Merry Christmas! (from JP)

Today:  The Peterson's came over for Christmas Souffle, Crab Dip, and Katie Miller scones.

Tonight: I drove down Palo Alto Christmas Tree Lane. I then consumed massive amounts of peppermint and chocolate while watched Veggie Tales around the Lena Tree.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/571905

PS: The heat is out so it is cold.

This is how we do Friday nights

Our matching clubbing shoes

Jenn's orange garnish for dinner with the Gibbonsessesesss

Anna Karenina Quote 1

This is Anna talking about her friend Countess Lidia Ivanovna.

"It's really ludicrous; her object is doing good; she's a Christian, yet she's always angry; and she always has enemies, and always enemies in the name of Christianity and doing good."

Androgynous Evening Wear

Tonight Jenn and I did what most single not married young fanciful girls do on a Wednesday night.

Go clubbing.

Then after clubbing we watched "Project Runway All Stars" Season 2 Episode 6 because Jenn wanted something to talk about with her coworker.

The theme of the episode was androgynous evening wear.

Emilio won.

By the end of the show....we both became experts in fashion. Jenn really relates to Ivy.

Here's the episode so that you too can become an expert in androgyny.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/560915#i0,p12,d0

Jenn is the new Creche Czarina

Last Will

Let it be known to the internet world....

That if I, Lena, die or my life becomes like the movie "Taken" (minus my father killing lots of people and the happy ending) while I'm in Ukraine for a week, the following is my last living will:

• Jenn shall receive my diploma to put up on her cubicle wall
• Jenn shall receive OUR Justin Bieber poster to put up on her cubicle wall
• Siobhan shall receive my buff
• Brooke shall receive my Stanford foam tree (as per request)
• My little sister shall receive my Vitamix
• Jenn shall have a moment of silence for me every night wherever she is in the world at 10:30pm
• Brooke shall have my blogging rights to "Those Girls"
• Jenn shall never get another roommate ever again...even if she gets married
• Bekah shall finish my Physics course at Foothill college
• Katie M. shall receive my sparkling water
• Jenn shall receive my Listerine bottle

If the above is not upheld during my death period....I will haunt everyone who reads this blog.

Jenn quote of the evening, "It's so deep, it's dep."

Lena's Pep Talks

Hello Dear Faithful Blog Readers,

There are maybe three of you in the world.  Feel special and appreciated!

I was having a hard Monday morning.  I could not get up - I laid in bed for an hour staring at the ceiling.  So I went into Lena's room and asked for a pep talk.  Lena gave a very inspirational talk about saving lives. Lena's pep talks about going to work are significantly better than her pep talks about going to church.

Here is our text conversation for the day.

Jenn: I hit my head on the car door frame getting in. 8:56 AM
Jenn: The effects of your pep talk diminished a little bit 8:57 AM
Lena: Saving lives, Peterson! Saving lives!! 9:21 AM
Jenn: Should I fake faint? And collapse in my cube. I bet I could go home then 9:24 AM
Lena: Maybe wait a few hours. Might seem suspicious if you do it right when you get in to work 9:25 AM
Jenn: Hmmm... maybe I could get my arm stuck in the microwave? 9:44 AM

Have a great Wednesday!

Being a secret agent is hard.....

Number of times Sydney Bristow has cried in this episode?

Answer: 078823459023489572349857239420845

Reason #2 to watch Alias

Jenn missed the 90s

Jenn apparently missed the 90s. So we did a search of the 50 best movies of the 90s on this very reliable website.

http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/06/the-50-best-movies-of-the-90s/

(Granted, there are a lot of great films that are missing from this list.)

Here is the list of movies that each of us have seen in this lifetime.

Jenn

1. Last of the Mohicans
2. The Lion King
3. MAYBE...... Jurassic Park
4. Toy Story
5. MAYBE..... Titanic
6. Home Alone

Lena

1. Titanic
2. Home Alone
3. Clueless
4. Independence Day
5. The Sixth Sense
6. The Blair Witch Project
7. Schindler's List
8. Thelma & Louise
9. Edward Scissorhands
10. Starship Troopers
11. Scream
12. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
13. Fight Club
14. The Big Lebowski
15. Rushmore
16. Goodwill Hunting
17. The Matrix
18. Dumb & Dumber
19. The Lion King
20. Saving Private Ryan
21. Fargo
22. Jurassic Park
23. Silence of the Lambs
24. Toy Story

Conclusion: 

Lena has seen 4x's as many 90s movies than Jenn has.

What was Jenn doing with her life during the 90s???? Why was Lena wasting her life during the 90s?????

Isn't being an adult great??!?!

These are a list of things that Those Girls at 133 may or may not have participated in during the past year since being out of school:

• spending $15 on jelly bellies at a candy store
• buying Airhead popcicles
• staying up past your bedtime to watch "Alias"
• unclogging the toilet
• buying an 8 lbs. chocolate cake at Costco....for two
• buying art
• midnight hot tub party
• being yelled at by the neighbor for being too loud at the midnight hot tub party
• forgetting to bring your own bags to the grocery store and not wanting to pay the $0.10 per paper bag fee; chucking all your groceries in the car and hoping nothing breaks
• not shaving for over a month
• complaining about work
• accidentally tie-dying the tub
• watching 90's music videos after 10:30pm
• paying utilities
• not wanting to pay utilities and therefore refusing to turn on the A/C or the heat when appropriate
• getting "Redbook" magazine
• conversing about which IRA to get while driving to SF (thanks J. Scherb)
• eating Indian food leftovers, cottage cheese, and a mango cream after eating dinner which consisted of a lean cuisine
• checking out "Cupcake Wars" at the local library
• renewing library books online
• renting "Safe Haven" from Redbox and returning it immediately so you don't get fined for watching an awful Nicholas Sparks film
• constantly changing your login passwords because you forgot the old one
• buying a food called "coconut floes"
• being made fun of because you eat something with the word "floe" in it
• spending your bank interest money on "In n' Out"

chatting with jenn

hi jenn  9:42 PM

meow  9:42 PM

your face looks very serious right now  9:42 PM

i bet you are doing something important  9:43 PM

type type type type type  9:43 PM

your tie-dye shirt looks very nice  9:43 PM

with your special shorts  9:43 PM

i wonder how long this will take until you look at this  9:43 PM

awhile i think  9:43 PM

why are you online but your comp isn't making any sounds  9:43 PM

this is very sad  9:43 PM

and now you just went offline  9:44 PM

Loading messages

Load newer messages

"The couch is as comfortable and heavy as sin..."

While Jenn was napping, Lena decided  to watch "Alias". Do you blame her?

You have Judgement eyes.....

Scene-- Those Girls' living room.

Open on Lena lying on the couch with a green smoothie.

Enter Jenn stage left.

Jenn moves stage right towards her "room" and dresses into sweats, a t-shirt, and Princess cruise lines slippers.

Jenn moves back to center stage (where she usually is in this blog).

Jenn sits in IKEA Poang chair.

Jenn proceeds to tell Lena about her day.

Jenn: 

blah blah blah

(CENSORED TO PROTECT THE GUILTY)

Lena: 

silence

Jenn: 

What are you thinking? You have judgement eyes.

Lena: 

silence

Jenn: 

You get comfortable in your sins, don't you?

A cultural experience...

I had somehow missed out watching this movie during elementary school when it came out.   I still feel like I didn't miss too much...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gMQ2K4zMc4

Spirit fingers!
Rancho Carne

Happy Bastille Day!!!

To celebrate, Jenn, her sister Jessica, and I had French toast. Or as Lena called it, Freedom Toast.

At which point Jessica spewed her water everywhere.

Happy 14 Juillet!!!!

The Three Rules of Apt 133

Rule #1 Thou shalt not leave any dishes, silverware, pots, pans, knives, or other various cooking utensils in the sink or Jenn will get bugged.

Rule #2 Thou shalt not have your boyfriend over for breakfast during the week.  Weekends are acceptable when prior notice has been given.  Exceptions are made for special occasions including birthdays and year anniversaries.  Month anniversaries are not acceptable.  Breakfast is between the hours of 6 to 9 am.

Rule #3 Thou shalt be permitted to wear the roommate uniform when it is just the occupants of the apartment.  The roommate uniform consists of Stanford or MIT sweats.

Day 3,024: Country Theme Songs

One dreary late night at the apartment of Those Girls, the clock struck 10:34PM which meant that there was no content filter occurring in the apartment. Jenn, ever the TRUE Utahn, was adamant about convincing Lena that Country music had some musical value in the world. After much searching on YouTube, Jenn suggested to Lena, a song by Miranda Lambert.....it had references to the Bible and so of course Lena approved.

Here is the song:

This is now Lena's country theme song.

After prancing around the living area singing "I heard Jesus, he drank wine...." for half an hour, Jenn decided to play her personal country theme song.

In conclusion....Jenn loves rain.

Dino bites!

Best roommate party ever! RAWRRR! Jenn prefers the t-rex shapes.

Those Girls' Fan of the Week!-- Amanda S.

If Amanda were banished to a desert island and could only bring one of the following:
a) Ryan Gosling
b) A pocket knife
c) Plato's "Republic"
d) A raft w/ a sail on it

She would pick, C, Plato's "Republic"

But more than that she would prefer Dante's Inferno to Plato's Republic.
And prefer Ellen Degeneres to Ryan Gosling

If she could only eat one type of food for the rest of her life, it would be Indian Food. (especially Aloo Gobi)

Her choice of a domestic animal to have as a pet is a Possum.

If she could live anywhere in the US, she would live in Manhattan or Wyoming

Her favorite color is PURPLE.

And Chopin's Nocturnes are her favorite music.

Here's to you, Amanda, for being our Fan of the Week!!!

Day 188-- FRUIT WAR

Last night, Jenn and I spontaneously had a Fruit naming contest after we watched the movie "Leap Year".

How did this happened, you might ask? It was after 10:30PM. This is when most things happen in our apartment that we have no idea how they actually occurred.

Banana
Apple
Orange
Pear
Strawberry
Blueberry
Blackberry
Cloudberry
Acai Berry
Pineapple
Coconut
Papaya
Guava
Mango
Dates
Grapes
Raisins
Plums
Peach
Nectarine
Clementine
Grapefruit
Watermelon
Honey Dew
Cantelope
Pomegranate
Kiwi
Bosenberry
Cherry
Apricot

Jenn won. So we called it a night.

I like that we named Cloudberry and Acai berry before we even named Cherry.

There was also a moment where Jenn yelled out "Panda" after I had yelled out "Pear".

Day 187

BREAKING NEWS!!!

We've created an email address! 

If you have any questions or topics you want the blog to cover please email us: 

thosegirls133@gmail.com

Other emails are also welcome - like if you want to date us, if you want to line us up with eligible bachelors, or if you have fun summer travel plans. 

Over and out - JP  

Day 187: Enough said......

Jenn relates to the asparagus with a monocle. 

Lena relates to Larry being yelled at by the asparagus with a monocle.

Day 186-- Tips to dating Jenn

Tip #1: Always bring chocolate and/or coffee cake to any get together

Tip #2: Please refer to tip #1

Tip #3: Please refer to blogpost "Day 172" (http://thosegirls133.blogspot.com/2013/04/day-172.html) about Jenn being a "curious kisser"

Tip #4: You may forgo tips #1-2 if you go straight to tip #3

Tip #5: NEVER BORROW A SWEATER FROM HER. ALWAYS BRING YOUR OWN.

Tip #6: According to her receipts from the past week...she really likes Mexican food

Tip #7: Wear cologne. It will distract her.

Tip #8: She'll do anything once.

Tip #9: Keep your hands busy. She's a mechanical engineer. She appreciates dexterity.

Tip #10: Tip well

How Jenn and Lena measure the world

Interesting fact. Jenn and Lena both grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. Another interesting fact. Jenn and Lena went to high school together and were in some of the same classes in the 4 years of high school. Other fun fact. Jenn and Lena were on the same FreshWOmen basketball team (ask us for a yearbook picture later).

Telling you this was to introduce a little bit of background as to how Jenn and Lena measure the world. When moving out to California, there is one stark difference from the landscape of the bay area and salt lake city. Mountains. There is no good way of know what direction you are facing at any given point in California, unlike in Utah. Because of this, it's also hard to know exactly how far away certain towns are from each other in the Bay Area. To remedy this, Jenn and Lena came up with a sophisticated conversion chart of highlights in the Bay Area from Palo Alto in "Utah Terms".

For example:
Monterey from Palo Alto is approximately the same distance as Salt Lake City is to Logan.

Palo Alto to The Golden Gate Bridge is approximately the same distance as Salt Lake is to Provo (depending on traffic)

The Stanford Stadium to "Chipotle" is like going from "Hires Big H" to Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake.



Jenn and Lena have resorted understanding how far away things are in the Bay Area in relation to how far they are in Utah terms.

And a recent development. We are now starting to refer to distances in "Lauren and Grady" terms. Lauren and Grady live only one street down from each other(~500 feet away), so to fully understand the distance from our apartment to the Stanford Institute building, we figured we're approximately 38.016 "Lauren and Grady's" away. ((5280ft/mile*3.6 miles)/500 feet)

Day 172

Today Jenn read the book she has been dying to read since she got it at the library two days ago.  SHE LOVES THE LIBRARY.  The book was in the young adult section, which I still occasionally look at, you know when I’m walking between the Spanish monarchy biography section or the technical machining section.  That’s why I go to the library, you know, for intellectual reasons, not to read the picture books or look at the extensive DVD section or glance at the romances. No that would just be silly.  What drew me to the book was the milkshake on the cover.  

Spoiler Alert: There is definitely no milkshake at all in the book which was quite disappointing…

Anyways, after Jenn checked it out from the library and put it on Plenti – our table.  Lena snatched it up right away.  Lena really likes to read book covers out loud to Jenn…  I think Lena was drawn to the book because of the entirely pink cover and of course the milkshake.  It had nothing to do with the title, If We Kiss.

After Lena read the back cover in an accent Lena became quite interested!  It seemed like a intriguing story with a lot of character development.  Lena immediately flipped to the end of the book to see how the story ends.  Instead of the end of the book, Lena found an exciting Extras Section.  Yes this book had a special feature section just like a movie! There she found a kissing quiz.

Here is a sample question from the 12 question quiz:

1.       Charlie describes French kissing as “disgusting and wonderful.” How would you describe it?

a.       Intimate and profound

b.      Sexy and strange

c.       Uncomfortable and a waste of time

d.      Cool and sophisticated

e.      Yummy and fun

Lena and Jenn apparently differ in kissing styles.   Lena is a charming kisser, while Jenn is a curious kisser. The descriptions from the book are included here.

Charming Kisser – To you, kissing has the potential to make dreams come true. But don’t be scared to take a risk on someone you never thought of that way before.  The best thing about kissing is it allows you to surprise yourself.

Curious Kisser – Kissing can be romantic, kissing can be weird, kissing can be just plain fun. After a few kisses and a few intense conversations with friends about it you’ve pretty much figured that out for yourself. But you want more. Think about it, what are the things you LOVE about kissing?

Well after reading the book in about two hours this morning, Jenn learned that lust and love are different emotions (that was the moral of the book) and that this fourteen year old girl Charlie has a much more exciting life complete with more parties and much more drama than she ever has experienced. Jenn recommends the book to all those who enjoy skiing and witty high schoolers.

Blog Author's Note: The author apologizes for the lack of consistent voice in the post. I think the author still can't believe she took the time to read the entire book... 

Jennifer Peterson's Scale of determining how serious one is about serving a Mission....

1- "I had nothing else to talk to him about so I mentioned serving a mission."
2-"I'm currently not dating anyone."
3-"ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GONE ON MISSIONS!!!!!! I'M SO LONELY!!!!"
4-"I DOOOON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY LIFE!!!!!"
5-"I've thought about praying about it."
6-"I've prayed about it."
7-"I've talked to the Bishop about it."
8-"I've talked to the Stake President about it."
9-"I've started my application online."
10-"My papers are sent!"

"Baby baby baby, oh like........"

This past week was Jenn's birthday!!! HUZZZAH!

It started out with Brooke inviting Jenn to have dinner with her....and then since dinner went sooooo well, Brooke invited her over to her place for dessert! What Jenn didn't know is that a bunch of her friends were hiding in wait to jump out and surprise her. The timing could not have been better because when we got inside Brooke's house, it was pretty dark and Jenn made the comment "Ooooh, it's so dark in here we could play Hide n' Seek!" And then everyone jumped out and said "SURPRIIIIIIISE!" Needless to say, she was surprised. Dessert consisted of Coffee cake from Costco (Jenn's fav), cookies from Katie Miller, and a cow pinata full of chocolates. Of course we served the Coffee cake on Justin Bieber plates.

Which leads me to the REAL point of this post.

Last night I had THIS SONG stuck in my head:

And I was singing this song while emptying the dishwasher, I yelled at Jenn to help me get this song out of my head and so she was such a wonderful roommate and put THIS SONG on to help me get the other one out of my head:

.......




Jenn......


.....


Well after we sang that song and also commented on how dumb these 2 kids are because they should just run away from the mob boss dad, Jenn put THIS SONG on to help us forget about a bloody J. Biebs:

THE TRUE ORIGINAL J. BIEBS right here, ladies and gentlemen!!!

And then the night concluded with THIS SONG:

North by Northwest aka ALWAYS take the train

Tonight Lena and I watched N by NW.   Now if you haven't seen it I will try not to give away any plot spoilers, but you've been warned!

Here is the scene, Roger (dreamboat Cary Grant) is accused of murder.  He is a runaway fugitive who needs to get out of New York to Chicago before he gets caught.  The police are searching throughout the train station and see him run onto a train.  Roger runs down the train to find a place to hide, when lo and behold he meets - the gorgeous - Eve (Eva Marie Saint).  She of course offers to assist him.

Let's pause - here, as we did while watching the movie.  Lena asks: "Now, Jenn what would you do in this case?" Would I offer to help the handsome man furtively running away from the police? Or would I immediately report to the police where he is?  That is the question of the night.  It would be so tempting, I mean after all - it's Cary Grant... In reality I probably would yell at the police. Darn.

Also another question.  How much hair mouse does Cary Grant use to keep that quaff in place?  I mean really - when you have an airplane trying to run you over at you at 100 mph and your hair doesn't get mussed up at?! That is quite impressive.

So the moral of this blogpost - all fight scenes should be done in suits and always take the train, cause you never know who you could meet.

A moment of silence for March.....

Dear Diligent Readers of "Those Girls",

April marks the end of March and thus marks the end of an all time first at our apartment. March is the first month that Jenn and I (Jenn) since living together have not planned/threw a party. EVERY month since November we have either thrown a party at our apartment or planned one at someone else's apartment.

A small recap:
November= Jenn's house warming party
December= White Elephant Gift Party
January= Katie Miller's elegant Birthday party
February= Lauren Smith's dessert birthday drop in
March= OH THE HORROR! nada

Poor March! You had such potential! St. Patrick's Day. Easter. Daylight Savings. WHY DID WE DO YOU SO WRONG?!?!

On a more optimistic note. April is Jenn's birth month. The month she gives birth. So there will be plenty of opportunity to make up for our lack of party planning in March.

SAVE THE DATE! April 11th!

"You REALLY like me..."

Please find below a short guide to dating during the evening on different days of the week and what each day means.

Monday: Let's make our OWN family home evening.
Appropriate Activities: "Watching" a movie,

Tuesday: I'm proactive about dating! aka Umm... I didn't know he had my number.
Appropriate Activities: Fro-yo, gelato, ice cream, a walk
Description: It's usually nice.

Wednesday: Eh, it's the middle of week.  
Appropriate Activities: Something short, please

Thursday: Little risk, potential for great benefit.  Didn't quite make the cut for the weekend.
Appropriate Activities: Anything from as simple as hot chocolate to as involved as dinner, maybe a movie

Friday: The pressure is on.
Appropriate Activities: Planned for, paired off, and paid for. The big dates happen on Friday

Saturday: I like this person.
Appropriate Activities: Dinner, fro-yo

Sunday "Dating is a spiritual activity."
Appropriate Activities:

A quote from our dating expert: "Honey sweetheart, check yourself before you wreck yourself."

Roommate Chicken

Here at "Those Girls 133" apartment, Jenn and I play a little game called "Roommate Chicken". This game was unintentionally invented and played by us through the natural course of living together until we both realized about a month ago what we were actually doing.

How "Roommate Chicken" is played. The game commences at any time, anywhere, when one roommate proposes an idea/suggestion for something that both roommates should do. This suggestion can be serious or joking in nature. The next move in the game is when the other roommate agrees and builds off of that idea to make an additional suggestion. This continues until each roommate isn't sure whether or not the other one is still serious or not. The game ends when one roommate owns up to their secret desire to NOT actually do all the things they were suggesting.....OR both roommates end up following through on the suggested idea whether they actually wanted to do it or not.

This game has gotten us into trouble at times because....let's face it...both Jenn and I are wonderful roommates and would go out of our way to do something random for the other person if it was important to the other person. Which basically means....doing ridiculous things that both of us may or may not have actually wanted to do in the first place, but we thought it was a funny idea.

Here are some recaps of recent games of "Roommate Chicken" that have been played:

• Let's switch rooms half way through the year
• Let's paint the random circuit container on our wall that looks like an "Umbro" logo
• Let's throw a party....
• Let's have a candle vigil for the canoe that used to park in the downstairs garage 
• Let's go Christmas caroling around the apartment complex
• Let's put up a poster of David Beckham on our wall
• Let's make a slideshow of funny pictures of Lauren for her birthday party and project them on the wall
• We should reinstate "Fictional Man Club" and call it "Fake Man Event"
• Please print out 100 of my updated resumes to give out to every man I see on the street
• Let's start a square-foot garden on our patio
• Let's invite [insert male name] to [insert some event]!
• Let's call our friends past their bedtime (the lovely med school Miller sisters)
• Let's order a life-size cardboard cutout of Bill Clinton
• Let's start a blog!

You too, could play with your roommates.

Laquisha's Resume (Day 115) TRY 2

Laquisha Spatulena Sparkles Schoemaker

Apt 133, Mountain View, CA 94040

(801) UCA-LLME, http://thosegirls133.blogspot.com/

EDUCATION

STANFORD University- STANFORD, CA (September 2009 – June 2012)

College of Humanities and Sciences

Major: Human Biology - Bachelor of Arts, Focus: National Health Policy

HEALTH RELATED EXPERIENCES

STANFORD University School of Medicine- STANFORD, CA (June 2012 – Present)

Research Assistant in HEALTH ECONOMICS
     I basically have already done everything on the job description, so I really know what to do
     I know statistics.

Friend to MEDICAL Students – Stanford, CA (September 1995 – Present)

     Debate medical and health policy topics weekly during Monday lectures

     Discuss men's health during bimonthly phone calls awkwardly 

Nightly Statistical Analysis of Marriagability - Mountain View, CA (November 2012 - Present)
     Analyze roommate's possibility of getting married
     I know statistics.

Project Alone - Stanford, CA (September 2011 - June 2012)

Volunteer Policy Analyst-
    lived alone

My hospitals and healthcare experience is too vast and varied for this one page. I have especially focused and enjoyed my experiences on spines and brains. Will disclose after given interview.

OTHER EXPERIENCES - I'M COOL

Stanford LDS Student Association El Presidente (June 2011 - June 2012) - And, yes, I'm a Mormon.

Beechwood School Academic Tutor (January 2012 - Present) - I know how to wrangle children.

Taught Student Initiated Course- “Sport and Disability” at Stanford University

(Fall & Spring Quarter 2011) - I know how to wrangle college students.

Alternative Spring Break: A Veteran’s Affair- Issues and Policies Affecting US

Veterans (March 2011) - not a marriage related affair, health related

Stanford University Women’s Basketball Volunteer Manager (October 2009 - May 2010)

University of Utah TRAILS Handcycling Team (2008 - Present)

CERTIFICATIONS

Certified Phlebotomy Technician (aka I can take your blood legally)

Certified Green Smoothie Master, Level Bright Green II

SKILLZ

STATA, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Word, html, python, French (la langue française)

Why Excel Spreadsheets are very useful

We calculated the probability that Jenn's new cubicle neighbor will be her future spouse...based on the upper and lower bound probabilities of whether this new coworker will be male, single, and straight. Also accounting for the FACT that 15% of people our age (18-27) meet their spouse at work (http://voices.yahoo.com/top-5-ways-people-meet-their-spouses-significant-7031616.html?cat=41) we have concluded that the probability that Jenn's new coworker will be her future spouse is at best 3.2%. Thank you excel. No confidence intervals needed here because this is 100% accurate. Here's to 3.2%!

Lena buys a VitaMix from Costco

 For Christmas I asked Santa for a Vitamix. Since he doesn't have connections with his elves to make a Vitamix himself (it's under patent...and that'd be embarrassing if Santa were sued because he didn't know the law), I got a bunch of money. SO! Jenn and I went out to Costco in Sunnyvale to get a Vitamix for me. Since we were there, I thought that I might as well get some groceries for all the green smoothies that I would soon be making so I got a pineapple, spinach, and frozen strawberries. I had no clue how to choose a ripe pineapple. I NOW know how to choose a ripe pineapple thanks to the internet. When I was at Costco...I did NOT pick a ripe pineapple. It was a bit green, but it did the trick. I also know how to cut a pineapple. Thank you internet and Jenn's giant machete knife.
The other thing about Costco is that everything in there looks relatively close in size and scale. So I got some spinach and strawberries. It was when I got back home that I realized....that the bag of spinach was the size of half of our fridge; And the strawberries, half of our freezer. This was good motivation to make more green smoothies if only for the fact that we needed to decrease the size of the spinach bag in our fridge so that we could find the other food we bought. (sidenote....i forgot I bought some yogurt a few months back and I recently found them. Oh happy day!)
After we packed everything in my car, we naturally had to eat lunch at Costco because that's what you do. I got a slice of pizza and a churro. While Jenn tried one of their Chicken Bakes along with a milkshake. Jenn then had to go back to work and left me to attend to the Costco picnic tables outside by myself. I met a nice man who sat next to me after Jenn left who was wearing a very flamboyant light pink and flowery shirt and who had one of the biggest ring pendants i'd ever seen in my life. Close to brass knuckles. I asked him about it and there is a jeweler in Santa Cruz that he always goes to. When he was about to lose his job he made sure he went to this jeweler to buy up as much of her stuff as he could before he would be unemployed. He now works as Cisco (i think).

Jenn enjoying her first....and her last "chicken bake" at Costco

Beautiful Box. Powerful Blender.

My creation!

Green Smoothie Shot
(Brings you back to the Xanadu days, eh Jenn?)

She's trying not to throw up right now

Trying to be nice to me and say it's good

No Jenns were killed in the making of this green smoothie
(ALSO DOESN'T HER HAIR LOOK GREAT HERE?!?) #hottttt

 Jenn is good enough to always at least try my green smoothies. Even if she doesn't particularly like them. That's okay. I've started a new game with one of my co-workers where I bring in a green smoothie concoction and have him guess what I've put in it. We are then going to create a dataset and plot his progress. #datanerds

The time Lena did the dishes, forcing Jenn to cut bread crusts off with a machete (AKA: Katie's Party--Lena's version)

One thing I've learned about Jenn since living with her for 4 months is that she likes to throw parties........

The week of Anne Katherine Miller's birthday was a wonderful week, indeed. JENN and I decided to throw Dr. Miller a proper party by making food that represented each of Katie's top 5 countries in the world; 1) England 2) France 3)Turkey 4) India 5) Denmark. So...naturally Jenn and I went about our respective roles as party planners/throwers. I, Lena, am on PR duty which means I try and get people to come to the party via clever e-mails. Jenn does all the actual party preparations, aka: making food. Afterwards, everyone thanks ME for throwing such a wonderful party, when really it was Jenn all along. Good ol' PR.

So the night before Katie's party, Jenn was in preparation mode which meant that Lena got to chop thin slices of cucumbers for the cucumber sandwiches that Jenn was making to represent England. Jenn had to leave for something...probably a hott date....and so I decided to be a good roommate and do the dishes/run the dish washer. When Jenn got back she was delighted about how thin the cucumber slices that her wonderful roommate had just cut and turned to prepare the bread for the sandwiches when she realized there were no small knives to cut the crusts off with because they were all in the dishwasher and it was still running. BUT! Luckily she had bought a set of knives from IKEA a few months ago....and the only ones left were huge machete-sized ones. So Jenn, not to be defeated by small knives in a dishwasher....began to slice the bread crusts off PowerRangers-style!

Machete in action

When Jenn asked what shape she should make the cucumber sandwiches, I suggested "star-shaped". She was not amused. (you mean a shape besides a square?!?)

Cucumber Sandwiches
(**Notice not in a star-shape**)

Success!
(Lovely garnish, Jenn)

The actual party was a great success! Other foods from various countries included Crepes-France, Rice & Spinach Paneer-India, Fries & Fry Sauce- Utah, Shishkabobs-Turkey, a yummy dessert that Tori made-Denmark. We also handed out silver-beaded-necklaces to symbolize the pearls that Katie wore ever since she could breathe. But of course to also symbolize and remind us all that ours are of inferior quality because...well...we're not Dr. Miller, nor will be ever. So here's to YOU, Dr. MILLER! Another year of successfully avoiding death! 

Before the actual party execution....or execution of the party...(hmmm still sounds morbid).... there of course is always a planning stage. This includes Jenn's excel spreadsheets and buying of decorations...as well as discussing the highlight of the party....Which was trying to figure out how we could get a cardboard cutout of Bill Clinton as our guest of honor. First off...Katie LOVE the Clintons and so we thought it would be fun to actually bring Bill to her party. Jenn and I literally spent a good 45 mins discussing how we would do this. Options: 

1) Buy an actual cardboard cutout of Bill Clinton

• Pros-- THE REAL DEAL, no hassle
• Cons-- expensive

2) Get a large piece of cardboard and print out Bill Clinton and then glue him on the cardboard

• Pros-- cheaper
• Cons-- pixelated Bill, finding cardboard and a printer, more craftsmenship than we want

3) Buy a cheaper cardboard cutout of James Dean or John Wayne and glue Bill's face to it

• Pros-- cheaper than a Bill cutout, Bill with a cowboy hat or a leather jacket
• Cons-- still expensive

Jenn was good enough to call around all the party places in the bay area to find a Bill Clinton cutout but it was to no avail. We decided to forgo the cutout...... for NOW.

(Brainstorming) Viva La France et L'Angleterre!

Day: (I don't care anymore...sorry Jenn I'm not counting out the exact day this happened)

Jenn being the best roommate ever and also loving any excuse to pull out her GIGANTIC toolbox, decided to hang up the painting that I "bought"/stole/was given to me as a present by Katie Miller's medical school buddies and former roommate who loves to paint. Every time I would go over to their apartment I would just stare at this painting and thought it was the coolest thing ever, so when I found out that Allison was moving out I asked her if I could buy the painting from her and she was so sweet that she said she would just give it to me as a gift. Probably more out of convenience. :)

But here commemorates the hanging of one of the first official pieces of artwork to grace the wall of "Those Girls" apartment. 

After we/Jenn hung it up, we realized that it looked slightly crooked and it would probably better if it is even MORE crooked, so then we fixed it and now it is a slightly skewed angle (not pictured here).

Stanley and Dragon :)

Stanley and Dragon 

The Elevator

The elevator has been broken for the past two weeks. Yesterday it was repaired so to honor the return of the elevator I of course thought to blog.  I tried to put a mirrored elevator to my new favorite song, pocketful of sunshine, but alas, elevator is just too long of a word.

OH yeah yeah
i got a mirror, a mirrored elevator
i got a mirror, a mirrored elevator

take me away, away upstairs

Also - this video is totally the story of my life:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6787709/dinosaur-office-elevator

Day 9

What a day to remember! 

Ikea trip
Chipotle with Father Peterson
Trader Joe's with Katie
Discount Furniture in Sunnyvale with the man who said I was wrong
Big Lots
Lena named our furniture
Katie watched Jenn put together a set of drawers as Katie sipped sparkling water from Trader's Joes in the poang chair.
We got rid of the receipt box that day.

Night 34: The time we tried to see if Jenn could fit in her laundry hamper...

 You be the judge.

Day ## --Ongoing

Dear studious readers of "Those Girls",

In our absence of the internet, we have had many adventurous living together in our new apartment.

I would like to start out this particular post introducing a new segment that will be coming up periodically throughout our time at the "Those Girls" apartment and blog. It is.....

"Dealings with 'D'"

To begin, 'D' is the hired cleaning and caretaker of the condo complex that we are renting out. We have had many interesting interactions with her...and by "we", I mean...I (Lena) has had many interesting conversations with her. Every time I see her, there is a fun little tidbit to share with the whole community. 

Another fun fact is that 'D' LOOOOOVVVESSS to chat. Even when you are trying to go somewhere...like to your car, she loves to talk to you. Which is dangerous because...I love to listen. I often end up at work 20 mins later than planned because I've been talking, or rather, listening to D.

Here are a few fun interactions.

1) Jenn: When Jenn was outside talking on the phone by the water fountain (or more "an odd water feature") that is located on the inside of the condo complex that we live in, D came up to Jenn and started to talk to her...while Jenn was still on the phone. Jenn doesn't know how the conversation turned from "oh, you're new here right?" to "THE BIBLE SAYS THE WORLD AND EVERYONE IS GONNA BURNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!"

2) Lena: On the day after Thanksgiving, when everyone was supposed to be at home and NOT working, D decided to come in to work anyways to empty the trash bins because...they weren't going to empty themselves. This is a woman who is truly dedicated to her job. Well...while I was getting into my car, D said that she had her dog with her and asked if I'd like to meet him. Naturally I said 'yes' and proceeded to go to her car where the cutest furriest little creature came out to greet me. I asked what his name was and D said it was "Mr.Bingley". "MR.BINGLEY!?!?!?!?! Like in....." and while for the life of me I could not muster the words Pride and Prejudice out of my mouth, D filled it in for me..."Like in the movie!!!" Yes....like in....the movie...Pride and Prejudice.

3) Lena: One day while I was on my way to work, D stopped me and mentioned that one HER way to work that day she saw someone by their car...doing something....mmmm...[insert favorite euphemism]...in public. Now I'll spare you ALLLLLL the details that she went into but she basically called the cops and chased him down in his car and got his license plates and said that she hopes he goes to jail and his life is ruined. (Which is interesting to say considering she herself has been in jail...but that's another interaction). And then not only did she tell me everything that happened, but she even did the hand/arm gestures that went along with said favorite euphemism. I then got in my car...very confused...and went to work.

4) Lena: D often wears a panda hat to work in the mornings when it's cold outside.

5) Lena: After Christmas break I was on my way to work (are you sensing a theme? Her cleaning closet is in the garage and located right next to where I park). I asked how her holidays were and she told me that she got together with her kids and it was nice (after telling me about her boyfriend who used to be married to a jehovah's witness and therefore got used to not celebrating christmas in the way that we capitalist americans do). I then asked if her kids lived close by (note to self...beware of questions like this). And she proceeded to tell me about how when she was in her 20s she dealt drugs and went to prison and etc. and her kids ended up in foster care for 13 years before she got them back. Essentially they grew up in it. But she had a great conversion story to God about reading the Bible and promising God that if He gave her her kids back that she would change her life....and it took awhile, but it all happened. She truly is a special woman.

These are just some fun interactions and are in no way to degrade D to be made to look bad. But just to show how wonderful she is...and we're looking forward to more interactions with her.

~Lena

Day 84

The Coffeecake:

Jenn has an extreme affinity for Costco Coffeecake.  The downside is - the coffeecake is a total of 2.6 pounds, in true Costco style.  The other downside is that Jenn might be addicted, considering she has eaten half of the 2.6 lbs in the last day.  The last 24 hours she has consumed, approximately 1.3 pounds of coffeecake.   She usually heats in the microwave for approximately 30 seconds, just so it is a warm cinnamony buttery delicious piece of heaven. 

You might wonder how she talked herself into getting the coffeecake.  When you enter the Sunnyvale costco, you have first fought the terrible drivers of cars in the parking lot, then you have to fight the terrible drivers of massive carts in the aisles.  The coffeecake is located just at the point of no return, the furthest depths of the store.  When Jenn thinks, I have made it thus far, I should get myself a treat, I could take the rest to work.  She never did take the rest into work.

Jenn once got costco muffins, thinking that it would be the same, but no - the costco muffins are definitely not the same.  They do not have the same cinnamon buttery taste, the fluffy texture, or detectable topping.  She had to push the muffins on every visitor that came that week. 

Please stop by apt 133 to try this delicious coffeecake.  Jenn will for sure offer you a piece so she can claim she didn't eat the whole 2.6 pounds by herself.  The coffeecake is available for a limited time only, at the rate she is consuming, it will probably last another day and a half.

Day 80

New rule in the house - we can only listen to broadway songs if someone sings along.   Also please ask Lena for her five minute rendition of West Side Story, complete with song and dance.

Day 71

The internet.

Lena’s version – Finally, can avoid Jenn.  Jenn has promised every week to get internet for the past three months, and finally it is here!  I installed it after Jenn claimed that AT&T didn’t work. I will be able to watch something other than Nicholas Sparks and Twilight.  I won’t have to answer and write all my emails at work.

Jenn’s version – Lena once again proves that she isn’t as inept of a roommate as she lets on by setting up the modem (even though she isn’t a mechanical engineer). Thank goodness the reliable brand name of “Clear” internet came through and sent us a modem that worked. Lena is the greatest roommate ever.