Finished my Cherries Purse Organizer

Decided at midnight to start making my purse organizer. Because I can.


Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

1. Detail of Purse Organizer, 2. Purse Organizer I just Made, 3. Purse Organizer all folded up, 4. Purse Organizer from the top

• The Denim came from husbands old levis (sentimental value)
• The Cherry was something I had around, a ME Cherries Patch on clearance for 50 cents at JoAnne a while back
• The Red Satin Binding was leftover from Kelly Skellington's Coffin that I made for Cheryl in Canada
• The Dot Fabric was something that I had picked a yard up at Wal-Mart for $1 on sale last month.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out!

Heater Whore and the Rusty Pickle

Today, is an okay day.

But let us start with last night. I did nothing. I watched a movie on cable (Autumn in New York with Winona Ryder and Richard Gere) while I messed around a bit on the laptop. Husband brought me home Subway. Yum. Then I took a bath that lasted so long that the water was hurting my skin. Between the bathtub and in bed until 2:30am, I read a hefty 2/3 of my book "The Tenth Circle" By Jodi Picoult. Now I have read one of her other books, and it was good but I wasn't overly impressed. But this book is AWESOME good. I had to take it to work today so I could read while I ate my stuffed pizza for lunch. I can't tear myself away. It's pretty good. Husband was intrigued when he saw me reading the comic book sequences. Of course I lvoed the references to Jim Lee and Marvel/DC Comics. The book itself is just a great story, and it's well told. Of course, at exactly the halfway point, I had a pretty good handle on the "secret" piece, but I haven't gotten to the end to actually see what happened for sure. I can't give you ANY details without giving away the book. But it is GOOD and I suggest it to anyone.

Tonight I had a Rusty Pickle Class after work (oh I can already see your eyebrows rise, and guys are probably pitching a tent over me saying pickle.) but for those of you who DON'T know, Rusty Pickle is a scrapbook company- and I made this Christmas Album. Although sister and I did purchase a book at the Girl's Night Out Party called "tickle his pickle" and we are both going to read it, so if that doesn't get your mind wandering, nothing will.


Last night I also did the "What's In My Bag" thing for the flickr group... and then upgraded to a bigger purse. But what I really wanted to do was sew a purse organizer, but I was so in depth with the book that at 2:30am I had to make myself put it down and sleep.

I got two of my shirts off ebay, they are kinda smallish. The "Meet the Twins" shirt is the same brand as the "Pirate Love" shirt but it's a size bigger according to the tag, but it fits smaller. WTF? So I dunno. Might end up reselling them. I have had bad luck lately, even with using measurements. I got a dress that was too big, and shirts that were too small. I got pants that look black with white pinstripes in the pictures and ended up being kinda multi-colored pinstripes. Strange. I am hoping my luck changes. Of course I just got outbid on my outrageously low Palm treo 650, which I knew would happen. Too good to be true.

Today I mailed bills. Power, Cable & Internet, Cell Phones, etc.CB gave me a little belated birthday gift, the book "Pirates" By John Matthews. I had seen this book at Shop-ko in October and coveted it terribly. But it's just one of those things you don't buy for yourself, so it was the perfect gift. And I was surprised to get it, which made it even nicer. Last night I decorated my little pink tree at work. It's sparkly pink (the tree itself) with pink class balls and pink christmas lights on pink wires. And I have more ornaments at home that I need to remember to bring to work. AND I need to put the lights and ornaments on the tree at home. Ugh. Maybe tomorrow night. I am just SO not in the spirit. I think not putting up decorations last year made me lazy.

Today was such a gloomy looking day. It rained some. It was just overcast, although it wasn't cool outside, it was cool INSIDE at at work all day I just wanted a blanket or sweater or heater to curl up with. Yes, I curl up to heaters. My husband is always laughing because if he can't find me, I am sitting on the floor somewhere about 1 foot in front of a space heater or next to a register. When I used to babysit I would make a blanket tent over the registers and sit under it with the kids while we watched a movie or read a book. I think it probably drives husband nuts that I always want to cuddle. Usually it's a one sided cuddle. He plays a video game or holds the remote while I try to carve a place into his side where I can squeeze myself and keep warm. When all else fails, I love to cuddle with Boyd. He's a "hot" dog. Like a personal heater to curl up with.P.S. UPDATE-- I did finish my book tonight, and it was good. I knew "Who Dunnit" but the ending, although good, also kinda pissed me off because it was that open ended bullshit where you really don't know what happens at all. That sucks. But the book was good. It just lacked closure, which pisses me off. I need closure. Unless Johnny Depp or Edward Cullen is involved and there is a sequel, there had damn well better be closure!

Do You Have It? Wanna Share?

I was making lists of the CD's that I want, if you happen to have them, let me know as I would love a copy! Several of them I used to have tapes for, and WISH I had bought CD's back in the day... If you have one, let me know and I would be more than happy to swap you a CD that you don't have...

Green Day 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours

Green Day Dookie

Green Day American Idiot

Green Day Nimrod

Foreigner Complete Greatest Hits

Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits

Smashing Pumpkins Greatest Hits

Soundgarden Superunknown

Soundgarden Down on the Upside

The Raconteurs Broken Boy Soldiers

Beck Odelay

Beck Guero

Snow Patrol Eyes Open

Unreleased Stuff I will Buy:

Gwen Stefani The Sweet Escape

Incubus Light Grenades (in stores tomorrow, Nov 28th)

Sunday night!

That damn Christmas Tree is sitting over there looking at me. "LIGHTS!" it screams. "ORNAMENTS!"

NOOOOOO. I don't WANT to do anything. The house is basically trashed. It was all clean before Thanksgiving. It was even clean AFTER Thanksgiving. But right now the kitchen is a mess, the dining room is filled with totes and decorations, the coffee table is the the new home of all my CD's and my laptop, and the mail, and a discarded pair of earrings. The bathroom has dirty laundry on the floor. The bedroom has every single drawer hanging open and the bed unmade. The porch smells like stinky dogs and has dirty dog beds. And. I don't care. Well I care, but that doesn't mean I am going to DO anything about it. At least not tonight.

Ah well maybe I will clean up the coffee table, and pick the laundry up off the bathroom floor. And I suppose I could close the drawers in the bedroom and I could probably clean up the kitchen a bit. But THAT is where I Draw the line! Okay and MAYBE I did just run into the kitchen and clean it up. And unload the dishwasher. And reload it. And perhaps I did start the wine glasses soaking in the sink. And I might have picked up all the dirty laundry. But now I am back to watching desperate housewives and ripping off my bra to lounge in comfort.

And honestly, doesn't that british chap know that the only reason Susan took him up on his offer because she loves Mike so much that she wants him to have the best lawyer. Jeez. And every week my theory comes to light, that ALMA killed Monique, and that Orson hit Mike with his car either BECAUSE Mike was with Monique, or because he THINKS that Mike killed Monique.

Still importing CD's into iTunes.

Oh, on a techie note, I recently decided to install Norton Antivirus 2007 and discovered that now it is no longer compatible with Zone Alarm's firewall products, including their free firewall. Of course Norton just tells you to "uninstall Norton" and sort of misleads you into thinking that you are protected. But if you READ the back of the Norton Antivirus box, you will immediately see that there is no protection for wireless and other users via a firewall. Of course, I was immediately pissed because Norton would just LOVE if you would run out and BUY their firewall, which is probably why they were so careful to make sure that the free version of Zone Alarm wouldn't work anymore. So, I have officially began the process to file for a refund from Norton and purchase the full Zone Alarm Suite, including their firewall and anti-virus. So in summary, Norton has just lost my business, which they have had for YEARS, and in turn have lost the business of all the computers I work on, and all the people I give recommendations to. Poor poor Norton. And I am not the only one. The internet is full of people who have Boycotted Norton 2007 and moved to Zone Alarm for all their needs. Good call Norton!

Maxim Sucks

Is it wrong to hate a magazine? For years my husband has gotten a subscription to Maxim Magazine. And. I. Hate it. Playboy doesn't bother me. Cherry, Hustler, any dirty mags don't even make me mad.... but that damn Maxim magazine. I hate it. Honestly, how retarded can their articles get. 100 ways to blow your paycheck? Sexiest webcams? How to outrun a bear? How to live to 130? 50 very bad things to do till sunrise!

Granted. Everyone wants to relax and have fun. Not everything you read has to have substance. But do you think I am dying to buy my husband a subscription to a magazine that points him to the sexiest internet webcams and 100 ways to blow his paycheck? Um. Negative.
Husbands get into enough trouble on their own.

So the maxim subscription has run out. But somehow over the years it keeps getting renewed. And it's not me. And unless he is sending cash through the mail, it's not husband either. Although I do recall MIL renewing it as a gift previously. I am really really hoping that it will expire and be replaced by something else. At least Playboy has excellent articles with substantial topics.... and the chicks are naked. Maxim just has about a bazillion "girl next door" and "college hotties" contests each year. It's so boring. I'd rather see pretty naked chicks any day.

Maxim Sucks.

O Tannenbaum

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Happy Birthday To Me!

Well, Today is my Birthday. I am 28. It doesn't feel a whole lot like my birthday. I am not working today, but besides that I have absolutely no plans. That's okay. Last night we hosted Thanksgiving. There were 8 people here, we had a wonderful time. Husband and I seemed to iron out the issues around noon yesterday, and then the day just got better as it went on. We deep fried our first turkey and ham, and they were delicious. Injecting the Turkey was fun, we made our own secret Johnson Family Recipe Marinade (lol) and plumped up the turkey all over. It was fun. We didn't exactly eat "on schedule" but we didn't have enough oil to do the turkey and ham at the same time, so we did the turkey first, and then while I carved it, they did the ham. We had lots of appetizers and lots of wine, so the time went by pretty fast. The house looked really nice, and it was just an all around good time. Last night we also celebrated Evan's and My birthday, his is next Thursday.

We got to open some presents. Evan got Guitar Hero II with the Red Electric Guitar for PS2 from Mom. We already have Guitar Hero I with the Black Electric Guitar, but this has all new songs. It was awesome. He also got Cranium from my sister, which was what I wanted but she was sneaky and bought it for him. She got me Trivial Pursuit Totally 80's! LOL. Mom got me lots of cool stuff I got tons of dark socks (yeah!) and two pair of those REALLY fuzzy and soft eyelash yarn socks in pink. Yippee! I had one pair and I wash them every other day and wear them at night around home. I also got two i-kandee chalk sets for Scrapbooking, a Christmas Decoration Sign, a Moose Bell for my Christmas Bell Collection, and Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 for my laptop (oohhh!) And she made me a copy of Huey Lewis and the News "Time Flies... The Best of" which I love! And some little tiny clear stackable containers with lids that I can use for scrapbook or beading supplies. Evan got me my pink peacoat that I have been wearing since the end of September.

So after opening gifts, we had my "blue ribbon winning" Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars, and grandma Marie brought an ice cream cake too, and homemade chocolate truffles (which were delicious! She did awesome!) Then we went outside to play because dad brought over his monster truck at our insistence. We played till we ran the batteries dead. Then we came in and cranked up the guitar hero, even my mom and dad played! I had never played before, Content to watch Evan. I sat down to try, and was very upset to realize that I play guitar left handed (I had to have my acoustic guitar specially made for me by Schecter's Daisy Rock Collection and shipped from overseas.) and this guitar is RIGHT HANDED. So I tried flipping it upide down, but then the keys on the screen are backwards, and I had a hell of a time flipping it around in my mind fast enough. I just couldn't do it! We need to investigate to see if you can flip it around on the game settings for lefties. If you can't, that would totally suck ass. I never even thought of that! So just before 1am, everyone was gone, and I sat on the couch with Evan while he kicked ass at the game and unlocked new song after new song. But before 2:30 I couldnt't keep my eyes open so I went to bed.

Today I have everything pretty much back to normal, all the big tables taken down, and the dining room back to the way it should be, which won't last long considering tomorrow I want to put up the Christmas Tree. I have run the dishwasher twice and all the dishes are done from the meal, except the wine glasses and stoneware that I have to handwash. I have decided today to concentrate on importing CDs into iTunes. I am anticipating the 8Gig Nano that Evan bought me for Christmas. I previously only had the 1gig shuffle, and since there's no screen, I was really picky as to what I put in my itunes. Now I am going to put my whole CD Collection, even older stuff like the Fugees and Bush, into the computer and I can have it ALL on my iPod and listed to whatever I want because I can search by artist, song, genre, etc. So this afternoon I have set down on the couch with about 1000 CD's in an attempt to make a dent in uploading (seriously, that number is no exxageration.) and I have considered taking a shower, but instead opted to do a little blogging in my pink long johns and eventually to probably watch TIVO (Big Grey's Anatomy!) while importing CD's. Whew!

I am also importing Album Art for my iTunes album, but that is the flakiest thing! I just imported Lidacris new CD "release therapy" and it's IN the iTunes Music Store, but it won't pick up the album art. I even tried to drag and drop the album cover into iTunes as it tells me to, and it won't take. Hell-o! That's a brand new CD! Yet you will find the album cover for Ray Parker's Greatest Hits to go with my "Ghostbusters" Theme song? Apple needs to get a clue with this and get the bugs kinked out. People on iTunes message boards re having a cow over the buggy flaky album cover feature. Oh well. All things come with time, right?

This weekend we have a birthday party for my Uncle (a surprise!) and another Thanksgiving. Otherwise it's iTunes importing and Christmas Decorations for me!

Thanksgiving Pictures! Check them out!

Men are so SELFISH!

Today is the day before Thanksgiving. I took the day off to prepare for hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, as we have done for 5 of the 6 years we have lived here. I had lots of things to do today, one of them being to get all of the food dishes that I need to make ready ahead of time. I also planned on rearranging the dining room, setting the table, getting the dishes and serving pieces out and ready, thawing a turkey and ham, doing laundry, getting the washing machine fixed by a sears repairman, and hopefully showering. I also had a doctor's appointment to make. This was my agenda.

About a month ago, I started to discuss with husband the importance of burning our wildflower/grass plot in the ditch. I have been increasingly hinting that it is time to burn it, thinking that while I am at work all day, and he has some time, he could be raking leaves and burning. Nothing happened. Last week I said "I think that when I am off work on Wednesday, you should burn the ditch" which turned out in his head as "WE" will burn the ditch. Okay, whatever. I will work it in. So when I woke up at 10am, and he said he wasn't going to get up until noon... Okay. So I start my day by unloading the dishwasher and putting away dishes, organizing and preparing the kitchen, finding ingredients, and then putting some dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Then I get dressed. Then I let the dogs outside. And I drag a cooler in the house and fill it with water and start to dethaw the turkey. And I fold the blankets that he left all screwed up in the spare bedroom, and picked up his dirty clothes from the floor. At 12:30 he still wasn't up. I woke him up. At 1pm, as I was outside BY MYSELF raking leaves... I knock on the bedroom window with the rake and tell him to please get up.

At 1:30 I have raked half of the yard. Yes. 50% of the leaves. Into the ditch. BY MYSELF. Then the Sears repairman comes. I spend about 30-45 minutes with him and he repairs the wash machine and shows and explains everything to me. Then FOR FREE he looks at the dishwasher, shows me what part I need, explains how to order it and shows me where to install the new part. This guy was awesome. Sears wants to charge you TWO $65 service fees to look at two different appliances. Huh. Nice guy! Then It's like 2:15 and I haven't eaten and I am starving. Not to mention that I have terrible cramps and had a prescription Naproxen floating around in my empty tummy.

I go outside to tell Evan about the sears guy and he GROWLS "if you want to do something productive, you can go put my check in the bank." (now the poor baby is raking 50% of the leaves all by his lonesome. awwww.) So HE is pissed at ME because he has to do this alone while the Sears guy is there. So I drop everything and go to the bank. Then I make lunch. Halfway through stir-fry, Iwalk outside to see if he wants to come in and eat soon but he has already lit the ditch. He yells at me because I am not helping him. I call him a dick and go inside to finish our lunch. I eat lunch. He's standing out there watching the ditch burn, randomly spraying the green grass with the garden hose to "contain" the fire. *cough*

I am not sure if he just needs me to stand there next to him or what his deal is. So I stand there and watch. He doesn't speak to me. I ask him if he is going to burn the other side of the ditch. He growls "no. we don't have enough help." and that is clearly meant to be a dig on me not groveling at his feet anf being at his beck and call as he burns. So I go inside and put his food in the oven to keep it warm. Then I check the turkey. Then I clean up the lunch dishes. I wash three loads of laundry. I fold sheets and blankets, quilts and comforters. I strip the bed and put on new sheets and blankets. I carry down a hamper of laundry. I rearrange the dining room by myself, moving the dining table. I carry up the buffet table from the basement (alone) and set it up. I put chairs around it. I move all the dishes, silverware, and serving dishes into the dining room. I take his un-eaten lunch out of the oven at 5pm and put it in containers in the fridge. I get out napkins and napkin rings. I get the cream cheese and butter out of the fridge to soften. And then, I sit down for a second.

He comes out of the shower and looks at me (sitting. can you believe she has the nerve to SIT while I burn the ditch??) and says he is going to Princeton. Do I need anything? No. Then he proceeds to ask me if I have seen his wallet. Have I seen his shoes? Then "what are we doing tonight?" and when I say "I still have to make all the food for tomorrow. That is the REASON that I took the day off work today." and he looks at me and says "I thought that's why you were in here instead of helping me. And besides, when you raked the leaves, you Did it all wrong. And if you would have helped me, I could have got the raking done in half the time." and all I said to him? "forgive me for 'doing it wrong.' I thought that by raking 50% of the leaves in the yard I was being helpful. If you had gotten up at 11 or 12 instead of 2pm, it also would have gotten done faster. Next year you can do it by yourself." And he got cranky, stood up, proceeded to slam every door, drawer, etc. and stomp out of the house.

Wow it's a good thing he's around to tell me how to be productive, isn't it? Otherwise I might enjoy myself on my day off, and wouldn't that be a shame? SO now that he is gone and taken his crankiness with him, and I have vented it off on my blog, I am going to go prepare pumpkin cheesecake bars and stuffed olive cheese secrets and continue with laundry and feed the dogs.

Update

SPEAKING OF THE MOVEMENT--BREASTFEEDING UPDATE: We have exciting news on this front: You all are amazing! Last week in response to news that a ticket agent forced a mother off a Freedom Air flight run by Delta Air Lines for breastfeeding on-board, MomsRising put up a petition and you responded. In less than a week the petition gathered over 20,000 signatures telling Delta Air Lines that breastfeeding mothers should be supported, as well as supporting the Breastfeeding Promotion Act before Congress. Over 20,000!

Emails and calls from MomsRising members, as well as regular updates about the high number of petition signatures, pushed both Delta and Freedom Airlines to issue statements underscoring their commitment to allowing women to breastfeed onboard planes. Freedom Air also noted that the incident would serve as a training opportunity for all employees.

DELTA AIRLINES STATEMENT: "Delta Air Lines supports a mother’s right to breastfeed her baby onboard our aircraft. We regret the decision to remove the passenger from Flight 6160 as it was not in keeping with Delta's high service standards, and we are coordinating with Freedom Airlines to ensure that they deliver the level of service we expect for all of our customers."

NEXT STEPS: Right now, Delta Airlines is contemplating officially supporting the Breastfeeding Promotion Act which is currently before Congress. So please give Delta a call to thank them for taking a strong stand on behalf of breastfeeding mothers, and encourage Delta to actively support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. Getting more signatures on the petition helps let our leaders know that citizen support is strong.

*To sign the petition (and ask friends to sign on), go to: http://www.momsrising.org/breastfeeding-petition

MomsRising is committed to making it possible for all mothers who want to breastfeed their children to be able to do so. In an effort to build a country that's truly family-friendly, MomsRising supports policies and programs that allow mothers to make that choice—including policies like paid family leave and flexible work options.

Together we’re building a more family-friendly America. Thank you! – The MomsRising Team

Good Christmas Project....

Good forward that I got today...

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out there!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

They looked to the window that showed a warm fire's light,
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
that separates you from the darkest of times."
"No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us,and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled,
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to
our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for
us.


LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

If you go to the web site at www.letssaythanks.com you can pick out a
thank you card and the Xerox Corporation will print it and it will be sent
to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets
it, but it will go to some member of the armed services. It is FREE and it
only takes a second. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a
bunch of these?
The directions are easy and it only takes a little of your time to send
some 'real mail' to a soldier.

After giving this a bunch of thought, I decided that I need to get the names and addresses of some soldier's stationed in Iraq over Christmas and add them to my Christmas Card List. If you know any, please send me their addresses, and I will do what I can.

Song of the South

When I was a kid, I saw Disney's Song of the South in the movie theater. I Loved that movie. It must have been the 1986 release, I would have been 8 then. I loved that movie. I remember songs, pieces of the action, and I have always wanted to add this movie as a piece of my disney collection. You can buy it in European format online, but what good does that do me? None. Today I found this. Proves that you learn something every day. http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/sots.htm

CraZy ShIt!

Check out this email. This is the kind of crazy shit I get all day long.

You might blow someone up.Shut up if you can't take a joke! But, seriously, could these two look any more alike?com for full links, other content, and more!
com for full links, other content, and more!
Because a woman owns the weapon of seduction. com for full links, other content, and more! Well, at least we thought so for a few days, but now we've changed. com for full links, other content, and more!
Ephebophila: A condition in which an adult, usually male, is sexually attracted to young people about the age of puberty. Motorcycle Pictures of the.
One billion, three hundred thousand Muslims are ready to kill you.
Law Stops Renting to Illegal Immigrants.
Bradley played tambourine at his side. Phone features, phone plans and calling cards.
What I like about it so far? com for full links, other content, and more!
com for full links, other content, and more!
My mind has been preoccupied with Jane's total knee replacement surgery that took place on Election Day.
Well we think your citizens' complete disregard for our laws in an insult.

Well, the Christmas Music started at work today. Full blast over the loud speakers. You couldn't ignore it if you try. I personally really love Christmas Music. But I am still not particularly pleased that they have started it PRE-THANKSGIVING. WTF?

Oh well. I did have a couple of revelations today. This morning in the shower, I had a Desperate Housewives flash- what if Orson never DID kill Monique or his wife. What if his wife left him BECAUSE of Monique. What if Mike killed Monique (the wrench, his number on her hand, etc.) and Orson ran over Mike BECAUSE he thinks that Mike killed Monique? Or what if Orson's wife killed Monique out of jealous revenge and Mike killed Orson's wife to avenge Monique? Aha! I have to say that I think Orson is innocent. It's too convenient that they make him out to be such a bad guy from the beginning. So that was my one insight for the day. Voila!

Thrilling!

Damm it

Well, the washing machine quit working. That sucks ass. It's just over 3 years old. It's a Kenmore. I tell you, they just don't make washers like they used to. My mom had the same washer for like 15 years, and we can't get one to last more than 5 or 6. I guess that the moral of my story is that you should buy the fucking extended warranty. Bastards! So now I ALSO find out that EVEN IF the warranty is up, and I might have warranty on the motor, (don't know, phone lady couldn't tell me) then I STILL have to pay for the service fee ($65) and the labor. So even if it WAS under warranty, all they cover is the PART that goes bad, not the labor or the trip. What the hell?

So I made a $65 appointment for Wednesday. But I have to consider calling my dad and having him come over to look at it before then. I dunno. Damn washers. Probably cheaper to buy a new one. WITH A LONGER WARRANTY. With all the washers we have added up so far I could have had a damn neptune. In this house 6 years and on our second washer AND dryer. Jeez.

Sunday

It's practically impossible for me to flip past the Notebook on cable and not watch it and bawl my eyes out. I remember years and years ago when I read the book. Jeez. But I have to admit that's the BEST movie representation of a book I have ever seen. And it doesn't hurt that Ryan Gosling is hot. And Rachel McAdams is just beautiful beyond belief.

This weekend was nice. Friday night I got all the Thanksgiving ingredients, a Ham and Turkey too. Saturday I got a massage. Ahhh. Then I looked at entry doors and picked out paint chips. Saturday night we went to the Kaiserhoff for a nice German dinner. I ordered the Ham hock. It was FABULOUS. We ate with Evan's family. It was fun. Of course we sang some great songs accompanied by the accordian. That night we hung out at home with our pajamas on and watched Benchwarmers. I also caught up on the O.C. episode that I TIVO'd Thursday. I was super psyched about Ryan and Taylor. When he kissed her I literally rewound and watched it twice. I was like YES!

So today I got my hair done, I went darker than I think I ever have before. Two colors of red. I actually was flipping through a people magazine while waiting my turn, saw a picture of Addison Shephard from Grey's Anatomy, and said "some of that red please." It's SO dark that it scared me at first, but I am really loving it now... Husband loves it too. In natural light it is especially funky and red. So today we did laundry and picked up around home. I need to remember to take the turkey and ham from the freezer tonight and put them in the fridge to start thawing.

I can't WAIT for this week. Time off work. time off work. Turkey. Family. FOOD! Birthday presents!!! YAY!

But I still have to work for TWO DAYS Until I can get there. Ugh.
Chin up.

Everything.

This morning when I woke up, I could think of a BAZILLION things I would rather do today than go to work. A BAZILLION. With Turkey Day coming up, and my birthday, I really am glad that I will have this weekend, then just two more days of work, then 5 days off work. Ahhh. I love Thanksgiving.

So I have been slacking at telling you what's up. Went to Anya's Tupperware Party on Wednesday, and Ava CRAWLED! Right there in front of all of us! I kept setting her up on her knees, because she keeps getting so close to moving.... and Bobbi had all the good stuff that Ava wanted and she put it across the room, so that Ava would have to "go to it" and she did it! Anya was upstairs and we were Screaming for her to get downstairs to see Ava. Anya was so excited. It was awesome to be there for that.

Last night I had a pedicure. Which was awesome. And necessary. It was relaxing. And my toes needed a paint job. And they just seem SO far away lately. So it was a nice evening. I got OPI's new 25th Anniversary color "Who Makes Up These Names?" (bottle at left) on my toes and I eyeballed a neat sparkly deep red for Christmas time. Similar to "O'Hare and Nails Look Great" but more sparkly. Called "It's a Doozi, Says Suzy." (bottle at right.) Guess I will have to get a December pedicure. LOL.

I have been reading "The Thirteenth Tale" and it is a good book. I am enjoying it. Although I have to say that it's hard for any book to follow "New Moon" and "Twilight" By Stephanie Meyer. Edward Cullen just has my votes through and through. But Diane Setterfield is keeping my interest in this book, and it's a good one... it sorta puts me in mind of the drama that accompanies a V.C. Andrews book, but an A.D. book. Not one actually written by V.C. Andrews, not even close, but more of in a way of dramatic without being terribly graphic and cruel. It's good. I think it's supposed to be mysterious. I get that. But it's no DaVinci Code. I am just over 3/4 of the way through. For the way it's being pimped by bookstores, book clubs, and the like, it must have an awesome ending. So I am waiting. The book's website calls it "gothic" and I am sorta okay with that. But it doesn't seem nearly as dark as I think it's trying to be. Maybe that's because I am desensitized by books like VC Andrews (her OWN books) and historical fiction like the Linnet Bird and Memoirs of Helen of Troy. I was also shocked to see a pleasant review by Kate Mosse, the author of Labyrinth, which I also read recently. That book is dubbed "the female DaVinci Code" and while it was good, I wasn't DYING to read it or DYING to get through it. I just read it. I was pleased. It was over. I moved on. And this book kinda feels the same.

I did watch Grey's Anatomy last night, and it looks like they will be killing off George's dad in the interest of revealing Burke's "deep dark" secret. Interesting. I am most disappointed that Men in Trees isn't on this week, in favor of Barbara Walters. Ugh. Really. Is there EVEN a contest there? But next week, Men in Trees is after Grey's Anatomy, which I think is an AWESOME move, and I betcha that there will be LOTS more Men In Trees fans within a few weeks. I haven't watched the Tivo'd OC episode yet. I have to say that I am really sick of Ryan all upset over Marissa. I was so sick of Marissa on the show, I was glad to see her go. And really, if he loved her SO much he wouldn't have been breaking up with her over and over. Whatever.

In the real world, hmmm. Nothing is happening. Regular week. Regular day. Had an awesome scary and vivid dream last night. My friend Brandon (who now lives in the suburbs and is expecting a baby with his wife Ryane) was somehow in it. I haven't seen him much, but I did see him for about 10 minutes at the bar the night that Anya and I had just got out of the hot tub and the whole town was abuzz with the suicidal guy who was missing. I got a big hug from him but we didn't get to talk much. He looks good.

So anyway, in the dream, we were like "back" a few years, 5 or 6 maybe. I was at a party and ran into Brandon. I had been waiting for Angela to call (story of my life, Ha ha) and she didn't, so I told Brandon and he was like "let's go find her" and so we got into his Bronco (hence the 5-6 years ago) and started driving. I was calling her on her cell phone and no answer and I said "maybe she never left Chicago" (ala class reunion style Angela) and he said "I know where to find her."

Now you have to know, that Angela is a botanist and ecologist. She has always been the animal and wildlife lover, and has been an ecosystem cheerleader. If a rainforest is in danger... she knows about it, and she has a petition you can sign. She is fabulous, and one of my two very best friends in the whole world. Brandon, and Angela, and I have know each other our entire lives. So Brandon starts driving to all the conservation areas and wildlife preserves and parks that he can find. Then he takes off through a corn field and towards the canal. I am like "whoa. where are you going?" and he is like "I know where she is." and he starts to drive like his is going to drive ACROSS the aquaduct/viaduct and I am like NO FREAKIN WAY. and all holding on and yelling at him (I hate water. Hate hate hate. ) and then suddenly there is this drop off and below, there is flowing water that goes over what looks like a little dam of ice. The ice looks slushy, like you imagine it would with water running over it, and I am like "you are not. Stop right here." and he starts DRIVING ACROSS and Through the ice and open water. He's like "it's fine. I do it all the time. I have 4 wheel drive" and I am like "I don't like this. It's not a good idea. I don't want to DIE finding Angela." and so he keeps driving and the water gets deeper and the ice is slushier and I can feel the truck sinking a little each time. Then we get up on this "island" of ice. There is no running water over this ice. I finally feel safe. And there is a sign right in front of us that says something about not going any further (I can totally see the sign in my mind, white with red and black) And just when I am like "whew!" he guns it and goes past the sign.

And we start to sink. Fast. Into the ice and water. And I am like "We are Sinking!!" and he just looks at me and says "yeah, that sucks." and I am like GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY and I push open the sunroof (yeah, I know, in a Bronco?) and There is HUGE chunks of ice in the way and i am pushing them aside and the water is higher than the doors and over the windows and then over the roof. And I squeeze through the sunroof and I can feel the water and the suction pushing me DOWN and I am swimming and fighting and Pushing and trying to get to the surface and it seems like I am never going to get up and out of the ice and cold water and just when I think I am going to die, I feel the air.

Then I climb up on a block of ice and was safe, and looked down for Brandon and I could see him so I reached my hand down and grabbed his and started to pull and he got out too and we were standing on the big block of ice, a complete island with rushing cold water all around us and just FREEZING cold and wet and it was DARK and WINTER and our cell phones were gone and we STILL didn't know where Angela was and I was so upset and I just woke up in bed and it was dark and 6:30am and I padded to the bathroom to pee.

How's that for a vivid dream?

1. What is your nearest lake or river? (besides the one in my dream) Probably the Illinois River, although we are also about 45 minutes from the Mississippi. We are right between the two. Nearest REAL Lake? Lake Michigan.

2. Do you believe in heaven? Yes, because that's where dogs go. But I don't know about heaven for people, because how can it be heaven without all the people you love?

3. What's your lucky number? 17

4. Ever know anyone who appeared on a game show? Not that I know of. But I remember when I was a kid that my mom was in the audience of Donahue and that made me think she was famous!

5. Charades: good times or lame? I don't really like to play just charades, but I LOVE the game Cranium. It's like Win Lose or Draw meets Charades and there is Sculpting and drawing blindfolded and all kinds of good stuff. So If it's Cranium, where you have Charades but don't do JUST Charades I think Charades are cool.

Delta Kicks Breastfeeding Mom off an Airplane

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Donna, MomsRising"
To: Meagan Johnson
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 1:18:29 PM
Subject: Delta kicks breastfeeding mom off plane! Sign the petition now!

Dear MomsRising member - I almost got kicked out of a Flower & Garden Show for nursing my son ten years ago, but that pales in comparison to actually getting kicked off an airplane--as happened recently to a mother on a Delta Airlines flight in Vermont.

She was sitting on an airplane nursing her child in a next-to-last row window seat with her husband beside her (in other words, she was in a discreet location), when a flight attendant offered her a choice: Cover herself and her child with a blanket, or get off the plane. She declined the blanket, and was escorted off the plane.

MSNBC quotes her as saying, “It embarrassed me. That was my first reaction, which is a weird reaction for doing something so good for a child.”

SIGN THE PETITION TO DELTA AIRLINES AND CONGRESS: Tell Delta Airlines to get a clue and be supportive of breastfeeding mothers. And tell Congress it’s time to pass the Breastfeeding Promotion Act, which amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding mothers. Clearly this law is needed now!

*Click here to sign on to the petition (and then forward this e-mail on to friends so they can sign too): http://www.momsrising.org/breastfeeding-petition

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: The action Delta Airlines took flies in the face of what the medical profession and the government agree is best for mothers and children. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) actively advocates breastfeeding and states on their website that the, “CDC is committed to increasing breastfeeding rates throughout the United States and to promoting optimal breastfeeding practices.” And, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leads a National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign to promote breastfeeding, and notes on their website that, “The longer a mom and baby breastfeeds, the greater the benefits are for both mom and baby.” *Interested in knowing more? Read why the American Academy of Pediatrics advocates breastfeeding by clicking here: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/feb05breastfeeding.htm

That’s some heavy evidence. So why was that mother publicly humiliated for doing what doctors, and even large government agencies, advocate?

SIGN NOW: Sign the petition (and then forward this e-mail on to friends so they can sign on to): http://www.momsrising.org/breastfeeding-petition

And feel free to also give the CEO of Delta Airlines a jingle (and a piece of your mind): Gerald Grinstein, Delta CEO, at (404) 715-2600—you’ll need to press 0 for the operator. While you’re at it, you might want to contact Lee Macenczak, Executive Vice President and Chief of Customer Service at the same number.

Best – The MomsRising Team

p.s. Got a breastfeeding story of your own to share? After you sign on (and pass along the petition to friends by forwarding this e-mail) please share your own breastfeeding tales of triumph and embarrassment with us online at www.MomsRising.org -- get there by scrolling down the homepage to the blog section, and then click on the Share Your Breastfeeding Tales blog—you can add your story when you click on that blog.

Firefox 2 causes heart attacks all over the nation.

Holy Cow. Welcome to Firefox 2. Your Bookmarks are gone, your extensions don't work, and your stored passwords are missing. Um. Yeah. That pissed me off. I am a mozilla cheerleader, but I am sorry, that's a total disaster. It sucked royally when Firefox automatically updated itself yesterday and WIPED out everything, including my bookmarks, bookmarks toolbar, and all of my tabs that open on startup. Yeah. Freaked.

So Today I researched and see that this is a normal occurance (bug) and that If I uninstall and reinstall Firefox, the problem will be fixed. it wasn't. So Then I read all their information about how your bookmarks are backed up daily in a backup.html file in your profile. Luckily I hadn't waited too long and I found my backup. I imported the bookmarks, only to have my toolbar not show up because I had TWO Bookmarks toolbar folders, one created by firefox install and one from the old bookmarks.html file. So I had to COPY all of the bookmarks into the default one so that they would show up on my toolbar, because I couldn't DELETE or rename the default one since it was the "default." Um yeah. Luckily my passwords came back once I tried to get into my options. I was about to have a heart attack. Then I went into the extension Manager and found that Foxy Tunes, Colorful Tabs, IE Tabs, Greasemonkey, etc. all did not work with Firefox 2.0, so I had Firefox search for updates, all of which were found and installed quickly and smoothly. Whew. Now I just need to figure out how to get my memorized tabs back so that when I launch, I get the correct tabs opening.

That was a serious lot of bugs and inconveniences for one little Firefox update. Sorry Mozilla, but thumbs down for that!

Popsicle-icious

Tuesday. I am freezing. freezing freezing freezing. I am seriously considering buying more heaters. For home and work. You can often find me sitting on the floor indian style in front of a space heater. Waiting for the bathtub to fill, opening the mail, reading a book or magazine. It's what I do. When I started taking Diabetes Medicine, I suddenly got the side effect (my dad takes the same meds and has it too) where my hands and feet are FREEZING. I have ALMOST Resorted to wearing socks to bed, and I HATE socks. Hate them. I find myself wearing two pair of socks often. And now I am always wearing slippers too. So today I wish I had another electric heater.

We used to have two at home but just a few weeks ago one quit working. I feel like I should strap the remaining heater to my back because I tend to move it from room to room. That little grey heater in the corner looks identical to mine. It's my best friend. Being freezing wasn't helped any by the fact that the blower motor went out in my car, and although my dad replaced it, he made the comment that the cheaper replacement blower motors don't push out the heat like the OEM blower does. He wasn't kidding. Used to be that the fan hit you in the face so strong you had to direct the vents away, now you can't even feel it, even on max. You have to hold your hand in front of the vents to feel the heat. That's disappointing. If I knew then what I know now I would have been sure to get a GM Replacement Blower/Fan that is an exact match for my car. So sad. Oh well. At least I have heat. But dad made the comment that if you think you notice it waiting for heat, wait until you are waiting for AC, then you will really notice a difference. Eeww.

Today at work I considered wearing my coat all day. Then I decided that I should just be sure to get myself a space heater for work too. Solve all my problems. So All I want for my birthday is a new oscillating remote control electric heater. Yum. Warmth. So I emailed that link to my sister, last week she asked me what I wanted. Now I know. And I just have to wait one week to get it. And if I am all smart and crafty I can make my heater his own carrying bag, with handles, and I can take him everywhere. So I can have him at work and at home and be comfortable at all times. Take that poor circulation!

Another thing I learned today? On eBay people make their own samples of Bare Escentials (Bare Minerals) Makeup in little clear jars or clear sifters. At first I was a little creeped out by that. Most of them clearly represent them as samples, but some of them are a little tricky and you ALMOST could think that you are buying a $32.00 set of Bare Escentuals Eyeshadows for $4.99. But the good thing with the sample sizes, when a seller combines shipping, you can purchase ALL of their color families for the price of one regular sized quad, and try them all out for a while to see which ones you really like. Or if you are me, and you are into variety, and matching your eye shadows to your mood or your destination or your outift.... then this is just plain awesome. I picked up Sample Trios of "meet the greens", "meet the browns", "meet the plums, "tahitian sunset", and a Sample 4-pack of "teamed up." ALL for about $25, which is $10 less than the cheapest full-sized trio. Fun Fun Fun.

Let's see, what else. Oh yes, last night I received my fall personal swap from Anke in Berlin. I was so super thrilled... but husband could not contain himself either. Especially over the gummy bears and gummy vampires, Hairbo being his favorite! We shared gummy bears on the couch tonight, over the TiVo'd episode of CSI Miami.

Another interesting thing... tonight on my way home from the place that I go each day, I drove down Park Avenue West and low and behold... November 14th and 2 jackass families had their Christmas Trees up AND lit inside their houses. Puh-lease. So much for giving Thanks, eh?

Tonight I have been lounging in flannel pajama pants, a long sleeve t-shirt, socks... AND I finally broke out my super warm and fuzzy Pikachu slippers instead of my pink playboy bunny slippers... to keep my feets warm. I haven't worn these super slippers in about 2 years, so you know the freeze factor is serious!

Everyone have a great night. I plan on drinking hot cocoa or Chai Tea before bed, which is coming up soon! Ahh... relaxing. Maybe some reading too....

Simon Says

Today was stress. Pure Stress. More Tasks to complete at work than there is physically even time to complete. It was incredibly frustrating. Short-staffed. It seemed like everyone had an issue that needed resolved, and we had implementation of so many projects that it was insane. My head and neck hurt just thinking about it. I wore a cute black and white houndstooth skirt that was pleated around the bottom. Black Tights, Black Mary Janes with Heels, and a Ribbed Black Turtleneck sweater. I did NOT want to get up this morning.

I had a FABULOUS Dream.

I wasn't married in the dream, and at a friend's house I met a guy who was a hairdresser. And he. Was HOT. And he. Wanted me. We cuddled on the couch watching movies. He wanted to do more than just my hair. His name? Simon. I know it. Cheesy and not hot at all, but he was so super hot. He worked in the city, and he wanted me to come by so he could do my hair, and I kinda acted like maybe, all the while my toes completely curling over the idea. SO I threw together my sexiest black dress and strappy heels and some sexy overnight gear (just in case, besides I mostly have sexy stuff), and drove to the city to surprise him.

I called and asked for an appointment with him and the receptionist didn't tell him my name, just asked him if he had time for another appointment that night. I could hear him tell her no, and that he had plans to get out of there, and she said that "Janet could take me" and so I made the appointment with janet. I knew what would happen when I got there. So when I walked in the door, Simon saw me, and just dropped his hands from the person he was working on. He was so thrilled to see me, I could tell by the look on his face.

He came out to the reception area and for some reason I was sitting on the floor. So this totally hot guy just walked right away from a client and sat down on the floor next to me and just touched me. Like because he wanted to. Because he had to. He asked what I was doing here and I said that I had an appointment with Janet. he said "No. You don't. I am doing your hair." and I was like, but, you have somewhere to be. And he said that he only wanted to be with me. How smooth is that. Dream guys. Ahhh.... So he just gave me this totally steamy and intense look and then- can you believe it, he kissed me, right there in front of everyone, and said he would be with me in just a minute, and got up and strode back to his client. Ohh. Hot. Our first ever kiss. A completely hot open mouthed kiss, in front of everyone. Hot. And he was so confident, like there wasn't even a question that he was supposed to kiss me.

So he finished up his client and I went back. As I sat down, I asked him if he wanted a minute to tell his friends (who he had plans with that evening) that he would be running late, and he said that the only person he was spending tonight with was me, and asked if I had plans. I remember being all tingly and warm and telling him no, and he said "it's settled then, we will go out to a nice dinner, just the two of us, and then you will spend the night at my place." Like there's no question. Like he has known me forever. Like it's totally natural for me to stay with him. And he never even questioned where I would sleep. I knew what he meant. Hot.

So he asked if I brought anything with me (like an overnight bag or whatever) and I said yes, and he looked like his interest was piqued, and so I said "I have a sexy black dress, and something else sexy to wear later" and the recognition in his eyes was unmistakeable. Hot. Oh My. God. This guy is so hot. I don't even have to TELL him anything. He gets it. he just GETS it. And he wants me. He's after me, and not the other way around. I was already gearing up to imagine our date....

And then. I woke up.

Damn it! Shit! Damn it all to Hell! So I am hoping that I can have an extension of that dream tonight. To wash my stress away of course. He's like the Edward Cullen of hairdressers.

Shake Her Ass on the Hood of Whitesnake's Car

Bored.

The weekend was okay. I spent Friday night being lazy mostly. Did a little laundry. Like 1 Load. Went to Wal-Mart. Ate a Salad with Grilled Chicken and some deep fried mushrooms that husband brought me from 6 & 34. Watched Men in Trees. I can't BELIEVE Marin went back to New York. And plow guy is pretty hot.

Saturday I spent the day cleaning and situating and getting food and beverage together for the sex toy party. I actually only worked from about 10:30am till 3pm, then I took a nap from 4-5pm and then I got woke up by a little girl from A Chicago Suburb (we could tell by the caller ID) Who called and I couldnt hardly understand her at all. Husband called back and she answered and when he asked if she had called our number, she denied it. What the Heck? Where were her parents? I had 12 RSVP's but then only 6 people came, so a special thanks to those who RSVP'd and didn't show or call. Oh well. We did have a great time, the consultant was great, and I did get some free stuff! But it wasn't my usual party. Oh well. I slept well.

Today I stopped by work, got Subway for us for lunch. Then I finished making the Thanksgiving invitations, and then we took the borrowed vehicles back to Evan's parents, and went to my parents, where I got my own car back (yeah!) and then helped them with their computer. We had spaghetti for supper and then I went to my sisters for a little bit and then came home. My mom burned me two new Christmas CD's and then a Best of Blondie/Pat Benatar CD so I rocked out the whole trip.

Tonight I have done NOTHING. Ate leftover Key Lime Cheeseball with Graham Crackers. Watched Desperate Housewives, Robot Chicken, the War at Home, and the New American Dad, where they did a spoof of the Whitesnake "Here I Go Again" Video where Stan is a street racer (Fast and the Furious Style) to get Francine all hot, and she goes all "Tawny Kitaen" on his souped up SUV. I have to just say right here that that Whitesnake Video is SOOO lame. I mean really. The hot chick on the hood of the car has absolutely nothing to do with the song. And really, their hair is identical. It's so silly, and even sillier when you look back. But it was definately memorable, which explains the BAZILLION references to it over the years. But at the end of the spoof, Francine even pulls Stan into the backseat identical to Tawny and David in the video. It's too much. Of course it's too early for the spoof to show up on YouTube. Maybe tomorrow, eh? It's so cool that he is racing against a Vin Diesel spoof guy too. It was great. Francine bet $50 grand on the race and the Vin Diesel guy beat Stan and Stan lost- and they too Francine until he could pay up. I haven't seen the end of the American Dad Episode just yet, curious to see if Francine will continue in Tawny's footsteps and get arrested for kicking her husband repeatedly and then get a restraining order filed against her and then go on anti-depressants.... and I also wonder if Francine graduated High School. Poor Poor Tawny, eh? She's 45 years old now.

So that's my night. I am so tired! I guess that it is almost midnight. But I have been tired since 9:30 and this is unusual for me on a Sunday. Might just have to call it a night, and consider that I didn't get much done at home. But it was a productive weekend, the house is clean, I uploaded more CD's to iTunes and labeled the songs and all that jazz, and I did research the Nano, since husband is getting me an 8GB Nano for Christmas, which I will get the first week of December. Can you believe that it's halfway through November?! Jeez!! It's insane! Whew.

Have a great Monday. I get to go back to work. Eeeewwww!

Bidding Fanatic

Well, I do love me some ebay. I have been in desperate need of some clothes. Mine are either too big or wearing out. I did recently buy a new pair of dress pants at Old Navy, and a new pair of jeans, and a denim blazer at Fashion Bug. The jeans are my favorites and the only ones I wear. I should have bought two pair! I love to wear the blazer on the weekend with the jeans, over a t-shirt or whatever... it's just right for cool fall weather.

I recently have been trolling eBay for Torrid items. I love torrid's skirts. They fit me PERFECTLY and they are wonderful . I have one at home and now I have three more on the way. I have bought them all used and save a bundle of cash. I also bought dirt cheap d-ring motorcycle boots, and cheap red cowboy boots, but they are funky, not true pointed toe ones. And I am waiting on my "pretty woman dress" but mine is black with white polka dots. I have been seeing some cool t-shirts on there, I just bought this one that says "Pirate love" and am bidding on one that says "Meet the Twins".... and also bid on "I love Dirty Rocker Boys" because I think it's cute, especially since husband is a musician and guitarist. I saw one that said "I'm a sucker for guys in eyeliner" but I figured it would be taken as more of a punk or goth way than in a "wow Johnny Depp is the hottest pirate ever" kind of way. So, I dunno. Maybe if I put a jolly roger patch on it. Hmmm.... go crafty brain go! But the one I really want, but it's wayyy pricey, is very vintage looking and says "camp Jenna" A summer of pitching tents and pillow fights. I love love love Jenna. Of course then there are the black and white funky pinstriped pants, and the black torrid skirt with pink tulle underneath. And the black torrid skirt with pink piping. AND the one that I will CRY If I don't win, the red skirt with black polka dots and black trim. I MUST Have that one.

So. That said. An example of whay I need new clothes? For so long, all of my pants and skirts have been so big that I can and do pull them off and on without ever unbuttoning or zipping them. This is convenient and comfortable, but not necessarily the best fit as far as attractiveness goes, or as good of a situation when your drawers are always falling down. So I have three new pair of pants, and whenever I wear the 2 pair of dress pants to work, I FORGET TO ZIP THEM. Yeah. Like first thing in the morning AND after potty breaks. Pants. Unzipped. Fly Open. Pink or Purple or Red or Black Underwear on display. Yeah. I have done that three times this week. Jeez. So I need to once again be trained on how to properly dress myself when I actually have to unbutton and zip my pants. Isn't that sad and scary? Of course maybe if I had more than .5 seconds to take a pee at work, it would be helpful.

I have recently began to use the ebay SMS alert system, where I can sign up (by the item) to have a text message sent to my cell phone when I am outbid, and then I can bid again right from my cell phone. Excessive? Well, lately I have had so many BITCHES outbid me by 1 penny at the last minute. You know the ones. Like My max bid is $20, and the current price is $15.00 - so they bid $15.50, then $16.00, then $16.50, all the way up until they bid like $20.50 and just barely outbid me at the end of the auction. When I go to see what happened, there are like 54 bids since mine and it's all one jackass bidding 3 cents at a time until they have bid more than me. SonsaBitches. One thing I have found, I am so agressive and catty, that even if I said I would NEVER spend more than $20 on that item, if some bitch like that comes along, I will pay $40 just in spite, to outbid her. Damn straight. Don't screw with me.

Devil's Playground Part Deux

Well, today I am feeling better than yesterday. I feel badly about venting about the Devil's Playground, but now that I have, I feel better about it. DH and I have talked about MySpace recently, and he really played down how much time he spends on it. I think that's part of what bothers me. I have been trying to pay more attention to him lately. But it hasn't stopped it. When I think deep down, I realize that it really isn't an issue, except one with my jealousy and perhaps double standards. I mean, it's okay for me to participate in HNT. Husband knows and doesn't mind. He sees comments that other guys leave for me. I leave comments for other guys AND girls and if their photo looks nice I say so. I am not shy. There really isn't any reason that he can't look (as long as he doesn't touch!)

So I think I need to get rid of that double standard in my head that says it's okay for me to see a hot 19 year old guy but not okay for him to see a hot 19 year old girl. I think it's society's pedophile fear that freaks us all out. It's like that episode of South Park when the teacher has sex with Ike, her student. The cops are like "Where is he?!" and then when they learn the teacher is a woman, and a hot one at that, they are like SwEET! It's interesting to me that "Hot for Teacher" doesn't work both ways. Now I am not advocating sleeping with underage kids or anything, I am just trying to be fair and put into perspective. And I know I don't have to worry about DH with anyone underage or younger. After 10 years I know him pretty well. But at the same time, I think that seeing him make comments to a 19 year old about her pretty eyes makes me feel insecure. But really it shouldn't. He tells me I am pretty all the time.

I have always been a very open, honest and outgoing person. I have had more guy friends since day 1, and husband has dealt with that fabulously, I can't even fill one hand with the instances of jealousy he has had. He trusts me. When 5 guys came over with a case of beer and said "we are here to take your girlfriend to the strip club" he said have a great time" and wasn't even the least but upset. I love that about him. He trusts me and he deserves the same trust from me. I recall many times we would go to the bar and he didn't dance, but I would go out there and dance with all kinds of guys, and my male friends would all grind on me and make me into a sandwich, and he would just watch and laugh with his beer in his hand. He's much more easygoing than I am. And it's not because he doesn't care. It's because he loves me and trusts me and wants me to be happy and have fun. I owe him the same.

P.S. Thanks for all your comments on the last post. I appreciate your support!

Welcome to The Devil's Playground

I wish I had something genious and fabulous to say. But I don't. Work has been exceptionally busy so when I get home it seems like I don't even attempt anything that involves calculation or imagination. I am lucky if I can work the microwave. And since work is the "place we cannot blog about" for fear we turn into The Queen of the Skies, or even more fearful, a sellout like Dooce, I will remain silent on the subject.

Tonight, it is silent at home, as husband's number one priority for the second night in a row has been driving to a friend's house to help him beat a video game. Ahhh priorities. But at least he got lots of things done this week, like downloading lots of pictures of naked chicks and trying to make friends with all 19-25 year old females in Illinois through MySpace. Why is it that I become bitter? I can talk to guys and girls alike on Blogger. It doesn't MEAN anything. right? So why would him talking to girls on my space be any different. It shouldn't. And I am telling myself that, and that I overreact and be jealous for no reason, and that I just need to chill and a little online friendship never means anything.

But then I am not searching the Devil's Playground for Girls who are just legal and 8 years younger than him and sending them personal messages about how they have nice eyes. Not that my husband has done THAT or anything. Just speculating. Hypothetically speaking of course. But then I have to remember and keep into perspective that I could see a guy online who has beautiful eyes and say so to him and not mean anything more than a platonic compliment. I am not going to "meet him" or send him naked pictures or cheat on my husband. So he can have completely platonic discussions about a 19 year old's eyes.... Right? Hypothetically speaking. And I have nice eyes. If you like green squinty ones that can shoot daggers so sharp that a glance can make you bleed out your eyes.

So I do know that I am overreacting. And that I have had plenty of conversations and made comments that to outside eyes and out of context might seem a little over the line. So chill wifey. Just chill. I don't want to be the pot calling the kettle black. I'm hot. Totally hot. It's cool. it's cool....

I just bought alcohol, do I look 17?

Today was so freakin productive that I can barely stand.

Okay. Mild exxageration. But my BRAIN is tired.
Working on a Housewide presentation/launch project at work. That's nice. I personally love it because it incorporates many of my favorites, graphic design, web design, and posters/flyers/presentation boards.

Last night I got so much shit done at home I could hardly stand it. At 10pm I was falling asleep but I kept trucking till about 1am. An early night for me.

This morning I was doing final pick-ups before the cleaning people arrived, and trying to take care of insurance and receipts for all my recent visits to doctors/dentists... and also get things ready to take to work, I kept making a pile on the dining room table as I swept from room to room. I had an application for an increase to my disability insurance, a Girl's Night Out Catalog, 2 Bills to mail for home and 3 medical bills to pay. I also had the pink and green swap to package and mail, but first I still needed to iron the bird embroidered towel, and I had the black boots I sold on eBay to pack up also. A man bought them. Could my hot boots be going to a cross-dresser? Hmm. Interesting.

So I decided to skip packaging the boots and the pink and green swap until tonight, when I have more time, except today at work I was reminded that I have to have 3 dozen cookies baked for the upcoming thingy that I mentioned above. Plus I need to make Vodka Slushies for my sex toy party (husband calls it the cooter plug party) on Saturday, otherwise the great quantities of alcohol won't be frozen in time. And did I mention I need to plan the Thanksgiving Menu and make the invitation? Yeah. I have a few things on my mind. OH and my car goes into the shop on Wednesday (my dad=the shop) and I probably won't have it back until Sunday. New Tie Rods, new front Control Arm Bushings, and a new Blower Motor. Today I bought vodka and orange juice, 3 bottles of wine, stuff to bake 6 dozen cookies (some for tomorrow, some for my party), Chex Mix, a piece of black foam board and adhesive (presentation), and a blower motor for my car. Where oh WHERE does all the money go! I got carded to buy all the booze. Showed me ID. Then I got carded to buy the adhesive. I had to be 17. Now please, tell me this. If I am 21, and you just sold me alcohol, and saw my ID, is it really appropriate to turn around and ask me if I am 17? The lady was super nice, but it's like Hell-O? In the exact same transaction you just scanned in my alcohol, viewed my ID, and all that jazz, but you have to ask if I am 17? Yeah. Here's your sign.

What the Fuck is wrong with Yahoo Mail Beta today? As a paying customer and Beta Tester, I am frustrated BEYOND belief that my messages (which I can see the senders and titles of) won't load completely so that I can read them. I have all these new photos from Adam of our 10 year reunion, and I can't see them, and ditto for bunches of other cool emails. And this has been going on for at least 7.5 hours, so it's like RESOLVE it already!! I can't load an RSS Feed and whenever I try to move or delete a message I get an error message. Some email messages that I was able to read or respond to this morning keep showing up in my inbox as unread, over and over, even if I did read them. And everytime I try to mark them as unread or delete them, I get the damn error messages.

You know what I hate? Classmates.com and Reunion.com and Names Database. What a bunch of crap. Here, sign up! It's FREE! Then everytime someone searches for you, we will show you their sex and age and where they live and then if you want to know who they are, you can pay us and we will tell you. Um. No. Nice try. How about you just do shit for free because you are a decent website who cares about people everywhere. Is there NOTHING for free anymore? Or how about you can see everyone in your class but you can't tell who their husband is or what their kids look like or where they work now... Unless you pay us... Mwaaaahahahaha! I get at least 1 email a day from one of those websites "Your old lover is looking for you!" Yeah well, I only have 1 old lover and chances are that he doesn't even own a computer, and if he did, it wouldn't take the internet to search for me because he knows right where to find me and I know right where to find him. That's the beauty of a small town.

And it's dark outside. And I have shit to do. So have a good night. Don't Miss CSI Miami!

They Make You Feel So Good!

Could that have been the best episode of Desperate Housewives EVER? I don't know!? It was awesome. I can't believe she shot Nora like that, and I am glad that Lynette is okay.... but my favorite part? Susan's daughter Julie falling into the arms of the bad boy. Of course, she has been disgusted by him, however hot he may be, and avoiding him at all costs. We all knew it was a matter of time. While folding laundry it brought me to the conclusion that the best advice I could give any woman? Sleep with the bad boy. At least once. I don't really mean sleep with him just once. I mean sleep with him LOTS and LOTS of times. Have at least one bad boy in your life. Hang on for the ride, and enjoy it while it lasts. Chances are it won't last long. Unless you get really lucky and (like me) seem to have something that tames the bad boy and you get lucky enough to have him fall madly in love with you and marry you. Then you can make bad babies. LOL.

What is it about the bad boy anyway? When I give my sister advice I always tell her to find a good older guy, one who will love her and take care of her and not screw her over. But I didn't follow that advice myself, not even once, so sometimes it makes me laugh that it even comes out of my mouth. I mean obviously the bad boy is hot. Completely hot. You want to conquer him and you want him to want you. But looking beyond the obvious HOT factor... it's because he is STRONG. Natural selection. Women want to mate with the men who will protect, defend, and take care of them, and their potential families. They want a bread winner. A fighter. Someone tough and rugged. Generally the math club type isn't going to throw you down on the bed and rip your shirt off, but even more likely is that he won't fight for your honor (even when you don't WANT him to) and protect you in a scary sitaution.

And even in the beginning of our 10 year relationship, when we were 16 and 17, when I didn't trust my husband 100%, I knew that he would protect me 100%, and he repeatedly stood up for me in situations when I never expected him to. I felt a similar security with him that I had felt with my own dad, in almost every situation. I knew that he would protect me. In my mind I have given my husband super-human qualities of protection, that I should KNOW he can't posess, but he loves me so much that I know he would protect me in any way that he could. And that's hot. On top of just BEING hot, it's his masculine, protective ways that are hot. Double whammy. Oh I am so in love.

And I can't wait for Julie to get it on with the bad boy. Mom doesn't approve? That makes it all the sweeter.

Remember your bad boy? Chances are he is the one you wish you could forget?

Oh and as long as we are on the subject of things that are hot, CB knows that my favorite thing on a man? His JAW. I love a strong jaw. Chiseled Chins. Stubble. Chin Hair. Proof? Hot bad boys with angular strong chins are at the top of my list. Example? Matthew McConaughey, Patrick Swayze, Mark Wahlberg, Eric Balfour, Heath Ledger... you get the point.

It's all in the jawline.

Dia De Los Doctores

I have so much to say! It's like I can hardly channel my brain to do it. I need to do a breating excercise before I can focus enough to get all this down.

Let's start with Friday.

Friday was the "dia de los doctores" - that's right, Day of the Doctors. I had an 11 am apointment with a new dermatologist. You see, I have eczema, and have had it for years. so I have had a dermatologist or two for a long time. But my dermatologist died, and now I have been having terrible acne for about 17 months. It is the result of a hormone problem that I have (lucky me) and that I will have for life. I take medication, which helps the hormones, but not enough to stop the acne. So after trying EVERY Over the Counter thing (believe me) and spending countless money on cleansers and toners and moisturizers that I don't even get to use, I decided it's time to go to a dermatologist.

So Friday I saw Dr. Soderstrom of Soderstrom Dermatology, S.C. www.skinnews.com- I probably saw him, and another of his doctor's, for 20 minutes maximum. I am so special I got two doctors at once! And it cost $385.00 just for the consultation and then I paid another $124.00 for products (prescription and special made) to use on my face to clear it up. I got a free make-up application of Bare Escentuals "Bare Minerals" all mineral powder make-up. I have seen it before, but like Prescriptives (which I used and got tired of), thought it to be overpriced. But I did learn that cream makeups can cause infection and agitate acne prone skin. Bare Minerals is all powders, even the foundation and concealers.

I have a follow up dermatologist appointment in 3 weeks. In the meantime I will do a hot sulfur soak (Vleminckx solution) that smells like Rotten Eggs. I have to cook it on the stove each night, wearing rubber gloves, and then apply a 30 second warm compress to my face. I do this with the windows open (yes I KNOW It's 25 degrees outside) and the exhaust fan running over the stove. That shit is wicked but it works AWESOME. I also use a special "blue cleanser" for sensitive skin followed by a "light textured moisturizer" and Glycolic pads and Rezamid tinted spot treatment to kill the acne. He recommended the Zeno Device (awesome!) but since it's $250, I am waiting to see if I need it, or to at least raise the cash to buy it! Check it out at www.myzeno.com

Then at 2:30 on Friday I drove the OPPOSITE direction (from peru to Annawan) because I had a dentist appointment, for a routine cleaning and a panoramic x-ray to see what's up with my neverending wisdom teeth. Yep. They are coming out. I only have 3. One is in all the way and is fine, the other is in halfway and is mildly pushing the others... the third one is crooked a bit but still under the gumline. The dentist says "take them all out!" and I say "but what about the one that is in and okay? Why do I have to take it out?!" So now I have to go to the oral surgeon and get them removed, just another Dr. Appointment!

So Friday night I just hung around home and started my first skin treatment. Husband Cleaned the garage and some in the basement. I cleaned up around the house and all that jazz, and went to bed around 12:30am because I had to get up to go to Peru again yesterday (saturday) morning, for a free Glycolic Facial at the Dermatologist Office. First let me tell you, this dermatologist is an EMPIRE. This company must pull in so much money, it isn't even funny. They have a HUGE staff, including plastic and reconstructive surgeons. They handle everything from psoriasis and acne to breast implants, liposuction, and reconstructive surgery. It's unbelievable. They have their OWN SPA in house and they do facials, massages, manicures, and pedicures. They have a huge team of estheticians. They have THEIR OWN skincare line, their own body products line. It's insanity. They have four offices in Illinois, the largest located in Peoria.

So Saturday morning I went to Peru and waited amongst many other people for a free Glycolic Facial. I waited about an hour, but the facial only took about 10 minutes. It felt great. Afterwards I purchased the $60 starter kit for the Bare Minerals Make-up. It's a HUGE great deal, it has 2 foundations, mineral veil, warmth (like a blusher/bronzer) and a face treatment... a DVD for instruction AND all the brushes you need for application (3 total.) The brushes alone run about $28 a piece, and the foundations, warmth, and mineral veil are $20 a piece seperately. SO really it would be cheaper to buy a starter kit each time you run out, instead of new pieces. I will give it a try and see if it helps. I was due for new make-up anyway, and my almay foundation at Wal-Mart is $11, not to mention powder, blush, etc.... so it was cheaper to buy this than to go to Wal-Mart and get everything I needed.

Saturday afternoon I worked around home again, took down Halloween Decorations, put up Thanksgiving Decorations, rearranged the dining room, and vacuumed everywhere. I still have laundry and some dishes left to do.... and I need to clean my closet.

We kept Ava overnight, she was an absolute riot. She is such a big girl already! She's poising herself to crawl, and rolls all over the floor and props herself up like she is going to crawl any minute. She loves loves loves toys, and apparently chewing on her socks. She slept from 9pm till 8:48am, and when she wakes up, she is completely fine lying in the pack n play until you get to her. Which is nice, because when I hear her on the baby monitor, I can get up, take a shower or just wash my face and brush my teeth, let the dogs out, and make a bottle, and THEN go get her, and she is in there giggling and entertaining herself. Such a good baby!

We had Taco Pizza for supper last night and I embroidered a bird on a flour sack towel as the handmade item for my pink and green swap that I send out Monday. Then I started a new hoop on a flour sack towel, and am trying some more complicated stitches. Practice Practice Practice.
evening I think that my sister and I are going to Peru to shop for Christmas. I had better get moving and start laundry and take a shower.