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Category: March 2003

Finally... Songs, Songs, and More Songs [03/30/03]

[Music]

keyboard_rose.gif
Woo-Hoo!!! I finally finished the section of my website where I list all the songs I've been involved with. It was a lot of work, and I'll probably still be tweaking away at it for a few weeks, but it's all there.

Not only can people listen to and download songs, but they can post comments, email song links to friends, and post trackback entries. Plus, I've got all the songs sorted out by categories. That probably needs some tweaking... it's hard to categorize songs!! And there's a search feature, too!

Anyway.... Tada!!! Here's the main page: Kim and Friends' Songs

I still want to add a jukebox kinda like I made for the FreeAudioPlayer Board, but that's for another day. smile

And pretty soon, I'll add a function where people can sign up to receive a short email each time I post a new song. Woo-Hoo!!

Things I remember from school [03/28/03]

[Memories]

I don't remember a whole lot from my school years. But here are some things I thought about today:
  • When asked to give examples of how rivers get polluted, I said throwing a rock in the river would pollute it. The teacher didn't buy it, so I explained that the rock hits the bottom and stirs up the dirt and the water gets dirty. The teacher told me that wasn't pollution because the dirt is already a natural part of the river. I was embarrassed. tongue
  • I found what I thought was a fossil in my backyard. I was really excited and wrapped it up carefully and put it in a baggy. I took it to my science teacher. She laughed at me and said it wasn't a fossil... just a leaf imprint in some dried mud. tongue
  • I had a hard time reading the word "nowhere." When I'd get stuck, the teacher would give me a hint... that it was two words put together. But I'd still be stuck because all I could think of was now·here.
  • I also had a hard time with the word "determine." I would pronounce it like deetermyne.
  • When I was in 4th or 5th grade, Kirk Blackmon called me to ask if I would be his girlfriend. Of course, I said "Yes." But at school the next day, he didn't even acknowledge me. I found out later that several other girls got calls, too. It was a prank call from someone else saying he was Kirk Blackmon. tongue

Friday Five - last week, next week [03/28/03]

[Memes - Friday Five]

friday five
1. What was your most memorable moment from the last week? The first thing I thought of was pretty geeky. Yesterday, I got something to work in the application I'm helping develop at work. The application will now send an email to someone when certain events happen. To fully explain it, I'd have to explain the application and that would be way way boring for everyone. So I'll just say it's a really cool thing that it finally worked. smile 2. What one person touched your life this week? No major life touching events on a personal level this week. But I listened to a former Iraqi man talk about his country and how awful Saddam Hussein is, and that cemented in my mind that what we are doing in Iraq will be good for the people there. I just hope that the casualties are small and the conflict ends in victory as soon as possible.

3. How have you helped someone this week? I helped my friend jimrie put together a new bulletin board for musicians and fans. The latest addition is the jukebox on the left. Tom from TheSpores2000 is doing a great job of picking the tunes.

4. What one thing do you need to get done by this time next week? I'm not sure there's anything I *need* to get done, but I sure would like to finish working on the songs portion of my website. I've had to put it on hold for a couple weeks. I wanted to have it finished by now.

5. What one thing will you do over the next seven days to make your world a better place? I don't have any plans, but I'll just do my best to keep things positive.

I won the elevator lottery [03/27/03]

[What's Going On?]

I just won the elevator lottery. I was waiting for the elevator so I could go upstairs to my desk. The first one to open was one of the small ones. About 10 people started crowding on there, so I decided to wait for the next one. The next one was the big roomy freight elevator. I got on it by myself and it took me right to my floor with no stops in between. Woo-Hoo!

Sometimes waiting for the next elevator backfires, though. I can't tell you how many times I've ended up riding with someone I'd just as soon not ride with just because I waited for the next elevator.

What's on Wednesday - TiVo [03/26/03]

[What's On TiVo?]

What's on TiVo?
TiVo recordings I need to watch
Roswell PCU Deep Impact Dune (3 part miniseries) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Niagara, Niagara the following are leftover from last week The Thin Red Line Children of Dune (first 3 parts) Traveller Sneakers Ruby Philadelphia When a Man Loves a Woman Crazy/Beautiful A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon The Journey of Natty Gann The Little Prince Powder America's Sweethearts Explorers Do or Die The Falcon and the Snowman Pushover Hot Pursuit Mad Love Note: TiVo deleted the one with a strikeout to make room for more stuff before I got a chance to watch it. frown

This or That - The Arts [03/25/03]

[Memes - This or That]

1. Poetry or prose? I guess I like prose better. Poetry is good unless it's too obscure to understand easily.

2. Funky modern art or the older, "classic" variety? Either one can be good. Either one can be awful.

3. Sculptures or paintings? See answer #2.

4. Theatre: exuberant musical or serious drama? I really really really don't like musicals. There are exceptions, but I get so frustrated when the story stops because a bunch of people start singing and dancing. Even if the story continues through the song, though, I'd rather skip the singing and dancing.

5. Ballet or modern dance? I'm not sure what modern dance is exactly. I suspect I'd like ballet better.

6. Movies: major studio or indie? Either one. One of my favorite movies ever, "Niagara, Niagara" was an indie film. Another favorite, "Aliens", was a studio film.

7. Authors: Shakespeare or Dr. Seuss? Both are wonderful.

8. TV: PBS or A&E? I think I'd be more inclined to stop on A&E during a channel surfing session than PBS.

9. Music: Beethoven or Beatles? Beatles.

10. Thought-provoking question of the week: You are a contributing member of your favorite art museum, and visit on a regular basis. They announce a new, temporary special exhibit by an artist surrounded by controversy...this person's work and/or political views offend you. Do you stop supporting the museum, or just stay away during the time the exhibit is there? Depends on whether it would seem like I supported the views personally. I'd probably just stay away for the duration fo the exhibit, though.

Children of Dune [03/23/03]

[Television]

I finished watching Children of Dune. I've read the book before, but I didn't remember much of anything. I remembered the Prophet, and I remembered the twins. That's about it. Sheesh. I should read it again, I guess.

I enjoyed the mini series, but I have to admit... I didn't understand a whole helluva lot. I didn't think Susan Sarandon was very good, either.

I recorded "Dune" this morning (the miniseries from a couple years ago, not the David Lynch goofball movie). Dang... I hated that David Lynch movie. tongue I hear the miniseries is much better.

I thought the guild navigator was cool in Children of Dune! It was much better than the blobby thing that David Lynch had in his movie.

Anyway... if anyone can shed any light on why Leto was going through that metamorphosis, can you explain it to me? I mean... I understand that he had to sacrifice his humanity for the good of Arrakis, but, errrr... why?

Friday Five - If you could... [03/21/03]

[Memes - Friday Five]

friday five
1. If you had the chance to meet someone you've never met, from the past or present, who would it be? I don't want to meet any people. Maybe I could meet some cool animal instead? Like Gentle Ben the bear? Or maybe Flipper? 2. If you had to live in a different century, past or future, which would it be? Please don't make me live in a different century. I love my century.

3. If you had to move anywhere else on Earth, where would it be? I think I'd like to live in Phoenix, AZ, but that's just based on a feeling. I'd have to research it. I'd like to visit a lot of places outside of this country, but I don't know enough about them to live there. Is it easy to get broadband internet? That's important.

4. If you had to be a fictional character, who would it be? How about Cassandra in "One Crazy Summer"?

5. If you had to live with having someone else's face as your own for the rest of your life, whose would it be? How about the girl who plays Maria in Roswell? She's cute.

Dream Journal - Going to Ziore [03/20/03]

[Dream Journal]

Dream Journal - Going to Ziore
I bought two tickets for a small plane to Ziore. I don't know where Ziore is... I think I made it up. It's out of this country, though. I think the other ticket was for my friend Eric Steffensen (aka the tarotkid). We had to answer some questions before we could go, but I don't remember the questions. We got on the plane, and it was laid out like a hotel lobby with places to lounge and also tables to sit and eat or whatever.

This is one of those dreams that keeps starting over.

I got tickets again. I got on the plane. We were taking off, but we weren't at an airport. We had to take off from the streets. I think we were in some strange version of San Marcos, Texas. We were gaining speed and turning corners. We were on the part of the street where we were going to take off, but some kids on big wheels were on the street. We could still take off until the last second when a little girl on a pink tricycle turned in front of us. So we turned down another street to circle back.

Back at the airport, I needed to hurry to buy tickets to make the plane that was leaving at 2:00. But I didn't make it.

There was another part of the dream where I went to Eric's apartment. There was tension between us. I don't know why I was there. It wasn't to visit Eric. It was kinda like maybe I needed a place to hang out for a little while. I went in the bathroom to brush my hair.

I guess the dream changed completely because I was at my desk and my manager called to see about one of the projects I'm working on. I'm editing a user guide and the screens on the application it describes to make everything consistent. I told her I was going through it a third time. I said that's how I work... I have to go through things several times because I miss things otherwise.

I also remember shaving my legs. I was shaving them dry, and that's never a good thing. So I decided to put lotion on my leg even though I knew that was going to gum up my razor.

What's on Wednesday - TiVo [03/19/03]

[What's On TiVo?]

What's on TiVo?
TiVo recordings I need to watch
South Park (2 episodes) The Thin Red Line Children of Dune (first 3 parts) Traveller Sneakers the following are leftover from last week Ruby Philadelphia When a Man Loves a Woman Crazy/Beautiful A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon Project X The Journey of Natty Gann The Little Prince Powder America's Sweethearts Explorers One Crazy Summer Singles Do or Die The Falcon and the Snowman Pushover Hot Pursuit Mad Love Note: TiVo deleted the one with a strikeout to make room for more stuff before I got a chance to watch it. frown

Dream Journal - The dead lady and a cracked tooth [03/19/03]

[Dream Journal]

Dream Journal - The dead lady and a cracked tooth

I was at a restaurant with a female friend. I was sitting across from her talking. The lighting changed somehow, and I could hardly see her, so we moved the table around. Later, I realized I had dozed off at the table. I looked up, and it was 1:30 in the morning.

My female friend was dead. I zipped her in a body bag and somehow I was hiding behind a wine glass. Then I turned out the lights and sat in the chair at the table and hoped no one saw me.

There were investigators there the next day. I didn't know what happened, and I was trying to keep a low profile. I realized that when I woke up at the table the night before, we weren't at the table we were at before. That table still had the drinks on it as if we had just stepped away.

I knocked a little frame off a shelf at the restaurant and broke it. There wasn't a picture in the frame. It was oddly shaped... like 3 times as wide as it was tall. And it was only about 3 inches tall. It was ceramic, but I can't remember what was on the frame. Flowers or teddy bears... something like that. I was trying to keep the owner from seeing that I broke it, but she came over. She was disappointed. I wanted to replace it, but I noticed it was numbered. 1 of 50. It was irreplaceable. I was thinking about looking on Ebay, though.

I went outside and a waiter followed me. He was my boyfriend. I was trying to talk to him about my dead friend and what had happened, but then the investigators came out.

I was going to my car, but it had snowed and melted again. For some reason, that made the dirt get way up on the cars. I was going to have to dig it out. I noticed that the car next to mine had parked too close and was actually crunched into the side of my car. I was mad. I think it was this lady's car who I used to work with... deborah powers.

At home, I got up in the morning. I was looking in the mirror and singing. It looked like one of my upper front teeth were missing. But it was cracked and bent back. I bent it forward into its normal position and started looking for my dental insurance information. I was upset because I was going to have to take off work. I was thinking maybe my tooth got cracked at the restaurant when I was out of it. Like when my friend was being murdered.

There was also something about flying to the Northeast, but I think that was a different dream I had before this one. I remember being at the airport, but that's about it.

American Idol Wrap Up [03/18/03]

[Television]

I turned on American Idol, but I had to go in the kitchen to feed Lily. I heard the first contestant, but not very well. I didn't know who it was, but I thought she sounded great, and I loved the song she was singing... "Against All Odds."

So right now, I rewound the TiVo to see who it was. It was Corey!!! haha!! I thought it was a woman!! Furthermore... now that I've heard him sing with the "band", I think it was awful. The powerful part was okay, but the beginning was just awful. Of course, the judges loved him. Except for Simon. Thank goodness for Simon's honesty. mischief ~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruben was great this week!! He is a big velvet teddy bear!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~ I was going to write more, but I wasn't feeling good this evening. I'll just say Clay was great, but I wasn't moved like I was last week. Trynice was better this week because she wasn't holding the mic and flapping her fingers around. I still don't get Carmen. And Josh made me like country music. smile

This or That - This and That [03/18/03]

[Memes - This or That]

1. Cold frosty ski slopes or warm sandy beach? Neither one. Ski slopes are, um, cold and frosty, and beaches are, well, sandy. How about a nice climate controlled hotel room with a view of either one?

2. Chevy or Ford? I'd have to do some research, but I'd pick the one that has the coolest interior.

3. Mac or PC? I have a PC at home. I used to work on a MAC at work, but now I work on a PC. It doesn't matter really.

4. Dial-up or high speed internet access? Egads. High speed.

5. Small *family-only* wedding or large 200+ guest wedding? I'd kinda like to elope. All the fuss of having people at a wedding would ruin the occasion for me.

6. Would you rather be the bridesmaid or the bride? (if you are a guy, substitute best man or groom)? Depends on who the groom is. wink

7. AC/DC or ABBA? AC/DC. I like that song "Hell's Bells."

8. Roses or daisies? I love roses. smile

9. Trashy romance novels or classic literature? Classic literature.

10. NEW! Thought-provoking question of the week...If you had to choose one...would you rather be blind or deaf? Why? I'm going to beg off on this one. The thing I like so much about This or That Tuesday is that it's typically light fare. Sorry.

Super Human Feat Attempt [03/18/03]

[Food | Shaping Up]

And for today's super human trick: I will attempt to eat an orange for my afternoon snack instead of a Three Muskateers.

Dream Journal - Shower in the Bathroom [03/15/03]

[Dream Journal]

Dream Journal - Shower in Bathroom

I was at someone's house. I looked in a closet or pantry and found some skin cleanser/exfoliant that I used to use, but had completely forgotten about. It was bright orange and smelled really good. This stash belonged to Isabel from Roswell. I guess I was at her house. I had to go to the bathroom. The bathroom had the washer and dryer in it. We were washing a blanket and the soap we used made the water bright yellow. I closed the door to go to the bathroom. I noticed that the shower was running and that it sprayed right down on the toilet. I decided to use the bathroom anyway. After a minute, though, I got tired of the water spraying on me, so I called out to someone to shut it off. Maria from Roswell came in. She was concerned that she would turn the wrong knob and make the hot water spray on me.

I noticed that the water was getting into the toilet, and the water level was rising. I noticed there was a lot of ice in the toilet, too. So I flushed it.

There was some other stuff about a man being guilty of something. He would trick people somehow. I can see him, but I can't remember what the scam was. It was a surprise that he was in on the scam, though.

Dream Journal - Moving Stars [03/15/03]

[Dream Journal]

Dream Journal - Moving Stars

I was outside with a couple of friends at night. I looked up and saw something shooting around the moon fast. I told my friends to look, but of course, it was gone by the time they did. But then it showed up again. Very quickly it fell to the Earth. It bounced right in front of me. Not at a speed like it had just come from the moon, but like someone tossed it up in the air. It was a silvery gray sphere about 6 inches in diameter. It bounced up and hit me on the chest and fell back to the ground. I was afraid it had radiation or something, but I felt okay. Then the dream changed, and I went to a friend's house. It was actually the same place I was when I saw the sphere come to earth. I went in the backyard with Lily so she could potty. I looked up and saw lots of stars. Some were moving. Like they were chasing each other. I thought it had to do with either the war or aliens.

I went back inside and I noticed Lily had something in her mouth. It was something like spinach dip (spinach and white cheese) wrapped in almost dried leaves. I grabbed it and pulled most of it out of her mouth and threw it back in the yard. Then I went inside to wash it off my hands.

I had to throw something away, so I went over to the trash bags. I had some clothes in my arms, so I tucked them between my knees. It was hard to get to the trash bags because I had to step over some things and reach. When I finished, I realized I didn't have any pants or underwear on. rolleyes

I could see my friends in the living room, so I wanted to put my pants on real quick. I had my jeans, but not my underwear. When I pulled my jeans on, they were way too big.

My friend Michael came into the kitchen and was going outside. I told him to look how big my jeans were, but he didn't pay attention. I followed him outside. I looked up at the sky again and saw a lot more points of light moving. I told him to look, too.
At that point, Lily woke me up barking.

Blog things I dislike [03/14/03]

[Blogging n Web Stuff]

Things I dislike about some blogs I started to write this yesterday and it was just a big ball of negativity, so I deleted it. But it's still bugging me, so I think I need to get it out. I hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings if they do these things, but really... it's not about you, it's about me and what I dislike about some blogs.

I don't like it...
  • when the posts are stuck in a tiny i-frame... It makes me feel claustrophobic. Why have a blog and stick the content into a little tiny window?
  • when the focal point of the cursor changes when you pass it over a link... like an upside down arrow (focal point changes from top left of the cursor to bottom right) or a cross (changes from top left to center) or whatever. I don't think I mind a cursor being something other than the pointy hand. It's when the focal point changes that I get discombobulated.
  • when cursors have a lot of stuff floating around them... I had some colorful stars following my cursor around on some of my webpages for a while. But it got old quick. Those giant clocks are the most annoying of all. Brilliant programming... annoying implementation.

Friday Five - The Telephone [03/14/03]

[Memes - Friday Five]

friday five
1. Do you like talking on the phone? Why or why not? No. I hate the telephone for social interaction. I hate talking on it, and I hate listening to other people talk on it even more. Like the loud lady who is calling 500 people about the Tim McGraw concert that she's wanting to get tickets to. The telephone is great for making vet appointments and emergencies and taking care of business quickly. But I'd rather poke my eyes out than socialize on the telephone. 2. Who is the last person you talked to on the phone? My aunt called last Saturday night to confirm that she and her son and daughter-in-law should still come visit me on Sunday. It was a short call. Just the way I like 'em.

3. About how many telephones do you have at home? I have three, but only one is plugged in. It's in the living room. I spend most of my time in the bedroom, so I put it there because I hate the sound of the telephone ringing. But I have a caller ID box in the bedroom, so when I hear the phone ring, I can see who it is.

4. Have you encountered anyone who has really bad phone manners? What happened? haha I'm probably the one with bad phone manners. smile

5. Would you rather pick up the phone and call someone or write them an e-mail or a letter? Why or why not? I'd rather write an email. I can think about what I'm saying before I send it. Letters take too long, but I still write them occasionally to my aunts.

The Breakfast Struggle [03/13/03]

[Food]

StarbucksOn the mornings that I go to work, I experience a great struggle. Do I stop at Starbucks for an Iced Venti Nonfat with Whip Mocha and a pastry? Or do I go through the Taco Cabana drive thru for two breakfast tacos and a Coke?

The intense craving is for the Mocha, but I know that eating a pastry for breakfast will make me feel bad because of the sugar high. There's nothing else to eat at Starbucks that I like that doesn't have sugar.

tacocabana.jpgBut I know I'll feel much better if I eat the tacos. And I love the tacos. It's just that the Mocha craving is overpowering.

Another issue is that if I go to Starbucks, I have to park and go in. The parking lot is usually bustling, so I have to try not to get run over, too. The drive thru taco option is much better. Especially on rainy days.

But there's that ever present Mocha craving. ohwell

A few times, I've gone through the drive thru for two tacos and then to Starbucks for the Mocha. Best of both worlds. But that's the most expensive option in terms of money and time.

Darn you, Starbucks, for your deliciously bitter chocolately Mocha drink. And thank you... sometimes the thought of that Mocha is what gets me up in the morning. smile

What's on Wednesday - TiVo [03/12/03]

[What's On TiVo?]

What's on TiVo?
TiVo recordings I need to watch
Ruby Philadelphia When a Man Loves a Woman I Love You, I Love You Not Crazy/Beautiful A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon the following are leftover from last week Christmas in my Hometown Project X The Journey of Natty Gann The Little Prince Powder America's Sweethearts About Last Night... Shadows and Fog Explorers One Crazy Summer Singles Do or Die Kill Me Later The Falcon and the Snowman Pushover This is My Father Hot Pursuit Mad Love The Thing Called Love Being John Malkovich Vertigo Note: TiVo deleted the items with strikeouts to make room for more stuff before I got a chance to watch them. frown

American Idol Wrap-up [03/11/03]

[Television]

I enjoyed American Idol tonight. I didn't think any of the 12 finalists were unbearable and that was a cool change from previous shows (bless the prior contestants hearts). One thing that's bothering me is that from here on out, the point each week is to get rid of one person. Sheesh... I enjoy when people move on, but the focus now is on cutting someone. I'm going to feel bad for that one person each week.

My favorite is still Clay. I tell ya... he went from a nerdy surprise to a somewhat sexy, awesome performer. Okay... I know most of you probably won't agree, and any manly man who takes the time to read this and research will probably fall out of his chair, but there's just something about him. He's my number one pick.

I love Joshua's vocal style more, though. I think because it's less pop-y and more soft rock-y. I usually don't like when the performers sass back to Simon, but I thought he did good. It amazes me that Simon would tell Josh he needs to lose weight. He's a gosh darn marine, for cripes sake!

I don't understand why Ruben gets the raves that he gets. He's okay, and he puts a lot into it, but I just don't get it.

Then again, the one I really don't get is Corey. I can't stand his voice. I can't stand his look. And I'm still pissed at him for goofing off during the first L.A. auditions (although if I liked his voice and look, I'd probably forgive him for that).

I also don't get Simon's girl Carmen. She's okay, but not the greatest. There were other wild card performers who were better.

And finally, I think Trenyce is good, but it kinda bugs me how she flaps her fingers on the microphone. Anyone else notice that?

Anyhoo... Go Clay!!!!! happy

Update (3/12/2003): Man... I guess I just don't know what I'm talking about. I was listening to the radio this morning and the deejays hated Clay. I know what they don't like about him. It's basically what Simon said... he performs like he's in a musical. Which is funny because I hate musicals, but he's still the one I'd want to see perform above all the rest.

The other thing is that they named their favorites... Corey, Ruben and Carmen!! The three that I just don't get. sick

Just goes to show... everyone has an opinion. smile

Another update: Just found this blog entry about the audition process in Austin. [Edit: that blog entry went away]

Making Panda Babies [03/11/03]

[Animals]

I remember hearing about zoos trying to get male pandas interested in female pandas ever since I was a kid. Tonight I heard there's a new male panda, Gao Gao at the San Diego Zoo. I hope he falls in love. A little baby panda would be so cute. I'll try to catch Gao Gao on the Panda Cam later. It's dark there right now.

This or That - Potpourri [03/11/03]

[Memes - This or That]

1. Married or single? Single.

2. Knit or crochet? I haven't done either in many years. And I've never finished anything I started. I could knit in two dimensions, but I never did more than crochet one long strand.

3. Homebody or world traveller? I'm a homebody when it comes to socializing around town, but I would love to travel the world. I need more money and more time off. I heard that workers in other countries get a lot more time off every year than workers in America.

My first job out of college, I got to take two vacations that were a month long each. That was so cool. But it's because I earned a lot of comp time from traveling for my job. Now I don't earn any comp time and can't seem to accumulate even a week of time off because I take a day here and there. Boo Hoo... personal problem. smile

4. "Star Search" or "American Idol"? I love American Idol. I used to watch Star Search, but wasn't ever that into it. Too much variety, I think. I never did like variety shows.

5. Dancing or karaoke? Karaoke!!!!

6. Elvis Presley or Elvis Costello? Elvis Costello. Can't we lay Elvis Presley to rest already?

7. Bus or train? I've never been on a train except for the monorail in Seattle and trains at amusement parks. I'd like to go on one sometimes. I don't ride the bus, either. I love my car. smile

8. Batman or Superman? Depends on who is playing which character. I think I'll pick the George Clooney Batman. cool

9. Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate, baybay!!!

10. Which came first...the chicken or the egg? Chicken. Mmmm... chicken.

Cake Layers... Yum [03/10/03]

[Food]

Back in the early 80's, Sara Lee came out with frozen cake layers. They were unfrosted round frozen layers of cake that you could frost yourself while they were still frozen. Then you'd wait for a little while, and it would be ready to eat. Does anyone remember those things? I thought they were so awesome. I liked to get the chocolate cake layers and frost them with sour cream white frosting. That's one my favorite kinds of cake, by the way. Chocolate cake with sour cream white frosting. You know... in case you're planning to bake me a cake for my birthday or something.

Anyway... does anyone else remember those Sara Lee cake layers?

Friday Five - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 things [03/07/03]

[Memes - Friday Five]

friday five
1. What was the last song you heard? Hungover by Tarotkid 2. What were the last two movies you saw? The last two at the theater were Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. I don't get to the movies very often. The last two on TV were "Better Off Dead" and "Body Heat."

3. What were the last three things you purchased? A replacement TiVo remote (my dog chewed on the last one); a full groom for my dog (bath, nail clipping and ear washing); a grande nonfat with whip mocha from Starbucks. 4. What four things do you need to do this weekend? I need to clean my bathroom; go to lunch with my aunt and cousins; buy some Draino for my slow draining shower; and work on my website.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to? Elaine (at work); Craig (at work); Dolores (at work); the cashier at Starbucks; and the lady at doggy play day when I dropped Lily off.

What's that smell? [03/06/03]

[What's Going On?]

My house smells kinda funky right now. Kinda like when you get something from a drive through and eat it in the car. But you don't eat all of it. Like maybe you leave some french fries and a couple bites of the burger or whatever because you got full. And you crumble it up in the bag. But when you get where you're going, you forget to take it out of your car. So it sits in there in the heat ('cos it's summer) for a few hours. Then when you get back to your car it smells like stale leftover fast food. That's kinda how my house smells right now. Not that I've ever done that "stale leftover fast food in the car" thing. rolleyes

What's on Wednesday - TiVo [03/05/03]

[What's On TiVo?]

What's on TiVo?
TiVo recordings I need to watch
South Park Roswell 2 episodes Better Off Dead Christmas in my Hometown Project X The Journey of Natty Gann The Little Prince Powder America's Sweethearts About Last Night... Shadows and Fog the following are leftover from last week Explorers One Crazy Summer Singles Do or Die Kill Me Later The Falcon and the Snowman Pushover This is My Father Hot Pursuit Mad Love The Thing Called Love Eyewitness Being John Malkovich Vertigo Promised Land Women & Men: Stories of Seduction Money for Nothing Body Heat Note: TiVo deleted the items with strikeouts to make room for more stuff before I got a chance to watch them. frown

Big Letters a Deterrent? [03/05/03]

[Human Observation]

A few months ago, I noticed some printed signs up on the refrigerators on the cafeteria in my office building. I mean the refrigerators that hold the Cokes and orange juices and apples and milks. The signs say, "Please pay cashier for all purchases." Whew. I always pay the cashier for my purchases.

Later I noticed a sign on the entrance that said something like, "Please do not leave without paying for your purchase."

Today, I noticed a new sign on the entrance that said pretty much the same thing, but it was written in bigger letters with exclamation points. I guess they think signs written in big letters and exclamation points are a better deterrent for crime than a sign written in regular letters.

Maybe that's the answer to this war problem. Just write signs with big letters and exclamation points that say, "Do not use weapons of mass destruction!!!!" Then tack them up all around the Axis of Evil countries.

Yeah... that'll do it.

American Idol and 24 [03/04/03]

[Television]

Tuesday is TV night here at the Yay! It's a Blog household. And what an exciting night it was!

The contestants on American Idol were better than usual tonight. My favorite callback was Clay. I was so disappointed that he didn't make it through before, so I was very excited he made the wildcard cut. He was awesome. If I have one criticism, it's that he's a little too stiff on his pronunciation at times, but his personality just shines through.

I kinda want to root for that Kimberly girl because she's from Katy, Texas where I went to high school, but there's something about her I don't like. I'll root for her anyway, though, because I think she's talented and has a lot of personality despite what the judges said.

The last girl who sang was awesome, too. Poor little Simon was in a bad mood. haha I mean... I like Simon, but what was that about?

Did anyone notice they had more than just a piano accompanying them this time? I noticed one even had backup singers. I guess maybe it was karaoke tracks or something. I can't wait for the show tomorrow night to see which 4 make it through.

24 was SO AWESOME tonight!!!!!! Awesome, but scary, actually. The scene with Jack talking to Kimberly on the phone... whew! Tears City!! And then at the end, watching that bomb go off... it made me sad. I hope I never have to see that in person. Or even on TV for real. I'm not a war protestor or anything, but I hate to see anything come to that.

Now I have to go through withdrawals because 24 won't be on again until the end of the month. Boo Hoo.

Found Grocery Store Receipt [03/04/03]

[Found Stuff]

I found an HEB grocery store receipt on my sidewalk. I suspect it belongs to one of the guys who live on the other side of the duplex. Whoever it was bought:
  • H-E-B Paper Towel Asst. 2.39
  • Kleenex Cottonelle Double 6 Pack 3.49
  • Nestle Crunch with Caramel .50
  • Twix Caramel Cookie Bar .50
  • Ckstd Crunch Candy Bar .50
That's my kind of purchase... paper towels, toilet paper and chocolate. Necessities. Except I like Charmin Plus with Aloe and E. It's a little more expensive, but it's better than soft.

Oh... and I like those paper towels that are perforated at half the size of normal. I usually only need a half sized paper towel.

I've been wanting to try that new Nestle Crunch with Caramel, but I haven't found them. Maybe I'll take a trip to HEB. I don't go there anymore since they opened an Albertson's right close to me. It's not as crowded, and I almost always get front row parking.

This or That - Lunch [03/04/03]

[Food | Memes - This or That]

1. Soup or salad? Depends on the type of soup. I love French Onion with cheese melted on top, but that's usually not an option when they ask "soup or salad." I will say that I would rather have a good soup than a salad, though.

2. Hot or cold sandwiches? Either one, really. I like places that heat the cheese and bun. Like Schlotzky's Deli.

3. White or whole wheat bread (or rye, etc)? Definitely white. Sourdough is great.

4. Pack a lunch for work/school, or buy it? I always buy it unless I'm on a diet. I just don't have the time to fix a lunch in the morning, and I don't like using the fridge here at work. Something about community refrigerators makes me a little wary.

5. If you eat out...fast-food chain, or mom and pop type place? Either one.

6. Tuna or chicken salad? I prefer chicken salad, but only if it's all white meat. Tuna salad is okay, though. But make it white albacore. Not because of the dolphin controversy so much, but because it tastes better.

7. Cheese: Swiss or cheddar (or American, etc)? I prefer cheddar and provolone, but it depends on what I'm eating with it.

8. Mustard or mayo? Probably mayo, but mustard is good with corny dogs.

9. Sandwiches: wrap/pita pocket, or regular bread/roll? Depends on the quality of the pita bread. It's all about quality, man. smile

10. Sweet stuff: cookie/cake or fresh fruit? Gimme cookies and cake! happy

Earworm Remedies [03/03/03]

[Human Observation]

Like a bad case of the hiccups or a Chinese water torture session, earworms are relentless in their distractive nature. The mental anguish suffered by some victims plagued with this condition can be debilitating, although some people actually enjoy the sensation.

A recent survey of people 18 to 49 revealed that 98% of respondents experience some level of earworm infestation. However, it's women who are more likely to be annoyed, frustrated and irritated by earworms.

I have to admit that I have an earworm problem, but it doesn't usually bother me too much.

There are reports of some people getting an earworm from Chili's Baby Back Ribs. But people can get one from anything really.

One reported holistic remedy, is to chew on a cinnamon stick.

Just what is an earworm?
Read More About Earworm Remedies »

Status of Moveable Type Conversion [03/02/03]

[Blogging n Web Stuff]

I've been working my butt of this weekend with the conversion to Moveable Type! I assigned Titles and Categories to over 400 entries in Yay! It's a Blog! from the time I got up yesterday to the time I forced myself away from the computer last night. But it was worth it because now you can browse the blog by category.

I tell ya... it's hard to assign categories! And it made me realize how much this blog has changed since I started it last April. I started it to document things going on with my music. Like when a song got featured somewhere or was high on a chart. Stuff that I'm sure is not of much interest to anyone but me. But then I started talking about stuff going on in my life. Like about my puppy dog and the movies I'm watching and whatever else pops in my head. It's fun to see the evolution.

I also added a feature that posts the titles of the last 5 posts on my homepage. See! Is that cool or what? I couldn't do that with Blogger very easily.

I still have a long way to go transferring the comments from the old system to this system. I've transferred everything over up to October.

The coolest thing I installed was MTMacro. That's what generates the smilies in my posts and in the comments. It also makes some of the other things I do over and over a lot easier to deal with. Like when I want to link to my picture blog, all I have to do is type those three words (my picture blog) run together and it creates a link that looks like this: my picture blog. I don't have to put in the "a href" code or the URL. Just the three words run together. smile

I want to do a lot more of the MTMacro stuff, but I'm not sure how much is too much. I'm afraid it might bog things down. We'll see....

Sand Art is Fun! [03/02/03]

[Linkage]

Sand Art is fun!! Thanks to Starjewel for the link.

GITD gives praise to Shadow of the Moon [03/02/03]

[Music | Music - My New Releases]

Ghost in the Darkness had this to say about the song Shadow of the Moon:

Wow, Not normally my type of music man, but WOW!!! This track is amazing, the lyrics, music and the woman singing are all incredible. Two thumbs up on a job well done!!!
Thanks, Ghost!

If you like Synthpop and Darkwave style music, Ghost in the Darkness has some good stuff. And it's available for free download from now until 3/9/03.