On the search for enlightenment and pretty things

2012-01-02T22:23:00.002-05:00

so, i guess we're doing this again, eh? let's see if we can work it out well this time.

Guess who's excited!

2006-10-13T10:26:00.000-04:00

Who's excited? I am! I just ordered this box of goodies from www.officeplayground.com I'm so excited! Much of these will be staying here at work with me so I'm not plagued with idle hands, and a few will be sent home for me to play with at home. What is in there? There's so much! I'll explain later. When I get it. I'm excited!

Birthday Birthday

2006-10-12T11:15:00.000-04:00

Okay so my birthday was Monday. My sister and nieces came up for the weekend. My party was on Saturday. It was really nice. I had a great time, and I think everyone else did too. If not, then, um, you aren't invited to my birthday party next year, so there!

Oh, lovely thing happened. I got sick Friday afternoon. Which means I was sick Saturday. The day of my birthday party. That was awesome! My nostrils were a beautiful shade of red, and I had a tissue up my nose connected to my finger for most of the day. Sunday I stayed home all day. I didnt' leave the couch in the front room except to eat and go to the bathroom. Monday I had off, cause it was my birthday. I felt better, so we got birthday foods. Tuesday I went to work, and was still sick and coughy all over the place, so they had me go home so I don't infect the rest of the office with ick. Then Wednesday I was still coughy, so I just stayed home. And today? I still feel sick, but I can't afford to not go to work. so I'm here. Sitting at the desk. Blogging. I'd love to go back home and just take the rest of the week off, but G wouldnt' find that very financially responsible. So I blog. Here. At work. And cough discreetly so I can't get sent home again.

Can we talk about this weather? Um, ok I just had my birthday. Which means it's too early to be snowing outside. Seriously. What's up with that? I had to scrape off my winshield this morning. I am no ok with this.

Birthday!

2006-10-10T08:50:00.000-04:00

Well, my birthday party was fabulous. Here's what was inside the gift bags. Everybody got one of everything: a slinky, a plastic lei, two super high bounce balls, a top, a pinwheel, and a bug. A few people enjoyed them, but not everyone took their bags home. I'm ok with that, that means I get extra toys to play with.

Here's the star cupcakes we made for everyone. My sister and nieces helped me put them together. That was cool.

And here's everyone at the party. It was really fun, I thought. It took people a little while to let go and have a good time with each other, and I was worried at first. But my sister helped me to make everyone more comfortable.

Anyway, there you have it! Happy birthday to me!

Oh noes!

2006-10-06T10:23:00.000-04:00

Guess who's getting the beginning stages of sickliness right before her birthday party? Yep, that's right, I am! Yea! Rock on! Yesterday it was sore throat, today it's yucky throat and runny nose. I can't wait to find out what's in store for tomorrow!

Closely guarded secrets

2006-10-05T10:38:00.000-04:00

These are the gift bags for everyone that's coming to my birthday party. What's in these fabulous bags? You'll just have to wait until Saturday, when everyone opens them. Let's just say that everyone will have a blast with everything that's in their bags. Or their children will. Or they'll definitely know it was me that put them together.

Aren't they adorable?

Blatant tangents ahead

2006-10-04T16:00:00.000-04:00

I just have to say that G is such a good person. He does so many things for me, he's so supportive and caring. Today he drove 20 minutes from home to my work to give me my ace bandage because my uber-graceful self managed to twist my ankle yet again.

Now, I've been twisting, spraining or fracturing my ankles so many times since I was a teenager that there's lots of tiny shards of bone broken off from my ankle. Which I didnt' know until I got my first Xray of my ankle when I was in the Air Force. You see, when I was a teen, I ran cross-country and track. I hated every second of it. That's not the point. Everytime I would sprain my ankle, which happened all the time, my mom would just tell me to wrap it and go about my business. She was a nurse, so of course she had Xray eyes and could see inside my ankle to know that my ankle was merely twisted. So one time I twisted my ankle really bad when I was in the Air Force. (I gracefully stepped off a curb and onto a wheelchair ramp that my foot didnt' realize was there.) So when the doctor looked at the Xray, he goes, "Woah." Um, thanks, what does that mean?" He asked me if I'd ever been to the hospital before for my ankle. No, duh, my mom's a nurse, she told me I just twisted it. "Um, no," he replied, "see all those tiny round white pieces floating around? That's how many times you've FRACTURED your ankle before. That's 6 times. And see that big sharp piece? That's what you did just now. Your mom should have taken you to a doctor." Then he proceeded to make me wear that giant plastic boot on my leg. Blah.

Anyway, so now, I always have an ACE bandage around me somewhere. I used to always carry one, but my bag I use now is so little I can't fit it in there. So it stays at home.

Now I have this innate ability to be able to twist my ankle without even walking or running. Amazing, I know! I can't explain it. Usually it's when I'm sitting cross-legged and I go to uncross my legs. It's like my ankle decides to rebel against the rest of my body's decision to move a certain way, and it will stay in the same position. This results in a clumsy maneuver of me grabbing my leg/foot/ankle and getting this look of ultimate horror/pain/shock that any witness will automatically assume I have just been attacked by giant invisible jellyfish (don't laugh, they're real, and they keep me from every swimming in the Australian waters). And then all of a sudden the ankle gives in and decides to work with the rest of my body, and I'm left with the pain that's just like I twisted my ankle while running, and the swollen ankle, and witnesses who are slowly backing away because they have no idea what in the world just happened to me.

So that's what happened to me today. I'm sitting at my desk. My feet are crossed. I go to uncross my feet, and my ankle screams Anarchy! I lurch forward and slam my leg into the desk while trying to grab my ankle to turn it right. Of course two of my bosses were standing in the hallway when this happened, so they were completely weirded out. And of course, when I explain this to people, they think I'm utterly crazy. I'm not, I swear! It's real! Like the pain I get in the back of my jaws. You know, when you were a kid and you were eating really sweet candy, and you would start laughing, and you'd get that pain in the back of your jaws? I get that every now and then, even when I'm not eating candy or even laughing! And G has no idea what pain I'm talking about. Blah.

Wow, okay tangent much?

After I twisted my ankle, I called G and asked him if he would bring me my ace bandage and maybe some painkillers, because this one hurt really bad. When he came up here a little later, he had brought me my ace bandage, a bottle of water, a little baby container of Aleve and a bottle of Excedrin. How thorough is this guy! He's the best. He's so good to me! Don't let me forget that.

Slumpy slump

2006-10-04T10:38:00.000-04:00

I've fallen into a blogging slump. I just don't feel like I have anything to talk about. Lots of things are going on in my life that would warrant interesting conversation, but for some reason I wonder if people would enjoy reading my posts. Well, honestly, all I can seem to talk about lately is my birthday. That's just what happens before my birthday, I go crazy talking about it. I get really excited. Aren't you excited? I sure am.

I'm having a birthday party on Saturday. It's my first birthday party ever. Well, first that I can remember. And what are we doing for my birthday party? Well, we're going bowling. Yea, that's right, I said bowling. Don't be jealous. I really wanted to go spend a week in Fiji for my birthday party, but it's a little too expensive to send everyone there for a week. So, bowling it is! My sister Gene is coming up here this weekend, as well as my nephew and two of my nieces. They're staying with G and I. Do we have enough room for them? Of course not! But they're used to living in hotels all the time, so they can deal with the living room to sleep. And Gene is bringing an air mattress, so there will be plenty of room.

I'm really grateful to have the friends that I have. Especially one particular friend, who's an almost neighbor of mine. She cans food. And the best part? She gives them to me to eat and enjoy! How fabulous is that!? A while ago she gave me two jars of homemade blueberry jam, which is ohsotasty. I'm almost done with the first jar, and ready to open the other one. Did I mention I love pb&j sammiches? And may I just say that to have them made with homemade jam makes it so much better? Oh! And I think last week she gave me a jar of homemade dill pickles! Did she know that I loved pickles? I don't think so, but boy am I enjoying them. I'm almost done with them though! The jar is almost empty! Oh no, what will I do? I'll have to go buy the store brands. Dangit! So yea, she's fabulous.

Oh, and also: since I have a new digital camera for my birthday, I will be posting lots of random pictures. Be warned. And excited.

That is all.

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-10-02T11:53:00.000-04:00

I know it's early, but I got an early birthday present from G! I got a digital camera! I'm so excited! There's so much I can do with it, so many different scene modes. There's one for fireworks, starry skies, candlelight, many others, but the most important one? There's a food one! So I could be like all the awesome food bloggers out there and take pictures of my food and have them come out fabulously. I'm so excited about this! Happy birthday to me early!

Fumbles and other problems

2006-09-29T12:57:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I do something so idiotic, so ridiculous, people witnessing this might think I had absolutely no common sense. Sometimes I do things before I think them through. Actually, I do this most of the time, but every once in a while, it comes back to smack me right in the face.

As I look back on my life, I'm realizing one way he tears me down. Through guilt. Horrible, gut-wrenching guilt. When I've done something bad, I tear myself up so much more than the victim. I get so upset about what I've done. Something so little as opening a door before the car stopped, or forgetting to bring dessert to someone as I promised. Completely little things that could be quickly forgotten and forgiven with a sincere apology. But I instantly begin to beat myself up about it. Like I killed someone's dog. Like I've done something so horrible, so unthinkable, I shouldn't be allowed to live. How ridiculous it that? That's not me. That's not me thinking those things. That's him getting to me, whispering in my ear how awful I am, how I'm not worthy of love and acceptance.

Earlier I was with G, and I did something like this. Just a little stupid oops, something when I wasn't thinking before I acted, like ya do. I immediately started apologizing, and when he asked me why I did that, I spouted out, "Because I'm an idiot." I'm not an idiot, and I don't believe that. So why would I say something like that? Because of what I hear whispered in my ear. That I'm a bad person, that I'm stupid. That I'm an idiot. How horrible is that?

It's getting close

2006-09-26T11:24:00.001-04:00

My birthday's only 13 days away. I'm so excited! Someone asked me today if I'm too old for birthday parties, or to be excited about my birthday. I don't think so. I've always been really excited about my birthdays. I'm an excited person, that's what I do; I get excited.

2006-09-19T20:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday to G! Look, here's G on his birthday

And here's me on his birthday

Why am I the one wearing a birthday hat? It's not even my birthday, I know. The thing is, I always sing a special birthday song on everyone's birthday. It's the ChiChi's birthday song. "HappyHappyHappy Birthday, HappyHappyHappy Birthday, HappyHappyHappy Birthday, to you to you to you, Ole!" So G made me a Birthday Sombrero. That's what I'm wearing. Isn't it cool?

For dinner, I made chicken stuffed with mozzarella, chives and parmesan cheese, green beans and macNcheese. For dessert, we've got strawberry rhubarb crumble, without the rhubarb, because I couldn't find any, so it's strawberry strawberry crumble. It's in the oven, and it'll be done soon.

So that's G's birthday, yay! Everyone do the booty dance with me for his birthday! *bootydance*

It's getting close!

2006-09-12T10:28:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I'm not going to be 85. But it's a birthday cake! And it's got my name! Anyway, so G and I went to this Irish restaurant over the weekend, and for dessert I got a strawberry rhubarb crumble with vanilla ice cream on top. Holy cow was this delicious. G took a bite, his eyes lit up, and he said, "Yea, you need to get this recipe." I'm going to make it for his birthday, which is much closer than mine. His is only 7 days away.

My sister is going to be in Indy next week. She's leaving the circus, and moving up to northern Indiana, which will be nice because I'll be able to see her more often than once a year.

That's all I've got right now.

Do you remember the time?

2006-09-11T13:40:00.000-04:00

5 years ago. Do you remember where you were? What you were doing? I do. Of course I do. What person our age wouldn't remember?

I was in Okinawa, Japan on Kadena Air Base. I was online looking for anything that seemed interesting. It was about 10pm. All of a sudden Dennis yelled for me to come in and see what was on the tv. Annoyed at being interrupted, I came in the front room to see the smoke billowing out of the tower. We both sat watching the tv with our mouths gaped open, in complete shock, as reports came in about the Pentagon getting hit, then the second tower. G called me a few minutes later to tell me that he didn't know when he would see me again for a while, he was being pulled to guard duty on the Marine bases. They were all being pulled to guard something. As we continued to watch the tv, my heart lept into my throat as I watched the towers collapse. I couldn't breathe. What was going on? There were reports all over about what was going to be hit next. Every base on Okinawa closed down any and all traffic for I think at least a day. As we flipped the channels to the Japanese stations, every single channel was showing the Twin Towers on fire, collapsing, being hit. No one knew what was going on. I watched the news for as long as I could, and then I fell asleep. Dennis stayed up all night watching what was going on.

What else is there to say? I watched the Towers go down in a different country. And when I went to NYC a few years ago, all that was left was a gaping hole. Just dirt and machines.

That's all I have to say about that.

2006-09-08T16:27:00.000-04:00

This has got to be the most boring day I've ever had at work. The minutes are crawling by....only 30 minutes. You can do this!

Off to a slow start

2006-09-06T11:09:00.001-04:00

I'm a fast person. I do things fast. I'm hyper. I get excited easily. I love it when things happen fast, and I'm kept busy. When things slow down, I tend to get distracted. Like woah. Fast typer? That's me. My idle hands are dangerous to myself and others. Hence my slinky family, which I keep around me at home and at work at all times to keep my hands busy. I also plan on getting a box of office toys from www.officeplayground.com to never be bored at work. Trust me, it'll be fantastic.

Anyway so the point to this post is, I enjoy things happening fast. Well, most things. Not everything. Blah. Okay, so the past, oh, say, month or so, things have been happening really fast.

So if things have been happening this fast so far, it's only fair that I expect them to keep going at this rate. But of course, that's not the case. Now it's learning, and researching, praying, talking, meeting, talking more, praying more, learning way more, on and on and on. It's still been great, don't get me wrong. Very emotional, too. But since everything happened in such a rush, now I want it to keep going like that. It's all a process, and I am just at the beginning of the rest of my life. It's exciting for the most part.

Do I feel changed? Has a huge transformation occured? I'm not sure. I believed I was a good person before, I still am, right? I do good things for the most part. I feel like I am changed a bit. Not like, "Hello, I'm New and Improved Sunny," but maybe, "Hey, you want to go juggle with me?" which isn't really that different, is it? Except I've never really asked anyone who didn't know how to juggle if they wanted to join me. Probably because I don't know how to teach anyone how to juggle. I've tried. G learned by watching me and reading online, I think. Maybe I taught him a little.

The point is, I'm a fast person who has to deal with things happening at a slower rate than I would desire. It's a work in progress.

Frump

2006-09-05T13:35:00.000-04:00

I got sunburned on my nose Saturday. A really bad sunburn. An embarrassing sunburn. One that makes me wonder what I was thinking. And on one of the last days possible to get burned, I did quite a good job on myself. So today my nose is quite red and yucky. So I decided today would be a frumpy day. Keep the glasses on, wear a sweater over my tshirt, and go to work invisibly. It's nice to be invisible sometimes. It's fun to watch the different reactions I get when I wear my glasses as opposed to contacts. You see, I may have awesome glasses, but because of how thick they have to be, I can never pull off the sexy librarian look. I always want to look like Tina Fey, but it just doesn't work for me. My eyes become little and beady when I put my spectacles on. No matter how sexy my glasses are, they don't do me justice.

So somedays when I feel like not being bothered with anyone, I'll keep my glasses on all day. I never get any stares, barely a glance really. The only people that talk to me when I've got my glasses on are people who have to talk to me, or my friends, who know me for the real me. And I'm ok with that. Sometimes it's good to blend in and be invisible.

Granola?

2006-09-01T10:19:00.000-04:00

I'm a treehugger by nature. As I was born and raised in the city, one might wonder how or why I ever knew the joys of hiking for hours in the wilderness. I can thank my parents for that. See, when I was a kid, my parents bought some land out in the country in southern Indiana. I think we had something like 15 acres backed right up next to State Park, so we had Mother Nature for days. In the summer, we would go there almost every other weekend. On the land was a single-wide trailer. There was no running water, but there was electricity. There was an outhouse, which I abhorred using, especially in the dark of night. You never knew what animal decided to crawl in there for shelter from the night! The trailer was up on a hill, and the front yard was an awesome place to sled down, if we could ever get there in the winter. Anyway, it was great to roll down in the summer.

We would always grill out on the brick grill, and eat in the front yard watching the wild animals play down the hill. We had a great view there. It was a pretty steep hill up to the trailer, and at the foot of the hill was the gravel road. Right across the road was nothing but undisturbed trees. Trees that looked taller than any building imaginable. At night we would sit outside, listening to the sounds of the night, and watching the lightning bug show in those trees. It looked like hundreds of Christmas trees lit up for the whole world to see. It was beautiful.

In the back yard was nothing but trees. We created a few paths on our land, and once you got to the beginning of the State Park, it was completely undisturbed. Well, almost. People could hunt back there. So it wasn't completely undisturbed. My favorite thing was hiking in those woods. We would walk for hours, and I was totally content, just walking in nature.

Because of these experiences I had growing up, there's a slight desire in me to live in a semi-rural place. Granted, not completely rural, because the city girl in me couldn't give up many things that I have in my life. But oh, to live in the country, on a farm, near a farm, anything like that. To be able to smell trees, grass, fresh air all the time. Maybe I'm a little granola. I'm okay with that.

2006-08-31T15:33:00.000-04:00

You know, Sunny, sometimes you just need to sit back and wait a second before blurting out to just anyone how bored you might be. Because maybe, just maybe, that person you're pouring your heart out to might just be someone mildly important.

that is all.

2006-08-28T22:12:00.001-04:00

not sure anymore.

Taking the right turn at Albuquerque

2006-08-27T16:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was emotional, exhausting, spiritual, enlightening, uplifting, nauseating, wonderful. It felt good to have that much support and encouragement. I'm stoked to see what's in store for me.

I don't normally like to even bring him up but....

2006-08-25T10:08:00.000-04:00

this is just priceless

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
-George W. Bush, August 2004

And...

"I'm the commander--see, I don't need to explain--I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like [I] owe anybody an explanation."
-George W. Bush, August 2002

http://www.alternet.org/story/40678/

Bitten cookie cutters!

2006-08-24T15:31:00.000-04:00

These are awesome! I will buy these and use them! http://www.perpetualkid.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1402

How awesome is that?!?

Bueller?

2006-08-23T17:01:00.001-04:00

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/jjonesmug1.html

yea. Okay it might be years old, I admit. But I didn't know this, did you? Wasn't he on Howard the Duck? I loved that movie.

Mmmm, food

2006-08-22T10:37:00.000-04:00

So I've been seeing this Choxie at Target, which I think is Target's way of marketing tasty chocolate treats. I finally broke down and bought some. I bought the espresso covered dark chocolate and the peppermint marbled dark chocolate. I ate the espresso one first. It was tasty, and very chocolatey. But I had started to doubt Target, because I didn't feel the flavor really gripped me by the ear and say, "Look here, you WILL love this, because I say so, and what I say goes." I just didn't get that. So I was discouraged. Then, this morning I brought the peppermint marbled dark chocolate bar in to munch at work. Yea, that's what I do. Let me tell you, that chocolate bar is damn happy. Like holy cow, HELLO TASTY. Yea. I'll be buying more varieties of this Choxie in days to come.

Also, I'm a little disturbed by the photo. Not sure why. I think it's the word.

I like this

2006-08-18T14:13:00.000-04:00

"So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. Show respect to all people and grovel to none. When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself. Abuse no one and nothing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.Sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

Chief Tecumseh of the Shawnee tribe

Not for the faint of heart. not at all

2006-08-17T13:50:00.000-04:00

http://buffalonews.com/editorial/20060814/1006738.asp absolutely disgusting.

Toys! I need toys!

2006-08-16T14:22:00.000-04:00

I'm in need of some office toys. At my old job in Florida, I had some awesome toys and pictures around my desk. It was very happy. I loved it. Now all I have is a slinky. I need more, people! Ready go!

UPDATE!!

I found it! I want this!

http://www.officeplayground.com/stressbox.html

Abrupt end

2006-08-16T09:21:00.000-04:00

When I read other blogs that I enjoy and then attempt to post on my own blog, my creative flow is blocked. So many people can make their journal move so fluidly, from beginning to end, inspiring me to do the same, but it feels like clipping a cat's claws when I start to post.

I need to get out and explore the parks of Ann Arbor before it gets too cold. The beauty of this summer was wasted on sitting in air conditioning and complaining when the a/c didn't work. I will admit, there were visits with dear old friends this summer, as well as swimming while sprinkles from the sky dropped on my messy head. And I did partake in massive trampoline jumps, which, after the initial "I'm going to crack my head open", tend to be outrageously fun.

I used to jump on my cousin's trampoline every chance I got, which happened to be once every summer when we went to Florida for a week. The country part in Florida scared me quite a bit when I was young. I grew up in the city, although we did have land out in the boondocks in Indiana, where we would spend our summers. Staying there was my favorite pasttime. I could hike in the forest forever if allowed. Nothing scared me there; I was queen of the world in those woods.

Florida boondocks scared me, though. It wasn't as green, it was hotter there, animals made different sounds, bugs were bigger, and there were FIRE ANTS! For a hyperactive child to be told to watch everywhere she walked or risk being eaten alive by fire-breathing red-hot ants petrified me! How could I possibly watch everywhere I was walking when I was trying to watch out for rattlesnakes, alligators, and any other Florida hotbed child-eating creature hiding between the bushes? When I had to go to my cousin's house by myself, which was only across the street from my grandparents house, I ran faster than the wind. You see, in my cousin's front yard was just this huge field. Grass was as tall as I was, and the path was narrow. Of course everything I heard in that field was a rattlesnake. Everything sounded the same!

I should meditate more. Definitely.

2006-08-15T15:39:00.000-04:00

My birthday's only 55 days away! Who's excited? I know I am! In case you were wondering, "Jeez, whatever shall I get this marvelous for her birthday? I wish I had an idea of what she wanted," you're in luck. Here's my Amazon wishlist http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/103-8619657-0751043?ie=UTF8&type=wishlist&id=1Z61LNY0Z4AKP
Now, don't worry, this is an ongoing list. There's plenty of things that are less than $5 used, and for books, I'm perfectly happy with used, as long as there aren't covers or pages ripped out. So yea. just so you know. I know I might jump in and buy myself some chocolate for my birthday. Like today. Cause I'm really craving some.

To thrive or not to thrive?

2006-08-14T13:59:00.001-04:00

I've been wondering how someone who grew up with the problems and dysfunctional family that I had turn out to be such a strong-willed, compassionate person. I could have turned out this shell of who I am now; meek and timid, afraid of any personal contact or confrontation, angry with the world that put me through so much hardship and pain, self-defeating, abusive, addicted to drugs, alcohol or sex, who knows what else.

But I turned out to be much stronger than the circumstances I experienced. Through the beatings, drugs, screaming, sexual abuse I rose above it all. While I am a better person now, I will admit that much of it affected me. Because of the constant screaming in my face, now I cannot handle large groups of people, where there is loud music, people talking, many things going on. I get panic attacks when there's too much going on, and I can't stand yelling, screaming or angry music. Because of the liquid Dawn that was poured down my throat so often, and then I was forced to lay in bed without rinsing it out while I 'napped', I can't stand the smell of original Dawn, and will not allow it in my house. When my dad starts yelling at my nieces for no reason, my heart starts pounding and I feel like I'm 8 years old again. Because of what happened between my brother and I, I am totally against my nieces going to stay with him. When I have children, I will never allow them to even go to the store with him without me. Weird how things work out.

Pretty pretty

2006-08-11T13:37:00.001-04:00

It's absolutely gorgeous outside and I'm horribly jealous of everyone that has the day off, and is enjoying the wonderful 72 degree weather. And for those of you that are inside with the day off, SHAME ON YOU! Go outside and play in the park! If not I will shave your nose. And it will not be pretty, trust me on this.

I've been eating junk yuck food this whole week. Fast food and the worst fast food, even. Taco Bell and McDonald's. I did have Wendy's one day, but to then drive home and for dinner eat a Burrito Supreme and Meximelt the same day? Any healthiness from Wendy's (if that's possible) was cancelled out by the Taco Hell I ate later that night. So today for lunch I brought a salad. Just spinach and cheese with light dressing. Dessert was vanilla yogurt and granola. Very happy. I like vanilla yogurt with granola. It's a good sweet dessert. So I think that I'll bring salad for lunch at work from now on. And Triscuits. Cause I love them. Much healthier than a Big Mac. Gosh, what was I thinking? Silly gluttony.

2006-08-11T08:58:00.000-04:00

I forgot! The other day I saw my first emo boy in girl pants! I was going to Kroger, and I as I drove through the parking lot, I saw a boy with what looked like leggings on. Very confusing. Then I realized the butt part was way too big for his bum. Then I saw they were jeans. They were girl jeans? What is that? I'm so confused.

Gnome on the road

2006-08-10T15:11:00.000-04:00

Fabulous story about a gnome who went on a road trip. I'd love to do that. How sweet to take him with you. http://www.fultonsun.com/articles/2006/08/09/news/144news04.txt

Food and such

2006-08-10T14:11:00.000-04:00

How do you like your hot dog? I've had mine many different ways, but I still have a long way to go before I find my favorite. There was this Chicago style place in Bradenton that I always got Chicago style hotdogs. Those were super messy. I didn't think you could put so much stuff on a little hot dog, but they managed it. It's got relish, onions, mustard, pickles, tomato, a banana pepper I think, and celery salt. I think ketchup is on there too, I can't remember. That's a lot to put on a hot dog, but it sure is tasty. And yes, I spelled that right, ketchup. Not catsup. That's one word I won't compromise phonetics for spelling, dammit. When I'm at home, though, I like to put chili, onions, and mustard on it. It's tasty like that. I've heard of people putting coleslaw on it. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

What's your favorite cookie? I don't know if I have a favorite. I like many different kinds. If they're just freshly made, and still warm, I have a strong fondness for snickerdoodles. But only if they're warm and fresh. If they're cold, I don't like them. Chocolate chips are tasty, as a traditional staple of desserts, but I wonder if there aren't more cookies that yearn to rise above and take the lead of the chocolate chip. I could have sworn to you that Pepperidge Farm made a cookie that I would have easily said is my favorite hands down, but now I can't find it anymore. I'm sure I can find a recipe for it, and make them, and they will be my favorite. Dark Chocolate Raisin. So happy. Maybe even milk chocolate raisin would be happy.

Look, say pretty, don't touch

2006-08-10T13:37:00.000-04:00

See that? Pretty colors, right? Kinda weird looking, though, eh? Ya know what that is? That's a Portuguese Man of War (Physalia physalis). That's the invertebrate that I got stung by as a child, which scarred my hand for years and then caused a nauseating fear of them and their cousin, the jellyfish, ever since.

And that's exactly how I found the one I got stung by; on the shoreline. I had no glasses on, so I couldn't see at all. At 12 years old, in my blind state, I thought it was a boat. Yea, I was completely wrong.

I dont think I'll ever forget that moment. What trauma for a kid.

sad and tired

2006-08-10T12:56:00.000-04:00

I don't understand the thought process of the people who agree with bombing anyone, anywhere, ever, for any reason. So many people said it was totally justified to go over and bomb whoever was responsible for September 11, regardless of the fact that we really weren't sure where the people were to begin with. I found this article today http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0808-06.htm

It's surreal that people try their hardest to go about their normal routines everyday, while constantly hiding in bomb shelters, finding their children torn apart, and searching through the rubble for their loved ones.

It is not ok to kill another human being. Period.

2006-08-10T11:58:00.000-04:00

Did you see that beautiful picture? Found that here http://www.fotobyimran.com. Shots like that make me happy to be alive. They also make me yearn for the money to purchase the equipment and the know-how to run it so I can take shots that amazing. My boss at work is loaning me his Canon A-1 for a couple weeks so I can see if it's a good camera for me. G and I are currently discussing whether or not to get a purely manual camera like the Canon A-1 or a digital camera with many of the same features I'm looking for, like the ability to focus on whatever I choose. Money's an issue, but when I told G that to purchase a digital camera that would do what I want would cost too much money, he told me not to worry about it. We'll see. Since we can't afford to get a car right now, maybe we can afford to get me something cool instead for my birthday.

I had sushi last night with some friends of mine. Yay tasty food! Also started to watch Season 1 of The L Word. I only got hooked on the show in the middle of Season 3, so I've got a lot to catch up on.

I've got a craving for mexican food. And White Castle. Weird combo.

Staying awake is harder than it sounds

2006-08-10T09:52:00.000-04:00

So my friend Christi, domestic goddess that she is, made some blueberry jam. I got two jars! How fabulous. Now if I could only get a toaster I'd be happy. I'm not a fan of fresh blueberries, but I like them in cobblers and jams and whatnot. And I'm always a fan of free tasty goodies, so yay free jam!

G and I are going to a wedding Saturday, so yesterday I spent a long time on the wedding websites, going through bridesmaids dresses, cakes and bouquets. Yea, I'm pretty sappy and romantic. I'd love to have enough money to have the wedding of my dreams. It wouldn't be boring, I'll tell you that. It'd be super awesome and fun. Cause, hello! We're talking about me here.

My birthday's less than 9 weeks away! I'm so excited. I hope all my friends can come. I'm hoping we can go to Lucky's. If we can't go bowling, I'd still like to have everyone around to play Skeeball and have tasty food and have a good time with.

I'm totally for the idea that on nice days you can close your office down early and go play in the park. What a fabulous idea. Let's play frisbee! Or, even better, let's go to the fair!

Random Random

2006-08-09T17:03:00.000-04:00

I had a super freaky dream last night. G said I was only in bed for like 20 minutes, so I could only have been asleep for like 15 minutes at the most. I didn't even think I was asleep. So I'm laying on my back, and I see this big red spider (that looks just like that one) coming down like a foot and a half above my face. Then it goes towards the wall above my head. I start yelling, "HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK HOLY FUCK!" and sit up in the bed. G runs in and turns on the light, and I'm sitting there looking at the wall above the headboard.
"What's wrong? Are you ok?" he asks.
After taking some time to calm down and get my bearings, I reply, "There's nothing there, is there?"
Yea. super freaky.

I made some tasty berry pie last night. G was ohsohappy. This time I used raspberries and strawberries. Last time I used blackberries instead of raspberries, and both varieties are very tasty!

So I come in the house after work today, and our tree is cut down. Well, cut away, anyway. Now there's an unhappy stump in it place, about 4 feet away from our balcony. And we have a new screen, and our thermostat says it's 73 degrees in here. Much happier than 85 degrees.

It's also much sunnier in here because of the tree not being on our balcony. I feel bad about the branch being ripped off so messily and unhappy. I'm sure the tree is sad.

2006-08-08T14:24:00.000-04:00

Okay so I understand that the reason some people don't like certain foods is a texture thing. For instance, I don't mind eating nuts, but I don't like them in brownies or cookies; I think it ruins the flavor. That may be a texture thing. I like the smoothness of the cookie/brownie. However, I seriously dislike brussel sprouts, and that is purely for the flavor. They taste like little balls of yuck-yuck, just rolled up for you to not enjoy.

I'm a crunchy peanut butter kind of girl. I think that creamy peanut butter lovers are wussies in the pb&j sandwich world. And yes, I totally agree that a pb&j should be enjoyed with nothing other than a glass of cold milk. Regular milk, not chocolate, not strawberry, not vanilla. Don't ruin the experience by tainting the milk in this situation. While I do love flavored milk, this sandwich definitely does not call for it.

And it's Jam, not Jelly. Jelly just tears the bread, while jam spreads evenly and happily. While I am a traditionalist with grape, I do enjoy strawberry jam as well, and even raspberry or blackberry at times. But not jelly. Just, don't.

2006-08-08T13:22:00.000-04:00

So while this blog is new, I've only created it as a means to communicate with everyone while I'm at work. See, at my new job, LiveJournal is blocked, so I can't post to my journal there. Yea. So as I'm bored stiff at work, searching the internet for sites that I can browse, I'll post here. I'm hoping that I can have this blog flow into my LiveJournal blog, and they can be two entities but intertwined as one.

yes, there will be randomness. yes things may get boring....but we'll just have to see, won't we?