I worked half the day on new year's eve, and stopped by Radio Shack on the way home. I had to get various contraptions (adapter - which I already had, RF modulator, A/B Switch, extra coax) in order to hook my new DVD player up to my old ass 1986 TV along with the cable box and VCR. After finding out that I needed one less contraption than I thought and being made fun of by the Radio Shack guy, it only took about 10 minutes. Most of that was trying to screw the coax into the various contraptions and components where even my smallish fingers barely fit. I hate that! And the coax you can buy that is supposed to just snap on does not stay attached.

Anyway, everything worked as it was supposed to. I then got duded up so I could be over-dressed at Jeff's boss' party. We ended up arriving later than planned because we were playing with the DVD player. I only have one DVD - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. We watched the "never before seen footage" which consists of the scenes (in Italian) cut in order to shorten the film for American release. There was even behind the scenes and background information on "Spaghetti Westerns." And I love being able to skip to specific scenes at the touch of a button. Geez, I'm a nerd.

At the party was a live specimen of my Halloween costume - a McEachern punk. Well, he's 18, but he graduated from there. He also works at an automotive shop (as opposed to mooching or being a professional college student) and drives an old Jeep Cherokee (instead of the BMW Daddy bought him). Anyway, he was funny. He was also the youngest person there, taking that title from the usual holder: me.

I drank four Heinekens in the course of the evening. I've gone back to beer after having liquor wreak havoc on my stomach lately. Despite what the self-proclaimed "beer connoiseur" at work says, beer is beer. If it's Bud, Heineken, or Fosters, it all tastes like beer to me. Though, I remember Busch and Miller being especially rank. Anyway, I felt a little queasy the next morning. After chugging some water and eating some Saltines (ye blessed hangover tradition) I felt fine. I was just a little dehydrated.

Oh, when Jeff's boss asked me why I became a vegetarian, I told him it was the "humanitarian aspect." I do that now to avoid giving the details, sounding self-righteous, or arguing with someone who will never understand. He then jokingly said that he was against "broccoli farming," saying it was horrendous and cruel. Funny bastard. He tried that shit last year, but was too drunk to actually make me laugh.

Yesterday, missleigh and I went to lunch and then shopping. We caught up and had fun, as usual. And what the hell does The Container Store mean being closed!?!? Damn that pissed me off. So, we ended up at the mall instead. We went to "Snot Gothic", where they wanted $19 for a Powerpuff Girls t-shirt. And Buttercup was even pissed off in the picture! Dammit, I can't pay that for a t-shirt. Watch me though, I'll talk myself into it like I did with the $50 Gap jeans. I did manage to find a big honkin' onyx pendant like I've been looking for, and bought a Double Doozie. I know, I can't help it.

I don't know what's happened to my stepmother. She's always been able to cook delicious food. But first there was the bland "new recipe" for pumpkin pie and my no broth dressing (granted, it was an altered recipe, but use vegetable broth for Pete's sake! Don't add salt to make up for not using broth!) on Thanksgiving, and now the soggy greens. She gave me some cooked, frozen turnip greens on christmas eve. After I established she'd added no meat or broth to them, I was happy to take them home. I saved them for new year's day to have with black eye peas. Yes, it's for wealth and good luck in the new year, but for me it's an excuse to eat black eye peas. I bought pepper juice and everything! I've cooked fresh greens, and I know they are boiled in water and can end up soggy. These were beyond that. She'd cooked them probably 30 minutes to an hour longer than necessary. Is that just a turnip greens thing? I'm used to collard greens. I should have stuck to the Kroger frozen collard greens, which are pretty good with some vegetable bouillon and pepper sauce. Anyway, I took a bite or two so I'd have technically eaten greens on new year's day.

Oh, yeah. I had a dream last night about Jeff having sex with another woman. He told me about it, then acted like we'd agreed it was ok. I have had a few of these dreams in the past couple of years, and I always wake up with mixed feelings of rage and despair. And I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. From sleeps.com: "To dream of helplessly watching a mate have sex or making out with someone else is your inner expression of feelings of sexual inadequacy or insecurity with the romantic involvement with your mate..." Hmm. Maybe it's because I passed out new year's day before any nookie took place. I made up for it later, though. And this from swoon.com: "To dream that anyone is unfaithful to you is an omen of contrary; you will soon have a demonstration of sincerity and/or devotion." I can dig it.