Conversations With Male Coworkers

Last year I had my Conversations with English Flatmates posts. This year, I work in a nearly all-male office, so the conversations have been equally as funny. Here is the first one I decided to post:

***

Me (flabbergasted): I CANNOT believe this! An old friend of mine, who always came across as a Southern gentleman, has been cheating on his girlfriend for over two years! He set up a dating profile to facilitate the cheating, even!
Me (4 hours later I bring it up again): Seriously, I can't believe that went down!
J: You're still going on about this?
Me: Well how would you feel if you found out one of your friends cheated...I mean, how could he cheat with that many women????
J (shrugs): Cheaters gon' cheat.

***

Suffice to say, I broke into a laughing fit from the matter-of-factness. Because J is right, cheaters gon' cheat. 

In Sunny San Diego (Workin' Like a Dog)

I'm usually a social person; but between working two jobs, then finally quitting one and starting at the new job full time, and waking up at 5:45 am every morning for said job (ungodly hour!)...I sort of haven't had enough time for recreational activities. Womp womp.

I think I'm finally getting used to the schedule, though. So fun Ashley should be making an appearance once again (as opposed to workaholic, sleep-deprived Ashley). 

Anyway, here are the few recreational(ish) activities I partook in. 

The wee pup you see in this post is my friend's new dog! Her name is Bindi and she's adorable! Snapshots of Bindi: 

Besides playing with puppies, my other recreational activities have involved feeding myself with indulgent foods...

 The famed Sprinkles Cupcake. Yes, it's that good. 

 Coffee. I've been drinking copious amounts of coffee and am starting to believe the phrase above. So, I'm hearing voices???

Wine & Cheese night. I fully recommend the Stag's Leap Sirah. One of the best red wines I've had it a long, long time and from a winery featured in the movie Bottleshock. 

***

Hoping to eventually find a good work/life balance in where I can fully embrace San Diego as home again. I really don't think I'm there yet. And maybe I'll never get there? The next few months will tell a lot; especially if I'm honest with myself. 

It's difficult to explain it in words, but changing homes between two countries does a number on a person. I've tried my hardest to really embrace every moment, but I cannot ignore the fact that I've felt unsettled for the last 7 months of being back. At the end of the day, I've resolved to live a life completely true to myself and not everyone else's expectations. That's the best I can do for myself, I think. 

And there I go turning a fluff post into something very introspective and over-analytical. Typical Ashley. Just had to unload all these thoughts! 

Dear Internet, Stop Making Me All Wanderlusty!

Everywhere I turn on the internet, people have been shoving posts and articles about travel on my social media. Hey guys--cut it out! Don't you know you're feeding this addict with her worst addiction?!?

There is this article, that was sent to me. And then this 'test' that has been going around (I got Paris, in case you're wondering). And then I talked with a couple London friends at separate times, who said to me, "London suits you," and "London fits you like a glove." This, of course, completely inflates my ego and they really must stop saying such dangerous things.

All this travel talk certainly makes me miss it--the rush of a new city, the dash to board a last minute train, the gothic churches, the different ways of life. I will always be a bit of a European girl. I do believe, somewhere instinctually, that I will live in a new city again. I don't know when or where, but I know that elusive city is already calling
to me.

Until then, I'll appreciate what I do have (something I always need to work on). Such as, the fact that the rest of the country is in a polar crisis, and San Diego is skipping around at a happy 78 degrees (we're such punks). Or the beauty of the ocean that never fails to take my breath away. Or the fact that I am liking my job--I see the good things all around me...

But man, oh man, do I miss those trains. What I wouldn't give for a good cappuccino and a window seat, heading off to my next destination. I think I might be doomed to have this addiction for life.  Le Sigh.

Perfectly Acceptable Ashley

It's perfectly acceptable:

• to feel like the most powerful woman in the world. This is attributed to the new reality of working will all men and hearing man conversations ALL DAY LONG. I think I'm starting to understand the male brain. This will make me an evil mastermind moving forward. 

• to answer, "Hell yeah!" when you pull out all one-dollar bills to pay for a sandwich at the deli, and the cashier asks if you "made it rain" last night at the club.

• to feel a slight twisted bond with your coworker when you find out he loves It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as much as you do. Weirdos gotta stick together. 

• to have weird, weird thoughts about alien life. Like, if there is intelligent life elsewhere, do they have little alien businesses and little alien offices? Do they care about their status like human beings? Do they have a monetary system? And aren't human beings the strangest species, like ever??? AM I THE ONLY ONE TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS??? Of course, I share these thoughts with other humans and they give me strange looks. Have come to the conclusion that maybe I am the alien.

A Three-Sentence Movie Review

The reviews continue...aren't you excited?!?


Her

Quite honestly a gut-wrenching script filled with a tremendous amount of dialogue--you'll feel a bit drained after sitting through it. However, this is oh-so-poignant for today's day in age, and therefore, a must-see. And gosh, Joaquin Phoenix is always spectacular, isn't he? 

About Time

A strong beginning (with delightful British humor in the mix), but got a little choppy towards the middle/end. I'm not sure the time travel had enough consequences; or maybe I'm just more of a believer of Donnie Darko's time travel experience. Even still, there are some sweet (sometimes cliche) moments in the film that make you appreciate life; furthermore, there were some amazing shots of London!





Catching Fire

Better than the first Hunger Games. Very gripping from start to finish, especially for someone who hasn't read the books. If you like watching movies about revolutions in dystopian societies, this movie is for you--FIGHT THE POWER!











TiMER

In my Top 10 list and a fantastic commentary on our culture's obsession with marriage and the "ticking clock." Cheeky futuristic fun, but also profound in its overall message. I love movies that think outside the box when it comes to romance. 

Sources for pics 1/2/3/4

A Vegas New Year's Eve

*Ahem* I'm back from Vegas. As suspected, it was a bit of a crazy adventure. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but the ones I did were taken on my iPhone. heh. It's sort of fitting when trying to convey the hazy/crazy time that is Vegas.

This was my first time in Vegas in 6 years! Lainey and I met some fantastic characters (both in the good and bad senses of the word). For instance:

... have you been asked the question, "Have you ladies been hit on yet?" This from two twenty year olds who insisted that they were 21 (smooth operators, those two).

...or have you seen a half-naked circus show (too many boobs flying everywhere!)?

...or have you been coaxed into going to one of those uppity Vegas clubs complete with lasers, Lady Gaga-esque dancers in bubble suits and way too much techno? (I couldn't leave fast enough).

...and have you hung out at an Oxygen bar? (I sort of believe in its powers).

There are a few more stories, but I'll leave it at that and say with a knowing smile, "Only in Vegas."

HAPPY 2014!