Turns out that renting a car while my Elantra is being fixed will be a breeze. I’ll pay $20/day for two, maybe three days. And best of all: They’ll have my rental car at the dealership on Monday. They’ll also take me back to the dealership when my Elantra is ready. Hooray! Monday can’t come soon enough, that’s for sure. I’m ready to make my Elantra pretty again.

I’m finally getting settled in my new office at work. I bought a business card holder for my desk today. I feel so very grown up :-) I think I want to find a nice candle set or something to sit on my desk. It’s a big desk and, right now, it looks pretty bare.

I spent most of the day listening to my iPod using my computer speakers at work. I cannot believe how much of a difference it makes to have music (and, music I enjoy, might I add) while working. It gives 8-5 a whole new meaning.

Five minutes and counting until “Sex and the City” reruns on TBS. Gotta go!

XOXOXO

Every time I visit the New York Times Web site, my eyes are immediately drawn to the striking black and white photos that accompany the newspaper’s celebrity obituaries. I wish I had a classic black and white photo of myself. I’d rather not wait until I die, though, for such an image to be published.

There’s but one black and white image I love, but it was from years ago. I want a current one.

Hmm…

Now that I’m not working at Nu-Trend, Saturdays have a whole new meaning. And yesterday was no exception to this rule. Matthew and I ran a handful of errands, which included stops at the Nebraska Humane Society (to buy a new toy for Frank the Cat) and Backshelf Books (to add to our ever-growing at-home libraries).

At Backshelf Books, I picked up used copies of “The Rule of Four” by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason; and “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” by Dave Eggers. The latter title includes about 20 pages of corrections and additions. I’ve never heard of a publisher including this in a book.

I’m excited to begin both. I’ve been hungry for a “Da Vinci Code”-inspired work since last year. I may pick that up after I complete “Microserfs” which I am loving to bits.

After our errands, Matthew’s cousin John, who lives in Chicago, came over for dinner. We grilled salmon and vegetables. Everything was delicious. After dinner, we watched John’s jazz band play at a local bar.

Here’s a list of concerts I’ll attend in Omaha during the next few weeks — and beyond.

And they say there’s nothing to do in Omaha.

Bah.

M. Ward – April 23
The Shins – May 9
Bright Eyes and The Faint – May 11
Rilo Kiley – May 12
The Killers – May 22
U2 – Dec. 15

Last month, Matthew and I spent three days exploring the state we call home. His Honda Civic was our only ticket to this adventure. And we have the photos to prove it.

[Borrowed from Molly]

I am: depressed I got into an accident in my new car
I know: that my car will get fixed
I have: an orange office, which I love
I wish: San Francisco wasn’t so far away
I hate: ham and bean soup
I miss: blissful ignorance
I fear: failure of the professional variety
I hear: the birds chirping outside my window
I search: for the right song every time I listen to music
I wonder: if I’ll ever write a book
I regret: not stopping at that damn stoplight on Friday
I love: Matthew
I ache: when I have cramps
I care: about other people as much as possible
I always: wear my glasses
I am not: hateful
I dance: when no one is looking
I sing: when no one is around
I do not always: think before I speak
I should not: take everything so internally
I write: for a living
I win: at pool and darts
I lose: hardly anything, because I’m so organized
I confuse: myself
I listen: to Indie Pop Rocks while at work
I go: to Mass every Saturday night
I am happy about: my new job

A new blog color scheme. You can’t say you’re surprised, can you?

The rebirth of my Web site is, I’m told by my Web designer, merely days away. The transformation will amaze you. And it’s a long time coming, that’s for sure.

I got into a little accident yesterday and am looking for Omaha body shops that can give me estimates. Any suggestions?

[Side note: I was (and remain) extremely bummed about this. But, Matthew, forever wise, had the following to say: “You know, it’s still a beautiful car. It’s like Cindy Crawford, really. She’s a beautiful model, but you hate looking at that mole.”]

If I’m not mistaken, I think Radiohead is coming to Omaha.

Holy crap.

In addition to buying “Microserfs” by Douglas Coupland on eBay last week, I also picked up these two titles. I’m excited for their arrivals!