truck here. Poor guy. I feel bad for all the officers and support staff that has to deal with this nonsense. If it weren't for irresponsible teenage BOYS, people wouldn't have late night incidents such as these.

I mean thank GOD that 1. no one was hurt and 2. no real damage had occurred, but still ... GET A FRAKKING BRAIN PEOPLE!

Oooo, more commotion ... brb

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 02:51:04 GMT

I have returned! But barely. So what prompted me in making an entry? A good friend took me off their friends list b/c of lack of activity in my journal. The nerve! But I do not blame that person. They had every right to do what they desired. However, I would like to thank them for doing so b/c w/o their actions, it would never have prompted me into logging into my LJ account to see that i've missed out on A LOT of events on the past half year that i have been absent. (Wait, has it been a half year?)

Oi, either or, I realize that I need to play some catch up on people's lives. What better way than to just cut to the bullshit and figure out what happened to them the past month b/c I don't think i'll be able to read a half years worth of entries for each person i have on my friends list.

And while I peruse other people's LJs, I would like to leave you to ponder this:

If you had to choose between the words "racist" and "sexist", which one of those two words would best describes Don Imus's statement as being?

Now which question did I miss??

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 05:52:18 GMT

Thanks rhodeygirl

You paid attention during 97% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

I knew I had a connection to him somehow...

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 05:44:04 GMT

Thanks nimoz

Undifferentiated

You scored 43 masculinity and 43 femininity!

You scored low on both masculinity and femininity. Your personality includes characteristics of both traditional sex roles, but your gender is not strongly defined.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on masculinity
You scored higher than 99% on femininity

Link: The Bem Sex Role Inventory Test written by weirdscience on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

I am EVERYWHERE

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 04:47:19 GMT

So it was brought to my attention that my last unprotected entry is outdated.

Apparently, it was too depressing to look at for those people who were either too lazy to login and read my inner thoughts OR they don't have permission to view my privates.

So to appease the Gods: Things feel good. My mind isn't helping, but I'm working on that. (Sorry that is as cheerful as I want to get in unprotected territory.)

Now stare at this:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
10
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Captain Obvious Lesson #8

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 14:34:47 GMT

It really hurts when you love someone, but they don't love you back.

I have vitals!!

Fri, 07 Jul 2006 06:26:39 GMT

blink. blink. still alive.

will read entries of friends as soon as the monkey gets off of my back.
("the monkey" is not a reference to the man, but "THE MAN")

miss all much.

Leaving Thought: Is it worth it to be so busy you forget to pee?

If life was an ad...

Fri, 05 May 2006 03:13:24 GMT

downtown parking spot ..... $2
watching a preview screening of MI3 ..... $0
driving with the top open on a moonlite night ..... priceless

Movie was excellent. Having that much action and other characters makes up for the fact that it was totally over hyped by Tom Cruise. However the really spooky thing about the movie is the fact that the actress that plays the love interest resembles Katie Holmes. Spooky man. So if you like JJ Abrahms or you like Alias, you'll love this movie. It has his footprints all over it.

Boing.

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 03:04:00 GMT

Boing. Boing.

Autopilot?

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 11:55:58 GMT

I was so rushed to get to work, when I got up to the D&D drive thru window, I took the coffee, paid the lady and left. What I didn't realize until now as I sit in my work chair, I forgot to grab the donut...

*sigh* I'm so hungry right now.

What am I doing online at this hour?!?!

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 04:05:43 GMT

So. This is different. It's a little after midnight and i'm writing an entry in LJ.

Yea, DSL is cool. My new laptop kicks ass.

I just found myself dragging my ass to connect my laptop to the DSL modem in order to respond to a work issue.
Not just to peruse the net. Not just to work on something else online. Not to chat with people out there.

I logged on to do work.

I'm doomed...

A very cool night that I got to spend with The Man, a friend & celebrities

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:48:39 GMT

I had the utmost pleasure of running into a red carpet event!

I was in bline tonite with the man having dinner at the local swank sushi place. We were walking back to my house when we happened upon an event in front of the Coolidge Corner theatre. I put two and two together (basically read the marquee) and realized that Meryl Streep was accepting an award the theatre was giving to her for lifetime achievement (I can only assume).

So the man and I stood outside the theatre behind the barracades and behind a very odd man who had an odor problem (he didn't shower and it smelled like it). Per chance, I had my camera in my purse, so that made me want to stay outside to "gawk" at the stars as they walk up the red carpet. Also upon the insistence of the man (thank you my man!). After a couple of minutes, I realized that C would want in on the actions and she'd totally kill me if I didn't tell her the 411 on the situation in our sleepy town.

Here's how the beginning of the 3 minute phone convo. went:

"Hey guess what!"
"What? You saw a celebrity? Who was it?"
"Get your ass down to Coolidge Corner now, Meryl Streep is coming!"

About 5 minutes later, she was running down the street with camera, sharpie & index cards at hand.

I love C, she's so prepared! We'd make one kick ass celebrity stalker team!

We saw/recognized/were pointed out: Robert Altman (director), Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Kevin Kline, John C. Reilly, Susan Orlean (author of The Orchid Thief) and Charlie Kaufman (screenwriter for Adaptation).

I've got pictures to prove it! *sigh* I wonder if I was seen on the local TV news station with all those cameras around...

Now how much of this would you agree?

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 06:30:32 GMT

ripped from the site of quacx who ripped it from nimoz!

You Should Be A Gemini

What's good about you: witty and energetic, you're simply the most fun to be around

What's bad about you: you're flighty - losing interest in people and projects quickly

In love: you enjoy the "honeymoon phase," but after that it's hard for you to stick around

In friendship, you're: likely to have many groups of friends, with many different interests

Your ideal job: mime, guru, or cartoonist

Your sense of fashion: casual and simple

You like to pig out on: fast food, especially burritos

What Sign Should You Be?

And another thing...

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 06:54:05 GMT

ZOINKED from nimoz

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated.
At work and school, you do best when you're organizing.
When you love someone, you tend to worry about them.

In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic.
Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management.
You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

The Birth Order Predictor

A long time coming...

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 06:52:59 GMT

So I finally said, "to hell with it" and caved in. I now have DSL at home. All I have to do now is get a laptop that will become my "primary PC"!

Laptop b/c I have portability issues to say the least. Currently I've borrowed the Company laptop this weekend to catch up on work that I need to get done before the first quarter ends, also to test out the whole wireless thingy and see if it's cool to actually sit down at a cafe somewhere and do work while other people are watching, looking on in astonishment that I could get ANY work done in a public area.

However, sadly, I have no freaking clue why the wireless LAN on this laptop isn't picking up any wireless signals. I think something got disabled, but all signs point to "NO".

But yea, so moving on I've had my mind made up on getting a Dell. Now i'm reversing myself b/c the IBM ones are so damn sexy.

Oy, speaking of which, i'm going to go peruse now, but soon need sleep so I can brunch w/friends in the morning.

Oh and I've caught up on a months worth of LJ entries and I must say I've missed out a lot on ppl's lives. NEVER AGAIN!!!

Connected I will stay!

Decisions, decisions, continued

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:38:31 GMT

So of the comments that i've gotten so far, it's 3 against 3!

Here's more information to know, I did a search and the putter costs around $50, while the watch retails for $65.

Does that help?

I need a tie breaker.

Oh and if you haven't figured it out yet, the tailgate thingy is out and now it's down to the watch vs. the putter.

Decisions, decisions

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:58:28 GMT

So it's my five year anniversary at The Company and I get to choose my anniversary gift. I'm caught between the following (here's where the viewers at home help me decide):

* Woman's Calypso Quartz Watch. Features white dial, stainless steel case and link band, date, luminous hands, and sweep second hand. Water resistant to 150 feet.

- I wouldn't mind a stainless steel watch, don't have one. Would be nice to wear on dressy occassions (if need be). Maybe this would be the stepping stone for me to retire my beloved Disney watch that I got at Disney World.

* Man's Wilson Green Machine Putter. Features face balanced head, chambered sole, heel-toe weighting. Includes true temper shaft with regular grip.

- I need a putter. I bought a set of new clubs and I need a new putter to go with it (also a new driver as well).

* Tailgate Outing Kit. Includes 45"x50" fringed acrylic blanket, one-pint foam-insulated bottle, and black insulated linen bag.

- This I thought was a neato thing to have. Not necessarily going to use it for tailgating, but I figured the blanket and bottles would be handy for an impromptu picnic.

So, please anyone and everyone from the Peanut gallery, choose, but choose wisely. I only have like a day on deciding these things. Thanks.

What to do?

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 16:18:16 GMT

I'm finally going to dig into my pockets and get myself a laptop. It will become my primary PC, but I will use it for work as well. I know what types of stuff I want inside the machine, I just don't know what model of a machine I should get. Therefore i'm posing this question to all who is reading:

Should I get a Dell Inspiron/XPS or an IBM Thinkpad?

To color or not to color, that is the question...

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:47:30 GMT

Standing in the shower, shampooing my hair, my brain got on the subject of coloring one's hair.

My ultimate question to the readers of this blog:
1. Would you color your hair as you age?
2. Would you encourage your significant other to color theirs as they age?

Happy Valentine's Day

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 20:29:44 GMT

What does Valentine's Day mean to you?

My first entry since i've been back...

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 14:05:42 GMT

So it's been about a month since i've been back from my two week vacation to Hong Kong. I'm definately over the jet lag by now. No bouts with lethargy at 4pm or falling asleep on the couch by 9pm and then waking up at 4am. I'm done with all that, people rejoyce!

So here are the things that I have to say about Hong Kong:

* The MTR (the underground railway system) is BRILLIANT!
The system is very intuitive. Good signage. Clean. Always on time. Makes sense. Air circulation is very good w/in the railway cars. JUST DAMN BRILLIANT!

* The movie theatres are wicked comfy.
The seats are stadium seating with a modern look and a cushier feel. Not like the drab look and rock hard seating that we have in the states. The best part of the movie theatres is the assign seating system. You actually get to pick your seat when you purchase your ticket. No more fighting your way into the theatre to be the first person to grab the best spot in the house. You just do that at the ticket counter!

* The touristy areas are wonderfully clean.
After the whole SARS bit, most major malls/buildings have hand sanitizers dispensers available for public use. At the IFC mall, you'd see workers constantly going around and wiping doors and windows down with what i'm assuming is disinfectant. I've also seen workers on their hands and knees scrubbing floors and scrapping crud off of studs in the floor. Studs which i'm only assuming are there for the visually impared to "feel" their way around the place.

* The parks are bloomin'.
There are various parks in Hong Kong and they are good for strolling. Especially Hong Kong park where you can stop, get married and take some really nice scenic photos.

* Two words: Genki Sushi
It's sooo cuuuuute! I would think they'd have this type of restaurant in the states, but more likely in NYC or LA somewhere.

* The Big Buddha is BIG.
I had some really good vegetarian dishes at the monestary's restaurant. We walked the grounds and it seems that most of the food that we were served were all grown on site.

* Sean Lau (Lau Ching-Wan) is quite tall in person for an asian.
We stumbled upon a movie promotion at Times Square. The movie that was being promoted was called "The Shop-A-Holics". The two HK film stars that we recognized was Cecila Cheung (Cheung Pak-Chi) and Sean Lau.

* You pay for what you get.
Budget Hotels are a step up from "hostel-territory". That's what we stayed in and we'll never forget our experience. It taught me one thing, always be thankful for the opportunities that I get, no matter how unaccustomed (sp?) I am to the situation. Life always teaches a lesson.

* Two weeks was WAY TOO LONG to spend in one location.
We pretty much exhausted most of the stuff in the Lonely Planet guide book. If you're a shop-a-holic, this is the place for you. If not, best to find someone who actually lives in Hong Kong to vet out all the neat hidden jewels that are NOT in the guide book. Also the weather became uncooperative towards the end of our journey and so that limited our motivation to explore the other islands of Hong Kong.

There's a ton more I could say about Hong Kong and my experience, but it has been a month and I have forgotten stuff. Forgive me. If i've told you the stories and it's missing, please fill them in!!

memes from HK

Sun, 22 Jan 2006 08:56:35 GMT

You Are an Orange Martini

Everyone's favorite drunk, you're fun, flirty, and charming.
Unfortunately, you often spark jealousy - and unintentionally start bar fights.

You should never: Drink and dial. You'll just end up with multiple booty calls at your door!

Your ideal party: Is huge and lively. You love to work a crowd.

Your drinking soulmates: those with a Blueberry Martini personality

Your drinking rivals: those with a Dirty Martini personality

What Flavor Martini Are You?

You scored as Zoe Alleyne Washburne. The Soldier. You are the second in command, and that is fine. You like a chain of command, but only when the one in charge has earnt your respect. Those who earn your love or loyalty will find no one better to guard their back.

</td>

Zoe Alleyne Washburne

69%

Simon Tam

63%

Kaylee (Kaywinnet Lee) Frye

63%

The Operative

56%

Hoban 'Wash' Washburne

56%

River Tam

56%

Capt. Mal Reynolds

50%

Shepherd Derrial Book

44%

Jayne Cobb

38%

Inara Serra

31%

Which Serenity character are you?
created with QuizFarm.com

C U ALL SOON!

Half way around the world...

Sun, 15 Jan 2006 05:11:31 GMT

So I'm in a coffee house typing this entry half way around the world ... in HONG KONG! ^__^

It's really surreal. The man and I both agree, it's somewhat weird, yet wicked cool. Having a blast just bumming around. The sights, sounds and smells are cool and somewhat familiar, yet I sometimes catch myself being overwhelmed from it all.

So far we've covered most of Central Hong Kong and the lower half of Kowloon. The place we are staying in is a step up from "hostel" territory (in Mong Kok -- Kowloon side of HK). We're totally in the red light district. We have nudie bars across the street and everything. For about $500 HKD anyone can be "entertained" by a Russian lady. Yea, it's so seedy, it's actually quite funny.

I don't think we will go budget again, not if we have the means to not go budget that is and that's only in reference to when (and if) we come back to Hong Kong.

Feet and legs are wicked sore, but I think those are just the battle scars of a well traveled world traveler.

Will have more stories to tell, right now, my time on the computer is up, got to go. Much love to all. See you when I get back to the states! (For those of you keeping count, that's another week to go.)

Keep it real peeps!

It's been a while my friends, so I'll be brief

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 05:50:01 GMT

I hope everyone had a well to do Holiday weekend this past weekend. Highlights of mine are as follows:

Had a fun Birthday!
Yes, yes, i now have to check off the next age bracket on a survey. I can no longer check the "18-25" box, but please don't cry for me Argentina. Right at midnight, the man let me open my presents from him. The first two I totally guessed them (DVDs), but the third one was a suprise. I thought it was a desk calendar (the one-a-day ones), but totally wrong. It was an iPod! And from the looks of other entries from The Posse, that was a popular gift this year. What was even more stunning was the fact that he had uploaded most of my CD collection to the thing and when I turned it on the first song that was on there was "I Love You" by Sarah McLachlan. This is where y'all go "awwwwwwwwwww". After much sleep, got up and ended up going to the M.F.A. for the Ansel Adams exhibit. If you really like his photos (hardcore) or is into photography as a hobbie/passion, go see it. Afterwards, we were mallrats, then the dinner bell rang, cake, then spent some quality time with the man after running a few family errands. He's one very patient man.
Christmas ended up on a depressing note
Started out with me waking up and getting my sibs up and about so we could open presents. Drove over to the man's house to eat lunch with his family. Then us and our sibs tried to catch an afternoon showing of Munich, but was unsuccessful at getting tickets. So for the next 11 hours he spent with my family and I. I truely appreciate him sticking with me through 11 hours of being with my family (and at times, with extended as well). Oh and the depressing end was the fact that we (my sibs, the man and I) saw a 1040pm showing of Munich. With sleep deprevation, I was already on the edge. The film just pushed me. It just was WAY TOO HEAVY for xmas.
A very chill day(s) after xmas
Ended up doing not much on the day after xmas. In fact, so chill, I do not remember quite what I did. Will need to consult w/the man's blog to fill in the gaps. As for the other days of the week, I took them off for vacation. Spent a whole day with the man, bumming around town on walks to get my legs in shape for a hike on a peak (he took that day off too). The next day, stayed in researching stuff and catching up on shows that I had taped. Got two phone calls from the office to help troubleshoot something (this is a good thing that it was for only one event and not multiple ones). Today, spent time with the sister and mallratted and ended up getting 3 pairs of pants out of the 6 hour shopping spree. Tomorrow is unknown. What's sad is that I don't feel like i've accomplished ANY real thing out of my vacation. I feel like i've been pretty unproductive. Brain is mush. Does that seem right at all to anyone at the fact that I feel bad about not being productive on my vacation?

In summary: I had a really kick ass Christmas weekend. Time off from work is excellent, but only if you don't pick up your phone when your coworker calls. Hmm, there's more to this summary, but it's late and i'm actually tired. My bed calls me. Nite all.