princess genevieve

Seriously?

2009-10-20T13:54:00.001-04:00

Last week, my yoga teacher suggested we all stop wearing deodorant, because he said we need to sweat and release the toxins in our body.

I've got yoga class tonight. I really hope no one took this suggestion to heart.

Fall Into Reading Update

2009-10-13T15:57:00.002-04:00

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
3. Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
4. An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon
5. Sammy's Hill, by Kristin Gore
6. The White Queen, by Philippa Gregory
7. Dead and Gone, by Charlaine Harris

So, as you can see, I added two more books to my list, which I've already read. I'm currently working on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. If this were not a book club pick, I never would have chosen it. If this were not a book club pick, I would not have gotten past the prologue. But it is, and although I'm not opposed to giving up on book club picks, I'm about 200 pages in and getting somewhat interested in the story. I'm just not much of a mystery reader in general.

As for the others, well, I loved An Echo in the Bone, but I expected to. I wouldn't recommend it if you haven't read the other 6 Outlander books, though. I even got to go to a book signing with Diana Gabaldon! I got my copy signed, and one for my sister.

Sammy's Hill was cute. I chose this one because I found it on the bookshelf in my communal laundry room, and I like books that take place in Washington. I liked it enough to get the second one, Sammy's House, from the library.

The White Queen was not my favorite Philippa Gregory book. By far. It just didn't seem as well written, and the story did not draw me in in the same way that others of hers have.

And Dead and Gone, well, I love Sookie Stackhouse! One more unread to go in the series.

U2

2009-10-02T16:40:00.002-04:00

Monday afternoon, my friend Jayne called and said her friends Amy and Heath were going to the U2 concert on Tuesday, and they had two extra tickets, so did I want to go too?

Well, Tuesday nights I go to yoga, but it did not take me long to decide I could skip it this week. So off we went.

The seats were on the club level of the stadium, pretty much dead on view of the front of the stage, as you can see. The concert was great! I'm not the world's biggest U2 fan by any stretch of the imagination, but they played a lot of songs I knew, so that was fun.

That spaceship looking thing around the stage was, um, a spaceship, according to Bono. It changed colors and had lights on it that were pretty cool after dark.

Thanks, Jayne and Amy and Heath for inviting me!

Adventures on the Bus, #23536

2009-09-24T15:40:00.002-04:00

Dear Man Sitting Across from Me on the Bus,

It is called personal hygiene, not public, because you do it in private. Therefore, I must politely ask that you refrain from clipping your fingernails on the bus.

Love,
Genevieve

PS - yes, that was me who said, out loud, "that's disgusting."

PPS - I was never so excited to see my colleague Ann on public transport. Gave me a good reason to move seats! (I run into Ann quite a bit on public transport. We live pretty close to each other.)

Fall into Reading

2009-09-23T10:52:00.005-04:00

My friend Amy always participates in Callapidder Days's reading challenges, and I decided to do Fall into Reading myself this year! Here's a list of 5 books (to start) that I plan to read this fall:

1. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson
2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery
3. Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
4. An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon
5. Sammy's Hill, by Kristin Gore

I'll update as I read these, and add more, as this will not be enough to get me through the fall!

Flight Home

2009-09-08T16:34:00.002-04:00

I went to New Orleans this weekend to see my family. It was a great trip - we went to the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Sunday with my aunt, uncle, and cousin Rick, because I wanted to try this barbecue place, The Shed, that I had seen on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. Luckily it was good, otherwise I would have felt terrible making 5 other people drive 2 hours for me!

Anyway, I flew back to Washington this morning at 6 am. I was trying to sleep, but the guy across the aisle from me kept snoring.

Maybe I should start traveling with earplugs, but in case that doesn't work, any other suggestions?

Well Alright Then

2009-09-04T16:59:00.002-04:00

Last night my home phone rang. I didn't recognize the name on the caller ID, but since it looked like a real person, not "unavailable," I answered.

Me: Hello?
Voice: Hello?
Me: um, hello?
Voice: Hello?
Me, getting irritated: Can I help you?
Voice: No, you can't help me.

And then she hung up.

I guess it was a wrong number, but how weird is that? She called ME. Couldn't she have just said, "sorry, wrong number!"

I'm like a dragon now!

2009-08-19T14:15:00.003-04:00

Last night I went to yoga for the first time in a long time. This wasn't the class I used to go to all the time, but I liked it a lot. The teacher did a lot of focus on stress-reducing techniques, which is great for me.

He also taught us fire breathing! You can do it through your nose, but if you are a beginner, like me, you make a taco tongue (if you are genetically able, that is) and then breathe in and out through your mouth using your stomach muscles.

And today, I'm a little bit sore, but planning to go back next Tuesday night.

Adventures on the Bus, #3456

2009-08-06T15:45:00.003-04:00

I haven't had too many weird bus adventures lately, but Sunday I took the bus to my friend Nicole's. It's not a route I take often, but it is direct from my house to hers.

On the way there, there was this crazy guy who kept talking, very loudly, throughout the entire ride. He told everyone that he works in a cemetery. Then he told everyone that white people kill black babies, and I started to get a bit nervous, because I was the only white person on the bus, and god knows if he's crazy enough to think this, he might be crazy enough to want to seek revenge on me. And then bury me in his workplace, and my family would be none the wiser. I tried to read my book but finally I gave up and just hoped I would make it to Nicole's in one piece.

On the way back, the ride was mostly quiet until we got about 5 minutes from my house. Then this guy got on, who proceeded to tell me he felt very very ill because he had just spent $12 at Taco Bell and eaten all of that. I agreed that would be enough to make anyone puke, but requested he do it off the bus.

I love public transportation! You would not get these two adventures in a private car, that's for sure. Near death and near puke. Awesome.

Away We Go

2009-07-10T10:27:00.003-04:00

Last night I went to see Away We Go with my friend Erika. I loved this movie - I thought it was funny and touching and had a perfect ending. This has nothing to do with the fact that my brilliant cousin, Anne Yvette, worked on this movie. I think I would have loved it anyway, because, well, she also works on Law & Order and I don't watch that, ever.

It's apparently not in wide release yet, because my sister Leslie told me it's not playing near her, but if it's playing near you, go see it!

Lights! Camera! Action!

2009-06-24T14:27:00.001-04:00

Or, just the lights part of it.

Since last week they've been filming a movie in my neighborhood. All I end up seeing are craft services and random trailers and trucks, but my friend Erin did meet Paul Rudd last week. She said he was very nice and super adorable. I've also heard people have spotted Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson about town.

Paul Rudd told Erin it's a romantic comedy, but we don't know the name. I'm excited to see it - I love to see my city and even more, my neighborhood, on the big screen!

La Princesse à Londres

2009-06-02T16:24:00.001-04:00

I had a great time visiting England! And as you can see, they welcomed me by putting my name in neon!
We packed a lot in to a three-day trip. We met my college sorority sister Jess, who is living in London with her husband and baby, for lunch at Canteen. We went on a picnic with Bryony & Greg's friends Helen & Richard. We went to the Hertfordshire County Show. And Bryony and I went to the Victoria & Albert and to see Billy Elliot, which we both loved.
But the most exciting thing? On the train on Saturday, on the way back to St Albans from London, we sat with a crazy guy! With teeth so black they were about to fall out of his head! He started off standing behind us, but then he asked Bryony to give up her seat for him. Which she did, because, well, he was crazy. Here is a sample conversation between us and Crazy Guy with Bad Teeth.
me, talking to Greg: blah blah blah
CGwBT: Are you American?
me: yes
CGwBT: From New York?
me: no, Washington
CGwBT: Oh, Obama. He's not going to last.
me, mistakenly thinking he didn't understand our political system: um, he gets four years. Our system's not like yours.
CGwBT: They killed Bobby and Jack Kennedy! They'll kill him too!
me:
CGwBT: have you been to the Bronx?
me: no.
CGwBT: Do they have murders in the Bronx?
me: um, I guess.
CGwBT: and prostitutes?
me: um, they have a zoo! It's famous!
CGwBT: What is the Bronx?
me: one of the five boroughs of New York City.
CGwBT: What is the Bronx?
Greg: She just told you, one of the five boroughs of New York City.
CGwBT: But what is the Bronx? I am the Bronx.
and on and on and on. We talked about Kissinger, and the Vietnam War, and how I don't know my own history. When we arrived at St Albans, we let him get off first and made sure he went the opposite direction!
More pictures here.

I'm Going to London on Friday!

2009-05-19T16:25:00.003-04:00

So, you know what's up. A movie poll!

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-05-12T11:22:00.002-04:00

And to Miss Paisley.

So, most of the time, I sit at my desk without shoes on. As a result there are several pairs of shoes under my desk. I slipped two shoes on, and without looking, got up to go to the bathroom. I looked down when I was halfway there and I realized one was black and one was brown! (I meant to be wearing the black ones.) I scurried back to my office to change and made it before anyone saw me.

I think I need to stop keeping multiple pairs of shoes under my desk. This is not working out well for me.

Adventures on the Bus #235

2009-05-06T10:42:00.003-04:00

Last night getting home was a nightmare. It's been raining here for what seems like forever. Sort of like living in Belgium again. I think that makes traffic worse.

I managed to sneak out of the office at 6:30 last night, but I didn't get home until nearly 8! And I didn't stop anywhere on the way home. I waited about 40 minutes for a bus last night. There should be one every 10 minutes. Then the traffic.

What was worse, though? There was a guy sitting about two rows behind me snoring. Very loudly. Everyone was laughing and it did not wake him up. The amazing thing was he started snoring right after I got on the bus, and I get on at the second stop. So he couldn't have been on very long, but he was in a very deep sleep.

I put on my iPod. It didn't help.

I was not in a good mood last night.

Here's hoping today will be better!

Happy Shakespeare's Birthday!

2009-04-27T16:33:00.001-04:00

Like my new tattoo? Sadly, it's temporary, and already half Will's head is missing. I spent yesterday in the heat selling drinks at Shakespeare's birthday party.

Monkey Wine

2009-04-20T15:36:00.004-04:00

Last Thursday, my friend Nicole and I went to Grapes with the Apes, a wine tasting event at the National Zoo. It was quite fun, although I was disappointed that there weren't more local vineyards there. Virginia has a lot of vineyards, and despite what my parents think, they're not all bad.

Anyway, we were waiting in line for some tastings when all of a sudden I felt something very wet and cold on my back! The girl behind me had dumped her glass of wine all over me. Luckily, it was white wine, not red, and I wasn't yet wearing the adorable coat I'm wearing in the above photo. I would have been really mad if that had gotten wine on it. Anyway, the girl sort of halfheartedly apologized, and did not offer to pay for my cleaning. Of course I would have said no, because I was just wearing cotton (see: had not yet put on adorable coat) but she still should have offered.

Oh well. I've managed to dry out.

Celebrity Sighting!

2009-03-26T12:59:00.003-04:00

Over the weekend, I went to New York. I stayed with my cousin Anne Yvette, and met up with Molly to see In the Heights, which was fun. But the most exciting thing was on my flight home. Hillary Clinton was seated right behind me on the plane! I sat next to one of her Secret Service agents. In case you are wondering, Hillary drank tomato juice, and did not have a snack.

And, in answer to Amy's comment on my last post, I have no intention of discontinuing the blog. I know I've been a horrible poster so far in 2009. Work has been insane. I've been working since the first of the year in a different building, and working crazy hours. But, this week, that project ended, so things are calming down and going back to normal. Hopefully that means blog posting will too.

Dating Tips from the Princess

2009-03-02T10:20:00.004-05:00

Just a quick photo, totally unrelated to the story I am about to tell, of what I woke up to this morning. Snow! But I am still at the office.

Anyway. Last night I went to dinner with my friend Allison. We went to Jaleo, which is one of my favorite restaurants ever, anywhere in the world. Tapas. Yum. We hadn't even placed our order yet, when our waiter came over and said to Allison, "were you just telling her how you just got asked out?"

Allison said, "no, I was telling her about a sort-of stalker I have..."

Waiter replied, "Oh. Well, I am just about to go on my first date since my marriage ended and I'm a bit nervous..."

And Allison and I proceeded to give him tips. Well, mostly Allison did. My tip was "maybe you should have a drink before you go."

He seemed like a nice guy. I hope it works out for him. Although maybe he should stop inserting himself into his customer's conversations for dating tips.

No Time, No Time for Blogging!

2009-02-02T16:52:00.002-05:00

Still working like a maniac. In the meantime, here is a meme I stole from Adrianne to keep you semi-entertained. I'm considering starting a photo blog dealing with the horrors of corporate catering. Let's see what's for dinner tonight!

Use the first letter of your name to find a word for each of the following:

Your Name - Genevieve
Four letter word - gasp
Boy name - Geoffrey
Girl name - Georgia
Occupation - Geologist
Color - Green
Beverage - Grape juice
Something found in a bathroom -
A Place -
Reason for being late -
Food -
Something you shout -

And, I'm even out of ideas for the rest... can anyone help?

Is there some kind of award?

2009-01-24T12:32:00.003-05:00

For World's Worst Blogger? If so, then I think I win!

It's been so insanely busy around these parts, with working until 9 or 10 every night, and on the weekends as well. I'm at work right now, in fact. Though I am planning to leave at 2 to meet Alison to see Bride Wars. Which I am sure will not be good, but I don't care. It looks mindless, and mindless is good these days.

Last weekend, a blind fell off my bedroom window. I bought new ones, but I didn't manage to hang even one until last night. But as I was standing on a chair, drilling holes into the wall at 10:15 pm, I realized it might perhaps not be that polite to my neighbors to be drilling that late. So I finished hanging the one over the bare window with a screwdriver and brute force, but I still have three more to hang.

I did, however, get to go to the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, thanks to a. my friend Nicole, who had an extra ticket, and b. a special holiday from work. I'll try to post photos soon.

New York

2009-01-07T11:45:00.003-05:00

I was in New York this weekend, and I stayed with my friend Martha. I've known Martha since we were 12. She's a great host - she was totally into doing any weird thing I suggested, so we went to the MTA Transit Museum and rode the Staten Island Ferry.

The Transit Museum is really fun - it's in an old subway station, and you can climb all over old subway cars. It would be a great place to go if you had kids with you.

Click here for more photos.

Catching up

2009-01-06T17:44:00.002-05:00

It's been oh-so-busy chez la princesse, with no signs of letting up any time soon. Work is nuts, my life is nuts, my parents and sister and her husband are coming next week, my friend Ana arrives from Brussels tomorrow, and I was in New York over the weekend visiting another friend from Brussels who was working out of the New York office last week.

BUT! While I was home in Louisiana over Christmas, my parents and I went to Laura Plantation, pictured above. If you ever find yourself with half a day to kill near New Orleans or Baton Rouge, I would highly recommend this tour. The guide was very informative, and the house and grounds are lovely. They didn't gloss over the bad parts, either. Click here for more photos of Laura Plantation.

Also? You will never guess, but I have actually finished knitting stuff! Click here to see those photos.

And stay tuned for New York photos, and Secret Pal updates!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-27T17:00:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday! I just got back from New Orleans, where I spent Christmas with my parents. Pictured above (all photos courtesy my cousin Lindsay) is my cousin Katie's son, Michael, at our family Christmas party on Christmas Eve. He was cracking everyone up with the glasses. My cousin Candace came, with her almost-three year old, Isaac, and her six-month old twins, Caleb and Sarah. So cute!

Sarah

And a drooly Caleb.

7 Sleeps 'til Christmas

2008-12-18T14:00:00.002-05:00

And after going to the Aimee Mann Christmas show on Tuesday, I am finally feeling Christmasy. (Must've been the talk of krav maga that did it.) I've been listening to holiday music online, but it's getting a bit repetitive. Anyone have a favorite online holiday music station to recommend?

I mean, I like All I Want for Christmas is You as much as the next girl, but honestly, there's only so much Mariah Carey one person can (or should!) take.