I didn't make it out the door Friday evening to karaoke. Was just too tired even after a four hour nap to go anywhere or do anything other than watch TV. Did watch the season finale of "Joan of Arcadia" and taped it for Anne to watch when she has a chance. I ended up staying up until midnight, puttering around and trying to get things done in the apartment. I've been on a major organizational and decluttering spree recently, and every now and then I'll attack another area of the apartment and try to make some progress. One thing I've learned from living in a studio apartment is how little stuff we really need to survive. The last place of my own was a two bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse in San Antonio, TX (for $250 a month LESS than I pay for my studio!) and I had more than enough stuff in every room. I've been cleaning out ever since I moved to California over five years ago, and have gotten rid of probably more than half of the possessions I used to have. I've DEFINITELY gotten rid of more than half the clothing I used to have!

This past couple of weeks I've been itching to clean out even more stuff. I have an antique vanity table, and I have one small drawer that holds all my lipsticks, another for all other makeup and skin care stuff, another drawer for hair stuff, and another one that holds pretty much anything else that I might use there. I pulled out the lipstick drawer and tossed every tube that had a texture that I didn't like, wasn't QUITE the right color, was too dry, old, broken, whatever. Anything that didn't belong in the drawer went into a box to find a home for it, or went into the trash. It felt good. I cleaned out from under the bathroom sink, pulled several things out of the kitchen that I never use, and even went through some of my books and pulled out about 20 of them that I don't think I'll ever read again. I got rid of baking pans, a chip/dip tray, a coat, a robe, etc. Put it all in the trunk of my car to schlep to the Salvation Army or Goodwill in the next few days. And I'm not done yet!

Saturday I woke up at 7am and went to the Post Office. Received a package from my mother that contained my birthday presents, a glass jar with a stainless steel top, and a two-tiered stainless steel basket for fruits and veggies. Both were nice, but I didn't need either one, or have room on my counters for the basket, so I took them back to Target to exchange them for something I could use. I ran some other errands, too, and got back to my apartment around noon, and called my friend Pele (who I haven't seen in months because of my crazy schedule) and we went for a walk around the park. When we got back to the apartment, we were both tired and a little cranky, so I fixed us some eggs, and then we went to the mall so she could run a couple of errands, and then to Trader Joe's for groceries. I was completely wiped out by the time we were done, and it was only 5pm. I dropped her back at her car, and went upstairs and planned to take a nap, but that never happened.

Mike had asked me if I wanted to join him for the movies, but after all the walking and errands, I was just not up for it. I still felt like I was fighting something (still do, in fact) and just didn't want to stress myself out by hanging out with him. And I'm not going anywhere with him for Memorial Day. I don't want to deal with his neuroses in anything more than small doses! It would be one thing if we were dating, but were not, and won't because he's so neurotic!

My acting coach was having a party, though, and I had to make an appearance for at least an hour. So I went, and ended up staying for FIVE hours, and did two shots of tequila - I haven't done a shot of anything since college! This party was infinitely more fun than college, though, and I can honestly say that it was the first time I enjoyed playing a drinking game. I so rarely drink alcohol at all, and rarely really enjoy it, but the stars were aligned or something, because I had a blast. And I didn't even drink a lot - the two shots, and then one pseudo-Cosmopolitan, and these were over the course of five hours. There was nothing decent there to eat, though, and I was starving (before the drinks) and ate cheese and crackers and corn chips and 7 layer bean dip. There was not a vegetable in sight, or I would have eaten them! We all sat around in the back yard talking and drinking and laughing uproariously, and at 1am I decided it was time to head home.

Puttered around a little bit once I got home, and got to sleep about 2:30, and STILL woke up at 7am Sunday morning. I stayed in bed until almost 9 trying to sleep some more. It's easy to stay in bed when two kitties want attention! I pulled stuff out of my closet today, and added to the pile of stuff that is going to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Made some lamb chops and eggs (my version of steak and eggs - yummy!). Anne called me to run errands with her, and I ended up at the mall again. I was good both days, though, and didn't spend a penny on either excursion, in spite of the new Ann Taylor Loft that opened up! Lots of cute, cute stuff there!

Anne and I got back to the apartments about 5:30, and I started cleaning stuff up from my organizational spree this weekend so I could get to bed by 6:30pm. Loaded stuff into my trunk, put three bags of trash in the dumpster, was in bed by 6:35, and asleep moments after that. I got up at 10:45 to get ready for work, and would have much preferred to stay home and organize than come in here. I got too busy putting things away, and then had to rush to get out the door on time!

I've got a lamb chop and cherries for lunch and snacks tonight - didn't have time to put together a salad.