Why I Love David. (Sorry, Brian!)

"you always have so many suitors, reading your blog is like reading pride and prejudice"

-David

:)

You know--people (my roommates and MICA friends, mostly) have been telling me for months that I always seem to have a string of boys at my beck and call. I never saw it until I returned from Italy and it all exploded--I think I strike up flirtations, and occasionally make it to the first date, but then it all sort of dissipates from there. :/ It's happened with Ben, Eric, Dan (on a larger level), Doctor Hottie--and obviously things with the guys who actually stick it out long enough to be my boyfriends don't work out. That doesn't make me sad, really--it's just kind of frustrating.

Don't get me wrong. I really like 'playing the field' and all, but I'm worth the time. Now, that isn't the boys' fault, necessarily. Sometimes we just don't mesh, and that's totally fine. I guess I'm just sick of running into walls. :/

But, I figure, if I keep thinking I'm going to meet my true love in the next boy, or the next one, I know I'll be disappointed. Time to think in the now! :)

Love you all--

-A.

I Kept My Promise to Myself!

I didn't make out with Dan.

Yesterday was so, so awesome. And not just because of the party Dan took me to--I spent the morning with my mom, just chatting with our hairdresser while Mom got highlights put in and we had a leisurely lunch with Robert. The sun was out all day, and I got to take a long walk with Brian (who complained about the heat the whole time, like a weenie :P).

Dad's even went well! Lauren, KJ, and I were all there, as well as Sam (Dad's wife's daughter), and we had a good dinner and dessert and worked together to answer silly Jeopardy questions. It was a lot of fun!

We left Dad's at 7:30, earlier than expected, but I still took the whole hour before Dan arrived to change most od my outfit, take forever to do my hair and makeup (Headband or carefully hidden bobby pin? Flats or heels? Red lipstick?). I just finished my lipstick when Dan arrived at 8:30, and we headed out to his friend Shannon's birthday party, which was in Oakland.

We stopped at his place on the way over, and he made me a drink--a Floradora cooler, I think? Two shots of gin in it, but I was fine. Then we made it to the party at abot 9:45, and I was told to try the sweet tea vodka. Holy shit. That stuff goes straight to your head, and, okay, get ready for it...

I was drunk for the first time.

I KNOW, I know. Try to contain your shock. BUT, once the sweet tea vodka got to be too much, I had some water and didn't get too far over my head.

But, the mild drunkness was less important than the boy I met--Ben. He got to the party about 40 minutes after Dan and I, and is slender and good-looking and immediately came over to the couch I was on, and sat between me and this other girl Desiree. We got to talking about his t-shirt and we ended up spending the whole night together. (He told me later that he was interested in Desiree at first!) We were just talking at first, then hanging out outside--he shared his cigarettes with me, then he got me a beer and we were absorbed into conversation about religion (because I ALWAYS end up in there conversations so randomly! Sheesh!). After another cigarette break, he had his arm around me, and was holding my hand.

Holy crap, the tension in the room by then--people knew I'd come with Dan, obviously. I was one of the few people that NO ONE knew. And they were now noticing that I was openly affectionate with someone else. To defend myself, because I know this seems lame--Dan never specified that I was his date, and honestly, he was probably counting on me as a sure makeout session and not much more. I mean, he likes me, but he has no intention of doing anything real.

Besides, this was something new and exciting. :)

So, Ben (Bennett, and not Benjamin, which is very, inexplicably sexy to me) was holding my hand and offering me his jacket by the end of the night while 3/4 of the party (minus a few guests, the birthday girl among them, who were passed out) walked to a pizza place at 3 AM. As we left the birthday girl's apartment, one guest, a particularly drunk girl, pronounced: "You are really, pretty, you know that? Like, REALLY PRETTY. You are SO pretty!"

Dan, Desiree, Ben, and I ended up driving back to Dan's place after pizza, and after a few awkward minutes in his sitting room, I announce that I have to go home, as it is 4 AM. and my mom would have a conniption if she were to wake up to my empty bed.

SO, Ben offers to drive me home, and we awkwardly exit together while Desiree moons at a disinterested Dan. Ben was a trooper, and made it from Oakland to Sewickley with no trouble, considering he isn't from the area. We got to my house around 4:40, and he left at 6:30.

Yep.

Ah, kissing, how I've missed you.

Anyway, he lives in Virginia (and drove 4 hours for the party, I know!) and is eager to visit me next week when I get back to Baltimore, yay!

I told Robin, but you know what, it wasn't weird! And guess what! I found a Craigslist Missed Connection addressed to HIM! Weird, weird, weird! But cool. :)

So...I guess we'll see how this progresses, hm?

DREA IS HOME! WOOOOOOO!!!!

The Pens tied the series! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all!

-A.

Ugh, this patience thing is overrated.

No response from Craigslist mystery guy yet, unfortunately. Dammit.

However, I did get to have a short chat with Robin today, and I tell you, the more we talk, the more I think that we'll be A-OK, especially once we get back into each other's lives and have things to talk about again.

I asked Dad for some money to float June rent until I get a job and have something to build on. He was shockingly compliant, and he told me he would take it out of the money he set aside for me for this year--$2000, his tax return. I'm taking $500 for rent, and $100 for expenses for travel--Lauren is generously volunteering to drive me to Baltimore either Sunday or Monday. It's looking like Monday, as Lauren has a final Monday morning, and besides, Sunday is Mother's Day, after all.

I got a couple late texts from Joey V. and Dan--I get to see both of them before I go home, which is a very pleasant surprise, as Joey is wrapped in wedding plans for Rachaela (but thankfully, not so ensconced that he can't scheme with me), and Dan is harder to get ahold of then a greased pig. Ew.

A reminder about Dan, to myself--readers may skip this part if they wish--Alyssa, no matter how much you miss making out, DO NOT KISS DAN. Yes, he is tall and charming, but he is also very bad at commitment and at being straightforward about anything. Don't fall into the default makeout mode! You are better!

Okay, cool.

Also, I like playing detective. I am lame. WHATEVER. Brian is kind enough to indulge me (as he has a similar fantasy, I can't say it's a selfless indulgence, but OH WELL. WE ROCK).

Anyone who saw Gossip Girl last night (which I watched with Bess, because she is AWESOME--Em, where did you get sich a cool sister? :P), OKAY. CAN CHUCK BE REAL AND MINE NOW?

Ahem.

I'm feeling happy. It's nice. :)

I also like being able to update a lot, but I also feel lame that I have no readers. :P BE BETTER, GUYS.

No, I love you.

More soon--

-A.

Loving. Living. Small.

Number One: Dan Wolf is now Facebook Official with Katie Campbell. Is that her name? Anyway, Abby if you know anything about her, please-oh-please dig the dirt. :) I am in no way interested in getting anywhere near Dan Wolf's lips anytime soon, but I AM interested to see her deal, because he told me he's already brooding about breaking up, because (this sounds familiar) none of them have time for each other/affection is waning. If he can't keep a relationship going while they go to the SAME SCHOOL, I had no chance. Although that shows that he made way more of an effort with me, which is flattering.

Number Two: I tried to update my status with something funny, but it was replaced when I hit the button with "Alyssa is everything I wish for will never come true." WEIRD. It turns out it was the girl's status who updated right before me, so there was some glitch or something, but it was still strange.

Number Three: Jen is a butt. She has three modes: "Betsy, I need you/r sympathy because Dylan is an asshole." "Betsy, you're a bitch for hanging out with Ryan." and "Betsy, we're friends again because now I get to hang out with Ryan." Damn that girl!

Number Four: I'm going to see Twilight with Bess, because Lauren didn't like it enough to pay for it again. I'm looking forward to this, though, because Bess is a longer-time/more rabid fan. and it should be fun and hilarious. :)

Number Five: Thanksgiving is this week. HOORAY! I get to see most of you! Is Bri coming home, by the way? Love you guys!

Number Six: I sang (not that well) and Robin gave a hilarious Donatello X performance last night at Coffeehouse. (Donatello X is a beat poet--he's super sexy and stylish [he wears all black and a beret and sunglasses] and his poetry [such as The Blind Watchdog or Incandescent Delight] is swoon-worthy). He was so cute. :D

(We barely freaking hide it anymore. We were all touching last night while Marla's back was turned. Well, of course, we were sure her back WAS turned, but she was in the same room for goodness' sake.)

Number Seven: I fell asleep on my couch last night, woke up at 4:30ish and went to bed, woke up at 8:45, and was running late for my nine AM shift. I thought I was ready, but when I glanced in the mirror, I had eyeliner and mascara smeared ALL OVER my face--a combination of falling asleep with it on, and the tears my eyes made because they were so dry from sleeping with contacts in. AWESOME. But now I am clean and cute again. :)

Number Eight: No new Gossip Girl tonight. :(

Okay, I have to write a paper. Muah. Love you!

xoxo,
Alyssa

P.S. What I want my life to look like: http://lovinglivingsmall.blogspot.com/

PICSPAM!

FYI, you're about to get slammed with awesome photos. Be warned. :P


Me, seeing how convincing my costume (now more doll than marionette) is on Betsy's bed:


RIDICULOUS EYELASHES.


A better picture of my makeup:


The full costume, bloomers and all:


Robin and Betsy (Put faces to the names)!


Mah roomies, Betsy and Jen!


Me and Robin--guess what his costume is. If you get it, you get a cookie.


Awwww, we love each other. :)


Me and Betsy (as Mickey Mouse)!


Hot!Ryan as Steve Jobs, and Betsy. Isn't he hot? Am I right? :P


Me and my best buds at MICA (minus Marla): Me (and my boobs, which have their own zip code in this picture), Betsy, Jen (who made that Belle dress from scratch), Robin, Paul (as the most hilarious Pokemon trainer of all time), and Tiff (as a Battle Royale kickass chick):




Thoughts? Comments? Love you guys!

-Alyssa

P.S. Oh, by the way--Dan Wolf has a new squeeze. I'm sure those of you friends with him on Facebook saw the pictures of them smooching. Tasteful.:P

A Typical Blog Update.

For the first time since I got my Facebook, I am no longer listed as "Single".

Don't get too excited, I'm not "In A Relationship", either.

BUT, Chase and I have been hanging out and talking more and more, and I think he's pretty great. We had a long talk tonight about a lot of things--past relationships, trouble we've gotten into, any experience really (I wasn't saying much, obviously).

Anyway, he was basically like "I like you, and I want to see you." And I was like "I go back in a week." And he's like, "I know, but we can try it out." And I'm like, "Oh. Yeah, I can do that. Let's try it."

So, we are.

Weird. And kind of cool. I mean, Chase and I have indicated more about a future in three dates than Dan and I did in three years. Hm, hm, hm.

I wonder how this is going to go. :)

I'm pretty happy about this.

:)

-Alyssa

WELL THEN.

Em, I was going to take a leaf out of your book tonight. I'll let you figure out where that was in the events of the night.

So, Letta Parker's going-away party was tonight (she enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and will be peacing out for several months). I haven't spent time at her house for many months, and I was feeling a little awkward at the outset--I don't know her circle of friends that well, although her fiancee (!) and I get along really great.

The awkwardness was mostly alleviated when I saw Dan Thompson there, who is SO tall and awkwardly cute. :) It was nice to FINALLY spend some time with Letta, even if I had to do it in the company of some people I may not like so much. *cough*Liz*coughAttentionWhore*cough*

Actually she treated me with courtesy tonight, I shouldn't be mean.

Bottom line is, Letta's older brother Jeff and I have a history from high school that begins with UST (Google it.) and ends with him wussing out on me after one kiss.

So, he is now single after a LONG relationship with a girl even younger than I am, and we were flirting a lot tonight, and we were all brushing against each other and doing the soulful, sultry looks, and at the end of the night, I thought "Hm, I can get some long-delayed smooches out of this..." So, I decided to let him drive me home. :P BUT, OF COURSE, there was car trouble (what is it about me, boys and car trouble?), and I ended up riding home with Letta/Dan M.(Letta's boy)/a few others. On my way out, Jeff hugged me, and did the cheek-kissy thing. (And Oh. My. God. He knows JUST how to touch a girl's waist.) So, I did the neck-kissy thing and we basically murmured plans to get together at each other. (I meant to type "with each other", but the typo stays. :D) So, we're going to talk tomorrow afternoon. I'll update, don't worry.

So, yes, in lieu of Dan Wolf, I'm going to be a bad girl and have makeouts with Jeff. What do you expect with all this...anxiety hanging around. ;)

I guess I was just surprised that he was into it. He totally called me gorgeous tonight. *blush* Yes, shameless self-esteem boost. Love it.

And love you all,

Alyssa

P.S. This is SO unlike me, isn't it? Rob, you can especially vouch for that, am I right?

Mmkay...

The Dark Knight was made of amazingness.

It was awesome, and all of the whispers about a possible posthumous Oscar nomination for Heath Ledger are completely justified. Also, Gary Oldman FTW. And Aaron Eckhart. :)

It was all great. The ending wasn't what I expected, but I suppose it was rather fitting.

You just have to see it yourself! Em, you and I are hitting that shit UP when you get home! :P

Dan really liked my dad and Lisa, and vice-versa. Mom and Lacie keep talking about how they wouldn't be surprised if Dan proposed after college, if things go how they are (which is...a fuzzy image of a quasi-relationship? That's solid. :P).

BAH.

I'm working up the courage to call Mark, to apologize and hopefully catch up. Maybe I don't have to, and maybe I shouldn't, but something makes me feel like unless I do, I won't be able to fully engage in a relationship (an OFFICIAL one) with Dan. But maybe I'm just making excuses.

I tried calling about fifteen minutes ago, but no answer. Hm.

I'm headed up to the B-More on Sunday, and I'm so glad to be able to move into my new place! Not so glad about the huge piles of money it takes to get ANYTHING worthwhile, but there's American consumerism. Not that I mind my quality of life. :)

Especially with cool kids like you guys around.

(Awwwwwwww...)

Also looking forward to seeing my Godfamily, who I adore. Whom?

Also, a quick scoping-for-potential-jobs session. Wish me luck!

Muah,

Alyssa

The Dark Knight...

Big night tonight!

1) Dan is meeting my dad tonight.
2) I'm going to see The Dark Knight at midnight!

I guess the Dan thing isn't a HUGE deal, it's just been a long time for the two of them not to have met. Actually, Dan is currently running a little late (as per usual) which is frustrating me. Grr.

BUT, I AM super-psyched to see TDK. It looks amazing, and I admit, I picked out a very cute outfit to wear. This cute grey v-neck tee shirt with this spade graphic (keeping with the Joker/card theme), my skinny jeans and my new sexy boots that look sort of like this, but with more pointed toes:







Purty.

And I am lame for recording my outfit on the INTERNETS.

So, Dan and I going to South Side Works to see the movie, and we are meeting my MICA buddy Robin,







No, seriously. That's him.

:)

ANYWAY, we're meeting him and a bunch of his friends at the theatre.

Yes, spelled the British way.

Am I a little giddy? Eff yes.

Also, I got the job at Chico's! I just had to sign my life away at the holidays, but that's cool.

Things aren't exactly looking 180 degrees up yet, but I'm feeling okay.

Thanks for all ya'll's support and awesomeness!

-Alyssa

P.S. Dr. Rooz, I'd love to bring those books by soon. Just let my know when is good for you.

Friday the Thirteenth, 2008

-Get my driver's permit renewed. Well, I'm halfway there. I sent in the request.
-Take my driver's test.
-Talk to Mom about applying to SACI. Make final plans.
-Apply to SACI by November.
-Getting my passport.
-Call MICA about withdrawing for a leave of absence in order to go to Florence.

The MICA people have this policy where students can only transfer abroad credits if they go through MICA. At least, that's what I've been lead to believe. So it looks like I'll be taking the MICA avenue to get to SACI (Studio Art Center International, because I don't think I specified), and at this point, I am going to Florence in January of 2009. Whoa.

I talked to my mom about SACI this morning, and she had this way about her that sort of said 'Why are you asking me? As long as you can afford it, you can do whatever you want.' In fact, she may have said those words.

I guess I'm not used to not asking for things, or at least running them by authority for the OK. I was brought up in a house where I feared, not necessarily punishment, but my mom's disappointment, and I knew I had to ask to do anything, out of respect and a need for approval. This is where Lauren and I differ GREATLY. She doesn't ask. She just does.

Or doesn't, in the case of her college plans. Meh.

So, I'm going to SACI, and taking Illustration, Painting, Art Conservation (yippee!), and I may even put my new-old camera to good use and take a photo class. And Italian I, of course. :)

Eep! This is actually happening! :D

So, to update the lurvely Emily about the Sewickley life while she and Bri gallivant around in Europe: Drea, Nick, Dan, and I had a sort-of double date thing last night. It was SO fun, in the most mundane and small-town teenager way--we hung out at the SA playground, then went to Giant Eagle and bought ice cream and Oreos, and just played with Drea's dog, Tucker, and talked. And then, we all went up to Bell Acres baseball field, climbed onto the dugout, and watched the stars for a couple hours. (And, of course, I missed the big, gorgeous shooting star that apparently streaked past.) It was one of the nicest nights. :) I've had a lot of nice nights lately.

As far as Dan and I go (and I know this has been a ridiculous saga, so I apologize! :P) we are just going to stay how we are. I'm comfortable and he seems comfortable (and who wouldn't be? Nothing too official, just having a good time together and smooching from time to time.), and if he wants to bring up something more serious he can. My apprehension (well, there are a couple, but, well...) is that, okay, let's say we make it official, get serious about each other in the coming summer months. At the end of the summer, we're in two different states. And even if we decided to do the long-distance thing (which I'm not really interested in) I would be headed to Florence in January. And, I mean, come on. I think you all know what I'm saying.

;)

Work was slow today, so less tips, but more time to talk to Brandon, my co-worker Sara Beth's boyfriend. I think they're both really funny and smart, and they're really fun to talk to. I'm pretty dissimilar from them (and the majority of the world :P) in the sense of morals, religion, and politics, but we're all respectful and open, and it's a pleasure to air out my ideas with them.

Have I rambled enough?! I'm off to text Drea and help her set up HER blog, darnit!

Love you,

Alyssa