The ad agency I work for has moved office buildings. The new one has us all on the same floor (prior we were split between three), and is very stylized and shiny new. I keep saying to co-workers, "look, we're all grown-up." The company owner (we are a privately held company, one of the few ad agencies that still are) likes to think of us all as his kids, and is very eccentric. He's decided that in order to both get us to bond more like a family, and to also encourage (force) us to take breaks from projects, he's banned us all from eating lunch at our desks. The last two days I've actually had lunch with co-workers, some whom I'd never met before, which I'll admit was kind of cool. Part of me misses the chance to sit at my desk with my lunch and write. I suppose if I think on it though, more often than not I ended up just working through my lunch, eating quickly without much notice, or at times not bothering to eat at all.

Today I went to Borders and wandered around. I bought two books off of the "buy one, get one 50% off" table because who can resist a book sale? I should honestly not be allowed in bookstores alone. Though, come to think of it, there is no one I know I could trust myself with, in a bookstore either. I'm lucky to be surrounded by book lovers, like myself, in this life. Afterwards I sat in a small italian cafe I stumbled upon and had a salad and Diet Coke, while I read the prologue and part of the first chapter of one of the two books I bought. I have to admit it was a nice way to spend my lunch.

I'm working now on a huge project that has me very stressed out. I'm taking a few days off next week to help Max transition into first grade (they are going to try to "mainstream" him). I'm excited for the time off, and to be able to be more present when both of the kids start school, but it is making this looming project even more daunting. A co-worker/friend of mine just brought me in a stack of CD's that she said I could rip into my iTunes if there was anything to my liking. I am pretty excited to see the Very Best of Cat Stevens, and that it includes The Wind, Wild World, The First Cut Is The Deepest and Peace Train on it. There is also a "Summer Soundtrack" mix of the 80's from some radio station that I've not heard of. It has some keen songs on it, all very much "go-to karaoke" style songs (J. Geils Band's Centerfold, John Mellencamp's Jack and Diane, etc.)

I want to try cooking some new recipes. Everything I make regularly I am beyond sick of. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Julia and I have been recording, and watching, The Jimmy Fallon Show. I think I have a bit of a crush on Mr. Fallon, especially after seeing him interview, and play around with, Drew Barrymore (another crush of mine) on Tuesday's episode. I've never been much of a talk show fan, though I do have a soft spot for Conan, but I've been enjoying his show a lot. It is a bit mindless, and a nice way to clear my head before trying (not always succeeding) to go to bed. It reminds me of a cross between SNL skits and flipping through an EW magazine, not a bad combination.

Within walking distance of my office there is a comic book store, a used record store, a thrift shop, and the Borders I was at earlier. I'm both ecstatic and terrified about this knowledge as I'm trying to be better with money, and actually have a savings account with savings in it. I may just have to set aside a little cash for now and then visits.

I wish I had more time to write/work on my novel, and on the blog I have in my head that I've not yet brought to life. Of course, just as I type that out I'm chiding myself and reminding myself that I need to make time. If I have time to watch talk shows and cooking reality programs, read too many books and re-visit Gilmore Girls (my friend Bree and I are going through the series from the start and trading emails/tumblr posts on how we feel about it this time around), and all the time I go on about songs or music - well I have time to write. I just need to stop being scared as hell and just do it. Right?

I'd also like to plan a Halloween party, and a costume that isn't out of a package/off the shelf of a costume store.

This may very well be the most boring LJ post I've ever written, but a) I miss when LJ was more active and we all wrote about the big and the small things in life, and b) I guess I felt like being a little self-indulgent/this is my life today.

Time for (more) coffee.

It is that time of year again. Back-to-school, it seems to not matter how old you are, or whether school is even part of your life, it is still a time of year tht is impossible to ignore, or avoid. For me, I know I get excited when I see the rows of back-to-school essentials, and I'm always find myself wanting to go clothes shopping, especially for that perfect sweater, or unbelievably amazing pair of boots.

Here is a top five that I hope you'll take a few minutes to come up with and share here in comments, or in your own LJ space.

Top five things you enjoy about this time of year - what are yours?

( like all the girls and boys in school (my top 5 )

( five school songs )