Happy New Year

Mr. Lolly and I will be ringing in the New Year with our friends Tiggy and Robert. As usual, Mr. Lolly has no resolutions for the coming year. My resolution for 2005 is to become more domesticated. Specifically, I plan to start cleaning the house more and I would like to learn how to cook a few more things that Mr. Lolly will actually eat. Speaking of eating,I usually vow that the upcoming year will be the one in which I finally become rail- thin, but 2004 actually WAS the year I became rail-thin ( I lost a total of 14 lbs. and went from a size 1o to a size 4.) Which brings me to my Top Ten Gratitudes for 2004:
1. (see above)
2. I am one year closer to graduating.
3. Not working full time, which allows me to spend more time with Mr. Lolly and the babies.
4. The friends I've made this year and the people I've reconnected with- at this time last year, my social life was NONEXISTENT.
5. Our new house in a nice, safe neighborhood.
6. The reelection of GW Bush. (Ha Ha! Just kidding! I wanted to make sure you were paying attention!)
7. In spite of #6 and the ongoing war in Iraq, there was no terrorist attack on the U.S. in 2004.
8. The energy and self confidence I have gained as result of the weight I have lost.
9. Family.
10. Healthy eating habits.

Lost seven pounds and gained a complex

Fall is here in Lollybiscuitland (Michigan.) Its been almost two months since I updated this blog (it appears I wanted to start a blog just so I could post now and then about how I never blog, but whatevah.) Anyway, we are settled into our new house and I've started a new semester at school. I've also lost seven pounds on Weight Watchers! Actually, as I told my cousin and fellow Drotarian, I've lost seven pounds and gained a complex. This is the first diet I've ever been on, and let me say that I am obsessed. (Let me take this moment to give a shout out to Quaker Oats- I couldn't have done it w/o you!) I've gone from a size 10 to a size 6 (at the Gap, which is just about the only place I shop anyway) and I still have 10 more pounds to go.... Here's to the losers! (He he- got that one from the WW messageboards.)

Back to blogging

Well, I'm back. I've been pretty busy the past month and a half- I went to California to visit my sisters AND we just moved into our new house a week ago. I love it- its quite a change from our little hovel in the D. Of course, now Mr. Lolly and I are now fighting over the decor. We went through this when he first moved in with me- when it comes to home furnishings, the man is a Comfort Nazi. The current debate centers on whether or not to purchase a vintage sofa and coffee table. (I am going for a midcentury modern feel, while he feels we should purchase everything on our upcoming trip to Ikea.) Tommorrow I have to return the bamboo shades I purchased at Lowes, because Mr. Lolly is demanding his privacy and has deemed them too see-through (which they are, but I like the way they look!) However, Mr. Lolly is adamant that he does not want the whole neighborhood ogling him while he changes his clothes.

I'm So Excited and I Just Can't Hide It

I just had my consultation this morning for braces. I can't wait!!!! Finally, i'll be able to open my mouth when I smile. Right now, I always stop myself before I show my teeth, and it makes me look like I'm half smiling, half snarling, according to Mr. Lolly. (Actually, he says I look like our chihuahha when she's angry.) Anyway, I should be getting them on In August or early September (Invisalign!)In other news, I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 Sat. night, and I think everyone should see it. I knew most of the stuff he presented in the first half of the movie, but the second half had everybody in the theater (including me) crying. I don't care what his detractors say- I love Michael Moore, and I'm so glad he's speaking up for the many Americans who are disgusted with the current administration.

Fun Fun Fun in the Warm California Sun

One week from tomorrow I am going to Los Angeles to visit my sistahs. I can't wait! I'm so excited! They have lived out there for a few years now and this will be the first time I've visited (and I'm still terrified that my plan will be hijacked, but all one can do is hope for the best.) I will be gone from July 3rd thru July 9th, and I don't have to go back to work untill July 12th. I followed Mr. Lolly's advice and bought an LA guidebook, and I discovered a bunch of things I want to do. I want to go to Mann's Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Wax museum. I'd like to visit the MOCA, the Getty, and the Museum of Tolerance. (Ironically, my sister said the Museum of Tolerance is in a terrible area and we'll probably get killed going there.) I want to listen to a rockin' band down at Palisades Park. The Carol and Barry Kaye Museum of Miniatures (housing "the largest collection of miniatures in the world")sounds totally bizarre and fun. I wouldn't mind going on one of those "star maps" tours, either! Of course,I want to buy Mr. Lolly a present at the Giant Robot Store, and I'd like to buy myself a Swatch at the Swatch store.

Indifference at the Courtesy Laundromat

Yesterday our laundry got stuck in one of the washing machines at the Courtesy Laundromat in Ferndale. The ladies there could have cared less, and their indifference (coupled with the fact that I had not eaten all day) caused me to have a meltdown. The lady at the counter told me "not to get an attitude" with her. I admit, I overreacted a bit, but that load of wash was comprised mainly of my ratty undies, and the though of anyone seeing them upset me to no end. As I left, I vowed silently never to return. I repeated this vow loudly to Mr. Lolly the minute I walked through the door of our house. I screamed at him that if he wanted his clean boxer shorts, he could go back to the laundromat and pick up that load of wash himself! I would die before I would ever return to the Courtesy Laundromat! As it turns out, they called today to let us know that the clothes had finally been extracted from the washing machine,and Mr. Lolly picked them up. Even he was disturbed at the way they had been carelessly tossed in a bag (I guess we were lucky they even bothered to throw them in the dryer!) Sadly, the Courtesy Laundromat is the nicest laundromat in town. Its also the closest (except for the one in Hamtramck, which is quite unsavory.) We have no choice but to go back, but I tell you I will not soon forget the indifference I experienced at the Courtesy Laundromat.

What to Do on My Day Off?

After a restless night, I was up at 8 A.M. this morning with Mr. Lolly. He went to school, and I've spent the past hour and a half reading Poopscape in bed on his laptop (two of my other favorite blogs are Fluidpudding and Loobylu.) If my newfound obsession with blogs continues, I may never read another book! I have the day off today, and I'm not sure what I feel like doing. I think I may call my friend Amanda and see if she wants to go to the DIA, or to see the movie Saved (because now that I think about it, the DIA may be closed on Mondays.) I could go thriftshopping, but gas is so expensive and my favorite thrifty is a million miles away, in Livonia. I guess I'll go take a bath and straighten up the house.

Day 1 of My New Life as a Blogger

How to begin? As you can see by the title of this post, I am new to the Wonderful World of Blogging. I guess I should start by telling my readers a bit about myself.

10 Random Things About Lollybiscuit (in no particular order:)

1. Although I like to think I have mellowed with age, I have been accused of being an elitist. For example, I am not fashionable in the mainstream sense of the word, yet I enjoy passing judgement on the attire of others. Summer is upon us, and with it a new crop of fashion "dont's". Specifically, I am thinking of grown women in shorty shorts (usually made of denim, and paired with little white Keds.) This look is sadly prevalent here in the midwest.

2. I am obsessed with music. My current favorites are the Polyphonic Spree, and of course the Flaming Lips. If you do not own the Soft Bulletin, run out and buy it! It is nothing short of genius- in fact, after all these years, it still has the power to transport me.

3.My two favorite movies of the last year were Lost in Translation and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

4.I really want a Swatch and a Rabbi's Daughter's T-shirt. I am torn between "Bubbeleh" (I am afraid that non-Yiddish speakers will think it means "big boobs") and "Shiksa" (too "in your face"?) Which brings us to number 5....

5.I love learning about other cultures, although (sadly) the only foreign country I have visited is Canada. Mr. Lolly is half Jewish (although to look at him one would think he had the map of Israel all over him.)As a kid, he did not even know about his Jewish heritage, let alone that he would grow up to marry a Catholic girl who would fetishize it.

6.We have a cat and a chihuahua, which has led to an obsession with tiny dogs in general. Passing a tiny dog in a car or on the street will cause Mr.Lolly and I to spend the next few minutes talking (in high pitched voices) about how cute the "little baby" is, what its name might be, etc.

7.I do not buy women's magazines, with the exception of Bust (although I feel that they are becoming more and more of a glossy rag) and Bitch. Which brings us to number 8...

8.I love to read! In fact, when Kitty broke the telly last winter, we never even bothered to replace it- we just spend even more time reading and listening to NPR. The last book I bought was A Cook's Tour by my boyfriend Tony Bourdain (those of you who saw his show on the Cooking Channel will know who he is.)

9.I dream of becoming a librarian. However, the current lack of job opportunities in the field of library science has forced me to shoot for becoming an elementary teacher instead.

10.Because I am having a hard time coming up with something for number 10, I will share with you that lately I have been drinking a lot of fancy "pops" (soda to you non-midwesterners). I love Stewart's Ginger Beer and Vanilla Soda. One feels so decadent paying $3.99 for a four pack of pop in fancy glass bottles!