Journal 127 - Season Finale

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Journal 127

Friday - 12-31-10 // Saturday - 01-01-11

Hit up Izmailovsky Park Again -- Got my pictures of the ice on the trees as I was on my way there!

The shopkeepers all recognized me. *laughs*

Beautiful Bronze Horse wall hanging

Matrioshka for Connie

More Chess

Packed all evening.

Just made it out to the Coyote Ugly in time to see some of my Marine buddies.

Turns out there was almost a $75 cover though!! My friend thought it didn't apply to girls.

The cover was so high, because it seems that they were offering free Rum and Cokes until midnight.

Eventually, the guys pooled to get me in, I guess. I gave one of them the $30 that I had on me, and told them to split it up. *sighs* I really didn't want to pay that much -- but, well, I figured it was worth it to see them, and be out for New Years.

I was basically there for about 45 minutes -- then had to get out back home to finish packing. AND I had to take a shower, because we'd all been sprayed with champagne -- and the last thing that I needed was to get on the plane, reeking of cigarette smoke and booze.

But it was nice… I left at 12:30, and snow was falling in the streets… Beautiful.

*****

Had another phone fail -- I guess the Taxi had come a bit early, but I thought the lady who called said it would be there in 15 minutes, not that he'd already been there.

Got in, 40 min after it had gotten there; when I thought it was late by 15 min.

*****

There had been an accident on the road; driving backwards.

Some cursing -- the driver apologized to him. I told him I had no idea what he was saying anyhow.

I’m apparently a failure for not knowing how to make certain Russian dishes, even though I’ve been here for almost a year. He about died when I said I didn’t know how to make blini. I can make crêpes! It’s almost the same…

Got to the airport WAY early… Seemed like the heat was off. Trying desperately to stay warm.

*****

Flight to Germany – I don't know how many engines we had on that plane, but if we had more than 2, I think we lost an engine. I've certainly never heard such an awful, weird noise, accompanied by the smell of burning, followed by a Captain asking us to please fasten our seatbelts, because turbulence may occur at any time -- when there was no bumping.

I had the following, sardonic though: “Please don’t let us die on the first leg of the trip, just after take off." *sarcastic tone* "C’mon. Really? C’mon.”

[Though, as I'm working through my journals, and I found the comment in Journal 126, about how I was actually having worries about something happening -- that's a little eerie.]

*****

Girls on plane – we didn’t talk until the plane landed really. So funny! Talked language; they thought it was cool I was taking Russian. Found out we all had learned/spoke French. – Though the one girl I wound up spending more time with, she didn’t like French/Paris so much. Loved NYC. (Irony was, her iPhone case was of Paris. XD) Got her contact info – will have to get a hold of her when I get back to Moscow. She’s a lawyer there. Neat.

Had to go through security in Frankfurt again. Argh. Waffle iron made for some funny looks again.

Rested more than I ever have on a plane before. But I was dead tired.

Origami with Foil wrappers from Russian candies. See Photos Below:

*****

Ate something spicy – but was too happy about seeing the bamboo in the veggies. Had something filled with mustard later. I’m guessing being slipped pickles in Russia has helped me stomach that a little better. It wasn’t awful, like it used to be for me.

**********

Chicago connection went well, too – met up with the family in no time, and got the vacation started, finally.

Enjoyed playing Santa.

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Now, it's vacation time!! Happy New Year, and see you on the other side of the break!!

Love, and best wishes to everyone,

Moscow Kitty

=^___^=

Journal 126 - Skating On Red Square! And Shopping!

Journal 126

Thursday - 12-30-10

Skating on Red Square

- Walking up on it from the Metro with Nastena -- how beautiful!!!

First Blue skies in about a week or so; sun-kissed clouds!! "This is a true, Moscow, winter day!" Nastëna said later.

- Bon Jovi and Ricky Martin, after a rousing Russian Pop song about the new year.

- Joked about "ballroom exercises" -- how I needed to train the inner thigh muscles that are weak, but so oft-injured for me, I wonder if it's hopeless.

- Took pictures here and there the whole time.

- Did fall once. Choice of either hitting Nastëna, or getting hit by other people. Oh well. As I told Nastya, "I fall today, so that I may not fall tomorrow!"

"That's a good thing, because tomorrow is New Year's Eve!!!"

Went to find a Coffee House afterwards; Saw a "Battlestar Galactica" helmet in one of the GUM windows. Had to take a picture for Alex.

- You never know what you'll find.

As we were walking to the other mall --

- Talked about how the ice that is everywhere on the trees, etc, is very unusual for Moscow. Nastya said it was the first time she'd seen it.

- Walked through what I realized was Manezh Square -- where all the protests/crackdowns were just the last week or two ago.

- Took more pictures in front of an iced-up tree.

Did finally find a Coffee House

- Seek and ye shall find.

- Got my Russian Hot Chocolate

Had to part ways with Nastëna pretty quickly -- she went to meet her Papa, and I had to get to Izmailovskii Park to buy Christmas presents!!

- Not before I snapped a picture of a store named, "Stradivarius."

- Which reminds me, "Rubber Duck" logo

-Which reminds me, "MustHave" is apparently one word.

-Oh, and the, "Kawaii Factory" kiosk I saw from the Coffee House. Seek and ye shall find.

Spent 2 hours ish in Izmail.

- Don't want to ruin the surprises yet; I'll check back in with what I got later.

[Amazingly hand-carved chess sets and some pretty shawls for my girlfriends; Amber for my mutti.]

- Found my Peacock Shawl in Red -- tempted to pick it up…Thinking on it tonight.

- Suffice it to say though, Moscow really will mess with your sense of, "What is too much money to be spending."

- I apparently got some minor discounts 'cause I was pretty. And I think I got some pity points for, "Aww, you're freezing, aren't you!?" Because I was starting to shiver badly enough for it to interrupt my speech. Whoops.

Went home to drop things off -- then to head out for practice.

- Only to miss it, AGAIN.

- Hall was supposed to be open until 8 (would have had at least an hour ish of practice); but I guess the guard came and told them to close up early.

- Definitely no practice at all tomorrow. Ugh.

-Bought more of the cookies I want to share, at least.

- Roma and I realized we won't see each other, "Until next year!" He leaves tomorrow; myself, the day after. Told me to give my best to my family. I said maybe we could chat over Skype, and introduce our families. (This sounds like dating, doesn't it? XD "Meet my mother!" -- But Roma already told me he showed his mum pictures of me, and she said that I was very pretty.)

- Roma also thinks it's hilarious that about every single one of my guy friends who heard I'm dancing in higher heels have all said, first, "I bet they make your butt look amazing," in some way, shape, or form.

Dinner and some chatting with Olga Dmitrievna. She was impressed by some of the stuff I picked up.

- More sweets

- Trying to stay up. More "Mad Men." Chatting.

Feeling Nervous about flying the day after tomorrow… Don't know why. I love to fly… It's not weather related -- I have separate worries about that. I'm having honest to God, "Little Tube Up In The Air, We're All Gonna Crash And Die" worries. Strange. I'll chalk it up to stress and lack of sleep.

I'll hit up Izmailovsky Park again, early, tomorrow. Hoping it will be open. Need to pick up a few more things. Will probably hit up Old Arbat to check on a few things there, too. Maybe try to get lunch at Hard Rock. Still debating. Will ask Mulzoff, if he's got any free time.

Thinking about everything I need to do… Charge batteries, move files between my laptop and netback, make sure I have the proper money for the proper countries, bring a safety pin so that I can switch out sim cards between phones…. Whew… Travel.

Love,

MK

=^__^=

Journal 125 - Breaking Hearts In Foreign Languages?

Journal 125

Wednesday - 12-29-10

Boy Drama, Pt II:

I supposed I managed to explain everything alright - and that it would not be possible for there to be anything between us. He took it pretty well, all things considered. There was a good helping of Russian character in the whole thing: "I guess it's not our Fate."

He only played dirty once. I'd tried to soften the blow by saying that he was a great guy {which he is}, but that my American culture says, "If you're over 18, and someone else is under 18, that's just not right."

He responded with a below-the-belt response of, "I didn't think that you were a girl for whom culture was more important than feelings."

I told him he was out of line with that -- because, ouch!! -- and he agreed, apologized, and moved on.

So, we're amicable now. But it's probably good that I'm going back to the US for a bit - to put some distance into things.

*****

I fell on the ice on the way to practice. Wearing flat shoes. Nice.

Actually, I had almost fallen, grabbed a fence, felt relieved, took two steps, and then fell. XD

I got all the way to the metro stop for our studio, and THEN found out that the studio had closed early. I was so mad!!!

*****

On the bright side, I figured out where I want to celebrate NYE - Luzhkov Bridge. Aka - the lock bridge. I owe That one To Lawson! (Though, I don't remember why. Something in a conversation we had.)

Had a good talk with him last night, too.

- Said he'd been on the other night, and wondered if I was going to catch him. Turned out, I'd said hi, but he hadn't been paying attention, so we lost all that time to talk!! Ha ha ha!

*****

I watched more, "Mad Men" - went a little crazy over trying to remember the name of a song I'd heard playing in one episode. Turns out it was, "[The] Song Of India!" (How appropriate, that it would be a song by a Russian composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov!)

*****

Tomorrow, I'm going ice skating on Red Square, with Nastëna!! It'll be the first time in my life that I'll have skated outdoors, and I can't think of a better place to do it at!!

Journal 124 - Do Not Touch - Russian Family

Journal 124

Tuesday - 12-28-10

Practice with New Heels - This is gonna be... Dear, God, Help me...

Hustle

- Boy Drama, Pt I - Nutshell - A 17 year old, who thought I was 17, but then knew I was 22, put the moves on me. *sigh* I'll have to take care of that.

The irony is not lost on me, that I normally like older guys, and that the age difference between this boy and myself reflects something close to my average age difference preference.

- Andrei - "Was thinking about things I was grateful for this year -- meeting you."

Total heart-melter!

- DJ Yuri - You're like my daughter! I'm like your Russian Papa!

- Girl: "Your family [when you go home to the US] will be like, "Those Russians!!!!""

- Maxim's birthday

In general -

- Body so sore… Ganglion Cyst coming back. But I worry it's going to be too small to do anything about while I am home. I'll just know it's there… =>_<=

Journal 123 - HIgh Heels and Soviet Lines

Journal 123

Monday - 12-27-10

Well, bought the four inch heels. = @_@ =

[Chat Log]

Friend: And how much did you spend on those shoes?

Me: $130 something -- A little more than I'd like -- but at least I didn't have to pay for shipping.

[Of course, then there's the part where really, it'll be $260, because I ordered another pair, to always have a spare.]

Me: So yeah, I was supposed to go practice with Roma earlier; but then there was some kind of "Discoteque" going on for the school kids

Me: The guard told me that there would be no practice until 8:00

Me: So I called Roma, and told him I was gonna go try to buy the shoes instead, and he could come with to help me out.

Me: It was the very least he could do, since it's only basically on his whim that I bought them. :|

Me: It was bad at one point: I was gonna throw some socks on when I tried a pair on; and the sales girl told me I didn't need them. -- I think I just kinda waved her off, thinking she'd asked if I needed socks. Turns out she was saying I didn't need to use them. My partner looked at her/us, and said, "She's not very good at Russian." *sigh*

Me: I'm sure he didn't mean it in any bad way... But just the words

Friend: Yeah.

Me: You know.

*****

Chocolate shop -

- Standing In Line For An Hour!! Felt the "Soviet Experience," just without the numbers.

- New acquaintance - Nikolai Moroz - Lot's of Connections; Dessert Drink, walked me to the Metro, gave me a chocolate bar!

- Gave some chocolates to the Fruit guy who gave me the free clementine

[Chat Log]

Me: So, bought shoes; and then I figured I could go try to buy some chocolates, etc. since I was in the area of the chocolate factory

Me: I waited for an hour there in line! *laughs*

Friend: :|

Me: Met an older man, while waiting; who apparently has crazy connections

Me: He offered to introduce me to a bunch of government people and rectors of a few universities.

Me: XD

Friend: That's.... super awkward.

Me: Gave me a bottle of desert something or other, which I can't drink, so I'll be taking it home

Me: And then he gave me a chocolate bar, after he saw me to the metro. XD

Me: It was kinda sweet.

Me: He also offered to give me some invitations to a theatre and a circus. And to bring friends. Could be fun.

Me: I meet some interesting people.

Friend: Still super awkward.

Friend: $10 says he wants something from you.

*****

Almost lost my wallet....

[Chat Log]

Me: Could have had my wallet stolen today, but for the grace of God loves me, and surrounds me with good people when I go out.

Me: And not only my wallet -- But my credit cards; debit cards; and ID and Driver's license.

Me: Some guy tapped me on the arm, while standing in the metro train, and asked, "This yours?" -- And in his hand was my little wallet thing, with my Metro card being the only thing visible.

Me: :|

Friend: Why was your wallet almost stolen?

Me: I have NO idea how it got out of my bag.

Me: I mean, I pulled my cell phone out, but I definitely didn't feel/hear my wallet come out with it.

Me: But the guy said it had fallen out onto the floor.

Me: = o_O =

Me: It was weird.

Me: And I saw it in his hands and all but swooned. XD

Me: I couldn't stop saying thank you

Me: I mean, if I had SO not noticed it to that extent, he could have pocketed it and just been gone.

Friend: :|

Friend: Crazy kids.

*****

[On the subject of cowboy boots, and colors/contrast/wardrobe matching.]

Friend: At least, in my opinion.

Friend: I could be wrong.

Friend: It's been a few years since I've worn women's clothing.

Ha ha ha!!!

Journal 122 - Land Of A Thousand Quotes

Journal 122

Sunday - 12-26-10

Chatting with Mark and Spencer -- Here are some of the highlights, from both chat logs, and recorded from the video call, later on:

Me: What, no hello? :P

Mark: Haha.

Mark: No.

Marl: No hello for you.

Me: You really do hate me! XD

Mark: Like nuts in brownies.

Me: I see how it is. We spend -- *laughs* Aren't those awful? -- the majority of Christmas together, albeit over the internets -- and you can't even say hello the next day. =^_~=

*****

Me: Well, the only embassy I go to is the US one. :P

Mark: Which is a tiny, tiny bit sad, that you spend your time in a foreign country, on US "soil".

Me: XD! I know. I love the humour of it, too.

Mark: Heh.

*****

Mark's Mum: "Well I did study in France... but they do everything the hard way over there. 'FIRST FIND A WHOLE COW.'... they start from scratch."

[Related]

Me: That's one reason I kind of feel accomplished making the cookies from scratch, with no mixer here.

Me: It's small -- and probably not worth feeling proud over -- but I do. Just a little. There's something about being able to say, "That's the work of my hands. And it's delicious." :P

*****

Me, to Mark: I know how serious you are about good food. And the way you praise your mum's -- it's epic.

Me: Her cooking ability isn't fueled by a collection of French Grandmothers' Souls, is it??

Me: Because that's what it sounds like sometimes. =^_~=

Me: You know the rules: Mum = Awesome Cook; Grandma = Will wipe the floor with your mum; and so on down the line; plus the French-ness. = Oooh, the Tasty. + Desu*. Just because.

[*"+ Desu" -- if you're not familiar with the idea of "-desu" or "more desu" -- In a nutshell, it's an internet thing taken from the Japanese language, which is basically used to denote: "Plus Cuteness/Awesomeness." Or Awesome Cuteness. Please use your Desu responsibly.]

*****

[When I was still up at 1:30 AM]

Mark: There'd better be a girl in your bed.

Mark: And she'd better be tipsy.

Mark: *shakes fist*

Me: There is no girl. Alas. [<-- My sarcasm to the on-going joke that *someone,* male or female, should be in my bed at such an hour, and I should therefore be with them, and not online.]

Me: But there is a clementine in my bed! XD

Me: Though, they say "mandarin"

Me: And that's masculine

Me: So... In a roundabout way

Me: You can say that there is a guy in my bed.

Me: XD!!

Mark: That's no fun.

[I thought it was riotously clever! Mark, however, did not.]

*****

[Quotes from the Video Chat]

Q: "Is There Happiness In Russia?"

A: "No." -- Mark

*****

"I am the architect of my own demise." -- Me

*****

"I'm gonna punch you so hard, you're gonna get cuter!"

And, "I'm gonna hit you so cute!" -- Mark

[This was from a particularly rousing part of the conversation, where Mark described what he thought would happen if I ever tried to beat someone up.]

*****

Mark: "Have you ever been to Russia???" *as I'm sitting in Moscow*

Mark: Rly.

Me: Srsly

*****

I said, "It was 8 AM and the sun still wasn't up." -- And it spawned:

Mark: "That's because Russia does not have *the sun*"

Mark: "Until Putin declares it... [there will be no sun]"

Spencer: "Russia can't afford a sun."

Mark: "That's because Russia is a hellhole."

[It wouldn't have been a conversation about Russia without a Putin joke, now would it?]

*****

Mark: I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of any of the statements or quotes which may or may not appear in this log.

*****

Me: (Cuff links win.)

Mark: [Damn straight. This one has girl parts, and she agrees with me.]

Me: (Damn right I do. To both counts.)

*****

Mark: "If this is a staring contest, that would be trouble, because you could sign off, and your eyes would be open forever; and that would be bad for me."

*****

Me: {Desktop Kitty has boobs, she automatically wins.}

Mark: WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF THIS.

Me: You saw them. Vitamins can testify

[Allow me to clarify here:

1. We were video chatting, so they could clearly see that I'm a girl, and I have a chest.

2. Vitamins is a name Mark calls Vitaly by, for kicks.

3. I said Vitaly could testify, thanks to the events of Journal 114, and other times.]

*****

[On the subject of my squeaking when I think something is really funny, run out of air, and try to breathe, but only succeed in making really high pitched, "Someone drop-kicked a Chihuahua 30 yards for a field goal" noises.]

Mark: {I think I broke her...}

Spencer: {She's like a squeaky toy.}

*****

Me (talking as Mark): [You're being difficult. //Aside// Give her the Sodium Pentathol.]

Mark: Pentothol

Me: F*&k it. I should have bought another vowel.

Mark: Thiopental.

Mark: "Yeah, but what's the conversion of vowels to USD? It can't be very good..."

Mark: "It's like 40 million rubles to the penny."

*****

Me: Sleep tight

Me: Don't let the bedbugs bite

Mark: Better than sleeping loose.

Me: Damn floozies and their loose sleeping ways.

Me: XD

Me: Strumpets, all of them. Trollops. Doxies.

Journal 121 - Merry Christmas!!!

Journal 121

Saturday - 12-25-10

Chatting with family ALL Day (Night)

Stayed up all night chatting with people ; Cooking adventure - SPAM and Rice-A-Roni for Christmas dinner, and memories

-- Also, worries about careers, etc. Fun! College searching/what am I doing with my life/Mutti telling me I can't go back to school and get into MORE debt, etc.

Robertas and Inga had a baby!! Awwww!!!!

And now, welcome to, "Land of the Chat Logs!!" Warnings for tonight? Some mildly sexual humor, and some warm-hearted stories about making dinner!!!

[Chat Logs}

Me: So, I should really go to practice; but I really don't want to. = @_@ =

Friend: Why?

Me: Mostly 'cause I'm gonna be a little late; and I don't feel so good. [Blame being a girl.]

Me: But if I don't go, I'll have spent almost the whole day sitting around. XD

Friend: Hey that's not bad.

Me: Yeah; evening/day 1 always = incapacitating.

Me: I love looking like I'm a few months along. = O_o =

Friend: I am 115% sure that you do not look like you're a few months along.

Friend: Half of my female friends are or have been a few months along.

Friend: I know what it looks like.

Me: But, yeah; I'm thinking about making some Rice-A-Roni -- Oh, God, if you could see it. XD

Me: My uterus seriously tries to escape from my body

Me: So unless I spend a terrible amount of time/energy "holding my internal organs in" (aka - keeping the abs flexed) it seriously... You would not think my abdomen could extend so far outwards. XD

Friend: Haha.

Friend: I refuse to believe that you look like you describe.

Friend: Maybe you think that you do, but I guarantee you don't.

Me: Happens every month. XD

Me: Well, you've never seen it because I don't go walking around letting it hang out

Me: I keep it well tucked in. *laughs*

Me: But when I'm alone? Oh yeah -- baby city

Friend: Don't lie Caitlan.

Friend: It's bad for your health.

Me: I firmly believe that if it were sentient, and had a knife, it would cut its way out of my body

Me: 100%

Me: Rambo style.

Me: There could possibly be explosions.

Friend: You mean, Aliens style.

Me: It would have to come out of my chest for that, right?

Friend: That'd be nice but it might ruin your figure.

Me: Exactly. And we don't want that

Friend: This is the point in the conversation where I eye you up and down, say "turn around", and then agree.

Friend: So just pretend I was there to do that.

Me: Ha ha ha! I will. :)

Me: You don't have to pretend that I'd have complied

Me: [Because at this point, we both know I would.]

Friend: Damn straight.

Me: Exactly.

Friend: Indeed.

**********

[Sometime later]

Me: Or I'd have you sent for. :)

[12/25/10 6:28:30 PM] Mark Laczin: Have me sent for?

Me: Yes, have you sent for. =^_~=

Friend: Sent for.

Friend: *hug*

Me: Because I'm classy that way.

Me: And love that terminology.

Me: And I think it's a damn shame it's not used more often.

Me: *laughs*

Friend: I'll allow it.

Me: Of course you will. Moscow Kitty commands it!

Me: Ha ha ha

Me: No one can resist my brand of Angelic Cute and Fluffy-ness!!!

Me: Well, apparently some people can... But they're not worth the time, then.

**********

Friend: Note to self, if Caitlan is ever hungry and appears to be with child, make Rice-A-Roni and spam.

Me: That's about the size of it.

Double points if you bring chocolate, and let me eat with chopsticks!

**********

Me: I'm gonna go make dinner

[A Failed Attempt Later]

Me: Apparently, not

Me: My Skype may have gone a little crazy -- did you get that I was going to go try and make dinner?

Me: But now I'm back -- because I didn't make it.

Me: I couldn't get the stove to work on my own

Me: So, I figured I should probably call my host mum, instead of blowing myself up

Me: And she said she'd be home soon, and that she didn't really understand what I was saying (I was trying for something to the effect of -- "Do you mind if I cook something? It's American food, and it's my Christmas, so I wanted to make it.") -- so I said, "Ah, ok. I'll just wait." XD

Me: Oh, host mum is here. Gonna try for dinner!

**********

[After Dinner]

Me: Hey!!

Friend: How was dinner?

Me: It was amazing.

Me: As evidenced by the fact that I was gone for two hours.

Me: I made the Rice-A-Roni, fried some Spam, and prepared some fresh cucumber (quick pan fry) with Old Bay. And I added some green onion and peas to the (Four Cheese) Rice a Roni. Very good

Me: And shared it all with my Host Mum

Me: We chatted, and chatted, and chatted.

Me: (She remembered Spam from WWII, when the US sent it, and apparently also loves it!

That led me into sharing the story with my Nana:

I was visiting her once, and had opened a can of Spam, and was cutting some for myself. I asked her if she wanted any. From across the room, she fixed me with a steely gaze, and said, "Caitlan, I love you -- but I had enough of that during the War, and I don't ever want to eat another bite of it again!!!!" Ha ha ha!!!)

Me: My host mum was really happy with it all

Me: And she bought me some chocolates, for Christmas, which was really nice of her!

Me: They're that addicting kind of Weird/OK

Me: They're called, "French Zephyr." It's like a Napoleon of sorts: chocolate on the outside, and I can't figure out what the hell the inside is.

Me: I just know that there is a strawberry layer, and then the white center.

Me: So yeah, sorry about that [how long I was away] -- but I was cooking for her/me/us, and then we were chatting, and it was nice to actually get to have a Christmas dinner after all. =^___^=

Me: I loved how it was a synergy of Russian and American things. Mostly, American processed foods, and Russian fresh ones. *laughs*

Me: I am VERY chipper now.

Me: Just so you are aware.

Friend: Haha.

Me: And for a moment, I felt more hopeful about, "Well, God's loved me so far, and let me do some really awesome things here; so just maybe, that job thing will work out, too."

Me: Or, as some a$$hole comic would probably say, maybe it was just gas. Har har

[This part of the conversation had happened after I'd dumped all of my "What Am I Going To Do With My Life" panic on my friend.]

Friend: *hug!*

Me: *hugs*

**********

[Back to Dinner]

Me: So, while I was bustling around making dinner for us, my host mum tied an apron on me

Me: And then was oohing and ahhing at how well I was doing everything.

Me: Then said a girl like me should get married to a nice boy; cook for him like that, etc.

Me: It's both a compliment... And yet... It does really make me feel like the only thing I'd be good at doing, would be to be that 60s housewife.

Me: And again, that certainly can't happen, 1. because I've got so much debt hanging over me, and anybody I'm liable to get married to will also have the same student loan debt, and 2. because all of my hobbies are also extremely expensive, as we've mentioned. XD

Me: Which is, again, where you will tell me to marry rich.

[My friend just laughed at me, and told me that I would marry rich.]