I recently watched Stranger Than Fiction. While I don’t count steps to the bus or the strokes of brushing my teeth, it spoke to how my life is run by the man. My 40 hours per week ain’t that bad, but there’s just something about living and doing new things that keeps life interesting. But it turns out that I’ve actually had some interesting things going on lately. So, in order of how I remember them, some tidbits:

1. Upgrade U: Collars may have been popped and shoulders brushed. This is what happens on the way home from work when I forget my cell phone. Sometimes in the car I feel as if that’s when I can be myself, you know, when i don’t care what the other commuters think. Some background: Let’s just say that while at middle school dances Matt was bopping along to the sounds of “Love Shack” by the B-52s, whereas I was singing along to “Five on It” or “California Love.” I’m not really sure that my parents would be proud of the fact that their daughter’s musical history includes these selections. My aunt already tried to fix the problem when she made me return Salt n Pepa’s “None of Your Business” cassingle for a much tamer Real McCoy. But the truth must come to the surface at some point. After all, my hymn-loving mom also loves Jimmy Hendrix (hi mom!) and my dad was given the Flava Flav award at one of their club meetings (hi, dad!). So this deeply rooted truth came to the surface Friday when I let it all out listening t0 Beyonce’s latest album, b’day. Specifically, “Upgrade U.”

2. Appletini meetings. Then there was Thursday when I left a 3-hour city meeting 15 minutes early to grab a drink with a couple old friends. Seconds after my appletini was poured, in came the leaders of the meeting, who I had to talk to the next day.

3.The Jungle Book. I went to my church to see my younger cousins perform in The Jungle Book. I’ve never seen the Disney movie, and after the play I still didn’t know what was going on. My little cousins were fantastic, as the narrator and an elephant. My second favorite part were the costumes. As Mel Brooks said in Spaceballs–adorable. (Nice work, Jenny!) Every costume was a colored sweatsuit decorated to be an animal. There were elephants, frogs, parrots, wolves…

4. Little Guy. I always love seeing this little face. Especially when it’s stuffed full of cookies,

5. New Camera. Not only does it take better pictures, but it can be programed to have a dog bark when pushing the shutter. Technology at its finest.

6. Meeting up With Old Friends. Looking into the future with the eyes of the past is quite refreshing.

7. Creative naps. I had the best nap the other day. As I was falling asleep, I dreamed of celedon and cowboys and flowers. I wish I could record things that go through mind as I fall asleep. I’m most brilliant when … I … start to … zzzzzz …

8. Ancient China. My parents found a box with a whole bunch of china and teacups. We have no idea who these things belonged to, but they haven’t been used in a while. How do we know? The newspaper it was wrapped in was dated Jan. 12, 1951. Whoever they were, they had great style.