klsadjfklsadjfkls!

SO EXCITED I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF A TITLE!

Early Release here in the office due to SNOW (my new best friend!!)

I am going to go home and do absolutely nothing, and it is going to be fantastic :) Then tomm off to NYC with my wesbian wover, Stacy. Shopping and cocktails, can't get much better then that!

Friday Fact

Karoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese.

Pesky People

Ever had one of those days where the people around you are simply being PESKY? I have had one of those days for sure. However, it has not really been "people" but rather one person, one individual who has really been a pain in my arse. It started off this morning when I realized this person had displaced all my belongings, the ones I keep on my desk, simply because she was annoyed. Now being the rational person I am, I took one deep breath and had a COMPLETE MELTDOWN! This has not been the first incident I have endured with this co-worker and I genuinely came into this job wanting to be friends with her because she happens to be one of the few people in my age group but no no no, apparently she finds ME to be PESKY. I have yet to figure out what I have ever done to her, besides exist, but once I do I will be sure to tell her that "Pesky people do not make friends!".

On another, less aggressive, note I was reading an article the bf sent me about a woman who sold her twin newborns in order to pay for lyposuction (horrible and odd, I know) when I came across this little gem, http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/charles_bremner/2008/12/paris-artists-m.html

I looked at it and then quickly looked around to make sure no one was walking by and dove head first into the article. These 15 people are nude models that art teachers use to direct students. For generations these models have received, "le cornet" a small tip from each student after each session. This tradition, as of late, has been disregarded and is now coming face to face with its official end. The models (the courageous people who bare their bodiesto strangers, I admire them so!) are demanding that this traditions continues to live on and that they are recognized for their contribution to the world of art. To make a point and stand out they decided to stand naked in front of part of the University in the freezing cold temps!

"We are as important as the teacher and the painter because without us they could not teach or paint," said Salvatori, one of the protesters. "Without Gabrielle, who would Renoir have been?."

What lengths would you go to in order to attain or maintain your rights?

Oh and by the way I had a fantastic weekend! We got up late Friday night and spent all day Saturday enjoying one anothers company while eating, drinking and oh yea scaling up a mountain and then "bushwhacking" our way down in snowshoes. Definitely a day to remember :)

Not great pics, but the best I could do!

INGREDIENTS TO A PERFECT WEEKEEND...

Ok listen up ladies, this is what it takes to produce a lovely and just about perfect weekend.

First we add a little bit of this,

Then toss in a little bit of this,

(As in your own PERSONAL ones, although I would take the actors too)

Oh and throw in some of this too,

(kisses from the boyfriend, yay!)

Dont forget this important part,

AND LASTLY, THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT OF ALL,

A FREE WEEKEND AT A SKI RESORT!!!!

I don't know what you all have planned for the weekend, perhaps some hustling and bustling of Christmas shopping, or defrosting the ice that has recently attacked MA but MY weekend is going to be all of the above and more. I have sooo been looking foward to this trip! I need to thank the one and only Amy for inviting my friends and I on this adventure, you are the best :)

Friday Fact:
Turtles can breathe through their butts.


Driving - Maybe us women are as bad as THEY say we are...


Oh, this happens all the time!




Honest mistake, who knew there would be a boat there????


No biggie, she simply wanted to make a statment of some sort...

5th Wheeling it and Lovin it (kinda)

So, first of all I would like to explain that I have actually been busy these past few days at work. I know, I know it is hard to believe but it just so happens that I have been furiously working from morning til night...on my brothers term paper. HA who knew that I would put so much pressure and stress on myself just to "proof read" aka REWRITE a college paper. I found myself in the middle of a huge english majors nightmare - mispellings and verb tense errors GALORE. It was a 14 page paper and I put every drip of energy I had into it and this is why I have sadly ignored my tiny little blog these past few days.

But now that I am back there are a few things that need to be acknowledged, such as my new found love for this man, Paul Potts. He was a contestant on the British version of, American Idol which is Britains Got Talent. If you watch this video, you will understand why I get the chilli bumps listening to him :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

Now onto the meaning of the title for this post... Last week I went to this great little bar in the South End with some friends ->

(that is a pic from outside the bar) and it was a really nice time. I had to be dragged out by my persistent and lovely friend Weebes and once there I was grateful for his insistence :) We munched on some tasty appetizers and waited for the rest of the clan. Soon there were 4 of us and shortly after that there were 5 of us. Two couples and then me. I didn't stay long after the 5th person got there but not because I felt uncomfortable or lonely but because that one beer was slowly starting to enter my system and my droopy, drowsy eyes were beginning to make an appearance! But as I walked home I started thinking about the situation I am in with my boyfriend. While he is away studying and being an uber dork (hehe jk sweets) I am here in Bean town being forced to succumb to that ever so dreadful label "The third, fifth, seventh wheel" BUT I have discovered I happen to actually enjoy this! This was my epiphany as I trudged home last Thursday night, and every other night I play third wheel to friends (my two neighbors in particular) I like watching other couples interact and most of all I like the feeling I get leaving these situations; it makes me miss him but it also makes me really value our time together. Being with other couples reminds me of what I have to look foward to when the bf comes home. So that was my big moment of "enlightenment" last week, did you have one?

Just for a chuckle, here is how the ever so knowledgable "Urban Dictionary" defines a third wheel, (note - is not factual and extremely crass!)

1. Third Wheel
One who deters the socialization of a couple, perhaps when being invited out of pitty or through a feeling of duty. This person may be eased into the situation by being allowed to stay in an envirnment he or she has become accustomed to (perhaps a kitchen, where the third wheel can bake cookies for the couple.) The third wheel may feel uncomfortable about watching the couple canoodle on his her her sofa, but none of this is taken into consideration.

2.
Third Wheel
A person hanging out with two people (usually a couple) that are in a sence leaving him/her out. Called the third wheel because either: -Having any odd number of wheels on an object generally messes it up. -Third wheel on a bike makes a tricycle, something thats safe for kids be left alone with.
Well, if your bringing your girlfriend, I'll have to take my cousin with me, don't wanna be the third wheel.

3.
Third Wheel
To be the friend that sits there while your friend gets some and you get nothin but yourself.
The other day when I was sittin in my basement with Nate and this female I had to third wheel it

PS. I would like to make a shout out to my first ever follower!! Thank you Princess Freckles for making feel part of the blogging world :) http://princessfreckles.blogspot.com/

Christmas is the one time of year when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ. - Bart Simpson

And the COUNTDOWN begins!! (a couple days late, ops!)



I love love love Christmas time. Mostly I love it because it signifies time with my family, who I can't get enough of. BUT there are a few other reasons why I love this holiday, and seeing as though we have 22 days left until the big day, I am going to list 22 reasons why I love Christmas time!

1. EGG NOG (obviously)
2. The holiday bustle, everyones so excited!
4. Fires in the rarely used fireplace :)
5. Little kids xmas outfits
6. Xmas ornaments and all their sparkle!
7. Driving around admiring and comparing
others outside decor
8. Snowmen
9. SLEDDING!!!!!!!!! (I love it, can ya tell?)
10. New socks, I always get them at xmas!
11. Midnight Mass
12. The food (kind of a given)
13. Stocking stuffers
14. Having New Years to look foward to!
15. Elf
16. The coziness of bars (odd but true!)
17. Hot chocolate
18. Mariah Careys xmas music hehe
19. Mistle toe!
20. Dorky Santa hats that everyone wears
21. Icicles
22. VACATION TIME!!

Well there you have it, my 22 reasons for excitement!

Plus a little bonus fun, congrats on making it to hump day!! :)

Wishing my lovely life away...

Monday mornings stink! They really do. All morning I have been saying over and over again, "I WISH it were the weekend. I WISH I was still in bed. I WISH I was not at work right now." Blah blah blah, I WISH I wasn't WISHING my life away! I tend to laugh it off and remind myself of the hundreds of thousands of others just like me; waking up on a drizzly Monday morning and mumbling to oneself, "I WISH I could get back into bed." But then when I really think about it and indulge myself, I realize this is not how I want to live for the rest of my life and this is when I start perusing through Monster.Com.

If anyone knows of a fabulous/super/fantastic/wickedawesome job that needs to be filled, please contact me at, DESPERATELY/BORED/EMPLOYEE.COM! Thanks :)

In other news I just started a new book, called "The Other Queen". It's by the same woman who wrote "The Other Boelyn Girl" so I have high hopes! Has anyone read this before or perhaps anything else by the writer, Philippa Gregory?

PS. For anyone who is into BIG BRAND names/labels, this site, Ideeli.com is most likely your future lova. A woman that I work with swears by this site (not knowing that I actually prefer shopping at the Gap and that I never spend more then $20, ok maybe $30 on a bag) and claims that the sales are the best thing since sliced bread. With the holidays quickly approaching maybe this will help!

http://www.ideeli.com/closed

Rain Rain Go Away

Cold + Rain = Dreary and Unattractive Morning

My morning really started at 1 AM because thats how late I was up reading an excellent book called, Sarah's Key. It is truly a terrific book so far (hence me staying up until the wee hours of the morning!) I won't say too much about it but it covers an

event during the time of the Holocaust that not many people are aware of. It happened in Paris and French policemen were the faces of cruelty, not the Nazis. It is a heartbreaking tale but also superbly written and has a lovely message of hope and endurance. I completely, 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy and interesting read!

Anyways, back to why this morning was "unattractive". Well, before immersing myself in my book last night, I thought I had overheard the weatherwoman say something about "rain and horrific commute" but I shrugged it off thinking "it couldn't really be thaaaat bad" boy was I wrong! It is cold and rainy and to top it all off I have pretty tacky raingear, as well as a non rainproof suitcase that I had to lug to the T stop that happens to be 10 minutes away and then to my job which also happens to be a 10/15 minute walk once off the train. Don't understand my slight frustration with the morning? Maybe this will enlighten you.

My LIME green raincoat

My HOT PINK umbrella

Last but not least, my HOMEMADE rainproof suitcase

Through the misery of this yucky commute I did catch glimpses of sunlight, for two reasons.

1. Dragging my suitcase through puddles and mud is worth it because it is what I will bring home with me tonight, when I will go and spend time with family and friends this week :)
2. I got the chance to don my super cute rainboots!

Patience is a Virtue...but such an Inconvenience!

I am a mature, intelligent young woman yet this picture depicts me best in terms of my patience level...

1.The constant supply of dirty dishes in the sink.

2. The daily run to catch the train.

3. Then once on the train, the ability to over look every gross smell, and sneeze or cough that I swear is always propelled in my direction.

4. The ever present long line at Dunkin Donuts.

5. The fact that I always seem to buy yogurt that goes bad in 2.3 days!

AND ALL OF THIS IS JUST WHAT TRIES MY PATIENCE FROM 7 TO 9 IN THE MORNING!

My patience is something that I seem to lack in as I get older, and considering I am only 23 I am nervous for my sanity and the sanity of those who have to put up with me :) However, I have heard the first step to overcoming any problem is admitting you have one in the first place. So here goes nothing;

I, Aubrey Burke, am no grasshopper with patience. One step at a time...

Pretty things!

What do I do to stay optimistic and happy in my cold, boring office?

Well, for one I keep extra caffeinated with this,

Then I like to look at pretty things, like this

(thanks bf for the pretty flowers!)

When things start to go really down hill I turn to this,

http://www.firefighterscalendar.org/index.html

When I have exhausted all these options, I blog :-)

I AM BUZZIN FOR TWO REASONS:



1. I received my first ever comment today!! Woohoo, thank you Brooke, who knew blogging could supply you with such a high!



2. I am reading a fantabulous book called, The Secret Life of Bees, and it is quite possibly one of the best books I have read in the last month or two.



It is sweet and endearing yet maintains a thread of core values and life lessons throughout the whole story. Being a recent victim of the big four lettered word (L.O.V.E, just in case I had to spell it out for ya) the pages inspired by love and hope had me kind of spellbound.


"Did you know there are thirty-two names for love in one of the Eskimo languages? And we just have this one. We are so limited, you have to use the same word for loving Rosaleen as you do for loving a Coke with peanuts. Isn't that a shame we don't have more ways to say it?"
- pg. 141


Do you have a different way of saying that lovely word that implies the feeling of love? Maybe if we can get the words we use out there and into the open, then we (as well as the eskimos) will have 32 ways of saying it :)


Just for the heck of it -
http://www.romancetracker.com/101-different-ways-to-say-i-love-you/
http://www.columbia.edu/~sss31/rainbow/i-love-you.html

(Ta gra agam ort Jeff - just for being a good trooper sweets, I told you I'd write about you at some point!)


Lastly, Belle Maison, http://www.bellemaison23.com/ has fantastic decorating sites that are definitely worth taking a look at.

Oh and One More Thing...

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (no this is not about my BF)




How do we feel about these shoes?? I know its just the beginning of winter but a girl can still dream about the summer right?!?

I am thinking about getting them in black, I am a total sucker for anything with thick straps and a wedge like heel!

Oh and they are from DSW and onlyyyyy $49. 95 - talk about a bargain.

Oh Hawt Damn this is My ...Blog??

So I have gone and taken the big plunge into the world of blogging, and so far I am feeling pretty good about it :) After casually and very politely stalking peoples blogs for the last couple months I decided that having an outlet for all my thoughts, may be kinda nice. Also, a blog may be just the thing I need to help pass my time at this very uneventful and monotonous job I landed just a few months ago. Although I am not all that happy here, I realize that in times like these I really can't complain and understand that receiving a pay check is something I should be grateful for.

While on the topic of paychecks and jobs I can't help but be reminded of the sight I saw last night during my commute home. On one of the possibly coldest night of the year I found myself scurrying past a man and his child. They were standing by the train and the man was holding a sign that said, "PLEASE HELP, SON AND I ARE HOMELESS". I was surrounded by a herd of bustling pedestrians trying to get on the train and yet stood there pretty much just gawking at the picture before me. The image has stayed with me and I can't help but feel a tug at my heart everytime I think about it. How could things be so bad for a family that they are forced to resort to this? How sad must that father be, having his son beside him in a dirty train station, hoping for a few pennies thrown his way? How horrible is it that I didn't see anyone stop to acknowledge the situation and give what they could? Just some food for thought...

On a lighter note it is almost the weekend and I have successfully completed my first blog! YIPPEEE :)

PS. Please come again, I'm nervous no one is going to be interested in my tiny little blog! haha