So I've been brewing a post about the difference between watching a movie in a theater and watching it at home, but it's not done yet, so instead, I've got linkage for you today.
I've been watching trailers online this morning (and, apparently, afternoon, since it's 1:00 already). I don't know why I bother, as I haven't been to the movie theater to see a movie since the first Harry Potter came out (2001: thanks IMDB), but there seem to be a lot of interesting things coming out this year.
Of course, there's X-Men 3, whose trailer I saw on TV yesterday and was forced to find it again online this morning in order to figure out what Jean Grey was saying at the end. ("Kill Me" in case you cared). I loved the first two, and am already adding this to my Netflix Queue, even though it's not even in the theater yet. Just so I won't forget.
So X-Men 3 started it, but there were a bunch of other things I want to see now too:
Since the success of Chicago a few years back, musicals are popular again. I am a big fan of this trend, since the musicals of Hollywood's Golden age are among my favorite movies of all time. So a second crop of musicals is only fab-u-lous in my opinion. The ones I saw trailers for included
Dreamgirls - "And I am Telling You," sung by Jennifer Holliday was the only thing on the trailer, but it was enough for me. I don't know about the cast, but, as I wasn't even alive when the show was on Broadway, I'd love to see the storyline to go with the songs I know.
Idelwild - Roaring Twenties with an Outkast beat? Something to see, I'm sure.
Romance & Cigarettes Aside from the all-star cast and the interesting storyline, the trailer made it seem like the musical numbers were Blues Brothers or Moulin Rouge style: pop music of different eras all jumbled into the storyline.
In the Guilty Pleasures category were:
Just My Luck Guilty b/c it looks just too much like every other Lindsay Lohan movie, and yet I still thought "I'd see that."
Poseidon Because I so love the original and all its 70's disaster movie splendor (and hated that crappy TV version they did last fall).
In the Movies My Nephew will want to see (and I wouldn't cry at having to sit through)category:
RV
Happy Feet Isn't the penguin just too cute?
And, finally, in the why haven't I heard more about these category:
Catch & Release Cast include Jennifer Garner & Kevin Smith... and the trailer looked different (good different, as in, "I haven't seen this movie 72 different ways" different)
Lonesome Jim Well, this is an "independent" movie, so that's why we haven't heard anything about it. But it looks good.
Click I'm pretty sure the only reason we haven't heard anything about this yet is that it's not out till June. Adam Sandler is hit or miss with me (hit - Big Daddy, Spanglish; miss -Punch Drunk Love, the Waterboy), but this looks promising.
So that's what I've been doing all day. (I've got a PET Scan manana and am trying to take it easy so as not to cause a huge flare again.) How bout you guys... up to anything interesting?
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Friday, March 03, 2006
I've got flare (yes, I know it's spelled wrong)
And that's because it's not the good kind of flair. I think we all know I'm running pretty low on that kind of flair... well, maybe you don't since you can't see me, but anyone in my actual life would laugh hysterically at the mere suggestion that I have style of anykind. Fashion is so not my forte.
But Flare? Sadly, I've got flare to spare.
I'm talking Fibro Flare, my friends. As in flare-up of symptoms.
I know I haven't really gone into depth here about my illnesses, (partly because I don't want this to be just a "sick blog" and partly because I haven't figured out exactly what to say), but since I've been out of commission for about a week due to a major flare, and have probably lost any readers who were coming here with any regularity anyways, I figured what the hell.
So - What the heck am I talking about?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that has a wide variety of symptoms, and, sadly, no cure or regularlized treatment plan. Basically what this means is that there are about a million and a half ideas about what causes it or how it could be treated, but, right now, no proven cause or effect or cure.
And I've got it. (And a couple of other particularly nasty things. But let's focus on Fibro for today, shall we?)
When you're dealing with a chronic illness, you have a baseline - a level of "normal" that you exist at in whatever way you can. Over the course of my illness (12 years this October ... crap), I've had a lot of different baselines. I've been completely bedridden, able to go to school full days, able to go to school half days, hospitalized, able to attend college full-time, able to attend part-time, etc.
For the past year or so, my overall baseline had been improving: I've been moving up from almost complete bedrest to a semi-mobile lifestyle. I have to use a wheelchair to get around, can't stay up right for too long (about 2 hours is my max), but I was able to participate in some of the more minor triumphs of everyday life: getting dressed, eating at the table instead of from bed, baking a pie at Thanksgiving.
It hasn't been exactly fabulous, but it was a bit better than I had been. I've been coping - And then last week.... Total crash.
I mean I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I couldn't... anything.
Pain was my whole existence for about 5 days.
And I haven't exaggerated that in anyway. I mean exactly that: for 5 days, nothing existed besides pain. Every lymph node in my body was swollen, every muscle ached as if I'd stretched them to their breaking points. My face was just a ball of fire - cheeks flushed such a bright red that my mother could see in the dark.
And I have no idea what set it off this time: as usual, I hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. But I've managed to pick up yet another infection somehow (I think from the Doc's office, since that's the only place I ever go), and it ran me over.
The only plus has been how quickly I've improved: I've had severe flares last for months, and this one is already improving. (as evidenced by the fact that I had enough focus and energy to turn on the computer and hammer this out today - even if it did take me more than 5 hours to finish it).
I've heard that the blogosphere is a fickle place - that you can lose your readers if you don't post often and regularly. I suppose that could be true, and I'd rather not find out, but I can honestly say the word blog didn't even occur to me until yesterday - a good week after my last post. Oh well. I'll just keep hoping that people will wind up here and be interested enough to stick it out with me.
I'm feeling a bit better, as I said, so I doubt it'll be too long before the next post, but if you've got some time, you might want to check out these sites about fibromyalgia.
FM Aware
Arthritis Foundation
But Flare? Sadly, I've got flare to spare.
I'm talking Fibro Flare, my friends. As in flare-up of symptoms.
I know I haven't really gone into depth here about my illnesses, (partly because I don't want this to be just a "sick blog" and partly because I haven't figured out exactly what to say), but since I've been out of commission for about a week due to a major flare, and have probably lost any readers who were coming here with any regularity anyways, I figured what the hell.
So - What the heck am I talking about?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that has a wide variety of symptoms, and, sadly, no cure or regularlized treatment plan. Basically what this means is that there are about a million and a half ideas about what causes it or how it could be treated, but, right now, no proven cause or effect or cure.
And I've got it. (And a couple of other particularly nasty things. But let's focus on Fibro for today, shall we?)
When you're dealing with a chronic illness, you have a baseline - a level of "normal" that you exist at in whatever way you can. Over the course of my illness (12 years this October ... crap), I've had a lot of different baselines. I've been completely bedridden, able to go to school full days, able to go to school half days, hospitalized, able to attend college full-time, able to attend part-time, etc.
For the past year or so, my overall baseline had been improving: I've been moving up from almost complete bedrest to a semi-mobile lifestyle. I have to use a wheelchair to get around, can't stay up right for too long (about 2 hours is my max), but I was able to participate in some of the more minor triumphs of everyday life: getting dressed, eating at the table instead of from bed, baking a pie at Thanksgiving.
It hasn't been exactly fabulous, but it was a bit better than I had been. I've been coping - And then last week.... Total crash.
I mean I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I couldn't... anything.
Pain was my whole existence for about 5 days.
And I haven't exaggerated that in anyway. I mean exactly that: for 5 days, nothing existed besides pain. Every lymph node in my body was swollen, every muscle ached as if I'd stretched them to their breaking points. My face was just a ball of fire - cheeks flushed such a bright red that my mother could see in the dark.
And I have no idea what set it off this time: as usual, I hadn't done anything out of the ordinary. But I've managed to pick up yet another infection somehow (I think from the Doc's office, since that's the only place I ever go), and it ran me over.
The only plus has been how quickly I've improved: I've had severe flares last for months, and this one is already improving. (as evidenced by the fact that I had enough focus and energy to turn on the computer and hammer this out today - even if it did take me more than 5 hours to finish it).
I've heard that the blogosphere is a fickle place - that you can lose your readers if you don't post often and regularly. I suppose that could be true, and I'd rather not find out, but I can honestly say the word blog didn't even occur to me until yesterday - a good week after my last post. Oh well. I'll just keep hoping that people will wind up here and be interested enough to stick it out with me.
I'm feeling a bit better, as I said, so I doubt it'll be too long before the next post, but if you've got some time, you might want to check out these sites about fibromyalgia.
FM Aware
Arthritis Foundation
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
2 things....
First, as evidenced by the following article, I am not the only person who looks at the book titles. Lost boosts book popularity.
Second, not too many people are checking me out here, at NTE, this week. I'm going to pretend that it's because you are all away on February vacation. I'm also going to pretend that the person who found me by searching "woman chokes to death" is not looking for tips, but rather out of concern for any women who might do so.
In case you hadn't noticed, denial is one of my strong suits.
Second, not too many people are checking me out here, at NTE, this week. I'm going to pretend that it's because you are all away on February vacation. I'm also going to pretend that the person who found me by searching "woman chokes to death" is not looking for tips, but rather out of concern for any women who might do so.
In case you hadn't noticed, denial is one of my strong suits.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Am I the only one?
Thanks to a conversation that started over at Bookseller Chic's site, Who I totally didn't steal my template from - at least not on purpose the first installment of what I am sure will be a million part series: Am I the only one?
So: AITOO
who checks for book titles if a character on TV, or in a movie, is reading something? I always figured it was a book-lover thing, but not that uncommon. But the other people in my house all looked at me very strangely when I asked them if they did this: Granted none of them are biblophiles, exactly, but still... does anybody else do this, or is this yet another way in which I am odd?
So: AITOO
who checks for book titles if a character on TV, or in a movie, is reading something? I always figured it was a book-lover thing, but not that uncommon. But the other people in my house all looked at me very strangely when I asked them if they did this: Granted none of them are biblophiles, exactly, but still... does anybody else do this, or is this yet another way in which I am odd?
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
I am hating template fiddling.
I am doing it; But I hate it. Mostly b/c I think I know what I'm doing, until I publish it and then? Not so much. So bear with me (all of those 4 readers I know I have) because I can't make that STUPID profile thing to come back up to the top of my blog. (And no, I didn't make it go down there. All the fiddling has been to fix it.) Wow, I rock at this, no?
Read this!
I write book reviews for a website (I'd post it here, but I use my real name there because I was too stupid to think ahead). I review whatever I happen to be reading at the time (which is quite an eclectic mix), and they're mostly positive reviews (b/c it's not a paid position, so if I don't like a book I don't keep reading). I usually wind up doing one a week, even though I generally read about 5 books a week.
Well, this week I've been a bit slow. I've been savoring Elizabeth Berg's < The Year Of Pleasures>. I tried to write a review for the book, but it was too gushing, I was afraid they'd think she paid me to say nice things about it. And I found I couldn't summarize it, couldn't wrap it all up neatly in a paragraph or two. So instead of censoring the way I really felt into a suitable review, I'm just going to talk about it here.
This book was amazing.
"Now, on this road trip, my mind seemed to uncrinkle, to breathe, to present to itself a cure for a disease it had not, until now, known it had."
You know a book is going to be good when you feel the need to copy a quote off the first page. And it just kept getting better. I wound up with a rainbow of Post-It flags sticking out of the book. I continued to read at a snail's pace even though the book was three days overdue (and I HATE being overdue). I began to resent the fact that I had to ever return this book - it should be Mine; I shouldn't have to de-flag it, shouldn't have to part with it at all. I stopped at the end of a chapter, at the end of a page, to better absorb the words, the truths, that had been written there.
The story - about a widow's journey through the first agonies of grief - is utterly moving. I've never been a widow. I've never even seen a love like the character in the book was lucky enough to live. But her pain, her struggles, her story, is, to the author's credit, universal.
Berg's words are like lyrics in a song - slow and beautiful, full of meaning and grace. They have their own melody, their own movement
"I reread the letter, sat back in the chair, took another long drink of coffee. And noticed a specific and breathtaking absence. At the moment, nothing hurt. What I felt was only hope, that internal sunrise. The image of John’s face came into my head, and I felt only my great luck at having had him for as long as I did. I’d learned enough about grieving to know that other ways of feeling would come back soon enough. But it seemed to me that this was the way we all lived: full to the brim with gratitude and joy one day, wrecked on the rocks the next. Finding the balance between the two was the art and the salvation. "
The strength of her writing - the flow of words, the beauty of the sentence, the truth behind what she's said.
Anyways. The Year Of Pleasures. Highly Recommended.
Well, this week I've been a bit slow. I've been savoring Elizabeth Berg's < The Year Of Pleasures>. I tried to write a review for the book, but it was too gushing, I was afraid they'd think she paid me to say nice things about it. And I found I couldn't summarize it, couldn't wrap it all up neatly in a paragraph or two. So instead of censoring the way I really felt into a suitable review, I'm just going to talk about it here.
This book was amazing.
"Now, on this road trip, my mind seemed to uncrinkle, to breathe, to present to itself a cure for a disease it had not, until now, known it had."
You know a book is going to be good when you feel the need to copy a quote off the first page. And it just kept getting better. I wound up with a rainbow of Post-It flags sticking out of the book. I continued to read at a snail's pace even though the book was three days overdue (and I HATE being overdue). I began to resent the fact that I had to ever return this book - it should be Mine; I shouldn't have to de-flag it, shouldn't have to part with it at all. I stopped at the end of a chapter, at the end of a page, to better absorb the words, the truths, that had been written there.
The story - about a widow's journey through the first agonies of grief - is utterly moving. I've never been a widow. I've never even seen a love like the character in the book was lucky enough to live. But her pain, her struggles, her story, is, to the author's credit, universal.
Berg's words are like lyrics in a song - slow and beautiful, full of meaning and grace. They have their own melody, their own movement
"I reread the letter, sat back in the chair, took another long drink of coffee. And noticed a specific and breathtaking absence. At the moment, nothing hurt. What I felt was only hope, that internal sunrise. The image of John’s face came into my head, and I felt only my great luck at having had him for as long as I did. I’d learned enough about grieving to know that other ways of feeling would come back soon enough. But it seemed to me that this was the way we all lived: full to the brim with gratitude and joy one day, wrecked on the rocks the next. Finding the balance between the two was the art and the salvation. "
The strength of her writing - the flow of words, the beauty of the sentence, the truth behind what she's said.
Anyways. The Year Of Pleasures. Highly Recommended.
Did ya ever notice cupid rhymes with stupid?
Ok, so I thought, since this is my 27th consecutive single Valentine's Day, that I would totally be anti-Valentine's Day today.
I thought I post some grinchy- Valentine's equivalent of "Bah Humbug"-ish rant about how Valentine's Day sucks & is really a conspiracy thought up by Hallmark to make single people feel like second class citizens.
Really, I had this whole thing thought out.
_______________________________________________________________________________
But then?
Sister #2, who is not the most demonstrative person ever, left a little baggie in front of my door this morning. With chocolate, and a card, and two pocket angels (strength and faith), and a beautiful statue of two ballerinas. The pocket angels were incredibly thoughtful, and let me to believe that she actually might notice some of the troubles I am going through, although she's never shown this to be so. And the ballerina statue almost made me cry, because it's been years since anybody thought of me that way, even though, in my heart I'm still a dancer. It was unbearably sweet.
And I've been listening to the amazing Michael Buble Check out #5
That song...Home? It makes me long for things. It isn't that I didn't know that was what I was missing: it just makes it so clear what I'm looking for and haven't yet found. Someone who makes me feel like that. (And if it just happens to be Michael himself, I would really have no qualms about that. No, I don't know if he's married or attached, or whatever. And I don't want to know: it's Valentine's Day, and a girl can dream.)
And the blogosphere is filled with people I've never actually met, and yet somehow still care about. And this I didn't expect. I didn't expect to care so much:
about the weather in North Washington
about Busy Mom's Mum
about a beautiful baby with a wonderfuly sarcastic mom
about at least 30 other sites I've got to put in my blogroll (Although, did ya notice...? I've finally got something up there!)
And there's the fact that people are reading this (Hello readers! I know you are there, even ever so briefly!) and that they might be caring about me & my life too.
And later?
My Youngest Nephew (age 5) will come bustling throught the door, heavy with character valentines (the kind that come in a package of 30, with teacher valentine included) and candy hearts. He'll be hopped up on sugar, b/c Valentine's Day is not a religous holiday (anymore,anyways), and therefore the teachers can - and usually do -- make a big deal out of it. There will be cupcakes, at the very least. And he'll be rambling on and on about how they had a special Valentine's themed gym class, and OH! because of the snow day yesterday, it's also their 100th day of Kindergarten. (Which, any self-respecting Kindergarten teacher will tell you, is a big deal).
So, really, what do I care if I'm still single? I'm not alone. And, for today, at least, I'm not lonely.
So: Happy Valentine's Day internet!
(P.S. I cannot get blogger to load ANY pictures (or put my type in color, like I told it to), so if you want some yummy Valentine pictures head over here:
Jelly Hearts)
I thought I post some grinchy- Valentine's equivalent of "Bah Humbug"-ish rant about how Valentine's Day sucks & is really a conspiracy thought up by Hallmark to make single people feel like second class citizens.
Really, I had this whole thing thought out.
_______________________________________________________________________________
But then?
Sister #2, who is not the most demonstrative person ever, left a little baggie in front of my door this morning. With chocolate, and a card, and two pocket angels (strength and faith), and a beautiful statue of two ballerinas. The pocket angels were incredibly thoughtful, and let me to believe that she actually might notice some of the troubles I am going through, although she's never shown this to be so. And the ballerina statue almost made me cry, because it's been years since anybody thought of me that way, even though, in my heart I'm still a dancer. It was unbearably sweet.
And I've been listening to the amazing Michael Buble Check out #5
That song...Home? It makes me long for things. It isn't that I didn't know that was what I was missing: it just makes it so clear what I'm looking for and haven't yet found. Someone who makes me feel like that. (And if it just happens to be Michael himself, I would really have no qualms about that. No, I don't know if he's married or attached, or whatever. And I don't want to know: it's Valentine's Day, and a girl can dream.)
And the blogosphere is filled with people I've never actually met, and yet somehow still care about. And this I didn't expect. I didn't expect to care so much:
about the weather in North Washington
about Busy Mom's Mum
about a beautiful baby with a wonderfuly sarcastic mom
about at least 30 other sites I've got to put in my blogroll (Although, did ya notice...? I've finally got something up there!)
And there's the fact that people are reading this (Hello readers! I know you are there, even ever so briefly!) and that they might be caring about me & my life too.
And later?
My Youngest Nephew (age 5) will come bustling throught the door, heavy with character valentines (the kind that come in a package of 30, with teacher valentine included) and candy hearts. He'll be hopped up on sugar, b/c Valentine's Day is not a religous holiday (anymore,anyways), and therefore the teachers can - and usually do -- make a big deal out of it. There will be cupcakes, at the very least. And he'll be rambling on and on about how they had a special Valentine's themed gym class, and OH! because of the snow day yesterday, it's also their 100th day of Kindergarten. (Which, any self-respecting Kindergarten teacher will tell you, is a big deal).
So, really, what do I care if I'm still single? I'm not alone. And, for today, at least, I'm not lonely.
So: Happy Valentine's Day internet!
(P.S. I cannot get blogger to load ANY pictures (or put my type in color, like I told it to), so if you want some yummy Valentine pictures head over here:
Jelly Hearts)
Monday, February 13, 2006
Dear Best Friend
I can not buy you a birthday present.
Or, rather, I can not FIND you a birthday present.
I have now spend 6 hours wandering through the following sites:
"unique gift ideas"
"What to buy your best friend"
"Gifts for her"
and about a million similar sites. Seriously.
I have found many many interesting things:
The best thing about this Survival Kit? That it includes chocolate.
This is right up your alley: January Cards. However, it is February.
Is it sad that I really considered buying the Electric Company DVD's for you?
I'd buy you this Goddess Bowl, but I don't know what kind of dishes you have anymore.
I've looked at books --> but I bought you books for Christmas.
I looked at clothes ---> but I know you still want to lose the baby weight, so I have no idea what size I'd buy.
I looked at movies ---> but even though we have the same taste, I don't know what you've seen, what you own.
I looked at pampering, spa-ish stuff ---> but we both know that I don't have any clue about that kind of stuff.
Basically, I'm thinking I might get you a popcorn bowl, since sharing a bag of popcorn with you is one of the treasures of our times together, but that sounds like a very sad present.
I don't know. I suppose I'll keep looking.
Or, rather, I can not FIND you a birthday present.
I have now spend 6 hours wandering through the following sites:
"unique gift ideas"
"What to buy your best friend"
"Gifts for her"
and about a million similar sites. Seriously.
I have found many many interesting things:
The best thing about this Survival Kit? That it includes chocolate.
This is right up your alley: January Cards. However, it is February.
Is it sad that I really considered buying the Electric Company DVD's for you?
I'd buy you this Goddess Bowl, but I don't know what kind of dishes you have anymore.
I've looked at books --> but I bought you books for Christmas.
I looked at clothes ---> but I know you still want to lose the baby weight, so I have no idea what size I'd buy.
I looked at movies ---> but even though we have the same taste, I don't know what you've seen, what you own.
I looked at pampering, spa-ish stuff ---> but we both know that I don't have any clue about that kind of stuff.
Basically, I'm thinking I might get you a popcorn bowl, since sharing a bag of popcorn with you is one of the treasures of our times together, but that sounds like a very sad present.
I don't know. I suppose I'll keep looking.
Friday, February 10, 2006
It's everyone's favorite...
Linkage !!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First up:
"Five rules of thumb
October 31st, 2005
-The stupider your ringtone, the longer it will take you to answer your phone.
-The twin miracles of childbirth and pet ownership render you unable to share one photo of anything.
-If your vanity license plate makes any reference to the make of your vehicle, the people you work with despise you.
-Ph.D.s who ask to be called “Doctor” should be prepared to refer to every college graduate as “Bachelor.”
-If you own more than one Enya record you might as well buy all of them and make a little fort. "
--------------From 5ives------------
"Kids These Days, I Tell Ya...
Kid #1: Paper beats rock. BAM! Your rock is blowed up!
Kid #2: "Bam" doesn't blow up, "bam" makes it spicy. Now I got a SPICY ROCK! You can't defeat that!
--6 Train"
_____________FromOverheard in NY_____________
"What do they have that I don’t have?
Multi-colored candy coatings?
Yeah, that’s great if I wanted to be in a Benetton ad, but I don’t.
Shaped like Hershey’s Kisses?
I hate to say this, but Hershey’s Kisses have always looked like steaming coils of dog poop.
Tasty chocolatey goodness?
If I had some chocolate pudding and rubbed it all over me, I could be tasty chocolatey goodness too."
---------From The Impulsive Buy-----------
"But it's not just his lack of expression that kills me, it's his actual face. It looks like they hired some chooch to put on the Captain America suit so they could take pictures to create the model kit, and then they forgot to make the model not look like that guy.
Either that, or it's Tony Shalhoub.
Another version of the model seems to have him with a crazy Ed Grimley smile. In this one I picture him running after the other superheroes shouting, "C'mon guys, wait up!" "
---------------------------From The Sneeze ------------
"It's a bad week for obsessions after a British Trekkie was forced to file for bankruptcy because he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars turning his home into a replica of the Starship Enterprise. "I'm still proud of what I created," said Tony Alleyne, " but it's been a financial disaster." Recently, his wife left him when he replaced their fridge with a "warp coil.""
The part that got me? She stuck with him until he got rid of the fridge. That was the last straw for her... Deciding to use the family funds to remake a fictional ship - no problem. No fridge, time to go.
Can a "warp coil" keep cookie dough cold? I doubt it.
Totally understandable.
--------From The Week---
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First up:
"Five rules of thumb
October 31st, 2005
-The stupider your ringtone, the longer it will take you to answer your phone.
-The twin miracles of childbirth and pet ownership render you unable to share one photo of anything.
-If your vanity license plate makes any reference to the make of your vehicle, the people you work with despise you.
-Ph.D.s who ask to be called “Doctor” should be prepared to refer to every college graduate as “Bachelor.”
-If you own more than one Enya record you might as well buy all of them and make a little fort. "
--------------From 5ives------------
"Kids These Days, I Tell Ya...
Kid #1: Paper beats rock. BAM! Your rock is blowed up!
Kid #2: "Bam" doesn't blow up, "bam" makes it spicy. Now I got a SPICY ROCK! You can't defeat that!
--6 Train"
_____________FromOverheard in NY_____________
"What do they have that I don’t have?
Multi-colored candy coatings?
Yeah, that’s great if I wanted to be in a Benetton ad, but I don’t.
Shaped like Hershey’s Kisses?
I hate to say this, but Hershey’s Kisses have always looked like steaming coils of dog poop.
Tasty chocolatey goodness?
If I had some chocolate pudding and rubbed it all over me, I could be tasty chocolatey goodness too."
---------From The Impulsive Buy-----------
"But it's not just his lack of expression that kills me, it's his actual face. It looks like they hired some chooch to put on the Captain America suit so they could take pictures to create the model kit, and then they forgot to make the model not look like that guy.
Either that, or it's Tony Shalhoub.
Another version of the model seems to have him with a crazy Ed Grimley smile. In this one I picture him running after the other superheroes shouting, "C'mon guys, wait up!" "
---------------------------From The Sneeze ------------
"It's a bad week for obsessions after a British Trekkie was forced to file for bankruptcy because he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars turning his home into a replica of the Starship Enterprise. "I'm still proud of what I created," said Tony Alleyne, " but it's been a financial disaster." Recently, his wife left him when he replaced their fridge with a "warp coil.""
The part that got me? She stuck with him until he got rid of the fridge. That was the last straw for her... Deciding to use the family funds to remake a fictional ship - no problem. No fridge, time to go.
Can a "warp coil" keep cookie dough cold? I doubt it.
Totally understandable.
--------From The Week---
Medical Regimen
I am up to 22 pills everyday. 22 required pills. I can take as many additional pills for pain as I need, so sometimes I'm at 30. 22 - 30 required pills, and three vials of something that, when mixed with water, tastes like feet.
I take the pills 4 times a day, and they must be taken with food, or I wind up not being able to keep them down.
Some of them taste so bad that I have to trick myself into taking them - chew up my food, and then sneak the pill in right before I swallow. I don't know why it works, but it does.
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It's my opinion that the popular method of pill swallowing - putting the pill on your tongue first, then rinsing it down with your drink - makes no sense. If you put the pill on your tongue alone, unaccompanied, then you get the full vileness of it, and therefore want to spit it out. If you have to take your pills with a drink, put the drink in your mouth first, then pop the pill in. Some people say, "well then it's in there floating around": To them I say, who cares? You only have to worry about swallowing the drink, and it'll go down with it, automatically. At least that's how it works for me.
That was a bit of off-topic advice, free of charge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ANYways -
22 pills, three vials of feet, monthly (or bi-monthly) infusions, and 3 separate inhalers. That's my regimen.
And I a.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.l.y. wouldn't care- not a fig, not a lick, not a bit - about doing all of this, IF it was actually helping.
Maybe it is - maybe it's keeping me from getting worse, helping me to maintain at this level of functioning. I don't know.
But I do know that I got dressed today:
I went to the closet, picked out warm sweat pants and a t-shirt that's too tight, a zip up that doesn't exactly show me at my best and some fuzzy socks.
I put them all on, lathering baby lotion on skin that's unusually dry first, then maneuvering my way into my clothes.
I did all that, and then had to rest.
For 3 hours - motionless, with the heating pad on the sorest spots, staring blankly at the t.v.
----------------------------
22 pills, three feet-vials, three inhalers, the monthly infusion, all for 17 minutes of functioning
followed by three hours of rest.
-----------------------------
And now I've used up another 20 minutes or so, typing this in bed, only semi-upright, one hand on the keyboard, the other swigging the feet-water.
But, I wouldn't mind all the pills, all the shots, all the trips to the doctors (all the phone calls I still haven't made),
if it would just work.
If they did what they were supposed to do.
If I could just feel better.
I'm just saying.
I take the pills 4 times a day, and they must be taken with food, or I wind up not being able to keep them down.
Some of them taste so bad that I have to trick myself into taking them - chew up my food, and then sneak the pill in right before I swallow. I don't know why it works, but it does.
------------------------------------------------------------------
It's my opinion that the popular method of pill swallowing - putting the pill on your tongue first, then rinsing it down with your drink - makes no sense. If you put the pill on your tongue alone, unaccompanied, then you get the full vileness of it, and therefore want to spit it out. If you have to take your pills with a drink, put the drink in your mouth first, then pop the pill in. Some people say, "well then it's in there floating around": To them I say, who cares? You only have to worry about swallowing the drink, and it'll go down with it, automatically. At least that's how it works for me.
That was a bit of off-topic advice, free of charge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ANYways -
22 pills, three vials of feet, monthly (or bi-monthly) infusions, and 3 separate inhalers. That's my regimen.
And I a.b.s.o.l.u.t.e.l.y. wouldn't care- not a fig, not a lick, not a bit - about doing all of this, IF it was actually helping.
Maybe it is - maybe it's keeping me from getting worse, helping me to maintain at this level of functioning. I don't know.
But I do know that I got dressed today:
I went to the closet, picked out warm sweat pants and a t-shirt that's too tight, a zip up that doesn't exactly show me at my best and some fuzzy socks.
I put them all on, lathering baby lotion on skin that's unusually dry first, then maneuvering my way into my clothes.
I did all that, and then had to rest.
For 3 hours - motionless, with the heating pad on the sorest spots, staring blankly at the t.v.
----------------------------
22 pills, three feet-vials, three inhalers, the monthly infusion, all for 17 minutes of functioning
followed by three hours of rest.
-----------------------------
And now I've used up another 20 minutes or so, typing this in bed, only semi-upright, one hand on the keyboard, the other swigging the feet-water.
But, I wouldn't mind all the pills, all the shots, all the trips to the doctors (all the phone calls I still haven't made),
if it would just work.
If they did what they were supposed to do.
If I could just feel better.
I'm just saying.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Some things I am
| You Are 32% Abnormal |
 You are at low risk for being a psychopath. It is unlikely that you have no soul. You are at medium risk for having a borderline personality. It is somewhat likely that you are a chaotic mess. You are at low risk for having a narcissistic personality. It is unlikely that you are in love with your own reflection. You are at high risk for having a social phobia. It is very likely that you feel most comfortable in your mom's basement. You are at medium risk for obsessive compulsive disorder. It is somewhat likely that you are addicted to hand sanitizer. |
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This sounds pretty good... I'm not a total nut job, is that what you're saying?
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| Your Five Factor Personality Profile |
 Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations. A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you. You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything. |
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I probably would have given myself a little bit lower on the openness, but the rest seems on point(e)
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| You Are a Prophet Soul |
 You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are a Bright Star or Dreaming Soul, please let me know :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
You Are Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream |
 A classic and an original, no wonder everyone snakes your style! |
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Now I want ice cream - or cookie dough. AND of course, we don't have either... plus, that must be a lot of points. Fooey.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
| You Are Sunshine |
 Soothing and calm You are often held up by others as the ideal But too much of you, and they'll get burned You are best known for: your warmth Your dominant state: connecting |
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Well, considering that in my family I'm thought of as a vampire, and feel like I am probably allergic to sunlight, this is the only one that doesn't really fit. But, hey, if you wanna call me sunshine... who am I to argue?
_____________________________________________________________
Monday, February 06, 2006
The opposite of happy
Back when I was functioning well enough to be working, I was finishing up my degrees working in various classrooms. During my time at a private preschool, one of the units we worked on was Opposites. Now, because I was a student teacher at the time, I sometimes had to follow the lessons planned by the actual classroom teacher, rather than making my own. She was a good teacher, with a different teaching style than my own, so sometimes these lessons didn't go exactly as planned (then again, I have NEVER had a lesson go exactly as planned, so this is not unusual). Anyways, the unit was Opposites, and the lesson plan ventured into the area of feelings. I was supposed to pose the questions:
The opposite of sad is ______?
The opposite of angry is _____?
The opposite of happy is____?
The only problem was, I didn't have a clue what the answers were supposed to be. They looked clear cut enough, but once I started to think about it, I couldn't make up my mind.... what is the opposite of sad? Happy? Glad? Excited? And if I'm the opposite of angry, wouldn't I be feeling generous or extraordinarily nice or something? The thesaurus that lives in my brain wound up making the whole thing MUCH too complicated for a bunch of 3 & 4 year olds. But...
It does make a nice little segue for today's post...
Which is the most complicated of the questions above: what is the opposite of happy?
Is the opposite of happy really sad? Sad doesn't really begin to cover it, does it? And unhappy is particularly unworthy, because it doesn't really describe anything: It kind of matters how long you're unhappy, why you're not happy, and a bunch of other things. But what about gloomy, miserable, bereft? They're a better fit, yet still a bit too loose a definition.
Because I've given this way too much thought, the two best answers I've come up with are: Cheerless and Melancholy.
Cheerless: Adj.: bleak, joyless.
Melancholy: Adj.: Dismay, pensive, depressed.
Today has been an "opposite of happy" kind of a day. When they happen, it's hard to remember that there are any other kinds of days. The things that would normally make my day, like seeing an update on Amalah (complete with cute baby pictures), or checking out the new & snarkworthy covers up at Smart Bitches, do little to improve my mood. The people in my house are acting odd, guarding their words, asking each other what is wrong with me (I can totally hear you btw... you do not whisper well ). I wonder what is wrong with me too, because nothing new happened: it's just that today, the weight of the SOS seems five/fifty/five thousand times heavier than normal.
So I'm giving myself permission, just for today, to feel all the wrong things, and just let them be:
Just for today
I won't pretend that everything is o.k., that this waiting isn't driving me nuts.
I won't just listen to everyone else's problems: if I think it is a stupid and useless problem, I will let myself think that.
And because I may want to shout "You don't understand! You DON'T HAVE ANY REAL PROBLEMS, and must resort to MAKING UP DRAMA ..." I will avoid people.
I will let myself play Zuma for 5 hours, and stew over the fact that I'm supposed to be making phone calls/cleaning/weeding through paperwork.
I will play whatever sort of music I want - if I want to listen to Home by Michael Buble 6 times in a row, I will do so.
I will allow myself to feel sad for all that I am missing.
I will be jealous of all the people in my life who have their health, and their own lives, and all the other things that I don't have.
I will have leftover lemon poppyseed cake, with Extra icing, and not care how many points the stupid thing is worth.
I will not take the medicine that makes me nauseous, just for today... I can't deal with it today.
I will not feel guilty about doing these things, or not doing them, as the case may be: It's just for today.
Ok, I Lied: I will only feel slightly guilty (b/c I still can't find the guilt-off-switch).
I will shut the door if I want to, and ignore any knocks on it. Or the phone rining, or the IM's pinging.
I will let myself pretend that the reason I am crying is that this song is very sad, and glare evilishly at anyone who contradicts me.
I will make up my own words (evilishly? WTF?) in a blog post and leave them in, just because I can.
I will realize that feeling sorry for myself for a little while is NOT ridiculously self-indulgent, even though I have lots of things to be happy for. I will be happy for them tomorrow.
Today is for brooding.
The opposite of sad is ______?
The opposite of angry is _____?
The opposite of happy is____?
The only problem was, I didn't have a clue what the answers were supposed to be. They looked clear cut enough, but once I started to think about it, I couldn't make up my mind.... what is the opposite of sad? Happy? Glad? Excited? And if I'm the opposite of angry, wouldn't I be feeling generous or extraordinarily nice or something? The thesaurus that lives in my brain wound up making the whole thing MUCH too complicated for a bunch of 3 & 4 year olds. But...
It does make a nice little segue for today's post...
Which is the most complicated of the questions above: what is the opposite of happy?
Is the opposite of happy really sad? Sad doesn't really begin to cover it, does it? And unhappy is particularly unworthy, because it doesn't really describe anything: It kind of matters how long you're unhappy, why you're not happy, and a bunch of other things. But what about gloomy, miserable, bereft? They're a better fit, yet still a bit too loose a definition.
Because I've given this way too much thought, the two best answers I've come up with are: Cheerless and Melancholy.
Cheerless: Adj.: bleak, joyless.
Melancholy: Adj.: Dismay, pensive, depressed.
Today has been an "opposite of happy" kind of a day. When they happen, it's hard to remember that there are any other kinds of days. The things that would normally make my day, like seeing an update on Amalah (complete with cute baby pictures), or checking out the new & snarkworthy covers up at Smart Bitches, do little to improve my mood. The people in my house are acting odd, guarding their words, asking each other what is wrong with me (I can totally hear you btw... you do not whisper well ). I wonder what is wrong with me too, because nothing new happened: it's just that today, the weight of the SOS seems five/fifty/five thousand times heavier than normal.
So I'm giving myself permission, just for today, to feel all the wrong things, and just let them be:
Just for today
I won't pretend that everything is o.k., that this waiting isn't driving me nuts.
I won't just listen to everyone else's problems: if I think it is a stupid and useless problem, I will let myself think that.
And because I may want to shout "You don't understand! You DON'T HAVE ANY REAL PROBLEMS, and must resort to MAKING UP DRAMA ..." I will avoid people.
I will let myself play Zuma for 5 hours, and stew over the fact that I'm supposed to be making phone calls/cleaning/weeding through paperwork.
I will play whatever sort of music I want - if I want to listen to Home by Michael Buble 6 times in a row, I will do so.
I will allow myself to feel sad for all that I am missing.
I will be jealous of all the people in my life who have their health, and their own lives, and all the other things that I don't have.
I will have leftover lemon poppyseed cake, with Extra icing, and not care how many points the stupid thing is worth.
I will not take the medicine that makes me nauseous, just for today... I can't deal with it today.
I will not feel guilty about doing these things, or not doing them, as the case may be: It's just for today.
Ok, I Lied: I will only feel slightly guilty (b/c I still can't find the guilt-off-switch).
I will shut the door if I want to, and ignore any knocks on it. Or the phone rining, or the IM's pinging.
I will let myself pretend that the reason I am crying is that this song is very sad, and glare evilishly at anyone who contradicts me.
I will make up my own words (evilishly? WTF?) in a blog post and leave them in, just because I can.
I will realize that feeling sorry for myself for a little while is NOT ridiculously self-indulgent, even though I have lots of things to be happy for. I will be happy for them tomorrow.
Today is for brooding.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Trying to change things a bit
but, yet again, I have no idea what I'm doing...
Trying to download a new blog skin... no such luck so far.
Trying to download a new blog skin... no such luck so far.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I'm stealing this meme (my very first!) from:
....Jezebel's Journal. I'm not really up on the meme etiquette, but it seems like, so long as you mention where it came from, it's alright to post. (I'm sure if I'm wrong, someone will wander by and tell me...)
10 favorites...
Favorite Color: Lilac
Favorite Food: Right now, there's this 5-point Lemon Cheesecake w/berries at Applebees... mmm yum. Why doesn't Applebees deliver?
Favorite Song: I'm feeling very happy with Michael Buble's version of Sway . It's so peppy, which I am not, but sometimes need to pretend being.
Favorite Movie: Of all time - no clue. Of the past little while? Love Actually
Favorite Sport: I dislike sports - I don't really understand the point of most of them, and my own experiences have only led me to believe that sports equipment is my enemy.
Favorite Season: I like the cripsness of fall, and it's a bonus that that's when I'm at my least allergic.
Favorite Day Of the Week: Right now it's Saturdays: I get to listen to SRO, and try to get other things accomplished.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor : I'm thinking Peppermint Stick...
Favorite Time of Day: Just lately, I've been finding 11:00 pm the highlight of my day - The Daily Show rocks!
9 Currents...
Current Mood: Working on cheering up
Current Taste: Strawberry Jelly
Current Clothes: A white tank, w/a wife beater underneath; red, very comfy Old Navy pants, and green frog socks (Because all though I thought to change my outfit when I spilled soup all over it, I forgot to grab a clean pair of socks)
Current Desktop Picture: Niece-to-be's ultrasound pic
Current Toenail Color: Nude
Current Time: 10:25 p.m. EST
Current Surroundings: In bed, semi-snuggled surrounded by puffs and pillows
Current Annoyance(s): I'm going to keep it from being an exceptionally long list and just say the fact that the 6 clocks in this house all chime the hour individually: why can't we get them all on the same schedule?
Current Thought: I'm wondering now if you're allowed to just steal a meme... does the person have to ask you to fill it out? And how do I link back to the orginal page? hmmm...
8 Firsts...
First Best Friend: Jen B. She pretended to cut my hair in Kindergarten. We stayed friends till she transfered to private school in the 7th Grade, but we still exchange Christmas cards (and I'm supposed to call her to set up lunch... Note to Self)
First Kiss: I'll have to go with first non-kiss instead: 8th grade dance (in the gym, of course) and the Boy moved in for the kiss, I closed my eyes and waited: Somebody noticed us and gave a whistle, Boy moved back as if burned. :sigh:
First Screen Name: Still using my first screen name, my first account, etc.
First Pet: Sasha, a black furred, white bellied cat who was more regal than most people.
First Piercing: Earlobes, sitting in the mall, being bribed by my mom to "act like it doesn't hurt" so that my younger sisters would follow suit without tears.
First Crush: Ricky. Jen B and I fought over who got to sit next to him at her birthday party in 4th grade. (Although, it was her birthday, I managed to convince her to put him in the middle between us.) We went to see Batman, and were foiled when he sat next to Paul instead.
First Music: I used to have some sort of Disney Disco tape, that came with a book ("You can read along with us in your book. When you hear the tone :beep:, turn the page.") I still know all the words to Macho Duck (Can he move? Well guess what? Watch his wiggle waddle strut).
First Car: I still don't have one, unless the Fisher Price variety counts?
7 Lasts.....
Last Cigarette: Never
Last Drink: Having some water right now, actually.
Last Car Ride: Umm... Last Monday, to and from the doc's office.
Last Kiss: Youngest Nephew as he raced out the door at 7:30 tonight.
Last real kiss: If only I had an answer (or even a smart ass avoidance answer)to put down.
Last Movie Seen: On the Town Sunday, thanks to TMC. (And then, was nicely surprised to see Betty Garret on that night's Grey's Anatomy as well.)
Last Phone Call: Talked to N (the Mum of Youngest Nephew) about three minutes after that last kiss.
Last CD Played: Yeah, I've been Media Player-ing it lately, but I did burn a disk of some of my favorites that I listened to the other night.
6 Have You Evers....
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: Nope
Have You Ever Broken the Law: Only accidentally
Have You Ever Been Arrested: Nope
Have You Ever Been on TV: Only if you count the community access channel, which showed every play or production I was in. ... Oh, and once the back of my head (and a hideous purple bow) were on the Catholic Mass channel.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Nope (I'm so BORING )
5 Things....
5 Things You're Wearing: see above, and then add my glasses and a puff.
5 Things You've Done Today: Sorted meds for the week --> because I won't take them if there not RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF MY FACE . Gave the Little Guy (Youngest Nephew) and 2ndSister a workout. Didn't eat the Oreos that were left over from Little Guy's Dessert, even thought I wanted them. Checked my e-mail and Bloglines. Made lots of lists (I Love Lists!)
5 Things You Can Hear Right Now: Stupid ticking clocks. 2ndSister laughing with boyfriend. 3rdSister yelling over phone at her boyfriend. Washing Machine wooshing. Maroon Five: This Love.
5 Things You Can't Live Without: The basics (food, water, air & meds); My peoples; Books; Pillows; Connections.
5 Things You Do When You're bored: Read (or re-read), Wander on-line, Zuma, Scrap; Stare at the wall.
4 Places You've Been ...
The Salem Witch Museum
2059 (in books, anyways)
In the Hot Seat
Waiting Rooms (a.k.a. Purgatory)
3 People You Can Tell (most) Anything To...
Mum; Shannon; Ann
2 Choices...
1. Black or White: White, cuz I still want the creme filling from those Oreos I passed up earlier.
2. Hot or Cold: I'm freezing, thanks for asking.
1 Wish...
That I did this right, without pissing off any internet peoples....
10 favorites...
Favorite Color: Lilac
Favorite Food: Right now, there's this 5-point Lemon Cheesecake w/berries at Applebees... mmm yum. Why doesn't Applebees deliver?
Favorite Song: I'm feeling very happy with Michael Buble's version of Sway . It's so peppy, which I am not, but sometimes need to pretend being.
Favorite Movie: Of all time - no clue. Of the past little while? Love Actually
Favorite Sport: I dislike sports - I don't really understand the point of most of them, and my own experiences have only led me to believe that sports equipment is my enemy.
Favorite Season: I like the cripsness of fall, and it's a bonus that that's when I'm at my least allergic.
Favorite Day Of the Week: Right now it's Saturdays: I get to listen to SRO, and try to get other things accomplished.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor : I'm thinking Peppermint Stick...
Favorite Time of Day: Just lately, I've been finding 11:00 pm the highlight of my day - The Daily Show rocks!
9 Currents...
Current Mood: Working on cheering up
Current Taste: Strawberry Jelly
Current Clothes: A white tank, w/a wife beater underneath; red, very comfy Old Navy pants, and green frog socks (Because all though I thought to change my outfit when I spilled soup all over it, I forgot to grab a clean pair of socks)
Current Desktop Picture: Niece-to-be's ultrasound pic
Current Toenail Color: Nude
Current Time: 10:25 p.m. EST
Current Surroundings: In bed, semi-snuggled surrounded by puffs and pillows
Current Annoyance(s): I'm going to keep it from being an exceptionally long list and just say the fact that the 6 clocks in this house all chime the hour individually: why can't we get them all on the same schedule?
Current Thought: I'm wondering now if you're allowed to just steal a meme... does the person have to ask you to fill it out? And how do I link back to the orginal page? hmmm...
8 Firsts...
First Best Friend: Jen B. She pretended to cut my hair in Kindergarten. We stayed friends till she transfered to private school in the 7th Grade, but we still exchange Christmas cards (and I'm supposed to call her to set up lunch... Note to Self)
First Kiss: I'll have to go with first non-kiss instead: 8th grade dance (in the gym, of course) and the Boy moved in for the kiss, I closed my eyes and waited: Somebody noticed us and gave a whistle, Boy moved back as if burned. :sigh:
First Screen Name: Still using my first screen name, my first account, etc.
First Pet: Sasha, a black furred, white bellied cat who was more regal than most people.
First Piercing: Earlobes, sitting in the mall, being bribed by my mom to "act like it doesn't hurt" so that my younger sisters would follow suit without tears.
First Crush: Ricky. Jen B and I fought over who got to sit next to him at her birthday party in 4th grade. (Although, it was her birthday, I managed to convince her to put him in the middle between us.) We went to see Batman, and were foiled when he sat next to Paul instead.
First Music: I used to have some sort of Disney Disco tape, that came with a book ("You can read along with us in your book. When you hear the tone :beep:, turn the page.") I still know all the words to Macho Duck (Can he move? Well guess what? Watch his wiggle waddle strut).
First Car: I still don't have one, unless the Fisher Price variety counts?
7 Lasts.....
Last Cigarette: Never
Last Drink: Having some water right now, actually.
Last Car Ride: Umm... Last Monday, to and from the doc's office.
Last Kiss: Youngest Nephew as he raced out the door at 7:30 tonight.
Last real kiss: If only I had an answer (or even a smart ass avoidance answer)to put down.
Last Movie Seen: On the Town Sunday, thanks to TMC. (And then, was nicely surprised to see Betty Garret on that night's Grey's Anatomy as well.)
Last Phone Call: Talked to N (the Mum of Youngest Nephew) about three minutes after that last kiss.
Last CD Played: Yeah, I've been Media Player-ing it lately, but I did burn a disk of some of my favorites that I listened to the other night.
6 Have You Evers....
Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Friends: Nope
Have You Ever Broken the Law: Only accidentally
Have You Ever Been Arrested: Nope
Have You Ever Been on TV: Only if you count the community access channel, which showed every play or production I was in. ... Oh, and once the back of my head (and a hideous purple bow) were on the Catholic Mass channel.
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Nope (I'm so BORING )
5 Things....
5 Things You're Wearing: see above, and then add my glasses and a puff.
5 Things You've Done Today: Sorted meds for the week --> because I won't take them if there not RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF MY FACE . Gave the Little Guy (Youngest Nephew) and 2ndSister a workout. Didn't eat the Oreos that were left over from Little Guy's Dessert, even thought I wanted them. Checked my e-mail and Bloglines. Made lots of lists (I Love Lists!)
5 Things You Can Hear Right Now: Stupid ticking clocks. 2ndSister laughing with boyfriend. 3rdSister yelling over phone at her boyfriend. Washing Machine wooshing. Maroon Five: This Love.
5 Things You Can't Live Without: The basics (food, water, air & meds); My peoples; Books; Pillows; Connections.
5 Things You Do When You're bored: Read (or re-read), Wander on-line, Zuma, Scrap; Stare at the wall.
4 Places You've Been ...
The Salem Witch Museum
2059 (in books, anyways)
In the Hot Seat
Waiting Rooms (a.k.a. Purgatory)
3 People You Can Tell (most) Anything To...
Mum; Shannon; Ann
2 Choices...
1. Black or White: White, cuz I still want the creme filling from those Oreos I passed up earlier.
2. Hot or Cold: I'm freezing, thanks for asking.
1 Wish...
That I did this right, without pissing off any internet peoples....
Monday, January 30, 2006
Three Posts in One Day...
It must be a record (for me, anyways). I was writing an e-mail to my cousin in Maine, and realized, about 1/4 of the way through, that it was hideously depressing and gloomy. I know that if I sent it as it was, she would be worried, and since it's just a case of me feeling sorry for myself and hoping someone would listen, I cut it up a bit, decided to post it here instead.
I know I've yet to give a clear idea of what my illness is (as if even I had a clue), but it's more because I haven't figured out exactly how to explain it all. Regardless, what I'm feeling today is pretty self explanatory, and should stand up well all on its own.
-------------------------------------
The doctor called with some more blood test results, saying how he noticed I have a very low XYZ level. This is not good, he says, as far as other things go. So take these pills, and it should give you a little boost at least. Mom, who just happens to have been in a mood quite opposite to my own, says something about magic bullets, and cure-alls, and I seriously, don't know whether to throw up, cry, or punch her in the face.
How horrible is that?
Hating her for hoping?
It's ridiculous!
But, I've taken these pills before, so I know they're not the magic bullet/cure that she's hoping for and I just all of the sudden wanted to scream at her for even thinking it - for making me think it, for even a second. So, there are days, lots of tiny little days, were I just hate this whole thing - hate that I can't even let other people hope, because it hurts me too much when I disappoint them. And that's the kind of day I'm having.
I know I've yet to give a clear idea of what my illness is (as if even I had a clue), but it's more because I haven't figured out exactly how to explain it all. Regardless, what I'm feeling today is pretty self explanatory, and should stand up well all on its own.
-------------------------------------
The doctor called with some more blood test results, saying how he noticed I have a very low XYZ level. This is not good, he says, as far as other things go. So take these pills, and it should give you a little boost at least. Mom, who just happens to have been in a mood quite opposite to my own, says something about magic bullets, and cure-alls, and I seriously, don't know whether to throw up, cry, or punch her in the face.
How horrible is that?
Hating her for hoping?
It's ridiculous!
But, I've taken these pills before, so I know they're not the magic bullet/cure that she's hoping for and I just all of the sudden wanted to scream at her for even thinking it - for making me think it, for even a second. So, there are days, lots of tiny little days, were I just hate this whole thing - hate that I can't even let other people hope, because it hurts me too much when I disappoint them. And that's the kind of day I'm having.
Why do people have to tell me these things?
One of my favorite episodes of the West Wing is the one that has the "The Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality." It's the episode about Big Block of Cheese Day (which, thanks to IMDB and Wikipedia, I now know is Episode # 216 Somebody's going to emergency, Somebody's going to jail), where key White House staffers meet with all sorts of fringe groups that, ordinarily, wouldn't rate a meeting with the Presidential Staff.
During one of those meetings, CJ meets with the members of that Organization, who are proposing legislation that leads to the use of a newer, more accurate map. You can read all about it by clicking
Here to check Wikipedia yourself.
But here (courtesy of westwingtranscripts.com) is the relevant (and extremely humorous) dialogue:
HUKE
The map enlarges areas at the poles to create straight lines of constant
bearing or geographic direction.
CYNTHIA SAYLES
So, it makes it easier to cross an ocean.
FALLOW
But...
C.J.
Yes?
FALLOW
It distorts the relative size of nations and continents.
C.J.
Are you saying the map is wrong?
FALLOW
Oh, dear, yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SAYLES
Here we have Europe drawn considerably larger than South America when at
6.9 million square miles South America is almost double the size of Europe's 3.8 million.
HUKE
Alaska appears three times as large as Mexico, when Mexico is larger by .1 million square miles.
SAYLES
Germany appears in the middle of the map when it's in the northernmost quarter of the Earth.
JOSH
Wait, wait. Relative size is one thing, but you're telling me that Germany isn't where we think it is?
FALLOW
Nothing's where you think it is.
C.J.
Where is it?
FALLOW
I'm glad you asked. [brings up a new map, which has its continents significally squished northward] The Peters Projection. (insert map here)
.....
C.J.
What the hell is that?
FALLOW
It's where you've been living this whole time. Should we continue?
JOSH
Uh-huh.
------------------
Check out more maps here-----------------------------------------
later in the episode:
FALLOW
When Third World countries are misrepresented they're likely to be valued
less. When Mercator maps exaggerate the importance of Western civilization, when the
top of the map is given to the northern hemisphere and the bottom is given to the
southern... then people will tend to adopt top and bottom attitudes.
C.J.
But... wait. How... Where else could you put the Northern Hemisphere but on the top?
SAYLES
On the bottom.
C.J.
How?
FALLOW
Like this.
The map is flipped over.
C.J.
Yeah, but you can't do that.
FALLOW
Why not?
C.J.
'Cause it's freaking me out.
__________________________________________________________________
I'm with CJ.... It freaks me out too.
Aside from making me laugh, the episode really gave me a lot to think about. Turns out, there really ARE issues with the map we all know and love. It isn't exactly... what's the word I'm searching for here... Accurate. If a map of the WORLD wasn't constant, wasn't exact, wasn't right, what else could be off?
So that's why I was particularly interested in an article in this week's
The Week
that talks about how "the world's timekeepers no longer can agree on an answer" on the best way to tell time. I didn't even know this was an issue, I thought time was a constant: that we all kind of agreed on a standard of time, and this was it.
Turns out, not so much. Time is "still based on the movements of the Earth, and the Earth is a poor timekeeper." THE EARTH IS A POOR TIMEKEEPER? How is that possible? Oh, but it got better - -
"The time it takes for our planet to make a complete revolution around the sun varies from year to year by a half-second or more. The precise length of a day varies too, because the rising and falling of ocean tides has a tiny, but measurable impact on how quickly the Earth revolves on it's axis. Our days, in fact, are getting longer by about two milliseconds a century."
They go on to explain that, while a millisecond here or there doesn't seem important right now, it can eventual cause disaster - perhaps the dreaded Y2K that never came could still be waiting for us at some random point in the future. Scientists are working to find a more accurate measure of time, they insist, but for right now, time isn't right either.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, let's see - maps are biased, time is "holding it's breath" every couple of years, and white chocolate isn't considered actual chocolate (I'm still in denial here, so I won't look up the details, in the hopes that the world will change it's mind--- again).
Anything other foundations of civilization getting ready to crumble?
If there are, what do I have to pay you to keep it to yourself?
During one of those meetings, CJ meets with the members of that Organization, who are proposing legislation that leads to the use of a newer, more accurate map. You can read all about it by clicking
Here to check Wikipedia yourself.
But here (courtesy of westwingtranscripts.com) is the relevant (and extremely humorous) dialogue:
HUKE
The map enlarges areas at the poles to create straight lines of constant
bearing or geographic direction.
CYNTHIA SAYLES
So, it makes it easier to cross an ocean.
FALLOW
But...
C.J.
Yes?
FALLOW
It distorts the relative size of nations and continents.
C.J.
Are you saying the map is wrong?
FALLOW
Oh, dear, yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SAYLES
Here we have Europe drawn considerably larger than South America when at
6.9 million square miles South America is almost double the size of Europe's 3.8 million.
HUKE
Alaska appears three times as large as Mexico, when Mexico is larger by .1 million square miles.
SAYLES
Germany appears in the middle of the map when it's in the northernmost quarter of the Earth.
JOSH
Wait, wait. Relative size is one thing, but you're telling me that Germany isn't where we think it is?
FALLOW
Nothing's where you think it is.
C.J.
Where is it?
FALLOW
I'm glad you asked. [brings up a new map, which has its continents significally squished northward] The Peters Projection. (insert map here)
.....
C.J.
What the hell is that?
FALLOW
It's where you've been living this whole time. Should we continue?
JOSH
Uh-huh.
------------------
Check out more maps here-----------------------------------------
later in the episode:
FALLOW
When Third World countries are misrepresented they're likely to be valued
less. When Mercator maps exaggerate the importance of Western civilization, when the
top of the map is given to the northern hemisphere and the bottom is given to the
southern... then people will tend to adopt top and bottom attitudes.
C.J.
But... wait. How... Where else could you put the Northern Hemisphere but on the top?
SAYLES
On the bottom.
C.J.
How?
FALLOW
Like this.
The map is flipped over.
C.J.
Yeah, but you can't do that.
FALLOW
Why not?
C.J.
'Cause it's freaking me out.
__________________________________________________________________
I'm with CJ.... It freaks me out too.
Aside from making me laugh, the episode really gave me a lot to think about. Turns out, there really ARE issues with the map we all know and love. It isn't exactly... what's the word I'm searching for here... Accurate. If a map of the WORLD wasn't constant, wasn't exact, wasn't right, what else could be off?
So that's why I was particularly interested in an article in this week's
The Week
that talks about how "the world's timekeepers no longer can agree on an answer" on the best way to tell time. I didn't even know this was an issue, I thought time was a constant: that we all kind of agreed on a standard of time, and this was it.
Turns out, not so much. Time is "still based on the movements of the Earth, and the Earth is a poor timekeeper." THE EARTH IS A POOR TIMEKEEPER? How is that possible? Oh, but it got better - -
"The time it takes for our planet to make a complete revolution around the sun varies from year to year by a half-second or more. The precise length of a day varies too, because the rising and falling of ocean tides has a tiny, but measurable impact on how quickly the Earth revolves on it's axis. Our days, in fact, are getting longer by about two milliseconds a century."
They go on to explain that, while a millisecond here or there doesn't seem important right now, it can eventual cause disaster - perhaps the dreaded Y2K that never came could still be waiting for us at some random point in the future. Scientists are working to find a more accurate measure of time, they insist, but for right now, time isn't right either.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, let's see - maps are biased, time is "holding it's breath" every couple of years, and white chocolate isn't considered actual chocolate (I'm still in denial here, so I won't look up the details, in the hopes that the world will change it's mind--- again).
Anything other foundations of civilization getting ready to crumble?
If there are, what do I have to pay you to keep it to yourself?
Home again home again, jiggety jog
I was computer-less for eight days. 8 days. And during that time, every other thought I had would've made a good blog post. (Did I, as any smart person would, grab a pen and jot down these excellent blog-worthy ideas? I'm sure you can guess just by reading this post.)
I have now had my computer back for three days (although it took me a whole day to set everything back up, as they replace my hard drive and system board). 3 days. And not a single thought worth posting.
But (again, as is obvious from this post), I shall not be deterred.
I do have thoughts, they will be logical and form cohesive post.
Maybe.
:)
I have now had my computer back for three days (although it took me a whole day to set everything back up, as they replace my hard drive and system board). 3 days. And not a single thought worth posting.
But (again, as is obvious from this post), I shall not be deterred.
I do have thoughts, they will be logical and form cohesive post.
Maybe.
:)
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Top of the TBR
So I'm wandering around, adding titles to my already overwhelemed TBR pile, and I came across this:
Review:
"If you don't find something in here that makes perfect sense to you, I can only imagine that you gave up reading, thinking and laughing some time ago" Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is a fantastically funny writer. Even his one sentence review makes me laugh.
So, guess which books jumps to the top of my list? Sarah Vowell's Take The Cannoli
Anybody read it?
----------------------------------------
Review:
"If you don't find something in here that makes perfect sense to you, I can only imagine that you gave up reading, thinking and laughing some time ago" Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is a fantastically funny writer. Even his one sentence review makes me laugh.
So, guess which books jumps to the top of my list? Sarah Vowell's Take The Cannoli
Anybody read it?
----------------------------------------
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Can you tell I got Netflix for Christmas?
So, today must be my day for mediocre films: I sat through Mr. & Mrs. Smith (very overrated) and The Brother's Grimm (which was just OK). With Mr. & Mrs., I was about 30 minutes into it and knew I wasn't going to enjoy it. But I also had nothing better to do, so I just left it in and tried to zone out for a while. There was too much blowing up of things to accomplish that, so I spent the time cursing my sister (who said this movie was worth watching) and wondering who the movie was supposed to appeal to. I did not come up with any answers.
As for the Brother's Grimm, it was the odd accents that turned me off. here I love a good accent -- but the key there is GOOD. These accents? Odd. And inconsistent. British-y one second, lapsed the next. The French are speaking in Italian and German accents, and I'm not entirely sure if it's part of the joke or not. There's this one little girl (who disappears in a very unappealing and disgusting way), and her accent is indecipherable....The story was interesting, but I just couldn't really get into it.
------
But earlier in the week, I lucked out. Taking a chance, I sent for Mad Hot Ballroom: it's a documentary about ballroom dancing in the New York public schools. Stop rolling your eyes... it was fabulous! My first thought was how great a program this was - dancing is a skill, an art, a sport; the kids learned so much more than the basic steps. It's certainly a program that should be studied, copied in other cities. My second though was how embarrassed these kids are going to be 15 years from now - I cringe at the thought of my own home movies from then - I can't imagine an actual audience of other people being able to view them.
But that did get me thinking about the girls in this movie - who were not just spectacular dancers (actually all the kids wound up really rocking), but also just balls of fire in all areas of their lives. It made me think - What happens to girls as they get older? The 10-12 year-old girls here were exactly how I remember being at that age: confident, full of spunk, full of energy and attitude. I remember being sure that what I said was not only right, but that it was important, that it mattered (even when other people didn't necessarily agree ;) ). It was in my attitude, the way I moved, the way I spent my time. These girls were all like that -- they said what they thought, they danced how they wanted, they spoke up in class, they gossiped and gave their opinions even when nobody asked.
I can remember being that way at that age, remember the attitude and how well it fit me, but what I can't remember is when it stopped, when I just started keeping things to myself, keeping quiet, watching instead of joining (or leading). And so many of the other girls in my class were like that too - fiesty - but somewhere along the line, we all changed. {I don't know if it's the same for boys (I'm not still friends with any of the boys I knew in 5th grade, so I can't say if they've changed or not)}
On one hand, it made me kind of sad: To think that those girls might grow out of their certainty, that they might never feel that sure of themselves, that strong and powerful again. To think about how strong and powerful I used to feel, and to wonder where it went.
On the other hand, there are parts of being 11 that I would never go back to -- specifically the parts were I'd have to be 13, 15, and 17 again. To have to go through all the uncertainty & awkwardness that followed. And being less sure that I was always right did enable me listen to other people, to see that they had important things to say too. And that's not something I would give up. There's a strength that comes from facing challenges that I didn't have then either -- at 11 the worst thing that had happened to me was that my best friend was planning on moving away. I've certainly faced a lot more than that in the 15 years since.
There's got to be a way to get back some of what I've lost, without giving up what I've learned (earned, even). I suppose that's kind of the point, right?
And that was w-a-y philosophical for a quick movie review.
So, to finish up... Wow, I miss dancing!
This movie has a beat, and a heart. My hips have been swiveling ever since -- it's contagious.
Anybody else seen these? Got an explaination for Mr. & Mrs. or an idea of what those accents were supposed to be? Are you sigining yourself up for some ballroom lessons or rolling your eyes at me cause I would if I could?
I'd love to hear from you - let me know.
As for the Brother's Grimm, it was the odd accents that turned me off. here I love a good accent -- but the key there is GOOD. These accents? Odd. And inconsistent. British-y one second, lapsed the next. The French are speaking in Italian and German accents, and I'm not entirely sure if it's part of the joke or not. There's this one little girl (who disappears in a very unappealing and disgusting way), and her accent is indecipherable....The story was interesting, but I just couldn't really get into it.
------
But earlier in the week, I lucked out. Taking a chance, I sent for Mad Hot Ballroom: it's a documentary about ballroom dancing in the New York public schools. Stop rolling your eyes... it was fabulous! My first thought was how great a program this was - dancing is a skill, an art, a sport; the kids learned so much more than the basic steps. It's certainly a program that should be studied, copied in other cities. My second though was how embarrassed these kids are going to be 15 years from now - I cringe at the thought of my own home movies from then - I can't imagine an actual audience of other people being able to view them.
But that did get me thinking about the girls in this movie - who were not just spectacular dancers (actually all the kids wound up really rocking), but also just balls of fire in all areas of their lives. It made me think - What happens to girls as they get older? The 10-12 year-old girls here were exactly how I remember being at that age: confident, full of spunk, full of energy and attitude. I remember being sure that what I said was not only right, but that it was important, that it mattered (even when other people didn't necessarily agree ;) ). It was in my attitude, the way I moved, the way I spent my time. These girls were all like that -- they said what they thought, they danced how they wanted, they spoke up in class, they gossiped and gave their opinions even when nobody asked.
I can remember being that way at that age, remember the attitude and how well it fit me, but what I can't remember is when it stopped, when I just started keeping things to myself, keeping quiet, watching instead of joining (or leading). And so many of the other girls in my class were like that too - fiesty - but somewhere along the line, we all changed. {I don't know if it's the same for boys (I'm not still friends with any of the boys I knew in 5th grade, so I can't say if they've changed or not)}
On one hand, it made me kind of sad: To think that those girls might grow out of their certainty, that they might never feel that sure of themselves, that strong and powerful again. To think about how strong and powerful I used to feel, and to wonder where it went.
On the other hand, there are parts of being 11 that I would never go back to -- specifically the parts were I'd have to be 13, 15, and 17 again. To have to go through all the uncertainty & awkwardness that followed. And being less sure that I was always right did enable me listen to other people, to see that they had important things to say too. And that's not something I would give up. There's a strength that comes from facing challenges that I didn't have then either -- at 11 the worst thing that had happened to me was that my best friend was planning on moving away. I've certainly faced a lot more than that in the 15 years since.
There's got to be a way to get back some of what I've lost, without giving up what I've learned (earned, even). I suppose that's kind of the point, right?
And that was w-a-y philosophical for a quick movie review.
So, to finish up... Wow, I miss dancing!
This movie has a beat, and a heart. My hips have been swiveling ever since -- it's contagious.
Anybody else seen these? Got an explaination for Mr. & Mrs. or an idea of what those accents were supposed to be? Are you sigining yourself up for some ballroom lessons or rolling your eyes at me cause I would if I could?
I'd love to hear from you - let me know.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Rest, relaxation, peace? That'd be nice.
 | NTE took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Urgently in need of rest, relaxation, peace, and a..."
|
I know, I know, these things are like horoscopes - they keep them general so that they can apply to almost anyone's situation. But two things in this test just hit the nail on the head for me:
NTE's Existing Situation
Active, but feels that insufficient progress or reward is being made for the effort exerted.
NTE's Desired Objective
Urgently in need of rest, relaxation, peace, and affectionate understanding. Feels she has been treated with a lack of consideration and is upset and agitated as a result. Regards her situation as intolerable as long as her requirements are not complied with.
The "urgently in need of" part especially. I feel like I haven't had more than a minute's peace in almost 12 years. That's a long time.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In other news:
I have to send my laptop off to be fixed either the end of this week or next week, which means no posts for however long it takes them to get it back to me. It also means I won't be able to read any posts, which seems a sort of torture. I don't understand it either -
I only started reading blogs last summer. Before that we had dial-up. I had an 8-yr-old computer that froze every time I opened more than one program. I thought all blogs were filled with political rantings (and usually of the wrong sort).
But now?
Now I need to check them whenever I get online. Now, I get mad when there are no new posts highlighted on my blogline account. (Even though I just checked them 2 hours ago: it's been two hours! Why didn't someone have something to say since then?). Now, I can spend 20 minutes wading through 96 comments that all echo or outshine the "what a great post!" entry I had planned, only not to comment in fear of being to repetitive. Now, I click through an entire blogroll, in the hopes of a spectacular new find. Now, I lurk at more than 50 blogs.
(BTW, I've seen on a couple of blogs already that it's National De-Lurking Week. I'm pretty sure someone just made this up and people started passing it along, but that won't stop me from mentioning it here, in the hopes that there are some lurkers who'd like to make themselves known.)
So being without my computer is not appealing to me. I've plenty of other things that need to get accomplished (my to-do list never seems to shrink), but I'm still putting it off as long as I can. (Besides, I have to figure out if I'm supposed to erase things before I send it or what. They weren't very specific over there.)
But I've still got the rest of this week, at least.
So I should be back.... in case you wanted to delurk: I promise not to miss it.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Embarrassing Way to Almost Kill Yourself #149
Bend over with the toothbrush in your mouth
Bang the end of the toothbrush on the edge of the sink
Jam almost the entire length of the toothbrush down your throat
Choke for 10 straight minutes, all the while thinking of the way this will be written up in your obituary.
"Young woman chokes to death on toothbrush."
Oh yeah, my parents would be proud.
Bang the end of the toothbrush on the edge of the sink
Jam almost the entire length of the toothbrush down your throat
Choke for 10 straight minutes, all the while thinking of the way this will be written up in your obituary.
"Young woman chokes to death on toothbrush."
Oh yeah, my parents would be proud.
Friday, January 06, 2006
A better mood (ish)
See, I promised to try and cheer up, and I (sort-of) have. At least I'm faking it better, anyways. ;)
So I'm doing my internet wandering today, and here's what I think you should know:
First, due to some happy news in my family (My first niece is expected to arrive this spring!!), I've been playing around looking at baby names. The best site I've found so far is the Babynamer on Oxygen. It's a great site - searchable, organized by different topics, & thorough. My favorite detail? They include the drawbacks of a given name - the horrible nicknames that go along with the names you're looking at. (I never would have thought of Cora Snora on by own, for example, but now it's definitely out)
BUT.... I'm wondering who would decide to name their baby based on this category :
People Who Have Tuberculosis ? I mean does that sound reasonable to anybody?
-------------
Also got a couple of Flickr pictures that I thought were just amazing:
Reflection
A perfect moment
Brrr
-------------
And, courtesy of David Letterman (and DevilDucky), the best Bush moments caught on tape.... sadly, this we're only a little more than halfway through with him.
DUH!
That's what I've got for you so far, people. Enjoy!
So I'm doing my internet wandering today, and here's what I think you should know:
First, due to some happy news in my family (My first niece is expected to arrive this spring!!), I've been playing around looking at baby names. The best site I've found so far is the Babynamer on Oxygen. It's a great site - searchable, organized by different topics, & thorough. My favorite detail? They include the drawbacks of a given name - the horrible nicknames that go along with the names you're looking at. (I never would have thought of Cora Snora on by own, for example, but now it's definitely out)
BUT.... I'm wondering who would decide to name their baby based on this category :
People Who Have Tuberculosis ? I mean does that sound reasonable to anybody?
-------------
Also got a couple of Flickr pictures that I thought were just amazing:
Reflection
A perfect moment
Brrr
-------------
And, courtesy of David Letterman (and DevilDucky), the best Bush moments caught on tape.... sadly, this we're only a little more than halfway through with him.
DUH!
That's what I've got for you so far, people. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Nothing is going well today
My doctor (my favorite specialist) called and the insurance people don't want to pay for my treatments (not that they were doing too much, but they were working preventatively). Plus my primary care doc does not want to be my primary care doc anymore and I can't find someone who knows enough about my particular situations to be any help (or who takes my insurance). I hate having to start over with new docs: they always want to re-run all the tests I've already had six times.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know how to use the stupid DVD-RW in my laptop and I have to back up all my data b/c my laptop keeps freezing and I have to send it to the repair people before the warranty expires next month. I love my laptop: It was my first major purchase on my own, and I did sooo much research... and now it's freezing... this does not instill confidence in my decision making skills, internet people. I use it most everyday, and I don't know how long it will be away with the fix-it up chappies, so am semi-depressed that I will be laptop-less for however long.
But that's only if I can figure out how to back up my files, because I have scanned every stinking picture in our house into this thing, and I am not doing it all over again... I don't care if it freezes every 10 seconds...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annoying people upstairs keep vacuuming the same exact spot... right over my head. (She's very OCD about that stupid vacuum.) This is the fourth time (the first was at 6:30 this morning) and I know she's the only one home up there, so unless she's refilling the salt shakers over the hallway rug, there is absolutely no need for this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, I know there is a way to change the colors of my blogger text, but I can't remember it, so this post will look very boring.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two of my sisters have the day off today and are spending it bickering over which one of them gets to wield the remote control - rather than actually accomplishing anything or helping out around here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am just having a mood, internet. It is not a good mood either. And I think a large part of it is that I went to bed hearing that 12 of the 13 minors trapped were alive and found out this morning that the opposite is true. It is too sad to imagine, and the reason that I know better than to watch the news. I just can't block myself off from tragedies the way everyone else seems to be able to. It just sort of seeps into me, and now I'm sad.
And grumpy.
(As if that last part needed clarifying after this lovely post.)
I shall try to recover a bit of cheery (or at least less mope) before my next post.
Hope your day is better than...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't know how to use the stupid DVD-RW in my laptop and I have to back up all my data b/c my laptop keeps freezing and I have to send it to the repair people before the warranty expires next month. I love my laptop: It was my first major purchase on my own, and I did sooo much research... and now it's freezing... this does not instill confidence in my decision making skills, internet people. I use it most everyday, and I don't know how long it will be away with the fix-it up chappies, so am semi-depressed that I will be laptop-less for however long.
But that's only if I can figure out how to back up my files, because I have scanned every stinking picture in our house into this thing, and I am not doing it all over again... I don't care if it freezes every 10 seconds...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The annoying people upstairs keep vacuuming the same exact spot... right over my head. (She's very OCD about that stupid vacuum.) This is the fourth time (the first was at 6:30 this morning) and I know she's the only one home up there, so unless she's refilling the salt shakers over the hallway rug, there is absolutely no need for this.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, I know there is a way to change the colors of my blogger text, but I can't remember it, so this post will look very boring.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two of my sisters have the day off today and are spending it bickering over which one of them gets to wield the remote control - rather than actually accomplishing anything or helping out around here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am just having a mood, internet. It is not a good mood either. And I think a large part of it is that I went to bed hearing that 12 of the 13 minors trapped were alive and found out this morning that the opposite is true. It is too sad to imagine, and the reason that I know better than to watch the news. I just can't block myself off from tragedies the way everyone else seems to be able to. It just sort of seeps into me, and now I'm sad.
And grumpy.
(As if that last part needed clarifying after this lovely post.)
I shall try to recover a bit of cheery (or at least less mope) before my next post.
Hope your day is better than...
Sunday, January 01, 2006
A couple of books to keep an eye out for
People - how do I love the PostSecret site? I cannot explain my fascination (I also, apparently, cannot spell fascination). But I'm very excited that there's a book: Collection of Secrets.
The next offerings in some of my current favorite series should be out the beginning of the year:
Memory In Death A bit more of Eve's past is revealed... I'm already on the library hold list for this speed read.
A New Cynster Novel (I almost can't imagine how there could be more, but I still enjoy them so I won't complain) came out recently: Truth about Love
It's not my favorite series, but I've really been enjoying the Francesca Cahill mysteries. Next up for her is Deadly Kisses
And since I love the Stephanie Plum books and Metro Girl (another Christmas gift - Thanks Mum!) by Janet Evanovich, I'll be checking out Motor Mouth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even the Publishers Weekly review of Stephen King's next book is gripping:
What if a pulse sent out through cell phones turned every person using one of them into a zombie-like killing machine? That's what happens on page six of King's latest, a glib, technophobic but compelling look at the end of civilization—or at what may turn into a new, extreme, telepathically enforced fascism.
So I'll be looking out for Cell as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random other reads on my list:
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
With a title like this, who could resist?
You're Wearing That?
The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington
Goddess of The Rose by P.C. Cast
Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine
Dr. Golem - How to think about Medicine by Harry M. Collins
-------------------------------------------------
I'm sure there'll be more, but I can see there's plenty to anticipate.
The next offerings in some of my current favorite series should be out the beginning of the year:
Memory In Death A bit more of Eve's past is revealed... I'm already on the library hold list for this speed read.
A New Cynster Novel (I almost can't imagine how there could be more, but I still enjoy them so I won't complain) came out recently: Truth about Love
It's not my favorite series, but I've really been enjoying the Francesca Cahill mysteries. Next up for her is Deadly Kisses
And since I love the Stephanie Plum books and Metro Girl (another Christmas gift - Thanks Mum!) by Janet Evanovich, I'll be checking out Motor Mouth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even the Publishers Weekly review of Stephen King's next book is gripping:
What if a pulse sent out through cell phones turned every person using one of them into a zombie-like killing machine? That's what happens on page six of King's latest, a glib, technophobic but compelling look at the end of civilization—or at what may turn into a new, extreme, telepathically enforced fascism.
So I'll be looking out for Cell as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random other reads on my list:
The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult
With a title like this, who could resist?
You're Wearing That?
The Monk Downstairs by Tim Farrington
Goddess of The Rose by P.C. Cast
Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine
Dr. Golem - How to think about Medicine by Harry M. Collins
-------------------------------------------------
I'm sure there'll be more, but I can see there's plenty to anticipate.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Total Books Read: 334
That's rounding up, as I've yet to finish the one I'm reading, but I have faith that I'll be done before Saturday night. So 334 books read this year. November was my slowest month (15), January my heaviest (38). But I can tell which months I felt really horrid during, just by looking back at my book log - some months are filled with re-reads of favorites, while others are more adventurous. Some have a ton of book reviews, others have a line or two here or there, but nothing too deep. It's an interesting view of my past year. (Although it's maybe only interesting to me?)
Anyways - Here's a few of my top books from this past year: (not always published in 2005, just that I read them this year)
Outlander- Diana Galbadon
I know I'm way behind here, but I finally got to read about Jaime & Claire this year --- and was not disappointed... I'm waiting for my library list to get to the next in the series
Tales from The Bed Jennifer & Valerie Estess
The autobiography of a very courageous woman. Very Moving.
Wicked Gregory Maguire
I was not lucky enough to see the musical in person, but have been listening to the soundtrack nonstop for at least a year. The book was a bit more complex than I expected, but it was still very good.
Sex & The Single Vampire Katie MacAlister
I'm not usually into vampires, but there was strong dialogue and smart characters, as well as a ton of humor, so I really enjoyed this.
Goddess of The Sea P.C. Cast My favorite find of the year... her Goddess series is wonderful!
Any book put out by Nora Roberts/J.D Robb is an auto-buy for me. This years excellent contributions include Origin in Death, Survivor in Death, & Blue Smoke
Some other very good (and very different) books:
Diana's Story Deric Longden
My Sister's Keeper Jodi Pocult
Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life Amy Krouse
Harry Potter & the HBP JK Rowling
Angus, Thongs & Full-Frontal Snogging Louise Rennison
Hypocrite in A Poufy White Dress Susan Gilman
I Sleep At Red Lights Bruce Stockler
All in My Head Paula Kamen
Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children
Dorie McCullough Lawson
The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green Joshua Braff
So, now, if you didn't have a list going for 2006, you've got someplace to start!
If you've got some I should add to my list (ok, so, I don't exactly have one list, I have about 12 in different places, but still), please share...
If I don't see you till then - happy new year!
Anyways - Here's a few of my top books from this past year: (not always published in 2005, just that I read them this year)
Outlander- Diana Galbadon
I know I'm way behind here, but I finally got to read about Jaime & Claire this year --- and was not disappointed... I'm waiting for my library list to get to the next in the series
Tales from The Bed Jennifer & Valerie Estess
The autobiography of a very courageous woman. Very Moving.
Wicked Gregory Maguire
I was not lucky enough to see the musical in person, but have been listening to the soundtrack nonstop for at least a year. The book was a bit more complex than I expected, but it was still very good.
Sex & The Single Vampire Katie MacAlister
I'm not usually into vampires, but there was strong dialogue and smart characters, as well as a ton of humor, so I really enjoyed this.
Goddess of The Sea P.C. Cast My favorite find of the year... her Goddess series is wonderful!
Any book put out by Nora Roberts/J.D Robb is an auto-buy for me. This years excellent contributions include Origin in Death, Survivor in Death, & Blue Smoke
Some other very good (and very different) books:
Diana's Story Deric Longden
My Sister's Keeper Jodi Pocult
Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life Amy Krouse
Harry Potter & the HBP JK Rowling
Angus, Thongs & Full-Frontal Snogging Louise Rennison
Hypocrite in A Poufy White Dress Susan Gilman
I Sleep At Red Lights Bruce Stockler
All in My Head Paula Kamen
Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children
Dorie McCullough Lawson
The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green Joshua Braff
So, now, if you didn't have a list going for 2006, you've got someplace to start!
If you've got some I should add to my list (ok, so, I don't exactly have one list, I have about 12 in different places, but still), please share...
If I don't see you till then - happy new year!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
If you're going to rant, you should be right.
A friend of my dad's was over at the house the other day, ranting. This particular friend only seems to rant: it is his preferred method of communication. After he finished ranting about the war on Christmas, the lack of pro-Bush stories in the media, and about a million other things, he happened to start in on celebrities who are vocal about their beliefs - be they political, moral, etc.
His position was that they should "Shut the F up." Mostly because that's just the way he feels about anybody who disagrees with him, but also because "Nobody really cares about what Susan Sarandon or Sean Penn thinks about anything, and I sure as hell don't want them to tell me what to think about it... Just because they have money doesn't make them qualified to tell people what to do."
I try to avoid this friend for many reasons, his negative outlook on life main among them, but happened to overhear this diatribe. It struck me as odd... although I've heard the argument before, I just don't understand it. To my way of thinking, just because they have money, it doesn't disqualify them from having opinions on the world they live in. Or from doing something about it. Certainly, whatever they choose to do (or not do) is more high profile because of their position in our society, but I don't see that that fact should hinder them from supporting whatever causes they see fit.
And if I believe in a cause, and support it, then why wouldn't I share my opinion with other people? I do that all the time now, in my own little world --- from buying Christmas presents from St. Jude's Hope Catalog to telling everybody I know who shops online about The IGive Shopping Window, which donates a percentage of whatever you buy online (at certain stores) to the cause you select, I tell the people in my life about the causes I care about and support. If I had a larger audience of people, would I stop giving my opinons, my support, my help? I don't think I could, or would want to.
So I think it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that celebrities would or should do any less just becaues they're famous. And I'm obviously not the only one... Check out who's Persons of the Year
Personally, I think if you can make a difference, you should. Period. And everyone can.
His position was that they should "Shut the F up." Mostly because that's just the way he feels about anybody who disagrees with him, but also because "Nobody really cares about what Susan Sarandon or Sean Penn thinks about anything, and I sure as hell don't want them to tell me what to think about it... Just because they have money doesn't make them qualified to tell people what to do."
I try to avoid this friend for many reasons, his negative outlook on life main among them, but happened to overhear this diatribe. It struck me as odd... although I've heard the argument before, I just don't understand it. To my way of thinking, just because they have money, it doesn't disqualify them from having opinions on the world they live in. Or from doing something about it. Certainly, whatever they choose to do (or not do) is more high profile because of their position in our society, but I don't see that that fact should hinder them from supporting whatever causes they see fit.
And if I believe in a cause, and support it, then why wouldn't I share my opinion with other people? I do that all the time now, in my own little world --- from buying Christmas presents from St. Jude's Hope Catalog to telling everybody I know who shops online about The IGive Shopping Window, which donates a percentage of whatever you buy online (at certain stores) to the cause you select, I tell the people in my life about the causes I care about and support. If I had a larger audience of people, would I stop giving my opinons, my support, my help? I don't think I could, or would want to.
So I think it's pretty ridiculous to suggest that celebrities would or should do any less just becaues they're famous. And I'm obviously not the only one... Check out who's Persons of the Year
Personally, I think if you can make a difference, you should. Period. And everyone can.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Did I have a million things to do today?
Yes I did.
Did I get them done?
No I didn't.
Actually, that's not fair - I did do a bunch of things; but the bunch leftover likes to haunt me.
By the way, the blogosphere? The ULTIMATE time eater for me... I promise myself I'm just going to check out this one blog... but then they have a link to another, or I remember that I haven't checked this one or that one lately.... and now it's two hours later, and here I still am. Wandering.
Did I get them done?
No I didn't.
Actually, that's not fair - I did do a bunch of things; but the bunch leftover likes to haunt me.
By the way, the blogosphere? The ULTIMATE time eater for me... I promise myself I'm just going to check out this one blog... but then they have a link to another, or I remember that I haven't checked this one or that one lately.... and now it's two hours later, and here I still am. Wandering.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Is there anything better than Christmas?
I think not!
----------
I haven't talked about it much here yet, but I'm not in the best of health. I'm not really up to the long explainatory post, either, but suffice to say that I spend a lot of time in bed. Depending on how I'm doing, that time can be occupied by books, music, t.v., writing, or the web. Recently, very little brain power and an insane amount of online shopping have left me capable of doing little else but veg in front of the t.v. or listen to the 497 christmas songs on my computer while staring blankly at the walls.
And yet, I'm still enjoying myself:
Because just the idea of Christmas makes me happy.
Because we own The Muppet Christmas Carol. (Yes, I watched it by myself... wanna make something of it?) Muppets Rock!
Because somehow the smell of the Christmas tree has overpowered the smell of all the medicines that live in my room (except the Vicks... but what does overpower Vicks?)
Because so many Christmas movies are funny - Elf, Scrooged, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (all now holiday requirements here), the Santa Clause movies, the first 2 Home Alones.
Because, even though it doesn't really show all the time, everybody in my house at least makes an effort right about now.
Because Robert Downey Jr. can really sing #12
Because, just when I thought I've seen everything a million times, new Christmas movies (worth watching) come out: The Polar Express,
The Happy Elf, Love Actually.
Because you can get any Christmas song you want (and a million you never heard before) online. Today's favorites: #17, Funky, Funky Christmas by the New Kids on The Block (only because I just remembered that I actually owned the original casette tape of this), Anything off this New To Me Album; Baby, It's Cold Outside (of which I now have 8 different versions, including a fabulous rendition by Zooey Deschanel from the Elf soundtrack), and Bette Midler's version of the Home Alone theme (did you know it had words???)
Because I actually LOVE to wrap presents & write Christmas cards... which, once I feel a bit better, I can do from bed.
Because ABC family is playing all the old Christmas cartoons... so there's always something on... which is where I'm heading right now.
----
----------
I haven't talked about it much here yet, but I'm not in the best of health. I'm not really up to the long explainatory post, either, but suffice to say that I spend a lot of time in bed. Depending on how I'm doing, that time can be occupied by books, music, t.v., writing, or the web. Recently, very little brain power and an insane amount of online shopping have left me capable of doing little else but veg in front of the t.v. or listen to the 497 christmas songs on my computer while staring blankly at the walls.
And yet, I'm still enjoying myself:
Because just the idea of Christmas makes me happy.
Because we own The Muppet Christmas Carol. (Yes, I watched it by myself... wanna make something of it?) Muppets Rock!
Because somehow the smell of the Christmas tree has overpowered the smell of all the medicines that live in my room (except the Vicks... but what does overpower Vicks?)
Because so many Christmas movies are funny - Elf, Scrooged, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (all now holiday requirements here), the Santa Clause movies, the first 2 Home Alones.
Because, even though it doesn't really show all the time, everybody in my house at least makes an effort right about now.
Because Robert Downey Jr. can really sing #12
Because, just when I thought I've seen everything a million times, new Christmas movies (worth watching) come out: The Polar Express,
The Happy Elf, Love Actually.
Because you can get any Christmas song you want (and a million you never heard before) online. Today's favorites: #17, Funky, Funky Christmas by the New Kids on The Block (only because I just remembered that I actually owned the original casette tape of this), Anything off this New To Me Album; Baby, It's Cold Outside (of which I now have 8 different versions, including a fabulous rendition by Zooey Deschanel from the Elf soundtrack), and Bette Midler's version of the Home Alone theme (did you know it had words???)
Because I actually LOVE to wrap presents & write Christmas cards... which, once I feel a bit better, I can do from bed.
Because ABC family is playing all the old Christmas cartoons... so there's always something on... which is where I'm heading right now.
----
Monday, November 28, 2005
Ok, I had planned to post an update on here... but Thanksgiving turned out to be a bit more stressful than anticipated (althought things are calming down now, Thank Whoever), so I decided I could use a laugh instead. Since Christmas is both my favorite and most stressful time of the year (at least since I graduated and don't have to take finals anymore), laughs are exactly what I'm in the mood for right now.
Here's a couple of things that struck my funny bone today:
How to Confuse Your Roommate
My favorites on this list?
13 - Spend all your money on Transformers. Play with them at night. If your roommate says anything, tell him/her with a straight face, "They're more than meets the eye."
This shouldn't be funny, and yet I can't stop chuckling
113 - When your roommate is typing, type on your keyboard in synchronization. I'm sorry, but I can totally see someone doing this. It's too funny
-------------------------------------------------------------
The fact that Dane Cook will be hosting SNL this week is certainly happy-making:
Dane Cook
-----------------------------------------------------------
The idea of marshmallows screaming, while severely traumatizing, is also very funny: Besides, I don't think it's that bad.
-----------------------------------------------------------
And a piece (or two) of wisdom to round out today's post:
Tuckle Rori seeks serenity (and does a much better job than I do) over Here
and with much thanks for introducing me to a new poem, I'll send you over to Half Changed World and some
Gravy.
Enjoy your last November Days! I hope to see you later in the week!
Here's a couple of things that struck my funny bone today:
How to Confuse Your Roommate
My favorites on this list?
13 - Spend all your money on Transformers. Play with them at night. If your roommate says anything, tell him/her with a straight face, "They're more than meets the eye."
This shouldn't be funny, and yet I can't stop chuckling
113 - When your roommate is typing, type on your keyboard in synchronization. I'm sorry, but I can totally see someone doing this. It's too funny
-------------------------------------------------------------
The fact that Dane Cook will be hosting SNL this week is certainly happy-making:
Dane Cook
-----------------------------------------------------------
The idea of marshmallows screaming, while severely traumatizing, is also very funny: Besides, I don't think it's that bad.
-----------------------------------------------------------
And a piece (or two) of wisdom to round out today's post:
Tuckle Rori seeks serenity (and does a much better job than I do) over Here
and with much thanks for introducing me to a new poem, I'll send you over to Half Changed World and some
Gravy.
Enjoy your last November Days! I hope to see you later in the week!
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
A little creepy, I thought, but....
Seriously, what's up with the "Good or bad" part?
| You Are Pumpkin Pie |
 Even when people are full - they make room for you. Good or bad, your smell is most likely to arouse a man. |
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
A semi-guilty pleasure
A semi-guilty pleasure
Esquire magazine bills itself as “Man at his best.” While I don’t know about that, I certainly think it’s an example of a magazine at its best (except for the cologne inserts… they make me sick, but this is not limited to Esquire... why oh why do they have to put these in there??? Sorry, wrong post - Continue). Particularly their annual Genius Issue, which I have just finished reading. I learned some things, remembered others, and was entertained, informed and impressed, which is a lot to ask from one magazine (even if it doesn't include me in its target demographic - tsk.
Here’s some of what I got out of it:
New Information:
- I am not as smart as I would like to think I am (as evidenced by the “Hardest Quiz Ever” on p174).
- Graffiti can be amazing (Banksy) p198
- Fonts are fun (Fonts) p 206
- Sometimes there’s nothing better than a lime green RV (RTN) p 216
- Apparently, the toilet is not as good as it should be (Lotus-Leaf Toilet) p221
- Sometimes, the answers are simple (LifeStraw) p 235
Things I just needed to be reminded of:
- pharmaceutical companies are crappier than I thought … but someone’s trying to fix that (Non-profit Pharmaceutical company?) p222
- Wikipedia rocks (Go learn something random)
- So does A.J. Jacobs (He's a Know It All)
- Science is too hard for me (as if my sub-par grades in those classes hadn’t reinforced it enough, further proof -> I barely understood the very accessible articles on RNA, schizophrenia, engineering viruses, genetic codes or nuclear energy).
- I miss Sports Night. (Come BACK!!!)
- Felicity Huffman always makes me laugh (which is why I will sometimes flip over to Desperate Housewives on commercials).Dana Whitaker p116
- Contrary to what you see on the news, or even how you can feel most days, there really are people who care about the world and are trying to make it better (Check out the entire issue… there’s too much for a single link.)
Now go buy your own, so you can be a Genius too.
Esquire magazine bills itself as “Man at his best.” While I don’t know about that, I certainly think it’s an example of a magazine at its best (except for the cologne inserts… they make me sick, but this is not limited to Esquire... why oh why do they have to put these in there??? Sorry, wrong post - Continue). Particularly their annual Genius Issue, which I have just finished reading. I learned some things, remembered others, and was entertained, informed and impressed, which is a lot to ask from one magazine (even if it doesn't include me in its target demographic - tsk.
Here’s some of what I got out of it:
New Information:
- I am not as smart as I would like to think I am (as evidenced by the “Hardest Quiz Ever” on p174).
- Graffiti can be amazing (Banksy) p198
- Fonts are fun (Fonts) p 206
- Sometimes there’s nothing better than a lime green RV (RTN) p 216
- Apparently, the toilet is not as good as it should be (Lotus-Leaf Toilet) p221
- Sometimes, the answers are simple (LifeStraw) p 235
Things I just needed to be reminded of:
- pharmaceutical companies are crappier than I thought … but someone’s trying to fix that (Non-profit Pharmaceutical company?) p222
- Wikipedia rocks (Go learn something random)
- So does A.J. Jacobs (He's a Know It All)
- Science is too hard for me (as if my sub-par grades in those classes hadn’t reinforced it enough, further proof -> I barely understood the very accessible articles on RNA, schizophrenia, engineering viruses, genetic codes or nuclear energy).
- I miss Sports Night. (Come BACK!!!)
- Felicity Huffman always makes me laugh (which is why I will sometimes flip over to Desperate Housewives on commercials).Dana Whitaker p116
- Contrary to what you see on the news, or even how you can feel most days, there really are people who care about the world and are trying to make it better (Check out the entire issue… there’s too much for a single link.)
Now go buy your own, so you can be a Genius too.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Songs to hate by
So there are these people in my family who, while they are technically related to me, I'd like to disown. They've behaved hideously in various ways & towards various people, for a number of years, and little hope for reconciliation. We don't talk to, or interact with any of them, if we can manage it. Personally, I've only broken my silence once in the past three years (when my aunt was trying to poison me by painting the back porch, and I asked her not to... she declined and I had to leave my house again, because she's a lunatic). But anyways, the point of sharing this tiny slice of my family insanity is that sadly, they still live upstairs from us.
The other day I was alone in my house, and the 17 year-old, at-least-as-crazy-and-dangerous-as-his-mother ex-cousin was upstairs by himself. (He's stopped going to school for whatever reason, so he's home everyday, playing video games loudly.) And it seemed like every six minutes or so, he came barreling down the stairs, (which happen to be right on the other side of my room) to check the front door for the mail. Our mailman doesn't seem to have any sort of regular delivery time -- sometimes it's as early as 10 a.m., others it's as late as 7 p.m. So there's no way to predict when it will come, and the only way to know if mail has come is to check the door. So, yes, if he wants to know if the mail came, he's got to come down and check.
Since my window looks out on the front door, I generally see or hear the mail come, but it isn't that big of a deal, because I'm not usually expecting anything either.
Well, crazy boy must've been expecting something very important (a truancy card addressed to his parents, perhaps)? Because he just kept racing down to check. Again and again and again. And he doesn't just walk down the stairs, like any normal person. No, he bombs down them... thump thump thump... And it sounds like he does that heel slide on the last few steps... you know, where you're too lazy to keep actually putting effort into walking, and you just flip flip down the last couple of steps? He does that, then bangs the door open and slams it closed again, even though all he really had to do was twitch aside the curtain and look out the window.
After about the 7th time he did this, I was starting to get really annoyed. It wasn't only the issue of the considerable noise, it was just his presence. Just knowing that they shouldn't be upstairs in the first place, his repeated interruptions kept reminding me of all the horrible things that they subject us all to, all of the tension and hatred that boils constantly around here. It was making me more frustrated and upset about this situation that just won't end.
But I know that getting upset over this crap isn't really helpful, and I really wanted not to let it bother me so much. Instead, I decided to have a bit of fun... It so happened that I was downloading songs onto my new laptop at the time, and I decided to find some songs wholly appropriate for our situation and then play them loudly each time loser boy came back.
So the next time he came roaring down the stairs it was to the tune of "You could drive a person crazy" sung by the lovely Bernadette Peters. After that came a little "Superfreak" chorus. Next mail check? "Less of You (is more)."
Not only did I build a fabulous music library on my computer (many of these songs/artists were new to me), I got out some of my pent up frustrations at this God-awful situation, and nobody really got hurt (ok... a few of the songs are a bit harsh... but he's clueless, so it isn't like he knew... and besides... harsh or not, they're still on point).
--------------------------------------
Here's what else I picked up:
"You don't own me"(from the First Wives Club)
"Why don't you do right" (made popular by Jessica Rabbit)
"What is this feeling (loathing)?" (From the musical Wicked)
"Wake me up before you go go" (only because I want to see it actually happen)
"Tomorrow belongs to me" (In other words, you're not in it.)
"Time to say good-bye" (Yup... take the hint)
"These boots are made for walking" (So figure out how they work, and give 'em a try)
"Something stupid" (Yeah... it's you.)
"So long, farewell" (Could I be any clearer?)
"Schadenfraude" (From Avenue Q: has a very clear definition of shadenfraude itself, and illustrates many of the reasons I don't feel too guilty about this list)
"Punch in the nose"
"No one mourns the wicked" (Can you guess who I'm talking about here?)
"Last chance to lose your keys" (Isn't this just the greatest song name ever?)
"Time to change"
"I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you" (Well, dead is certainly unnecessary... just... not HERE would suffice).
"I wonder what became of you" (Because I remember when you used to have morals, and, gee, I don't know... care about the people you claimed to love)
"Homewrecker"
"Hit the road jack
"Leave (get out)
"Movin on
"Leave right now
"Everything you know is wrong" (and let me underline the word everything)
"One way ticket"
"Na na na na good-bye"
"Get lost"
"The theme to the good, the bad, & the ugly" (Guess which is which)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, how's that for venting? And airing family problems in public? This post is the reason I haven't told my family that I have a blog. Not that anybody down here would do anything but chuckle about my rather odd manner of protesting, but still.
The list is still open for updating, so if you think of anything that should have been included, I'd love to hear about it. Because one of them will come down those stairs at least once everyday, and, even if the computer isn't on, I can still get a smile out of which song my mind chooses to replay at that moment.
The other day I was alone in my house, and the 17 year-old, at-least-as-crazy-and-dangerous-as-his-mother ex-cousin was upstairs by himself. (He's stopped going to school for whatever reason, so he's home everyday, playing video games loudly.) And it seemed like every six minutes or so, he came barreling down the stairs, (which happen to be right on the other side of my room) to check the front door for the mail. Our mailman doesn't seem to have any sort of regular delivery time -- sometimes it's as early as 10 a.m., others it's as late as 7 p.m. So there's no way to predict when it will come, and the only way to know if mail has come is to check the door. So, yes, if he wants to know if the mail came, he's got to come down and check.
Since my window looks out on the front door, I generally see or hear the mail come, but it isn't that big of a deal, because I'm not usually expecting anything either.
Well, crazy boy must've been expecting something very important (a truancy card addressed to his parents, perhaps)? Because he just kept racing down to check. Again and again and again. And he doesn't just walk down the stairs, like any normal person. No, he bombs down them... thump thump thump... And it sounds like he does that heel slide on the last few steps... you know, where you're too lazy to keep actually putting effort into walking, and you just flip flip down the last couple of steps? He does that, then bangs the door open and slams it closed again, even though all he really had to do was twitch aside the curtain and look out the window.
After about the 7th time he did this, I was starting to get really annoyed. It wasn't only the issue of the considerable noise, it was just his presence. Just knowing that they shouldn't be upstairs in the first place, his repeated interruptions kept reminding me of all the horrible things that they subject us all to, all of the tension and hatred that boils constantly around here. It was making me more frustrated and upset about this situation that just won't end.
But I know that getting upset over this crap isn't really helpful, and I really wanted not to let it bother me so much. Instead, I decided to have a bit of fun... It so happened that I was downloading songs onto my new laptop at the time, and I decided to find some songs wholly appropriate for our situation and then play them loudly each time loser boy came back.
So the next time he came roaring down the stairs it was to the tune of "You could drive a person crazy" sung by the lovely Bernadette Peters. After that came a little "Superfreak" chorus. Next mail check? "Less of You (is more)."
Not only did I build a fabulous music library on my computer (many of these songs/artists were new to me), I got out some of my pent up frustrations at this God-awful situation, and nobody really got hurt (ok... a few of the songs are a bit harsh... but he's clueless, so it isn't like he knew... and besides... harsh or not, they're still on point).
--------------------------------------
Here's what else I picked up:
"You don't own me"(from the First Wives Club)
"Why don't you do right" (made popular by Jessica Rabbit)
"What is this feeling (loathing)?" (From the musical Wicked)
"Wake me up before you go go" (only because I want to see it actually happen)
"Tomorrow belongs to me" (In other words, you're not in it.)
"Time to say good-bye" (Yup... take the hint)
"These boots are made for walking" (So figure out how they work, and give 'em a try)
"Something stupid" (Yeah... it's you.)
"So long, farewell" (Could I be any clearer?)
"Schadenfraude" (From Avenue Q: has a very clear definition of shadenfraude itself, and illustrates many of the reasons I don't feel too guilty about this list)
"Punch in the nose"
"No one mourns the wicked" (Can you guess who I'm talking about here?)
"Last chance to lose your keys" (Isn't this just the greatest song name ever?)
"Time to change"
"I'll be glad when you're dead you rascal you" (Well, dead is certainly unnecessary... just... not HERE would suffice).
"I wonder what became of you" (Because I remember when you used to have morals, and, gee, I don't know... care about the people you claimed to love)
"Homewrecker"
"Hit the road jack
"Leave (get out)
"Movin on
"Leave right now
"Everything you know is wrong" (and let me underline the word everything)
"One way ticket"
"Na na na na good-bye"
"Get lost"
"The theme to the good, the bad, & the ugly" (Guess which is which)
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Wow, how's that for venting? And airing family problems in public? This post is the reason I haven't told my family that I have a blog. Not that anybody down here would do anything but chuckle about my rather odd manner of protesting, but still.
The list is still open for updating, so if you think of anything that should have been included, I'd love to hear about it. Because one of them will come down those stairs at least once everyday, and, even if the computer isn't on, I can still get a smile out of which song my mind chooses to replay at that moment.
Friday, November 04, 2005
A Movie and A Book... Take a Look
Based on the recommendations of some web-friends, I've just read and finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldron. It was excellent! I was so glad to have few distractions yesterday (most of my family was off on their own) because I didn't want to have to throw anything at them if they tried to interrupt my reading.
The book is kind of hard to catagorize ---> But I can tell you that it had a bit of everything I usually look for in a good book: a compelling story, witty dialogue, and strong conflicts (wow, were there some strong conflicts!)
She managed to weave quite a bit of historical fact into her story as well. It's probably not for everybody - the length of the book (over 500 pages, I pretty sure... I already sent it back to the library, so I can't be sure) somehow puts some people off, but it was worth it.
And, since it was the first in a series, I'm doubly excited b/c the next books are already out ... now I only have to wait a bit for my library to process the requests.
....
I also got to watch Batman Begins recently.
First, let me just explain my love for Christian Bale: well, I can't explain it. But it started with Newsies - a musical (2 points) about a significant social issue (another point there) with cute boys (which, at the age of 13, translated into about 100 extra bonus points). If you haven't seen Newsies, and any of these things add points to your list, go out and rent it right now. The songs are very catchy, and it may be very "Disney," but that doesn't really work against it in my book. I loved Swing Kids as well, although not as much. He played Laurie to a tee in the 90's remake of Little Women (which is one of my all time favorite books). I squirmed through American Psycho, which isn't really my kind of movie, generally. And that one with the dragons was pretty good too. (Reign of Fire - I also love IMDB, but that's a post for another day). And then there's the lisp... why does that work for him instead of against? I don't know, but it does.
So the fact that he was the lead in the new Batman didn't escape my notice. Plus, I've liked all the other Batman movies - some more than others, but I'm certainly not a comic book purist or movie snob. Although it seems that everyone else paid a lot more attention to George Clooney's nipples in the last version of Batman than I did, I didn't think it was horrible. But this one was much better - it had a better story, it flowed better, it was darker and more intersting. And Michael Caine's Alfred was spectacular.
I didn't really understand how it worked (continuity-wise) with the backstory we'd seen in the first Batman movie (Michael Keaton "I'm Batman/Jack Nicholson as the Joker), but that's not a huge deal. I thought it was very good: I'm glad to see, in Christian Bales IMDB page, a listing for untitled Batman Begins Sequel.
So, if you're looking for some low key things to do this weekend, there's a couple of suggestions.I'll be trying to finish up my brother's birthday present, reading a couple of new books, and trying to help my sister figure out the Weight Watcher's Points system.
The book is kind of hard to catagorize ---> But I can tell you that it had a bit of everything I usually look for in a good book: a compelling story, witty dialogue, and strong conflicts (wow, were there some strong conflicts!)
She managed to weave quite a bit of historical fact into her story as well. It's probably not for everybody - the length of the book (over 500 pages, I pretty sure... I already sent it back to the library, so I can't be sure) somehow puts some people off, but it was worth it.
And, since it was the first in a series, I'm doubly excited b/c the next books are already out ... now I only have to wait a bit for my library to process the requests.
....
I also got to watch Batman Begins recently.
First, let me just explain my love for Christian Bale: well, I can't explain it. But it started with Newsies - a musical (2 points) about a significant social issue (another point there) with cute boys (which, at the age of 13, translated into about 100 extra bonus points). If you haven't seen Newsies, and any of these things add points to your list, go out and rent it right now. The songs are very catchy, and it may be very "Disney," but that doesn't really work against it in my book. I loved Swing Kids as well, although not as much. He played Laurie to a tee in the 90's remake of Little Women (which is one of my all time favorite books). I squirmed through American Psycho, which isn't really my kind of movie, generally. And that one with the dragons was pretty good too. (Reign of Fire - I also love IMDB, but that's a post for another day). And then there's the lisp... why does that work for him instead of against? I don't know, but it does.
So the fact that he was the lead in the new Batman didn't escape my notice. Plus, I've liked all the other Batman movies - some more than others, but I'm certainly not a comic book purist or movie snob. Although it seems that everyone else paid a lot more attention to George Clooney's nipples in the last version of Batman than I did, I didn't think it was horrible. But this one was much better - it had a better story, it flowed better, it was darker and more intersting. And Michael Caine's Alfred was spectacular.
I didn't really understand how it worked (continuity-wise) with the backstory we'd seen in the first Batman movie (Michael Keaton "I'm Batman/Jack Nicholson as the Joker), but that's not a huge deal. I thought it was very good: I'm glad to see, in Christian Bales IMDB page, a listing for untitled Batman Begins Sequel.
So, if you're looking for some low key things to do this weekend, there's a couple of suggestions.I'll be trying to finish up my brother's birthday present, reading a couple of new books, and trying to help my sister figure out the Weight Watcher's Points system.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Secret Addiction #1
Flickr
Am I the only one who could just hit reload all day on this site? The pictures are so varied... and most of them are amazing. There's weird pictures, cute pictures, vibrant pictures... just everything you can think of. I've been on-line for about two hours today - checking e-mail and blogs and searching for youngest sister's birthday present, but Flickr is shrunk down there in the middle of all my open pages and I just keep clicking. Here are a few of the most interesting so far:
Froggy
Beautiful blue eyes
A different view of Fall
Note to self: Buy black and white film
I just love the odd reflections you can capture. And bonus points for incorporating a great quote.
Just a reminder, for me. And beautiful too.
So that's where I've been this morning - how bout all of you? Or a favorite flickr picture (have your own set: I'd love to see them.) you want to share? Let me know.
Enjoy your day everybody.
Am I the only one who could just hit reload all day on this site? The pictures are so varied... and most of them are amazing. There's weird pictures, cute pictures, vibrant pictures... just everything you can think of. I've been on-line for about two hours today - checking e-mail and blogs and searching for youngest sister's birthday present, but Flickr is shrunk down there in the middle of all my open pages and I just keep clicking. Here are a few of the most interesting so far:
Froggy
Beautiful blue eyes
A different view of Fall
Note to self: Buy black and white film
I just love the odd reflections you can capture. And bonus points for incorporating a great quote.
Just a reminder, for me. And beautiful too.
So that's where I've been this morning - how bout all of you? Or a favorite flickr picture (have your own set: I'd love to see them.) you want to share? Let me know.
Enjoy your day everybody.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
In case you care
Took a couple of quizzes:
and yes... they're right...He's all cute and snuggly in that picture!
--------------------
What's sad is that I wasn't sure I had passed it until the results came up. Phew... (BTW, I also passed the US citizenship test there too.)
-----------------------
Since I've been feeling a bit left out lately, this seemed to fit.
----------------
Alrighty. To get this result I had to answer a hypothetical question (about an Indecent Proposal - ish dilemna) and decide who was the most moral... I wonder what the people who thought the guy who blackmailed the girl was the most moral got as an answer?
So there's a couple of things you didn't know about me, in case you care.
| Your 80s Heartthrob Is |
 Jason Bateman |
and yes... they're right...He's all cute and snuggly in that picture!
--------------------
| You Passed 8th Grade Math |
 Congratulations, you got 10/10 correct! |
What's sad is that I wasn't sure I had passed it until the results came up. Phew... (BTW, I also passed the US citizenship test there too.)
-----------------------
| You Are Fall Flowers |
 |
Since I've been feeling a bit left out lately, this seemed to fit.
----------------
| Your World View |
You are a fairly broadminded romantic and reasonably content. You value kindness and try to live by your ideals. You have strong need for security, which may be either emotional or material. You respect truth and are flexible. You like people, and they can readily make friends with you. You are not very adventurous, but this does not bother you. |
Alrighty. To get this result I had to answer a hypothetical question (about an Indecent Proposal - ish dilemna) and decide who was the most moral... I wonder what the people who thought the guy who blackmailed the girl was the most moral got as an answer?
So there's a couple of things you didn't know about me, in case you care.
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