I know I haven’t been posting much, but I’ve been busy and have some things I’m not quite ready to spill on the blog. Could I be more vague? Possibly. Anyway…

I am loving my Blackberry Curve. It’s so fun. And I finally successfully removed that stupid “Sent from my Blackberry…” message.
- - -
In random news, tomorrow I am going to the dermatologist to have every mole on my body looked at. I have a feeling he is going to remove quite a few, and I’m hoping it won’t hurt too badly. Did I mention my doctor met his wife through a girl he went on a Jdate with? Perhaps I should stay in better contact with the NGNC ones I’ve met.
- - -
The other night, I took my broken strand of three year old pearls to the jewelry store to have them restrung. I was informed that you’re supposed to get them restrung every year. Who knew?
- - -
In TV news, what is up with Law & Order? My Tivo has only picked up SVU, but not the other franchises. Are they ever coming back? And by the way, how awesome is Elodie from The Hills? And how disappointed was I with Top Chef? I totally wanted Dale to win. Also, is anyone else watching Sunset Tan or Beauty and the Geek or am I the only one watching crap TV?
- - -
Tonight Karrin and I are going to see Superbad, I’m excited! Has anyone seen it?
- - -
In blog related news, are there any Wordpress experts out there? I need help with my installation. Please please please.
- - -
This week’s question: If you could make your current salary doing any job, what would it be and why?

More like random stuff, but whatever.

I had two moles on my back removed–one itched when clothing tags hit it and the other was really dark which is apparently a bad thing so he said off they come! You guys were right, they didn’t hurt much. Of course, I completely forgot I had one removed about a year and a half ago and it was obviously so not traumatic that I managed to forget about it. I also had a bunch of white bumps (yes, that’s the official name) around my eyes and on my eyelids that he removed. And those actually hurt more than the mole removal. When I asked him what caused them and how I can prevent getting more bumps, he explained that they come with age and there is nothing I can do. Nice. Anyway, everything is being biopsied but there’s nothing to worry about. And he told me, “You have wonderful skin. You don’t go out in the sun much, do you?” Was it my pasty white back that gave that away?

Speaking of the moles, after showering on Saturday, I found myself shedding tears of frustration. I had taken off the bandages that the doctor put on, and the larger of the two scabs started bleeding. I could barely reach the damn thing because it was of course in the middle of my back, and there was no way I would be able to replace the band-aid myself. Sometimes I hate that I’m single and live alone. I messaged my sister in a panic, and she came over and put band-aids on for me so I could get dressed and actually have a productive day and you know, wear a shirt.
- - -
As you know, I am a writer. It’s my day job, it’s what I’m good at, and it’s what I enjoy. As you also know, I like food, hence my baking blog. So, imagine my excitement when I saw a job posting for a food writer! I applied, interviewed (turns out it was for a food blogger! and the office is casual!), was offered the position, and declined it due to the low salary. I was then offered the job at a slightly higher salary, but unfortunately, it is part-time and won’t work out financially. I had to decline it. Again. My heart sort of broke. Fortunately, it was only the first job I interviewed for, and hopefully, there will be many more interviews to come.
- - -
In other news, I did five million loads of laundry, ran errands including Target with my sister, updated Wordpress on my baking blog, slept a lot, caught up on TV, made candy corn and oatmeal sandwich cookies, and had a very relaxing weekend. And oh yeah, I had a date with a boy I met last week while Hurrydating. Oh, did I neglect to mention went to Hurrydate? Well I did. And while this weekend’s date was nice and obviously interested, unfortunately, I’m not. Please save the “go out with him again” and “give him one more chance” things. Thank you in advance.
- - -
This coming week should be fun! I’m having dinner with Melanie one night, and volunteering at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Poker Tournament another night; should be lots of cute boys there.
- - -
Finally, something is wrong with my blog and there is a very noticeable lag when leaving a comment (and also when doing stuff behind the scenes). My hosting company seems to think it’s something I did, not something they did. Since I haven’t made any changes to anything and it started out of nowhere and they are unwilling to research the issue further, I am looking into switching to a new hosting company that comes highly recommended. However, I need a Wordpress guru to assist me in moving everything over. Let me know if you can help, thanks!

In both instances, you:

• Come across only so many potential new matches every day.
• Draft what to write, in order to ensure you appear friendly and smart.
• Wait for a response, and question your initial correspondence.
• Often do not receive a response; not even a “Thank you, but we’re not a good match.”
• Try not to get to your hopes up after scheduling your first meeting.
• Go through your closet figuring out the perfect outfit to wear.
• Research (via either Yahoo Finance or MySpace, whichever is appropriate) to properly prepare for the meeting.
• Map out route to meeting place and hope you arrive on time without getting lost.
• Get asked a ton of questions while hopefully getting a chance to ask questions of your own.
• Leave wondering if they’re interested.
• Hope the phone rings and that they ask to see you again.

And now if you’ll excuse me, Monster and Jdate are both calling my name.

Still loving my Blackberry. The only negative is that the keys are so small, it’s hard to press the right one. Also, when I leave it on my desk at work and receive an email or text, it makes the clock radio on the other side of my cube buzz. Interference?
- - -
There is a new weekly podcast called Marzipan Taco. If you’re in need of a good laugh, check it out!
- - -
In Pinkberry news, it appears David Lebovitz likes the stuff, and this saddens me greatly.
- - -
Has anyone been to that super inexpensive clothing store, Steve & Barry’s, at the Bev Connection yet? If so, what did you think of it?
- - -
In job news, the latest rumor at my office is that I’ll be employed at least into the beginning of the new year. This gives me more time than I expected to find the perfect job.

In related news, I was offered and declined the food blogger position for a third time. Sadly, it’s just not financially do-able. Yes, I’m bummed, but it does remind me that those types of jobs are out there. Speaking of jobs, if you work at the Capital Group Companies (yes, I check my stats) would you mind sending me an email? Thanks!
- - -
In blog news, I think I solved the comment lag issue. Let me know if it’s posting comments faster than it was before.
- - -
In the past six days, I have made then brought candy corn, oatmeal sandwich cookies, and banana chocolate chip muffins into the office. When I’m stressed, I bake. My remaining coworkers are enjoying it and WW will enjoy the extra week or so I’ll be paying until I’m back at my goal weight. I’m counting points again beginning Saturday though.
- - -
I’ve been waking up with a really sore upper back/neck and noticed a huge dent in the middle of my bed and decided it’s time for a new mattress. I am so excited to try out comfy pillow top mattresses this weekend. Yes, I am aware I am a dork.
- - -
My airplane friend Hilary invited me to a LA Fashion Week fashion show. I’m looking forward to it but desperately need to figure out what to wear.
- - -
This week’s question: When you’re home alone, do you eat/do anything you would never do in front of other people?

(Sorry about the lag when commenting. I had to activate the goofy plugin again because my site was getting big time spammed. Unfortunately, it causes major slowness when commenting, but it’s either that or have my site down repeatedly because of the spammers.)

I either have super horrible allergies or am fighting off a cold. I’ve had a dull headache for about three days now keep thinking it’s going to turn into a migraine, yet so far it has not. Anyway, another unremarkable weekend. I:

• Started the weekend by tripping over my own two feet in the stairwell of the parking garage at my office building. In front of a cute guy of course, because when I fall, oh I fall. The damage: two skinned knees (one with blood) and a cut pinky finger (not sure how that happened).
• Went to Sit N Sleep (of You’re killing me Larry! fame) and tried out about 15 mattresses. Tried to haggle with the guy but he wouldn’t budge. Went to Leeds on Pico, found a very similar mattress (Sealy euro plush pillowtop or something like that), and got it for way less than both the price tag price and the Sit N Sleep price. It’s being delivered next weekend, I am so excited!
• Talked to a Jdate guy on the phone.
• Had brunch with my sister and aunt at Jinky’s in West Hollywood.
• Got a $40 parking ticket in West LA during the five minutes I was in the mattress store before running back out after realizing I forgot to put money in the meter.
• Heard my neighbor and his lady friend having sex at 2:30 a.m. both Friday and Saturday morning. Maybe she’s a waitress and comes over when she’s done with her shift.
• Ran a million errands, including Bed Bath and Beyond, the market, the pharmacy, and other exciting places.
• Took my Little to the Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival at LACMA. Did you know that every Sunday they have free activities for kids? We signed her up for a free membership (and she gets to bring an adult along for free) so we’ll definitely be going back.

And that’s it. Now I’m doing laundry and hoping my headache will go away.
- - -
Question for the teachers out there: My Little’s back to school night is this week and I’d like to go. Do you think her teachers will mind?

Last night my new friend Hilary and I were supposed to go to a fashion show at LA Fashion Week. Unfortunately (or fortunately), we are both employed and neither of us would have been able to check in to the show early enough, so we opted for dinner at Birds instead. So much fun! And thanks to Martini Guy, I am a huge fan of their chicken meatloaf and dirty martinis. Mmm.
- - -
In job news, the company I work for has been purchased by our largest competitor (pending shareholder approval which should be interesting because it’s already being contested). The good news is that the purchase won’t become official for at least another 4-6 months, by which time I should be able to find a new job.
- - -
I’m going up north to visit my friend Sara in a couple of weeks. I am so looking forward to this trip because I need to get out of town big time. Ghirardelli here I come! Other than that, we don’t plan to do any other touristy stuff.
- - -
Does anyone know where to get powdered soy milk in LA? I tried Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and another similar market but they all say they used to carry it but that it’s been discontinued. I want to make a vegan version of the candy corn.
- - -
In TV news, Heidi ate at Cheebo. The restaurant is walking distance from my apartment (have I walked there? um no); how dare she not say hello?
- - -
I had a Jdate Tuesday night at The Village Idiot. Now, as much as I enjoy that place (especially their Pinot Noir), it’s just not conducive to having an actual conversation. It’s entirely too loud. Anyway, he was okay, but talked the entire time and didn’t ask me anything about myself. And, he bragged about producing a certain reality show until I asked if he knew our family friend’s son who was the executive producer on it. Hah. I don’t work in the industry but I can play that stupid game when I need to.
- - -
I think I’m addicted to Scrabulous on Facebook. And I almost lost to a fifteen-year-old. I need to expand my vocabulary.
- - -
Mazel tov to Randi and Michael on their engagement! Have I mentioned before that they met for the first time at a shindig I organized? I feel a tiny bit responsible.
- - -
This week’s question: What is your favorite piece of useless trivia? Mine is “Did you know it’s anatomically impossible to lick your own elbow?”

This blog is getting boring and aside from my Thursday and weekend posts, I haven’t been writing much. I’m surprised (yet flattered and curious) that you guys keep coming back. I don’t know what’s up–I guess it’s a combination of me missing my privacy and not wanting to write about everything (especially my dates) and just an all around boring life at the moment. Anyway, here’s my weekend:

• Made a shiva call to a friend whose mother passed away. The night made me think about how I’m now at the age that my friends are beginning to lose parents rather than grandparents. So scary.
• Dropped my car off for an oil change and walked (yes, walked) to the bank, back home, to the dry cleaners, then back to the car place. That was before it hit about 85 degrees and got insanely windy.
• Ran a million errands.
• Got my new mattress. I slept horribly the first night and called the mattress store in a panic the following day. The guy on the phone assured me that it’s normal to not like your mattress right away, especially if you’ve switched from firm to a cushy pillow top like I did. After sixty days, I can swap it out for a new one (and pay a fee), but hopefully I won’t need to do that.
• Exchanged the iPod Shuffle I received as a birthday gift (since I bought myself one right before my birthday) and put the store credit toward an iPod Nano.
• Didn’t realize today was AIDS Walk LA and got stuck in massive traffic. It took me about 45 minutes to get from Fairfax and Fountain to Fairfax and Venice. On weekend days that’s usually a 20 minute drive, even with Grove traffic.
• Bought new sheets for my new mattress. Also bought new pillows.
• Went to Trader Joe’s only to find out three of my favorite things there (frozen edamame, dehydrated strawberries, and maple turkey sausage) are currently out stock.
• Suffered through the worst allergies ever ever ever.

Totally unrelated, would someone please remind the tourists over at the Chinese that this is LA, and we don’t jaywalk here.

This coming week is beyond crazy. After work, I have three dinners with friends and one night of drinks. Then over the weekend, I am maybe attending a Friday night Shabbat service with my Little and other Bigs and Littles, finally going to Meltdown (they’re open on Saturdays now!) with Jen, going to a Halloween party that night, and a baptism the next morning. Lots of fun stuff! By the way, what exactly happens at a baptism, will Jen and I be the only people not eating the cracker, and what do I wear? It’s during the mass, if that helps.

I know most of you will find this post boring, but I have some family who read the blog so I figured this can help keep them updated on what’s going on.

The latest, Tuesday afternoon: My parents are allowed to go back home. Woohoo!

Please think good thoughts for everyone affected by the fires, especially the firefighters out there battling the blazes.

News updates here and cool map here.
- - -
(Updates up top)

Thanks to everyone who emailed me asking about the fires. My sister and I are far from any of the flames. However, my parents are without power and are in the process of packing up photos and important paperwork because they are in the possible evacuation area of one have been ordered to evacuate because of the San Diego fires. My dad waited in a huge line to get gas this morning in case they get the order to evacuate. Julie and her family evacuated from San Marcos to a beach house, the OC attorney I used to date is all packed and ready to leave his house in Irvine as well, and some high school friends have also evacuated. Locally, a bunch of co-workers up in Santa Clarita have been evacuated and others in Topanga Canyon/Malibu area are ready to go.

Monday afternoon: I have no clue what’s going on now. Looks like they may be back home. I’ll keep you posted.

7:30 p.m. Monday: Earlier this evening, my parents received the Reverse 911 call telling them to be ready to evacuate at any time. It’s now officially time to leave, and they are heading out to a motel. All of our friends have also been evacuated. It’s crazy to think that everyone we know in San Diego County (all of our friends live in North County) was forced out of their homes. Scary, scary stuff.

Tuesday morning: My parents are still out of their house, and are looking for a hotel to stay at tonight as the motel they stayed at last night was kind of seedy (but yes, safe and out of harm’s way which is what is important here). Unfortunately, every hotel in San Diego is booked, so if you have an in with a hotel chain, please let me know. (They can’t stay with friends because all of their friends have also evacuated.)

What a week! There’s something so unsettling about sitting in my air conditioned apartment in Hollywood or my office in Century City, looking out the window at blue skies, and watching on TV and reading online about the city I grew up in burning down. The uncertainty and sadness in my parents and friends’ voices was horrible and being 120 miles away made me feel even more helpless. Watching this video of San Diego newscaster Larry Himmel reporting in front of his own burning home didn’t help either.

Fortunately, my parents and friends are all back home.* Yay! Also, my sister and I kept in touch with kids of family friends via Facebook, so we knew who also evacuated and when. The Internet really is amazing.

*Sadly, I just found out that one of my high school friends lost her home in Rancho Bernardo. It’s slow getting information because everyone is just returning home.
- - -
In non-fire related stuff (life continued as usual here in the city, it’s so weird). Monday night, with my cell phone by my side, I had dinner at Buddha’s Belly with my friend and fellow Big Sister, Keren. (First interesting note: Keren and Nicole live in the same small apartment complex. I learned this earlier this year when I sent an email addressed to both of them asking if either one would like to attend a Jewish young professionals event with me. Random.) Anyway, right after our bill came, the owner of the restaurant came up to our table and asked if I was a Big; he recognized me from events. I told him that both Keren and I were, and he grabbed the bill and said he was going to give us the Big discount, which was incredibly generous. If you haven’t eaten there before, definitely check it out.
- - -
I spent much of Tuesday emailing with a blog reader, Frume Sarah, and after a quick game of Jewish geography, learned that her sister-in-law and I went to high school together. Very random.

I left work early to take a friend to the airport and since I had dinner plans with Nanette and Jami in Culver City, I didn’t want to drive to Hollywood and back. (Second interesting note: Frume Sarah and Jami have known each other since they were teenagers.) So, I made a quick trip to Surfas then enjoyed a glass of wine, alone, at the patio at Vinum Populi. This is the first time I have ever had a drink alone before, and it wasn’t bad at all–lots of good people watching and the servers were very nice. I then began walking toward Ford’s Filling Station and heard someone call my name. I looked around and saw yet another fellow Big Brother; I keep bumping into him around town.

I finally met up with Nanette and Jami at the restaurant and we had a delightful dinner and got to catch up. (Third interesting note: Jami’s sister is super good friends with Nicole.)

Although LA is such an enormous place, we are all so tightly connected. A little more so thanks to Nicole and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
- - -
Last night, I had dinner at Kabuki with Esther who is in town for a conference. It was really nice catching up with her, and she even had her first [quasi] celebrity sighting of this trip to LA–Danny Bonaduce and his girlfriend.
- - -
In TV news, there is no news. That’s because I’ve been out every night and when I got home, I watched fire coverage on TV. I now have entirely too much Tivod stuff to watch.
- - -
In random things I currently love news, we can add the following to the list: my new mattress and DevaCurl No-Poo and One Conditioner. What are you currently loving?
- - -
And that’s it.

Friday
Stopped at the market then made Halloween cupcakes for Saturday’s party, ordered sushi for dinner, then fell asleep in front of the TV. I also somehow managed to completely forget to put the mouths on the monster cupcakes, which made the green ones look like Oscar The Grouch.

Saturday
Met up with Jen for lunch at Meltdown in Culver City. Oh. My. God. I think I ate about 5,000 points in cheese alone–perhaps it was better when they were closed on Saturdays. It was so so so so good. And, they make their own NEW dill pickles. And they’re good! You so want to eat there, don’t you?

After lunch, I ran some errands, relaxed for what felt like ten minutes, then headed out (in the drizzle!) to Randi and Michael’s pumpkin carving party in Santa Monica. The party was a lot of fun, even if my pumpkin did suck. The pumpkin to the left is Michael’s–he’s quite talented isn’t he?

Sunday
Woke up super early and headed back out to the Westside (third time in two days!) to attend my friend’s son’s baptism. This marked the second time I ever attended church services–the first was when a bunch of my friends had their confirmations when we were in high school. Anyway, the service was interesting and made me wish I had paid more attention in my World Religions class in college. The baby was so cute, didn’t cry at all, and wore a 100-year-old christening gown, which I thought was incredibly cool. Side note: I was a little surprised to see people in shorts, jeans, or gym shoes in church. Is that normal, or just a California thing?

After the baptism I was supposed to see my Little, but that didn’t happen, so I instead ended up doing laundry, going to the market, and cleaning my apartment (including my shower which is my absolute least favorite thing to do so I always put it off). I then made Halloween finger cookies and now I am going to plant myself on my couch and not move for at least an hour or two.
- - -
In other news, my VCR/DVD player combo thinks it’s daylight savings and is an hour early, my chin has about a thousand zits, and I’m going to northern California on Friday.