We’ve been through this before (that one ruined my 9th birthday, I’ll have you know, and it’s far worse than anything Jeff Verszyla is predicting right now). We are located in southwestern Pennsylvania, not southwestern Florida. We receive snow between the months of October and March, sometimes up to 6″ at once.

So why, for the love of all that is good, have I not seen a single plow or salt truck out tonight? Why is it that I, along with two very kind friends, had to push my car home while my husband tried not to run over us?

Seriously, WTF? Maybe the Manchild Mayor should stop focusing on appearing as ridiculous as humanly possible and actually take care of the city?

Hugs and kisses,

Christina

(Picture from stephjoyous.)

I like memes, I like Fridays, I like lists … so I’m going to do a Friday 5 today!

1. What types of blogs do you usually read?

I’ve divided my Google Reader into a bunch of different categories: feminist blogs, finance blogs, food blogs, personal blogs, law blogs, Pittsburgh blogs, writing blogs, and random blogs. Of them, the feminist and personal blogs contain the most subscriptions.

2. What kinds of products do you usually buy when you shop online?

CLOTHES. I actually just used some Christmas money and bought a bunch of stuff online at Old Navy, Banana Republic and the Gap. I detest shopping for clothes in a store. That’s really the brunt of what I buy online. I used to buy a lot of books at Amazon, but then I discovered this wonderful thing called a library, and I have bought very few books for myself since getting a library card.

3. What kinds of online videos do you usually spend time watching?

Mostly music videos, usually from the 90s, and TV shows. I love watching The Office and 30 Rock online, even if I watched them on TV during the week. Also, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA! (Don’t laugh, it is an awesome show.) I’m already spending too much for TV and Internet, and my cable package doesn’t include the SciFi channel, so I have to watch BSG online. But that’s okay. I’m just glad it’s finally back!

4. Besides Friday 5, what weekly memes do you particularly enjoy?

Uh…none. I’m not so good at updating my blog, even weekly, and I don’t really participate in any ongoing memes. Even Friday 5.

5. Where do you like to go for streaming online music?

Pandora! It has seriously changed my life. Back in the day, I used to listen to Yahoo! radio, but Pandora is way better. I have over a dozen stations on it. Right now, I’m listening to my Carla Bruni radio, and a really cool version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is playing, by Ingrid Michaelson. I would never had heard this song without Pandora.

I know that this is probably really mean, especially for all you poor souls in Pittsburgh, where, according to weather.com, the temperature is currently 3 degrees and the wind chill is a bitter -12. But would you like to see where I am right now?

(Picture from Allan Ferguson.)

Encinitas, California.

Okay, I’m not really on the beach right now. But I was there for a few hours this morning/early afternoon. Right now I’m hanging out at a coffeehouse and stealing WiFi. Don’t worry, I’m going back for the sunset tonight.

(evil grin)

Do I really need a reason to post Joey Lawrence rocking out in holey jeans, a flannel tied around his waist?

I wish my best friend was named after a number.

The turn of a new year gets many people thinking about goals, progress, where they are and where they want to be. I am one of those people. A listmaker extraordinaire, I see the new year as the perfect time to make the List of Lists for the year and try to stick to it as best I can.

I didn’t write any of my goals down last year (or at least, I can’t find any record of them – this is what happens when you’re both a listmaker extraordinaire and a packrat). I vaguely remember something about writing a book before I turned 25. Exercising a few times a week. And, of course, moving back to Pittsburgh. Beyond that, I’ve no idea.

Well, I wrote a book last year, but I haven’t even glanced at it since August, when I finished what Anne Lamott affectionately calls the “shitty first draft.” Exercising three times a week, don’t make me laugh. I did find my way back to Pittsburgh, as you all know, and managed to do a few other things too, like buy a house and get married.

This year, I’m being a bit smarter about my goals. I’ve compiled them in one place and created a spreadsheet to track my progress. (I love you, Google Docs.) I’ve made them achievable and measurable. One of them is to post on this blog three times per week. Another is to work really hard at revising my book so I can send it out to agents by September. Others are financial or related to work we want to do on the house. All of them are doable.

Let’s just see where this year takes us, shall we?