I had a wonderful evening with Abby last night. Let's see-- we went out makeup-shopping, and I gave her a pre-GirlFu class lesson. I made some of the fantastic salad of goodness (grape tomatoes, gala apple, lettuce, walnuts, and cranberry gorgonzola dressing) with lemon pepper pappardelle pasta with pesto. We lambasted Tombstone (Character: "Trouble starts with you! / Me and Abby, simultaneously: No, it begins with T!), and then swooned to Colin Firth in one of his incarnations as Mr. Darcy. Plus, I got a nice little dinner for Abby-quality shoulder massage trade, so I consider that a great success. I also managed to scandalize the poor guy in the checkout line at Trader Joe's. I say Very Wrong Things sometimes. :)

I do love my friends. I've been thinking along this theme for awhile now, and one of the questions I got in my last post really served to help me crystallize some of the thoughts I've been mulling on the state of my friendships. I have the best friends on earth. I do. They're honest, loving, loyal, creative, motivated, fiercely protective, they have integrity, and are otherwise everything I could have possibly asked for. They're my friends because they're amazing people, and I don't have to settle for anything less simply because it's there. Over the past month and a half, it's become more and more apparent to me that the type of people that one surrounds him or herself with says a lot about that person. Like calls to like, any way you slice it. And my friends? They rock. And that says something about me. That's pretty cool. Plus, I've found that the hallmark of a true friend is that they're plain not afraid to tell you about yourself when you need to be told, who won't constantly fill your head with soft platitudes, and who will say the hard things when they need to be said. And trust me, they do. And I love them for it. It's definitely a good thing, and lets me check in with myself when reality seems slightly tilted. Plus I've developed a new tool for when I'm having a low moment: I try to see myself through my friends' eyes. And that helps immensely.

Miscellanea:

-- Reason for icon: I got my wish! Instead of the very realistic nightmares I've been having of late, last night I dreamt about zombies! Cameos were made by silverwolfe42 (sorry, Marc, you didn't make it) and texmorgan (who was the zombie who bit me when I was the last one standing and knew I wasn't going to be able to hold out much longer on my own). Strangely enough, it was kind of a comedic dream, with people I know being zombified for stupid reasons, like going downstairs to get more toilet paper. I woke up at 3:30am, heart racing, and just started laughing.

-- Total change of subject-- Better Than Sex starring Faramir David Wenham was very, very cute.

-- Black Phoenix Trading Post Pumpkin Smash! Trick-- Pumpkin pulp, beeswax candles, smoke, asphalt, and beer!:: I like it! I smell no beer (thankfully!), but what I do get is a buttery, rich pumpkin scent similar to Jack, mixed in with gritty, smoky topnotes. It's a little bit foody, but not overwhelmingly so.

-- Random run-on thought of the day: (Me to Sara) "Charlie's been really pace-y today. Hm... Pacey. Good times. Ooh, maybe I'll dress up like Joey Potter for Halloween and go around singing horrendous renditions of 'On My Own'..." And bless her heart, Sara understood exactly what I meant by that. We are both shamed.

-- Also... fun projects going on at work: we scanned a meteorite this weekend! Also, go and gaze at my co-worker who vaguely resembles Johnny Depp. Mmmhmm.