Funny. My faves are:
My wife makes more money than I do, so I have to stay home with our sick son.
When I got up this morning I took two Ex-Lax in addition to my Prozac. I can't get off the john, but I feel good about it.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Cosmopolitan Recipe
Anyone who has watched "Sex In the City" has to have wanted to try a cosmopolitan. I first had one a few months ago and if that in itself didn't just knock me on my ass. Holy shit! Tasty, but powerful and EXPENSIVE!
I had another one in the Cities and wow - even more expensive (although it didn't taste much different).
And then on Monday night I was hanging out with Jessi and she was house-sitting for some friends of hers and they have nothing but the best in the liqour cabinet for them. So, we helped ourselves and made a couple of cosmopolitans, using Cointreau. Here is the recipe they have:
1 oz. Cointreau®
2 oz. vodka
Juice of 1/2 lime
Splash of cranberry juice
So - 3 shots. I went to buy this stuff last night and the price of it about knocked me on the floor. I like to have nice drinks, but I am not sure I really want to spend about $40 for a bottle.
So, I asked for a substitute and they suggested Triple Sec (@ $10/bottle). Of course there is nothing in between those prices. So, I bought it along with my cranberry juice and sweetened lime juice. I decided I would like to try it with Absolut Vanilla instead of regular 'ole vodka. And I made it by the recipe I made the other night and then decided to look up a recipe for it online and here is what I found:
1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Rose's Lime Juice
1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
Basically here it is just 1.5 shots and a lot of juice. I haven't tried it that way, but I do like the Absolut Vanilla in there.
Also, last night Kate & I went out to the Muni (our city-owned municipal bar and only bar in our little town) to have a few drinks and Absolut was $2. Yup! That's it, just $2 for Absolut with anytype of mix-in. At the Muni they use the Skyy Cosmopolitan mix. It's pretty tasty, although very sweet and more like a drink than a martini. For anyone that does not like martinis, they should get the mix. The ones made with the mix don't kick your ass like the real thing, but why should they - they probably only have 1-1.5 shots in them.
I just got a martini set (2 glasses, a tray, a martini pitcher & stirrer), so I will be trying some new recipes. Anyone have a favorite martini recipe they suggest?
I had another one in the Cities and wow - even more expensive (although it didn't taste much different).
And then on Monday night I was hanging out with Jessi and she was house-sitting for some friends of hers and they have nothing but the best in the liqour cabinet for them. So, we helped ourselves and made a couple of cosmopolitans, using Cointreau. Here is the recipe they have:
1 oz. Cointreau®
2 oz. vodka
Juice of 1/2 lime
Splash of cranberry juice
So - 3 shots. I went to buy this stuff last night and the price of it about knocked me on the floor. I like to have nice drinks, but I am not sure I really want to spend about $40 for a bottle.
So, I asked for a substitute and they suggested Triple Sec (@ $10/bottle). Of course there is nothing in between those prices. So, I bought it along with my cranberry juice and sweetened lime juice. I decided I would like to try it with Absolut Vanilla instead of regular 'ole vodka. And I made it by the recipe I made the other night and then decided to look up a recipe for it online and here is what I found:
1 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Triple Sec
1/2 oz Rose's Lime Juice
1/2 oz Cranberry Juice
Basically here it is just 1.5 shots and a lot of juice. I haven't tried it that way, but I do like the Absolut Vanilla in there.
Also, last night Kate & I went out to the Muni (our city-owned municipal bar and only bar in our little town) to have a few drinks and Absolut was $2. Yup! That's it, just $2 for Absolut with anytype of mix-in. At the Muni they use the Skyy Cosmopolitan mix. It's pretty tasty, although very sweet and more like a drink than a martini. For anyone that does not like martinis, they should get the mix. The ones made with the mix don't kick your ass like the real thing, but why should they - they probably only have 1-1.5 shots in them.
I just got a martini set (2 glasses, a tray, a martini pitcher & stirrer), so I will be trying some new recipes. Anyone have a favorite martini recipe they suggest?
In My Pajamas
So, it's now after noon and I am sitting at home in my pajamas. It's great to have the week off from work. Yesterday afternoon, I went to the Cities and did some shopping. I didn't care much for all the traffic. The mall was packed -- apparently every high school student is at the mall since there is no school. The lines at JC Penney were forever long as well, mainly with returns.
I didn't stay at the mall too long. I went to check out bras at Victoria's, and it's interesting that the bras in the store around around $35-$40 a piece.
Then I went to Linens'n'Things to use the gift card we got this summer as a wedding gift (almost 3 years late, but I guess better late than never). I bought us a feather bed and 2 new feather pillows. We put the feather bed on the bed last night and it is so nice. Andy says it is like sleeping in a nest because it just surrounds you. It does keep you nice & warm; I like it.
After I went to Valley Natural Foods and did some grocery shopping. I liked the pace there much more. It was slower. I also liked that they had a lot of stuff to sample. Yummy.
And today, well, I will probably get out of my pajamas before Andy comes home from work and I did the dishes, but I can't promise much more than that will be accomplished.
I didn't stay at the mall too long. I went to check out bras at Victoria's, and it's interesting that the bras in the store around around $35-$40 a piece.
Then I went to Linens'n'Things to use the gift card we got this summer as a wedding gift (almost 3 years late, but I guess better late than never). I bought us a feather bed and 2 new feather pillows. We put the feather bed on the bed last night and it is so nice. Andy says it is like sleeping in a nest because it just surrounds you. It does keep you nice & warm; I like it.
After I went to Valley Natural Foods and did some grocery shopping. I liked the pace there much more. It was slower. I also liked that they had a lot of stuff to sample. Yummy.
And today, well, I will probably get out of my pajamas before Andy comes home from work and I did the dishes, but I can't promise much more than that will be accomplished.
What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?
| Your Dominant Intelligence is Interpersonal Intelligence |
What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?
No shit sherlock! Guess I went into the right line of work.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Breasts & Bras
Timber! They are continuing to droop......bah! I'm under 30 and I don't have perky little breasts, although I have NEVER had perky "little" breasts. My bra size is 36D and has been for as long as I can remember, and there isn't that much perky involved in a D-cup. With a D-cup you need as much support to hold those babies up as possible.
Andy told me the other day that I don't really show them off that much and I thought about that and tried to look through my clothes and find something low-cut, but in MN I am inclined to have the neckline go up. The next issue is that even if I had some nice low-cut tops I don't really have the bras to work with them. I buy pretty bras from Victoria's Secret, but I typically buy full coverage because there is nothing worse then feeling like you could just pop out of your (demi) bra. I have one bra that is a push-up one from Victoria's Secret. It's black, lacey, has enough coverage, and frankly - my breasts look awesome in that bra. It’s the Stretch Lace Classic Miracle Bra. Even though I already have a D-cup, some might wonder why the pushup. The pushup provides more support - there is more fabric and structure surrounding your breasts.
When you get to be a D-cup (and it might happen at a C-cup, but I can't imagine a B or A-cup having these same issues) you no longer can buy cute little wireless numbers. The wire in those bra cups helps provide much needed support, as well as prevents your breasts from heading further south as the bra travels north, leaving you with nothing other than bunches of fabric resting on tops of your breasts. If you don't have underwire, you MUST have a lot of elastic holding those babies in. After years of sports bras that start to sag quickly and just never hold your breasts in tight enough as you run (& cause your breasts to ache from bouncing too much and your hands to gravitate towards your breasts in order to hold them up and keep them from bouncing), I have finally (last year) found a bra that does the job. It is the Champion Jogbra Action-Shape Sports Bra.
The great thing about this bra is that there are 3 sets of 3 eye-hook closures, so there is no pulling it over your head and stretching it out, plus you make it the size you need around your ribcage, plus you can change the straps in length (pretty strong Velcro for this), and notice that the size only come in C, D or DD. This is a bra for larger breasts. I have 2 of these bras (in the periwinkle, actually) and I have had them for over a year. I used to use up a sports bra in about 6 months (and that is stretching it - literally.)
Ok - so back to the topic of support. I went shopping at Vanity yesterday and was trying to find a top to go with a skirt to wear to Andy's work holiday party. I though the look of layering different camisoles was very sexy looking and was going to buy something along that lines. But as I tried stuff on I realized that 1) Things lay differently on a human body - more specifically, each human body - than they do on the mannequin, so some things just don't look as nice once you get them onto a real-life curvy body and 2) You need perky little breasts to really pull off the look or you NEED to wear a bra. So, the cute little tops I bought that are sheer in the back are just not going to work for me, as I need to wear a bra and I just can't get into having the back of my bra be visible (that was one thing that Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie would wear in Sex in the City that I just didn't like.)
I bought several different tops and am still not sure which one (or more likely - ones) that I will wear. I also ordered a couple of bras from Fredrick's of Hollywood and just received an email confirmation that they have shipped. Both are push-up bras. I have never bought a bra from them before and thought I would try them out - anyone buy their bras before? They are a little cheaper than Victoria's Secret. So, I guess we'll see. And maybe if they workout nice I'll buy one of their cute little outfits from them - maybe a nurse outfit. :)
Both Frederick’s & Victoria’s are having bra & panty sales, so it’s a good time to replace those old bras.
So, what I want is some kind of very supportive push-up shelf bra. I see those things that you are supposed just stick to your breasts and it holds them up. I bought some papery/disposable ones once they just sucked! My breasts were too large and the papery thing held up on the bottom, but I spilled over on the top. And I see they have ones that are made out of a silicone of some sort, although I have never tried those. Andy tells me he likes me best WITHOUT any bra at all (and without any top at all), but for most of my life I will be wearing a top (unless of course we decide to move to a nudist colony) and I want to a complimentary, sexy, supportive bra and I don't want to spend a small fortune on it either. So, we'll see how these new bras work and I'll let you know.
Andy told me the other day that I don't really show them off that much and I thought about that and tried to look through my clothes and find something low-cut, but in MN I am inclined to have the neckline go up. The next issue is that even if I had some nice low-cut tops I don't really have the bras to work with them. I buy pretty bras from Victoria's Secret, but I typically buy full coverage because there is nothing worse then feeling like you could just pop out of your (demi) bra. I have one bra that is a push-up one from Victoria's Secret. It's black, lacey, has enough coverage, and frankly - my breasts look awesome in that bra. It’s the Stretch Lace Classic Miracle Bra. Even though I already have a D-cup, some might wonder why the pushup. The pushup provides more support - there is more fabric and structure surrounding your breasts.
When you get to be a D-cup (and it might happen at a C-cup, but I can't imagine a B or A-cup having these same issues) you no longer can buy cute little wireless numbers. The wire in those bra cups helps provide much needed support, as well as prevents your breasts from heading further south as the bra travels north, leaving you with nothing other than bunches of fabric resting on tops of your breasts. If you don't have underwire, you MUST have a lot of elastic holding those babies in. After years of sports bras that start to sag quickly and just never hold your breasts in tight enough as you run (& cause your breasts to ache from bouncing too much and your hands to gravitate towards your breasts in order to hold them up and keep them from bouncing), I have finally (last year) found a bra that does the job. It is the Champion Jogbra Action-Shape Sports Bra.
The great thing about this bra is that there are 3 sets of 3 eye-hook closures, so there is no pulling it over your head and stretching it out, plus you make it the size you need around your ribcage, plus you can change the straps in length (pretty strong Velcro for this), and notice that the size only come in C, D or DD. This is a bra for larger breasts. I have 2 of these bras (in the periwinkle, actually) and I have had them for over a year. I used to use up a sports bra in about 6 months (and that is stretching it - literally.)
Ok - so back to the topic of support. I went shopping at Vanity yesterday and was trying to find a top to go with a skirt to wear to Andy's work holiday party. I though the look of layering different camisoles was very sexy looking and was going to buy something along that lines. But as I tried stuff on I realized that 1) Things lay differently on a human body - more specifically, each human body - than they do on the mannequin, so some things just don't look as nice once you get them onto a real-life curvy body and 2) You need perky little breasts to really pull off the look or you NEED to wear a bra. So, the cute little tops I bought that are sheer in the back are just not going to work for me, as I need to wear a bra and I just can't get into having the back of my bra be visible (that was one thing that Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie would wear in Sex in the City that I just didn't like.)
I bought several different tops and am still not sure which one (or more likely - ones) that I will wear. I also ordered a couple of bras from Fredrick's of Hollywood and just received an email confirmation that they have shipped. Both are push-up bras. I have never bought a bra from them before and thought I would try them out - anyone buy their bras before? They are a little cheaper than Victoria's Secret. So, I guess we'll see. And maybe if they workout nice I'll buy one of their cute little outfits from them - maybe a nurse outfit. :)
Both Frederick’s & Victoria’s are having bra & panty sales, so it’s a good time to replace those old bras.
So, what I want is some kind of very supportive push-up shelf bra. I see those things that you are supposed just stick to your breasts and it holds them up. I bought some papery/disposable ones once they just sucked! My breasts were too large and the papery thing held up on the bottom, but I spilled over on the top. And I see they have ones that are made out of a silicone of some sort, although I have never tried those. Andy tells me he likes me best WITHOUT any bra at all (and without any top at all), but for most of my life I will be wearing a top (unless of course we decide to move to a nudist colony) and I want to a complimentary, sexy, supportive bra and I don't want to spend a small fortune on it either. So, we'll see how these new bras work and I'll let you know.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Costa Rica Links
I've been doing some looking around and thought I would post some helpful links:
Photo Website to a couple that recently went there:
http://www.oboylephoto.com/costa_rica/
Forum about Costa Rica:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/forum?topic_id=25
Website of someone living in Costa Rica:
http://www.puravida.com/
Info about Costa Rica (incluing info about moving there): http://www.costarica.net/features/relocate.htm
UPDATED!!!! I had a wrong link in here and now they are hyperlinked.
Photo Website to a couple that recently went there:
http://www.oboylephoto.com/costa_rica/
Forum about Costa Rica:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/forum?topic_id=25
Website of someone living in Costa Rica:
http://www.puravida.com/
Info about Costa Rica (incluing info about moving there): http://www.costarica.net/features/relocate.htm
UPDATED!!!! I had a wrong link in here and now they are hyperlinked.
Comedian or not?
Take the quiz. Guess I could be a comedian, although I don't think that is path that is right for me. It's fine for some, I'll just support them by paying the cover charge to see their acts.
I was looking up this guy, as someone (Jeff Gerbino) from their comedy gallery is coming to our area at the end of January and I thought it might be interesting.
I was looking up this guy, as someone (Jeff Gerbino) from their comedy gallery is coming to our area at the end of January and I thought it might be interesting.
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Thursday, December 23, 2004
50 Top Foods to Eat B4 You Die
1. Fresh fish DONE
2. Lobster DONE
3. Steak DONE
4. Thai food
5. Chinese food DONE
6. Ice cream DONE
7. Pizza DONE
8. Crab DONE
9. Curry DONE
10. Prawns
11. Moreton Bay Bugs
12. Clam chowder DONE
13. Barbecues DONE
14. Pancakes DONE
15. Pasta DONE
16. Mussels DONE
17. Cheesecake DONE
18. Lamb DONE
19. Cream tea DONE
20. Alligator DONE
21. Oysters DONE
22. Kangaroo
23. Chocolate DONE
24. Sandwiches DONE
25. Greek food DONE
26. Burgers DONE
27. Mexican food DONE
28. Squid DONE
29. American diner breakfast DONE
30. Salmon DONE
31. Venison DONE
32. Guinea pig
33. Shark
34. Sushi DONE
35. Paella DONE
36. Barramundi
37. Reindeer
38. Kebab DONE
39. Scallops DONE
40. Australian meat pie
41. Mango DONE
42. Durian fruit
43. Octopus DONE
44. Ribs DONE
45. Roast beef DONE
46. Tapas
47. Jerk chicken/pork DONE
48. Haggis
49. Caviar DONE
50. Cornish pasty
So, it loosk like I still have some eating to do.
2. Lobster DONE
3. Steak DONE
4. Thai food
5. Chinese food DONE
6. Ice cream DONE
7. Pizza DONE
8. Crab DONE
9. Curry DONE
10. Prawns
11. Moreton Bay Bugs
12. Clam chowder DONE
13. Barbecues DONE
14. Pancakes DONE
15. Pasta DONE
16. Mussels DONE
17. Cheesecake DONE
18. Lamb DONE
19. Cream tea DONE
20. Alligator DONE
21. Oysters DONE
22. Kangaroo
23. Chocolate DONE
24. Sandwiches DONE
25. Greek food DONE
26. Burgers DONE
27. Mexican food DONE
28. Squid DONE
29. American diner breakfast DONE
30. Salmon DONE
31. Venison DONE
32. Guinea pig
33. Shark
34. Sushi DONE
35. Paella DONE
36. Barramundi
37. Reindeer
38. Kebab DONE
39. Scallops DONE
40. Australian meat pie
41. Mango DONE
42. Durian fruit
43. Octopus DONE
44. Ribs DONE
45. Roast beef DONE
46. Tapas
47. Jerk chicken/pork DONE
48. Haggis
49. Caviar DONE
50. Cornish pasty
So, it loosk like I still have some eating to do.
All the Stockings were Hung by the Chimney with Care
Andy & I opened a couple gifts early (we are opening the rest this afternoon). He got me Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 with a headset. Man - that has been fun. I sang my little heart out Tuesday night until Andy told me I had to come to bed at nearly 11:30. Then after work yesterday I came home I had to sing some more. I think I need to hold off for at least today, as my throat is a little hoarse. But I have to say that I do pretty well. I think I want to get the other 2 volumes & another headset so that I can whip this out at a party. Singing can be so much fun.
This afternoon we open the rest of our presents to each other before we head out to the in-laws for Christmas. So, tonight the festivities are at their place. Today at work/school (where I am now), we are watching National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation and having snack (for each of our periods - we have a 4-period day). I don't think I will need to watch that movie again for another year.
Tomorrow, we have to get up early to drive the 5.5 hours to my family. Good thing my youngest sister called the other day to ask about presents for my mom, as the xmas schedule was changed and we didn't know. Originally, we were planning on being there between 5-6pm for festivities in the evening, but we recently decided to be there at 2pm so we are there for kick-off (Packer/Viking Game). Although, I hear everyone else will be there earlier and be celebrating (& almost done by the time we get there). But with almost a 6 hour drive we aren't going to get up any earlier after a late night. We're not exactly thrilled about driving in below zero weather, but I guess that is what Christmas in the Midwest is about.
But I guess I haven't much to complain about, as a friend of mine who is one of 11 found out that all her sibs are getting together on Christmas and didn't even invite 2 of them (she being one of them). When she talked to one of her sister's about this her sister invited her to come over @ 4pm (turns out the festivities start at noon.) Bah Humbug!
And there is no school next week - woohoo! More time for me to stay home and sing.
This afternoon we open the rest of our presents to each other before we head out to the in-laws for Christmas. So, tonight the festivities are at their place. Today at work/school (where I am now), we are watching National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation and having snack (for each of our periods - we have a 4-period day). I don't think I will need to watch that movie again for another year.
Tomorrow, we have to get up early to drive the 5.5 hours to my family. Good thing my youngest sister called the other day to ask about presents for my mom, as the xmas schedule was changed and we didn't know. Originally, we were planning on being there between 5-6pm for festivities in the evening, but we recently decided to be there at 2pm so we are there for kick-off (Packer/Viking Game). Although, I hear everyone else will be there earlier and be celebrating (& almost done by the time we get there). But with almost a 6 hour drive we aren't going to get up any earlier after a late night. We're not exactly thrilled about driving in below zero weather, but I guess that is what Christmas in the Midwest is about.
But I guess I haven't much to complain about, as a friend of mine who is one of 11 found out that all her sibs are getting together on Christmas and didn't even invite 2 of them (she being one of them). When she talked to one of her sister's about this her sister invited her to come over @ 4pm (turns out the festivities start at noon.) Bah Humbug!
And there is no school next week - woohoo! More time for me to stay home and sing.
20/20
Yesterday, I had my one week follow-up on my eyes. Both eyes are seeing 20/20 and are healing very well. My eyes feel very good to me and My vision is very clear. I even notice that my night vision is getting better too. I am glad I did the surgery, even if I was a wimp that night of the surgery. We'll see if I am the same way after I have kids, although I am sure after the pain of childbirth goes away the kids will still challenge my sanity.
Monday, December 20, 2004
Ripley's Games
Go to their main website and then click on either dial-up or broadband, depending upon which you have. Then click on games. I am having fun with them. They are challenging. I can't get the IQ one, I got down to 2 balls, but that is not good enough, Bah!
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Top 100 Toys
These are the ones that I had: 1 (yes, with the banana seat), 8 (Yes, I am still mad at Al for throwing them all over my room & killing them), 13 (not sure that I had this, but I played with Steph's), 23 (I think this was Steph's, maybe Al's - but we had one & I got to play with it), 47 (actually got this as an adult), 62 (this was so much fun - remember playing this Steph), 69 (Ironic that Twister is # 69, but got this as an adult too), 71 (this was a gift from Santa to the whole family), 75 (had some Strawberry Shortcake stuff, but never enough for the whole village, so I had to settle with just smelling her hair), 79 (so much fun, I wonder if they ever made porn slides foe adults), 80 (I believe it was Steph who had this one too), 86 (another one bought as adult), 87 (another one I think we got from Santa for the family), 93 (not sure who had this in our family, I think it was Al). And that's it. I don't think Miranda had any of these, although I think the ones I actually had I bought myself as a kid or an adult.
New Words to a Timeless Classic
Check out the "12 Days of Christmas - Teenager Style". It's on a blog I like to read. Just click on the title above.
Almost Christmas
Friday started out with the 5:05 Club (the Happy Hour Club that meets once a month for the company I work for). I like to go to these because I am only at the clinic a couple times a month since I am based out of the school -- plus I like to have drinks. This month it was at this guy's house who is married to a Doctor, so of course they have a beautiful new house with beautiful furniture. It was a wine tasting theme and they had enough crystal wine glasses for all of us (which was almost 20.) That's gonna be a hard act to follow (& it's at my house in January.)
Andy went to a Timberwolves game with his friend Raoul and ended up drinking way too much and having to get a hotel room for the 2 of them rather than trying to make the hour trek back home (which may have resulted in him dying or getting a DWI.) So, needless to say the next day when we went out to Buca's with some friends, he was not very interested in having any wine with our abundance of Italian food.
After Buca's, I went with our friends to see "Flight of the Phoenix". That was a pretty intense movie. I recommend it.
Today, it was colder than a witch's tit, but I decided to go out anyways. I wanted to go to JC Penney to use this $10 coupon they sent and of course I found something for myself and would only end up paying $5 after the coupon, but then I spotted something else for Andy and bought it. I HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM STORES WHEN I AM DONE WITH MY XMAS SHOPPING. If I go shopping, I always end up buying more than I wanted to. It happens when I go grocery shopping too. I went to the grocery store today also to pick up 3 things, but walked out with my 3 items plus a canteloupe, a pineapple, cream of mushroom soup & some eggnog.
BTW - then I was out the bank thermometer said it was 2 degrees out. Where the hell is the damn snow if it is going to be this cold.
Andy went to a Timberwolves game with his friend Raoul and ended up drinking way too much and having to get a hotel room for the 2 of them rather than trying to make the hour trek back home (which may have resulted in him dying or getting a DWI.) So, needless to say the next day when we went out to Buca's with some friends, he was not very interested in having any wine with our abundance of Italian food.
After Buca's, I went with our friends to see "Flight of the Phoenix". That was a pretty intense movie. I recommend it.
Today, it was colder than a witch's tit, but I decided to go out anyways. I wanted to go to JC Penney to use this $10 coupon they sent and of course I found something for myself and would only end up paying $5 after the coupon, but then I spotted something else for Andy and bought it. I HAVE TO STAY AWAY FROM STORES WHEN I AM DONE WITH MY XMAS SHOPPING. If I go shopping, I always end up buying more than I wanted to. It happens when I go grocery shopping too. I went to the grocery store today also to pick up 3 things, but walked out with my 3 items plus a canteloupe, a pineapple, cream of mushroom soup & some eggnog.
BTW - then I was out the bank thermometer said it was 2 degrees out. Where the hell is the damn snow if it is going to be this cold.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Buying Bridesmaid Dresses Online?
Anyone out there have any experience buying bridesmaid dresses from an online company as a opposed to a brick and mortar bridal shop?
My youngest sister is getting married this summer and we found some dresses at a bridal shop and also found some online. The thing is -- the ones online are much cheaper, and who wants to spend a lot of money on something you will only wear once and will have beer stains on it by the end of the night anyways.
These look like the 3 dresses (online) that we are narrowed it down to:
http://store.yahoo.com/modernbridalshop/mlbriddreswi1.html
http://www.shopshop.com/1116.htm
http://www.cybernetplaza.com/page.asp?style=1007 (probably w/o the flower)
So - a few questions:
1) Which dress would you choose?
2) Have you had any experience buying bridesmaid dresses online?
3) If so, what were the dresses like? Were they nice or did they feel like they would call apart? Was the sizing accurate?
4) Do you have any expeience with any of the places we are looking at?
5) Any ideas where we can find if these places are reputable and others' experiences?
Thanks!
My youngest sister is getting married this summer and we found some dresses at a bridal shop and also found some online. The thing is -- the ones online are much cheaper, and who wants to spend a lot of money on something you will only wear once and will have beer stains on it by the end of the night anyways.
These look like the 3 dresses (online) that we are narrowed it down to:
http://store.yahoo.com/modernbridalshop/mlbriddreswi1.html
http://www.shopshop.com/1116.htm
http://www.cybernetplaza.com/page.asp?style=1007 (probably w/o the flower)
So - a few questions:
1) Which dress would you choose?
2) Have you had any experience buying bridesmaid dresses online?
3) If so, what were the dresses like? Were they nice or did they feel like they would call apart? Was the sizing accurate?
4) Do you have any expeience with any of the places we are looking at?
5) Any ideas where we can find if these places are reputable and others' experiences?
Thanks!
Friday, December 17, 2004
Follow-up
I wanted to reply to the comments, but for some reason the school identifies that as a "Chat Room".
I had my one-day follow-up yesterday a little while after my post and when my doctor examined my eyes she said they are healing nicely and couldn't even see the flap edges on my R eye until she turned her magnifying power to finally see it.
But my eyesight in my L eye is 20/20 right now and the R eye is 20/30. I guess usually the eyesight is more around the 20/30 or 20/40 the first day. So, they said I am doing really well.
My eyes have not been drying out (which I guess happens often). I am seeing great. I love waking up and seeing EVERYTHING.
The weird thing is not doing through my nightly rituals - you know - taking out the contacts, putting the glasses on to read and then taking them off again.
But I am very glad that I had it done. I only had pain that first day and none since then. So, I am VERY GLAD that I had it done.
I had my one-day follow-up yesterday a little while after my post and when my doctor examined my eyes she said they are healing nicely and couldn't even see the flap edges on my R eye until she turned her magnifying power to finally see it.
But my eyesight in my L eye is 20/20 right now and the R eye is 20/30. I guess usually the eyesight is more around the 20/30 or 20/40 the first day. So, they said I am doing really well.
My eyes have not been drying out (which I guess happens often). I am seeing great. I love waking up and seeing EVERYTHING.
The weird thing is not doing through my nightly rituals - you know - taking out the contacts, putting the glasses on to read and then taking them off again.
But I am very glad that I had it done. I only had pain that first day and none since then. So, I am VERY GLAD that I had it done.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Boozing Rules
There are 86 of them. Here are some of my faves:
If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.
Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks.
After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence.
If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge.
For every drink, there is a five percent better chance you will get in a fight. There is also a three percent better chance you will lose the fight.
If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.
Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks.
After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence.
If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge.
For every drink, there is a five percent better chance you will get in a fight. There is also a three percent better chance you will lose the fight.
I'm Not Going to Lie
I had my Lasik done yesterday and I'm not going to lie -- some things hurt. They informed me of some of the things people find uncomfortable so they don't scare me. The drops sting a tiny but, but it wasn't a big deal. The thing I really didn't like was the pressure thing. The right eye (1st one) was uncomfotable, but the left one just downright hurt. I almost thought my eye was going to be sucked out. The actual cutting and laser on my eye didn't hurt at all. When it was all done I could see - but not very clearly and felt kinda crappy. The most painful part (by far) was after. It was sunny out and even with eye patches and dark sunglasses the light was just too bright.
And you know how your eyes water (tears really) when light is too bright, well, that is what happened. And tears are basically salty water, so nothing like putting salt in your wounds. Shit! That burned, stung, hurt, you name it. And they just would not stop watering. When we got home I could not fall asleep (even with having taken the Valium) and even though I was in a dark room (except for the tv on - which I was not looking at, just listening too) my eyes kept watering. Eventually they stopped watering so much and returned calls to a couple friends that left messages to check on me, and then went to bed @ 9pm (should have really gone to bed earlier) and woke up at 7am.
It was so nice to be able to see the alarm clock. I went to work (am here now) and had to turn on only 1 sets of lights in the classroom as both sets are too bright. Have had a slight headache all day, but nothing major. I put in my drops and take my Aleve and all seems well. In about 20 minutes I have my 1 days follow-up Appt. to go to.
I told Andy I am not sure we should have children as I am too much of a wimp to go through the child birth - considering my whole time in the surgery room was 15 minutes and I was bitching about the tears in my eyes. I am not sure I can handle hours of pain paired with being cut and all the other stuff that goes along with having a baby.
I had also considered getting braces and had a consultation on that once and they told me they would have to remove a tooth or 2 to make room for the teeth to move. I am re-thinking that now. I gotta imagine removing a tooth is much more painful (although I have had all 4 wisdom teeth removed) than Lasik. To be honest, I think I have just turned into a wimp. Maybe I should look into vaneers. I don't know anything more about them - just what I see when I have watched "The Swan". But I want pretty teeth - I just don't want to have any taken away from me. I just don't like pain - plain & simple.
And you know how your eyes water (tears really) when light is too bright, well, that is what happened. And tears are basically salty water, so nothing like putting salt in your wounds. Shit! That burned, stung, hurt, you name it. And they just would not stop watering. When we got home I could not fall asleep (even with having taken the Valium) and even though I was in a dark room (except for the tv on - which I was not looking at, just listening too) my eyes kept watering. Eventually they stopped watering so much and returned calls to a couple friends that left messages to check on me, and then went to bed @ 9pm (should have really gone to bed earlier) and woke up at 7am.
It was so nice to be able to see the alarm clock. I went to work (am here now) and had to turn on only 1 sets of lights in the classroom as both sets are too bright. Have had a slight headache all day, but nothing major. I put in my drops and take my Aleve and all seems well. In about 20 minutes I have my 1 days follow-up Appt. to go to.
I told Andy I am not sure we should have children as I am too much of a wimp to go through the child birth - considering my whole time in the surgery room was 15 minutes and I was bitching about the tears in my eyes. I am not sure I can handle hours of pain paired with being cut and all the other stuff that goes along with having a baby.
I had also considered getting braces and had a consultation on that once and they told me they would have to remove a tooth or 2 to make room for the teeth to move. I am re-thinking that now. I gotta imagine removing a tooth is much more painful (although I have had all 4 wisdom teeth removed) than Lasik. To be honest, I think I have just turned into a wimp. Maybe I should look into vaneers. I don't know anything more about them - just what I see when I have watched "The Swan". But I want pretty teeth - I just don't want to have any taken away from me. I just don't like pain - plain & simple.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Pesky Zipper
So, I am searching the internet to find ways to work with my zipper on my nice big winter coat. I didn't exactly know what to look for and ended up finding some other interesting & helpful links in the process.
Earth Safe Household Tricks:
http://opossumsal.homestead.com/esht.html
Not sure if this is what I need: http://www.tipking.com/tip/4686.html
Not what I was looking for, but could be helpful to someone else: http://www.tutorials.com/04/0462/0462.asp?ugid=dHV0b3JpYWxz&cl=1857&se=7984
I think this is what I need to do :http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?rnav=info&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=644529&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10135
See, when I zip up my coat, some of the teeth are not grabbing together and then the zipper splits apart, and that is the last thing you want to happen when it is freaking cold out. Anyone have any hints or tips of their own to try?
Earth Safe Household Tricks:
http://opossumsal.homestead.com/esht.html
Not sure if this is what I need: http://www.tipking.com/tip/4686.html
Not what I was looking for, but could be helpful to someone else: http://www.tutorials.com/04/0462/0462.asp?ugid=dHV0b3JpYWxz&cl=1857&se=7984
I think this is what I need to do :http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?rnav=info&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=644529&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10135
See, when I zip up my coat, some of the teeth are not grabbing together and then the zipper splits apart, and that is the last thing you want to happen when it is freaking cold out. Anyone have any hints or tips of their own to try?
Movin' On Up
One of the people I work with in the classroom is a coach for wrestling and said that they are ranked #9 nationally this year (so far this season).
Check out the NHSCA rankings in the link. These are the national rankings from 2003 and Owatonna was listed #19.
Check out the NHSCA rankings in the link. These are the national rankings from 2003 and Owatonna was listed #19.
Too Much Time on His Hands
Check these out:
http://www.ericharshbarger.org/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?clock_5.jpg+lego/images/clock
http://www.ericharshbarger.org/lego/nativity.html
They are pretty neat though.
http://www.ericharshbarger.org/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?clock_5.jpg+lego/images/clock
http://www.ericharshbarger.org/lego/nativity.html
They are pretty neat though.
Create Your Own Religion
It's basically Mad Libs -- here is mine:
From the most happy regions of the spiritual plane, I have channeled the disembodied spirit of Grandma Hessil, bringing to you the wisdom and bamboo of the lost city of Philadelphia. To usher in the New Age of smiles you must heed my words and write lovely. The time is soon when the space cars of our galactic cousins will return and our collective redness will reach critical mass. The highest frequencies of the universe will spiral through the toe chakras of the worthy, and our 3rd navel shall be opened. But first we must look deep inside and accept our inner peace. We must feel the inner peace, become the inner peace, shake it as though it was a black-eyed peas. We must accept our karmic past, and, as our yogi master, Samantha, always says 'The true form of a music is actually a green color , but enlightenment is like a peaceful river on the wind'. For there is no right or wrong, no wind or anti-wind, only one great and omnipresent water.
From the most happy regions of the spiritual plane, I have channeled the disembodied spirit of Grandma Hessil, bringing to you the wisdom and bamboo of the lost city of Philadelphia. To usher in the New Age of smiles you must heed my words and write lovely. The time is soon when the space cars of our galactic cousins will return and our collective redness will reach critical mass. The highest frequencies of the universe will spiral through the toe chakras of the worthy, and our 3rd navel shall be opened. But first we must look deep inside and accept our inner peace. We must feel the inner peace, become the inner peace, shake it as though it was a black-eyed peas. We must accept our karmic past, and, as our yogi master, Samantha, always says 'The true form of a music is actually a green color , but enlightenment is like a peaceful river on the wind'. For there is no right or wrong, no wind or anti-wind, only one great and omnipresent water.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
A Weekend of Eating Out
Started out Friday afternoon with my work Xmas Party. I was on the committee, but most everything has to be the same year after year per the boss, but we get to pick out the food, buy the gift certificates, set things up & take them down, and plan out the game (I was really trying to have NO games, but the boss-man said we had to have one.) It was during the workday (3-5)so no alcohol. I really work in the school (my office is there) but am there on contract, so my employer is really an outside agency. So, the drinks came after. Then more drinks after that - Andy & my friend Kate & I went to the Muni (our little town's municipal bar) and had drinks & a pizza. Then we went to her house & watched "Dodgeball" - that movie is just so funny.
Yesterday I went & tried out for a part in the Community Theater (tryouts were yesterday & today). They actually had me read for 3 parts in "The Diary of Anne Frank", so we'll see how everything goes. I should hear if I get a part in the next couple of days. Then went grocery shopping, then out to eat at this place called Lord Essex's Tavern, then shopping at the mall, and then home and did some yoga.
Today I did my walking & jogging workout then we met some friends @ Benihana's. Damn that food is so good. I had the Seafood Diablo. Very yummy and there is leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. We go there once a year with a couple of my friends from grad school. While in grad school we would go after every semester to celebrate that we finished another semester, but now that we own houses and are starting families, it's just too expensive to be going there that often, plus we have homes that we like to host dinner parties in.
I guess that's it. Just a lot of eating & drinking.
Yesterday I went & tried out for a part in the Community Theater (tryouts were yesterday & today). They actually had me read for 3 parts in "The Diary of Anne Frank", so we'll see how everything goes. I should hear if I get a part in the next couple of days. Then went grocery shopping, then out to eat at this place called Lord Essex's Tavern, then shopping at the mall, and then home and did some yoga.
Today I did my walking & jogging workout then we met some friends @ Benihana's. Damn that food is so good. I had the Seafood Diablo. Very yummy and there is leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. We go there once a year with a couple of my friends from grad school. While in grad school we would go after every semester to celebrate that we finished another semester, but now that we own houses and are starting families, it's just too expensive to be going there that often, plus we have homes that we like to host dinner parties in.
I guess that's it. Just a lot of eating & drinking.
Surveys about Religion
Here's one that is just basically a poll and after you fill in your answers you can see how you compare to others:
http://www.survey.net/sv-rlg.htm
Here's a survey being conducted by a school that is doing a study - what a nice way to help them out by getting more people to answer their questions on religion & music.
http://students.haverford.edu/evanders/survey1.html
This is closer to what I was looking for:
http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=27
My score on this one was:
50 - 59
Spiritual Straddler – One foot in traditional religion, one foot in free-form spirituality. They have a bunch of other quizzes here too: http://www.beliefnet.com/features/quiz/
My Vatsu: http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=99
I am a Kapha.
http://www.survey.net/sv-rlg.htm
Here's a survey being conducted by a school that is doing a study - what a nice way to help them out by getting more people to answer their questions on religion & music.
http://students.haverford.edu/evanders/survey1.html
This is closer to what I was looking for:
http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=27
My score on this one was:
50 - 59
Spiritual Straddler – One foot in traditional religion, one foot in free-form spirituality. They have a bunch of other quizzes here too: http://www.beliefnet.com/features/quiz/
My Vatsu: http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=99
I am a Kapha.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Froggy Penis?
So - I saw this link from another site. They posted it 'cuz it's a ring tone you can download for your cell phone. But what the hell kind of crazy-ass frog is that? And is that a little froggy penis there?
Learn to Swear in Every Language
So, in case I ever move to Costa Rica - I can learn how to swear in Costa Rican (which they speak Spanish, but we all know that each Spanish speaking country has their own words for many different things.)
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Phew.....
Xmas letter is written. Cards filled out. Envelopes addressed and mostly stamped. It always seems I have more cards to send than stamps. Oh well, I got some sent out and will have to get to the PO to get more (another thing to procrastinate.)
Sunday, December 05, 2004
What Social Status Are You?
I have scored the result of Upper Middle Class. No big surprise there.
You scored as Upper middle Class. Your determination have soared you this high, yet not high enough to enjoy the luxuries of the upper class. Your most valued posession is your country club membership which is kept framed in the office.
What Social Status are you? created with QuizFarm.com |
I'm Tired.
Wow! I have accomplished A LOT this weekend and I am tired, but no rest for the weary yet because I still need to make supper and workout on the treadmill.
Friday after work I came home and took a nap until Andy was home from work. Then we went out to eat at Pizza Hut. I can't even remember the last time we went out to eat for pizza. It's not we get it delivered either because our town is small and the nearest town doesn't have places that will deliver to us. Usually we just pick up something from Papa Murphy's and bake it at home or make a good 'ole frozen pizza if we are in the mood for a pizza. After the pizza we went to the movies and saw "The Incredibles". I heard good reviews of it and whenever that happens the movie never lives up to my expectations. My biggest complaint about the movie is that they make it look like you can bounce back from getting old and fat easily & quickly enough and still save the day. There is going to be a whole generation of kids that think they can get all chubby as they get older and do a few sit-ups and you are back to your high school weight. Bah.
Saturday I got up early and went with some friends to this "Mini-Spa Day" at the YMCA. It started out with Yoga (which was a let down because it was an aerobics yoga - basically aerobics using yoga poses. It was not at all like anything I had ever done and I have been doing yoga for several years. A couple of the people that we went with had never done yoga and we had to convince them that was not yoga.) After the yoga was some Qi Gong, which was nice and relaxed and enjoyable. Next was a smoothie break (Caribbean Blend was the flavor - these were yummy.) After that an Aveda spa was there giving chair massages and hand massages (you got to pick one) and then you could go use the pool area (sauna, pool, whirlpool). So, I got a chair massage (they were short, but nice) and then went into the whirlpool & pool. After that was a light lunch of wraps, veggies & dip, apples, & bottled water. It was a nice lunch. Finally there was a little workshop/class on becoming stress-free for the holidays. I couldn't get into it because the same person doing this was the aerobics instructor who did the crazy-ass paced yoga. She spoke so quickly that it just made your brain spin, and when she did her guided imagery she slowed down a little bit - but was pacing around the room rather quickly and you could here this and it was pissing me off. Anyways - her 1 hour class was finished in about 40 minutes - cutting off 1/3 of the time.
That night Andy & I went to this coffee shop called Javalive in a nearby town. It's a neat place. It's pretty big and they have a large assortment of mismatched couches, occasional chairs, coffee tables & end tables, and dining tables & chairs by the stage. The entertainment Saturday night was the local brass quartet. They were performing their Xmas concert. It was nice (& I had a HUGE hot cocoa while I listened & read my magazine.)
I was up by 8AM today (which is early when I don't HAVE to get up for anything). I spent the day making shortbread cookies, gingerbread men, & fudge. I also made a crap load of homemade gifts for friends & my volleyball team. I figure I spent about 6 hours making gifts and now I am exhausted.
Friday after work I came home and took a nap until Andy was home from work. Then we went out to eat at Pizza Hut. I can't even remember the last time we went out to eat for pizza. It's not we get it delivered either because our town is small and the nearest town doesn't have places that will deliver to us. Usually we just pick up something from Papa Murphy's and bake it at home or make a good 'ole frozen pizza if we are in the mood for a pizza. After the pizza we went to the movies and saw "The Incredibles". I heard good reviews of it and whenever that happens the movie never lives up to my expectations. My biggest complaint about the movie is that they make it look like you can bounce back from getting old and fat easily & quickly enough and still save the day. There is going to be a whole generation of kids that think they can get all chubby as they get older and do a few sit-ups and you are back to your high school weight. Bah.
Saturday I got up early and went with some friends to this "Mini-Spa Day" at the YMCA. It started out with Yoga (which was a let down because it was an aerobics yoga - basically aerobics using yoga poses. It was not at all like anything I had ever done and I have been doing yoga for several years. A couple of the people that we went with had never done yoga and we had to convince them that was not yoga.) After the yoga was some Qi Gong, which was nice and relaxed and enjoyable. Next was a smoothie break (Caribbean Blend was the flavor - these were yummy.) After that an Aveda spa was there giving chair massages and hand massages (you got to pick one) and then you could go use the pool area (sauna, pool, whirlpool). So, I got a chair massage (they were short, but nice) and then went into the whirlpool & pool. After that was a light lunch of wraps, veggies & dip, apples, & bottled water. It was a nice lunch. Finally there was a little workshop/class on becoming stress-free for the holidays. I couldn't get into it because the same person doing this was the aerobics instructor who did the crazy-ass paced yoga. She spoke so quickly that it just made your brain spin, and when she did her guided imagery she slowed down a little bit - but was pacing around the room rather quickly and you could here this and it was pissing me off. Anyways - her 1 hour class was finished in about 40 minutes - cutting off 1/3 of the time.
That night Andy & I went to this coffee shop called Javalive in a nearby town. It's a neat place. It's pretty big and they have a large assortment of mismatched couches, occasional chairs, coffee tables & end tables, and dining tables & chairs by the stage. The entertainment Saturday night was the local brass quartet. They were performing their Xmas concert. It was nice (& I had a HUGE hot cocoa while I listened & read my magazine.)
I was up by 8AM today (which is early when I don't HAVE to get up for anything). I spent the day making shortbread cookies, gingerbread men, & fudge. I also made a crap load of homemade gifts for friends & my volleyball team. I figure I spent about 6 hours making gifts and now I am exhausted.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Just Call Me Ellen!
Ellen Who? Why - Ellen DeGeneres. Not because I am not a lesbian or a talk-show host or even consider myself all that funny. But have you seen the commercials where she "dances to the beat of a different drum" -- you know those ads that she is dancing around and the music keeps changing and you really think that maybe it is an ad for an iPod, but it turns out it is American Express, and then you think what the hell does Ellen dancing around have to do with American Express.
So, you are wondering why I am asking you to call me Ellen - well, it is because I am a dancing fool. Andy & I just finished about 32 minutes of DDR2 and I basically sucked at it. (DDR2 is Dance Dance Revolution 2, it's a game/workout game using a pad you step on that is through the PS2.) I didn't trip of anything; I'm just not very good at hitting the arrows (steps) when I am supposed to. I think I just dance to the beat of a different drum (hence, Ellen.) Andy was a dancing pro. It is amazing how well he does on it. I think the years of marching band really paid off for him.
My time served having to march in band was served in the middle of the row so that I was not really seen. I didn't care much for keeping in step; I cared more about not stepping in the horse shit from the float that was before us. I wasn't exactly all that talented in my musical instrument playing either. I was in band because my friends were, I enjoyed pep band, and frankly just enjoyed music, as well as being a kid liked the positive attention I got from my grandfather who played the same instrument. Remember those days when you were young and tried hard to impress your parents & grandparents, but then we grew into the teenagers that tried hard to pretend we didn't want to impress them anymore and just wanted them to leave us alone, and then into the college students who were so far away and didn't want to be alone, and then into the adults that turned out (even though we swore as teenagers) to be just like those parents.
I am not sure that I feel confident in saying that I did anything in high school because I was "talented" in it. I did things either because I found them fun or I wanted to be social or a combination of the two. Any talents I had or had developed kind of fell second to being social. I was pretty involved in high school. It was a small high school and it was hard not to be in many different things and for me, it was hard not to be involved in everything because it all presented an opportunity to be social (band, cheerleading, FHA, volleyball, Speech, EVERYTHING!).
Back to the out of step thing. I got to say that I hate when people REALLY want you to do some line dancing at a wedding or whatever. My body just wants to move when & where it wants and it doesn't always exactly coincide with the rest of the coordinated dancers. I love to dance, but I could never be one of those back-up dancers, well, maybe for Rod Stewart. His backup dancers just move from side to side. Their dancing ability is not exactly what is on show, it the long perfect legs, long blond hair, and large hooters. So, maybe I can't be a backup dancer for him as well. I guess it is jus as well that I went into a profession where I sit on my ass listening to people.
Now, back to Ellen. I found this quote of hers, "Friends will write me letters. They run out of room on the front of the letter. They write 'over' on the bottom of the letter. Like I'm that much of a moron. Like I need that there. Because if it wasn't there, I'd get to the bottom of the page: 'And so Kathy and I went shopping and we--' That's the craziest thing! I don't know why she would just end it that way." I think it is funny, because I remember as a teenager writing my friends (probably even as a college student) and putting over with the little arrow at the bottom of the letter. Was I passively trying to insult their intelligence? You know, I am really not so sure that I don't still do that today, although with the blessing (usually!) of the internet I very rarely have to whip out the 'ole quill and ink.
Crank up the tunes!
So, you are wondering why I am asking you to call me Ellen - well, it is because I am a dancing fool. Andy & I just finished about 32 minutes of DDR2 and I basically sucked at it. (DDR2 is Dance Dance Revolution 2, it's a game/workout game using a pad you step on that is through the PS2.) I didn't trip of anything; I'm just not very good at hitting the arrows (steps) when I am supposed to. I think I just dance to the beat of a different drum (hence, Ellen.) Andy was a dancing pro. It is amazing how well he does on it. I think the years of marching band really paid off for him.
My time served having to march in band was served in the middle of the row so that I was not really seen. I didn't care much for keeping in step; I cared more about not stepping in the horse shit from the float that was before us. I wasn't exactly all that talented in my musical instrument playing either. I was in band because my friends were, I enjoyed pep band, and frankly just enjoyed music, as well as being a kid liked the positive attention I got from my grandfather who played the same instrument. Remember those days when you were young and tried hard to impress your parents & grandparents, but then we grew into the teenagers that tried hard to pretend we didn't want to impress them anymore and just wanted them to leave us alone, and then into the college students who were so far away and didn't want to be alone, and then into the adults that turned out (even though we swore as teenagers) to be just like those parents.
I am not sure that I feel confident in saying that I did anything in high school because I was "talented" in it. I did things either because I found them fun or I wanted to be social or a combination of the two. Any talents I had or had developed kind of fell second to being social. I was pretty involved in high school. It was a small high school and it was hard not to be in many different things and for me, it was hard not to be involved in everything because it all presented an opportunity to be social (band, cheerleading, FHA, volleyball, Speech, EVERYTHING!).
Back to the out of step thing. I got to say that I hate when people REALLY want you to do some line dancing at a wedding or whatever. My body just wants to move when & where it wants and it doesn't always exactly coincide with the rest of the coordinated dancers. I love to dance, but I could never be one of those back-up dancers, well, maybe for Rod Stewart. His backup dancers just move from side to side. Their dancing ability is not exactly what is on show, it the long perfect legs, long blond hair, and large hooters. So, maybe I can't be a backup dancer for him as well. I guess it is jus as well that I went into a profession where I sit on my ass listening to people.
Now, back to Ellen. I found this quote of hers, "Friends will write me letters. They run out of room on the front of the letter. They write 'over' on the bottom of the letter. Like I'm that much of a moron. Like I need that there. Because if it wasn't there, I'd get to the bottom of the page: 'And so Kathy and I went shopping and we--' That's the craziest thing! I don't know why she would just end it that way." I think it is funny, because I remember as a teenager writing my friends (probably even as a college student) and putting over with the little arrow at the bottom of the letter. Was I passively trying to insult their intelligence? You know, I am really not so sure that I don't still do that today, although with the blessing (usually!) of the internet I very rarely have to whip out the 'ole quill and ink.
Crank up the tunes!
Condom Size
The average penis size:
"The study found the average erect penis size was 14.7 cm (5-3/4 inches), with 40 percent of participants reporting lengths between 12 and 15 cm (4-3/4 and 5-7/8 inches)."
Now - the average condom size:
"When compared with the condoms normally used by the participants, the results showed only 18 percent wore the right size, with nearly half squeezing into condoms that were too small and 34 percent trying to use those that were too big. "
So - from the sounds of it, too many guys were buying "Magnum" when then needed regualr, or even worse, they were buying regular when they needed something smaller. Yikes!
"The study found the average erect penis size was 14.7 cm (5-3/4 inches), with 40 percent of participants reporting lengths between 12 and 15 cm (4-3/4 and 5-7/8 inches)."
Now - the average condom size:
"When compared with the condoms normally used by the participants, the results showed only 18 percent wore the right size, with nearly half squeezing into condoms that were too small and 34 percent trying to use those that were too big. "
So - from the sounds of it, too many guys were buying "Magnum" when then needed regualr, or even worse, they were buying regular when they needed something smaller. Yikes!
Hope for Molly
I am not sure if she could actually do this. As I type this she is on the floor rolling on her ball. For some reason she enjoys rolling all over her toys.
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
The Big "S" Word
It's not as bad as it sounds. It's elective surgery - lasik. I had a bunch of pre-screening tests done and I am a candidate. I still have a couple more tests to do the day of the surgery and
I could still be turned away, but so far so good. My surgery is scheduled for December 15th.
Yesterday was my pre-screening exam and I had this eye dilation thingy. It was my second one in a month, although this one was a stronger solution. It was really weird having this stuff put in my eyes. I felt kinda woozy and kinda felt like I was drunk. My appointment was at 2:30, and my eyes were finally not dialted 24 hours later. The whole dilation thing was weird 'cuz I couldn't see things up close without extreme blurring. So - I spent the night sitting on the couch watching tv.
I could still be turned away, but so far so good. My surgery is scheduled for December 15th.
Yesterday was my pre-screening exam and I had this eye dilation thingy. It was my second one in a month, although this one was a stronger solution. It was really weird having this stuff put in my eyes. I felt kinda woozy and kinda felt like I was drunk. My appointment was at 2:30, and my eyes were finally not dialted 24 hours later. The whole dilation thing was weird 'cuz I couldn't see things up close without extreme blurring. So - I spent the night sitting on the couch watching tv.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
The Long Weekend
Well, it is the end of another weekend - but this one having started on Wednesday evening. It started out with a happy hour/party at 3pm (since that is when I am done with work.) Then progressed to karokee at a local hotel bar where I sang a couple of songs ("Baby Got Back" & "Goodbye Earl".) After not much to eat the entire day and mixing glasses of wine with hard liqour, I started Thanksgiving day with a bit of a headache.
Andy & I have retained Thanksgiving as "our" holiday and stayed home. So, it was up to us on when we actually wanted to celebrate & actually shower & change out of our pajamas. By about 3pm, we were eating a moist turkey breast, veggies, A LOT of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, stuffing, fruit, and pie. It was a very good dinner if I say so myself. It was also very calm and relaxed and we didn't have to leave the house.
Friday morning started early with shopping at Menards, Kmart, JC Penney, GAP, & Nike (also stops at Sears & Target - but didn't buy anything there.) Then I came home and wrapped presents. That evening we put up the tree and it is a mighty fine looking tree. I bought my last couple of presents online and I AM OFFICIALLY DONE SHOPPING (disclaimer: I am done with MY shopping, which does not mean that I will not get calls from my brother or father to pick up some xmas presents for them.)
Saturday was spent at home most of the day doing the traditional weekend things (laundry, dishes, etc.) Then I went with Kate & my neighbor Mary to see Casablanca Orchestra at Spike's & play some pool (I always manage to lose by putting the eight ball in or scratching when I was putting the 8-ball in). There was just too many people smoking awful cigarettes, so we didn't for the whole show.
Today - another day mostly at home. Spent quite a bit of time day dreaming about going to Costa Rica and started looking up some Costa Rican recipes (as well as Italian recipes for a friend's dinner party later this month). Then I just had to go shopping & buy groceries so that I could make us a dinner of traditional Costa Rican food which included: Black Bean Soup, Gallo Pinto, & Chicken in Mushroom Sauce. I also prepared some Ceviche which we will eat later. It was a very good dinner, with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Yummy.
Andy & I have retained Thanksgiving as "our" holiday and stayed home. So, it was up to us on when we actually wanted to celebrate & actually shower & change out of our pajamas. By about 3pm, we were eating a moist turkey breast, veggies, A LOT of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, stuffing, fruit, and pie. It was a very good dinner if I say so myself. It was also very calm and relaxed and we didn't have to leave the house.
Friday morning started early with shopping at Menards, Kmart, JC Penney, GAP, & Nike (also stops at Sears & Target - but didn't buy anything there.) Then I came home and wrapped presents. That evening we put up the tree and it is a mighty fine looking tree. I bought my last couple of presents online and I AM OFFICIALLY DONE SHOPPING (disclaimer: I am done with MY shopping, which does not mean that I will not get calls from my brother or father to pick up some xmas presents for them.)
Saturday was spent at home most of the day doing the traditional weekend things (laundry, dishes, etc.) Then I went with Kate & my neighbor Mary to see Casablanca Orchestra at Spike's & play some pool (I always manage to lose by putting the eight ball in or scratching when I was putting the 8-ball in). There was just too many people smoking awful cigarettes, so we didn't for the whole show.
Today - another day mostly at home. Spent quite a bit of time day dreaming about going to Costa Rica and started looking up some Costa Rican recipes (as well as Italian recipes for a friend's dinner party later this month). Then I just had to go shopping & buy groceries so that I could make us a dinner of traditional Costa Rican food which included: Black Bean Soup, Gallo Pinto, & Chicken in Mushroom Sauce. I also prepared some Ceviche which we will eat later. It was a very good dinner, with leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Yummy.
Just In Case
So - who is those marketed to? Is it the Do-It-Yourselfers? Or is for those that will need it in a pinch?
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Additions to Andy's Xmas List
He sent me an email requesting that these items be added to his xmas list. Check them out for yourself:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-9031602-8093442?asin=0823916839
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-9031602-8093442?asin=B00005661X
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-9031602-8093442?asin=0823916839
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-9031602-8093442?asin=B00005661X
Friday, November 26, 2004
Costa Rica Trip
Ok - got places booked. We are staying for 8 nights/ 9 days. I still have to rent the car yet. I am so pumped for this trip.
Here is where we are staying:
First 3 nights: (In Tilaren, on Lake Arenal)
http://www.hotel-tilawa.com/
We are staying in a suite here. With the suite we have a dining/kitchen area and both lake & garden views. The volcano (Arenal) is across the lake, so we should have a good view. Queen beds, which is nice. No food included in the rates, but there is a restaurant here, as well as a microbrewery. They rent stuff for windsurfing & kiteboarding, but we don't do that. Plus they also have a skate park there - but we don't do that either. But they do have a pool & Hot Spring Spa - and both of those we will do. We are really looking forward to staying here. While here we plan on going to the vlcano, as well as the rainforest.
Next 4 nights: (In Playa Grande, by Tamarindo)
http://www.hotelitosisisi.com
This seems like a nice, private place. They only have 4 rooms, with queen beds. I hate how when you travel and get stuck with 2 doubles in a room. Each room has a terrance & private entrance to the pool. That's a nice bonus. Gotta have the pool when we are on a warm weather trip. This place is on the Pacific Ocean, but not all places are on good swimming beaches, so you gotta make sure you have the pool. Plus a jacuzzi here too. A full breakfast is included which is nice, and there is s fridge in the room. I like th fridge 'cuz Andy & I like to go buy local fruits & pastries and whatever else we find and it's nice to have a place to keep it cold. And this place has a bar & beach club too.
Last Day: (In Liberia)
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=70606
This is a Best Western. We are only renting a car for a week, so we thought it wise to stay in the same town as the airport so the cab fair isn't too bad. Although cab fair is pretty cheap (compared to the US, and the bus is very cheap! You can take a 4.5 hour bus ride from San Jose to Tilaren for $5 WOW!) This place is a hotel & casino. They have a bar & restaurant, which is nice. 2 pools & exercise facility. A full breakfast & entertainment.
Here is a map of Costa Rica so that you can see where these places are.
http://centralamerica.com/cr/maps/mapcosta.htm
Here is where we are staying:
First 3 nights: (In Tilaren, on Lake Arenal)
http://www.hotel-tilawa.com/
We are staying in a suite here. With the suite we have a dining/kitchen area and both lake & garden views. The volcano (Arenal) is across the lake, so we should have a good view. Queen beds, which is nice. No food included in the rates, but there is a restaurant here, as well as a microbrewery. They rent stuff for windsurfing & kiteboarding, but we don't do that. Plus they also have a skate park there - but we don't do that either. But they do have a pool & Hot Spring Spa - and both of those we will do. We are really looking forward to staying here. While here we plan on going to the vlcano, as well as the rainforest.
Next 4 nights: (In Playa Grande, by Tamarindo)
http://www.hotelitosisisi.com
This seems like a nice, private place. They only have 4 rooms, with queen beds. I hate how when you travel and get stuck with 2 doubles in a room. Each room has a terrance & private entrance to the pool. That's a nice bonus. Gotta have the pool when we are on a warm weather trip. This place is on the Pacific Ocean, but not all places are on good swimming beaches, so you gotta make sure you have the pool. Plus a jacuzzi here too. A full breakfast is included which is nice, and there is s fridge in the room. I like th fridge 'cuz Andy & I like to go buy local fruits & pastries and whatever else we find and it's nice to have a place to keep it cold. And this place has a bar & beach club too.
Last Day: (In Liberia)
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=70606
This is a Best Western. We are only renting a car for a week, so we thought it wise to stay in the same town as the airport so the cab fair isn't too bad. Although cab fair is pretty cheap (compared to the US, and the bus is very cheap! You can take a 4.5 hour bus ride from San Jose to Tilaren for $5 WOW!) This place is a hotel & casino. They have a bar & restaurant, which is nice. 2 pools & exercise facility. A full breakfast & entertainment.
Here is a map of Costa Rica so that you can see where these places are.
http://centralamerica.com/cr/maps/mapcosta.htm
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Build a Better Bush
Found this link through this blog: http://notnkansas.blogspot.com/2004/11/build-your-own-bush.html#comments
It's some great stuff. Lots of laughs.
It's some great stuff. Lots of laughs.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Without Makeup, No Airbrushing, & Old
Some of these pics are just scary. Technology can make all these stars appear even more perfect and flawless than they really are, but it can also make them butt ugly & gross.
The one of Pamela Anderson is just great!
I think the one of a bruised Ben Affleck might be real!
Jennifer Aniston is truly scary in the pic of her.
The one of Pamela Anderson is just great!
I think the one of a bruised Ben Affleck might be real!
Jennifer Aniston is truly scary in the pic of her.
Andy's Christmas List of What NOT to Get
Can you see my husband in these? It makes me laugh. I wish I could out his picture in these outfits. He would look like the Pimp Mac Daddy, or a circus clown. Whichever you prefer.
Some People Have Too Much Time on Their Hands
And obviously I have too much time if I am reading & posting this link.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Floating Bed?
So What happens when you are drunk and this the room is spinning and you REALLY ARE?
Plus - how can you ge in & out of bed to go to the bathroom or whatever and not wake up the other person. I think I will pass.
Plus - how can you ge in & out of bed to go to the bathroom or whatever and not wake up the other person. I think I will pass.
What Every Man Should Know
The article is out of Maxim. These are some of my favorites:
Why girth beats length
Most of the vagina’s nerve endings are in its outermost third. As long as you’re not lost in your own pubic hair, you’re probably long enough.
How to keep her pregnancy-free
A woman’s most fertile in the middle of her menstrual cycle, meaning she’s least likely to get pregnant if you bang her just before or just after her period. Particularly if there’s a condom or two on your johnson.
10 things we shouldn’t have to tell you
Dance lessons are for girls.
You can have long hair, you can have a mustache, and you can wear a pink shirt, but not all three at the same time.
Eggs, corned-beef hash, and Tabasco sauce is the breakfast of the gods.
The Godfather and The Godfather Part II were glorious and magnificent; The Godfather Part III reeked like a burning house made of chicken shit and stuffed with dead dogs.
The button on the fly of your boxer shorts is just for show.
When smashing a beer can on your forehead, don’t forget to pinch the sides before making contact. Otherwise you’ll end up with an embarrassing “reverse coaster” on your noggin that will outlast the hangover.
You flip a steak one time—and one time only.
Don’t help a woman knock your pals. Ever.
In reality, Godzilla would beat King Kong’s butt six ways to Sunday. No questions, no contest, just a brutal, one-sided hairy-ass-kicking.
Protect the testicles.
Why girth beats length
Most of the vagina’s nerve endings are in its outermost third. As long as you’re not lost in your own pubic hair, you’re probably long enough.
How to keep her pregnancy-free
A woman’s most fertile in the middle of her menstrual cycle, meaning she’s least likely to get pregnant if you bang her just before or just after her period. Particularly if there’s a condom or two on your johnson.
10 things we shouldn’t have to tell you
Dance lessons are for girls.
You can have long hair, you can have a mustache, and you can wear a pink shirt, but not all three at the same time.
Eggs, corned-beef hash, and Tabasco sauce is the breakfast of the gods.
The Godfather and The Godfather Part II were glorious and magnificent; The Godfather Part III reeked like a burning house made of chicken shit and stuffed with dead dogs.
The button on the fly of your boxer shorts is just for show.
When smashing a beer can on your forehead, don’t forget to pinch the sides before making contact. Otherwise you’ll end up with an embarrassing “reverse coaster” on your noggin that will outlast the hangover.
You flip a steak one time—and one time only.
Don’t help a woman knock your pals. Ever.
In reality, Godzilla would beat King Kong’s butt six ways to Sunday. No questions, no contest, just a brutal, one-sided hairy-ass-kicking.
Protect the testicles.
Sunday, November 21, 2004
Book Swap - Online - Interesting Concept
So - on this site you list 5 books you are willing to swap and 5 books you want to receive.
Ok did that - next.
It gives you the matches for the books you listed that you are swapping away and you get the persons email address and are supposed to contact them to make a swap - although the book they are offering is not necessarily the ones you wanted (but they are ones that they had on their receive list).
So, you are giving them the book they want and you get something else from them in return and eventually when something is listed that is what you want - that person will get your email address.
Not sure how effecient this is or if I will ever receive the titles I wanted.
Ok did that - next.
It gives you the matches for the books you listed that you are swapping away and you get the persons email address and are supposed to contact them to make a swap - although the book they are offering is not necessarily the ones you wanted (but they are ones that they had on their receive list).
So, you are giving them the book they want and you get something else from them in return and eventually when something is listed that is what you want - that person will get your email address.
Not sure how effecient this is or if I will ever receive the titles I wanted.
Let Them Sing It For You!
This is an intersting site. You type in the words you want sung & email it to someone and what the program for this site does is find these words in other songs and puts them together to make your own new song.
If you use a word that it does not recognize it puts in a bleep. I sent one to Andy and it was funny.
If you use a word that it does not recognize it puts in a bleep. I sent one to Andy and it was funny.
Free Wake-Up Call on Black Friday!
Linked Above. This is compliments of Target and you can choose to wake up to:
Ice T
Cheech
Heidi Klum
Lord Vader
Dennis (a chicken)
Woman w/ Cat
Mini Diva (little girl)
Heartbreaker (I think I'll pass on this one)
Crying Baby
Urban Thunder (construction worker)
Very interesting. I wonder how many people will use this just as a wake up and not to go shopping.
Ice T
Cheech
Heidi Klum
Lord Vader
Dennis (a chicken)
Woman w/ Cat
Mini Diva (little girl)
Heartbreaker (I think I'll pass on this one)
Crying Baby
Urban Thunder (construction worker)
Very interesting. I wonder how many people will use this just as a wake up and not to go shopping.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
Wicked Small Games
Andy turned me on to this website linked above.
Although I have to admit that my favorite is Tower Blaster, although I have not played many of the other games, but they are always worth knowing about if you need to kill some time.
Here is a direct link to Tower Blaster (like the game Racko) if yo uwant to give it a shot.
http://www.grab.com/games/view.php?game=208
Once -- I was able to get to level 7, but alas did not pass it.
Although I have to admit that my favorite is Tower Blaster, although I have not played many of the other games, but they are always worth knowing about if you need to kill some time.
Here is a direct link to Tower Blaster (like the game Racko) if yo uwant to give it a shot.
http://www.grab.com/games/view.php?game=208
Once -- I was able to get to level 7, but alas did not pass it.
White Trash Recipes
That is the actual name of this of a section of this website linked above.
Here is one of my faves (really - I do like this!): Tater Tot Hotdish
http://yumfood.net/recipes/tatertothotdish.html
Here is one for a recipe called "White Trash", although I think this is the same thing as "Puppy Chow" http://yumfood.net/recipes/whitetrash.html .
I didn't realize that this was a white trash recipe - a recipe for Deep Fried Candy Bars. They sell these at the State Fair, although I have never had one, but I guess I could make them now.
http://yumfood.net/recipes/deepfriedmars.html
And Ambrosia Salad - that I eat too. It seems like someone at EVERY picnic I have ever attended has brought this. I think you can even buy this in the deli at the supermarket. http://yumfood.net/recipes/ambrosia.html
Here is one of my faves (really - I do like this!): Tater Tot Hotdish
http://yumfood.net/recipes/tatertothotdish.html
Here is one for a recipe called "White Trash", although I think this is the same thing as "Puppy Chow" http://yumfood.net/recipes/whitetrash.html .
I didn't realize that this was a white trash recipe - a recipe for Deep Fried Candy Bars. They sell these at the State Fair, although I have never had one, but I guess I could make them now.
http://yumfood.net/recipes/deepfriedmars.html
And Ambrosia Salad - that I eat too. It seems like someone at EVERY picnic I have ever attended has brought this. I think you can even buy this in the deli at the supermarket. http://yumfood.net/recipes/ambrosia.html
Friday, November 19, 2004
WE'RE GOING TO COSTA RICA!
Woohoo! This news is very worthy of a title in all caps. I am so excited. I have been watching the prices of tickets and they had been steadily climbing and I thought we were going to have to end of paying A LOT more or were going to have to take a flight with 2 stops. We save about $500 by taking one-stop, and we would have only saved another $100 if we would have taken 2 stops. That extra stop is not worth the $100.
So, Costa Rica - here we come AGAIN! I am so giddy right now I can hardly contain myself.
We have just booked our flight. I have picked out a couple of places (one on the Pacific Coast, one by the rainforest & volcano, and one in Liberia for our final day). We plan on renting a car so that we can drive around and check out more of Costa Rica. Last time we were there (3 years ago) we stayed solely on the Pacific Coast.
I purchased the trip insurance because it was only $60 for the 2 of us and can be used if one of us gets sick and we have a doctors note. I thought for $60 I better be safe than sorry - plus if they change it for some reason or whatever. Anyone purchase trip insurance and actually use it? Anyone not purchase it and was screwed because they didn't?
Woohoo!
So, Costa Rica - here we come AGAIN! I am so giddy right now I can hardly contain myself.
We have just booked our flight. I have picked out a couple of places (one on the Pacific Coast, one by the rainforest & volcano, and one in Liberia for our final day). We plan on renting a car so that we can drive around and check out more of Costa Rica. Last time we were there (3 years ago) we stayed solely on the Pacific Coast.
I purchased the trip insurance because it was only $60 for the 2 of us and can be used if one of us gets sick and we have a doctors note. I thought for $60 I better be safe than sorry - plus if they change it for some reason or whatever. Anyone purchase trip insurance and actually use it? Anyone not purchase it and was screwed because they didn't?
Woohoo!
Monday, November 15, 2004
The Weekend Events
The weekend started out with a happy hour that ended at 10:45 (well, at least I left at 10:45 and it was still going.) It was at someone's house. Get a group of therapists together and we can get pretty crazy. I was the only one there that is contracted outside of the clinic, so it was nice to hang with them.
Drank a lot of beer. I am not usually a beer drinker, but I found something I like at this specialty beer tasting thing we went to a couple weeks ago. I was drinking Barkley's Sound Honey Almond Light. It's a chick beer. Has a nice Honey Almond flavor and light on the beer flavor. Turns out the beer is also low cal & low carb. Woohoo! I finished the night with a couple glasses of wine, but I think that is what gave me the headache the next morning.
Saturday - got up and went to hang out with Jessi. We had plans to go to this conference, but I just didn't feel like sitting & listening to people talk at us with my headache. So, we spent the morning at Dunn Bros. Coffee House, back to her apartment for lunch, then to the Landmark Theatre to see the movie "Sideways". The Landmark is kind of an artsy independent movie theatre. It was an ok movie. I wish they would have more ironic things happening in the beginning; it took a while to get me engaged in the movie.
Some of those artsy, independent movies are lost on me. I am more for watching the popular movies. I just don't appreciate cinematography enough, that it just seems like I should not watch the movie. I like comedies.
Then we walked around uptown, got an ice cream cone, bought some stuff, then went to Kowalski's & sampled all the food around the store. I had a good time hanging out with Jess. I don't get to see her all that much and always enjoy the time I spend with her. I love being around people that you can be real with, I mean -- really real.
Saturday night, Andy & I went over to the Holiday Inn where some friends were staying with their kids for the weekend. They had some extra arm bands to the Serengeti Waterpark there. It's a decent place (lots of kids) and got to sit in the hot tub and got down the 2 waterslides. All free to us. So, that was fun.
Sunday was a much lazier day. We went & picked up some gifts at the outlet mall and then bought the stuff we need to finish fixing the bathroom. Andy worked on the bathroom while I did laundry - didn't do it last week and Andy had a lot of stuff in a pile that needed folding and organizing. The benefit of owning so many clothes is that you can skip a week of laundry and still have plenty of choices.
Drank a lot of beer. I am not usually a beer drinker, but I found something I like at this specialty beer tasting thing we went to a couple weeks ago. I was drinking Barkley's Sound Honey Almond Light. It's a chick beer. Has a nice Honey Almond flavor and light on the beer flavor. Turns out the beer is also low cal & low carb. Woohoo! I finished the night with a couple glasses of wine, but I think that is what gave me the headache the next morning.
Saturday - got up and went to hang out with Jessi. We had plans to go to this conference, but I just didn't feel like sitting & listening to people talk at us with my headache. So, we spent the morning at Dunn Bros. Coffee House, back to her apartment for lunch, then to the Landmark Theatre to see the movie "Sideways". The Landmark is kind of an artsy independent movie theatre. It was an ok movie. I wish they would have more ironic things happening in the beginning; it took a while to get me engaged in the movie.
Some of those artsy, independent movies are lost on me. I am more for watching the popular movies. I just don't appreciate cinematography enough, that it just seems like I should not watch the movie. I like comedies.
Then we walked around uptown, got an ice cream cone, bought some stuff, then went to Kowalski's & sampled all the food around the store. I had a good time hanging out with Jess. I don't get to see her all that much and always enjoy the time I spend with her. I love being around people that you can be real with, I mean -- really real.
Saturday night, Andy & I went over to the Holiday Inn where some friends were staying with their kids for the weekend. They had some extra arm bands to the Serengeti Waterpark there. It's a decent place (lots of kids) and got to sit in the hot tub and got down the 2 waterslides. All free to us. So, that was fun.
Sunday was a much lazier day. We went & picked up some gifts at the outlet mall and then bought the stuff we need to finish fixing the bathroom. Andy worked on the bathroom while I did laundry - didn't do it last week and Andy had a lot of stuff in a pile that needed folding and organizing. The benefit of owning so many clothes is that you can skip a week of laundry and still have plenty of choices.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Black Friday
It is soon going to be that time of the year again. I love to shop the Black Friday sales. I tried to convince myself that I should just stay in bed last year - but I couldn't do it knowing there were so many good deals for the people waiting in line @ 6am.
Please post any links you find out about.
Let the games begin!
UPDATED!!!!!!
Here's a link that has current sales:
http://shopforsales.com/sutra1213.html#1213
UPDATED AGAIN!!!!! 11/14/04
More links that I saw posted somewhere:
http://www.bf04.com/
http://blackfridaydeals.ebloggy.com/
http://www.blackfriday2004.com/
Here is a write up from bf04.com on the History of Black Friday:
"The day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is frequently referred to as Black Friday. One of the major U.S. holiday shopping days, it is the day many U.S. consumers begin Christmas shopping. The day is heavily promoted by retailers. The origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or "in the red," to being profitable, or "in the black", at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red indicated loss and black profit.Last year, Black Friday was a huge day for internet retailers. Amazon.com received 2.5 times as many orders between midnight and noon as it did the same time a year ago, according to company spokesman Paul Capelli. Many other Internet retailers also saw a huge spike in sales as customers jumped online instead of into their cars. This year figures to be just as lucrative, if not more. "
Please post any links you find out about.
Let the games begin!
UPDATED!!!!!!
Here's a link that has current sales:
http://shopforsales.com/sutra1213.html#1213
UPDATED AGAIN!!!!! 11/14/04
More links that I saw posted somewhere:
http://www.bf04.com/
http://blackfridaydeals.ebloggy.com/
http://www.blackfriday2004.com/
Here is a write up from bf04.com on the History of Black Friday:
"The day after Thanksgiving in the United States, is frequently referred to as Black Friday. One of the major U.S. holiday shopping days, it is the day many U.S. consumers begin Christmas shopping. The day is heavily promoted by retailers. The origin of Black Friday comes from the shift to profitability during the holiday season. Black Friday was when retailers went from being unprofitable, or "in the red," to being profitable, or "in the black", at a time when accounting records were kept by hand and red indicated loss and black profit.Last year, Black Friday was a huge day for internet retailers. Amazon.com received 2.5 times as many orders between midnight and noon as it did the same time a year ago, according to company spokesman Paul Capelli. Many other Internet retailers also saw a huge spike in sales as customers jumped online instead of into their cars. This year figures to be just as lucrative, if not more. "
Friday, November 12, 2004
Friday, November 05, 2004
I Hate SPAM
Here's the article:
Spammers convicted; first felony case
By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY
A Virginia jury's conviction Wednesday of a brother and sister in the nation's first felony prosecution of spammers is a landmark victory in the war against unwanted junk e-mail, industry experts said.
Jeremy Jaynes, considered one of the nation's biggest spammers, and Jessica DeGroot were found guilty of masking their return Internet addresses last summer to send thousands of bulk e-mail peddling software and stock picks to customers of America Online and other Internet service providers.
The 12-member jury recommended Jaynes, 30, be sentenced to nine years in a Virginia prison, and DeGroot, 28, be fined $7,500. Judge Thomas Horne is expected to sentence them next year.
Spammers convicted; first felony case
By Jon Swartz, USA TODAY
A Virginia jury's conviction Wednesday of a brother and sister in the nation's first felony prosecution of spammers is a landmark victory in the war against unwanted junk e-mail, industry experts said.
Jeremy Jaynes, considered one of the nation's biggest spammers, and Jessica DeGroot were found guilty of masking their return Internet addresses last summer to send thousands of bulk e-mail peddling software and stock picks to customers of America Online and other Internet service providers.
The 12-member jury recommended Jaynes, 30, be sentenced to nine years in a Virginia prison, and DeGroot, 28, be fined $7,500. Judge Thomas Horne is expected to sentence them next year.
How About Madonna Instead?
Here's the title of the article:
Lil' Kim to visit college classroom
Syracuse University offers a class devoted to the hip-hop star's life
How does one propose teaching a class like this? I teach a 1 credit class for a Community College and sometimes think I might like to teach at college-level as a career and I could not imagine the loop holes this prof had to jump through to get this class offered. I know my sis Steph is a big fan of Lil' Kim, but I would much prefer a class about Madonna. I find her much more interesting, and you would have much more to work with.
Lil' Kim to visit college classroom
Syracuse University offers a class devoted to the hip-hop star's life
How does one propose teaching a class like this? I teach a 1 credit class for a Community College and sometimes think I might like to teach at college-level as a career and I could not imagine the loop holes this prof had to jump through to get this class offered. I know my sis Steph is a big fan of Lil' Kim, but I would much prefer a class about Madonna. I find her much more interesting, and you would have much more to work with.
Getting Old.
Last night I went out with some friends. We went out for a bite to eat, to a concert, and then for a drink afterwards. We had a lot of fun, but came to the realization that we are getting old, and this might be the last concert we go to (until we have children who are 12 and want to go see the hottest pop singer.) So - that is the short story, now comes the long story and explains getting old.
There were 4 of us (ages 25, 27, 29, & 30) -- so all in the mid-upper 20's, 1 in nursing school and the other 3 with professional careers. Most days I feel quite young, as my co-workers are all older than I am, but last night we ent to a concert at a smaller state university to see the Black Eyed Peas. It had been a few years since I have been to a concert.
We got together and went out to this Jazz/Martini Club to get some food and have a few drinks. Now, I can guarantee you that probably 97% of the people going to this concert were NOT having martinis before the concert. Most were probably doing shots of their favorite schnapps or any other alcohol that was sitting around in their apartment that they share with 3 other people, since they are probably not all old enough to be legally served in a bar.
So, we're drinking our martini's and now we need to order. I really wanted a burger or a sandwich, so that was what I ordered - but the dilemma came in what my side would be. I was inclined to order the fries that typically came with it, but thought to myself "I should really order a salad. My body could use the vitamins from the veggies, and salad is so much better for me than fries." So - I ordered the salad and am starting to feel old. The salad had nothing to do with losing weight; it had to do with making my body feel good.
Then, while we are there - this psycho chic who knows one of the other ladies just shows up and invited herself along & she bought a ticket to the concert that morning. WTF!?!?!?!?! So, we try losing her in the car on the way to the concert - but she is following us so closely that she can probably smell the mixture of pee & martini on one lady's pants (will tell that story next). We do manage to lose her as we try to find a parking spot, but guess who is waiting at the doors to the concert for us. We were parked pretty close and she had driven further away, so she must have run to get there.
So, we get to the concert - wearing our jeans, black shoes, and conservative tops - and try to get in as close as possible. I imagine that a lot of the people there were young college students - but man, I think college girls have gotten a helluva lot bitchier since I graduated. And the hootchie-mama skirts & tops there were wearing was pathetic. Many of them cold have been picked up for prostitution for how they looked. But what was even more pathetic was the girls who dressed just like the female lead. Of course, that style has passed and the female lead was dressed differently & also appropriately for 30/40 degree weather outside. This one girl had the whole emsemble - the hat, the strapless top, the tiny ruffled skirt, and lambskin boots.
We were dressed relatively conservative, but still a young classy look - but certainly did not have that young whore look going on with most of the girls at the concert. Some girls did not even look old enough to be in college and were booty dancing with these guys.
Back to the psycho chic - now, she didn't even know who the band was and while the rest of us were singing along she was standing their dancing like a stuffed sausage. I am not sure how a stuffed sausage dances, but I am pretty sure it would look like her. She also kept looking at the rest of us and trying to imitate how we dancing and frankly she just looked like she was mentally retarded (sorry this comment is not all PC & shit). She left to go to the bathroom and we tried to move around in the crowd as one last ditch effot - but she found us. As we were leaving the concert we found some water fountains and drank up the water, all the while complaining of the iron taste in the water and the person who was smoking (in a no smoking arena) and how hot we were.
We managed to ditch the psycho chic on the way out by saying we were going home. She went one way, we went another -- to the nearest bar. We all still were carded, so I guess we aren't that old yet. The 4 of us find a place to sit down - order drinks - and being the old person I now am, tried to order top shelf Amaretto, just to have them look at me stupidly and say "So, you want this Phillips Amaretto." Fine, I'll take whatever you got then. So, more complaining about iron tasting water, ringing in our ears, feet hurting, and being tired. Man! One round - that's all any of us could do. So, 12:30 and we are back at one lady's house (but we must be quiet because her husband, son, and another lady's daughter are all sleeping.) We talk for a little bit - and to bed by 1pm. We were so old.
********
The story about the pee/martini mixture: Have you ever heard of Hoovering? I guess I never heard the term used before - but it's where you squat over the toilet without letting your butt touch the seat. One of the ladies was hoovering, and it just didn't workout so well. She ended up peeing on her white pants and came out of the bathroom and told another lady about it & managed to dump over the martini (orange in color) of another lady - all over her lap. Funny stuff!
There were 4 of us (ages 25, 27, 29, & 30) -- so all in the mid-upper 20's, 1 in nursing school and the other 3 with professional careers. Most days I feel quite young, as my co-workers are all older than I am, but last night we ent to a concert at a smaller state university to see the Black Eyed Peas. It had been a few years since I have been to a concert.
We got together and went out to this Jazz/Martini Club to get some food and have a few drinks. Now, I can guarantee you that probably 97% of the people going to this concert were NOT having martinis before the concert. Most were probably doing shots of their favorite schnapps or any other alcohol that was sitting around in their apartment that they share with 3 other people, since they are probably not all old enough to be legally served in a bar.
So, we're drinking our martini's and now we need to order. I really wanted a burger or a sandwich, so that was what I ordered - but the dilemma came in what my side would be. I was inclined to order the fries that typically came with it, but thought to myself "I should really order a salad. My body could use the vitamins from the veggies, and salad is so much better for me than fries." So - I ordered the salad and am starting to feel old. The salad had nothing to do with losing weight; it had to do with making my body feel good.
Then, while we are there - this psycho chic who knows one of the other ladies just shows up and invited herself along & she bought a ticket to the concert that morning. WTF!?!?!?!?! So, we try losing her in the car on the way to the concert - but she is following us so closely that she can probably smell the mixture of pee & martini on one lady's pants (will tell that story next). We do manage to lose her as we try to find a parking spot, but guess who is waiting at the doors to the concert for us. We were parked pretty close and she had driven further away, so she must have run to get there.
So, we get to the concert - wearing our jeans, black shoes, and conservative tops - and try to get in as close as possible. I imagine that a lot of the people there were young college students - but man, I think college girls have gotten a helluva lot bitchier since I graduated. And the hootchie-mama skirts & tops there were wearing was pathetic. Many of them cold have been picked up for prostitution for how they looked. But what was even more pathetic was the girls who dressed just like the female lead. Of course, that style has passed and the female lead was dressed differently & also appropriately for 30/40 degree weather outside. This one girl had the whole emsemble - the hat, the strapless top, the tiny ruffled skirt, and lambskin boots.
We were dressed relatively conservative, but still a young classy look - but certainly did not have that young whore look going on with most of the girls at the concert. Some girls did not even look old enough to be in college and were booty dancing with these guys.
Back to the psycho chic - now, she didn't even know who the band was and while the rest of us were singing along she was standing their dancing like a stuffed sausage. I am not sure how a stuffed sausage dances, but I am pretty sure it would look like her. She also kept looking at the rest of us and trying to imitate how we dancing and frankly she just looked like she was mentally retarded (sorry this comment is not all PC & shit). She left to go to the bathroom and we tried to move around in the crowd as one last ditch effot - but she found us. As we were leaving the concert we found some water fountains and drank up the water, all the while complaining of the iron taste in the water and the person who was smoking (in a no smoking arena) and how hot we were.
We managed to ditch the psycho chic on the way out by saying we were going home. She went one way, we went another -- to the nearest bar. We all still were carded, so I guess we aren't that old yet. The 4 of us find a place to sit down - order drinks - and being the old person I now am, tried to order top shelf Amaretto, just to have them look at me stupidly and say "So, you want this Phillips Amaretto." Fine, I'll take whatever you got then. So, more complaining about iron tasting water, ringing in our ears, feet hurting, and being tired. Man! One round - that's all any of us could do. So, 12:30 and we are back at one lady's house (but we must be quiet because her husband, son, and another lady's daughter are all sleeping.) We talk for a little bit - and to bed by 1pm. We were so old.
********
The story about the pee/martini mixture: Have you ever heard of Hoovering? I guess I never heard the term used before - but it's where you squat over the toilet without letting your butt touch the seat. One of the ladies was hoovering, and it just didn't workout so well. She ended up peeing on her white pants and came out of the bathroom and told another lady about it & managed to dump over the martini (orange in color) of another lady - all over her lap. Funny stuff!
Thursday, November 04, 2004
I Did It!
Woohoo! I finishd this crossword puzzle. I NEVER do crosswords, but I found one in a magazine that was decent enough looking and ripped it out, receyled the mag, and made copies for the kids at school to do. Although, I didn't think about ripping out the answer key as well. So - I had to figure it all out.
I have never been that good at crossword puzzles. Give me a wordfind and I am a searching master - make me have to think of synomyns for a lot of words and my brain starts to hurt.
I started working on it yesterday and finally finished it (with the help of a dictionary, a thesaurus. and the internet). Yea!
I have never been that good at crossword puzzles. Give me a wordfind and I am a searching master - make me have to think of synomyns for a lot of words and my brain starts to hurt.
I started working on it yesterday and finally finished it (with the help of a dictionary, a thesaurus. and the internet). Yea!
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Online Training on Autism Spectrum Disorders
The link above is described as:
A first-of-its-kind internet web channel dedicated to autism and other neurological disorders. Childnett.tv is an internet access web channel that broadcasts interactive programming 24/7 via the internet. Our lineup includes streaming video related to autism and other neurological disorders
___________________________________________________________________
I watched only 1 of the bradcasts and it seemed very imformative.
A first-of-its-kind internet web channel dedicated to autism and other neurological disorders. Childnett.tv is an internet access web channel that broadcasts interactive programming 24/7 via the internet. Our lineup includes streaming video related to autism and other neurological disorders
___________________________________________________________________
I watched only 1 of the bradcasts and it seemed very imformative.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Happy Halloween!
I am shutting off the porch light here very soon. It's almost 7pm, we started getting trick-or-treaters at 5pm. I think that is kind of late, but that is just what they do in our small town. I had 28 kids tonight, which I think is pretty good. Last year we weren't around of Halloween, the year before I think it was 22 and the year before that was around 18.
Friday evening our friends Kendra & Tim arrived. They were visiting us from Philly. That night we went to a specialty beer tasting (although we have some drinks & wine before we left) and then add the beer on top of that. I found a beer that I really like: Barkley's Honey Almond Light (kinda of a sissy beer) and Andy found a couple new ones he likes: Gluek's Light & Gluek's Honey Bock. After the beer tasting we came home for some hottubbing and sauna sitting & more drinks. We had a very good time that night.
Saturday we noticed a leak coming through the ceiling from one of our bathrooms, and of course we couldn't see the leak up there. We thought it might be the toilet and so Andy removed the toilet and found out that it was not sealed properly (Figures!) and water was leaking through and going in the mortar lines beneath the tile. Dammit! And of course where there is water for a while, there will be mold. So, we started removing tile (which would only come out if we smashed it). We removed tile until the mold stopped. We treated the floor and now we have 2 options - we can try to find tile that matches our bathroom or finish pulling our all of the tile and retile the entire floor.
BTW - we were thinking of replacing our toilet, I read that you can save money on water if you have one that uses less water, and I am sure our toilet has been in this house for probably at least 20 years. Does anyone know if there is something about the toilet itself that saves on water, or is it just the guts (you know, all the stuff inside you use to flush it with)?
We were just going to retile, but the tile that was not wet & did not have mold underneath it was just shattering into thousands of pieces.
I spent Satuday cooking pumpkin, baking sugar cookies, & making cider. The 4 of us went out for Mexican food and then came home and watched 2 movies: "Manhunter" and the original "Halloween".
Today, after a big breakfast, Tim & Kendra left for the airport (we had a great time with them and will miss them until we go visit them this summer). We watched football (well, actually I did not watch football, I sat on the couch with my laptop surfing for Christmas presents) and then I watched this Scooby-Doo Halloween cartoon, "Halloween 5" and now am watching "Scream 2".
And I don't think any more kids are coming, so the porch light is going off.
Total: 28
Friday evening our friends Kendra & Tim arrived. They were visiting us from Philly. That night we went to a specialty beer tasting (although we have some drinks & wine before we left) and then add the beer on top of that. I found a beer that I really like: Barkley's Honey Almond Light (kinda of a sissy beer) and Andy found a couple new ones he likes: Gluek's Light & Gluek's Honey Bock. After the beer tasting we came home for some hottubbing and sauna sitting & more drinks. We had a very good time that night.
Saturday we noticed a leak coming through the ceiling from one of our bathrooms, and of course we couldn't see the leak up there. We thought it might be the toilet and so Andy removed the toilet and found out that it was not sealed properly (Figures!) and water was leaking through and going in the mortar lines beneath the tile. Dammit! And of course where there is water for a while, there will be mold. So, we started removing tile (which would only come out if we smashed it). We removed tile until the mold stopped. We treated the floor and now we have 2 options - we can try to find tile that matches our bathroom or finish pulling our all of the tile and retile the entire floor.
BTW - we were thinking of replacing our toilet, I read that you can save money on water if you have one that uses less water, and I am sure our toilet has been in this house for probably at least 20 years. Does anyone know if there is something about the toilet itself that saves on water, or is it just the guts (you know, all the stuff inside you use to flush it with)?
We were just going to retile, but the tile that was not wet & did not have mold underneath it was just shattering into thousands of pieces.
I spent Satuday cooking pumpkin, baking sugar cookies, & making cider. The 4 of us went out for Mexican food and then came home and watched 2 movies: "Manhunter" and the original "Halloween".
Today, after a big breakfast, Tim & Kendra left for the airport (we had a great time with them and will miss them until we go visit them this summer). We watched football (well, actually I did not watch football, I sat on the couch with my laptop surfing for Christmas presents) and then I watched this Scooby-Doo Halloween cartoon, "Halloween 5" and now am watching "Scream 2".
And I don't think any more kids are coming, so the porch light is going off.
Total: 28
Who is Right? Children or the NFL?
I guess we will find out on Tuesday night. If the children are right then Bush will be president, but if the Redskins prediction is right, then Kerry will be president.
So - The kids have been right for the last 11 elections and the Redskins equation has accurately predicted the outcome for over 15 elections.
One of these are not going to br right this year.
I am inclined to believe that either is possible - not just because the race is very close, but the Redskins equation has spanned more elections, but if the kids are voting they are probably voting for who they hear their parents support.
Now there is no clear indication - guess I'll just have to go make my vote and then wait.
Packers 28 - Redskins 14
So - The kids have been right for the last 11 elections and the Redskins equation has accurately predicted the outcome for over 15 elections.
One of these are not going to br right this year.
I am inclined to believe that either is possible - not just because the race is very close, but the Redskins equation has spanned more elections, but if the kids are voting they are probably voting for who they hear their parents support.
Now there is no clear indication - guess I'll just have to go make my vote and then wait.
Packers 28 - Redskins 14
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Guess I am not going to Russia
Check out this article.....
We can't drink on public transportation.....and not really in the streets (unless you are in New Orleans), but in parks? (what fun would sand volleyball if you couldn't bring something to drink) or stadiums (why else do you sit through 9 innings of baseball?) and what about the beer sale restrictions around universitities (they are just asking for people to have to drive further to get their beer - unless college students in Russia are different than in the US, but I doubt it.)
The good thing is that the fine is only 100 rubles, which is $3.33 - which is 4 times the price of the average bottle of beer.
We can't drink on public transportation.....and not really in the streets (unless you are in New Orleans), but in parks? (what fun would sand volleyball if you couldn't bring something to drink) or stadiums (why else do you sit through 9 innings of baseball?) and what about the beer sale restrictions around universitities (they are just asking for people to have to drive further to get their beer - unless college students in Russia are different than in the US, but I doubt it.)
The good thing is that the fine is only 100 rubles, which is $3.33 - which is 4 times the price of the average bottle of beer.
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
What the Hell Do Kids Know?
Check out the link.
Do you remember when you were a kid and did the Weekly Reader presidential vote? Apparently since 1956 they have accurately predicted the winner of the presidential election. I remember doing this in 1984. Well, when I voted I had no idea who Walter Mondale was. I only knew who Reagan was and that my parents were not voting for him, which as a kid, you generally model you parents. So, I voted against Reagan. And we all know who won. Both my class and all of the Weekly Readers had predicted that Reagan would win.
This year, Weekly Reader is predicting that Bush will win. Now, is there any other type of publication that has that type of accuracy record?
Maybe I should start my own poll. Who thinks that Weekly Reader will accurately predict this years election?
Also - do you think that 4 years ago Weekly Reader accurately predicted that Bush would become president because he received the majority of the electoral votes (271 vs. 266) and Gore recieved the majority of the general votes(48.38% vs. 47.87%)?
One other thing - did you know that write-in votes for president are not permitted. It says so on the bottom of this website: http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm
Do you remember when you were a kid and did the Weekly Reader presidential vote? Apparently since 1956 they have accurately predicted the winner of the presidential election. I remember doing this in 1984. Well, when I voted I had no idea who Walter Mondale was. I only knew who Reagan was and that my parents were not voting for him, which as a kid, you generally model you parents. So, I voted against Reagan. And we all know who won. Both my class and all of the Weekly Readers had predicted that Reagan would win.
This year, Weekly Reader is predicting that Bush will win. Now, is there any other type of publication that has that type of accuracy record?
Maybe I should start my own poll. Who thinks that Weekly Reader will accurately predict this years election?
Also - do you think that 4 years ago Weekly Reader accurately predicted that Bush would become president because he received the majority of the electoral votes (271 vs. 266) and Gore recieved the majority of the general votes(48.38% vs. 47.87%)?
One other thing - did you know that write-in votes for president are not permitted. It says so on the bottom of this website: http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm
Oh Wonderful Sight!
WARNING - Long story that I could have easily summed up, but chose not to.
I think I take for granted my sight too much. The last week I have been having some troubles with contacts. I ordered some new ones off the Internet and threw away the old ones. But the first set I put in didn't feel quite right, so I switched them out one at a time (could have been inverted or ripped or something), but by this time I had several in the garbage. I could see, but it just didn't feel comfortable and my sight seemed a little off, but not too bad.
So, I called my eye doctor and got put on the cancellation list & managed to get in that same day (Monday). I got some new contacts and a full exam. The vision still felt a little off and one contact was just moving all around in my eye. The doctor said that the contacts tend to shrink a little to fit to the eye and after that happened then maybe it would stop moving around and I would see better (if it was just the moving around that caused the sight issues).
But then I had a conference to go to today an hour away and driving SUCKED. I thought for sure I was going to die on the roads today and kept telling myself I should not be going. My nearsightedness was great, it was things far that were problems, as well as glare from car lights in the morning. I called my eye doctor and told her that it just wasn't working. She told me to come in and pick up a different brand and try them out.
I picked them up with a little note that says that this brand fits different which is why the prescription on these is different. I put these in and they are no different, initially no better and no worse. But as the minutes and hours drag on it all gets bad and I consider ripping out my eyes while I am at the night class I teach, hoping that they have optical transplant surgery after-the-fact.
I go home and take out my contacts and put my glasses on to see is it just the contacts bothering me or if my glasses were bothering me too. So - the glasses went on and 30 minutes later came off. I hate not having peripheral vision and the prescription was just not right anymore. So, back to the contact drawing board.
I try on another set from the Internet company - and they just feel AWFUL! I can't take it and they come out. I try Monday's set again and that's no good the one contact still floats around. I try today's set and they do feel good in my eyes, but the prescription is just not right. So, I tried mixing & matching (& remembering which was which) and have come to the realization that my L eye has the wrong prescription. I went digging around to see if there were any older "new" contacts still left from when my prescription had changed previously. I found 1 contact and it happened to be the prescription that was just one level above my L eye and the expiration date on it is next month - SCORE!
In goes that L contact and things seem better, although I have not been out driving, so I don't know if it helps my farsightedness, but it feels better -- so much better. And much of my headache has gone away, I think what is left is just the residual affects of going a whole day with straining my eyes. I am sure my eye doctor is not going to like what I did, but I needed to do something and hopefully when I go in there next week I'll get some new boxes of contacts that are good for me. And hopefully I don't get yelled at too much.
I think I take for granted my sight too much. The last week I have been having some troubles with contacts. I ordered some new ones off the Internet and threw away the old ones. But the first set I put in didn't feel quite right, so I switched them out one at a time (could have been inverted or ripped or something), but by this time I had several in the garbage. I could see, but it just didn't feel comfortable and my sight seemed a little off, but not too bad.
So, I called my eye doctor and got put on the cancellation list & managed to get in that same day (Monday). I got some new contacts and a full exam. The vision still felt a little off and one contact was just moving all around in my eye. The doctor said that the contacts tend to shrink a little to fit to the eye and after that happened then maybe it would stop moving around and I would see better (if it was just the moving around that caused the sight issues).
But then I had a conference to go to today an hour away and driving SUCKED. I thought for sure I was going to die on the roads today and kept telling myself I should not be going. My nearsightedness was great, it was things far that were problems, as well as glare from car lights in the morning. I called my eye doctor and told her that it just wasn't working. She told me to come in and pick up a different brand and try them out.
I picked them up with a little note that says that this brand fits different which is why the prescription on these is different. I put these in and they are no different, initially no better and no worse. But as the minutes and hours drag on it all gets bad and I consider ripping out my eyes while I am at the night class I teach, hoping that they have optical transplant surgery after-the-fact.
I go home and take out my contacts and put my glasses on to see is it just the contacts bothering me or if my glasses were bothering me too. So - the glasses went on and 30 minutes later came off. I hate not having peripheral vision and the prescription was just not right anymore. So, back to the contact drawing board.
I try on another set from the Internet company - and they just feel AWFUL! I can't take it and they come out. I try Monday's set again and that's no good the one contact still floats around. I try today's set and they do feel good in my eyes, but the prescription is just not right. So, I tried mixing & matching (& remembering which was which) and have come to the realization that my L eye has the wrong prescription. I went digging around to see if there were any older "new" contacts still left from when my prescription had changed previously. I found 1 contact and it happened to be the prescription that was just one level above my L eye and the expiration date on it is next month - SCORE!
In goes that L contact and things seem better, although I have not been out driving, so I don't know if it helps my farsightedness, but it feels better -- so much better. And much of my headache has gone away, I think what is left is just the residual affects of going a whole day with straining my eyes. I am sure my eye doctor is not going to like what I did, but I needed to do something and hopefully when I go in there next week I'll get some new boxes of contacts that are good for me. And hopefully I don't get yelled at too much.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Who is colder? Men? Women?
I had to look up this info after talking with Andy about this topic.
Apparently, the core temp of a woman is .4 degrees warmer than a man's. But the temp of a woman's hands .8 degrees colder than a man's.
Plus, a woman's menstrual cycle also lowers & raises her core temp.
And older woman (postmentrual) have lower temps than premenstrual woman.
So, guess it would be safe to say that a woman's body temperature changes more often than a man's and so we might notice a change in our body temp.
Apparently, the core temp of a woman is .4 degrees warmer than a man's. But the temp of a woman's hands .8 degrees colder than a man's.
Plus, a woman's menstrual cycle also lowers & raises her core temp.
And older woman (postmentrual) have lower temps than premenstrual woman.
So, guess it would be safe to say that a woman's body temperature changes more often than a man's and so we might notice a change in our body temp.
Catkins! A diet for Larry possibly?
Checkout this article. It's Atkins for cats. Should I try this on my 16 pound Larry?
Although right now I started to buy one brand of catfood that fits what we need for him. It's Purina One Hairball & Overweight formula. I had not seen any other brand that combined both of those in one package. Until thenI was having to buy 2 different bags and mix them: one for overweight cats and one for hairballs.
I think I might just try the Purina One for a while. Both cats like it, so it works so far. They are kinda picky. They just better keep making it. Maybe I should send them a letter knowing how much I like serving this to my cats.
Although right now I started to buy one brand of catfood that fits what we need for him. It's Purina One Hairball & Overweight formula. I had not seen any other brand that combined both of those in one package. Until thenI was having to buy 2 different bags and mix them: one for overweight cats and one for hairballs.
I think I might just try the Purina One for a while. Both cats like it, so it works so far. They are kinda picky. They just better keep making it. Maybe I should send them a letter knowing how much I like serving this to my cats.
That why in the US it is 9-1-1
Read the above article.
It makes sense that we have it be 9-1-1, rather that the Britain 9-9-9. I can just imagine how many calls they get from children just pressing down a number or pressing the same number over and over - and then you have your occasional romp that you keep your foot on the phone pressing the 9 button.
I wonder in Britain what number they typically dial to get an outside line when they are at a hotel or at work? Maybe they don't. Does anyone know? I've only had to dial 9. And I could see a problem with people calling my cell phone which starts with 99. Which would be 9-9-9 (plus the rest) if you were dialing an outside line.
It makes sense that we have it be 9-1-1, rather that the Britain 9-9-9. I can just imagine how many calls they get from children just pressing down a number or pressing the same number over and over - and then you have your occasional romp that you keep your foot on the phone pressing the 9 button.
I wonder in Britain what number they typically dial to get an outside line when they are at a hotel or at work? Maybe they don't. Does anyone know? I've only had to dial 9. And I could see a problem with people calling my cell phone which starts with 99. Which would be 9-9-9 (plus the rest) if you were dialing an outside line.
Daytime Talk Shows
I am watching Montel right now - there are these adults on there that are talking about being held captive by a parent. Disgusting! I can't believe there are people out there like this.
This woman who was living in Saudi Arabia is talking about what it was like there and all these restrictions on women. It is infuriorating!
Ok – so now Maury is on and it is “Shocking Opposites in Love!” and right now there is this skinny 150-pound boy on there with his over 300 pound girlfriend. And she’s wearing this black bra and red vinyl mini. Yikes!
The next guy looks like an average guy (5’10) with Dockers & a denim shirt and then comes out Lacey who is this midget (4’0) (she very cute!) and she says she is a feature stripper.
I got to stop watching these daytime talk shows. I think I have a book I can be reading.
This woman who was living in Saudi Arabia is talking about what it was like there and all these restrictions on women. It is infuriorating!
Ok – so now Maury is on and it is “Shocking Opposites in Love!” and right now there is this skinny 150-pound boy on there with his over 300 pound girlfriend. And she’s wearing this black bra and red vinyl mini. Yikes!
The next guy looks like an average guy (5’10) with Dockers & a denim shirt and then comes out Lacey who is this midget (4’0) (she very cute!) and she says she is a feature stripper.
I got to stop watching these daytime talk shows. I think I have a book I can be reading.
12 Hours of Sleep
I just got 12 hours of sleep and feel fan-freaking-tastic! I have today & tomorrow off from my job for fall break - a well deserved break.
Last night after work we had this happy hour that turned out including people from two different buildingsfrom within the school district - all bonded by our common dislike (which is a mild word for most) for Voldemort (in our case - she who must not be named who is an administrator within the district). The name Voldemort caught very quickly as a way to not use her name. Sometimes it got shortened to the "Big V" or just "V" and people started making V's out of their fingers and putting them up in the air. It was all too hilarious. As it turns out there was a group of other people from the district from a different building that were there too - probably talking bad about V as well, since it is common knowledge that at least one of them has filed a greivance against V and others in the groups have gotten their butt-chewed (just because V can) by V.
So, went home for about a half hour, changed clothes, checked email, and ran off to play volleyball. We Won! All 3 games with a score of 25-22. Isn't that weird that all 3 games were the same score. Then back to a happy hour with the volleyball team. The bar we play for has $12 for a pizza & picther of beer on Wednesday - so that is what Kate & I get -- a meateater's pizza & a pitcher of Leine's Honey Weiss. I don't normally drink beer, as I don't prefer it, but I do like Honey Weiss. I am not sure what that is all about.
So, came home after that, checked email, played with one of the cats, said good night to Andy, and went top bed and slept for 12 hours! Man that felt GREAT!
And the only plans I have today is to treat myself to a manicure with a paraffin dip & a pedicure this afternoon -- and that's it.
Tomorrow we are (Andy & I) getting our hair cut (just trims) and then the other couple we are going to the Amana Colonies with are coming to pick us up. And then we go to a bed & breakfast for the weekend and go check out all their wineries & brewery & do some shopping. It should be fun.
Last night after work we had this happy hour that turned out including people from two different buildingsfrom within the school district - all bonded by our common dislike (which is a mild word for most) for Voldemort (in our case - she who must not be named who is an administrator within the district). The name Voldemort caught very quickly as a way to not use her name. Sometimes it got shortened to the "Big V" or just "V" and people started making V's out of their fingers and putting them up in the air. It was all too hilarious. As it turns out there was a group of other people from the district from a different building that were there too - probably talking bad about V as well, since it is common knowledge that at least one of them has filed a greivance against V and others in the groups have gotten their butt-chewed (just because V can) by V.
So, went home for about a half hour, changed clothes, checked email, and ran off to play volleyball. We Won! All 3 games with a score of 25-22. Isn't that weird that all 3 games were the same score. Then back to a happy hour with the volleyball team. The bar we play for has $12 for a pizza & picther of beer on Wednesday - so that is what Kate & I get -- a meateater's pizza & a pitcher of Leine's Honey Weiss. I don't normally drink beer, as I don't prefer it, but I do like Honey Weiss. I am not sure what that is all about.
So, came home after that, checked email, played with one of the cats, said good night to Andy, and went top bed and slept for 12 hours! Man that felt GREAT!
And the only plans I have today is to treat myself to a manicure with a paraffin dip & a pedicure this afternoon -- and that's it.
Tomorrow we are (Andy & I) getting our hair cut (just trims) and then the other couple we are going to the Amana Colonies with are coming to pick us up. And then we go to a bed & breakfast for the weekend and go check out all their wineries & brewery & do some shopping. It should be fun.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Kerry Support
I saw thia ad on TV last night. It was for this website: http://www.comparedecidevote.com/ . They presented an issue pertaining to college funding and demonstrate just how this website works -- which is to take this short survey picking which candidate you agree with most on that issue and then at the end they tell you who you picked the most and that is who you are supposed to vote for.
But after you do a few, you start to realize that probably every anwer is going to be Kerry as the best answer. I think it is a clever way to get young people to vote, by using technology. And if they are unsure of who to vote for, after they take this quiz it looks like you are a really big supporter of Kerry.
Now, no where on the site does it mention that they are supporting either candidate, let alone Kerry. But it's pretty obvious, and a very smart marketing move.
But after you do a few, you start to realize that probably every anwer is going to be Kerry as the best answer. I think it is a clever way to get young people to vote, by using technology. And if they are unsure of who to vote for, after they take this quiz it looks like you are a really big supporter of Kerry.
Now, no where on the site does it mention that they are supporting either candidate, let alone Kerry. But it's pretty obvious, and a very smart marketing move.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
I Love My Job
So no one confuses any of my rantings & ravings about job frustrations and unhappiness I want to clarify that I do love my job. It's just that this is my blog and sometimes is my outlet for my frustrations & last week had a lot more frustrations than normal.
I am a Mental Health Therapist and I work with a population of adolescents that need the most services within the school system. They are great kids, but most people don't realize that because they can't get past the baggy pants, the black clothes, the body piercings, or the gang writings. Deep down, they are all still kids that want to be loved and need some attention. It is amazing how much you can help a kid just by taking a couple of minutes to ask them how they are doing.
Today I had this kid that was very upset and the f-en-heimer was flying and I just asked him to step out of the room to talk with me for a while, while other staff keep the classroom going on their discussion. I could physically see this kid calm himself. He just wanted someone to care enough to ask what was bothering him and actually listen to him.
The kids I work with know that I will let them know if I am disappointed in a decision they have made, but they are not going to get yelled at -- and that makes a HUGE difference to these kids. They have gotten yelled at so much in their lifetime that they just can't take anymore yelling and just completly check out when someone raises their voices.
People often ask if it is frustrating working with these kids because they don't believe that they really care about the staff, or they believe that I don't see any rewards and they show the least amount of progress. Well, let me say this - my job would be very boring and I would not like it as much if I my kids were getting all A's & B's and were never in the principal's office and had perfect families. Actually - there might not be the need for me and I would be out of a job, but that is not to say that those kids that fit those descriptions don't have issues - they do, I know they do. I do see change and get rewards from working with these kids. And sometimes these rewards are even sweeter when you are working with the most troubled kid.
I see these kids coming to our room when they are kicked out of other classrooms, asking to talk to us when their frustration is so high that they know they just can't make it at school that day, trusting us to tell us secrets they just can't tell anyone else, and still coming daily to check in with us even though they don't need our services anymore just because they feel welcome and our room is the place where they belong in a pretty big high school. So - don't tell me that I don't see rewards.
I am now in a position that I can see some of these kids I have been working with the last couple of years work through high school and graduate. Some of these kids it will be a very long bumpy road to get them there and that will make it even more of a joyous occasion when they graduate.
I don't like my job every day, but I do love it. I know not everyone can do my job. And I can't do everyone else's job. I think people spend their whole lives trying to figure out the meaning of their life. I am not sure what the meaning for your life is, but I believe that right now my life has meaning because I am needed by these kids. The gifts I was blessed with is what I have to offer. I still joke that I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. It's no joke though. I am young and I still have many years of "growing up" to do. I don't know what the future holds for me - none of us do. Someday I would like it to include motherhood, but that time is not right now. I am not sure which direction I would like to take my career in the future, but I like to keep exploring what my options are so that when I am ready for a change I can make an educated decision.
I do believe that their is a higher power that has given me a direction that my life should take. I choose to believe that sometimes decisions are made for us that we might not understand at the time, but through time we will become wiser as to what that path is. I also choose to do things in life that I enjoy. We are here for too short a time to be miserable, which is why I will not work as an evening janitor (did that for 3 weeks in college) or as a cook in a restaurant (did for 2 years in high school) or ever work in construction (never did this and have no desire to). I liked cooking at a restaurant when I was in school, but that is not something I would enjoy now. I did not enojy working evenings and working alone as a janitor was - just, well - lonely. For other people, these jobs may be what they enjoy and they might not like listening to people's problems.
I try to apply my desire to do things that I enjoy to all areas of my life. I refuse to let myself be convinced or bullied into volunteering or joining a club for something I don't have time for or are interested in. If I don't feel like going out, I generally don't - although there are times I don't but my desire to hang with that person is greater than my desire to just sit around. (If that makes sense.)
So - I chose my job (turned it down the first time it was offered to me, as I was not in that place at that time), I choose to enjoy my job, and I choose to be happy. And if I choose to be unhappy - then, dammit - let me be unhappy - but right now I still love my job.
I am a Mental Health Therapist and I work with a population of adolescents that need the most services within the school system. They are great kids, but most people don't realize that because they can't get past the baggy pants, the black clothes, the body piercings, or the gang writings. Deep down, they are all still kids that want to be loved and need some attention. It is amazing how much you can help a kid just by taking a couple of minutes to ask them how they are doing.
Today I had this kid that was very upset and the f-en-heimer was flying and I just asked him to step out of the room to talk with me for a while, while other staff keep the classroom going on their discussion. I could physically see this kid calm himself. He just wanted someone to care enough to ask what was bothering him and actually listen to him.
The kids I work with know that I will let them know if I am disappointed in a decision they have made, but they are not going to get yelled at -- and that makes a HUGE difference to these kids. They have gotten yelled at so much in their lifetime that they just can't take anymore yelling and just completly check out when someone raises their voices.
People often ask if it is frustrating working with these kids because they don't believe that they really care about the staff, or they believe that I don't see any rewards and they show the least amount of progress. Well, let me say this - my job would be very boring and I would not like it as much if I my kids were getting all A's & B's and were never in the principal's office and had perfect families. Actually - there might not be the need for me and I would be out of a job, but that is not to say that those kids that fit those descriptions don't have issues - they do, I know they do. I do see change and get rewards from working with these kids. And sometimes these rewards are even sweeter when you are working with the most troubled kid.
I see these kids coming to our room when they are kicked out of other classrooms, asking to talk to us when their frustration is so high that they know they just can't make it at school that day, trusting us to tell us secrets they just can't tell anyone else, and still coming daily to check in with us even though they don't need our services anymore just because they feel welcome and our room is the place where they belong in a pretty big high school. So - don't tell me that I don't see rewards.
I am now in a position that I can see some of these kids I have been working with the last couple of years work through high school and graduate. Some of these kids it will be a very long bumpy road to get them there and that will make it even more of a joyous occasion when they graduate.
I don't like my job every day, but I do love it. I know not everyone can do my job. And I can't do everyone else's job. I think people spend their whole lives trying to figure out the meaning of their life. I am not sure what the meaning for your life is, but I believe that right now my life has meaning because I am needed by these kids. The gifts I was blessed with is what I have to offer. I still joke that I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. It's no joke though. I am young and I still have many years of "growing up" to do. I don't know what the future holds for me - none of us do. Someday I would like it to include motherhood, but that time is not right now. I am not sure which direction I would like to take my career in the future, but I like to keep exploring what my options are so that when I am ready for a change I can make an educated decision.
I do believe that their is a higher power that has given me a direction that my life should take. I choose to believe that sometimes decisions are made for us that we might not understand at the time, but through time we will become wiser as to what that path is. I also choose to do things in life that I enjoy. We are here for too short a time to be miserable, which is why I will not work as an evening janitor (did that for 3 weeks in college) or as a cook in a restaurant (did for 2 years in high school) or ever work in construction (never did this and have no desire to). I liked cooking at a restaurant when I was in school, but that is not something I would enjoy now. I did not enojy working evenings and working alone as a janitor was - just, well - lonely. For other people, these jobs may be what they enjoy and they might not like listening to people's problems.
I try to apply my desire to do things that I enjoy to all areas of my life. I refuse to let myself be convinced or bullied into volunteering or joining a club for something I don't have time for or are interested in. If I don't feel like going out, I generally don't - although there are times I don't but my desire to hang with that person is greater than my desire to just sit around. (If that makes sense.)
So - I chose my job (turned it down the first time it was offered to me, as I was not in that place at that time), I choose to enjoy my job, and I choose to be happy. And if I choose to be unhappy - then, dammit - let me be unhappy - but right now I still love my job.
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