Way late, but ...

I feel like doin' The Mambo

1. What was the best album released in 2004?
Songs About Jane - Maroon 5

2. What was the best single released in 2004?
Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows

3. What new (or new to you) artist did you discover this year?
Dashboard Confessional (They're new to me. I'm old. ;))

4. What was the best video made this year?
It's hard to pick just one but, Bowling for Soup's 1985 makes me smile.

5. What was the best concert you attended this year?
Did I attend a concert this year?

6. What was the musical scandal that amused you most?
The Ashlee Simpson SNL lip sync thing. The Janet Jackson boob thing was amusing for a while 'til people starting taking it too seriously. It's a boob, folks!

7. What song or album that you discovered this year would you recommend to us?
Songs About Jane - Maroon 5

Just stuff

I'm sad about Jerry Orbach. I'm sad about the tsunami, and I wish there was more I could to help besides sending money. I'm sad that Erica lost her baby. I'm sad that my Mom is never going to get better. I'm sad that Nick's Mom isn't going to get better. I'm sad that the GSG thing isn't working out. I'm sad that I don't have time to do all the stuff I want to do. I'm sad because I don't get to see Steve as much as I want to.

But, I'm not depressed. Just sad.

However, I am happy because I didn't gain as much weight as I thought I did over the holidays. I can still zip up my jeans. Yay me. I'm happy because (I hope!) I'll get to see my nephews this weekend. I'm still happy that the Editor's Pet and Sweet Girl asked me to go out with them Monday. I happy that the Bills gave me hope after all. I happy that we're getting a break from winter weather & it's gonna be in the 40s and 50s for the rest of the week.

Anyway ... Jaeger Bombs are the new coffee. I wish! I could go for starting my day with a couple of them. Big thanks to Sweet Girl for introducing me to them.

Update on yesterday's 16-year-old moment: The sports guy said he forgot to talk to the coach about me. However, I could have sworn that I heard him say "She's here right now." Could have just been my imagination, though, I guess. Anyway, the sports guy said he will talk to the coach about me next time they talk, which probably won't be 'til next Wednesday. I guess I can wait that long. I wonder how much weight I can lose by then. Not that it should matter. If he likes me, he likes me. It shouldn't matter that I need to lose a couple of pounds, especially if the sports guy can somehow throw into the conversation that I've lost 125 pounds so far & I'm still working on it.

Okay. I have to go put my clothes in the dryer. I may just write more after that.

Untitled

First of all, thanks to everyone who stopped by to wish me & Mom well. That means a lot to me.

Mom is doing as well as can be expected, I guess. She's kind of depressed, though, because I think the seriousness of her condition has finally sunk in. But, she tries to stay in good spirits. I think that's partially to keep me from being too depressed, though.

Anyway, she gave me the best Christmas present she could have given me on Thursday. That's the day we realized my sister, although she hadn't made it official yet, wouldn't be here for Christmas. Earlier in the day, I had bought a fiber optic Christmas tree, just 'cause I wanted a tree with lights and we didn't have one (and didn't feel like going to all the trouble). I wasn't sure how Mom felt about it 'til I walked through the front door on my dinner break from work & saw that she had turned the tree on. I said "Wow. You turned my tree on." She said "It made you so happy when you got it, I thought you might like to have it on when you got home." After that, she told me that she really appreciated everything I'd done to make Christmas nice for everyone. She said she was sad because there was so much she wanted to do but didn't have the strength or energy to do. But, I did it without being asked or told. And it was simple stuff, too, like putting her Christmas table cloths on the the dining room & kitchen tables and displaying the Christmas cards. So, we hugged each other & told each other we loved each other. One of the coolest Christmas gifts ever, 'cause she's not a huggy "I love you" type person.

Enough mush. The only thing I really wanted for Christmas (besides seeing my nephews, which I ddin't get) was for the Bills to win. They did! One more win (and a Denver or Jets loss) will do it. With the abysmal start to the season, I can't even believe I'm thinking playoffs in the last week of the season.

One of these days, if my life ever calms down, I'm going to get back to blogging regularly. I hope it's soon because I sure do miss it. And there are many days at work that are this slow & give me the time to make such long blog entries.

If it stays like this for the next 6 1/2 hours I could be doing all my catching up on the blog tonight.



Sick & tired of being sick & tired

It's been a rough month so far. Two weekends ago I was really sick. I didn't have the flu, but I did have a fever and was totally wiped out. Then, before I even had a chance to recover, my Mom got sick. She has congestive heart failure so it wasn't totally unexpected but with every episode it gets worse. She spent 8 days in the hospital, which you would think would be easier on me. It wasn't. She's very demanding when she's in the hospital. Then, when the doctor was ready to send her home, she wasn't ready to go. He said she'd have to go into a nursing home. She wasn't ready for that either, at least on Wednesday. Thursday morning, she said she was. By Thursday evening, she was ready to go home again. Thursday was very stressful. But she is home now. However, she's still very weak and unable to do much of anything. And, it figures, that I'm working a lot during the next couple of weeks so I have to make sure everything's in order for her so she doesn't have to do anything for herself when I'm not there. As if all of that isn't enough, I'm sick again. I've been using hand sanitizer, taking mega doses of Vitamin C and doing everything else I can to keep from getting sick but, obviously, it didn't work. At least by running to the bathroom every 15 minutes I should get enough exercise to lose the 10 pounds I gained by not eating right all month.

Then there's this crap:



I'm tellin' ya, if the Bills lose today I'm going to slash my wrists. Not really, but it'll be depressing. They went and got my hopes up again, I hope they don't let me down.

More angel stuff

I was going back to work after my dinner break last night. I parked on the street, across the street from the building. I distinctly remember saying "I better turn these lights off so I don't forget & end up with a dead battery. Then I turned the lights off. There were a couple of cars in the road, and it was raining, so I waited in the car 'til they passed so I wouldn't have to wait to cross the street. After the cars passed, I opened my door and heard the "ding-ding-ding" warning that something wasn't turned off in the car. I closed the door again and, just as I did, another car came whipping around the corner and came within probably 2 inches of my car. If I had gotten out of the car & was standing there, I would have gotten hit by the car and my car door would have been ripped off. So, what was the "ding-ding-ding?" The lights were on.

Now, tell me I don't have a guardian angel.

Ken Jennings

Okay. Did anyone else get teary-eyed when Ken Jennings lost on Jeopardy? Man, I'm such a geeky dork sometimes.

Catching up 'cause I've been neglecting my poor blog for too long

TV Tuesday -- Week 32 - Holiday Habits
The Holidays are quickly coming upon us, what will be on your TV?

1. Any holiday favorites you can't live without?
Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving & Christmas, Rudolph, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th St., A Christmas Story, The Santa Clause and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

2. Holiday viewing: Parades or Football?
Both, but I also like the dog show

3. What's your favorite holiday TV memory?
When I was 5, after watching Rudolph, I saw a red light in the sky and ran to my parents' bedroom to tell them I saw Rudolph. After coming into my bedroom to see Rudolph, they told me I better get to sleep fast because Santa would stop at our house if was awake. A few years later, a heard my parents talking about finding out the flight schedule at the airport so they could point out "Rudolph" to my younger brother. I imagine that was just in case they missed Rudolph because I know that's what I saw.

~Bonus~ Holiday remakes, are you a faithful fan of the old classics or do you prefer the newer versions?
For the most part, I don't even bother watching the remakes. Could anyone be as good as Natalie Wood? I don't think so.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. But, you know, it's not easy to write 40,000 words in 15 days. I know. I know. You don't want excuses. You're hurt. You're confused. You're feeling unloved. You don't need my excuses or apologies. What you need is for me to post more often.

Well Blog, I'll do my best. I won't make any promises, but I'll try to get here more than I have in the last couple of weeks.

Stay strong, dear Blog, it's almost over!

Love,

<3 Me

Sorry!

My apologies to anyone who has been here lately expecting actually find a new post.

work + NaNo + doing stuff with/for my Mom = no bloggin' ... well, here anyway. I have posted a couple of things here.

Everything will get back to normal here on Nov. 30 or when I hit 50,000 words, whichever comes first.

Out of the mouths of babes

An e-mail from my sister:

I was watching President Bush's speech this afternoon with Alexandyr and Aaryn when the crowd started chanting "Four more years! Four more years!"
Alexandyr took the lead and started shouting "Four more years!" as well.
Aaryn, always doing whatever his brother does, too started shouting. "Four more ears! Four more ears! Four more eyes! Four more eyes! Four more noses! Four more noses!"

Just one thing

I haven't said anything about the election because, quite frankly, what I say or think shouldn't matter to anyone besides me. Everyone needs to make up his or her own mind and make a decision based on what they think is right for them. With that said ...

GO VOTE!

We won! OMG!

Our Kerry Crow won first place! Bush came in third. How cool!! I'm so excited!!

It's Sunday!

Sunday Brunch

1) What candy are you passing out on Halloween night if you are staying home?
I was planning on giving out peanut M&Ms, Nestle's Crunch and Kit Kats.

2) What was your best Halloween costume?
I don't remember how old I was but I was a fairy godmother and my Mom made the costume. She used one of her old pink, frilly, fluffy bridesmaids dresses. She made a magic wand out of some kind of wire and cut a star out of Styrofoam for the top of it, then she covered it with glitter. I don't remember how she made the tiara but it was awesome. I need to find the picture of me in that costume.

3) Are you doing anything on the night of Halloween if you are not staying home to pass out treats, and if so, what are you doing?
I volunteered to work during trick-or-treat hours because the editor-on-duty on Sunday nights told one of the reporters she couldn't take her daughter because the other reporter asked first. Both of their daughters are 2 1/2, the same age as my youngest nephew, so I couldn't have them not taking their kids, or having to rush back to work. I thought they should take as much time as they needed. See? Sometimes I'm a good person.

4) What is your favorite Halloween décor? (ie, witch, ghost, pumpkins)
I like cutesy, funny stuff, not scary. You know, like the witch who flies into the tree. All my jack-o'-lanterns have to be happy, funny, cute. Nothing that will give me, or anyone else, nightmares.

5) Do you carve jack o’lanterns?
I used to and I kind of wanted to this year but I just never got around to it. But I do have a light-up jack-o'-lantern that looks real, like it's been carved. It even feels almost real.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Right now:: that Van Halen song (at least I think it's Van Halen)
   
2. Halloween:: Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Myers, et al
   
3. Provider:: insurance
   
4. Rescue me:: Uncle Kracker
   
5. Confidence:: self-esteem
   
6. Fungus:: mushroom (don't ask me why)
   
7. Candy corn:: Halloween
   
8. Reunion:: class
   
9. Winner:: loser
   
10. Tradition:: holiday (and the song from "Fiddler on the Roof" just now popped into my head)
    

The First Four

What are the first four things you think of when I say

Trick-or-Treat
1.Candy
2.Kids in costumes
3.jack-o'-lanterns
4.Kids laughing (my favorite sound)


Happy Halloween!

Huh?

I was stocking up on NaNo supplies (You know, coffee, tea, Diet Coke, chocolate ... Do you see a theme?) at Wal-Mart. One of the things I bought was a little bag of pistaschios. The cashier asked "Do you want these left out?" Did I look that hungry? If I did it was because I was salivating in anticipation of the pre-made spinach salad I was going to eat when I got home. Pack of gum. Bottle of soda or water. Pack of smokes. Those I can understand, I was thinking. But nuts? Then it hit me. There actually are people who can't wait to get to the car to eat their "snack." Case in point: The child in front of me in line who is about 40 pounds overweight. He kept begging his father for a snack. The father gave in. The child chose a full-size bag of Combos. I heard the cashier ask them if they wanted something left out. As I walked by the kid sitting on a bench munching on the Combos as his father talked to someone, I realized that's what it was. The day before trick-or-treating and the father let the kid have a full-size bag of Combos as a snack? Poor kid.

Scarecrows

Today was our city's third annual scarecrow decorating contest. Anybody who wants to enter, can put one up on Main Street.


from the Mexican restaurant


from the staff of a nursing home


from a school (The high school sports teams are the Owls.)


from the newspaper's newsroom

I wish it was a better photo so you could see John Kerry's feet ... wearing flip flops. The red thing is a Heinz ketchup bottle. Dubya has a bag of pretzels. Anyway, we probably won't win, but we sure had fun doing it.

Sometimes I have lemming qualities

I've seen this on so many blogs that I finally gave in and did it.

I am a hybrid of: Girl Next Door Progressive Girl Click on the pictures below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

To clarify:

She Might Be a Girl Next Door if:

1.She drives: a good, solid American car -- a Ford Taurus, Chevy Cavalier (that's me), or Dodge Stratus.
2.She can talk for more than ten minutes about: her family's holiday traditions. (yes)
3.She begins her sentences with: "my mother says..." (a lot)
4.She'd never: go to a rave. (The idea scares me.)
5.She owns any of the following: scrapbooks, heirloom quilts, a Bible, family recipes, her grandmother's engagement ring. (yes, to all)

She Might Be a Progressive Girl if:

1.She drives: a small SUV but really wishes it got better mileage; once she can get a good hybrid, she will. (a. used to; b.yes)
2.She can talk for more than ten minutes about: just about anything. (most of the time)
3.She begins her sentences with: "Susan Sarandon says..." (No, but I've been known to start sentences with "You know what O'Reilly said today that pissed me off ...?"
4.She'd never: pass up the chance for a new experience. (almost never; depends on the experience)
5.She owns any of the following: a water filter (yes), a tabletop fountain, an acre of rain forest, a mutt from the pound (used to, and probably will again someday).

So, know that you know who I am ... any takers? ;)

Wish I'd thought of this ... A book meme!

I found this via Andrea.

The Thursday Bookworm

Week One

"There are two motives for reading a book: one, that you can enjoy it; the other, that you can boast about it." --Bertrand Russell

Welcome to The Thursday Bookworm!

This meme is all about books. And like the quote mentioned above, it's all about enjoying them and, in some cases, bragging that we actually managed to finish them. :)

So since this is the first week, I'll start out with some general questions about your favorites (and not-so-favorites)!

1. What would you consider your favorite book of all time? Why? (Really sell it to us... make us want to run right out and buy it!!!).
"To Kill a Mockingbird." The main thing is that I'm a sucker for a good-guy lawyer, as you know. There are some wonderful messages in the book about tolerance, prejudice, family values, judging people, and more. I also like any story that shows a single father as a good parent.

2. What would you consider the most heinous, horrible book you've ever read? Tell us why we should NEVER read it.
I'm sure there have been some, but I can't recall any at the moment. There's one in particular ... I can see it but I can't see the title. I'll think of it eventually, and cringe.

3. Have you ever started a book and been unable to finish it? Which one, and why? Do you think you'll ever pick it up again?
I picked up Tom Clancy's "Patriot Games" three times before I finally finished it. It was just too technical and complicated for me, I guess, during a time I need light entertainment.

4. How often do you read a new book? In general, how long does it take you to finish a book (minus those pesky distractions like work, sleep, school, etc.)?
It depends on the book, but I'm always reading one. I never go even one full day between the time I finish one book and start another.

5. Have you ever liked a book so much, you read it again?
I can't even count the number of times I've read "Gone With the Wind" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." I've also read a few Mary Higgins Clark books a more than once. In a few years, I know I'll read "The DaVinci Code" again.

Fall

Autumn is my favorite season and I usually take lots of pictures of the fall foliage. But this year I was too lazy busy to buy batteries so I missed all the really good colors. Anyway, here's what's left:

Warning: Wednesday Weird Ones Ahead:

1. Should cows be allowed to sue?
Oh, like there aren't enough frivilous lawsuits out there already! Cows are known for their frivolity so I think if they're allowed to sue the court system would be bogged down even more than it is now. Maybe if new courts were added just to handle cow law suits it would be ok.

2. Which would be scarier for you: if nothing we do really matters or if everything we do matters?
Yikes. They're both pretty scary prospects. OK. What's that song? Y'all know it, I'm sure, but I can't think of it. It's right on the tip of my tongue ... I'll come back to this. ... I got it! Bohemian Rhapsody! "Nothing really matters, nothing really matters to me" Not that it answers the question but I got the lyrics stuck in my head and I had to post it.

3. They say we each have a twin in a parallel universe. What do we have in a perpendicular universe?
An evil twin. Why do you think there are so many tv shows (or at least there were in the 70s and 80s) with evil twins? It's a little-known fact that television writers live in a perpendicular universe, so that's how they came up with the ideas for the shows. But they had to stop writing the evil twin shows because people were starting to catch on to them and wanted to see what this other universe looks like. They couldn't have that because another little-known fact is that if too many people enter the perpendicular universe it explodes.


4. People from the east are sometimes given the nickname "The Beast From the East". What would be a good nickname for people from the midwest?
Who cares? Kidding! Just kidding! I have friends and family in the Midwest. (Is that kind of like saying "Some of my best friends are gay?") The only words I can think of that go with Midwest are pest and zest so let's go with Mr. (or Miss) Zest from the Midwest.

5. Why do we always hurt the ones we love?
What would be the fun in hurting the ones we don't love?

6. Bonus Question (answer if you want to and don't if you don't): In the 90's Right Said Fred dominated the airwaves with the song "I'm Too Sexy" which had all manner of strange lyrics (eg. "I'm too sexy for my cat"). Write a new verse to the song (even if you do not know the song).
I'm too sexy for my blog. Too sexy for my blog. Much too sexy for your dog.


"If I’m not back again this time tomorrow, carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters."

Is it Wednesday already?

From Cheddar X

Ten movies you'd watch over and over:
1.When Harry Met Sally ... 2.Caddyshack 3.All The President's Men 4.The Sound of Music 5.My Girl 6.Animal House 7.National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 8.Steel Magnolias 9.A Time to Kill 10.Miss Congeniality

Nine people you enjoy the company of:
I don't know if there are 9 people I enjoy the company of. Let me see. Steve, Joe, Nick, my Mom (most of the time), Adam, Alex, Aaryn, Marty, Sandy.

Eight things you're wearing:
Am I wearing 8 things? Pink flowered underwear, pink shorts, white T-shirt (still in my pjs. It's a lazy day.), glasses, purple nail polish on my toes, mascara (because I didn't wash it off before I went to bed), earrings (which I'm counting as 2).

Seven things on your mind:
1.GSG 2.Steve (and why he didn't e-mail me this morning) 3.The potential sweep by the Sox! 4.my book sales 5.how much stuff I have to do in the next couple of weeks 6.

Six objects you touch every day:
1.mouse 2.keyboard 3.glasses 4.water bottle 5.vitamins 6.microwave

Five things you do every day:
1.brush my teeth 2.take vitamins 3.walk 4.stuff on the computer 5.listen to the radio

Four bands (etc) that you couldn't live without:
1.Train 2.(not a band but) Elton John 3.Aerosmith 4.The Rolling Stones

Three of your favorite songs at this moment:
1.Accidentally in Love 2.Layla (now and always) 3.(don't hate me for this:)All I Want for Christmas is You

Two people who have influenced your life the most:
1.Marty (one of my editors) and my Mom

One person who you love more than anyone in the world:
It's a tie: Adam, Alex, Aaryn

My guys

Another picture of my nephews, this time all three of them:


Aaryn, Adam, Alex

Blog snobs

I've been reading a lot of posts from people disappointed with BlogExplosion because they're not satisfied with the quality of blogs they're visiting. The content's not scintillating enough. They don't like the extra stuff like weather and moon phases. The layout is too flashy. Whatever. In my opinion, a blog is a very personal thing. I mean, it's great to get comments and know people are reading and (I hope) liking what I write. Or maybe I've just given them something to think about. At any rate, this is my blog and I like it just the way it is. (For now. I haven't changed the layout in ages, so I'm due.) If you don't like it, don't come back. Simple, right? I hope you do like it and you will come back but, either way, I'll keep blogging just the way I have been since I started.

/rant

P.S. If you don't like it, I'm sorry I wasted that precious 30 seconds that BE forced you spend here.

As the lyrics say ...

"Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

Actually, my prayers were answered. I just didn't get the answer I wanted. A few days ago I blogged about St. Theresa and how if she's listening she'll send you roses to let you know. You say a prayer to her, then 3 others for five days. If you see a rose within 5 days of finishing this, your prayers have been answered. Well, I saw roses today across the street from the house. I'd never seen them before so, at first, I thought that was my sign. But, as skeptical as I am, I needed more. Later, when I was at my speaking gig, we went to another room for refreshments and on the table were 12 tea cups that all had roses on them. Not little roses as trim. The entire cup was a rose. I knew that was my answer. I'm not really depressed about it. I'm not sure how I feel about it exactly.

Worth it so far

Mark McGrath introducing Train? I have only one word for that: Yummy!

Despite the appearances of Mark McGrath, Train and Elton John, I wasn't planning on watching the RMAs ... until the SNL Ashlee Simpson debacle, which I missed because I went to bed after Weekend Update. Now I'm curious about how they're going to play it.

Mark McGrath and Pat Monahan were just a bonus.

Back to the show ...

...Update:

Janet Jackson is gorgeous, but we all knew that, right?

Elton John is a timeless classic. But we all knew that, too, right?

TRAIN WON!

Ashlee Simpson is still a liar. She said she lost her voice 4 hours before the show because of a bad case of acid reflux. Huh? Um, didn't she say a couple of lines during the opening? Maybe they were taped, too, and she lip synched them? She would have been better to leave it at "We're all human" and not try to come up with some lame-ass excuse.

Funny stuff!

While surfing BlogExplosion I came across a site that made me LOL. Here's why:

I think it's interesting that bar stools have no backs to them.

I think it's even more interesting that these were the seats they decided people drinking alcohol should sit on.

Sometimes I wonder if Elvis ever impersonated anyone.

I think the worst day to be stabbed in the head would be Halloween.

Eeek!

I just deleted an entire post before publishing. Perhaps it is too early to post something about Christmas and the computer gods are trying to tell me that.

All is well

I'm happy to report that there are no signs of my Mom's cancer returning. The abnormalities were easily explainable and can be taken care of with a simple prescription. Phew!!!

Thank you to the people who sent good thoughts our way. That helped so much!

Ya know, for the most part, bloggers are a pretty cool group of people. :) <3

It's Monday

I've successfully managed to avoid this topic all weekend. I've even managed to not think about it very much. I had to because, as I told my Mom on Friday, there's no point in thinking about all weekend because you can do anything about it 'til Monday anyway. If I thought about it, I'd obsess over it.

The "it" is the lump my Mom found in her breast. It's been 8 years since the last time. In May she had mammogram, which was normal. But Friday she said "I'm going to have to call (the doctor) soon. I have a lump." I said "Not soon. Now!" She called. The appointment is for 11:45 today.

Now I can start obsessing, while I stay strong for her. It won't be easy.

*sigh*

I couldn't make myself actually watch the Bills game so I've been surfing and listening. Deep down, I've known all season that they suck. But squishing the fish last week gave me a glimmer of hope. The glimmer is gone now. I must face the fact that they really do suck and, for all intents and purposes, the season is over.

A Halloween-related post

There are these two spiders. One lives in my kitchen sink; the other in my bathtub. For the last two years they've appeared at the end of of September and been gone by the beginning of November. (I assume it's the same two spiders. I further assume their visits have something to do with Halloween. I could be wrong. They could be on the run after committing some spider crime and they can only stay in one place for a short period of time.) Why don't I kill them, you ask? They won't die! The last two years I tried and tried and tried to kill them. It's as if they're ... Well, immortal isn't the right right word. Imarachnidal? When I turn on the water in either place, they scurry away and disappear until the water is gone. So I've given up trying to kill them. Why should I add to my frustrations by trying to kill two creatures who, obviously, aren't going to die? Now, instead of considering them pests, I consider them pets. I wanted to take their pictures, but it seems they're camera shy. Every time I have the camera, they disappear. Maybe they're in the spider protection program? So, I'm going to treat you to an artists' rendering. Ladies and gentlemen, I present Spooky and Sponge Bob Spider Pants.

The real loves of my life ..

My nephews



Alex

and


Aaryn

It's Sunday, so ...

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Blackout:: California
   
2. Platinum:: record (or CD)
   
3. Leather and lace:: Tom Petty & Stevie Nicks
   
4. Court:: Contempt of .. as in this
   
5. Mind your own business:: get lost
   
6. Gambling:: casino
   
7. Lily:: white
   
8. Evasive:: secretive
   
9. Turn-on:: GSG
   
10. Suspect:: the usual
    

I am so not ready for NaNo this year. I haven't been stocking up on chocolate, coffee and junk food. I haven't been obsessing at the forums. I haven't cleaned my desk to give myself actual workspace. Oh yeah. I don't really have a story idea either. But ya know, I'm sure everything will fall into place right after trick-or-treating ... just the way our higher power intended it to be.

In case you didn't know this, the books are products of NaNoWriMo. They took a lot ... and I mean a lot of editing after November 30, but it was really worth it.

St. Theresa

OK. I'll admit it. I'm a semi-lapsed Catholic. For about a year, though, I've been going to church pretty regularly. Then I stopped because I like to go on Saturday night, and I've had other stuff going on. Other stuff. Good reason, huh? Anyway, I'm not really big on Catholic prayers like the rosary & stuff but, sometimes I do fall back on that stuff because it makes me feel, well, it's comforting, I guess, because it's what I grew up with. I also believe in praying to St. Anthony if you lose something. It really works! Well, the other night at work we were talking about St. Theresa and I decided to do some research on her and learned that if she hears your prayers she'll send you roses. I was thinking "That's what I need. I real, physical sign that I know the meaning of."

So, I said this little prayer: "St. Theresa, the little flower, please pick me a rose from the heavenly garden and send it to me with a message of love. Ask God to grant me the favor I thee implore (state request here) and tell him I will love him more and more." Then you're supposed to say 5 each of Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory Be on 5 consecutive days. On the fifth day, you add one each of the prayers and tell people about it. If you see a rose within five days of finishing this, your prayers have been answered. I'd also heard that you don't have to go through all that. Just pray and she'll answer.

It was worth a shot, right? So, before I went to bed Thursday night I prayed to St. Theresa. On Friday I didn't see any roses. I was a little depressed about that and was talking to myself about while I was walking home. As I was talking to myself, I looked up and a woman had walked in front me. On the back of her jacket was a pink rose. Skeptic that I am, however, I wasn't sure if that kind of rose counted.

I didn't know until I talked to my mom about it that my sister prays to St. Theresa all the time so I asked her if it had to be real roses. She told me that when she was desperately looking for a house while she was pregnant with her third son that she prayed to St. Theresa. Right after that, she was compelled to go to this place that rents houses. The rental agent's name was Rose St. Clair and the house was perfect for her. She told me I would "just know" if I was getting a sign.

After she told me that, I wanted to believe the rose on the jacket was a sign but I still wasn't sure, and she said I would be sure. But I'm must more skeptical about this stuff than she is. Anyway, I was also thinking that maybe I should go to church today just to show God and everyone how serious I am about this. But I was also thinking that I didn't really want to go. I went back and forth on that for hours. Anyway, I did the St. Theresa prayer thing then went to play WEBoggle. In the first game some of the words were rose, roses, rosier, rosette, rosettes and saint. Yeah. I think that was my sign. In the next game were the words church and pew. Yeah. I went to Mass.

It's Friday!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Name 3 things that you are wearing today.
Red sweater, tan shorts, leopard print bra

Soup
Who was the last person you hugged?
Cheryl

Salad
What do you like to order from your favorite fast food place?
Caeser chicken wrap from Arby's

Main Course
What time of day do you usually feel most energized?
Between 10 a.m. and noon or, as weird as this sound, between 1 and 3 a.m.

Dessert
Using the letters in your first name, write a sentence. (Example: Sweet unusual spaniels are nice.)
Aborigines net no excitement.

On a completely different note ...

I was watching the Sox/Yankess game the other night and realized that I saw one of the announcers (Tim McCarver) play baseball in person before any of the players on either team were born. *sigh* It's a good thing I wasn't in one of my I-Feel-Old moods. It could have been disaster. But, the emotions of the Red Sox seemed to carry over to me, and I felt good. Real good. I hate the Yankees. No logical reason. I just always have. I also hate any team from Texas. It's an irrational hatred, I know, but it just made me very happy that St. Louis beat Houston.

Because I'm in a weird mood today ...

Wednesday Weird Ones.

1. How can you say that?
How can you ask me that? I can say anything I want. Freedom of expression, ya know? Unfortunately for people like me who often speak before thinking, freedom of expressioin isn't always a good thing. Hence, I hear "How can you say that?" quite often. Thanks for asking again and making me relive all the painful, embarrassing moments of my past. *rolling my eyes*

2. Does Schroedinger's cat have 18 half-lives?
Of course. Hey, I thought these questions were supposed to be weird.

3. How come gruntled employees never make the news?
It's a conspiracy. It's my belief that certain people don't want gruntled employees to know how many other gruntled employees are really out there. I mean, they might get organized, form a union and be bigger and more powerful than the Teamsters. Although, because they don't get a lot of press, not many people in the general public know about them, people in upper management positions do know and they're scared, I'm telling ya. Scared! They've imagined the future with a group of united gruntled employees and they don't like it one bit. (And don't you dare tell anyone I'm gruntled ... most of the time, anyway.)

4. Do the actors in the re-enactments on Americas Most Wanted, ever get arrested just because they were seen on TV portraying the criminal?
You bet! Just the other day I saw a man being chased by the police, knocked to the ground, hand-cuffed and thrown into the back of a police car and I couldn't imagine what he'd done to deserve that treatment. The police insisted he was wanted for a string of convenience story burglaries. Even when he showed them his SAG card and a video of the America's Most Wanted episode he appeared on (It was in his jacket pocket), they didn't believe him. Good thing he has a good lawyer.

5. Why aren't the lines on lined paper diagonal?
I don't know, dammit, but they should be. When I write on unlined paper everything goes diagonal so, obviously, I have a natural tendency toward diagonal writing. I'm sure I can't be the only one. Personally, I think people who manufacturer lined paper are discriminating against diagonal writers and other people who write in something other than straight lines.

I'm making time

I should be doing other things, but I need a fun, relaxing activity. Since it's cold and raining outside, this was my next choice.

TV Tuesday

Week 28 - Home Shows
We've been doing a lot of redecorating around our home lately and checking out some of the home decorating shows, I'd never really watched them before but have found a few kind of interesting so this week Home shows are in the spotlight!

1. Do you watch home shows regularly? If so, which ones?
I used to watch "Trading Spaces" religiously, but I don't so much anymore. None of the others have really grabbed my attention.

2. Have you ever followed a tip that you learned from a home show or TV?
I tried sponge painting while doing the sets for "Nunsense." I know there are other things I've tried but I can't remember off-hand what they are. I am planning on re-doing my home office using some tips I learned from TS. I can see it all in my head. I'm kind of afraid to start, though, because I'm not sure I can get it from my head to the walls, ceiling, floor and furniture. We'll see, I guess.

3. What is the best (worst,stupidest,coolest...) thing you've ever seen on a home show?
The worst, dumbest, most insane thing I've ever seen is when Hildy on TS glued actual hay to someone's living room walls. I would have been SO pissed. She also did someone's bathroom walls with plastic flowers. That was just weird. I like pretty much everything Doug, Gen, Laurie and Vern do. Doug's stuff tends to be a little off the wall sometimes but I like it all.

~Bonus~ If your home had it's own show what would it be called? Why?
Let's see. How 'bout "This Old House ... Needs Help!" or "Extreme Makeover: Urgent Edition." I think they speak for themselves. ;)

And while I'm at it ...

Music Mambo - Week 30
This week, tell us your "Preferences."

1. Do you prefer just audio or video/audio of your favorite songs
I'd rather just have audio so I can use my imagination in regard to what the song "looks like."

2. What do you like to listen to in the car (radio, CD, mp3 playlist...etc)?
Mostly I listen to CDs of whatever music I'm in the mood for at the moment. Lately it's been "Layla" over and over.

3. Do you lean more towards a LIVE version of songs or the studio release
It depends. Some live versions are better than the studio releases; others, well, kinda suck

4. What is your ideal concert venue?
Someplace small, like less than 500 people.

5. What's your favorite format (vinyl, cassette, cd, mp3 etc)
CD

Bonus:) You can only see one concert this year. Who would it be, and where would the concert be.
Train ... in my living room ;)

Wednesday Mind Hump - Week 41

Tell us about a memorable shocking (or odd, interesting, valuable) discovery. Example: Mom lied. No matter how many goofy faces I make my face will NOT get stuck like that forever. Or -- if you wrap celery in aluminum foil it will stay fresh and crispy for weeks. Or -- Trix really ARE for kids!. You get the point.

If you lose 2 pounds a week you can lose 100 pounds in a year. I know that seems so simple, but when you have that much to lose it seems like an impossible thing to do. It's not!

Here we go -- ladies and gentleman, start your humps.

This week, some "getting to know you fun" with a wittle wobble.

01. If you had an off/on switch, what would you want it to switch off/on instantly?
The part of my brain that makes me say stupid/smart things. Right now, the stupid switch goes on way to fast and the smart switch seems to be stuck in the off position.

02. Your favorite celebrity will be knocking on your door in exactly one minute. Considering you only have one minute, what would you do before you answer the door and how would you greet them?
George Clooney will be here in one minute?!?!? Brush my teeth, brush my hair, pop some breath mints (in case the tooth-brushing wasn't enough), put on deodorant, put on a revealing, but not sleazy-looking, blouse/shirt. Not that any of that would make a difference. I'd probably greet him by saying hello, then I'd faint.

03. If you could save time in a bottle, what time(s) would you save?
Any time I spend with GSG. Any time I spend with Steve (in person). The days the author copies of my books arrived.

04. Look around you. First, tell us what room you're in. Now, name the first red thing you see ... likewise blue, and yellow.
I'm in my home office. Red: The pjs my nephew is wearing in the picture that's on my next. Blue: The label on my Aquafina bottle. Yellow: The cover of the phone book.

Monday Madness from last week.

Name 3 things....

1....your ideal salad has on it.
cheese, bacon, ranch dressing
2....you do religiously in the morning.
check my e-mail, brush my teeth, take my vitams
3....you look forward to doing in your spare time.
sleep, sleep, sleep
4....you've never done before, but think you will at some point in your life.
sky diving, write a movie script, act in a play
5....you love to do while on vacation.
sit on the beach, take pictures, discover new things
6....you took pictures of in the last month.
autumn leaves, the parasol I made for "Nunsense," myself
7....you have to do before the end of the day.
go to work, e-mail Kim, read a pamphlet my boss gave me
8....you like about your best friend
he always tells me the truth, he boosts my self-esteem, he's loyal

I promise ...

I'll get back to blogging real soon. I've just been so busy that I don't even know how I'm managing to do everything I'm doing. Except for NaNoWriMo, though, things should be getting back to normal in the next couple of weeks. I hope so anyway.

Of all the appointments/meetings I had today, one stood out. I got to meet with GSG. *happy sigh* I still have no idea why he inspires me so much, but he does. Anyway, I learned that we're doing a speaking gig together next week. Yikes! I mean, it's cool, but I don't know if I can do it with him right there. Maybe I'll let him do most of the talking. He's way cuter than I am anyway, and it is a women's group we're speaking with, soooo ...

Oh my. I tried to sleep about an hour ago, but I'm still really wired from our meeting ... 9 hours ago. Would ya say I'm a mess when it comes to him? Yep. I would. But he's so cute and -- damn! -- that smile of his.

Well, I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day and I don't see any nap time penciled in. Naps are good, aren't they? I think I'll go try to take an 8-hour one right now.

BRAND NEW!

Guess what?????



It's here!!! It's so new that amazon doesn't even have the cover art yet, but it's on the site and that's the important thing! Go look. It's so cool!!!

Something cool happened

I was painting sets & stuff for Nunsense and was introduced to another woman who was helping. When the woman heard my name she said "Oh, the writer." How cool is that?

Funny stuff, and it fits

Steven Wright is a comic genius, in my opinion. Thanks to Stormwind for reminding me that he always makes me laugh when I need to, and for pointing me in this direction.

Here are two that fit right now:

"Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before."

"Four years ago... No, it was yesterday."
Today I... No, that wasn't me.
Sometimes I... No, I don't."

Does anyone else find this funny?

Martha Stewart asked to be put in a prison in Danbury, Conn., near her home, so it would be easier for her 90-year-old mother to visit her. Her second choice was Coleman, Fla. Excuse me, Martha, but what was that you just said about your mother? Anyway, she's being sent to West Virginia. West Virginia! Ha! Don't get me wrong. Personally, I love West Virginia. It's a beautiful state full of friendly people. But Martha Stewart in West Virginia? Again, ha!

So, while she's there, she has to work (for 12 to 40 cents an hour). But I'm sure it'll be ok for her. Among her choices for employment are food service worker, plumber, painter, groundskeeper or warehouse worker.

Anyway, Martha Stewart and Cat Stevens are taken care of now. Osama bin Laden is next, right?

It's Wednesday ...

Wednesday Matinee

The meme is on fire!

1. What's your favorite disaster movie?
The first movie that came to mind was The Poseidon Adventure (awesome flick!), but I can't answer this question without saying Twister. That counts as a disaster movie, doesn't it?

2. What's your favorite John Travolta movie?
Pick just one? Really? Hmm? I can't pick just one. Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Carrie? How can I choose? Primary Colors and Lucky Numbers? Loved 'em. Look Who's Talking? How cute was he in that? And, need I say anything more than "Pulp Fiction?" See? There's no way I could pick my favorite. It depends on what John Travolta mood I'm in.

3. What do you think of celebrity endorsements for political office?
I think it's fine. However, I think anyone who votes for a candidate based solely on a celebrity endorsement is an idiot and doesn't deserve to vote.

Monday Music Madness Mambo
or something like that

Music Mambo - Week 27

5. -- Songs that make you happy :: Layla, All I Wanna Do, Calling All Angels, All Shook Up (Yes, Elvis) and It's Only Rock 'n' Roll. Of course these are just 5 off the top of my head. There are just so many that make me happy.
4. -- Albums you can't live without :: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Drops of Jupiter, Springsteen's Greatest Hits
3. -- Artists that you'd like to recommend :: Counting Crows, Maroon 5, Train
2. -- Songs that you and one of your parents enjoy :: Silver & Gold (from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; my Dad liked Burl Ives); Let Me Call You Sweetheart
1. -- Musical memory you'd like to share....
When I started college I liked Elton John, Billy Joel & Fleetwood Mac. No one else really meant anything to me. A lot of the people in my dorm were into Sprinsteen, though, and when it was announced that he was going to play on campus on Nov. 17, 1978, it was like they'd announced the Pope or the president was coming. It was madness! I didn't get tickets because #1 I wasn't all that into Sprinsteen and #2 I didn't want to have to stand in line overnight to get them. Well, a friend of mine had invited a few friend from home to the concert. At the last minute they couldn't make it and she gave -- gave me & her roommate the tickets ... 15 rows back but in the first row of the bleachers, which were really good seats. To this day, it's the best concert I've ever been to. Three hours of non-stop, well, Springsteen. How else can you describe it? It was great and I've been a big fan ever since.

Monday Madness

Name THREE of your........

1. Pet Peeves: Noisy eaters, drivers who don't use turn signals, tv volume that's too loud
2. Favorite Sounds: little children laughing, rain, Christmas carols
3. Desk Items: Post-It Notes, pens, glass of water
4. Biggest Fears: that something will happen to someone in my family & I won't be able to do anything about it, snakes, being in a car accident (I've been in 2. They're not fun.)
5. Biggest Challenges: getting everything done, getting out of bed in the morning, GSG
6. Newest 'Toys': computer, digital camera, DVD player
7. Most Used Words: totally, y'all, yes. (I wish I could learn to say no)
8. Most Mispelled Words: judgementjudgment, rythym (is that spelled right? I don't know.), occasion. Again, I don't know if that's right.
9. Favorite Disney Characters: Simba, Donald Duck, Ariel
10. Bookmarks on Your Homepage: RAOK, Sandee, NaNoWriMo

I've arrived

I just googled myself, as I do every so often (sounds obscene, doesn't it?) and I came up as a sponsored link! It's actually a link to amazon, but it says "Search for Books by this Author." Cool!

A little early but ...

Sunday Brunch

1) If you had a wedding, what flowers did you have at your wedding? :: white roses
2) What is your favorite flower? :: daisies
3) Do you have flowers as part of your landscaping outside or your interior decor? :: outside I have flowers (perrenials, so I really don't have to do anything with them); inside I don't because I always kill them *sigh*
4) If you went to your high school prom(s), what kind of flower did you wear in your corsage or boutonniere? :: I don't remember
5) Do you like to receive flowers as a gift or do you think it is a waste of money? :: I used to like them, but now I don't as much anymore. If I did get them, I'd prefer wildflowers as opposed to roses. Of course I'd graciously accept the roses ;)

Four for Friday

Q1: When shopping for food or related sundries, how important are brands in your decision-making process? For instance, let's say you're standing in the cereal aisle at your local supermarket, and right there in front of you are two of essentially the same item, but one carries a brand name or label you're familiar with, while the other is labeled with the name of the supermarket? All things being equal except price, which box of cereal do you purchase? ::
In most cases, brand names don't mean anything to me. I do most of my shopping at Wal-Mart and their Equate and Great Value products are just as good as, if not better than, name brand products.

Q2: If you wore eyeglasses, based on what you know today about the procedure, would you choose to have elective laser surgery to correct a common eye disorder such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or an astigmatism (distorted vision)? Do you know anyone who has had this sort of surgery, and if so, what have they said about the experience and/or the results? ::
Yes, I would. Actually, I'm considering it right now. I know a woman who had it and she said the best part is being able to see in the shower when she's shaving her legs.

Q3: What do you do when you're given the wrong amount of change when purchasing something with cash? Does your reaction differ depending on which side of the equation you land, i.e., receiving too much change verses not enough? ::
Usually, I don't pay attention when I'm given change. But, having worked the other side of the cash register, I'd politely tell the cashier about the mistake ... even if I got too much.

Q4: Do you have confidence in the airport screening procedures in place in the United States? ::
Hell no!

Actual Malice

So, you've seen the book cover. Now, do y'all want to know what the book is about? Good. Here's the back cover blurb:

When Gina Hamilton started her dream job as a newspaper reporter, she thought she'd left her old life at Franklynne's Family Restaurant behind her. But when waitresses at the restaurant are being murdered, Gina is assigned to write the articles, forcing her to relive part of her past. While investigating the story, she gets personally involved to the extent that her life as she knows it could change forever. Against the objections of the man in her life, lawyer Joe Manzarelli, Gina devises a plan that she hopes will solve the crime, catch the killer and bring her peace of mind. Little does she know that her plan will put her life in jeopardy. In Actual Malice, Gina takes the reader into every aspect of her existence as she tells the story of how the murders are changing her life.

Feelin' like a million bucks

Two million actually. According to this, I'm worth $2,088,210.00. And I didn't even cheat on any of the answers!

via deb

It's almost Friday, so ...

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how attractive do you think you are?
Depends on my mood. It could be anywhere from 2 to 7.

Soup
What local restaurant would you recommend to a visitor to your town or city?
Beefeater's. This is probably more than you wanted to know but, if you go to the site and see the owner (guy in the red shirt) pouring a drink at the bar you'll know where GSG & I sit when we're having drinks. Another piece of trivia: "Cliff Claven" was there when he did a show for The Travel Channel about Zippo.

Salad
What's a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
It seems I learn them all the hard way. Without getting too specific, however, I'll say it's: If it seems too good to be true, it probably isn't true.

Main Course
Name something in your life that you feel you can depend on 100%.
Nothing. The closest thing would be Steve, who I can depend on about 99.9 percent.

Dessert
If you could see the front page of a newspaper from September 24, 2104, what would you imagine the headline might be?
No one except people from my area will get this but ...
Businessman's great-grandson, city battle over sign ordinance

Happy birthday to ...

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!

It's not Thursday yet but ...

... if she can post it, I can do it.

Theater Thursday.

Do you remember your first time?

1. Do you remember the very first time you watched a movie on the big screen? Describe it. ::
I was 5. It was The Sound of Music, and I went with my Mom, my aunt and my sister. My sister (who was 3) was really sick but we went anyway because my aunt was home on leave from the Navy and wanted us to see it with her. I remember how soft the seats were, how huge the screen was and how much I wished I could sing. They could do it, why couldn't I? Despite my lack of vocal talent, I've loved that movie ever since. (Week 15 was about soundtracks and I said I'd blog more about the ones I had if I could remember. I remember two more! The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz.)

2. What was the last movie you saw on the big screen? ::
Collateral.

3. Did you ever like a movie so much that you paid to watch it more than once? If so, what movie?::
I can't even tell ya how many times I've seen A New Hope on the big screen. All right. I wasn't going to admit this but, what the heck? I saw Titanic twice. It was a really bad time in my life (don't ask) and I guess I really needed a sappy, tragic, poorly acted love story.

BONUS) How much does a movie ticket cost in your neck of the woods? ::
$7

A week later ...

I forgot to do the Midweek Music Meme last week and, oddly enough, it was about birthdays right after my own birthday. Anyway, here it is:

What memory do you have that involves a birthday and music, but not the old standard song “Happy Birthday to You”? ::
I share my birthday with one of my best friends from college. On the weekend of our 21st birthday Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes played on campus. (Coulda only been better if it was Springsteen.) When they did Havin' a Party we just knew they were singing it just for us ... at least that's what we told everyone.

It's Hump Day

Wednesday Mind Hump - Week 37

Let's celebrate ICE CREAM CONE DAY!  I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream ... cones that is.  Yay!  This day commemorates the day the ice cream cone was patented.  Can you imagine?  Before 1903 they used paper cones or metal cones.  Thank goodness edible cones were invented because we all know that sucking the last bit of ice cream out of the bottom of the cone before we shove the whole thing in our mouth is confection heaven!

It's time for some pre-humping action so let's warm up!  Everyone needs or wants something.  Tell us, what could you use a double scoop of today?  What would you give your bestfriend a double scoop of?  It doesn't have to be ice cream -- it can be anything: kindness, hugs, time ...

I could use a double scoop of self-confidence 'cuz I never have enough no matter how good I'm feeling. My best friend could definitely use a double scoop of rest & relaxation. Can he have sprinkles, too? The sprinkles would be me. A double of scoop of me would be too much for him to handle, I think.

This week some getting to know you humping with a bit of an insane twist.

01.  A scented candle has been created that represents your daily life -- what smells might that candle emit? :: Happiness (Despite everything, I'm basically a happy person.)
02.  If all of a sudden all money became useless and whatever you had the most of made you wealthy, what are you rich with? :: Fat cells? lol Either that or books. I'd hate to give them up but, ya know, I'd probably just buy more books with them anyway.
03.  You've won a "Everything You Can Grab In Three Minutes" shopping spree at your favorite store.  What store is it and what would be the first thing you'd grab? :: Wal-Mart, because I know where everything is. After grabbing a couple of shopping carts first I'd go straight for the CDs, then DVDs, then books, then, if I had time, clothes. Actually, I could grab a few things from the clothes section on my way to the CDs. (Good thinkin' Anne!)
04.  One million dollars to pose for Playboy or Playgirl ... do you do it?  If yes, what month would you be the perfect centerfold for?  If no, what magazine would you be a good centerfold for? :: Hey, if they wanna pay me a million bucks to put this body in Playboy I'll take it. I'm sure we could come to some kind of pose that would make us all happy ... and wouldn't embarrass me too much (or bring their sales to a screeching halt).
05.  You have an alarm clock that does whatever is necessary to wake you up and get you out of bed -- describe what process the alarm clock would perform :: I like to keep this blog pretty much PG rated, so I think I'll pass on this question. But, man oh man, I wish they made the alarm clock I'm dreaming up right now. ;)

Feelin' pretty good today

Yesterday I bought a new pair of jeans ... a size smaller. Of course that made me feel good, and the feeling overlapped into today. Then, as I was walking downtown for lunch the husband of my former best girlfriend* a friend stopped me and we talked for a few mintues. After I told him I still want to lose an 30 or so pounds he said "Even if you don't lose another ounce, you look great." Why do compliments sound so much better coming from guys? Not that I'm dismissing compliments from women. No way! I'll take 'em from whoever's giving 'em. <3

*This woman and I were really, really close a few years ago, but I blew it during my mid-life crisis/nervous breakdown when I ran away to California. When I first got back to PA there was no contact between us at all. Now we e-mail each other every now and then and have spoken in person once. There's hope. I hope.

Great work if you can get it

I was walking back home after having lunch with a friend and a friend of hers. I saw a fire hydrant being flushed out and noticed two guys sitting in a water authority truck watching the water gush out onto the street. That's it. Watching the water. How can I get a job like that?

Or this could be my problem ...

In lieu of writing words I have written about how I feel, I'm going to post song lyrics again. Is it possible to be accidentally in love? You betcha, baby!


So she said what's the problem baby
What's the problem I don't know
Well maybe I'm in love (love)
Think about it every time
I think about it
Can't stop thinking 'bout it

You were in a little girl in the 70s if ...

I found this at Therapy Failed. I'm not going to post the whole thing. I'll just post the ones that made me smile or laugh ... or cringe the most.


1. You wore a rainbow shirt that was half-sleeves, and the rainbow went up one sleeve, across your chest, and down the other :: and in 1976 I had one with a flag
2. You made baby chocolate cakes in your Easy Bake Oven and washed them down with snow cones from your Snoopy Snow Cone Machine :: Easy Bake Oven was a Christmas present from my Uncle Jim
4. You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a basket :: it was pink, thank you very much
8. You had rubber boots for rainy/snowy days - remember Moon boots (you then advanced to Duck Shoes in the 80's) :: I still have the duck shoes
9. You had either a "bowl cut" or "pixie," not to mention the Dorothy Hamill because your Mom was sick of braiding your hair. How traumatic when people thought you were a boy :: It was Dorothy Hamill for me and, of course, I had to use Short 'n' Sassy shampoo, too ... just like Dorothy.
11. You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers :: poncho, yes
12. You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon :: I didn't get it, but my cousins did
16. You even had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle :: Hated 'em, but had to have 'em
24. YOU had Star Wars action figures, too :: You betcha!
25. It was a big event in your household each year when the "Wizard of Oz" would come on TV. Your Mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags! :: It's still a big event
26. You even asked your Magic-8 ball the question: "Who will I marry: Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or Rick Springfield?" :: I want Shaun the most
27. You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack albums :: Didn't have Fame but "yes" to the other two
30. You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker. YES! (And some tv shows, too)
32. You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books ("Are you there God, It's me, Margaret") :: Can't forget about "Forever."
33. You thought Olivia Newton John's song "Physical" was about aerobics.
37. You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat :: Tiger Beat and 16.

After that little bit of nostalgia, I must get some sleep. 'Night.

May the meme be with you!

I stole the title from Wednesday Matinee

1. What's your favorite science fiction movie?:: Star Wars!

2. Star Trek vs Star Wars: who wins? :: STAR WARS!

3. Who's your favorite sci-fi actor? :: Ewan McGregor

~Robots Will Rule The Earth Bonus~ Who's your favorite robot (android, cyborg, etc)? :: It's a tie between R2D2 and Robot from Lost in Space (the tv show).

Note: I watched the bonus stuff from the special editon. "The Return of Darth Vader" gave me shivers. The fight scene between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin looks awesome. A-w-e-s-o-m-e!

BB5

I really haven't posted that much about Big Brother 5 because I don't want to appear any geekier than I already do. But, because tonight is the finale, I should post my thoughts on it.

OK. Did Drew ever actually promise Diane he'd take her to the final 2, or did she just assume he would? I remember her saying stuff like "Me and you in the final two, baby" and him just saying "Uh huh."

I'm curious to see who Will and Marvin are going to vote for. Will has a little crush on Drew, but Diane was his best friend in the house. Marvin doesn't like either one of them, but he has a thing for Diane.

I really, really, really don't want Cowboy to win. He didn't do anything in the game. Of course, maybe that was his strategy. How he managed to avoid eviction is beyond me. Every week people said they needed to get Cowboy outta there. So, why didn't they? That's what ticks me off about this. Could the jury really be thinking that he managed to escape so he deserves to win? I hope not!

Drew has always been my second favorite, right behind Nakomis, so I hope he wins. I was having doubts about him and Diane but I think he finally saw the light. I hope that gets him enough votes.

All right. Enough of that. I need to go buy the DVD. Which DVD? Oh puh-leeeez! (see previous post)

This is so me!

Only Star Wars fans will get this.

via (heaven help me for actually going there) him

TV Tuesday

Seems kinda funny to be doing a meme after just posting about Sandee, but she'd be the first person to say "life goes on." So, here it is:

Week 24 - Spin off's
A great show never dies, it simply spins off into new shows! LOL This week we'll take a look at the ever famous spin off syndrome!!

1. What's your favorite all time spin off? Which show did it spin off?
Law & Order SVU (from Law & Order). I have high hopes for CSI: New York, though. As for comedies, I'd have to say Frasier, although I didn't really get into the last couple of seasons. Then again, I can't forget Green Acres, spun from Petticoat Junction.

2. What do you consider the worst spin off ever? Why?
Joanie Loves Chachi because it was just so bad. I think the Joanie & Chachi storyline ran its course on Happy Days and they should have just left well enough alone.

3. Is there a show that's ended that you wish they'd done a spin off for? Which one?
Hmm? I can't really think of anything, but does this count? I could go for an ER spinoff starring George Clooney.


~Bonus~ If you could "end" your current life and make a spin off of it what would you call it? What would be the theme (characters new and eliminated, changes you'd make)?
It would be called "Let's Try Again" or "Second Chances" or something like that. I'd still be a writer but I'd actually be making enough money writing books that I wouldn't have to work at a newspaper, hence all the "characters" from there would be eliminated ... except my editor, who would be the brutally honest, sarcastic wise-ass character that everybody loves. I'd move back to California, near Santa Barbara. Steve & GSG would be there, too, and they'd be kinda fighting over me but I wouldn't be able to choose between them.

Oh My God!!!!

I'm almost there! I saved a pair of size 10 Levis from my thin days. Just for the heck of it, I tried them on and ... and ... AND ... I could get them on! I couldn't zip them all the way up, but they're over the thighs and hips, baby! So I tried on some other pants and shorts that I haven't tried on in a while because I thought I wasn't doing very well on the diet/exercise program. They all fit! I am so excited! Almost makes me want to go out and walk again or do a tae-bo workout or something.

Ya know, I didn't think I had a body image problem anymore, but apparently I do. My next door neighbor calls me "Skinny Minnie" and told me there's no way I need to lose another 30 pounds because "You don't want to get too thin." I look at myself in the mirror and I think there's something wrong with it because I can't possibly look that good. My jeans are obviously at least one size too big ... even coming right out of the dryer ... but I've been telling myself they're just stretched out. I guess I need to look at myself for real now and see what I really look like. Could be pretty good ;)

The funny thing about the jeans fitting right out of the dryer and me thinking they're just stretched out is ... When I started gaining weight I'd say "They just came out of the dryer. They must have shrunk." Haven't we all done that, though? Given a choice, I'd rather think they stretched than shrunk. Actually, I'd rather just have a realistic image of myself. Someday I will. I'm sure of it. :)

Hanging by a Moment

This is pretty close to how I feel:

I'm falling even more in love with you
letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you

*sigh*

Sunday Brunch on Monday

Erica took over this meme. Cool. I was missing it.

School Supplies!
1) Do you prefer wide rule or college rule notebook paper? ::
College rule. I write a lot when I write on paper & I need all the space I can get.
2) What is your favorite writing instrument? ::
I recently bought a pen with an angel on top & gel stuff on the inside that lights up. It's so cool! I change my mind about my favorite writing instrument, though. Depends on my mood. Last week I bought some "squishy grip" mechanical pencils that I really like.
3) What is the one office or school supply that you can’t live without? ::
Post-it Notes! In fact, one of the characters in my new book (have I mentioned it'll be out in a few weeks?), who is loosely based on me, says she's addicted to Post-it Notes.
4) Staples or paper clips? ::
Paper clips. #1 They're easier. #2They're neater #3I'm accident prone and, well, it's best that I'm not around sharp things any more than necessary. However, I have been known to hurt myself on paper clips that I straighten out.
5) Describe the contents of the top of your desk ::
Home -- CDs (Clapton, Springsteen, Counting Crows, No Doubt, Train, Dashboard Confessional); pictures I'm planning on scanning & posting someday; a little Buddha; glass of water; bottle of lavender nail polish *shrug*; plain black mousepad; headache relief tablets; vitamins & Atkins supplements.
Work -- a pile of old newspapers; a calendar; phone. Um, I haven't been there in a while (I'm part-time) so I really don't remember. I think I'm blocking it out.

Not yet ... Please!

I forgot I was going to post about this 'til I stopped by ann marie's. We have a frost warning for tonight. It's way too early for that. It's not even offically autumn yet for goodness sake! I love fall in the Northeast and everything that goes with it, but sometimes I really miss California ... like when it's September and we have frost. *sigh*

Speaking of California ... I answered a question from Steve and used the word "totally" in my response. He wrote back and said something like "Totally? How long were you in California?" I told him I still sometimes say "y'all," too. I guess it's to be expected. I was farther south there than he is now.

Music Mambo Week 26

Once again the time has come to Mambo! Autumn is just around the corner, so it's time to think of some autumn roadtripping music and new releases. There's so much music coming out in the next few months that everyone should have something new to mambo to.

So without further ado or adieux or a-do or whatever, let's just get to the Mambo. Whatdayathink?

1. What music makes you think of autumn? (Songs, genres etc...)::
Really there's only one song I can think of off hand -- Maggie May (It's late September and I really should be back at school) -- There could be more, but I just can't think of them right now.

2. What new releases are you looking forward to this fall/winter? ::
Sorry to say I really don't know what's coming out.

3. If you're making a road trip over a weekend, what music do you take with you if any?::
Train, Maroon 5, Springsteen, Elton John, Sheryl Crow ... Actually, last time I went on a road trip I just grabbed a whole pile of CDs just in case my mood changed.


4. Does your musical mood shift in autumn? (Meaning do you listen to different types of music from season to season?)::
The only season when I listen to different music is Christmas ... and I start pretty much right after Thanksgiving dinner & go to the day after New Year's. "Now That's What I Call Christmas" is the best Christmas CD ever!

5. If you could see one band in the fall concert season, who would it be and why? (The band has to be currently touring)::
TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! Just because I love Train & they're going to be not too far from here.

Bonus:
Make a perfect driving mix. Pick 15 songs that you love to hear while driving ::
In no particular order --

1.Layla - Derek & the Dominoes
2.Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional
3.Paradise by the Dashboard Light - Meatloaf
4.Bat Out of Hell - Meatloaf
5.Saturday Night's All Right for Fighting - Elton John
6.Crocodile Rock - Elton John
7.I Love Rock 'n' Roll - Joan Jett
8.Drops of Jupiter - Train
9.Harder to Breathe - Maroon 5
10. Accidentally in Love - Counting Crows
11.Born to Run - Springsteen
12.Hey Baby - No Doubt
13.Back in Black - AC/DC
14.You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones
15.All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow

I'm debating ...

... on whether I should watch the Bills game. I used to be a good fan. Never missed a game. Now? Well, I'm frustrated. How could they have possibly lost last week? At home? In the opening game? In the last seconds of the game? *sigh*

... whether I should take a nap or a walk

... whether I want to change my about me page. I have to change my age (44); add my favorite BB5 houseguest (Nakomis); favorite book (used to be "Gone With the Wind; now it's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Must be the lawyer thing.); favorite author (Carl Hiassen); and favorite tv show (CSI). I should also change my 100 Things About Me. 10 & 12 don't apply anymore. In 8 should change "was" to "am." Number 44 can now be changed to two novels. Well, one of these days -- if I ever stop being lazy -- I'll do it. OK. I'm not lazy. I just have too much to do and can't decide what to do first. So I blog & boggle. Makes sense, right?

... I really want to blog about all the crap that's on my mind right now. I should but I'm kind of chicken. I've already pretty much blogged about anything & everything. Pretty much. But there's one thing I need to say & I just can't seem to say it.

... whether I should write like a real person and stop using "&" instead of "and." It's weird, though, because sometimes I use it & (and) sometimes I don't.

... whether I should suck it up and make an appointment with the gynecologist tomorrow.

... whether I should stop boring you with this rambling.

/end ramble ... for now.

Perfect timing

There couldn't have been a better time for me to find Minnie Pauz. Here are some of my favorites:

*I've actually seen myself accidentally in a store mirror-wall that I hadn't known about......recognized the JACKET--or sweater, whatever....and THEN realized that the face/hair/body looked vaguely familiar, too.....oh, well!

*I was standing out in the cold rain the other day and the thought went through my head...where's a hot flash when you really need one?

*I bought a bottle of herbal memory tablets to assist my not-as-good-as-it-used-to-be memory - that was a couple of years ago. I keep forgetting to take them.

via stormwind

I know I just said good-night but ...

I hate this!
Note to any male readers (or female readers who don't like to read about bodily functions): This post is about perimenopause so you might want to skip it unless you'd like some insight into how your wives/girlfriends could possibly be feeling.

The hot flashes are tolerable now. Actually, I rarely have them anymore. I know they'll be coming on strong again soon, though. The way my luck is there's no way they could be over already. Weight gain? No problem there anymore. Headaches? Tolerable. Trouble sleeping? I just take naps. Mood swings? Not so bad anymore, either (to the relief of my friends & family, I'm sure). So what's the problem? The irregularity of my freakin' periods! They used to come & go like clockwork. Every 29 days. Lasted for 5 days. Now I can't count on anything. For example: I started Sunday. Ended Tuesday. Started again Thursday. Nothing Friday or Saturday. Now, at 1-f'ing-35 a.m. on Sunday, I started again, cramps and all. It sucks I'm tellin' ya. It really sucks! It's so frustrating. I wish Mother Nature would just decide she's done with me and end this! It's not as if I'm planning on having kids or anything. So, what's the point? Being at this stage of life is kind of strange because I need something to help me with the perimenopause (which is why everything is so tolerable now. Remifemin. I highly recommend it.) and I still need birth control. Weird, huh?

Okay. Should I try sleeping again, or should I go california bogglin? *flipping a coin* (not literally) Boggle wins.

Bad idea

Question: Why did I take the "headache relief" tablets -- containing caffeine -- right before I went to bed?
Answer: Sometimes I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
However, at least I was smart enough to buy the Wal-Mart brand for 94 cents vs. the name brand for $4.97.

I don't understand ...

... why people would cheat while playing Boggle. What's the point? All you're doing is proving you can cheat. I do kind of laugh, though, when a couple of known cheaters are playing and one cheats better than the other.

Another thing I don't understand is how I could have developed a crush on a guy just by watching him play Boggle. How 13 is that?

By the way, "Thirteen?" Awesome movie! Disturbing but awesome. I wonder if I'd feel differently about it if I had a teen-age daughter.

Several years ago my Eric Clapton greatest hits CD vanished. Disappeared. Don't have any clue what happened to it. So today I finally gave up on ever finding it again and bought a new one. (It'll probably turn up tomorrow.) On the way home I rolled down the windows and blasted "Layla" and it felt good. However, as I was coming out of the parking lot some kid asked if I wanted my car washed. Hey kid: If a nearing-middle-age woman is playing "Layla" on her car stereo so loud that the people inside the store can probably hear it, do not -- do not -- disturb her. She's probably having a religious experience of some kind.

Okay. I just watched "Unfaithful" again today. Personally, I think Diane Lane should have won the Oscar for that one scene, if nothing else. You know the one I mean. When she's coming home after sex with the guy? Could she have been any better?

I watched part of the Miss America pageant scholarship competition. Is it just me or does anyone else find it rather sad that Clay Aiken was the biggest star on the show? Nothing against Clay Aiken but, c'mon.

How many times have I seen the Stars Wars trilogy? I don't know. Why am I so excited about the special edition DVD coming out on Tuesday? I don't know, but I am. Could it possibly be that I'm a geek. Possibly? Who am I trying to kid? Anyway, when the first Star Wars came out I already had a long-time crush on Mark Hamill. Then I was introduced to Harrison Ford. I watched "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" tonight. Love that movie! It's my favorite Indiana Jones movie so far. I wonder if there ever will be a 4th one. According to IMDB "Due to scheduling and script conflicts, the project is currently in limbo." Oh well. Ford just might be too old to do Indy justice anyway. We'll see, I guess. Maybe.

I think I've rambled enough to let the effects of the caffeine wear off. Nighty night.

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Pointless:: in vain
   
2. Sadistic:: evil
   
3. Bunny:: Playboy
   
4. Betrayal:: broken promise
   
5. Oliver:: Twist
   
6. Star Wars:: special edition DVD on Tuesday! YAY!!
   
7. Let it ride:: Ride, ride, ride. Let it ride. The song. Who sings that?
   
8. Ray of light:: sun
   
9. Tight:: rope
   
10. Gadget:: thing-a-ma-jig
    

Can't sleep

I've had this song stuck in my head for about 12 hours now: I Hate Myself For Loving You. Yeah. You.

Just when I was gonna ...

... post about how I miss Steve so much I can hardly stand it, I get an e-mail from him. Very surprising considering he's usually in bed by this time. But it sure made me happy! Until then I was just wasting time california bogglin' and listening to the rain. We're going to have flooding, I can tell. I went out & took some pictures about 5 hours ago and some places were already kind of flooded. It hasn't stopped raining since then.

Anyway, it's weird that I miss him so much sometimes. I mean, we just talked yesterday. Maybe it's just the weather that's making me sad. I like rain. It usually relaxes & inspires me. But all day for two days is a bit much. I need sun, too, ya know.

But I should be happy. My book is in the final stages before publication. I should be getting the cover art in a few weeks. Then it's off to the printer. Yay!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
How are you today?
I'm fine, thank you. I'm always fine (or more than fine) on days Steve calls :)

Soup
Name 3 television shows you watch on a regular basis.
CSI (the original), Law & Order SVU & That 70s Show

Salad
What's the scariest weather situation you've experienced?
That's a tie. The Flood of '99 and the tornado, which I believe was in '99 as well. It was an F4. Another reporter & I were standing outside the building looking right up into the eye. A museum was destroyed & a few houses were damaged pretty badly. The flood was more devastating, however. I don't know what percentage of the city was damaged, but it was huge. Even my house had thousands of dollars worth of damage. Luckily, FEMA paid for repairs.

Main Course
If you could wake up tomorrow morning in another country, where would you want to be?
Wow. That's a tough one because there are 3 or 4 countries I've never been to but want to visit, but I'll say Ireland.

Dessert
What do you usually wear to sleep?
An oversized T-shirt

3X Thursday

3x Thursday: 09/16/y2k+4: Crush

1.Do you remember your first crush? Who was it on? Did anything ever come of it? ::
Yes, I do. His name is Jeff. He was my first real kiss, but nothing else came of it. In fact, not long after the kiss he started dating a friend of mine.

2. What do you do when you like someone (or have a crush on them)? Do you say something, or do you just keep your mouth shut? ::
I flirt a little and let him take it from there if he wants to.

3. Do you have a crush on anybody now? If so, do they know about it? ::
Yes. Actually, I have crushes on two people. One knows about and he's known since it started ... 30 years ago. We joke about it sometimes and it's all good. I know nothing's going to happen that hasn't happened already and that's fine with me. We're such good friends now that anything else might mess it all up. The other guy? Well, I don't know if he knows. He's an idiot if he doesn't. I wrote 2 books about a newspaper reporter & a lawyer who are romantically involved. If that didn't give him a clue, I don't know what will. But my friends say he's not good enough for me anyway.

Bonus Question for Comments: What's your favorite sappy song? ::
Elton John's "Your Song" or "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"

The Thursday Threesome

Onesome: Girl- Girls' (or boys') Night Out- Do you ever just feel the need to drop everything and go hang out with your pals? What do you all do when you go out? Something "wild" like partying at the bar, or something as "mild" as just hanging out at a coffee shop and discussing the latest books you've read? Or do you head over to a pal's house to watch the big game? ::
I often feel I need a night out with the girls. I don't get them very often, though. Mostly we do lunch ... long lunch. And, although it may seem boring we talk about writing. Somtimes we talk about guys though. (As an aside, all my friends think I should give up on GSG because he's not good enough for me. So why don't I listen to them?!?!?)

Twosome: Scout- Were you ever a scout as a kid? Which branch? Did you join willingly or was it something you did because everyone else was or your parents thought it would be "good for you?" ::
I was a Brownie, then a Girl Scout. I did it because everyone else did, or rather, everyone's parents made them. It was fun for a while, though. Went on a cool camping trip once. But my Mom was a Cub Scout leader & I always thought the Cub Scout stuff was way more fun than Girl Scouts.

Threesome: Cookies - What's your favorite kind of cookie? What's the strangest cookie you've ever had or heard of but been too afraid to try? And do you buy Girl Scout cookies? Which ones? ::
I love anything with chocolate chips or macadamia nuts, preferrably together. There are a lot of strange cookies out there these days but, unfortunately, I can't think of any right now. I haven't bought Girl Scout cookies in years but, when I did, I always got the peanut butter ones (can't remember the name) and Thin Mints, then whatever else tripped my trigger at the moment.

Crisis Over

He remembered and apologized. I forgave him because it was a good apology. :)

Wednesday Matinee

Meme 3000

1. What's your favorite movie featuring a sport?
I have a few: Jerry Maguire, Caddyshack, Hoosiers & Happy Gilmore

2. What movie are you looking forward to seeing this fall?
That one with Angelina Jolie & Jude Law.

3. Should actors do their own stunts?
If they want to, sure.

~Change Your Ring Tone Bonus~ Do you confront noisy people at the movies?
No, but I have gone to the manager about noisy people. I'm too afraid to confront people myself. I'm not fond of soda on my clothes & popcorn in my hair.

Should I be ...

... pissed or upset? Actually, I'm on the verge of tears but I'm too angry to cry. My best friend forgot my birthday. His last e-mail ended with "Anything new?" Uh, yeah. My age.

Bunches o' Memes

Monday Madness

1. You are given 1 million dollors. You must give it all away before the donor gives you $1 million. Who would you give it to? :: The Red Cross, The American Cancer Society, an Alzheimer's research place, my mom, the local soup kitchen, the Salvation Army
2. If you had $1 million what would you do with it FIRST? :: walk down Main Street and hand out $20 bills to every person I saw
3. Do you participate in lotteries? :: sometimes ... if the jackpot is really big
4. Name 3 of your best physical features :: eyes, smile and um, my nose, I guess
5. ..... 3 of your biggest virtues :: kind, sweet, caring
6. ......3 of you biggest vices :: smoking, gossiping, too judgemental
7. ...... 3 of your favorite pleasures in life :: Adam, Alexandyr, Aaryn (my nephews)
8 If you were a member of the opposite sex, what would you choose to do for your occupation? :: same thing I'm doing now ... writer
9. If you were to come back after death as another animal, what animal would you choose to be? :: dog
10. What kind of 'baby' are you... water, clouds, beach, garden? :: water

Unconscious Mutterings

1. Self-esteem:: low (me)
   
2. Migraine:: HELL! (Thank God I haven't had one in a while)
   
3. Phoebe:: Ross
   
4. Nervous:: energy
   
5. Punctual:: on time
   
6. Liver damage:: drinking too much
   
7. Legal disclaimer:: page 2 of my book
   
8. Reverend:: Mother (We are doing "Nunsense")
   
9. Supple:: soft
   
10. Binder:: notebook
    

The First Four
What are the first four things you think of when I say

Birthday
1.It's today!
2.Cards
3.Getting older
4.gifts/flowers (like I'll get any lol)

P.S. Thanks to everyone in RAOK who signed my guestbook. That was a nice surprise!

The Weekly Bit

The Bit for the Week of Sept 12 is About Work.
1. What is your dream job? :: writer
2. What are the best and worst jobs you've ever had? :: the worst was a dishwasher in a restaurant; the best is right now: writer
3. How do you feel about dating someone from work? Have you ever? :: It's not a good idea. I speak from experience
4. What job would you never want to do? :: anything to do with food service (been there, done that, hated it)

an extra bit of word association...
I say, you think...

blue: sky
sun: summer
reach: for the stars
witch: craft
love: hate
give: take
man: woman
music: radio
open: close
computer: geek
juice: orange